Elemental Genesis

Chapter Two: The Compassion of Strangers

It was a clear night at two in the morning. Anyone with enough sense in their heads would be peacefully sleeping in their beds, dreaming of things only they would know of. However, some people do have the sense, but can't for their own reasons.

The serene atmosphere of the park was soon broken by the sharp click of high heels on stone. Breezes soon began to blow with much more force than before, some of the branches of the park's trees creaking. The only other person in the park at this time did not notice any of these details, but he had a very good reason not to.

Zylle Hawking hated coming home late from work. She always had to though, since the other executives just "had" to go home to their families. Sure they were all family men, she thought to herself sarcastically. If they were, why the hell do the flirt with me all the time and not actually do the work that they're supposed to do? Such is the way of power: one does not use it wisely and they become easy prey for a person moving up. She herself practiced that technique to get where she was now. Improve your own skills and sucker punch those higher up.

She adjusted her light blazer slightly as she noticed the wind picking up. As she composed herself, it died down to only a few gusts. It mussed up her hair as she continued to walk west across the park. Her home was at the other end and this was the shortest way there, since the park was in the middle of town.

Zylle was very unappreciative of the attentions she got at work or on the street. For all they knew, she could be the kind of woman who killed people for enjoyment. This was the kind of woman Zylle was: one that knew herself extremely well and who wondered what the hell was wrong with the world. One would be surprised that the slender thirty-four year old wasn't married. Pale-skinned, she had a curvy and full slim figure, but she wasn't stick thin. Oh no, she despised those supermodels who starved themselves just for the sake of beauty, but that once again was her nature. Her long, messy black hair had managed to get out of the braid she put it in this morning and flew in the gentle wind. Her gray eyes were alert and sharp, taking in everything that surrounded her. Though the clans got along peacefully, there were still some people that didn't follow the rules. Zylle had nothing to fear: she wasn't the Black Dragon leader of her clan for nothing after all.

Aiken-Quincy Park was a strangely designed park. All together a staggering 25 acres, its paths made an interesting design. If seen from a bird's eye view, one would see a pentagram within a pentagram. The large paths formed a large star inside the stone fence boundaries of the park's pentagon shape. In the center of that star was another pentagon, with smaller trails making a star inside that as well. The park's public place was in that center pentagram, while one could enjoy peace and quiet in the more remote parts of the area. Aiken-Quincy Park was one of the few signs that Grey Tower Town was anything but normal.

Zylle was walking across the center pentagram when the sky suddenly darkened. What could only be described as an extremely violently whirlwind sprung up as if from nothing. Dropping her suitcase and shielding her face, she tried to use her power to stop it. The whirlwind, however great was her control, did not stop. Squinting though the darkness, she saw two forms. One was clearly that of a tall woman, whose form was of shadows. Except her eyes that pierced through the gloom with an almost frightening clarity. Those eyes were a deep midnight blue, flecked with golden yellow and bright silver. At the woman's feet was the still body of a person, glowing weak silver. Confused, she murmured, "What the-"

As abruptly as it started, the tempest ceased. "-hell," Zylle finished eloquently. The Dark Lady was gone, but the other one was still there, the dim silver aura noticeable in the retreating shade. She ran to the unmoving form on the ground and was not prepared for what she found.

It was a boy, about fourteen or fifteen, who was bruised and bleeding beyond belief. His breathing was wildly erratic and looked to be in a great deal of pain. When she moved his head onto her lap to help him breathe, she noticed he flinched. Removing her hand from his head and looking at it, she found it covered with a dark fluid. It had to be blood. This was bad. This kid needed help. Fast.

Placing her hands on the boy's thin shoulders, she tapped into her power. Asking the winds to help her, she closed her eyes and concentrated. The winds answered her. With just a breeze and a rustle of leaves, Zylle and the boy disappeared from Aiken-Quincy Park.

Opening and blinking gray orbs in the harsh light, she found herself exactly where she wanted to be: the reception desk of Grey Tower Sanctuary Hospital. Thankfully, the boy was still with her, but his condition was getting steadily worse. Offering gratitude to the winds, she had to think fast for the kid's sake. From their position on the floor, she was glad the person at the front desk was some she knew. "Christine! Get a doctor fast!"

The younger woman at the counter looked up from the magazine that she had been reading at the frantic voice. "Zylle? What-oh my!" Apparently, she noticed the bleeding person with her. Grabbing the nearby phone, she punched the numbers in quickly. Panicky, she said into the receiver, "I need a stretcher at the front desk immediately. Calling Dr. Diamante! Dr. Diamante, this is urgent!"

Zylle hated feeling helpless, but she knew that she had to trust in the hospital's doctors now to help this poor kid. She would only complicate things. She was glad that Dr. Diamante was there though. A great doctor, he was also a good friend of hers.

A few men and women in white medical suits came up from the lower levels, where the main part of the hospital was located. The only above ground structures of the facility were the visiting area, the reception desk, and the emergency entrance. A tall man with graying hair came up after the first group. Smiling when he saw her, he started jovially, "Zylle! I didn't expect you to be-" He stopped when he saw the boy in her lap. Angrily turning to his colleagues, he roared, "WHY ISN'T HE ON THE STRETCHER YET?! THIS IS CRITICAL!"

Alarmed, one replied, "But sir! We can't physically lift him without causing more injury to him!"

Here Zylle saw her chance to do something. "Wait! I can do it!"

Dr. Diamante returned his gaze to her. "Really? If it isn't too much trouble...but please do it quickly. Time is of the essence here!"

Nodding, she lifted up her hands, manipulating the air currents. Slowly, the boy rose off of the floor, but he wasn't convulsing in pain like in the previous physical first attempts. She gently floated him on to the stretcher. Dr. Diamante made a brief gesture of thanks before he and his co-workers rushed the boy to the emergency room. Christine frowned at her when she noticed that after thirty minutes, Zylle still hadn't left. "Zylle, maybe you should go home. It's pretty late."

Zylle nodded. She was going home now. But tomorrow she'll let those idiots at work do something for a change. She was going to stay her and see how her boy was doing. Wait. MY boy? Never mind. I'll stay by his side no matter what. As she used the same travel trick as before to go home, she asked the winds to please help that unfortunate young man.

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She smiled to herself. That woman would certainly help him. Zylle, wasn't it? Considering who she was and how she acted, even better. Zylle Hawking was the mother figure that he needed in his life right now and also, she'll be able to teach him things that Hogwarts never would. What she would teach him would be lessons that he would certainly need in the future, lessons that wouldn't just involve power, but his own character. She was sure that Harry would be happy with Zylle.

He would live. She would make sure that he did. And when he woke up, he would be stronger than he was before. He would also have a new life as well. A new life that would make him happy for once in his small existence.

The blue-eyed lady looked up to the night sky. "Soon...soon the Gift will be renewed and all will be right again."

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