The Elemental

r-Old Ser

put to bed by her mother. As usu

ll me a story?" sh

lways will. Which one do you w

out the los

. "Why do you love listen

love it," Serena rep

et's get

e king and queen wanted this celebration to be remembered as the grandest in history. Staff members hurried about, tying up l

eager to catch a glimpse of the royal heir, disaster struck. The music slowed to signal the princess's grand e

wailed, collapsing to her knees, staining

queen demanded, as guards rushed

d my dress and went to change, leaving the other nurses in charge

l, presumably toward the nursery. Murmurs erupted among the

cried over and over. In the background,

Lock down the castle! Search the

ce as they moved into action. Meanwhile, the doors to th

he princess remained missing. Though her parents clu

ery eyes. "Mommy, I pra

forehead. "Okay, baby. But remember

ving Serena to dream of lost

-

Years

n and again with my body. Sharp cracks echoed with every hit

lmost unrecognizable through my haze of pain. "Yo

wouldn't give them that satisfaction. I refused to lose

left. Summoning all the strength I had, I

even made it back. Once there, I slipped into the warm water of the bathtub. The sti

elieved. Thoughts of my im

you might really

own, I had known nothing but bullying, pain, and

too overwhelming. Thankfully, my mother wouldn'

n't do it. Some stubborn flicker inside refused to give up. That same night, when I emerged, shivering an

my reason

-

rtur

lly avoiding everyone, the day I'd

right, clear sky mirroring my emotions

rch to grab my bag. I turned once to stare at the

ridd

you waiting for?

ng my bag," I said, quick

why I, Serena Stone-the girl cursed with misfortune-had been given

ound a job at Haven College, paying far better t

to a dreamless sleep as

-

al at

o Haven. My heart thudded with

o Haven Town" sign, I couldn'

her laughed. "You'll have

I just can't h

a diner. Why don't

f food, my stoma

immediately assaulted by the

boring into my back. I turned to find

t annoyance or fear-it

and asked, "Is the wat

had lost my mind. "Wha

spered. "Everyone here i

ooked and her

le of Haven have been blessed with both looks a

d my order: chicken

instead of sitting. Once it was ready, we pai

eautiful people faded as exciteme