Inheritance

Prologue

A New Life

New Mexico. My cheek rested against the window of the airplane as I stared at what was outside, without really seeing anything. Rather, I was lost to my own thoughts, and had been throughout the flight. My thoughts had been miles away, in New York, with my old friends and my parents. My thoughts had been focosed on anywhere but the state the plane had just touched down on.

My thoughts had been anything but New Mexico: the place I was now moving to.

The plane had stopped and manoeuvred through the airport, and we were now able to disembark. It was amazing how much quieter it was now that the engines had stopped running. I had been listening to music before but had to crank it up really high to hear it, and in the end I just put my iPod away so I wouldn't damage my ears.

I closed the book in my lap and placed it back inside my bag with utmost care. It was one of my Harry Potter books, and I didn't want to ruin it. I loved that series above all others I had read - they really meant a lot to me, especially since it had been such a large part of my childhood.

The people next to me took quite some time geting their things together. I sighed but waited patiently and, once they were finished, shuffled my way out of the seats and into the aisle.

Thanks to the couple beside me, I was one of the last to get off the plane.

Inside the airport it was crisp and clean, predominantly white. I swallowed as I entered it and glanced around at the numerous people all smiling and greeting each other with hugs and kisses, hurrying to their next destination, or waiting patiently for their next flight.

I had no idea what I neede to do next.

I knew who I was supposed to meet: his name was Erik Selvig. However, I hadn't seen him since I was ten.

He was the person I was going to live with.

My parents had died recently in a car crash. It had only been a week ago, and after the funeral I was flown over to New Mexico to live with Erik Selvig, my designated guardian, until I was old enough to live on my own. He and my parents had worked together once, apparently.

To say I was shattered about my parent's deaths would be an understatement. I had loved them - they'd been good people. A bit reserved and detatched from me because of work, perhaps, but still. I had loved them both a lot.

I bit my lip as I searched from Erik. I didn't even remember what he looked like. How was I supposed to find him? Did he even remember me?

After a search, I eventually I saw a man standing in the crowd of people waiting to greet loved ones, holding a sign that had my name spelt across it. He looked nice, with bright eyes and a kindly face. My nervs settled a little as I inhaled deeply and made my way over to him. His eyes lit up with recognition once he saw me.

"Delaney!" he greeted, once I was within ear range.

I squeezed my way past a reuinted family and stopped in front of him. I bit my lip as I looked up at him, small butterflies in my stomach. "Hi, Erik," I greeted, my voice quiet. I hadn't known what to call him, so had just settled on Erik. Dad was far from comfortable for me to use, and it didn't sound right to call the person I was going to live with 'Mr. Selvig.'

"How are you?" Erik asked. He looked me over quickly, as though checking for any physical ailments.

I shrugged. My gaze travelled down to the floor and locked on my shoes, which were now covered in a light coating of dust. "I'm alright, I guess."

A small silence fell between us.

"I'm truly sorry about your parents," he said quietly, sincerely. "They were good friends - and good people."

I bit my lip at this, but squared my shoulders and nodded once in acknowledgement. "Thanks."

As though sensing my discomfort with the topic, he changed the subject quickly. "Well, let's not just stand here." He place a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Let's get you home."

Home.

I thought this over as we collected my suitcase. I would call this place home for the next few years of my life, until I was old enough to live on my own. It would be hard. I was used to the bustling city life of New York, where you heard the sounds of traffic, the streets were busy, and shops were just about everywhere. The town in New Mexico I was moving to was tiny - I had researched it. There were no links to the busy city life I had lead in New York over here. I was basically starting my life again from scratch.

I hope I can get through this, I thought as I followed Erik out of the airport. My suitcase dragged behind me. Now you won't be so distracted by city life, you can devote more time to science, and do some more experiments.

And, maybe you can start getting this new freakish ability under control...

I shoved that thought right to the side. I had already lost my parents, I didn't want to think about that thing as well.

It was the height of summer, and I felt it the minute we left the air-conditioned airport and walked outside. The air was still, which made it worse. I had never handled the heat well: I was more of a winter person.

Erik's car was nearby. I loaded my suitcase into the back and clambered into the passenger seat, Erik beside me in the driver's seat. I had my iPod in my pocket so, when the car started, I placed one earphone in and started the music.

My head leaned against the cool glass window and I closed my eyes partially, time only passing to me through different songs. I lost myself to the music, and the streets and the world outside passed in a blur.

"You're quiet," Erik noted suddenly, driving me from my thoughts.

I blinked and sat up. I paused the song I currently had playing and glanced down at the hands I had intertwined in my lap, my shoulders shrugging lightly. "I don't know what to say," I muttered.

Erik and I had only ever met a few times before, back when I was little. Now I was fifteen, and my parents were gone. I was struggling to think of what I might have to talk to Erik about. I didn't even know where to start. What did Erik like? Did we have any common interests at all?

I had no idea.

"You know what, let's make a detour before we arrive at my place," Erik said. He flicked on the indicator and made an abrupt turn. I gasped as we turned sharply, only just having made the turning point.

"And where's that?" I asked breathlessly, leaning back in my seat.

Erik grinned.

"Someone I think you'll be good friends with."

The doorbell rang, a soft chiming sound. Erik stood back and looked expectantly at the door we now stood in front.

I looked up at the house and swallowed. I had no idea why Erik had made the detour to this place. He hadn't explained to me why he brought me here, so I was still clueless in that regard.

I just hoped that whoever it was I was about to meet would be nice.

The door opened. I glanced back down to see a woman step outside, a woman with thick brown hair and beautiful chocolate-coloured eyes.

"Erik!" the woman gasped. "What a pleasant surprise to see you here!"

Erik smiled warmly. "It's nice to see you again, Laura," he said, as they met in a brief hug.

I hovered awkwardly behind them. Is this the person Erik wanted me to meet, by any chance? I adjusted my glasses nervously. I didn't know how this was supposed to help me.

Laura's attention was diverted soon to me, and her eyes widened slightly. "Who's this?" she asked, looking back at Erik.

"Ah, this is Delaney Esquivel." Erik wrapped an arm around my shoulder as he spoke. "She's staying with me now her parents have passed."

Laura looked at me, her brown eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry, dear," she said softly. I shifted uncomfortably. I didn't like how people talked to me after they had learnt my parents were dead. They treated me as though I was fragile and easily broken, which I most certainly wasn't. "Come in. I'm sure Jane would love someone else to talk to. Jane!" Laura called this as we entered the inside of the house. "Can you come down, please?"

I waited in the hallway with Erik and Laura. My eyes scanned the few pictures on the wall as I waited, my gaze lingering on neither of them for too long.

Soon we heard the sound of a door opening, and feet clattering down the stairs. Before long another girl was before us. I blinked. She looked like a miniature version of her mother, with the same thick brown hair and dark eyes. They might as well have been sisters.

"What is it, Mum?" the girl, who I presumed to be Jane, asked. She looked to be around my age.

Laura gestured to me. "Jane, this is Delaney Esquivel. She's just moved in to live with Erik. Would you mind showing her around and help her settle in?"

"No problem!" Jane chirped. She beckoned me to follow. "Come in, Delaney. I'm Jane Foster."

I had no choice but to follow her. My feet dragged slightly as I followed her through the house. We passed a man in the kitchen I presumed was Jane's father.

"Where did you live before?" Jane asked. She led me to the set of stairs.

"New York," I responded quietly. I climbed up behind her.

"Really? It must be strange, coming to live in such a small town after that!"

I looked away, almost tripping on the stairs as I did so. "I'll get used to it."

We trekked up the last stair and stepped on to the floor above. We turned right, and Jane stopped at the first door she came to.

"This is my room," Jane said. She opened the door, a light creak sounding as she did so. After the door was fully opened she wandered inside, with me close behind her.

"Wow..." I breathed. I ambled deeper into the room, marvelling at everything that was before me. "This stuff is amazing."

It was. In short, this was any science lover's heaven. The machines in here, and the telescope... It was better then being in the labs at my old school.

"I built most of it myself," Jane said. She sounded rather proud.

I blanched, and my heart skipped a beat. She built this? It looks store bought! I didn't blame her for sounding proud. To have built all of this stuff from scratch...

"Do you like science, by any chance?" she asked.

I nodded. "I love it. It's my best subject," I said. I felt something small burn bright inside of me. I always came to life whenever the subject turned to science. Aside from Harry Potter, science was my greatest love. My friends had found it weird, but I hadn't let that bother me. "Chemistry and physics, especially."

I glanced back at Jane, who still stood in the doorway. A large grin spread across her face as I spoke.

"Delaney Esquivel, I have a feeling that you and I are going to get along just fine."

-
hello all. this isn't exactly a new story, but, because of a split second of abent-mindedness, my original 42 chapters of Inheritance have been deleted. i can't tell you how frustrated and angry i am at myself at the moment, especially since i deleted all my drafts. i have to rewrite this from scratch.

but that means improvements to the story and better writing. there's always a bright side, no matter how small it may be. also, this will be told in first person. i find i am more comfortable wit that point of view.

i'm going to try and update this as often as possible so i can start the sequel soon. i don't blame you if i lose followers because of this and if you're frustrated for having to wait that much longer for the sequel. i cannot tell you all how sorry i am. if i could, i'd rewind time so i could take one second longer to check i was deleting a story draft and not an actually story before deleting.

once again, i'm sorry. and, if you're rereading this, i truly appreciate it. i love you guys and am so grateful for all your support.