Chapter One

"Wisteria Myers!" Mom called from down the stairs. I groaned and glanced at my alarm clock, which was flashing the time 6:30 at me. This was way too early, especially on a Saturday!

"This is only the fourth time I've called you! Drag your butt out of bed." Mom continued, her voice cracking a little bit. "You know what today is."

"Coming!" I yelled back. You know what today is. The words flashed through my mind. Of course I knew what today was. Today was the day I was to visit my dad, and went to go live with him, and go to school where he did.

One day... One day you'll live here. With me. And find yourself." My dad's words were still as clear as they were the day he said them to me. My dad is a mage, who lives on the secret island of Neria, located just under Australia. I threw my pillow and picture of Mom into my suitcase and stumbled down the stairs, already dressed in a light green t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

As I said a teary goodbye to my mother, I waited outside. My father had said that I didn't need to take a plane, and that my "ride" to Neria would come to me. I waited outside until I saw a very dark gray shape flying towards me. I gasped as I realized what it was.

My dad had sent a Pegasus to take me across the ocean from New York City to a remote Australian island. The winged horse landed in front of my house, dew sparkling on its feathered wings, and bowed its head. I climbed on it's back, my suitcase hitting my side.

"Ow," I mumbled while the pegasus spread its mighty wings and lifted into the air. Wind whipped my light brown hair into my face as I saw my home disappear behind me in a blur in the blacks, yellows, reds and blues of bustling cars and busy streets. I patted the horse's mane and it looked at me with it's brilliant golden eyes.

"What's your name?" I asked the pegasus softly, whispering in it's ear. I knew it couldn't answer, and I didn't even know what gender it was, so I figured I would have to ask my dad when I got to Neria.

The horse suddenly dipped, soaring towards the ground at about sixty miles per hour. I panicked. "What are you doing?!" I screeched. The pegasus glanced at me like, Bro, chill. It suddenly leveled at a lower altitude then we were before. Just across the bit of blue ocean we had yet to cross, I saw a little island sitting peacefully off the coast of Australia. We flew lower and lower until the pegasus landed noiselessly on the soft grass of Neria.

"Wisteria!" My dad appeared, like, literally materialized right in front of me, like the shimmering image in a lake. My dad was a air elemental and he was skilled in this ability. "I missed you," Dad said, "and I'm so excited you are going to live here with me."

"Me too, I can't wait to start school!" I faked a smile to hide how sad I was about leaving New York.

"Speaking of school, you know it starts next week, right? Well, you will have a test to find what element you are, and then-"

"But won't I be an air elemental? Like you?" I asked.

"Well, probably, but sometimes mage's kids are different from their parents. Well, it's about sixteen hours ahead here in Neria then it is in New York, so it's about 8:00 here right now. Let's go into the house. We can talk more tomorrow."

"Okay, dad. So...what does your house look like? I forget," I asked, trying to start a conversation.

Dad smiled. "Well, it's mainly made of hardened stained clay from the ocean, with coral accents and a metal roof. Everything is enchanted to survive the tropical storms."

"Coral accents?" I tilted my head, not remembering seeing coral last time I had visited with my mom, twelve years ago.

"Yes, coral accents. Red branches around the doors and windows...you'll see." Dad walked faster so I had to jog to keep up with him. Suddenly he jumped up and flew- as I stared at him in awe, hoping maybe I could do that someday.

"Dad," I panted from running after him,

"Are we there yet?"

"Yes, Wisty. You're home."