A/N: This is something I'd written and I think posted on another site before under a different log in. However, I thought it deserved editing! This was meant originally to be a series of three books but I am inclined to do it as on long tale instead. Let me know what you think of the prologue and I'll continue editing.

The Founder's Heir

Prologue.

My name is Kirsty Peterson. I'm eleven years old. Today I told my parents I was going shopping, that I would be back for dinner. I lied – dinner was never served…

Truly, I hadn't meant to be late but my friend wanted me to meet her elder brother… I wanted to keep my promise and come home. How was I to know what would happen? Hindsight isn't useful after the event…

I wish I'd said goodbye.

Stepping off the bus, my eyes flicked to my watch. I was going to be very late home… but there was nothing I could do about it now. My parents would be furious that I didn't call! Braking into a slow jog, trying to keep a firm hold of my shopping, I headed down the road to my house. However, as I got closer, I spied a large crowd of people surrounding my house. There was a number of fire engines and ambulances hanging about. Worried, I attempted to jog faster and soon arrived at the fringes of the group. Managing to look through a gap, I was surprised to find that I couldn't see my house… beneath my feet I found rubble littering the road and pavement. Next door's house, which was more visable, had severe structural damage and many of the windows had been blown out. A wild feeling of fear erupted in the pit of my stomach.

Somehow managing to catch the attention of the women next to me, I asked "What happened?"

"'bout at hour ago I hear a bang. Someone must have called the fire brigade cause their sirens turned up soon afterwards. Had to fight the blaze for about an hour!" she exclaimed, thinking I was an interested outsider.

Another women leaned over, "thankfully my two where in the back yard, lost most of our front windows. Through my Mike recons he saw a flash of red light before the house exploded. Very odd!"

My breath quickening, I stumbled through the crowd. I was praying that my parents were safe… my world was steadily falling apart. The crowd eventually let me through and I stood before something that could never have been my home.

Pieces of brick and glass lay everywhere, leaving something behind that resembled a scrap heap. The garden behind it was covered in debris and as I drew closer, I spotted the remains of my father's motorbike – his pride and joy.

Slipping under the Police tape, I moved towards a group of Police officers.

"Excuse me," I whispered, scared at what I knew to have happened, "I live here. Are my parents alright?"

A women officer turned and looked at me sadly. Kneeling down to my height, she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder before speaking, "Hunny, about an hour ago your house exploded. We believe it was a gas explosion, unfortunately your parents were inside… I'm so sorry."

The world around me seemed to freeze. They couldn't be dead! My parents were always so full of life and happiness… it didn't seem particularly possible.

"Would you like to see them?" she asked gently.

I nodded, needing to prove her words.

I couldn't hear her continued ramblings. My ears had stopped working when I moved into the forensic tent that had been set up. The police had set up a table. Two blankets, black, covered the same amount of humanoid shapes.

"Are they under there?" I whispered.

Another policeman looked at me sadly before pulling back the blanket. I had been playing with fate being back so late, but if I had been earlier, it could have been me under there as well.

The memory of my parent's eyes staring blankly into space will remain with me forever. However, the cold, ashen faces - which are what you would expect- were non-existent. They seemed perfectly fine - other than the fact they were dead.

A/N: I know this isn't long, but I will try to get the next chapter up quickly. Please review with comments and suggestions for improvements!