1
Prologue
Her breathing was labored and transitioning into a wheeze. The weight of his jacket was the only thing that kept her warm. Christopher "Topher" Murphy was doing his best to drive through the heavy rain that seemed to pelt his jeep harder and harder. Topher could hear the glass beginning to crack, causing his knuckles to turn white with anticipation.
"Hey if you can hear me, you gotta work with me! I'm trying to save you!" he said whipping his head to the back seat then back to the front. He could only see the road ahead of him, his high beams touching the Colorado mountains. Topher could tell the rain had lightened up by the fact his windshield didn't sound like it was about to burst and shatter in his face. He picked up speed. Even though he knew he wasn't followed, his paranoia had got the best of him.
"Where?" she asks in a raspy tone. Topher glanced back at her and then forward.
"Colorado. There's an organization who deals in the paranormal. They're strong. You'll be safe there." he said with a gentle pant. Up ahead he could see the large building up ahead. Lights were on the ground moving about to detect movement. He gave a sigh of relief. "We made it. You're going to be safe here." As his jeep got closer to the building, numerous armed men began to appear with large weapons pointed at him. Immediately he stopped, his jeep swerving some. He looked at the row of soldiers swiftly knowing he had to get her out to he vehicle and in their care. He was still far away that they couldn't identify him which is what he wanted. Quickly he got out of his car and moved to the back of his vehicle. He opened the door and leaned in taking hold of the woman and pulling her from the back holding her up bridal style.
"Hold the file close to you okay. It's what'll give you protection inside." he said. The girl groaned as she was lied down on the road.
"State your business!" one of the soldiers yelled. Topher looked up at them and then down at the woman. Her eyes fluttered open some as she tried to keep consciousness. Topher stared at her for a moment. Her milk chocolate skin was pale from the loss of energy. She had once long flowing curls yet to disguise her, he had cut most of it all. She had a small afro of curls that didn't even reach her neck. She loved wearing vibrant colors, but to hide her, he had her constantly wearing black. He made sure the black beanie over her head was snug and comfortable hiding the healed bullet wound to the middle of her forehead. This would be their last meeting.
"I'm sorry." he said remorsefully before getting up and moving inside his car. As he closed the door, the rain suddenly lightened up and he looked back at the girl to see her eyes completely shut. He had hoped she wasn't dead. He started his jeep as the soldiers began to move swiftly toward him and reversed his jeep before driving away…
"So what's the story on her?" Hellboy asked. He, Benjamin Daimio, and Alice Monaghan sat in the office of Hellboy's father, Prof. Trevor Bruttenholm, Broom for short. Prof. Broom looked almost impressed. The three had become a temporary team to help battle any paranormal issues around the country. It had been four years since Nimue the Blood Queen almost wiped out the human population. Now things were somewhat back to normal or as normal as it could be.
"Well first thing the person who brought her here left her file telling us all we need to know about her." Broom said holding up the wet manila folder. Ben who was standing casually against the side of the door with his arms crossed shrugged.
"Did cameras catch the driver?" he asked. Broom shook his head.
"No they made sure to stay far enough to only look like a shadow so we couldn't see the face at all. But I understand why they did not want to be recognized. The cargo they were carrying was very dangerous and important." Broom told. Alice shook her head confused.
"So she's paranormal? Come on pops don't leave us in suspense." she teased. Broom nodded and looked at Hellboy.
"She's a human elemental." he merely replied. Hellboys golden eyes widened some.
"Nu uh!" he said, and Broom nodded while Ben and Alice looked at each other confused.
"Human elemental?" Ben asked and Broom nodded.
"Elementals, we think, are humans born from the energy of the element they possess. Some historians say they began initially as alchemist users who mated with humans and casted their power down, others believe four different types of creatures who control the elements mated with humans and elemental humans were the outcome. We do not know much of their history. Either way we know they are extremely dangerous and it's highly recommended that they can't be in society without adult supervision." he explained. Alice frowned.
"Why not? How do you know they are dangerous?" she asked. Broom looked at her.
"Because they have no real origin of birth that we know of and they control the elements that could kill us all… We know very little about them. Now Hellboy you didn't know this, but other organizations of the B.P.R.D around the world have elemental humans." he said. Hellboy leaned forward on the desk with excitement causing Ben to roll his eyes.
"Are you serious?" he asked. Hellboy had heard stories of elementals and how they could do powerful things. He always wanted to meet one. Broom nodded.
"The base in Russia has an air elemental, the base in Africa has an earth elemental and to this day, they don't reveal much about themselves to us. They have not been violent, but no answers still make them a threat." he said.
"What about the fire elemental?" Ben asked making Broom look at him and sigh shaking his head.
"Apparently with the same unknown cult that our young visitor had escaped from." he said. "From this file alone, it says she is the water elemental. The people who kept her are called Amaryllis. It doesn't say where they are based out of. All we know that it was a military group who killed many people to find an elemental human and got lucky to find both the fire and water human elementals. Whoever these people were shot her in the head to see if she could heal and lucky girl could." Everyone winced at the explanation.
"So this person who brought her here, obviously had a change of heart of whatever goal they had for keeping them." Ben told. Broom nodded sighing heavily. Alice shook her head.
"Poor girl." she replied looking down in sadness.
"Looks this way and there is more. Her file tells of much research this cult has gathered on them but I have much reading to find out more of the information. This cult believes that together all four can combine and create a very powerful being, but separate they may different weaknesses and strengths. Fire and water are opposite but together they can be very powerful. Or at least that is what they are trying to test. They won't know until they have all four. From what I did read, there are only ever four at a time, each that controls an element. It seems the cult may be trying to get all of them for a dark purpose." he said seriously. The three agents looked at each other before Hellboy looked at his father frowning.
"Well for now they only have one elemental. We got the other three." he said.
"So what's our plan?" Alice asked.
"Right now, we have to figure out this elemental and what she knows. We need to know the extent of her power and if she is a danger or not. She's been shot so she may not be so trusting of humans. You three will be in charge of her. But we cannot introduce you all at once. We don't want to scare her." Broom advised. Hellboy scoffed. He knew what this meant. He knew he would have to be introduced last.
"Oh come on Dad that's not fair! I'm better looking out of the three of us, I should be able to talk to her first!" he said which made Ben and Alice scoff and protest.
"As if!" Alice replied.
"Yeah I'm sure all the women are lining up to meet you." Ben shot.
"Enough!" Broom said with a bit of base. "Hellboy will meet her last, Alice since you can communicate with the dead all around and may see them around her, we don't need you listening to the dead people around her before talking to her. Ben, you will talk to her first." he replied. Ben stiffened but nodded looking down some. 'And say what exactly?' he thought.
"Alright Scarface, don't mess this up!" Hellboy pointed at him before getting up quickly. "Maybe if we can show that we can be trusted she will want to join the team." Broom nodded.
"We would like that to be the end outcome, yes." he said. Alice smiled.
"It would be nice to have another girl on the team." she said. There was a knock on the office door and in came another agent.
"Sir, the woman is awake." he told. Broom nodded exhaling looking at Ben.
"You're up." he said. Ben nodded and just turned toward the door before stopping and looking at Prof. Broom.
"Does that file say her name?" he asked. Broom nodded and opened the file again running his fingers over the pages muttering some.
"Let's see here… no… no… ah yes here we are. They named her Persephone."