Chapter One

The Tower

The Tower was a marvel of a building. A tall cylinder made of blue stone, it towered over the tips of the conifers that covered the mountainsides. It was a magnificent piece of architecture, made by an ancient race. So tall it was, and so majestic, it could be a Lighthouse.

Jenna had never seen the Tower, only heard of it by dazed adventurers and the gossiping women of Vale. She had also dreamed of it.

She was standing on the mountain it was upon, staring up at. At the very top, a blue speck glimmered sadly. It was sending down an angry vibe to Jenna, as if something was making it impatient or irritated. Every passing moment it spent in view of Jenna she feared it more and more.

A phantom blizzard appeared. Jenna felt goosebumps rise on her skin and she gathered her arms around her and crouched, trying to keep the warmth in. While she was shivering in the midst of the swirling snow, comforting warmth came over her. It was not her Fire powers awakening, but…something else.

She looked to her left, and saw a young man, perhaps twenty. His blue hair reminded her of Piers, and he even looked like him. But this man didn't have amber eyes and a braid. He has long flowing blue hair and icy blue eyes. He was silent.

Jenna swallowed. She was going to ask him who he was, but instead he held up a hand and said, "You are Jenna, are you not?" Jenna's mouth wouldn't work; she settled for a nod.

He studied her, and Jenna felt increasingly uncomfortable. After a long silence, the man said, "You cannot avoid me, Jenna. We are inevitable." Then he faded back into the snow.

And Jenna woke up.

"You're kidding," Piers said. Jenna shook her head. She had just told him her dream. Or was it nightmare?

"That's the truth, Piers. It was so weird," Jenna said. She was sitting on her bed in her room, and Piers was standing in her doorway. He came over to her and sat next to her.

"Do you believe it? I don't believe half my dreams," he said, a smirk on his lips. Jenna shrugged. "What's to believe? I don't have a clue what that guy meant. Anyways, I don't even know if that guy is real," she said, trying to convince herself and Piers.

He didn't buy it. "You do believe it!" he accused. Jenna sighed, "Piers, I need more information than some 'We are inevitable' crap. I need to know if that tower is real, and if that man is real as well!"

Piers settled down and grasped her hands. They were freezing. "You want to go up there? Don't you see how those adventurers come back? They're all brain-dead! They don't know who they are or what is going on around them. You don't honestly want to go up there!" he said, panicking.

Jenna withdrew her hands. "Piers, just give me another night, and see if the dream comes back. If not, then I'll drop it, okay? Relax," she soothed. Piers nodded and let out a shaky breath. "Don't do that again, please," he said. Jenna smiled softly. "It's great to know that I have a friend in you, Piers," she said. Piers smiled back.

"You wanna go practice with our Djinn?" he asked. Jenna grinned. "Sure, but only if we duel." Piers rolled his eyes and got up. "Fine, but no summons! You remember what happened when you used Meteor last time, right?" he demanded.

Jenna laughed. "I nearly destroyed the village and everyone in it," she said and Piers waited. "Fine! Fine, I won't. Happy?" she inquired. He nodded, being laid-back Piers again, and they went out to the fields.

Isaac watched from the crack between his door and doorway as they passed. His nose scrunched up, and his disdain created an angry aura in his room.

How stupid was it that Jenna was to mean to him, Isaac, when she was so sweet and cute around Piers? After all, he was similar to Isaac! His fists balled up and he began to think.

Ever since he had come, he had been nasty. Not just giving him mean looks, but the whole nine yards; mean remarks, snide comments, insulting and hurtful jokes, and mean looks included. Then, around Piers, she was a sweetheart.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Finally, after pacing around his small room countless times, Isaac went downstairs, where his mother was playing with the family Venus Djinn, Flower.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" he asked. His mother trailed a string around Flowers' feet; the Djinni was having a blast.

"Sure, Isaac. What is it?" she asked, her concentration on Flower. Isaac looked at his balled-up fists, and relaxed. "Why does Jenna hate me so much?" he asked meekly. His mother froze, the string pausing over Flower's foot. The Djinni paused as well and focused its muddy eyes on Isaac.

"Isaac, honey, Jenna doesn't hate you. She just…" his mother faltered. Isaac's heart sank. This was something he had expected.

"Ever since Felix died, she's been hostile to anything I've done, whether it was getting Flower here, or cleaning out a room for you to stay in. She was distant, and stayed in her room for days on end. She and Felix were the best of friends," she said, sitting up. Flower sat on its hind legs, the string forgotten.

Isaac remained mute and frozen. "Sweetie, you filled the shoes of Felix, something she didn't want anyone to do. She wanted to mourn him her way, and she did, it just…stuck with her. And ever since she started to resent you, it became a default. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" his mother asked, her words dripping with worry.

Isaac nodded, tears barely pricking his eyes. He understood now, after years of resenting her. "So…she thinks that I think that I can replace Felix?" he asked, croakily. His mother nodded.

Isaac took in a shaky breath and turned to go back to his room. "You okay, Isaac?" his mother called after him. Isaac ignored her, only marched solemnly up to his room for some time to think.

Okay, this is one of the better chapters I have ever written. Please R&R... I love getting feedback.

-MidnightPhoenix320