Here's the first!

Chapter 1

Isabel

It's been a year since the whole battle thing happened, and nobody's been the same since. Especially not Ethan, although it's obvious why he's like this, what with Rochelle's death still in the front of his mind.

Ever since Ethan brought Rochelle's limp body back from the forest with the poison arrow in her heart, ever since I told him that there was nothing I could do for her, he's been a wreck. He keeps putting distance between himself and us, the rest of the Named, so that we barely even know him any more. According to Shaun, all Ethan does all day is stays in his room, even if it's a bright and sunny day like it has been for a while now.

So is it just nerves that make me feel like something bad is going to happen, or is it really my sixth sense? Even I can't tell any more. But I just can't shake the feeling of impending doom. I need to talk to somebody, but who? Believe it or not, all 8 of us have been sort of distant with one another. If I tell Jimmy or Matt, they'd both just say that it's nerves making me feel like this, Shaun would try to talk to Ethan who would only deny it and keep himself locked in his room even more, and Neriah wouldn't really do anything.

Then it hits me, and I can't believe that I didn't see it before! The one person that I can count on to listen to what I have to say, the one I can trust to value my opinion and give me his in return, the one I can count on to not try and push my fears away or make me feel stupid for even bringing the subject up: Arkarian.

Even though it's 8:00 p.m., I know that he'll open his door for me. So I tell Matt that I'm going out, but let him figure out where on his own.

As I'm walking to Arkarian's chambers, I remember the first time I ever met him, when Ethan was training me.

Flashback

Arkarian meets us outside a mountain wall, welcoming me with open arms and a warm embrace. "It's so lovely to meet you at last, Isabel," he says. "Ah, all is unfolding exactly as it should."

I feel my face turn beetroot red. I swallow hard and lick my lips, eyes fixed on Arkarian's bright blue hair. It hangs loose around his shoulders, enhancing its vivid colour. Ethan laughs at my reaction. "You'll get used to Arkarian's cryptic chattering, and his blue hair – eventually."

"How you flatter me, Ethan," he says dryly.

End Flashback

I get to the stone "door" of Arkarian's chambers and practically scream in my thoughts for him to open up. The door disappears and Arkarian meets me halfway down the hall.

"Is everything alright?" he asks, obviously concerned.

I grab his hands in mine and look straight into his violet eyes. "I need to talk to you," I say.

He says nothing, but leads me to his room. Like I need any direction to get there, I mean, I've been here many times before. He sits on his bed and I sit beside him.

"So, what's wrong?"

As I launch into the story of all my fears, he sits quietly, simply listening. Once I reach the end, he asks me, "Did you actually see anything happen?"

I shake my head. "No, I just have the feeling, but I don't know what to do about it."

Arkarian is silent for a moment. "I can see why you would feel this way. Ethan hasn't spoken to anybody for almost a year now. But if you think about it, he doesn't have anybody aside from his family to love."

I cock my head to one side. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he and Rochelle were getting along well, but they didn't even acknowledge their feelings for each other until the last minute. Now she's dead, and being around any of us only reminds him of his loss; Shaun has Laura, Jimmy has your mom, Matt has Neriah, and I have you. The only person who he can be around without him being reminded of love is Dillon, but even Dillon is still trying to get a girlfriend. Ethan…he just refuses to move on from Rochelle."

I nod. It all makes sense. "I guess you're right. But do you think that this feeling I have is just me being…well, me? Or do you think that it's actually my sixth sense warning me that Ethan's in danger?"

"I think," Arkarian says slowly, "that until you have a vision showing what will – or might – happen, all we can do is try and get Ethan to be a little more social."

This is the reason I came to Arkarian. I knew that I could tell him what was on my mind without feeling like a total moron. I nod my head, suddenly noticing how heavy my eyelids are. I look over at the clock, and see that it's already 10:00. "Whoa," I mutter, "I've been here for 2 whole hours already?"

Arkarian looks at the clock as well. "Now that's what I call having time fly. Do you think you're awake enough to get home?"

"Not really, but I should at least try. Mom might get worried if I'm not home soon."

"Don't worry about her. I'm sure that either Matt or Jimmy will have figured out where you are by now. I mean, where else would you spend two hours? I'm sure that Matt or Jimmy will take care of your mom."

I simply nod, feeling my eyelids start to close. I fall backwards on the bed, suddenly aware of how close Arkarian is to me. I smile to myself as I drift off to sleep.

Well, there's chapter 1! Hope you enjoyed it. I changed a few things from the original, and (as you've probably guessed) the flashback was taken from The Named, but switched to Isabel's POV. Thanks to Aerith4you for looking over my original copy. I'll probably have the second chapter up either today or tomorrow, so you won't have to wait very long. Promise.