Yay for chapter 10!! Double Digits!! -- Ok I guess it's not that big of an accomplishment but I'm excited. I really appreciate all of my readers for their comments. It makes me all warm inside to read them. -. Sorry, . I got side tracked. Anyways I hope you enjoy. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! Except the three sisters.

Chapter 10: Stop…Rewind…Explain

I tried to open my eyes to look at the newcomer. I shifted in Ranulf's arms and looked up at the woman in blue. Her hair was long, flowing like waves. It gleamed of a bright blonde and was pushed out of her face by a tiara. Her dress reached the floor in a shimmering blue.

"Who are you?" I asked talking softly.

She looked down her eyes settling on Ranulf's. I could tell he was nervous but I didn't know why and didn't really pay attention.

"My name is Shella. I will explain everything in time but right now we need to move Staci to a safer place. Give her to me." Shella motioned for Jess to hand Staci over.

"Wait, don't touch her! Jess is the only one who…" Shella took Staci and cradled her body. She looked at me and smiled.

"I understand you concern and thank you." She closed her eyes and whispered a single word. Instantly water surrounded us in a protective sphere.

Jess clung to Kieran and he in return held her close. Boyd ran over to Staci and stood by her side. Ranulf picked me up and moved towards Shella as the sphere of water was complete. I clung to Ranulf's shirt and breather deeply as water turned into a protective barrier. There was a bright flash of light and the next thing I knew was we were standing in a small room. I looked around and was a small bed. A little table and a fire place.

"Why don't you all sit down and I'll get some tea." Shella left the room through a veil, taking Staci with her.

Of course no one sat down due to the fact that no one knew where in the world we were. Ranulf turned and sat me down on the edge of the bed. Kieran helped a trembling Jess sit sown and she leaned against his shoulder.

"Hey! Wait up!" Boyd quickly followed the woman behind the veil.

We sat there in silence waiting for some kind of answer from anyone. I felt Ranulf snake his arm around my shoulders and waited for my reaction. I looked at him and managed a weak smile as I leaned into him. As we waited I heard a door slam open. Ranulf and Kieran stood up protectively in front of us at the ready. Another woman parted the veil. My heart skipped when I realized that this was the woman who has been with me through almost everything. Her brown hair shimmered down her back, a tiara holding it out of her face, and her green dress flowed down her body like a playful wind.

"You…you…" I tried to stand and get a sentence out but I was too disorientated to speak.

The woman ran over to me and grabbed my shoulders helping me sit down again. I felt warmth enter my body and the dizziness that was once clouding my mind blew away.

"Are you okay, little one?" she looked at my injured arms and her eyes grew wide. "Where is your sister, little one?" I looked at her confused and slowly pointed to Jess. "No, no, your tainted sister."

I swallowed hard and let her question roll in my head. The word 'tainted' kept hitting me hard like a dagger repeatedly stabbed into my side.

"She's in the other room with Shella." Ranulf crossed his arms and stared at my caretaker.

The woman stood and faced Ranulf with surprise on her face. They stood there for what flet like forever staring into each others eyes. Jess looked back and forth between the two while I kept my eyes fixed on Ranulf. Without a word the woman ran behind the veil, leaving Ranulf to stare at he ground with a hurt look on his face.

"Brenna, what does she mean by 'tainted'?" asked Jess.

I just dropped my head and remembered Pyra standing behind Staci. Throwing her arms into the air and watching as her evil flames descended around Staci. The heat and pain of holding onto her and helplessness I felt while kneeling by her. I felt tears start to swell up but I straightened my face to keep them down.

"Am I the only one here who is completely confused?" Jess asked with a huff.

No one answered her so she sighed and leaned he back against Kieran.

At that moment Shella came in to the room and smiled at me. I stood up and looked at her with hope when Staci came stumbling in with Boyd helping her.

"Hey guys. Did I miss anything fun?" Staci asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Staci!!" Jess and I shouted in unison.

I launched towards her and ended up knocking her over. Poor Boyd was caught in the tumble and we landed on top of him. Jess tripped over me and face planted next to us in laughter.

"You guys are such dorks," Ranulf said shaking his head.

"Brenna…can't….breathe…" Staci managed to squeak out.

I quickly got up and Boyd helped Staci to her feet. She was still unbalanced so Boyd put her arm around her shoulder.

"So what's been going on while I was asleep?" Staci asked.

"To be honest with you I have no idea," I said now having more energy.

"Shella." Jess and I jumped at the new voice and turned to see the other woman.

"Yes, Surcana," Shella answered.

'Surcana? Wait that was the name the Pura gave me. Pyra had a connection with that name.' I thought to myself and started to look around for any kind of weapon. 'She must have known about Pyra and set me up then saved me to gain my trust. Why else would she not reveal her name to me?' I scanned and saw the only inanimate object closest to me. A book.

"I think it's time we explain a few things." Surcana started to walk forward.

I quickly grabbed the book and without any warning I chucked it at Surcana's head. She backpedaled, holding her face and I started to move forward when I felt someone restrain me.

"What do you are doing? Get a hold of yourself Brenna!" Ranulf pulled my arms back so I couldn't struggle away.

"Let go of me! She's the one! It's all because of her!" I yelled desperately trying to get at Surcana. Not getting anywhere I closed my eyes and dropped my head, still trying to get at her periodically.

Jess jumped in front of me while Staci stood there dumbfounded.

"Calm down!" Jess tried to hold me back.

I felt Ranulf tighten his grip and I whimpered in pain. Jess glared at him as a warning and then focused on calming me down.

'My child, please calm yourself.' I looked up at Surcana in surprise. 'You caught me by surprise with that book but now you need to breath and let me explain some things.'

I swallowed hard. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was hearing her voice but her mouth wasn't moving. 'What in the world is going on?' I thought to myself.

'It's called telepathy. All of the sisters can use it. You three just haven't been trained enough to use it whenever you want. Since I'm connected to you we can hear other's thoughts.'

'Then how…'

'How can I contact with you? Well, I myself have been trained very well in my youth.'

"Brenna? What's wrong with you?" Staci asked stumbling over to me.

"I think Surcana is talking with her," Ranulf said and loosened his grip on me.

This time I didn't struggle but I slipped out of his grip and stepped towards Surcana.

'I can help you but you have to be willing to cooperate.' I nodded my head and Jess gave me a confused look. 'Good, now listen. That woman you met earlier is my sister. Pyra, Shella and myself were the three chosen 100 years ago.'

'Pyra is your sister?' I asked.

'Yes but she was lost to us.' I looked over my shoulder and saw Shella looking at me. I recognized her voice in my head so I smiled.

'If we're going to have a telepathy party shouldn't we invited Jess and Staci?' I asked with a smile. 'I mean, we are the new chosen ones.'

Shella nodded and closed her eyes. I watched Jess and Staci's eyes grew wide and looked at Shella.

'Can you guys hear me?' I asked.

Jess jumped and looked at me with surprise. 'Is that you Brenna?'

'Cool, it works,' I exclaimed and smiled.

'OK, will someone explain what the heck is going on,' Staci pleaded with frustration.

'Right, lets get on with that,' Surcana said and we all turned to listen intently.

"You boys might want to sit down. This will take a while," Shella explained.

"Wait but I want to know what's going on!" Kieran argued and whined.

Ranulf gave him a stern look and motioned for Boyd to sit on the bed. Kieran huffed and crossed his arms watching Jess intently.

'Now that that's taken care of. How in the world are we able to talk to each other thoughts our minds?' Jess asked.

'I've heard of this technique through the wyvern riders. It's called telepathy.' Staci said and Surcana looked at her with surprise.

'I'm impressed young one. At your age Pyra was just barely getting to know how to fight hand to hand combat. You've already been exposed to fighting and you have knowledge of telepathy.' Surcana exclaimed.

'I told you that she was impressive. Anyone could tell that she can be molded into a warrior just by watching how she handled Arden's power,' said Shella.

'Arden?' I looked at Staci looking for an answer but she gave me a perplexed look.

'Wait hold on! Rewind! We can talk to each other with our minds?' Jess asked and I gave a look of "duh". 'That is so cool! It's like we're connected by a five way telephone line!'

Surcana and Shella looked at her with confused faces but she just smiled and said, 'Never mind.'

'First of all,' Surcana started to explained. 'Pyra is our tainted sister.'

'Who's Pyra?' Staci and Jess asked at the same time.

'I'll explain later. So Surcana, why do you call Pyra tainted?' I asked remembering how Surcana referred to Staci.

'She let Arden, the black fire mage, take control of her.' I stared at Staci and she looked at me curiously. I looked at her wrists and forehead expecting to see the marks but they were gone. I diverted my glance to Surcana and waited for her to continue with her story. 'You see, Arden has always plagued out lands with destruction. When the first sisters appeared they tried to seal away Arden and his magic. In the final battle they were able to destroy his mortal body but his spirit was consumed by his black magic and roamed freely. When the sisters found out he survived they in search of him to seal the spirit. The fire sister, Lola, tried to cage him in her own fire but their magic's ended up melding together. Arden took control and used Lola's body to destroy the other sisters. Ever since then Arden would seek out their new generations of fire sisters and take over their body's.' Staci's eyes grew wide and panicky. Boyd stood to stand by her side but Ranulf stopped him. Jess and I looked at Staci and saw her shaking in fear, staring at Surcana, and taking in every word. 'Unfortunately our beloved sister's heart grew weak after a terrible accident and Arden took over.' Staci dropped to her knees in hopelessness. Jess and I moved to her side to comfort her. 'I'm sorry my darling but Arden has already made his move and left his mark.'

'Wha…?' Staci started to ask but Shella silenced her by touching her head and uttering a single word. Jess and I jumped back as the evil red marks returned in ablaze on Staci's wrists and forehead. She looked at the new marks and said with a small whisper, 'What is happening to me?'

Finally! WOW, that was a long chapter and an extremely long paragraph. Whew - thanks for reading and I would appreciate feedback on your thoughts and criticism. Please R&R