Chapter one Part one: A birthday gone wrong

Chapter 1 Part one: A birthday gone wrong.

It was August 6th,mid-morning. The sun's rays reached the crystal buildings of Lightside like light reflecting off a chandelier. The eternal daytime of Lightside had bright crystal buildings were surrounded by sparkling blue beaches, wide savannas, rivers, tall waterfalls and active volcanoes around the city.

In the town square a huge banner written 'Happy 16th birthday Cyra!' was hung. The marble stone streets bustled with chatter. The people wore red,white,bright white yellow and gold outfits with a strange gold metal bracer on their wrists with a marigold gem in the center of it, that seemed to glow faintly under the blazing sun. They called it a Solar Bracelet.

In the highest tower in the city where the bright red phoenixes soared, a girl with chocolate brown hair, tied in a messy bun, with amber brown eyes leans out the window. Her name was Cyra Sinclair.

"Happy birthday to me, I guess.." she thought. A warm and gentle voice comes from behind her. "Cyra, you should be celebrating. Sixteen is a big deal you know?" Her amber eyes mirroring the calmness in Cyra's eyes, and the man beside her stood tall with a soft expression. Her parents, Nora and David Sinclair.

David chuckles deeply, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, dear, you should be out with the rest of your people." Cyra turns around, arms crossed,the same stubborn expression she carried on her face for years. "I don't want to accidentally burn anyone ... again." She said,looking away.

It was the incident where at a very important holiday, where she had accidentally lost control of her powers, and sent a small spark in one of the civilians clothes and nearly set them on fire. Ever since after that day, Cyra was too embarrassed to talk about what had happened. But the memory was still fresh on her mind, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day.

Nora takes a step further and grabs her chin gently to face them. Nora looks into her daughter's eyes, expression softening. "Cyra. Everyone in Lightside knows that was an accident. Don't blame yourself for that." Cyra's arms loosened reluctantly and she sighs. "I just can't hurt anyone-"

Before she could finish her sentence, alarms blared across the city. The Brightstone's invisible barrier began to crack like glass, the ground rumbled as if there was an earthquake. The people's screams and shouts of fear and authority of evacuation, echoed through Lightside. Strange shadows loomed over the town with intent. It could only mean one thing ... Hunters have breached Lightside. Nora and David looked at Cyra with a serious expression. "Cyra! You need to leave now!" David said urgently, while shouting out orders to the guards outside from the window. Nora gave Cyra a suitcase and a satchel from a nearby closet and placed them in front of Cyra. Her eyes were filled with fierce determination and worry. "Cyra, take these and go to this address." Nora shoved a piece of paper with the address on it in Cyra's hand and looked at her carefully. Cyra looked at the crumpled paper in her hands and up at her mom with a confused expression. "But mom-I-I can help fight! H-how am i supposed-"

"Cyra." Nora cuts her off gently. "hunters are looking for someone, and that someone could be you. Promise me you'll hide your identity." Cyra looks down, tears filling her eyes. She blinks rapidly, trying not to let them fall, she nodded. "I promise mom." Nora and David nods and gives her a quick hug. David looks at Cyra with those serious yet gentle blue eyes. He kisses the top of her head gently and wipes her falling tears with his thumb, his touch was gentle, soft, yet soothing as always.

"Be strong Sunshine. Your mother and I love you so much."

Before Cyra could answer, a flash of bright light appeared, then whisking her away from the only home she'd ever known, the last thing she saw was her parents determined expressions.

In a split second, she stumbled upon a large building with a mysterious and eerie aura. The buildings bricks were mostly covered in moss,dirt and vines. And on the moist ground, thick white fog was gathered. Around the building were lakes, forests and as farthest the eye could see, an abandoned clock tower that seemed to haunt the grounds for decades.

She had reached the address on the crumpled sheet of paper that was still in her hand. UP.A.B(Unitary Preparatory Academy of Britain) It loomed above her like it had been ... waiting for her arrival. Across the courtyard, she saw-other supernatural students chatting around and already making friends. She adjusts hoodie's sleeve to cover the Solar Bracelet on her wrists. The marigold gem's light seemed to fade as if it was hidden in the darkest cave.

From the other side of campus a certain person caught her eye, he had dark brown hair with a pair of green-hazel eyes, his expression unreadable, as he leaned against the brick wall casually.

He notices her looking and his eyes narrow slightly, a small smirk formed at the end of his lips. In curiosity? Suspicion? Cyra forced herself to look away, but she couldn't get this nagging feeling in her chest, that her instincts told her to stay away from him. But despite that she also felt some sort of connection to him .. her chest tightened, and a shiver ran down her spine. For the first time, her stomach knotted with nerves.

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© Chasey Buena

Sides of Day and Night

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