Chapter 1

Seven years later,

Leonard Haydem gazed out of the window to his classroom. He brushed his shaggy, dark, brown hair away from his eyes and began to daydream.

Leonard was one of the ten percent that had super natural abilities. His ability allowed him to see the events of the past that left imprints on places or objects. Depending on the situation, Leonard could sometimes see into other people's past. The down side of his ability was that his time frame of what he saw in the past was not limited. Unless he was in complete control of his abilities at all times than his brain was fed every imprint that happened in that location. That much information fed into his brain at one time would be too overwhelming and the brain would shut down all functions, besides the ones to keep the body stable.

His daydreams immediately came to an end when the door opened. The teacher, Mrs. Karen, walked in followed by an unfamiliar female student. She looked younger then sixteen, which was Leonard's age, but still had an aura of confidence and intelligence.

"This is our new classmate, her name is Elaine Taylor. Elaine has recently transfered to Occidentem so I expect you'll all help her adjust to this new sector," Mrs. Karen explained. "Elaine you can sit down in that vacant seat next to Leonard, in the back."

Elaine walked to the back of the classroom ignoring all the quite remarks from the other students and sat down next to Leonard. He could sense something was different about this new student. Then it hit him; it wasn't Elaine that was different, but what she was wearing.

It's the bracelet, Leonard thought.

Leonard glanced over to Elaine and caught a glimpse of the silver chain bracelet. Leonard could feel the immense history emitting from the silver band. It was definitely a family heirloom filled with the despair of just about everyone who worn it.

If only I can touch the bracelet, Leonard thought. Then I can definitely figure out who she is.

Leonard was just about to reach over and touch Elaine's bracelet; to allow the imprints of it's history seep into his mind, when he realized Elaine might get the wrong impression. Leonard sighed in irritation and reluctantly allowed the events that happened in the very place he was sitting to flash through his mind like a movie.

After he had felt content with the amount of history he had seen, he again concentrated in an effort to cease the events he saw. After a few minutes Leonard's ability was in check and the past occurrences vanished.

Mrs. Karen then began the tedious lesson on math, which was of no interest to Leonard in any way, shape, or form. After half an hour the lesson was over and it was the lunch break.

Leonard left the classroom and headed out the door. He turned the corner and walked into a long hallway. It was lined with dark green lockers on both sides. Leonard made his way through the hoard of other students; attempting to reach his locker without being swept away from the maelstrom of teenagers. Finally, he achieved his goal of arriving at his locker in mostly one piece. Leonard pushed the four digits of his password into his digital locker combination. He grabbed his lunch and closed the locker door to see a familiar person: Opal Ryder.

"Miss me?" Opal inquired.

Leonard rolled his eyes and asked, "What did you steal this time?"

"Nothing of major importance," Opal innocently replied.

Leonard skeptically retorted, "If you actually stole something of unimportance then you won't have missed math, science, and gym."

"Okay, it may have some importance to it."

"Was it Nobleman property?" Leonard asked.

"Of course not," Opal lied.

Leonard sighed, "Opal, you require a government given passport to enter into Divesnem."

"I may or may not have created my own."

"You do realize that if the government figured out what you do in your free time you'd be sent to life imprisonment?" Leonard questioned.

Opal innocently smiled, "I'm well aware of what would happen, but that's what makes it more fun."

"Well, well, my kleptomaniac friend what will we ever do with you?"

Both Leonard and Opal cracked a smile as they walked to the roof top. They took several flights of stairs and turned down various hallways. Eventually, they reached the roof top. Leonard walked to the four-foot edge, leaned over it, and looked down at the city.

The city Leonard and Opal lived in was called Eruditio, it was one the five major educational cities in Occidentem. Eighty percent of Eruditio's population consisted of students. The students had the choice to further education, after the age of sixteen, and move to educational cities or start jobs in there home city. All the students living in Eruditio live on their own. Some worked at part time jobs to pay for living expenses, others had their parents pay for the students expenses, then their was the few who qualified for scholarships. This was true in all the major educational cities. Along with being consisted of mostly students, educational cities were also considered safe havens, where the only army members permitted were the police.

"Hey, Opal," Leonard called, turning back to face his friend.

"Yeah."

"I want to get your thoughts. There is this new student and I'm trying to think of a way to approach and ask her something, without seeming weird," Leonard said.

"Does someone have a crush?" Opal taunted.

Leonard rolled his eyes then sarcastically retorted, "Yes, I'm deeply in love with the new transfer student."

"Sorry, I was just throwing out the suggestion," Opal stated. "So, what do you want to ask her?"

Leonard pursed his lips then said, "I want to see her bracelet."

"May I ask why?"

"Well, it seems to contain a lot of history. A family heirloom I presume," Leonard answered.

Opal looked over the edge of the roof, pondering, "So you're trying to figure out about this transfer student's past, right?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Opal inquired as she began to eat her lunch.

Leonard replied, "Just curious."

"Well, if she has a family heirloom and just recently transfered to Occidentem then I can presume that she is demoted Meridiem resident," Opal concluded.

"No, I don't think that is the case."

Opal ran her fingers through her long hair and wondered aloud, "Well, if she isn't a demoted Meridiem resident then what is she?"

Leonard thought for a moment then replied, "I believe she is like us."

"You mean..."

Leonard interrupted, "Yes."

"What's your bases of this speculation?" Opal asked.

"She had the eyes of a killer."