• Chapter One

    Around the Earth, six children stopped what they were doing and looked up to the sky.
    They were not the only ones.
    Everyone could see it because no one could ignore the colour of the sky.
    Even though in some places it was night time, the sky still turned red.
    Then the storm started.
    It was the worst storm in the history of the world.
    It destroyed power stations.
    It flooded the coastlines and riversides of every country.
    It ripped houses from the ground and pulled roofs off others.
    And the weirdest thing about it?
    No one significant saw it coming.
    Not the Met Office. Not the psychics. Not the weather fanatics.
    Only six children knew where the storm had come from and what had caused it.
    These children were not just people’s sons and daughters.
    They were the children who were destined to save the Earth.
    None of them were meant to be human. They were all meant to have unbelievable Powers but, due to a misunderstanding within the Divine forces, they became human and they could not control the Powers that were rightfully theirs.
    The Divines searched the universes and the galaxies until they came across the Alternate World.
    The Alternates were able to contain the Powers without any side effects so seven of them were chosen to take on the Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit, Electricity and Ice and then, the seven Alternates waited until they were awoken from their slumber less than six months ago.
    Craig Collins was the first to receive his Alternate.
    Arden controlled the Element of Fire. He had bright red hair and orange eyes -exactly like a flame.
    As the storm stretched into its eighth day, he stood at Craig’s side on the patio outside his house and they both stared up at the bleeding sky.
    ‘We need to get in contact with the others. That’s no ordinary storm,’ Arden told Craig.
    Craig nodded his head.
    ‘I guessed. But if it’s not natural, then what is causing it?’ Craig asked.
    ‘A Gate between my World and yours is opening, and whatever's coming through is extremely powerful,’ Arden replied.
    ‘How can you tell?’ Craig asked.
    ‘Because it’s affecting the entire Earth. I only made an impact on the close area when I came here,’ Arden explained.
    ‘You wait here and I’ll go tell my mum I'm going out,’ Craig said and then ran back into the house to find his mother.
    Genevieve was sat in the kitchen, helping her daughter Katrina with her homework.
    Craig watched from the doorway for a few seconds before walking in.
    ‘Mum, can I go and watch the storm from the hill? We were studying them in geography a few months ago and I've been kind of intrigued ever since,’ Craig lied.
    He hoped his mother couldn’t smell a rat as she usually could.
    Obviously not.
    ‘Sure. Just make sure you wear warm clothes and take a torch,’ Genevieve told him.
    ‘Ok,’ Craig said and then started to walk to the utility room where the coats and Wellington boots were stored.
    ‘Craig, can I come with you?’ Katrina asked her big brother.
    Craig stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly.
    If Katrina came with him, she would see Arden Phasing .
    ‘Uh, I don't think that’s a good idea, its cold outside and the ground’s slippery. I don't want you to fall over and hurt yourself or catch a cold,’ Craig told her.
    Katrina’s bottom lip began to quiver.
    ‘Craig, take your little sister. She’ll be ok as long as she dresses warmly and you keep an eye on her,’ Genevieve told Craig.
    ‘Aw, but mum—’ Craig began to protest.
    ‘Just take her, Craig,’ Genevieve sighed.
    Katrina jumped down from her chair and ran to her brother.
    They got on their waterproofs and then walked out of the back door.
    Once safely round the corner and out of their mother’s sight, Craig called to Arden.
    ‘Coming,’ Arden replied in a loud whisper and then he crept out of a gap in the hedge.
    Katrina stared up at him with wide, questioning eyes and Arden smiled down at her and then stared at Craig.
    ‘What’s she doing here?’ Arden asked, not meaning to sound spiteful.
    ‘Mum made me bring her,’ Craig replied and then he looked down at Katrina. ‘Kat, this is my friend Arden, he’s going to help us but you need to promise me that you wont scream. Can you do that for me?’
    Kat nodded her head.
    ‘I know what he is. You don't need to be so worried,’ she told her brother.
    Both Craig and Arden looked taken aback.
    ‘Wha—?’ they began.
    Kat laughed at the expressions on their faces.
    ‘How?’ Craig asked, still with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide.
    ‘I have dreams about the Alternates. Arden included,’ Kat replied.
    ‘Craig, we need to go. Whatever came through that Gate will probably be running wild by now,’ Arden intercepted before Craig could question Kat’s answer.
    Craig blinked and swallowed.
    ‘You’re right. Come on, Kat, follow us.’
    The group hopped over the small ditch which ran around their house and then ducked into the apple orchard which used to cover the land that the house was built on.
    ‘Arden, Phase,’ Craig told him when they were a safe distance away and under the cover of the tree canopies.
    Arden shut his eyes and began to transform.
    Craig pulled Kat out of the way as Arden’s tail lashed and broke a branch off one of the trees and then Arden stretched his Dragon body out to its full length.
    ‘Can you take the weight of both of us?’ Craig asked.
    Arden nodded his head.
    Craig led his little sister towards the ruby red Dragon and gave her a boost up onto his back.
    Once Craig had clambered on, he sat behind Kat and held her steady as Arden lifted off and flew into the air.
    ‘Where to first?’ Arden asked once they were at a good height.
    ‘Mark’s and I think Liam’s round his for the school holidays,’ Craig replied.
    Arden angled himself and started the journey towards Deadwood .
    ‘Get ready to land,’ Arden told Craig and Kat about ten minutes later.
    Craig wrapped his arms around Kat and protected her from the ground as Arden landed and simultaneously Phased back to his Human form.
    ‘Are you both ok?’ Arden asked.
    ‘Yeh,’ Kat and Craig replied in unison.
    ‘Good. We’re at the back of the barracks so we’ll have to walk to their house,’ Arden explained.
    ‘Are you alright to do that, Kat?’ Craig asked her.
    Kat nodded her head.
    ‘Yeh, as long as its not too far,’ she replied.
    Thunder rumbled across the sky as the children walked and Craig felt Kat’s grip on his hand tighten.
    Craig swore as a bolt of lightning struck on the horizon and the three of them broke into a run.
    They didn’t stop until they got to Mark’s front door which opened to reveal both Mark and Liam Browne with their Alternates, Guillym and Pewter standing in the hallway.
    ‘Hey, come in. Dad and Selene are both out,’ Mark told his friends.
    They walked in and sat in the candlelit lounge.
    ‘How are you all?’ Mark asked.
    ‘Fine. How about you? Has the storm done anything to you?’ Craig asked.
    Mark shook his head and smiled.
    ‘Duh! We have no lights, we’re not just sitting with candles lighting the room for fun. Anyway, Liam’s been a bit jumpy and Guillym keeps growling at the sky,’ he explained.
    Craig gave a laugh.
    ‘Sorry but listen, this storm isn't natural. It’s caused by a Gate opening,’ Craig told Mark.
    ‘I knew it,’ Guillym muttered.
    ‘We need to get the others. I don't know what’s come through but Arden told me its going to be powerful,’ Craig insisted.
    ‘Yeh but how do we get hold of them? I don't know about you, but we don't have any phone or internet connection,’ Mark explained.
    Craig nodded his head.
    ‘No, neither do we but we need to all be together to fight this thing.’
    ‘I may be able to help you with communication,’ Pewter announced from across the room.
    Mark and Craig stared down at him.
    He was sat at Liam’s feet with his legs crossed and his eyes shut.
    ‘How?’ Craig asked.
    ‘I may be able to establish a psychic link with the other Alternates,’ Pewter replied.
    He opened his eyes and stared up at Mark and Craig.
    They looked shocked as they realised that Pewter’s usually shining turquoise blue eyes had clouded over and turned a milky white.
    ‘I just need an energy source so I can tap into their minds and get the message across,’ Pewter continued.
    ‘How? Like Mark said, there’s no electricity,’ Guillym told him.
    Pewter shook his head.
    ‘Not electricity. Something Spiritual. Natural,’ he explained.
    ‘Uh…’ Mark and Craig said.
    ‘We could do a séance. Sit in a circle and conduct energy around as. If we direct it towards Pewter then he will be strong enough to contact everyone,’ Kat suggested.
    ‘That would work… I think,’ Pewter said.
    ‘Brilliant!’ Mark exclaimed. ‘Uh, Craig, who’s the kid?’ he asked.
    ‘She’s my little sister. Katrina,’ Craig replied.
    ‘But you can call me Kat,’ Kat added with a smile. ‘Now come on, sit in a circle.’
    They did as they were told and then held hands much to Craig and Mark’s embarrassment.
    ‘Ok, shut your eyes and imagine your energy flowing out of you and into the next person and those who are sitting next to Pewter, allow your energy to flow into him and Pewter, collect the energy and use it to contact everyone else,’ Kat told them.
    Craig, Kat, Mark, Guillym, Liam and Arden imagined their energy flowing through their arms and then Pewter collected it.
    ‘It’s working!’ Pewter laughed.
    ‘Tell everyone to come to England as soon as they can. Get them to fly or swim or walk or whatever to Mark’s,’ Craig commanded.
    Pewter nodded his head once and then began to speak in an inaudible murmur.
    ‘Keep the energy flowing, he still needs it,’ Kat whispered.
    Pewter stopped speaking and then sat in silence for a few seconds. His head was bowed and his eyes were still shut.
    He frowned and then gritted his teeth.
    ‘Pewter, are you ok?” Liam asked his Alternate as Pewter’s grip tightened.
    A silver tear rolled down Pewter’s cheek.
    ‘Pewter,’ Liam said.
    He lifted his head and opened his still clouded eyes.
    ‘When the sky bleeds red
    Those alive will wish they were dead
    The Dark King of old
    Will rise as the prophecy foretold
    And the saviour sent from Heaven
    Will take her place with the seven
    With fire and ice and earth and air
    An enemy will become the final pair
    Her heart will be torn
    But the destined must make it through the storm.’