The next time Genevieve opened her eyes, it was already late in the night and her head hurt.
She couldn't remember what happened or how she got home. The last thing she remembered was walking back home and then running into Mr. Victor, who'd tried to force himself on her. She remembered hitting her head on the wall, but that was all; the rest was a blank space. She crawled out of bed to go stand in front of her mirror. She saw her reflection that looked haggard. There was a swell on her forehead and handprints on her neck and face from where the man had slapped her. She didn't need to raise her skirt to know that there was a bruise on her thigh and maybe injuries too from his fingernails. Tears welled up in her eyes. She sat down on the floor and hugged her knees as she cried.
Meredith went to check on her daughter, only to find her crying. She quickly went to hug and comfort her. "Shhh, sweetheart, it's okay, it's going to be okay. Don't let yourself be burdened by that." She kissed her head. She didn't know what had happened except from the bruises on her body, but seeing her daughter cry like this, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken right now. Genevieve hugged her mother as she cried till her nerves relaxed and she finally calmed down. "Your father found you alone, unconscious on the side of the road. He brought you back home." "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, I understand. Take your time, rest, you'll be fine, okay?" Meredith stared at her daughter in the mirror. Her green eyes were vibrant in the candlelight that shone in the room. She wondered what happened. Did someone beat her up? She was angry that her child was treated this way and confused too because this had never happened before, and she didn't know who hurt her daughter.
After Eve stopped crying, her mother helped her take a bath and changed her into new clothes. She was weak and very cold. She got into bed with the help of her mother, who stayed by her side till she fell asleep.
In the kitchen, Meredith was making soup for Eve in case she woke up hungry. Simon entered the kitchen with a grim expression on his face. He didn't know what happened to his daughter, but it made him really angry that someone did something like that to her. Genevieve was a peaceful and kind girl everyone loved her, so what could warrant such cruelty? "Did she wake?" he asked his wife. "Yes, but only for a while, she's asleep now." She turned to her husband to see him sit at the table. "She was burning hot when I found her," he told his wife, "but she's cold now, too cold." Meredith didn't know, but if what she was thinking was true, it meant sooner or later things were going to be rough. "Do you think we should tell her? If it's already happening and her powers are coming forth, I think it's only right she knows so they don't take her by surprise and let people know what she is." Meredith couldn't help but worry. When she'd first manifested her powers, her body had burned too, making it impossible for anyone to touch her. Then came the blackout and cold skin. It didn't take long for her elemental ability to come forth, showing she was a fire witch.
"We'll tell her soon, but not now. Let her get through this first. She's still really shaken up, we don't want to overwhelm her," Simon said. "I'll go check on her." "Let me come with you." And the couple left to go to Eve's room.
When they opened the door, they couldn't believe their eyes. Eve was floating in the air, and a wind was blowing hard, moving her hair in different directions, but it didn't affect anything in the room, as there was a large, round, and transparent dome around her that shone a golden-colored light. They could see the energy that surrounded her, which was red. The sight before them was extremely beautiful and magical, to see their daughter receive her element.
After the process was completed, Genevieve's body slowly descended, and she continued her sleep like nothing had happened.