The Trinity

Prophecy

NOA

I had sweat pouring from my brows. We’d been at it for hours. Avery had me carted into another room in the facility.

He told me as long as I cooperated nothing would happen to my mother.

The room was basically a human sized terrarium with large glass skylights the sun would shine through. Avery was present along with a few other men and one woman, they were dressed like guards. I didn’t think I could take much more of the torture.

Avery had two of the men dig a small hole in the dirt and they put me in it. Effectively burying me alive. Avery kept telling me I could get out of this as soon as I cooperated and moved the dirt. The soil was making its way into my mouth and nose.

I knew I couldn’t. My secret had to be kept at all costs. Even my sanity. My resolve was fading fast though, I was hoping they’d see after a few hours that maybe they had the wrong person. That I couldn’t actually do all the things he so convinced I could do.

Avery had me hauled me out of the hole as soon as I started to lose consciousness. They tied me to a chair and proceeded to water board me. I knew they were aware that I was indeed a water shifter. So I gave in and moved small amounts of water away from my mouth and nose, creating a pocket of air. I was gasping by the time they tipped me upright and allowed me to properly breath. I felt so weak, I’d never longed for my little bed in my cottage as much as I did in this moment. But letting me rest was the last thing on their minds.

Next Avery had a large cylinder tube wheeled into the room. He had them put me inside and seal it shut. It was made completely of glass so I could see them watching me all while holding their little clipboards like I was some science project to be graded.

Avery put his face right up the glass and said “You better take a deep breath Noa. The oxygens going to be suctioned from the chamber. Unless there’s something you want to show us?” He said, but continued after I didn’t respond. “I know some air shifters that are excellent at pulling the oxygen out of the air. See?” He said as he waved his own hand and slowly pulled the oxygen from my chamber.

I was going to f*****g die here if I didn’t come up with a plan and soon. I was suffocating and gasping for air.

But still, I didn’t give in. I lost consciousness for what felt like the hundredth time since arriving in this hell hole.

When I came to I was back in the first room I’d been in, still strapped down to the cart. I weakly lifted my head to the chair in the corner.

My mother wasn’t there anymore, but Avery was. He rose and gave his body a big stretch, swinging his arms up above his head dramatically.

“Are you sore, Noa? I know I am. Tired too, if I’m being completely honest.” He said while faking a yawn.

“Please. Please just let us go Avery. I don’t even understand why I’m here. I can only move small amounts of water. Please just let me go home.” I cried in exhaustion.

He huffed in annoyance. “You’re not going anywhere little girl, until you drop this façade. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve held it up quite well and I respect that. But I’ve grown tired of your lies.” He sneered at me.

“Why are you so convinced that I know something?!” I shouted at him. I was losing control but I couldn’t help it. I’d been beaten, starved and chained to a bed like a wild beast.

Avery approached my gurney and lightly ran his hand up from my ankle to my inner thigh. He stopped at my birthmark I had there, tapping it. “Unusual symbol here on your leg. Three perfect circles interlocking. Were you born with it?” He asked me completely avoiding my question.

“It’s my birthmark.” I told him, confused by the change of topic.

“Oh sweet little innocent Noa. This is much more than an average birthmark. Have you ever heard the prophecy of The Trinity?” He asked me.

I shook my head even though I had. Adriel had told me a little bit about the book he’d secretly read in his fathers office, but told me never under any circumstances to talk about it.

“Oh you haven’t, well let me tell you a little story. There’s a prophecy that states an elemental will be born with the power to control earth, air and water. This elemental will also be able to shift into multiple animals. They’ll have a symbol of three interlocking circles. Like this one, right here.” He said, stroking my birthmark with his fingers.

A chill ran through my entire body. All those tests were just designed to weaken me. They didn’t need me to move the earth or the air. They already knew I could.

Avery continued his monolog. “The prophecy states this shifter will be dubbed The Trinity. He or she will have three mates from each tribe of earth, air and water. Each one completing a component of The Trinity.” Ok, this was news to me.

Adriel never mentioned that I would have multiple mates. I guess he hadn’t found a way to gently break to a 12 year old girl she was going to have a harem when she grew up. Then again I had no way of knowing if what Avery was telling me was true or not.

“Did you know shifters are slowly disappearing Noa?” He asked me changing the subject yet again. I knew our numbers were small but I didn’t have any idea of the overall scale of things. I shook my head again.

“Well, the prophecy states The Trinity is to blame. We as the council are committed to saving our kind at all costs. Even if that means sacrificing a few shifters in the process. For the greater good of course.” He added like that made what he was saying alright.

How could reduced shifter numbers possibly be my fault? He wasn’t making any sense. I felt certain if being The Trinity was a bad thing I would know. Adriel never made it seem bad, he always made it seem like I was special.

This was also the first time he had admitted to being the council since my arrival. He was scaring me, The way he was so open about sharing things now. It’s like he didn’t expect me to ever leave this place.

“Noa? Did you know The Trinity can regenerate and pick a new shifter to host its powers at a new shifter’s birth? We’ve discovered, very frustratingly, that no matter how many times we take care of this little problem, it keeps popping back up.” He told me.

“Avery, please. I’m not The Trinity. I just want to go home with my mom.” I pleaded.

“Noa, I thought we’d agreed to stop this little façade? You are The Trinity. Stop lying to me.” His voice was giving way to anger. He continued his little story, not giving me time to respond. “We’ve come to the conclusion through reevaluation of the ancient texts that The Trinity must complete her mate bonds before she can be destroyed permanently. Now Noa, I know what you’re thinking, but believe me when I say you’ll want these mates. All of them. You’ll be drawn to them like a moth to a flame.” He added almost gleefully.

I couldn’t keep up with his moods, it’s like he was flipping switches every few minutes. His hand was still resting on my inner thigh over my birthmark. He slowly slid it a little higher. “Have you ever been touched by a man before Noa?” He whispered softly. Oh god. This was not f*****g happening. Not here, not with this f*****g psychopath.

“Don’t worry, I like my women willing. Just curious if you’d found any of these mates yet? Surely you’ve met your water shifter mate by now, yes?” He asked trying to see if I’d tell him anything useful.

“Avery, enough! What do you want from me? If I’m The Trinity like you believe then I’ll just regenerate like you said because I haven’t met anyone. Let. Me. Go.” I decided to switch up my tactics since nothing else seemed to be working.

“Ahhh, you’re finally asking the right questions Noa. What I want is confirmation. I tried to be fair to you. But I’ve grown tired.” He said.

The door swung open as if on command and my mother was dragged back in. She looked horrible. She was barely able to hold her head up.

“Mom!” I screamed.

“Shhh…” Avery said kneeling over my face “this will all be over soon. It’s time to show me Noa. Show me what you can do. What you were born to be.” Avery said before picking up a large knife and holding it tightly to my helpless mother’s throat.