Sophie gawked at them. "What?" Speaking loudly, Kelli replied-sounding irritated-"We're like the Black Swan. But our process is much more effective, mind you." One by one, the other hooded figures took off there cloaks and a girl who was hiding in the corner-one Sophie hadn't noticed-stepped out. Yet she didn't remove her cloak. "Maybe I will," she told Sophie when Sophie asked her to, "but you'll have to earn my trust first." Deciding to comply, Sophie looked at the other members and they introduced themselves. Kelli spoke first. "I'm Kelli, a more junior member. I'm 15 like you. Except I'm only a vanisher and a polygot." Kelli had black, silk like hair, sharp eyes, and reminded Sophie of Linh's darker side. Next, the shortest member there spoke."The 5 of us-not Kelli- are the leaders. One of each element. I am a gnome, yes, I help with lots of preparations and help keep our organization thriving but I also represent plant." Tears filled Sophie's eyes, "you remind me of Calla." The gnome smiled, "I am Calle (kal-lee), Calla's sister." Sophie gasped, quite shocked, "is Flori your daughter?" Calle nodded softly, "I left her 17 years ago when Igor, my father, died. He use to have my spot here." Next a tall woman stepped forward. "I am Lady Brayne (brain), a pryrokinetic and before you gasp Ms. Foster, yes, I am Fintan's daughter and yes, I am working against him." Her brown bun neatly atop her head, tall Lady Brayne stepped to the side revealing a young girl, not much older than Sophie. "This is my daughter," Lady Brayne continued, "Ember. She is my apprentice." A girl with fire in her eyes stepped forward. "How old are you," Sophie asked the girl. "14." The girls voice was thin like her mothers and she was an exact image of her mother too. Except Lady Brayne had a strong aura and Ember was more of the girl who was silently suffering. Next, there was a mid-sized lady with dimples and a smile. "My name is Melinora Pansy. I am a hydrokinetic and perhaps the peacemaker between Lady Bryane and," she motioned to a icy looking woman, "Miss. Juline, our froster." Then, motioning to a girl still in a cloak standing behind her, she added, "this is my apprentice," the girl slipped of her cloak, "Linh Song." Sophie rushed to give her friend a hug. "Linh!" she cried, "how couldn't you tell me?" Linh blushed, "I didn't tell anyone, not even Tam." Then, was the froster, Miss Juline. "Good morning," she replied stiffly when Sophie turned to look at her, "I am most obviously a froster. This is my nephew, Marc, he's only 5 years older than you. Marc stepped forward with a clever look and a book in his hand. "Aunt Juline! Vermi-" when he spotted Sophie, two patches of pink appeared on his cheeks. " Oh, hello there, I'm Marc, froster." As Sophie shook his hand, she noticed the title of the book. Rise and Fall of the Vackers. Uncontrollably, she asked, "How do vermillions and Vackers have anything to do with each other?" He grinned. "That's for me to know and you to find out." He might have spoke more but his aunt commanded, "enough." He stepped aside and the guster stepped forward looking quite young. "I'm the youngest member-age 25- and therefore am probably the most childish member. But anyway, I have a score to settle with Trix anyway." Then, she introduced her apprentice-or as she called it, next in line-"This is Brilla Vacker, Biana, Fitz, and Alvar's 2nd cousin on Alden's side." Brilla scoffed, "just Brilla, I am most certainly not going to parade around pretending to be related to them!" Sophie stared at them all in shock and finally asked, "what about Calle's apprentice?" Calle smiled a smile Sophie only thought Calla could do. "I have many apprentices. Every gnome assisting us with food, peace, and hiding is someone who can take over." Sophie looked at them, what did they expect of her? Finally, the hooded girl spoke, "I'll reveal my identity if you agree to join. Trust me, you know me and think I'm dead." Sophie stared at them again. "Okay." The girl smiled, stepping forward she slipped of her cloak revealing a beautiful girl that looked just like Edaline and blonde hair in a braid. Sophie froze. "Jolie?"
