PROLOGUE: SKYLAR-AGE: 5 Beep, beep, beep. The sound of the heart monitor sounded in Skylar's foggy mind as she gradually came to consciousness. Her eyes opened to a bright white light shining against the white tile of the ceiling. The ceiling of the hospital. Skylar rolled over, a long tube with a needle in one end was connected to her arm, and it led to some machine Skylar couldn’t place. Her eves traveled the room, empty except for a heart monitor and some sort of bag attached to a machine that was holding a thick red liquid. Skylar's eyes rested on a door, muted voices came from the adjoining room. Skylar strained her ears to make out what they were saying. A female voice speaks. “Blood … Alpha … very strange … Disparate Class … Be Gamma.” Blood? Suddenly Skylar’s mind cleared a great deal. She was here for her Blooding, because she had reached the age of five. But what did the doctor—Skylar thought the person was—mean by Alpha? Gamma? And Disparate Classes? Skylar's little five year old mind didn’t even know what disparate meant! She focused her attention back to the voices. “Can’t believe … Incorrect! … Daughter … Disparate abomination!" Dad, Skylar realized, was the bearer of that voice. “Terrible, I never … Disgusting … Leave…” Mom was also just past that door. Thank goodness! Skylar thought. They must be here to take me home. The voices suddenly became quieter, too quiet for Skylar to hear. Then the doctor entered a room, Skylar lifted a hand above her eyes so the light did not obstruct her view. It was a woman dressed in a long white jacket. Skylar thought it was stupid—What if you got blood on it?—And these uncomfortable looking blue pants that seemed both too loose and too tight at the same time. “Ah, hello Skylar! Glad to see you are awake!” Her voice was high and chipper. With a seemingly forced happiness that matched the smile plastered onto her face. “Where are Mommy and Daddy?” The doctor's smile became pained, and she took on a gentler tone of voice. “I’m afraid… that you will not be able to see them for some time.” Skylar’s small mind did not comprehend what the doctor was implying. “Ok. But when will they take me home?” “Well, you see… We are going to find you a new home! With nice people and food, and a big bedroom for you…” They stopped as Skylar’s expression went from confused, to understanding, to horror, as she realised what this meant for her. Skylar’s parents had disowned her. Skylar was a legal orphan.
