Hexes and Handcuffs: A Limited Edition Collection of Supernatural Prison Stories

by Margo Bond Collins

  The Dragon’s Den

  The Butcher

  Warrior Princess

  Stealing The Throne

  Reclaiming The Throne

  Relapse

  Touched By Lightning

  Elemental Beginnings

  The Hidden Deva Legacy-Prequel

  M.M. Chabot

  About Elemental Beginnings

  A forgotten past, a secret, and an intriguing enforcer.

  Viviana Gray just wants to live her simple, quiet life. But, that isn’t happening anytime soon. Vivianna is thrown into Morningstar Academy. A school for those with magic, but it isn’t voluntary.

  With no memory of how she got there or what she did to get put into confinement, Viv must find a way to get out of the Academy before anyone finds out what her secret is, even if she doesn’t know it.

  With the help of her roommate, Catherine, will Viv be able to withstand what awaits her in confinement, or is she able to find her own way?

  Fans of Elementals and Laurel Chase will love the blend of reverse harem, academy and prison enforcers with magical adventure, in this paranormal romance in Elemental Beginnings, from USA Today bestselling author M.M. Chabot.

  Ready to find your next group of book boyfriends? Start this sexy new slow-burn series today!

  Chapter One

  “Wake up call!” a loud voice rang out, echoing around my head, causing my brain to finally register it.

  The surface below me was rough, harder, nothing like I was expecting. My bed wasn’t amazing, but it definitely felt more like a bed rather than this cardboard.

  My eyes peel open, like I’ve been sleeping for far too long. The light hurts. My eyes scan the plain white wall in front of me, not one imperfection visible. “Where the hell am I?”

  “Welcome to living hell.”

  I roll away from the wall, my heart pounding a mile a minute. “Holy moly! Don’t sneak up on a girl like that!”

  “Honey, I have been here for a while, no sneakin‘ up on from me.” A chuckle rumbles from the chest of this red-haired woman. High cheekbones hidden behind a greasy curtain of what I am sure is a beautiful woman.

  “Who are you? Where are we? How did I get—?”

  “Honey, slow it down. We have all the time in the world.”

  “What do you mean?! Where are we?” My chest is contracting with every word out of my mouth.

  “Welcome to Morningstar Confinement. You have been committed.”

  My jaw drops. I just know my eyes have to be the size off watermelons. “What do … you … mean?” I manage to stutter out.

  “Just like I said. We are in Morningstar Academy. I feel like it is more confinement, being brought here against my will and all. You were brought in for the fact that someone must have assumed you use magic. You know what happens when Enforcers catch wind of that shit.”

  “What the heck…? I don’t have magic! Having a small amount of magic is a death sentence, why would anyone want it?” My eyes scan my new room. Plain walls, single bed across from me with a light mauve comforter thrown across it all disheveled, exactly like my own. The pale gray carpet covered the floor of our small room, leading to a wooden bookshelf filled with books.

  “I don’t know, darlin’. There must have been a reason. Everyone I have seen that comes through here has some small measure. If you don’t test high enough you will be sent away. This academy is for those who develop their magic,” my new roommate replies, sadness resonating in her voice.

  “Thank you. I am Viviana. What happens now?” I can feel the tension in the air, we are both here, but not from our choice.

  “I am Catherine, and unfortunately what happens next is the worst part. Testing.”

  Chapter Two

  Walking down the long hallway, an academy enforcer on each side, their all black uniforms a huge contrast with the white of the hallway. The pounding of my heart and the tap of our shoes on the hard floors reverberate through my ears.

  “Where are we going? What am I doing here?”

  The enforcer on my left grips my arm, tight, causing my breath to stutter. My thoughts are racing. I don’t even know what I was doing that caused me to be caught. Why can’t I remember?

  “In to the room on your right,” the enforcer on the right demands, but something about his voice calms me. I can’t see their faces, just their eyes, but I feel reassured, for some insane reason.

  A quick burst of pressure at my back causes me to stumble forward into the room, the door slamming shut behind me. “What the heck! You didn’t need to shove me!” I yell to no one in particular.

  The solo white cushioned chair in the middle of the room reminds me of a dentist office, the metal tray with instruments not helping the mental image. The cool crisp air slowly flows by, causing the hair on my arms to stand up and the sanitized scent to fill my nostrils.

  “What is going on? Is anyone here?” I fire off questions, the plain walls and sterile atmosphere causing me to feel trapped. I run to the door, yanking and pulling on the handle, with no luck. Resting my head on the door, the cool temperature slowing my racing heart, keeping the panic at bay I close my eyes and take some deep breaths.

  Straightening up, I open my eyes, the woosh of the door coming a second later. Whirling around I notice the open doorway, with the door panel sitting off to the side. Movement out of the corner of my eye comes a second later, before a sharp stings follows.

  I am losing the feeling in my limbs, I don’t know what I was stuck with, but I know it can’t be good. The panic I was fighting away earlier comes back in full force. My chest feels tight, my palms are tingling, and I know what I start feeling. Dread. I am falling to the floor, having no control over my body, when rough hands grab me. Blackness is rushing towards me, I can feel it sucking me into the black oblivion, the whisper of, “I can’t wait to see what you can do,” following me.

  The clank of metal on metal rings in my ears, the light of the room slowly entering my heavy eyes. A cold weight resting against my wrists and a heavy pressure against my abdomen are the first thing I notice. “Can I please stop waking up in places I do not know?” I mumble to no one in particular.

  “I am glad you are awake. I am surprised you slept through some of that, but I must have used more sedative than needed. I expected you to be stronger.” An aged man with white hair, and piercing green eyes peer at me, his eyebrow raised in question.

  “What on earth are you talking about?” I know I look as confused as I feel.

  “Interesting.” A smirk takes over his face, his eyes lighting up in glee. “Your test results came out average, nothing unique or special. Let’s see if you pass the final test.”

  A surprised yelp leaves me when he moves closer, his weird green eyes appearing brighter. A searing pain radiates down my arm, causing heat to trail behind. “Ahh!” I scream, tears falling down my face.

  Keep it in, I tell myself, don’t let it out. Another cut across my thigh brings me out of my thoughts. “What do you want?”

  “Stop!”

  Another cut. Another tear. “Why are you doing this?” I cry out, heaving, with tears strolling down my cheeks.

  Minutes pass, maybe hours, I can’t keep track. The number of cuts and devices I have endured have all blurred together.

  The door flies open, crashing to the wall. “What are you doing?” my torturer asks.

  The enforcer with the rough grip from earlier barely looks my way before replying in a bored voice, “Sent this way, Sir. Administration said they have seen enough. She isn’t who they are looking for. They said she is barely a blip on their radar.”

  The enforcer on the left, the one who wasn’t as scary, his eyes were blazing, like a thundering sea. Even though he was looking directly at me, I don’t think he was actually seeing me. Though my body was hurting, one thing I realized was I wasn’t actually scared of this enforcer. I could feel his anger, it was radiating off him, but again, it wasn’t directed at me.

  “Fine. G
et her out of here. It wasn’t even fun,” my torturer, sounding bored, replied.

  The enforcer with the thunderous eyes cut a quick glare his way. “Will do, Gregory.” His voice was like ice, lacking any emotion.

  “Young man, you would do well to learn your place. Sir or Mr. Snow. You will not call me Gregory again. Do you understand me?” My torturer, Gregory, is fuming, his face beet red, his fists clenching and unclenching rapidly as he steps face-to-face with the enforcer with the dark eyes.

  The other enforcer steps away from the two and comes towards me, his steps hard and measured. He roughly unties my ankles and wrists, shooting pain through my limbs, causing me to call out in pain, tremors shooting through my body.

  I can hear Gregory and the other enforcer talking, but the words don’t reach my ears. My body is lifted up, with an enforcer on each side, my arms across their shoulders. I can feel my feet dragging along the ground, but I can’t get them to start moving properly. My eyes barely want to stay open.

  When I finally pry them open, I see we are back in my hallway, with other students looking my way. Some with looks of sadness, others with blank looks, and a few don’t even look my way.

  I could just imagine what I look like. With the way I feel I imagine I look like I have been hit by a truck. We get to my door, and they push it open. Catherine gets up and rushes over, catching me just in time as the enforcers lets go of me.

  How she manages to lift me on her own, I have no clue. But she manages to get me into my bed. I feel her leave me, a moment later a weight settles on the bed beside me, a cool cloth cleaning my skin. The gentle touches and the caring from this total stranger causes my chest to hurt. Tears roll down my face, well into the night, and Catherine continues to care for me. “It will be okay, Viv, we will figure this out. I don’t have as much power as some others here, but I know you are something special. I will be here for you.”

  Chapter Three

  "Catherine, how does my skin look like nothing happened?" My mouth is hanging open, my pale skin perfectly clear, not one imperfection I know was littered across it just hours before.

  "Hun, it is just a lotion that the academy leaves in every students room. It wouldn't look good on the academy if everyone walked around as soon as they got here looking like death. Especially the students whose parents come see them after a couple days, it would be hard for them to explain." Catherine's red hair is pulled back into a slick ponytail, showing her bright eyes.

  "I guess. This is all very strange. I didn’t even know a school like this existed, let alone kidnapped people to be brought here. Why can't I remember what happened yet?"

  "They must have used a stronger sedative; it should wear off though. Don't worry. But, yeah, the academy isn't well known. You only get brought here if you exhibit magic. You will see people from eighteen or higher at this academy." She stands up and walks over to my dresser, pulling out some black jeans and a black T-shirt, tossing them at me. "Go get cleaned up, throw these on, and we will go get some food. I will explain more when we get there."

  We walk down the same hallway as the day before, but we go the opposite way, dread still creeping into my body at the thought of Mr. Snow or that room. I shiver before I can hide it.

  "Hey, Viv, you okay?" Catherine's gentle voice asks with her hand resting on my arm.

  "Ya. Sorry, stuck in my head a little bit." I try to smile, but I think it comes out more like a grimace that Catherine pretends to not notice.

  "Understandable. You clean up well though, I didn't really notice before, but your eyes are beautiful." Her smile is genuine, but I don't know how to take it. My eyes use to cause me all types of problems growing up.

  "Umm… Thanks. I must have lost a contact yesterday," I mumble out, looking at my surroundings, instead of at Catherine. I don't want to see the pity I expect. Around me is large foyer-type room, with two large ornate wooden doors leading outside, with a large staircase leading upstairs and another two hallways similar to the one we just exited. A quick glance shows an office, with administration written on the door.

  Following Catherine we pass through the foyer to another large open space. The Cafeteria. "Go ahead and grab what you like, the school covers it, I am sure you are starving." I grab a couple items, nerves getting the better of me. I can feel the eyes on me. I don't remember why, but something inside is telling me attention is bad. Dangerous. My palms are sweaty, my chest is feeling tight, but I don't know why I am thinking I am in danger.

  Catherine grabs a spot at a table with a woman who looks like she is in her 60s, chocolate brown hair with salt and pepper strands, but her white eyes are what give me pause, unsettling but familiar. I settle in beside Catherine, with the woman across from me staring at me, but I don’t feel the threat from her staring at me. I rub my chest, the pressure from earlier dissipating slightly.

  "Viviana, this is Maureen. She is a well of knowledge and like a mother to me." I can see the fondness that the two women have for each other, displayed across their faces. "Maureen, this is my new roommate, Viv."

  I smile at the women, enjoying the genuine warmth that radiates from the woman across from me. "Hi Maureen, nice to meet you."

  "My dear, how you have grown," she replies, the food in my mouth almost causing me to choke. "Sorry dear, didn't mean to cause any harm."

  I reach for my glass of water, chugging half of it down before I am able to reply. "Wait, we have met before?" My eyes scan the woman in front of me, studying everything from her hair to her birthmark on her left shoulder, to her cupids bow lip. Nothing in front of me is familiar.

  "A lifetime ago, my dear. You were just a child. I knew this day would come."

  Chapter Four

  "What do you mean you knew this day would come?" I am getting tired of asking so many questions, but having no idea what has been happening has made me sound like a broken record.

  "Darling, do you remember anything that happened?" Her eyes crinkle at the corners, sadness pulling her lips down. I glance at Catherine, who is watching me, no judgment on her face, just concern.

  "I honestly can't tell you what happened yesterday, let alone what happened when I was five," I say as my voice raises an octave. I take a deep breath, not wanting to draw attention to myself. "Sorry. Is there something I should know?" My head falls into the palms of my hands, my food forgotten.

  "Dear, I can't tell you. That won't help anything, but I will leave you with this: When the sky is dark, the grass is dead, the water is still and the wind doesn't blow and you can feel it in your chest, what do you do?" Her eyes implore mine, searching, for what I don't know.

  "I don’t know what that means. Am I supposed to?" I question, not sure what she is getting at.

  "Maybe. Maybe not. Things can change. Things happen." She replies cryptically, "How about I tell you about a woman I met a long, long time ago?" I look to Catherine, who just shrugs, she doesn't look concerned, just intrigued with what the woman has to say.

  I nod, "I guess so."

  "Back before man craved all power, there were a select few gifted with the power of the Elementals. These people were blessed and were called Devas. They had power unimaginable, but they could only unlock it by finding their intended. If the power was used in a way that the original Elementals would deem unworthy, their magic would be taken away until it was earned back. These individuals that were gifted became sought after. Their magic could help towns, farms, flooding. But people started expecting Devas to do all this work for them.

  Their magic couldn't keep up. They were becoming slaves, taken away from their intended. Man became even more greedy, trying to ensure they stayed in power. They tried to make those who were blessed with this gift reproduce their off spring. It did not end well. The Elementals took back their gifts. Over the years, it is said that a few have been born with the gift, but being born with white hair singled them out, and they never made it far in their journeys," she ends on a sigh, looking down at the table in front of us, ringing h
er hands.

  "What happened to these people? There has to be some left somewhere, right?" I ask, surprised how my voice wavered.

  "That, my dear, I do not know. It is rumored that they could be in hiding, but it is also rumored that they are all gone. That man has angered the Elementals with trying to be Gods with their abilities, and they left."

  "But what does that have to do with now?"

  Maureen just shakes her head, "Unfortunately, man is doing the same thing again. Those without powers are deemed less than, those with any power are tested for their strengths. If you are deemed powerful yet unworthy, they strip your magic."

  I gasp, having heard that before. Where have I heard that?

  "Is that why I am at this school? They wanted to see if I had power?" I ask Maureen, who nods her head.

  "It is why we are all here. If you can succeed and make it out of here worthy, you get granted a high position of power. That is what everyone strives for." Catherine tells me, her eyes sad.

  A commotion grabs our attention, my eyes scan the fairly empty cafeteria room, where the sound is coming from. There is a man, early 20s, whose hair just turned white, based on the whispers flowing around the room. He looks scared. You can see the worry lines running across his face. He hurries up and out of the room, the smack of his shoes echoing around the room.

  Before his footsteps disappear we hear the heavy thud of boots in pursuit. The enforcers race after him, so set on their job they don't notice what the man left behind. On the bench of his seat, where he was squeezing while everyone was watching his hair, water had been dripping from his hands. A puddle sat where he once was.

  Mouth agape, I scan around me, most students back to what they were doing. No one caring. I rush over to Catherine, still sitting at the table. "Is this a regular thing? What just happened?" I look across the table to see the old woman gone. "Where is Maureen?"