Prolog- The Decision

August, Agency Headquarters.

Four women burst into the lavish office of Gregory Beauregard. The elements flew in behind them. Windows lining the room blew out as hurricane speed wind hit them and made the women's hair fly around their faces. Flood waters rushed passed their knees, ruining the ancient Persian rugs on the floor. Rocks flew past at break neck speed, breaking the little glass that was left and shattering vases from unknown times. Fire leaped to the 1000 year old cedar doors, making them turn to cinders in an instant. Startled, not by their entrance but their varied beauty, Gregory dropped his pen.

Once he got passed the anger that sizzled in their eyes, he nearly laughed. This was only acceptable because he knew them so well. After a near century of working together, he hoped he did at least. Standing to greet each woman, he buttoned the jacket of his Armani suit, a habit he had picked up in the past century.

"Ladies, what brings this pleasant surprise?" He asked walking around his desk like the proper gentleman he was raised as, over three thousand ago. Yes, he was old, but because of his 'condition', he appeared to be only in his mid to late 40's.

"Cut the bullshit Gregory." Sylvia, who had set fire to his office doors, immediately spat. Any patience that she had tirelessly built over the years to control her gift was gone, replaced by her always sassy attitude. Out of all the women, she was the most exotic looking. Her dark skin made many people try to guess where she was from; South Africa, Hawaii, Spain to name a few. Most people were intensely surprised she hailed from the Caribbean, considering her accent had long been lost.

Without missing a beat the woman who had shattered Gregory's priceless vases with stones, Chelsea, spoke up, "Why the hell do you make us keep doing this?" She was the classic French women, except for her shoulder length blonde hair. Although she was petite, her hazel eyes held anyone who dared to look her in them captured.

Playing dumb was probably Gregory's best bet, "Keep doing what, exactly, ladies?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Having enough, the Italian brunette, Belinda, who had finally fallowed up on her promise to trash the 'tacky' Persian rugs, lost her normally calm demeanor, "This Gregory!" Flinging her hand forward, more flood water rushed into the office, bringing four teenage boys coughing and spitting in with it, "Going on dangerous missions, hazardous training," she regarded the four boys with distaste, "Babysitting."

Looking up, one of the teenage boys opened his mouth to speak but when Belinda glared at him, he looked away, content to not make a fool of himself for once.

Gregory smiled trying to stall the inevitable, "When you agreed to join The Agency you knew the risks. Besides, Belinda, keep these boys safe is not babysitting, it's important to the greater good that they are protected."

Theresa, who had shattered her husband's windows with wind, cut it. Her soft, commanding voice matched her professional posture, "You're beating around the bush darling. Face it," she ran a hand through her wavy dark brown hair and her green eyes lost a some of their harshness, as if a great burden was being lifted off her shoulders, "We're too, old, to be doing this anymore. What do you think Danielle, Alexander, and Patricia will do when you have to explain to them why Mommy isn't coming home?"

Shock was obvious on Gregory's face, "Did you forget the promise I made you?"

"Gregory, it's impossible for you to always keep me safe since you're not in field. And I refuse to put my life in the hands of someone less than half my age."

Although it was hard, Gregory bit back a smirk. Sometimes he swore she was the one that could read minds, "I understand your concerns darling," He willingly dug himself a hole, "But I'm sure you're the only one that feels this way."

"Is the air not circulating correctly in this office?" Sylvia spat, the cinders left from the doors sparking, "Shadows attacked Charlotte, James and I in our home Gregory! I had a level 10 protection spell on our house and they still had the audacity to try and kidnap Charlotte! You know as soon as I'm not an Agent anymore they'll stop. I can't put my baby girl in danger anymore. Not when I know I can make all the risks go away."

"There's no guarantee that the Shadows will stop going after her, Charlotte is a very special little girl." Gregory tried to reason, still trying to stall and digging a deeper hole, "After all, they might try harder, now that you won't have any protection. It's very easy to turn a two year old girl towards evil."

"What about my children Gregory?" Chelsea debated, "Dexter and Fredrick both know about Charlotte's future, they'll stop at nothing to protect her, especially Dexter."

"I understand that you're all thinking of your children but we must have all four elementals. Belinda can't keep the world safe by herself."

Rousing up her courage Belinda spilled the news she had so desperately wanted to share for the past few weeks, "Victor and I are adopting." The room grew quiet as her longest friends stared at her in surprise, "We both think it is time to move on. Both of us have been mourning," She took a deep breathing, trying to make her heart unclench, "Anastasia since," She looked at the ceiling trying not to cry in front of the boys that were still on the floor, "Since…"

"Since the accident," Theresa offered, grabbing her comrade and friend's hand to comfort her.

"Yes, since the accident," Belinda said, but knew what had happened to her unborn girl had been no 'accident'.

"I hate to pop you're and Victor's bubble…" Gregory spoke what was on everyone's mind, "but arctic werewolves rarely find possible mates they can breed with, let alone find children they bond correctly with. Even if you do find a child you love and cherish, Victor may never feel the same way."

"We have spoken about it," Belinda said hotly, she didn't prefer being lectured on something she was already fully aware of, "And we hope to find another arctic cub, but that is the best case scenario. If we cannot find a child Victor bonds with, then we are prepared to take precautions during the full moon. Theresa offered your house to keep the child safe."

"Theresa, you didn't discuss this with-" Gregory began but then read his wife's mind.

If you turn down our oldest and longest friends you are not the same man I neither married nor are you the loving father I thought you were, "Besides, I asked you about it last week."

"Theresa, you're doing it again," Sylvia teased, trying to lighten the dark mood that had settled over the room, "But Belinda I'm so excited for you! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"

"Congrats Belinda but we are not here to talk about babies Sylvia!" Chelsea snapped, "We need to get back to the matter at hand." She crossed her arms over her chest, showing her annoyance.

"Always the pessimist," Sylvia teased again, "I really hope the next Earth Elemental isn't as much of a Debbie Downer."

"Why do you care?" Chelsea caught on to the joke, they did this often and she was sure as annoying as it could be, she would definitely miss it, "You're never going to meet her."

"Wait," Gregory interrupted, "We haven't even clarified what you four want."

"Gregory, get on that phone and get us some replacements now, you know exactly what we want." Theresa scolded her husband.

Sighing, Gregory knew he couldn't put off it off anymore, "Since it is August, we have to wait another month to find you replacements, but as of now it is decided. Theresa, Belinda, Chelsea, and Sylvia, after this last assignment you will no longer be the protectors of this world."

"What last assignment?" The four women asked in unison.

"It's in two parts. First, you must find your replacements yourselves and second, you must train the new elementals. I warn you, it will not be an easy task."

Just like the first day they had met, the four women looked at each other and said, "Nothing worth having never is." This time they smiled and laughed. For the first time since they met, unaware of their future.