Gray

"Tut, tut, Gracie, you know better," His voice boomed as my skin felt like it was being set on fire. "Why do you keep fighting me, you belong here."

I felt the damp soil against my fingers as I dug into the earth. My teeth ground together as I growled, "I don't belong here, I never have!" I took a shaky breath, pushing down my tears as I forced my aching form to stand and meet his gaze. He looked like a hungry beast ready to devour me. "I won't help you. How many times do we have to have this discussion? I'm not like you and want nothing to do with you. Stop this insane game, please."

"Ahh, so you are remembering, daughter," he sneered, clapping his hands together as he moved closer. "The fact that you are starting to connect the cycles proves you are ready. Stop fighting your nature, Gracie Jean. You were meant to rule at my side. Just look how the universe has already given you sylphs to rule over, to do our bidding. Their magic will be a powerful tool in our plans."

A rush of energy moved through me when he mentioned the guys. "They are not yours to use," I seethed. "You will not have them - I won't let you!" My words echoed off the stone walls as the ground seemed to shake.

He let out a laugh, "The very love you proclaim for them feeds your power, daughter. I'll allow your little whims for a while longer, Gracie Jean, but make no mistake, you will stand at my side. Whether your sylphs live to serve all depends on you. Try my patience for too long, and I'll remove them. We already know your hand is spoken for."

His words froze me in my spot...no, it was just a dream...he wasn't real.

He laughed again, "Reid was very real, Gracie Jean, and he will expect you to honor your vow. It wasn't easy placing him inside the spell, but you did commit to him. Even that fool Wilmont gave his blessing, and you marked him. Our kind recognizes each other - you can't fight that bond, Gracie." Then how did I bond with the others, I frowned, trying to make sense of his words, and then schooled my expression. "I'll give you a week to get your matters in order and bring the sylphs to reason. Either they bind themselves in service to me or I'll destroy them, daughter. There is no other option." He came closer, mere inches from my face, and looked at me with eyes and silver hair that matched my own. His hand traced along my face as he smiled, his fangs catching the faintest light in the chamber. "You will be unstoppable once you accept your full powers, Gracie. Stop fighting who you are - come home." He sighed as I pulled away, then leaned forward and kissed my forehead, muttering, "A week - no more."

I felt a bolt of pain between my eyes and sat upright in Silas's lap, screaming.

Victor

Gray bolted upright, screaming as we all jolted. The shadows that had engulfed the bed and breakfast were now gone and we could see the others standing in the ruins of the house.

"Shh, it's okay, i psychí mou," Silas tried to reassure her as he held her shaking form. Within moments all the others were inside the trailer, their faces pale as they looked at her. Nate fell to the floor and wrapped his arms around both she and Silas as he sobbed.

"Fuck, I was so scared when you vanished like that, my eternal," he cried. Gray pulled her arm from Silas and gripped Nate's neck pulling him tighter against them both.

"Gray, baby, can you tell us what happened in the house and wherever you were?" Kota asked softly.

She nodded, "I can tell you almost everything now. It was like something snapped after I saw my Papa and He pulled my back. All the memories are starting to flood in now." We all sat down, our focus solely on her.

"He's your father isn't he, baby girl?" North asked with a furrowed brow.

Her shoulders sagged, "Yes. When I was little, I didn't know who or what he was." She turned to Kota, "The memory you fell into really was from my childhood. My Mama's family, McClarnons', came here in early 1775 shortly after the forts were established. I was born in 1779 and wasn't even a year old when my Papa married my Mama. I didn't find out who my biological father was until I turned sixteen. That's when I came into my power for the first time. I was able to manipulate time in small ways. I could move it forward or back, just in small increments, but still, it terrified me. Mama was in a full panic, understandably. I managed to keep it hidden mostly, but one day a local boy tried to, well, he wasn't happy to take no for an answer, and in my panic, I stopped time completely. I was the only thing still able to move. That's when He appeared for the first time."

"Wait, how did the widow know you almost died if you were born over two hundred years ago?" Silas interrupted.

Gray laughed hollowly, "Well, that's where dear old Father comes in."

Author's Notes:  Hmmm....just what is dear old Father...and what is Gray for that matter?