Serenity

It had been nearly a month since the meeting with my firm, and we were no closer to figuring out what they had done to me. I felt like a ticking timebomb, second-guessing my every thought and decision. My fear had taken a toll on my connection with Daniel as well. He tried to reassure me, but every night I'd be swept into violent dreams, reliving the deaths of my parents, and then witnessing horrible crimes committed by other vampires I didn't know. It made me jumpy and I questioned if I could continue with the exchange program, let alone our relationship. Maybe it would be best if I just left, or at least got away for a bit.

 Nervously, I texted Daniel to let him know I was running to my apartment on lunch break. I then grabbed my bag without waiting for a response and slipped out the back. I didn't want Matt to drive me; I just wanted some time alone to sort out my thoughts. I know I'm being selfish, but right now, I need to be.

I grabbed a small duffel and then a backpack, not paying attention to what I was packing. I grabbed my spare cash, my emergency credit card, shoved in a few bottles of water and snacks, then my keys. My poor old car sat dust-covered in the parking garage. Since finding out what I meant to Daniel, he'd had me chauffeured everywhere. At first, it was okay, but now, it felt suffocating. Cranking the key, the old girl sputtered to life, and without hesitation, I pulled out finding the road to lead me to the highway.

My music blared as I drove with the windows down, the crisp September wind tugging at my hair. I wasn't sure where I was going until I found myself pulling up to a towering structure that reminded me of those old Victorian mansions from bygone eras. I put the car in park and stepped out, turning sharply when I heard a voice.

"Ahh, you're finally here, Miss Winters! We are so glad you came."

"Thank you, Mr. Drake."

Matt

"What do you mean she's gone?" Daniel roared, slamming me against the wall as Garen tried to pull him back. "You were supposed to protect her! You told me she was safe!"

"Daniel! Let him go!" Garen yelled. I could feel Daniel's claws piercing my skin as I tried to explain.

"She didn't take the car. She didn't even exit the front of the building when she left. My source told me she left her apartment with bags in her old car. I didn't even know it was still driveable. We lost it on the toll road just outside Portland. Is the necklace tracked?"

Reluctantly, he dropped me as I sagged against the wall. He held up the moonstone. The silver chain dangling from his blackened claw. "She left it on her desk."

"It has to be tied to the compulsion. We can't get distracted by our emotions, we need to focus to track her," Garen quickly said.

In seconds, Daniel lunged toward him, his claws shredding the front of his suit and shirt. "You mean like not getting distracted by this?" His words echoed off the walls as Garen's ankh became visible. "How long? How long have you known? Is this your way of taking her from me, old friend?"

Garen's shock quickly morphed into anger, "Are you fucking kidding me? Do you truly think I'd hurt either of you, Daniel? I've done everything I can to keep both of you safe. Not once have I acted on my connection to her. I've done my best to avoid encouraging it."

"He's telling the truth, man. When I found out he promised me to stay quiet. Said he'd fake a reason to leave if the madness took him. He wants you and Ren to be happy." I tried to explain but realized I may have just made it worse.

"Idiots, you're both fucking idiots," he grumbled. "An unfulfilled bond will drive us insane!"

"I am fully aware of the risks I face," Garen said, straightening.

"Obviously not you arse! I didn't say you, I said us, as in you, me, and Serenity! Are you so cynical that you've never even done the research?" We both gaped at him in confusion as he shook his head. "We are three parts of a whole now, Garen. Your bond is as much to me as it is to her and vice versa. Considering how close we are, it isn't really that surprising. We're more like brothers than friends."

"So what do we do now?" Garen's voice trembled as he spoke.

"We use the bond the gods gave us to find our Eternal," Daniel growled. "Then we tell her everything and kill the fuckers who dared to take her."

Sounds like a great plan to me.