Daniel

"Sorry to be awkward, but this really can't happen." We turned to see Genevieve standing with a tall hooded figure that radiated power.

"How the fuck did you get in here?" Garen growled as I shielded Serenity with my body. "You are not welcome here, leave while you still can."

"Oh, we'll be leaving all right, we just need to take her with us," Genevieve said flippantly. "She doesn't belong here."

"You will not touch our Eternal," I hissed. I could hear Ren's heart racing as her fingers dug into my biceps.

"She isn't meant for you," the figure spoke, his voice deep. Ren gasped and stiffened in my arms. The hair on my arms stood on end and I heard her whimper.

"Daniel..." Then a rush of energy flooded the room and they vanished.

She just vanished.

An overwhelming pain slammed into our chests forcing Garen and I to our knees as we screamed.

Serenity

One minute I'm in Daniel's arms, the next I'm in an odd-shaped chamber that looks like a prison cell with an open wall. "Daniel? Garen?" I called out, trying to walk forward on my shaky legs. "Hello?" I ran into some kind of invisible wall. It seemed to hum with energy as I pushed against it like a damn mime in a false box, but this box was all too real. "Why are you doing this to me, to us?" I screamed as my hands slammed against the barrier. No answer came.

For days on end, no answers came. For the longest time, I cried endlessly, my knees tucked against my chest trying to reach out to both of them. Howling in frustration, I pounded on the stupid invisible wall, cursing, begging, or just hoping in vain. Why couldn't Daniel and Garen sense me like before? I thought our partial bond had strengthened the connection, but if that was the case, then where were they?

I lost track of time, the only light in the small cell being over my head. It would turn off at intervals that I assumed meant day and night or maybe they were just trying to confuse me. There was no bed and only a toilet with a curtain around it for me to relieve myself. Today I awoke to find a tray with mouthwatering food. I felt my stomach pinch in hunger not even remembering how long it had been since I'd eaten last, but still, I hesitated. What if this was a trick? Could it be poisoned? But wouldn't they have just killed me already if that's what they wanted to do? My fingers edged closer then I felt a wave of something - nausea, or paranoia and instead shoved the food away with the bottom of my shoe. The tray toppled over revealing a heap of rotted and maggot-filled food that had me dry heaving at the stench.

"So there is something there," a voice spoke. My body trembled at the sound. I'd heard that voice before.

"Who...who are you," I stammered, pushing away from the barrier, searching wildly around the room.

"Who I am is not important, Serenity. Now who you are, well that's an entirely different matter," it spoke. "You are most curious."

"I'm just a human, how can that be curious?"

The voice laughed deeply, making me realize it was a man of some kind. "You aren't just a human, Serenity. Matter of fact, you aren't human at all - neither were your parents, but they hid you well and for so long that you forgot your true self."

"You're insane," I scoffed. "I am human, and so were my parents." I blinked when a fine mist began to form before the barrier. "What are you?" I whispered as a form similar to a body began to take shape.

Golden eyes hovered in the shape as he spoke again. "I am your guardian, your judge, and if needed, your executioner, Serenity." Then the mist and eyes vanished leaving me feeling hollow and even more afraid.

Unknown POV

"She really has no idea who she is?" the witch's disbelief filling her question.

I shook my head, "None at all. Her aura is covered by ancient magic. It will take time to strip it away."

She snorted, "With those two, we don't have time. I've known Daniel for a long time. He won't give up on her. The entire kingdom thought he would spiral when he didn't find her in the first two hundred years. Add Garen to the mix, and well..."

"They are of no consequence. Once she realizes her place and who she is, she will reject both of them. Her feelings aren't as strong, otherwise she would have completed the bond immediately. Her very nature fights against it even if she doesn't realize it yet." My fingers trailed across the pages of the ancient tome before me. "I will start tonight. Her magic is bound, but not gone. She was able to perceive the tainted food despite a strong glamor."

"Good luck with that, but just remember, I'm not sticking around if they show up. I'll help keep you hidden for now, but no way in hell I'm facing those two head-on again," Genevieve said then vanished.

Pushing down the disgust I felt that she had been touched by vampires, I placed my hands on the altar and began reciting the spell. The poor girl wouldn't be able to fight for long. No one could withstand the deep magic, especially not one born from it.

Author's Note:  And we have a new player on the board...  

Early chapters are already posted on my Patreon, my lovelies!