Serenity

"Wake up," the voice boomed as I grabbed my head and winced.

I groaned, "Leave me alone."

The hooded figure from the night I was taken stepped forward. "That I cannot do. We must address these bonds."

"Wh...what bonds," I stammered, afraid he would hurt Daniel or Garen.

"Not the vampires, girl. We need to deal with the magic that has been cast upon you. You will turn from the darklings once you know your own truth. Come, we start now," he said, then clapped his hands together. The room felt like it was shaking, and I closed my eyes in fear.

A rush of air and sweet-smelling flowers had me looking around. We were in a large field surrounded by what appeared to be acres and acres of flowers. "Where are we?"

"Where it all began," he said. He pushed his hood back and I stared at the same golden eyes. He felt oddly familiar.

"Do...do I know you?" I asked hesitantly.

He gave a small grin, "You did once. Hopefully, you will again." He walked closer to me, but I didn't move this time. He seemed less intimidating than he had the day in my cell. A goblet appeared in his hands. He took a long sip, then tilted it towards my mouth. "Drink," he commanded. "It will ease what must come next." He didn't give me much of an option as he pinched my jaw and poured the liquid into my mouth. It was sweet, a mixture of honey and something else I couldn't identify. I coughed slightly when he released my jaw. With a snap of his fingers, I wore a simple white gown that touched my now bare feet. I lifted my arms, examining the garment. "You are layered in ancient magic, Serenity. Your parents were quite skilled, but even this goes beyond their knowledge. I have no choice but to invoke the magic of the very goddess you were born to serve in hopes that she can free you from the web of lies you believe to be your life and memories. Only then can you follow your true path, Child of Light."

He began speaking in a language that felt strangely familiar. I stood mesmerized until a sharp pain in my chest had me crying out, yet still, he continued. My skin felt like a thousand fire ants were crawling over me, my heart breaking into thousands of pieces and my mind swirled. "Stop, please stop!" I screamed, digging at my flesh. His eyes were filled with regret, but he didn't stop. Instead, he raised his hands to the sky calling out.

"Danu, heed the cries of the King. Purify your child, restore her light and purpose, I beg you!" King, what did he mean the King? Before I could ask a blinding white light engulfed me as a bolt of lightning seemed to strike where I stood and everything went dark.

Blinking I lifted my hand to shield my eyes from the light that seemed to come from everywhere. "H...hello?" I called out. I couldn't tell where I was, but it wasn't in that field, I knew that. "Is anyone there? Am I dead?"

A melodic female voice laughed, "No, child you are not dead." The light began to dim as I tried to shake away the spots from my vision. "Hello Serenity, do you remember me?"

The woman was elegant looking, a light emanating from her making her features look ethereal. Her golden hair flowed over her pale shoulders. She wasn't much taller than me and looked to be almost the same age. "Should I?" I squeaked. "Everyone seems to know me, but I don't know any of you."

"Ahh, but do you really know yourself, dear?" she asked. Did I? Seeing my hesitation, she continued, "Let me tell you what I know of you. Perhaps it will spark some of your memories." I nodded my agreement and she began talking. "You were only a young child the last time I saw you, but let's start before then, shall we? You were born on the night of a prophesied meteor shower - a child of light delivered from the universe to lead our people."

I choked, shaking my head, "Me? I'm not a leader, just a human."

She threw her head back laughing loudly, "Oh Asher was right to call on me. You have no clue. Serenity, you aren't human. You never have been. The human life you live and remember is nothing more than an illusion, a spell of woven magic to conceal your true nature. You are my chosen, an elven priestess of the Tuatha de Danann, and I am the goddess Danu."

I must have swayed a bit, because she reached out for my arm, patting it gently. "No freaking way," I muttered, "Is Asher the guy who kidnapped me, and what about Daniel and Garen?"

"He kidnapped you? Huh, that doesn't sound very brotherly does it?" she replied.

"Brother? I don't have a brother, I was an only child," I argued.

"That's not entirely true," she corrected me. "But I fear it would be out of place for me to explain everything to you. For now, let's just focus on your memories." She waved her hand and a small cottage appeared with a yard full of animals. "Watch and remember, Serenity."

A small girl came wobbling out the front door about five or six years old and started talking to the geese who flocked to her. Next, she tilted her head and let out a series of squeaks. She giggled as little field mice danced around her toes. The longer I watched, the more I heard soft voices. The animals were talking and I could hear them, but wait...no, not me, but her. Our eyes met and she smiled. I felt an odd sensation only to realize she was me. "How," I whispered.

Danu wrapped her arm around my waist, whispering, "You were always gifted, even at this age. By the time you were eight, you could..."

"Manipulate water and air," I finished her sentence. "Oh, oh, oh!" I squealed, my arms wrapping around her and hugging her, "I...I remember you now! You came to me in my dreams. You told me about Daniel and Garen, I just didn't know who they were back then. You taught me how to scry..." I was babbling and crying as thousands of memories began to flood my brain. Suddenly, I froze. "Asher...my father, but he wasn't..."

"Slow down and breathe," Danu spoke softly. "This is the hard part, child."

"They wanted me to abandon them," I sniffled, feeling just like the small girl I had watched all over again. "The Ancients, my own King and Father - they wanted me to hide away, take vows, and abandon my future."

"I know, I know," she tried to comfort me, patting my back and hugging me. "Your mother came to me, begging for my help. She didn't want you to become a temple prophetess, to be used by future leaders and coveted as a tool of power. She wanted to leave your father, to take you and your brother, but alas, that could not happen."

I yanked away from her, glaring, "What do you mean? Did Asher just kidnap me to hide me away again, to rob me of the only happiness I've ever known? Are you helping him to lock me away?"

"No one is locking you away. You will make your own choices as you were meant to, but to make those choices, you must know who you really are and who they are. You must understand the consequences of your decisions. Consequences that could impact all of elven kind and vampires for millennia to come." Her words had me paling. "As for Asher, he has much to learn as well. He is new to his Kingship. It is only recently that your Father relinquished the throne. His time to cross the veil is nearing."

I stumbled at her words. Only now were my memories clearing. The man I thought had been my human father was a regent in service to my mother. Roland had always adored her and I'm sure he willingly followed her wishes when she fled with me, yet I still didn't understand all of the details. "Why can't I remember everything?"

"My magic allowed you to forget. I granted your mother's request for time, however, not even I could foresee the events that would happen after she left with you and Roland. Somehow the vampires learned of the fates prophesy many years later, during the time of the bonding. They sent assassins to stop it from coming to pass. It was their creatures that attacked you that day."

"But what happened to me after? Wait, bonding - do you mean when Daniel's father agreed to merge with the demon?" I asked.

She looked at me with a mix of shock and horror, "You know? He told you of his true nature, of the demon beast that resides within him?"

"Of course, I know. He said he had to be honest with me if we were to commit to one another. " She looked more closely at my neck before I swatted at her hand, "We haven't completed the bond. We were, um, about to when Genevieve and Asher showed up." Danu let out a relieved breath "What? Why is everyone so freaked out about me being their Eternal?"

"Serenity, light and dark cannot mix. The power you have would only serve to amplify their dark powers. That kind of magic could destroy worlds - all of them."

"They...they wouldn't," I protested. "They love me, and I love them."

"While that may be true, vampires are predators. Creatures who crave power and life. Their natures will drive them to take from you - your blood, your power, your life even."

"You're wrong. I understand your fears, but you're wrong. Why send me all the visions if I was never meant to be with them?" I demanded.

"I think you are forgetting the visions, child. You have been clouded by the corruption of the spell and have let it positively slant the visions. However, this time, no one will be there to cloud your vision. You will return to your homeland with Asher. You will learn your gifts and learn of your men - the truth, not this romanticized image you have. Then you will return to my temple to make your declarations." Her gaze was now hard and left no room for argument.

"I will do as you command but understand that I will make my own declarations. I will not meekly recite what you, my Father, or even Asher want me to. I will listen, learn, and reflect, but the final say is mine and mine alone, Danu."

"So be it," she spoke her voice filling the space before I felt myself slamming to the ground once again.

Author's Notes:  Hmmm...Danu seems a bit sus to me.