“Yes, you can stop touching me now.” she snaps.
“Why? I like touching you.” he says smiling and tugging her into his arms once more. “This time Serenity, face me and wrap your arms around my neck.” He waits for her to comply.
She looks at him like he’s crazy. “Michael, are you trying to torture me? I don’t think it’s a good idea...” His mouth silences her protest and she immediately wraps her arms around his neck. He lifts her body to his and kisses all rational thought from her mind.
“I will keep you safe this time, Serenity.” He says after he tears his mouth from hers.
She does not respond. As she buries her face in his neck she thinks, “Yeah but who will keep my heart safe from you?”
They arrive in the front yard to chaos. Noel is so relieved to see him, she is crying and laughing at the same time. Baron comes flying around the back of the house, singed, but alive and Nick is making sure all the connections are off for the gas, and power.
Michael releases Serenity and hugs his mother, never taking his eyes off his home. “No.” he says startled. “Where are the boys?”
“They are safe, Michael. I left them with friends, and came as soon as I felt Baron’s panic,” she explains.
Serenity watches as they put the rest of the flames out sensing Michael’s anger, and helplessness. Baron nudges her softly and she squats to hug him. The moment she touches his fur, images flood her mind. They are ugly images of hate, and fury. More images seen through someone else’s eyes of Michael and her kissing on the lawn, and images of a woman with dark hair, chanting and sending fire into the home. Serenity, has never had a vision before. She is shocked at the intensity of the feelings. Is it possible to smell flames, and taste hate? When the vision releases her, she stumbles to her knees.
“Michael! She was here, watching us! When we left she attacked the house. What if the boys had been here?” he turns to her and sees the paleness of her skin and knows instantly what has happened. His mother has had visions as long as he can remember.
“The boys are okay, Serenity. It’s just a house, just things. We will be okay.” he reassures her but she knows the truth. The boys have been through enough and to lose their home will be a devastating blow. The thought of their tears fills Serenity with determination. She stands aided by Michael and when she looks up at him her eyes are glowing purple! The intensity of her power stuns all who watch as she steps toward the house and raises her hands to the sky. Her voice echoes across time as she repeats the spell she heard earlier.
“Hear my voice and heed my call, rebuild this house, rebuild these walls!” Light erupts from Serenity’s finger tips and she continues walking towards the house. Nick takes Noels hand and smiles at the shock on Michael’s face, when the boys appear right beside him. Each child takes his hand and they move toward Serenity, pulling Michael with them. Sincere reaches out and takes her left hand, allowing the power to flow through him and into Michael and Nate. Nathan takes her right hand and Michael holds on tightly, as the house begins to rebuild.
Serenity looks at Sincere and smiles, “Memories, dreams, laughter, and love. Sorrow will come and our tears may flow, but nothing will reach those in this home.” Noel joins Michael and takes his hand and Nick joins Sincere completing the bond. The flow intensifies and the ribbons of colors erupt from the group and when at last they fade, the house stands as though new. Untouched.
The trembling starts and they release Serenity. Michael catches her as she falls forward into his arms. Before the blackness engulfs her, she whispers, “I am the Winter Queen.”
Nathan releases her hand and watches as she tumbles forward into his father’s arms and he whispers, “We are keeping her.”
Sincere smiles and says, “Yep.”
Chapter 9
Serenity follows the sound of the hushed voices to a living room with a blazing fire. It’s almost midnight and she has slept the rest of the day away. Her energy was drained and she needed time to rest and wrap her mind around what has happened. She can no longer deny the truth. She has stumbled into forces she can’t comprehend, and she has a million questions.
Michael stands and turns to greet her, relief written on his face. “How are you feeling? Come join us and have some tea.” She smiles up at him and hurries to his side taking his outstretched hand, needing the contact.
“Thank you, I feel much better. I hope I didn’t scare you too badly.” Noel watches closely how Michael tends to her needs and she looks at Nick with hope. He gives a small smile and turns back to his guest.
Michael tucks a blanket over her legs, and gives her a cup of hot tea then sits close by her side. Baron trots over and rests his large head on her lap. “Hello beautiful,” she says. “I am so glad you are safe.” She scratches his chin and he chuffs at her, then curls up at her feet as though protecting her.
Concern erupts as she thinks about the boys, “Michael?” he drops a hand on her arm stilling her, “The boys are fine, Serenity! But now they think you are Superwoman.” Nick laughs out loud at the look of embarrassment on her face.
“Serenity, how did you do it?” Noel asks.
“Well, I couldn’t have done it without all of you. I felt the power, Noel, around us, and when I touched Baron the images flooded my
