Drawn to it out of curiosity, she flips to the marker holding the spot Nick indicated and reads:
Winter Queen
When darkness falls, the Queen will rise
She will bring peace to the pain inside
The Queen walks in beauty, grace, and light
But the Dark one is fierce, and ready to fight!
Ultimate power is her heart’s desire,
She will bring pain, agony and fire!
Destruction and fear she leaves in her wake,
The Queen will see and her heart will break
Sacrificing herself to save them all.
Serenity closes the book and a piece of paper falls to the floor. She opens it and finds a map to the Well of Souls! Nick must have known she would read this! She tucks it in her pocket and walks back to the bedroom where the boys sleep. She smiles when she finds Baron, in bed with Nate. Sincere is snuggled up with his blanket. Gently she pulls the covers up and tucks them in. In her heart she hears the promise she made to Michael, “With my life,” she whispers as she watches the rise of fall of little chests. Her destiny is set it seems, she will follow this path and protect this family.
Michael returns exhausted three hours later. It is four in the morning, the fire is banked and the house is quiet. He heads straight to the boys rooms thankful to find them sound asleep, with Baron guarding them. Nick and Noel promised to return in the morning to pick up the boys. It is time to start the journey to the Well of Souls. How will he look at Serenity knowing what they ask of her?
With a deep sigh he turns to go to her room but stops. She needs her rest and so does he. His bedroom door is cracked, and when he walks in he discovers Serenity asleep in his bed. She is wearing his shirt again, he smiles and strips. When he climbs into bed she mumbles and snuggles close as he pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly against him. He drifts asleep thanking God for bringing her into his life. Serenity feels him pull her close and she sighs. In a few hours he will hate her, but now in this moment she can pretend she is his and he is hers.
Chapter 11
“Dad!” Nathan’s voice whispers as he shakes him awake. “Dad, wake up!”
“I’m up, what’s wrong?” he asks sitting up quickly. The adrenaline coursing through his body has his heart beating hard. He reaches over and flips on the light, reaching for his son.
“Serenity left, Dad.” Nathan replies.
“What do you mean, she left? How do you know?” he demands quietly sitting up and swinging his legs over the bed.
“I heard something and Baron didn’t bark so I thought it was you. I watched her, Dad. She left and she was scared. Where is she going, Dad? Is she mad at us, is that why she left?” Nathan asks.
Michael quickly pulls on a pair of jeans, and sweatshirt, then socks. “No, Nathan. She is not mad at us, she thinks she is protecting us by leaving. What time is it? How long ago did she leave?”
“It’s a little after seven. She’s been gone about twenty minutes. But don’t worry, we can track her easily.” Nathan says smiling a secret smile.
Michael goes still and looks at his son, “Why would you think that, son?”
“Because I dropped your cell phone into her coat pocket. We should be able to track her through the GPS locator,” he replies smugly.
“I am going to call you Nate the Great from now on! Give me some skin!” Michael says lifting his hand in the air for a high five.
“Dad, seriously? No one says that anymore,” he says with a laugh and smacks his dad’s hand.
“Gee, thanks. I will call your grandmother. I want you to promise me, you will stay at home. You are safest here, Nathan. Serenity shielded the house, and I can’t be in two places at once. Promise me.” He says as he looks into his sons eyes.
“I promise, now go.” He says pushing his dad towards the door.
Serenity doesn’t look back at the house when she leaves. She is afraid she will not find the courage to go if she does. Dark eyes watch as she leaves the protection of the house. Serenity feels the evil watching her and she is afraid. She may be a Winter Queen or guardian, but she is also human. With her coat pulled tight against the cold, she carefully unfolds the map and glances at it. This is no ordinary map, it is enchanted. Only one sentence is on the paper, it gives her the guidance she needs to get started. “I’m supposed to walk into the woods and meet a white horse? Like that is really going…”she stops talking when she hears the soft whinny of the animal behind her.
“Well, hello,” she says softly moving closer to the beautiful beast. This is no ordinary horse, he is an enormous, snow white stallion. He wears a white leather saddle with silver snowflakes carved into it. She reaches a hand out and he moves closer, putting his nose under her outstretched hand. “So beautiful, I hope you are patient. I have never ridden a horse before.” He looks at her with deep brown eyes and nudges her softly. “Okay then,” she sighs and walks cautiously to his side to mount. He kneels down to allow her easier access. “Thank you.” The moment she is seated in the saddle he rises up with her and begins to trot away.
Serenity glances at her map again and it reads, “Hold on tight!” The horse begins to trot faster. She folds the map and tucks it into her coat pocket and holds on for dear life as he breaks into a run. The horse begins to run and his feet lift off the ground and Serenity
