“You are more than all of us, Serenity. The Winter Queen only arises when the fate of the world is in danger. You are the Winter Queen! If you choose to walk this path, know that you carry the fate of all the Saints with you. I know what we ask is unbelievable but you will not be alone. We will lend our power to yours, Serenity.”
“It is time,” Daniel says. He walks towards the lush green wall of the maze and a door opens leading back to the center of town. “Use your map, it will guide your steps. God speed, Serenity. We will slow her down. Hurry!” he urges.
Chapter 14
Michael feels her hatred the moment they land. Horror fills his eyes as he looks at his father and the hunters who hold Mrs. Brown. Sincere hides his face behind his father’s leg when he sees his old babysitter. She begins laughing wildly when she sees them.
“You’re too late, Michael! She will die, and you will all beg for mercy from the new Winter Queen!”
“Michael, the hunters found Mrs. Brown and cohorts, attacking our house! They have all been captured,” his mother begins to explain, but Mrs. Brown interrupts.
“Do you feel that, Michael? Your new love is surrounded by three guardians, and Ayva! You will bury her just like your first wife!” she screams spittle flying from her mouth.
Nick moves in front of her and waves his hand, her head falls back and she goes quiet. “Tell me Ayva’s plan!”
“Ayva said to separate the lovers and destroy the woman! She sent her guardians after the human and while she fights, Ayva will claim the well for herself.”
Noel gasps, and grabs Michaels arm. Sincere is standing back, holding Nathan’s hand and they look at each other. “Dad!” Nathan calls.
He turns and looks at them and smiles. “It’s going to be okay son, they do not know who they are fighting. We are stronger when we are together.” The boys run to him and grab his hand.
“Grandpa are you coming with us?”
His laughter booms out and he grabs Noel’s hand, “Of course!”
“Wait!” Noel turns to the hunters, “Imprison her until we return.” She turns back to her family and her eyes are glowing purple. “We will not go alone, I will call the others, Nick.” She drops to her knees, and they all back away. Oblivious to the snow surrounding her, Noel lifts her face to the Northern lights rippling in the sky above. She reaches up with a hand, and a beam of purple light rips from her hand merging with the flow of the river above.
The moment her stream joins the emerald ribbons, they shift, glowing a brilliant purple. Now they expand, rippling across the sky like a waving flag, calling the attention of all who see. Noel creates a magic show just for the guardians, calling them to action.
The light fades from her hand but the heavens grow brighter as returning beams of purple begin to join hers in the sky. “Now, we can go,” she says as Nick helps her up from the snow.
“Nana, you are awesome!” Nate says. They laugh and watch in awe as Nick opens a portal door. “Time to end this!”
Serenity steps through the door into the setting sun. It is four o’clock and her time is up. She unrolls the map and it reads. Stay left.
With trembling hands she rolls the map up and looks at the long road in front of her. It is flanked by stone walls. Street lights glow and in the distance she hears the sound of cars driving by. “Stay left, that’s real helpful,” she snaps sarcastically and begins the long walk. The soft mist has turned into a soft rain. Serenity hurries along, and the rain falls heavy now. With every step she takes the wind picks up and she feels the sting of the rain, striking her skin.
She plods along, ignoring the sucking of the mud against her boots. Soon she is past the brick wall and she finds herself on a bridge overlooking the castle. The once calm river begins to rise and the birds take flight, as they fight through the storm to find shelter.
Serenity pushes on and comes to a fork in the road. Her hair is plastered to her head and she remembers the map said to stay left. Looking to her left she sees the river has begun claiming the road. It would easily be knee height by now! “I can’t go left, now what map!” she snaps and draws it from her pocket only to have the wind tear it from her grasp.
The map disappears on a heavy wind and Serenity hears the wicked laugh she has come to hate. “Ayva!” she snarls. In the distance a flash of light, purple light! Ayva laugh changes to a scream as the Saint and the Guardian attack her. The swelling river slows, and Serenity knows they are buying her the time she needs. She runs left, straight into the heavy flow of water and prays that she makes it in time to wherever she is going. Turn right at the fork! Daniel yells.
Not needing to be told twice, she turns and runs right, finding herself surrounded once again by a large brick wall. At the end of the road she sees it! A fountain, protruding from the wall. It looks more like a pipe protruding from a wall into a concrete basin. It has a small trickle of water. Green moss covers the wall from the spray of the water, and Serenity smiles in joy! She can feel it, the power of the Well. It calls to her drawing her close.
Three Guardians drop from the sky, blocking the road in front of Serenity. She
