“What does Michael think about that?” he asks her.
“I haven’t told him yet, but Nick it doesn’t matter what he thinks. If I am not the Winter Queen, and not a guardian, then we do not have a future. I will not condemn him to a loveless life, and I wouldn’t survive watching him with someone else. I need to go home.”
Nick is quiet for a moment before answering her. “Of course, if you have made up your mind then you should follow your heart, Serenity,” Nick tells her.
“I think it’s for the best, can you take me home, now.” With that Serenity is gone.
A week later Serenity is home and her house is so quiet, too quiet. Bailey is on vacation with her boyfriend and Serenity can’t cry anymore tears. Thinking a walk down the beach will help, she walks to a large group of rocks and sits listening to the waves pound the beach. Her heart is broken, shattered to pieces and her soul weeps for her other half. How long until this gets easier, she cries out in her mind?
The note she left Michael, explained everything. It was a coward’s way out, but she tells herself he will understand, after he thinks it through. The sound of the ocean fades away as the setting sun, changes colors. Not the orange and crimson of a normal sunset, but ribbons of blue, green and purple!
She looks up and scrambles down from the rocks and turns to run back to her house. Nathan stands in front of her smiling. “Hi, Serenity,” he waves and walks towards her.
“Nathan, what are you doing here?” she asks shocked to see him.
“We have decided to keep you,” he tells her smiling at the surprise on her face.
“What?” a noise from behind has her spinning but she is too late. Sincere drops the satchel over her head and ties it with a silver rope.
“Boys! You let me out of here, this instant! You can’t just keep me!” Serenity demands.
“Yes we can. The angel said so!” Sincere yells back at her. “Just hold on Renity, and it might get a little bumpy.” She squeals when she feels the bag lift off the ground.
“What angel? Nathan, let me out!” she demands.
“Renity, you broked Daddy’s heart, you gotta fix it!” Sincere demands.
“He’s right, Serenity. You have to help us.” The flying sensation continues and Serenity weeps at the thought of hurting, Michael.
“I’m sorry boys, but I had to go. You have to let me go. It’s for the best,” she whispers.
Soon she hears the sound of running water, and whispered voices. Then a falling sensation and finally she is set roughly on the ground. “Ouch!”
“Sorry,” Nathan replies and Sincere giggles. They untie the bag and Serenity takes a moment to let her eyes adjust. She pushes her hair out of her eyes and glares at the two boys in front of her. She stands up and turns around looking for an exit. Under her feet is rock, no, wait she is in a cave.
“Okay, boys. I understand that you are upset, but truly, you can’t just steal people! Does your father know where you are?”
The guilty look on her face tells her all she needs to know. “Seriously! Where did you get that …” the bag has shrunk to the size of a small satchel! Nathan picks it up and returns it to his pocket.
“I will put it back when I get home, he won’t even know it was missing,” Nathan says with a satisfied smile on his face.
“Boys! You can’t be serious, he’s Santa Claus! He knows when you’ve been good or bad, for goodness sake! Remember the song!” Serenity explains carefully.
They glance at each other and Nathan has the common sense to look worried. “Now, where am I, and how do I get home?” she asks.
“Renity, don’t you love us anymore?” Sincere asks and his hurt and confusion beats at her.
“You know I do. I love you both, but I am not a Guardian,” she squats down and holds her arms out to them and they both almost bowl her over. She holds them close and wipes a tear away from her face.
“Your daddy deserves a chance to find his guardian. If I am here, it will complicate things. Don’t you see? I have to go home,” she explains.
“But if you could stay and be his guardian, would you?” Nathan demands suddenly.
“Of course, Nathan, I love your father. I never meant to hurt him, or any of you. But that’s not going to happen.” Nathan jumps up and pulls Sincere to his feet.
“You stay here!” Nathan yells then both boys disappear.
“What in the world!” Serenity is confused, she climbs to her feet and looks around. “Where am I?” She picks a direction and begins to walk.
A sudden noise behind her has her screaming out loud. Nathan pops back in followed by Sincere. Nate drops the purple bag one more time on the floor and a grunt and groan has her stifling a laugh.
“Boys! This is not funny! Let me out!” Michael roars. Serenity’s heart begins to pound and she backs away.
“Dad, this is for your own good,” Nathan explains calmly. He unties the bag and Michael stands ready to pounce. He freezes when he sees Serenity. Looking around he realizes they are in the caves beneath the small cabin.
“You!” he snarls and steps towards her, but Sincere stops him by blocking his path.
“I had nothing to do with this, Michael.” Serenity says slowly backing away from him.
“She’s right, Dad. We did it! You guys need to figure this out!” Nathan demands
“Yep, and the Angel said I could keep her!” Sincere points out.
“Boys, you can’t just keep someone! I have explained this to you multiple times now. We will talk about this at home, let’s go.” Michael snaps his fingers only to find he has no magic.
