by Lynn Landes
“Her name is Serenity,” Noel says from behind him. “We need to thank her, she will be singing at the children’s hospital tomorrow. Michael, I have never seen anything like it before,” she says excitedly. “For someone whose name means peace, she turned into a tigress protecting our boy!”
“Serenity? Why was she here, Mother, and for that matter, Why are you here? Does Dad know where you are?” he fires his questions, one after the other.
Noel stands up to her son and snaps her fingers. In a moment the shop changes to a warm cozy living room. Gone are the costumes and tables and in its place a lovely leather sectional with an enormous fireplace. The ceiling has large cherry beams running across it, giving it the feel of a family lodge. A large Siberian husky comes into the room and stares at her with his ice blue eyes.
“Not you too?” Noel asks. “Sometimes my gift calls and I have to follow the lead.” She wraps her arms around herself, “I was meant to meet her, and our boys need her. She may need us soon.” Noel sits in the corner chair, closest to the fireplace staring into the flickering flames. Time has gone so quickly and it’s hard to believe her time as a guardian is close to ending. She has been searching for her replacement and today she found her!
“Leave us, son.” a deep voice resounds through the room and soothes her aches and pains, pushing the vision away. Michael sighs looking at his father, then takes the dog with him. She looks up and love fills her eyes, her body responds at the sight and smell of him. He stands tall at six foot four, muscular like a large lumberjack. Home her heart whispers, he is her home. He has been her home for five hundred years and she wonders how much longer they will have.
“A thousand years will never be enough, my love.” He says drawing her to her feet. Nick holds her tightly against his body and spins them away to the sanctuary of their log cabin, nestled in the North Pole. Later, after their need is quenched, she lies next to the fireplace beside her husband and tells him of the girl.
“Nick, I have never seen anything like this before. Her eyes, they were lit from within. She had the mark of the Winter Queen! I thought that was only myth?” He rubs her bare shoulder with his white scruffy beard, sending chills over her body. “Seriously, Nick. What can it mean?”
“I will consult the book. For now, let’s enjoy our time together. Soon, I will be too, busy, to even think straight.” His hazel green eyes sparkle with mischief as he rolls her on top of him. Her laughter rings through the night and all worries fade away.
Chapter 3
Michael stares at the frown on Sincere’s face and struggles not to laugh at him. He turns the tub faucet off, and tests the water temperature, before plopping him in the water.
“I will say it again, son. Listen to me, No, you can’t keep her. It’s illegal and we don’t even know her.” He tosses a couple rubber boats into the water and watches Sincere struggle not to cry.
“I know!” His cherubic face lights with excitement once again. “We can go visit her and watch her sing! She said she will be singing at the hostile, Saturday. Can we please?” he begs.
“Hostile, oh you mean hospital. Sure, buddy. We can take some gifts for the children while we are there.” Michael thinks about the young woman. She was breathtaking, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He imagines the look on her face when she receives the gift of thanks his Mother sent. Sincere splashes his boat and draws Michael back to reality, bath and bedtime.
Serenity stares stupidly at the delivery man. He hands her a large wrapped box, asks for a signature, and smiles when she signs it, then slowly closes the door. “Who is it?” Bailey calls asks walking in from the kitchen holding her Chinese take-out. Serenity is holding a box, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string. She walks over and carefully places the box on the coffee table, then opens the card and reads it aloud.
“Please accept this gift from our family. Your kindness healed a child’s heart. We will not forget it. Wear it well. Noel.” Her stomach drops when she opens the box and finds the dress from the shop! The boots and crown are tucked away and sitting on top of the tissue paper, is purple, velvet box with a pair of diamond drop earrings inside.
She sits hard on the small couch and stares at the card. “It can’t be!
Bailey rushes over and whispers, “Oh my stars! Serenity it’s gorgeous. It’s perfect! Put it on right now! We can get your pictures posted early!”
“Bailey, I can’t accept this! I didn’t pay for it! It would feel like stealing!” Serenity says holding the card.
“Stealing my fanny!” Bailey snaps back. “Mama said to never look a gift horse in the mouth, now get moving or do I need to cut a switch?”
Serenity laughs, at her sister’s southern drawl. “Oh my Lord, Bailey. I have never been so mortified in my life. You know my temper, but the old hag deserved it! That little angels heart was so hurt, Bailey. I could feel it. He actually believed that he was a sin. I would have punched her right in her ugly nose, if I could have gotten away with it. Then to top it off, his father walks in the shop in the middle of it all!” Holding her head in her hands, Serenity wants to die just thinking about it.
“You always protect the innocent, it’s who you are. Never be ashamed of it, Serenity! If they didn’t like it they wouldn’t have sent you this, now go get dressed and stop feeling sorry for yourself!”
“Yes Ma’am! You’re right, I can always have it cleaned and return it right after the audition and the hospital, tomorrow, right?”
“Exactly,” she says pushing her into the back room.
When Serenity returns a half hour later, Bailey’s mouth drops open. “You look… Magical.”
Her makeup is done in blues and whites. Her hair is braided and crossed over the top of her head to create its own nest for the crown to rest upon. She has white above her eyebrows to accentuate the blue of her eyes and pale lips to not detract from the simplicity. She is ready. They turn on Christmas Music and dim the lights. Bailey’s has spent the afternoon getting ready for this shoot. She records Serenity singing White Christmas with a black backdrop, and uses digital photography to put a winter forest behind her. Later when Serenity changes her clothes, the video is posted.
“Tomorrow we will see how many hits you have, and hopefully this will generate a record deal!”
The girls laugh and talk until midnight. Serenity kisses her sister goodbye, and they agree to meet tomorrow at the hospital and have dinner, before the audition. She grabs her guitar and sits down, needing to relax, she strums a few chords and decides on her songs for tomorrow, and then she sleeps, dreaming of three pairs of chocolate eyes.
Serenity has visited the children’s hospital in Portland for the last five years. She loves singing and spending time with the children. Now as she walks singing with her white guitar, they stare in awe at the beautiful queen. Representatives from the radio station hand out gifts, with the parents help. They like to give the gifts out early in the season so the parents have time to plan for Christmas.
On the last song in her set she begins to strum her guitar when her blue eyes connect with a pair of dark eyes, from the costume shop yesterday. Serenity is startled for a moment, he has long black hair that just touches his collar, and a short, sexy, black beard. Why didn’t she notice that yesterday? He is much taller than her five foot six inch frame, standing about six foot four has a muscular body that has her mouth watering.
His intense eyes never leave hers as she sings. A waving hand draws her attention and she lights up at the sight of his son. Jealousy strikes for a moment and he is shocked by his reaction to this beautiful woman.
“Okay boys and girls this is one of my favorites, so sing along, if you know it.” She starts to sing, “Do you hear what I hear, Do you see what I see, said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see, way up in the sky little lamb, do you see what I see….” When Serenity sings the crowd goes silent. Her husky voice wraps around his body, causing chills to erupt and his soul is touched. His Mother is s
tanding in the back with his Father, and they smile at the sound of her voice bringing the true meaning of Christmas to the families.
Serenity sings and the children stare and the parents wipe away tears, as all find the meaning of Christmas in the peace of the message she brings. Nick moves forward pulling Noel, to stand beside his son. “Her eyes, Michael, look at her eyes,” he whispers. Her eyes are glowing with the message of Christmas and no one can miss the unique snowflake shaped pupils.
“The Winter Queen, has been found.”
Chapter 4
“I can’t find them.” Bailey says.
“What? Why would they come and then leave without a word? That’s strange.” Serenity says scanning the crowd. “I was hoping to apologize and thank them for their kindness.” Sighing she rubs her neck.
“Well, I’m sure you will see them again. We have enough time to get you to dinner and your audition. I have a hot date later with James and I don’t want to be late!” Bailey says guiding her sister to the car.
“You will have him speechless in that silver dress, sister. You look gorgeous.” Serenity smiles as she blushes. Her sister has the same colored blue eyes but that is where the resemblance ends. Her short brown bob, highlights her blue eyes and Bailey looks like a tiny elf. She is petite where Serenity is taller and more, lush. Over dinner the two talk about the audition and Christmas plans.
“Thanks for everything, Bailey. I will call you tomorrow and find out how your evening goes. I want every hot detail.”
Bailey gets serious, “I’m okay now, Ren. You have gotten me through the storm.” Grabbing her hand, she continues, “This is your time and I will help you all I can. I want you to be happy.”
“The thing is Bailey, I am happy here with you. I am only doing this audition for the money. It will set me up for a little while, and allow me to concentrate on my music. I love being here and my work at the hospital makes me feel fulfilled. I love to see their faces light up with joy, instead of fear and pain. Honestly, I wish I had more time to do this kind of work but I will content myself with this, until I make it big.”
“Good. Now go break a leg, or knock em dead, which is it?” Bailey asks laughing.
“I will take both! If that doesn’t work, I’ll use my pistol!” she tells her laughing and kisses her goodbye before leaving for her audition.
Serenity drives the fifteen miles to the office building and sighs, cars everywhere. As she slows her car down she realizes people are lined up for a chance at this part. “Looks like I’m in for a long night.” She parks down the block and quickly checks her thigh holster to make sure her pistol is secure. Her Daddy taught the girls to shoot at an early age and it has become a habit to wear it on her night time gigs and auditions. A single girl can’t be too careful in a big city like Portland. It’s not easy to walk two blocks in a ball gown and freezing temperatures.
“At least it is too early to snow…” she starts to say only to begin laughing when the first flake drifts from the sky. “Better hurry,” she says and pulling her white cloak tighter around her dress. She mutters a prayer of thanks that she is wearing white cowboy boots and not heels. Serenity hurries along but with every step she takes, the snow falls thicker. Soon she is unable to see her hand in front of her face. Thinking her hair is ruined and her makeup, Serenity decides to turn around and finds that she can no longer see the road, buildings, or cars. When she glances at her feet hoping to follow her footsteps back to her car, more than six inches of snow has already covered her tracks. Fear snakes its way around her and Serenity screams for help.
Sincere sits up in bed screaming, “Daddy! Daddy!”
Michael rushes into his youngest son’s bedroom and flips the switch, flooding the room with light. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m right here.” He tells him patting his little back.
“NO! The bad one is after her, Daddy!” he says franticly pushing away from him. “I have to save her!” With that Sincere disappears!
“Sincere!” Michael screams. “Dad!” he roars knowing they will hear him.
Michael rushes into the living room and Nathan joins him looking scared. “Nate, how long has Sincere been able to disappear?”
“I, I … A couple of weeks. Where did he go?” Nate asks afraid.
“I don’t know! You will stay with Nana and Pop, I will find him.” He jerks his cowboy boots on and grabs his denim overcoat pushing his arms into it, he grabs his gloves. He feels his parents arrive and sighs with relief.
“What’s happened?” Noel asks rushing forward. Nick listens quietly as Michael tells them about Sincere, then he smiles.
“This is not funny, Dad!” Michael snarls.
“Now son, just calm down and think.” Nick turns to Nathan and finds him near tears. “Nathan, can you port too?” At the boy’s nod of yes, he hugs him close and laughs his booming laugh.
“Why didn’t you tell me, son?” Michael asks shocked.
“Because, I, I was afraid you would be mad. I don’t want to die like Mom did!”
Michael is shocked.
“Dad, you need to trace Sincere. Nathan, come here.” Michael demands.
The child stumbles forward, and refuses to meet his eyes. “Your Mom got sick, buddy. Not because of the magic. She just got sick and it’s not contagious! You will not die. Never be afraid to come to me son, I love you. We will figure this out as soon as I find your brother.”
Noel wipes tears, so proud of the man he has become. “Michael, tell me what he said before he disappeared.
“He said, the bad one is after her, I have to save her and disappeared.”
Noel smiles, “He’s with Serenity! If he’s right they are both in danger. Baron!” she yells calling her protector.
“Why would he be with Serenity? You aren’t making any sense, Mom!” The large husky pads into the room and woofs softly.
“Trust me, Michael. Take Baron with you, he will find Sincere quickly.” Nate runs out of the room then back holding Sincere’s blue silk blanket.
“It’s his favorite, Dad. Baron can track him through the scent.” Baron walks over and sniffs quickly.
“Excellent!” he says brushing his hair back.
“I’ve got a trace. Let’s go.” Nick says from behind. Glad to have his help, the men disappear as quickly as Sincere.
Sincere concentrates hard, remembering Serenity’s eyes. The snowflakes, dance, calling to him. “Come play! Nicholas. Let’s build a snow fort!” a voice calls from the snow. Dizzy and cold he smiles, dropping to the snow, he starts to collect snow with his bare hands. Dressed in only his superman pajamas he should be freezing, but he is oblivious to the icy temperatures.
“That’s right, dig, dig, dig your own icy tomb!” the voice laughs.
A scream breaks him free of his reverie, and he remembers why he is here. Sincere follows the screaming. He can’t see her because the snow is too thick, but he can feel her. “Serenity!” his tiny voice yells.
“After him!” The voice orders.
The howl of a wolf explodes across the night. All around him wolves call out, answering the call of their master. Sincere runs, screaming for help. Serenity, hears it and stands stupefied for a moment. Wolves howling! That’s ridiculous, wolves can’t be in the city! The scream of a child causes her heart to stop. “Oh my Gosh!” She begins to run in the direction she heard the child.
“Serenity!” he screams over and over, running as fast as little legs can. She sees him and the shadows tracking him and she screams his name.
“Sincere!” He leaps into her open arms and wraps his frozen arms around her neck. “What are you doing out here, are you okay?” He is freezing from the cold, so she pulls her wrap off and surrounds the child with it. He nods and holds on tightly to her.
“I, c..c...came to save you!” he says. “We have to go, the bad one is coming, Renity”
Serenity is trying to figure out what to do, when the first wolf appears. Larger than any dog, the black wolf stares at her with yell
ow eyes and she could swear it is smiling at her.
“Close your eyes, Sincere.” She commands and slowly lowers him to the ground behind her. Serenity thanks God for her Daddy’s training and reaches under her skirt, slowly unclipping her pistol from her thigh holster.
She pushes the child behind her and prays the gun is powerful enough to stop the large animal. Hoping to scare it away, she shoots into the sky but the wolf just stares as though waiting for something.
“Renity, there is another one!” His little voice cries out from behind her. She pulls him closer to her and whispers to him.
“Run, away when I say so, Angel. I will distract them so you can get away.” Fear for the child bolsters her courage and she runs for the largest wolf aiming her gun, she shoots with deadly accuracy. It yelps in pain and the other wolf jumps to attack her, just as she hoped. She lifts her skirts and prays the child makes it to safety.
Sincere does the only thing he can think to do, he squeezes his eyes tight and imagines his Dad. Instantly, he is standing in the snow in front of his Dad and Pop! The roar of relief from his father, makes his little heart happy. Michael quickly wraps a large wool coat around him and squeezes him close.
“Daddy! You have to help her…” he starts to say but the sound of a gunshot and a female scream cuts him off. Baron explodes into action racing toward the direction of her scream.
Handing his son to his father, “Take him home, I will help her! Sincere, stay with Nana and Pop!”
