by Lynn Landes
The wolf is gnawing her leg as she beats at his head with her fist. It claws at her arms and works its way up her boot, sinking razor sharp teeth into her calf. Screaming in agony, she aims for its eyes and gouges at them. His startled yelp frees her leg, allowing her to scramble backward, only to hit a wall. Looking up she sees him, Sincere’s father! Relief floods her eyes when he steps forward to protect her. The wolf growls low, and Serenity freezes when she hears an answering growl from the man. A large Siberian husky leaps from behind the man and attacks the wolf. Another wolf joins the fray and Michael sizes them up.
They leap at each other at the same time, man and beast, and the snow begins to taper off. Serenity is freezing, her dress is torn and bloody. Her hands are raw and she sits in knee high snow wondering if any of this is real. She stands slowly, swaying on her feet as the man and wolf collide. The concussion throws Serenity backwards into the snow. Dizzy and confused, she watches the battle in slow motion and she could almost swear the man is flying!
“Get up,” she chants and looks around desperately for her pistol. When she sees it sparkling at the base of a tree, she wades through the snow and grabs it. Serenity, swings around praying it still works and screams in horror as four more wolves leap at the man. The dog is on the ground pinning a wolf by the throat. A shape forms in the thick blanket of snow and strikes at Serenity. The blow strikes her in the ribs, sending her backwards into a tree causing her to lose the gun again. Michael snarls when he sees her crumpled in the snow and doubles his efforts to fight the pack. Pain and confusion cause her to move slowly. She struggles to her feet and her eyes begin to glow.
“No More!” Twin prismatic shapes appear in the blue of her eyes. Lacelike they glow and she feels the pressure build in her hands. Serenity stands defenseless now and one wolf lunges towards her, thinking her easy prey.
Michael looks up just in time to watch her eyes change. He fights the wolves, desperate to get her to safety, but he can only watch in horror as the wolf leaps towards her. The moment she touches the beast, it bursts into snow! Slowly she looks at her hands. Tears are streaming down her frozen cheeks and she pushes all the energy she can feel, in the direction of the wolves. They howl in pain as they are lifted up into a cyclonic cloud and torn apart by the power of the wind and ice. All noise fades, blackness begins to creep in from every corner, and she looks at Michael.
“Sincere! You must find him!” she drops to her knees and Michael catches her before she falls forward into the snow.
He gathers her in his arms and disappears rushing through space, towards his home. Michael hurries with his bundle into the guest room. Noel and Nick run after him. “Don’t let Sincere…” he is cut off when his son pops into the room.
“You have to stop doing that, son!” Michael roars.
“Is she killt, Daddy?” he asks with a trembling lip.
“No, son, but she is hurt. Now give me some space, okay. If you want to help, tell Nathan to make some tea okay. We need to get some liquids into her.” Sincere calls from the door for his brother.
Noel moves quickly distressed by the amount of blood she sees. “Michael, towels. I need towels and hot water. Fill the tub, Nick!” She pulls the boots off and finds the right boot is stuck.
Michael snaps, “Let me, Mom.” He pulls a large knife and slices the leather of the boot like butter. He finds a purple and possibly crushed foot with bloody puncture wounds up the lower leg. No doubt from the powerful jaws of the beast.
Noels hands tremble as she struggles to help.
“Mom, go get the Doctor. I will see what we are dealing with, Hurry!” Michael tells her.
Nick returns to find Noel staring in horror at the young girl, so close to death. “Nick, is this my fault, did I bring this on her?”
“Now is not the time for this, Mom.” Michael says. He lights a fire in the fireplace with a thought and turns back to his work.
“We will return with the doctor, Michael,” his father states leaving him to his work.
Michael is relieved to see them leave. Quickly he slices through her clothes ignoring the beauty of her body, he looks for wounds. Next he removes the thigh holster and smiles at the purple color. He finds lacerations to her arms, and legs, and a gash on her calf. Purple bruising from the battle covers her ribs, he drags the heavy gown away from her body. Covering her with a blanket he puts pressure on the largest wounds and waits for the doctor to return.
Nathan brings in a cup of hot tea for his dad. “Is she going to be okay, Dad?” he asks worriedly.
“Yes, pray for her son. The Doctor is on the way and you and your brother need to get some sleep. I promise, you can see Serenity, in the morning.”
He hugs his dad and looks at him, “Promise?”
“Yes, now get to bed.” He watches his son leave and looks back at the bed. Her rapid breathing scares him, she feels fevered and he is worried about internal injuries. She protected his son, what would have happened to Sincere if she hadn’t fought for him? How did Sincere know she was in trouble?
His parents return with the doctor. Dr. Chow has been with his family for centuries. He is relieved when she rushes into the room and begins barking orders. “You, shower! Hot water and warm dry clothes. I will help the girl, go, go.” She says pushing them from the room, Baron blocks her path to Serenity and growls low. The fur on his back stands up and he glares at the doctor.
“Baron! No! What’s gotten into you?” Noel demands pulling the dog back. The doctor glares at the Baron as he pulls away from Noel, and returns to his guard duty by the fireplace. He sits and watches, never taking his eyes off the doctor.
“That beast must go,” Dr. Chow snaps.
“Baron, will not harm you, Dr. Chow. I don’t know what’s gotten into…” Noel starts to say but Michael interrupts her.
“Mom, can you check on the boys?” Michael asks swaying on his feet.
“Yes, yes. Do what she says. Serenity will be fine, Michael.”
He hurries through a hot shower and anxiously returns to find the doctor still with her. He lays on the couch in the living room and crashes into a troubled sleep. A sound wakes him just as the sun is rising. Dr. Chow is whispering to his parents.
“How is she?” he asks sitting up quickly.
Dr. Chow will not quite meet his eyes when she looks to answer. “Her injuries are many, Michael. The minor cuts and gashes have been taken care of. The stitches will need a week or so before they come out. Her right foot will take longer to heal. The beast almost crushed every bone in her leg. I am forbidden from healing a human, Michael and she has a fever. The blow to the back of her head did not break the skin, but I am not sure about internal bleeding. I started her on antibiotics. Hopefully she will wake soon. Once the fever breaks, she should be out of the woods. I would check on her every few hours, call if there is any change,” exhausted she leaves the family.
The boys listen quietly from the hallway and Nate looks at the tears on Sincere’s face. “She can’t get kill’t, Nate. We have to help her!” Nate nods his head, and quietly leads the way back to Serenity’s room closing the door behind them. Together they push a chair in front of the door, and Nathan walks towards her. Baron watches with quiet eyes.
“What if I can’t fix her, Sincere, I might make it worse?” he whispers with fear in his eyes.
“No, she needs us. We will do it together.” Sincere takes Serenity’s cold hand and nods at his brother.
Nathan closes his eyes and feels the power running through the Pole. The power lives and breathes, floating above the sky as the Northern Lights. Inside the lights are the animals who call this land home and the people who protect its secrets. He draws on the power and holds his hands over her head.
In the living room the adults fall silent and Nick’s eyes fly open in shock. Noel gasps and they all move at the same time. They run for the bedroom but the door is locked. Immediately they teleport into the bedroom, and watch stunned as Nathan holds the multicolored ribbons
of light softly over Serenity. They envelop her body, warming her and healing her injuries from the inside out. Her breathing slows to a normal rate, the stitches disappear and her ribs knit back together. Her broken leg heals and the purple bruises fade to yellow before the lights begin to fade. Nathan sways on his feet, and falls forward, caught in his father’s strong arms.
“How did I do, Dad?” he whispers.
“You did great son, you did great!” he says kissing him softly.
Sincere beams at his family, holding her warm hand, he says, “She’s not killt anymore!”
Chapter 5
“Why won’t she wake up, Dad? Did I do it wrong?” Nathan asks worriedly chewing on his fingers.
“Stop chewing, you did everything just right. Her body is still healing, that’s all. Nate how long have you know you could heal?” Michael asks sitting in a large chair by the fireplace. He is determined to talk to his sons. Nathan shrugs his shoulders but doesn’t answer. Michael knows Nathan has had to grow up faster than most nine year old boys. Losing his mother at such a young age forced him to. He is shy, reserved and gifted.
“It is an amazing gift you have been given, Nathan. You will need training and it would help if I knew how long you could do this.” Michael says sipping his hot coffee.
“Last summer when I was with Sincere at the lake, he fell and cut his foot. Mrs. Brown was talking to her friends and she wouldn’t help, so I fixed it when she wasn’t looking.”
“That’s amazing, son. I want you to know, you can tell me anything. I will always be on your side. I promise to listen, even if I yell sometimes. I love you both. With or without your gifts, I treasure you because of who you are inside here,” he says tapping his chest. Nathans eyes fill with tears and he throws himself into his Dad’s arms. “I know your mom isn’t here anymore but we are still a family and families don’t keep secrets.”
“Okay, Dad.” Nathan says squeezing his father tight.
Noel listens from the kitchen and wipes her eyes. The scent of pecan pie fills the air. She bakes when she worries, and she is worried. Her grandchildren are showing gifts that have been extinct for centuries and when she talks to Nick about it, he puffs up with pride. Crazy man. This family has a large secret and she is not sure how Michael will react, when she tells him. She kneads the pie dough pulling and pushing and presses it out, making two crusts. As she pours the filling into the crust she hears her boys enter.
“Just in time for the bowl!” Michael says high fiving Nathan.
“You better get if before your Pop does.” Noel suggests to Nathan, then laughs at the look of shock on both boys’ faces when Nick appears, snags the bowl and ports back out.
“I warned you! You two are slow!” she bursts out laughing at them. “Where is Sincere,” she asks quietly.
“He is reading to Serenity, again. He has slept beside her for the last two nights.” Nathan replies.
“I was hoping to have the boys stay with us tonight, the Northern Lights will be at their brightest and lowest point tonight! I thought we could camp up on the mountain and enjoy them?” Noel suggests.
“Yes! Can we Dad? I can bring my camera and get some great pictures.” Nate begs.
“Of course, now we have to convince Sincere, to leave our guest.” Michael says dipping a finger into the pie and licking it clean.
Nate laughs and runs out of the room, “I’ve got this!”
The boys enjoy a family dinner before leaving with Nick and Noel. Nathan told Sincere that if the lights dropped low enough, they could catch some in a jar for Serenity, and it might heal her faster! That is all it took for him to practically drag them out of the house. Michael promised to call if anything changes and watches his boys leave.
Dr. Chow returns and says quietly, “No change. It is amazing, you say she just started healing?” She stares hard at him, waiting for an answer that he does not give. “I am not sure how long she will sleep, Michael. You should consider sending her home to her own family. I am sure they are worried about her.”
“Her family has been told that she is on a trip for another audition. They are fine. She will wake soon. Thank you for coming out again.” Michael says urging her to the door. He breathes a sigh of relief when she leaves and heads to the back room. He settles into the chair beside the fireplace and leans his head back enjoying the dance of the flames.
Serenity dreams of a big brown bear, protecting her from a pack of hungry wolves. She doesn’t know who to be more frightened of, the wolves or the bear! His growl turns ferocious as the wolves attack him, tearing chunks of fur and flesh. His roar of pain has her screaming for him, “Noooo!” she screams tossing her head back and forth.
Michael jumps at the sound of her scream and rushes to her side. She is trapped in a nightmare and he can’t wake her. “Serenity! It’s okay you need to wake up!” he calls to her.
A small brown cub runs up, followed by another brown cub and they all look at each and roar. As they roar they shift from animal to human. Michael’s muscular naked body is beautiful. The boys laugh, whipping the wolves with ribbons of rainbow colored lights. Michael laughs and reaches up grabbing his own larger ribbon and when he strikes, the wolves turn to stardust.
Serenity hears him calling her name, “Come back, its okay. Sincere is safe, you did well. Come back to us!” Slowly her heart calms and her eyes start to flutter open. Rich, chocolate colored eyes stare into hers and a smile curves her dry lips. A shaky hand lifts to his face, stroking his beard. The room is dark, except for the flicker of the fireplace, and he inhales slowly at the beauty of her eyes. “Serenity? Can you hear me?”
She stares in awe as her fingertips trail to his mouth, and she smiles softly when his eyes darken. She nods her head, unable to speak because her throat is suddenly, very dry. He jumps up and grabs a glass of water with a straw and helps her sit up. Pillows are propped and she stares quietly at him and looks around. The sudden change of position has her head pounding. Closing her eyes shut against the pain, she remembers a little boy with beautiful dark eyes.
“Sincere?” she asks in croaky voice opening her eyes once more.
“He’s fine. We will have one happy little boy when he returns and finds you awake. You had us all worried.” Michael says scratching his beard. The pounding eases and she smiles suddenly remembering him as a bear.
“What is your name?” she asks yawning.
A slow smile spreads, “That’s right we have not been introduced. I am Michael, father of Nathan and Sincere, son of Nicholas and Noel.” He offers her his hand and she smiles in response, grasping his larger one.
“It’s nice to meet you Michael, I am Serenity. Can you tell me where I am, and why do I feel like I have been beaten with a board?”
He laughs and drops her hand. “That is a long story. You probably would like a bath and some dinner?” he asks.
Pleasure lights her face, “Yes, bath first, then dinner?” Slowly she swings her legs over the edge and finds the room spinning. She drops her head to her chest and closes her eyes, waiting for it to stop.
“Maybe you should wait?” Michael suggests worriedly.
“I promise not to faint on you, Michael. I just need a minute.” He offers her some more water and then grabs her elbows to help her stand. She sways but manages to start walking slowly. “Perhaps a few laps around the room.” With his help she makes three laps and then he helps her to the bathroom. He starts the bath and fills the room with hot steam. He places towels and wash cloths on the sink.
When he turns to look at her she is leaned against the wall, holding herself upright. “Serenity, this can wait until tomorrow.” He says but she shakes her head no.
“I just need to regain my strength. How long have I been here, Michael?” she asks suddenly.
“Three days,” he answers slowly.
She gasps and let’s go of the wall and begins to tumble forward. He catches her and says, “Ah hell, you promised not to pass out again.” He lifts her like
she weighs nothing and sits on the edge of the claw foot tub.
“Michael, why am I here?” she asks clutching him around the waist. Thinking, it sure feels good to be in his arms.
“After your bath, I will let that be your bedtime story. You have fifteen minutes, then I am coming in after you. Unless I hear anything that sounds like drowning.”
“Now hold on Mr…” he stops her with a finger to her pink lips.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be the first time I have seen you naked.” He stands up and leaves laughing at the look of embarrassment on her face. Michael whistles and a large blue eyed dog trots into the bathroom.
“Serenity, this is Baron. He will guard you. If you are in distress he will alert me. Do you need any help undressing?”
Serenity looks at Michael and says in her sweetest southern drawl, “No thank you.” Michael chuckles as he leaves her to her bath. Baron pads over and looks at the water then back at her. “Okay, is everyone in this family so bossy?”
Frustration pushes her to her feet and she pulls her gown off slowly. When she looks in the mirror she is appalled. Dark circles, pale skin, and yellow bruising is still evident. Her leg is throbbing and her hair is a mess. Her head pounds every time she tries to remember what happened. Sinking into the steaming water, she has flashes of wolves.
“Oh, goodness gracious! This is heaven!” Slowly she submerges, allowing the water soak into her bones. After a few seconds she surfaces, and finds two worried blue eyes looking at her.
“Don’t even think about it, Baron,” she snaps splashing at him. He chuffs at her and pads away to curl up on the bathroom rug. Quickly she washes her hair and rinses, then scrubs her body. When she sinks back into the water, Michael pounds on the door. “Five minutes!”
“Tyrant,” she mutters stepping out of the tub. She wraps herself in an oversized towel before wrapping her hair. To her delight she finds a bag, with a pair of silky red pajama pants and matching top, slippers and hair accessories. She quickly dries off and dresses, then runs a comb through her hair and decides to allow it to air dry. The natural waves that have plagued her most of her life have already begun springing up. She scrunches her wet hair, and realizes she is exhausted. Baron rises and nudges her towards the door as though sensing her distress.
