Chapter 14 Painting Flowers

Serenity’s POV

I always wanted to be a doctor.

I remember when I watched TV documentaries of the human body’s amazing way of protecting itself and also how it heals. It was different from the way that the shifters heal. For us, it was quicker, I like to think that there wasn’t any magic behind it, but I knew that wasn’t true.

A shifters body age slowly, the oldest of our kind in this century was two hundred twenty years old. She knew a lot of history, but she wasn’t any wiser than the next shifter. She told us stories of the old days, and how now is so much different.

She was my great- great- great- great grandmother on my dad’s side, Sylvia, the village teacher. She and mama Ellena were best friends, though mama Ellena was originally friends with mother’s mother.

For some reason, grandma Sylvia wanted Siam and I to learn the old ways; that means no computers or medicines. Of course, father had a different say on it but, she wouldn’t put up with his kingly ways, as she like to put it.

“I didn’t put up with it from your great- great- great grandfather, nor will I put up with it from my pup.” I remembered her telling me one time, when she tucked me in bed.

Mama Ellena taught me to heal, how to deal with different cuts, burns and wounds.

Grandma Sylvia taught me the ways of our kind, the science of the world, the magic around us, the bond between us and the world, the stories of the shifters.

There are stories that would fascinate anyone but will make you doubt, but then again, I am one of those which you can pull out from a mythological book, who am I to argue?

I stared at the wounded man lying in front of me remembering a story that had always caught my attention. It was about the first daughter of the moon.

Her name was Aurora, like me she was the second child of the king and queen, she was sent here to bless the shifters of their loyalty to her mother, the moon.

Shifters back then were friends with humans, some humans taught shifters how to cook or sew in exchange, shifters taught them to hunt. Most days, both kinds were in the fields working side by side.

The humans and shifters weren’t that different. Both just want peace and long life, and that was given to them.

Aurora, born as a princess, was loved by everyone. She would play with the children in town, dance with both royalty and simpletons, speak with so much wisdom that even men would ask her of her opinion on things. She was a deity, but acted human. Every day she learned new things from both man and shifter, and this she tells the mother moon.

Growing up, she had two friends who were always with her, a human boy and a shifter girl. They will run across the field and through the woods, and spend a day in their special place behind the water falls.

As time fly, Aurora and the human boy had fallen in love, something that was not allowed as by law, she was to marry a man of equal status and kind.

Her friend knew about this and kept it to herself, never speaking about it not even to Aurora, for she herself had fallen for the boy. But Aurora told her of their plan to run away, the night of the full moon, where she can cloak herself and the boy with her powers.

The girl knew the consequences if Aurora was to leave, so she had made a plan seducing the boy and at the same time saving Aurora. The night before the full moon, the girl goes to the boy telling him that Aurora is in trouble. Instantly he followed her into the woods, where she said the guards took Aurora.

Instead they reached the falls that they always hide in, there she seduced him. His scent was all over her by the next morning and the girl’s father knew. He beat her up as expected, he wasn’t her mate and it was a disgrace. The boy was banned from seeing her or Aurora, it was a love triangle and failure made for the soap operas.

Back then when a she wolf gives her purity to someone who isn’t her mate, the effect was drastic. It was like poison, within the day she was on her death bed.

Hearing of what happened, Aurora rushed to see her. She stayed beside her, taking care of her, not listening to the girls’ apologies and crying.

“Hush…” Aurora says. “He may be my mate, but you are my best friend.”

The girl’s eyes widened hearing this. Aurora gave her a sad smile.

“It was why I was running away.” Aurora continued, “The fate seemed to think it’s funny to mate me, the princess and a deity, to a human.”

“Aurora…”

“He had come and apologized to me and I have forgiven him.” she said. “But seeing that I can no longer see him after this…”

“I’m sorry, princess…”

“I’m sorry I kept it from you,” Aurora says, “I knew you were protecting me not knowing the consequences. It is just so you to do that.”

Later that day, as the girl lie there dying, Aurora spoke to the mother moon and asked for help, to save her friend. That night, when the moon was at its highest peak, it rained and she sent a moondrop. A stone that is believed could heal all sickness and wounds.

“Step out of the darkness, leave death’s silence.

Lit by the moon, a path is shown.

A path to home, I bid you, come.”

And underneath the full moon with the words of princess that girl was saved.

It was years before the princess had the courage to tell the king, her brother, of the fate’s mischief of mating her to a human. He gave her his blessing to be wed to her mate. But as expected, her life was short lived. Soon after her husband’s death she died as well. Leaving her son in the care of his brother the king, and was made as his wisest adviser, for he had his mother’s wisdom and good heart. Unfortunately, he was not a shifter.

The next daughter of the moon was born after three generation, under his line.

I sighed and rubbed my temple, hoping that it would somehow help with the incoming headache I could feel coming.

A moondrop, that’s all I need right now. I thought.

Liam was sitting across me, asleep. I looked behind him and saw the guards standing outside the room, I looked up and stared at the full moon. I turned off the lamp beside me and let the room be lit by the moon.

I closed my eyes and ran the events of the day through my head.

“We’ll be there by tomorrow.” One of my father’s guards tells Siam.

“And has any one told the guards that we’re following them?” Siam asked.

“No your highness,” the guard says, “we were told not to tell our whereabouts or to make contact outside until we reached our destination.”

I sighed and walked toward the window. We were still in the RV and stopped at a hotel for lunch.

“That would be wiser.” Siam says, “You can go now.”

“Thank you your highness.” The guard left.

“Serenity?” I hear him call me. “You ok?”

“I’m just…” I turned and faced him waving my hands around, “Trying to get over this.”

He chuckled, “You and I both.”

I sighed and reached for the pendant over my chest and fiddled with it.

“That’s from him.” he says.

“Huh?”

“The necklace, it’s from Eric.” he stifled a laugh. “That boy was crazy enough to storm into the mansion to see you, despite dad’s orders, the guards and the alpha boys.”

“Is he ok?” I asked, worried. “Did you see him after that?”

“Father dealt with him, but he was hardly bruised.” He said. “The Alpha boys said that he seemed to have grown stronger, the guards said there was some sort of shield around him that only father was able to touch him.”

I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest trying to warm myself up.

“Everything will be fine Serenity.” He says, “Tomorrow you’ll be with him.”

“And away from you.” I said, “I’m sorry for this, Siam.”

“What are you saying?” he chuckled, “It was just a matter of time before he does hand it over.”

“And I just have to hasten the process.” I sighed, “I know this means you won’t be able to do what you want now.”

“Yeah, no more girls and playing around, just what you want.” I chuckled. “Your safety is all I want right now, Serenity, nothing else.”

I walked up to him smiling and wrapped my arms around his waist and he wrapped his arms around me as well.

“Thank you for everything, big brother.” I whispered.

“Anything for you, princess.”

I grinned up at him, “And thank you for giving mom and dad a separate RV, I’ll probably be going crazy right now if they were here.”

He laughs, “I think mom is feeling the same after the go I had with dad.”

“He was just thinking for the better-“

“In exchange of your happiness?” he gave me a look, “I wouldn’t have it.”

“Wow, I can’t believe I’d see the day that you’ll be handing me over a boy.” I teased.

He laughs again, “I think we both saw this one happening.”

“Oh, so you’re psychic now too?” I teased.

“Shut up.” he ruffled my hair.

“Hey, you guys ready?” I turned and saw Liam and Anna enter the RV.

“Yup!” I said, arms still around Siam’s waist, while he put an arm over my shoulder.

“You two look like you’re up for mischief.” Aaron says.

“Well, we’ve been in this crap for two days.” Siam shrugged, sounding bored.

“I know, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m sick of xbox.” Jake whined.

“How the singers do this all year round is now a wonder to me.” Liam says.

“Probably sleep and eat.” I said, “Just like what you boys have been doing.”

“Hey, we are doing more than that.” Aaron says.

“So you have a schedule?” Anna teased.

“You can say that.”

“And what time is it now?” Siam asks.

“Time to sit and bum around.”

We laughed and I turned to look outside and saw my dad outside watching us. He gave me a pained smile, his eyes show his apologies. At that moment, I knew how much I missed him. I smiled back and mouthed I love you, that made him chuckle and mouthed it back. Then Siam ruffled my hair making me look back to the gang and laugh with them. The next second I glanced outside he was no longer there.

“Hey, you ok?” Siam asked.

I turned to him and instantly smiled, I knew he was still mad with dad, and I’d rather not upset him more by asking him to forgive him now. “Yeah…”

“Great!” he says, “Let’s get going Fred!” he called out to the driver of our RV.

“C’mon Serenity,” Anna says, “before the boys start a battle field in front of the TV.”

I nodded and we walked toward the bedroom, the boys were now sitting in front of the TV starting up the xbox. So much for being bored with it, I thought.

Anna and I sat in the bed as she turned on the TV across us and put on Criminal Minds dvd.

“’You hungry?” she asked.

I chuckled, “We just had lunch Anna.”

“I know, I just want to know if you want anything before we start a fight between Derek and Reed.” She teased.

“I’m feeling geeky, I’ll have Reed today.” I said.

“Good, cause I hell love the goatee Derek had on in this season.” I laughed as she sat beside me in bed. The moment the first episode came up we let silence take over, we love this show, and no one is allowed to talk when it’s on. Everyone knows that.

We were on the third episode as I watch as Derek and Garcia exchange information and flirt at the same time.

“Do you think they’ll get together?” I broke the silence.

“What?” Anna asked.

“Derek and Garcia,” I pointed out, “do you think they’ll get together?”

Anna sighed and paused the video. “Three things, one there is a possibility they do, Garcia’s smart and Derek likes smart, though physically…” she made a face and shook her head making me laugh, “second, won’t that be too cliché? I mean the nerd and the hottie get together? You don’t even have to be in the special human psychology team of the FBI to know that and third…” she gave me a look, “Derek is mine.”

I laughed at her and nodded, looking back at the screen, “U- huh, yeah, Derek Morgan is all yours sister, all muscular-brown-eyed- hot- player self?” I made a face, “That isn’t your type.”

“What makes you think he isn’t my type?” she asks as if daring me.

I sat up and faced her, “Well, you’re smart, simple, definitely kick ass and hopeless romantic… he’ll have to pay a huge amount before you grace him with your presence.”

“So basically it’s because of his player side that would make it impossible for me to like him?” she clarifies things as she sat up as well.

“Well, yeah…” I said, “I mean he’ll be a bit arrogant and a jerk wouldn’t he?”

“I guess…” she says and glances outside the room.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She said lying back down and pressed play.

“No fair, there’s something-“

But the playful afternoon was cut short as we were all thrown forward, Anna and I were now on the RV floor. I held my wound and sat up looking around.

“What the-“

“Serenity! Anna!” I heard Siam call out.

“We’re ok!” Anna said. I sat up and leaned on the wall.

“Everyone get down!” Liam shouted and we hit the floor and bullets start to rain through the RV.

Then it stopped and we heard growling and howling outside. I crawled toward the window and saw the guards mauling and fighting against men.

“It’s an ambush!” Jake shouts.

No duh, I thought. Then I heard a groan beside me and saw Anna squirming, her side bleeding.

“Shit, Anna…”

“I’m ok…” she says, breathing heavily.

I shook my head and looked at her, she was in pain and sweating heavily. Then the RV was jostled again, this time a wolf hit the side.

“I can’t heal her here.” I said, “We need to get out of here.”

Siam looked at Anna, scared. Then he looks around, picked up a chair and threw it at the window.

“Liam take the car out.” He ordered and picked up Anna and jumped out of the window. Jake and Liam followed him.

I looked around frantic, I can still hear the fight at the other side of the RV, Liam came back and took me in his arms and jumped out and set me down. I looked around and saw the other RV where my parents were was on fire.

“No…” I start to run to the other RV but Siam wrapped stopped me. “Mom! Dad!”

“Get in the car Serenity.” He ordered.

“No!” I shouted struggling out of his hold. “Dad!” Siam pushed me toward Liam and forced me inside the car. “No!!!!”

Siam tossed him the key, “Watch over the girls Liam.”

“What?” I asked. “Where are you going Siam?”

“I need to help-“

“You are not leaving, Siam!” I shouted.

He gave me a look as if he was apologizing and ran out with Aaron and Jake.

“Siam!” I shouted and start to follow but Liam drove off. “SIAM!!!!”

It has been three hours since we left them, we were in a motel with Anna sleeping in the bed. I already cleaned her wound and was now waiting for her wolf to heal her.

I stood by the window, waiting for Siam’s wolf.

“Serenity step away from there…” Liam says when he stepped out of the bathroom.

“It’s been three hours Liam…” I whispered, not moving away.

“They’re probably on their way here.” he said pulling me away from the window.

I shook my head, “I shouldn’t have been so hard headed… I shouldn’t have made them do this trip…”

“Serenity, this isn’t your fault.” He scolded. “Siam is now the Alpha and he can’t just run away while our men fight for you.”

I walked up to him and cried. “Just kill me now Liam, please… I can’t see anymore of you hurt.”

“No!” he pushed me away from him.

“Liam-“

“You aren’t gon’na die, not while we are all here fighting for you! Many are willing to die for you and your asking me to kill you?!” he snapped, his eyes were turning dark now. “Don’t you ever think that your death is the solution, cause it isn’t! Do you hear me Serenity?! It isn’t!”

I wrapped my arms around me and dropped on my knees, crying. But unlike before, Liam just stood there glaring at me.

Then the door swung open, I looked up and I took a deep breath of relief.

“Serenity…” I heard my mom called and wrapped me in her arms.

“Mom!” I wrapped my arms around her as well. “Mom…”

I looked behind her and saw the others step inside. I let her go and ran up to Siam who wrapped me in his arms as I held him close as well.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” I cried.

“Shh… it’s ok. I’m here.” he whispered. Then he let go of me and looked at me, “I hope you can wait a few more hours, princess. This gig would be pushing our schedule back a little.”

I stifled a laugh and I nodded. Then he glanced at Anna.

“How is she?” he asked.

“I did everything that I know, it’s just up to her wolf now.”

“No!” I looked up and saw Liam run out of the room.

“What…”

“Uncle Luke got pretty beaten up.” Siam says. “Dad is with him at the other room.”

“Liam…” I was about to follow him when Siam tightened his hold of me. “Siam, I need-“

“No.” he says, “You aren’t leaving my sight.”

I looked him straight in the eye, “Liam needs me now, I need to know that he’s ok.”

“Serenity-“

“I’ll be fine.” I said.

“We’ll go with her.” Jake says. Siam gave them a look. But I reached for his hand.

“Siam, this isn’t just anyone. This is Liam and Uncle Luke, I need to see if there’s anything I can do.”

“There’s nothing-“

“There is still no harm in trying.” I said.

Slowly he let go of me, and I walked up to Aaron and Jake.

“Look after Anna for me.” I said, he nodded and watched us leave.

The room that Uncle Luke was in was right beside ours. I can hear them talking, guards were stationed outside and gave a low bow as we pass by.

When I stepped inside I saw Liam kneeling beside the bed, holding his father’s hand. He was indeed badly wounded, and from the looks of it, losing a lot of blood.

At the foot of the bed my dad stared at his best friend then at Liam.

“Dad.” I called to him.

“Serenity!” he turned to me and hugged me. “Are you ok?”

“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “Are you ok?”

He nodded, “I’m sorry if I didn’t check on you-“

I shook my head and walked to the other side of the bed and looked at Uncle Luke.

“How bad?” I asked.

“He lost a lot of blood and is still losing it.” He said. “We tried to make it stop-“

I shook my head checking on the wounds, “It’s too deep.” I slipped out of my coat and tossed it over a chair. “Get me warm water, we need to clean his wounds, Aaron grab the first aid kit its beside Anna’s bed,” then I turned to dad, “I’d be needing surgical threads, needles, medicines and gauzes.”

I tore off the sleeve of my shirt and tied my hair back with it. Liam stared at me, questioned.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“You said my death isn’t the solution to this.” I said, “Neither is anyone’s, especially not uncle Luke’s.” I looked around and saw that they were still standing there, “Well? The things I asked for wouldn’t be appearing from thin air…”

“Move!” Liam snapped, it wasn’t an alpha tone, but it sure was almost scary.

He turned to me and forced a smile. “Sorry.”

“Well, I can’t think of any better way to make them move.” I teased, then I returned my attention to Uncle Luke. “Hey, Uncle Luke…?”

“Hey troublemaker.” He teased as he slowly open his eyes at me. I grinned and sat beside him.

“With the looks of things you’re the one in trouble.” I said.

He glanced down his body, “These scratches? It’s nothing…”

Liam, father and I laughed. He tries to laugh along but that just caused him to cough.

“You want some water dad?” Liam asked.

“Won’t it seep out of these holes?” he joked.

While Liam rolled his eyes, “I don’t think that happens in the real world dad.”

A guard then step up and handed Liam a bottle of water with a straw. He tilts his dad’s head a bit and raised the straw up his lips.

“I refuse to drink through that like an old man in a hospital.” Uncle Luke says.

“You are old but you aren’t in the hospital, Luke, so I think it’s safe.” Dad says, amused.

“I think I can live with that.” He chuckled and drank.

“I think you’ll be a worse patient than I am.” I said.

“Oh, I don’t think so princess.” He says quickly gulping the water he sipped. “I’m not the one who ran all over the mansion with her pants down half of her butt showing not wanting to get a shot.”

“I was four years old, uncle Luke, let it go.” I whined and chuckled.

“As much as I want to, I can’t.” he said, “You peed on me that day just to get away.”

We laughed again, as I blushed at the memory. Then he started coughing again, I saw him close his eyes, fighting off pain no doubt. He wasn’t one to show his pain, especially not in front of Liam.

I learned that after Liam’s mother died, Uncle Luke was broken and in constant agony, I would see it, but since I was only three years old, I wasn’t familiar with the feeling. She was attacked by rogues, she went out for a run leaving Liam with us, but she never came back, the next day they found her with a deep scratch on her neck and torso. Uncle Luke never remarried and just spent his time working and with Beta duties, mom said he was like an empty shell, but all that changed whenever Liam was in the room with him.

“You ok?” I asked.

“Yeah…” he closes his eyes. “just really tired.”

“Dad, you can’t sleep,” Liam says, “you need to open your eyes for me.”

“Just a few minutes Liam.” He whispered.

I reached for his forehead, I can feel his wolf slipping as well. “I need those medicines now!” I shouted.

“Shh princess…” he whispered, “not so loud.”

I shook my head, I knew my energy wasn’t enough, that I was probably still healing myself. I arranged my thoughts remembering everything mama Ellena taught me. I needed to call his wolf first, to stay and wake up.

I couldn’t heal him physically nor can I heal his wolf, but I can still communicate with it, keep it from leaving or sleeping.

I reached over his heart and tapped into his wolf. It growled for a second but then sensing who I was, it calmed.

At least it was still in fight mode. I thought.

As I have seemed to rekindle its spirit, I felt Uncle Luke stir awake.

“Serenity, if you are playing my wolf again, you better stop it.” He murmured.

I grinned, it was amazing how he hasn’t lost his jolly personality despite the fact of being in the brink of death.

“But it’s so cute.” I teased, fighting away tears.

He snorted, “Cute…”

That got me to laugh and so did my dad and Liam.

Finally the medicine arrived and I started to work on him.

Five hours, I worked on him for five hours, taking care of his wounds and at the same time keeping his wolf awake.

I was tired both physically and mentally. But I can’t sleep, I need to check on his wolf every hour.

I once again remembered the story of the moondrop.

“A moondrop.” I mumbled, “That’s all I need.”

“Dad?” I looked up and saw Liam sit up, “Dad…”

“What’s going on?” I heard dad ask.

“His grip is slipping.” Liam says.

I sat up and reached for his heart again, his wolf was almost gone.

“Shit.” I mumbled, “No… Uncle Luke, wake up.”

I called for his wolf, but it does not respond. I scanned the surrounding in search of it. It cannot wander now, “Come back!” I knew it was wrong to command a wolf that has now lost its human emotion, so it wasn’t a surprise that Uncle Liam grabbed me by the neck as the wolf came back, angry.

“Dad, let her go!” Liam gripped his dad’s wrist as I try to pull away as well. My necklace and scratching me, and when I finally got out of his hold I felt a burn around my neck as he pulled off my necklace.

His arm dropped over his chest, my necklace dangling in his hand.

“Serenity are you ok?” dad asks kneeling beside me and helping me back up on my feet.

The door burst open, Siam, mother Jake and Aaron came rushing in.

“Yeah, it was my fault I shouldn’t have…” suddenly I glanced at my pendant as I caught it changed color from blue to white.

“What is it Serenity?” mother asked.

“The moondrop…” I said. “what did grandma say the color of it was?”

“Blue when kept, white when healing.” Siam says. “Why?”

I rushed to the Uncle Luke’s side and grabbed the pendant and pressed it over his heart. I racked my head of the words that Aurora sang. I closed my eyes and struggle to remember. And as if a television set was turned on, a memory of the past came into my mind, the very moment Aurora was healing her.

“Step out of the darkness, leave death’s silence.

Lit by the moon, a path is shown.

A path to home, I bid you to come.”

I said the words along with her.

I felt the moon drop heat for a second, the rush of different scent and life around me over powered my senses. A great light engulfed my memory and the next moment I saw the girl stir and wake up.

Aurora smiles at her, “Glad to have you back, Serenity.”

I opened my eyes hearing my name called. And when I looked at Uncle Luke he was gasping, his wounds healed and colour was back.

“Serenity?” he stared at me then around. “What’s going on?”

“Dad…” Liam was choking now as he hugged Uncle Luke.

“Whoah, hey, calm down son…” he teased him, hugging him as well.

I moved back staring at the stone I was holding.

“Serenity?” I looked up at Siam.

“Serenity…” I repeated. “Serenity…”

“Are you ok, love?” mom asked.

“Her name was Serenity.” I said. “The girl who the first daughter of the moon saved, her name was Serenity.”

“You saw the past?” father asked.

“I saw when she healed her.” I said, confused, “I needed to remember the words… I needed to save Uncle…”