A/N: This chapter is a little dialogue heavy, so I have to apologise for that first. Other than that, please enjoy.

Disclaimer: All characters that are recognised obviously do not belong to me, Siris Fern and Mallory Feorne are obviously my own lame creations.

PRINCESS

THE AWAKENING

The eyes of the witches were wide and for a fleeting moment, Siris wondered if being a direct descendant of Maya and Red Fern was enough to end her. She hoped that they would at least allow her to express her turmoil before they pierced her heart. Siris was suddenly sad, her eyes, which were usually ablaze, were downcast. The truth was that she didn't want to die. She didn't fear it – that would never be the case. The problem was that she felt a renewed sense of purpose, for it to be cut short so suddenly made her feel cheated.

A tear slid off her cheek, its splash as it hit the stone slab, was the only sound in the room. It reverberated and echoed through the chamber, her tomb, and it felt overly loud. More soon followed, but she did not make a noise. Cowardice seemed to be her suit nowadays. The old woman's hand came into her line of vision; Siris did not resist her, she expected to be pushed back into a lying position – that would make the staking easier. She was surprised when instead of pushing her down; the old woman gently brushed the tears away with her thumb. Their eyes met, Siris' were startled and the old woman's were soft and welcoming.

"Unity. I am Edgith Harman, the Crone of the Witches, and a direct descendent of your great-great-aunt, Hellewise Hearth-Woman. Siris Fern," she sighed. "We thought that you had been lost." Grandma Harman's eyes shone with tears, and Siris felt relief flood through her.

Although she was brimming with questions, Siris contained herself and was contented to be led out of her cave. They didn't have to walk long before she was ushered into a dark, shiny creature. Grandma Harman laughed gently at her confusion; she called it a limousine, and promised that she would explain later.

In the limousine, Siris sat very still between Grandma Harman and Aradia. The Maiden of the witches held her hand, and Siris felt calmed by her gesture. As the limo was driving them back to civilisation, Siris listened half heartedly to the information that Grandma Harman was relaying to her. The only thing she could think about, as she stared out the window, was the dramatic changes that had overtaken the landscape. What was, in her time, dense forest, was now a barren desert, full of glittering dunes – she felt somewhat exhilarated.

"Why did you sleep?" Aradia's soft voice cut through the haziness of Siris' thoughts. Her violet eyes snapped back into focus; she looked at the Maiden searchingly. Her vacant eyes, which were filled with an unbridled energy, unnerved Siris and she though of looking away. She couldn't; the Maiden held her gaze with her own unseeing eyes and willed her to answer – Siris could not deny her.

"There was fighting," she began. Grandma Harman patted her knee, encouragingly. "I could not fight. I was conflicted, I was … afraid." Siris said the words and she felt thoroughly ashamed of herself.

In her own time, Hellewise had shed tears for the life of every young person lost to the battle within their clan. She wondered, now that she had uttered her piece, whether the wizened Crone and the youthful Maiden would sympathise, or whether they would condemn her for her weakness.

"There is no shame in not willing to harm your kin," Grandma Harman said softly. "But, I told you earlier of a time of darkness which is fast approaching," Grandma Harman waited for Siris to give her assent, that she did remember her mention the idea. "On the fall of this millennium, a great battle will be waged. You have kin on both sides, but I cannot put you back to sleep, you must choose a side."

"Edgith, Crone of the Witches, Aradia, Maiden of the Witches, daughters of Hellewise, I will fight for you." Siris wondered if she were making the right choice. The three women each had their own way of dealing with the pregnant silence that followed Siris' declaration. The stark beauty of the Nevadan desert rushed by them, and at length they approached the gauzy lights of Las Vegas. Siris was astounded by the images and the colour, but she didn't say anything to her hosts.

Finally they reached a palatial building, gates opened and the limousine drove slowly up the long driveway. Siris was perplexed, so much had changed since she had been asleep and she was afraid that she would be unable to comprehend the vastness of it all. The engine of the limo stopped suddenly and the three women were handed out of the vehicle, Siris stood and absorbed her surroundings as best she could.

"It's not safe to stand about outside all day. We'd best get inside," Grandma Harman and her assistant each took one of Siris' elbows and led her to the door, it was opened by a face that Siris recognised through the many stories of his fate that Maya had told.

"You –" she took a step back instinctively, afraid that he might scorn her, just as he had spurned Maya's advances and her gift. But he never did, he just gave her a searching look and stepped out of the entrance to allow the women and Grandma Harman's assistant inside.

Once they were inside, and seated comfortably, more people came in to greet them, but before they could offer introductions to the Siris, Thierry interrupted.

"As is often the case, you know of me, but I do not know of you. I go by Thierry, nowadays," he offered her a hand of encouragement. With all the confidence she could muster, Siris began.

"I am Siris Fern, grand daughter of Red Fern, and great-grand daughter of Maya, the mother of our race. You, Thierry, are her obsession. You were lost to our people and she meant to find you." Siris' brows knitted together and she wondered if Maya had found him, and whether she was here.

"While you were asleep, little one, she found me – and she kept finding me, but that is over now. She is no more."

"Did you kill her?"

"No, I did not. I'll not harm you either, if that is what you are afraid of."

"I can take care of myself," Thierry laughed gently – their interview was over.

"Let me welcome you to Circle Daybreak. This is Hannah, my soulmate, that's Thea and Eric, that's Ash, and this is Mallory," Siris looked at each of them. There was something strange about them that was dancing at the edge of her mind.

"Humans?" Siris looked at Hannah and Eric; both of them nodded. Times had indeed changed very much, if Maya's children were opening accepting humans as equals into their domains. She knew that Hellewise had often allowed humans into her clan and her gatherings, but Maya – well, she had always made it clear that humans were only for eating. Perhaps that was what caused the fighting all those years ago.

"The humans are on top now, they just don't know it. But that could be about to change." It was the new guy, Mallory.

"And do you want that change? What's going to happen to our people?"

"We are fighting to stop that change; it could mean the death of us all if it comes to pass," Thierry looked quite serious and Siris was worried, he hadn't told her what had become of her people. What if she were the last of her kind? "Nothing happens to our people – it's called the Night World now. Everyone is underground, but safe, most of the humans don't even realise we exist. It's better this way." Siris nodded minutely. She was relieved, and she remembered Ash. She laughed inwardly at herself; Ash could have been a good partner.

"We need your help," Thierry shot a look at the speaker, Mallory. "I'm sorry, Thierry, but she's here now and I've got to ask it, if you won't."

"You could have given her time to adjust before you asked."

"My friends don't have time!"

"What's going on," Siris asked slowly.

"The witches have split, Circle Twilight has joined with Circle Daybreak and most had joined it, but there were a few of us, from Circle Midnight. We didn't agree, we wanted to remain part of the Night World, we thought that when the time of darkness came upon the world, we would be free to do as we chose. We didn't realise, we – some of us – were foolish. It was all a game to us, but then the killings began, the sacrifices, what was once dark magic, became … true darkness, evil." The boy was lost in his own reverie, but everyone in the room was wrapt. "We – a group of us – spoke out. We wanted the power, I guess, but weren't able to deal with the consequences of that desire. We wanted to leave, and we were stopped. I escaped, but there are three others, they're being held by Circle Midnight –" Grandma Harman cut in.

"Who, Mallory?"

"Fallow Dai, Cynthia Stome, and Blaise –"

"Blaise!" Grandma Harman and Thea burst out together.

Find out what Circle Midnight has planned for the three girls; and what will Circle Daybreak do to rescue them from their fate?

A/N: Please let me know what you think, review ^_^