19- A New Home

She woke up to her head pounding. Pressure was at her temples, and she whined as she furrowed her brows. Her mind felt heavy and foggy. She couldn't remember anything. What had she been doing? Where was she? Who was she?

"Pan?" A voice called to her. A deep voice, one that didn't entirely sound familiar, yet she knew she had heard it before.

She peeked her eyes open and looked around. She was lying on a giant canopy bed. The trimmings were white, and her sheets seemed to be a pale cream color. Her eyes scanned the room; it was large, richly decorated with furnishings like a vanity and wardrobe. She frowned. Nothing felt familiar.

"Pan."

She turned her head towards the voice. Was that her name? Sitting beside her bed was a young man. He was handsome, his features sharp. He had his black hair pushed back, and he smiled at Pan softly.

"You've caused me a lot of worries these last few days, Precious," he said. "I was beginning to get afraid that you'd never wake up."

Pan blinked slowly and glanced around again. "Where am I? Who am I?" She whispered.

"You can't remember anything?" The man asked softly.

He reached out and held one of her hands. His hands were warm, but something felt oddly sticky about them. She ignored that feeling and nodded her head.

"My brain is foggy," she said slowly. "I can't remember anything, and it hurts-" she sighed.

He let go of her hands and pressed a thumb against the crease between her eyebrows. "Better?" He murmured.

Pan gasped and nodded her head. The throbbing was gone, but "I still can't remember anything."

"I was afraid of that," he sighed. "You've been away for many years, Pan. They brainwashed you. Tricked you. There's no telling what they did to you."

"They?" Pan raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I guess I should explain everything from the beginning," he smiled softly. "You are Pan, Princess of the Ox Clan of the Fire Mountain. My name is Axel, a nobility of the Ox Clan. We two are the last of our clan. I was assigned to looking after you and caring for you after your parents passed away. Unfortunately, Saiyans kidnapped you. They're vile creatures, Pan. Nasty," he frowned. "Violent. There's no telling what they did to you."

Pan shuddered uncomfortably, and Axel reached out to stroke her hair.

"It's quite alright. I finally found you, My Pan, and I saved you."

"What if they come back?" Pan whispered.

"Oh, they won't," there was a dark promise in Axel's voice. He smiled at her before he stood up. "I'm afraid that I cannot tell you anymore tonight. Too much information too soon could put you at risk. Here is some soup-" he motioned to her bedside, where a silver tray sat with a bowl and spoon. "Eat and then go back to sleep," he spoke gently. "Tomorrow, I will tell you more about us," he promised.

Pan sipped on her soup thoughtfully once Axel left. She was a Princess? But how could she be when there were only two of them left in their clan? And were the Saiyans really gone?

With a sigh, Pan sat her soup back down and curled up in her bed. She felt hollow and empty. She was sure it was because she couldn't remember anything. As soon as she got her memory back, she'd feel whole again.

"Come on, it's okay," Axel said as he held out his arm towards Pan.

Pan took Axel's arm slowly as she stepped outside. It had been two days since she had woken up, and although her brain had cleared from its fog, she still couldn't recall anything.

Axel had shown her around the mansion they lived at in the Fire Mountains. It was a lovely mansion, and Pan truly did feel like a Princess as they explored it. Friendly maids and butlers greeted her with smiles and provided everything she ever needed. Axel was always close by as well, making sure she was taken care of.

Pan had been told that her parents had passed when she was just a baby and that their pictures had unfortunately been burned up by the Great Fire that had happened the night the Saiyans kidnapped her. Axel said that night was the worst night of his life. The Fire had destroyed everything, and she had been taken from him. He had spent the next decade searching for her and finding ways to build his strength before he was finally able to rescue her.

'I promise, I'll never let anyone take you from me again,' he had said as he tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

In just a few weeks, Pan had grown fond of the man. He was always so gentle with her, and he smiled whenever he saw her. Soon, she was looking forward to when he would visit her. She felt safe around him.

"See," Axel said as they began to walk on a small path outside. "It's not so bad. Plus, the fresh air will make you feel better."

Pan took in a deep breath and sighed. She glanced around the acres surrounding the house. Axel took notice and spoke again.

"I had everything added for you," he said. "The pool so that you could swim, the tennis court so you could exercise, and the horse stable so you could learn how to ride."

Pan smiled up at him. "Thank you. No one has ever been so thoughtful towards me," she said, at least, she didn't think anyone had been.

"I'd do anything for you, Precious," he smiled.

Pan felt her cheeks grow warm at the pet name. She needed to get a grip. Axel was her guardian. He was guiding her back to health.

"Will I be returning to school soon?" Pan asked curiously.

"Oh, no," Axel shook his head. "You will be homeschooled here." Pan's eyes started to widen, and he turned to face her, "please don't think of me as controlling. It's just - I just got you, Pan," he stroked her hair softly. "I don't want to risk you being taken away. You should stay here, just for a little while."

Pan stared at Axel with his dark eyes like hers. He was looking at her earnestly, and she felt herself smiling. "I trust you," she told him. "I don't mind being homeschooled, and I'll stay here until your mind is at ease."

Axel smiled brightly. "My Pan, you know just what to say to ease my mind," he told her.

They began their walk again, Pan's hand resting in the crook of Axel's elbow. Beautiful blooming trees surrounded the path. A garden maze was up ahead, but they didn't walk into it. Instead, Axel turned them, and they went to a small pavilion surrounded by bushes of wildflowers.

They sat down together, and Axel turned to face her with a smile. "It's true that the main reason I want you so close is to keep you safe," he said, "but there is another big reason you must stay nearby."

Pan blinked in confusion and tilted her head.

"This is something you didn't know even before you lost your memories so that it might be an even bigger shock to you, but it's something you must know now so you can begin your training."

"Training for what?" Pan asked curiously.

Axel smiled then, and it wasn't his usual gentle smiles. This one seemed sharp around the edges. There was something cold flickering behind his dark eyes.

"Magic," he stated simply. "You, Precious, are an enchanter, and I'm going to make you into a great one."

An enchanter was someone who possessed magic. Pan had learned that her clan, the Ox Clan, had come to retain their powers by harvesting a fallen star. Axel had said over and over that they had the power of the universe in their veins. Pan couldn't help but that that was a bit arrogant. The universe was a powerful thing, and Pan would respect it.

Axel was phenomenal with his powers. With a flick of his wrist, black sparks appeared in his palms. He could summon things into his palms or make them disappear.

Once you found your magic, it was supposed to come to them naturally, like walking or talking. Pan's trouble was finding that magic. It never came to her, no matter how long she mediated. To please Axel, she had tried many ways of meditation.

Sometimes Axel got a little extreme. Once, he had her sit outside in the pouring rain. He also lit a ring of fire around her and forced her to mediate and ignore the flames. He had even made her fast several times, and Pan had gone to bed hungry and feeling weak.

After all those attempts, Axel would come in with presents and promised that they would eventually find Pan's magic. Even though he was always sweet after his harsh treatment, the perfect image Pan had of him was slowly starting to fade.

It had been one whole year, and Pan was now thirteen. Her magic still hadn't come to her.

Pan's favorite days were the days where the magic lessons were short or nonexistent. If Axel had to go into town, or leave, then Pan would have a free day. He still didn't allow her to leave the mansion's ground, but she kept herself busy by exploring the gardens, something she thoroughly enjoyed. The garden maze off towards the side was closed off, so Pan never wandered through it, but everywhere else - except for the front gates, were free game.

"Pan!"

She jumped at the sudden shout and tightened her hold on the tree branch above her. She glanced down just in time for Axel to appear under the tree she was sitting in. He had a frown on his face, and Pan's stomach twisted slightly. She was going to get a lecture; she just knew it.

"Precious," he called to her, "please get down from there. You know I don't like you climbing up those trees."

Pan let out a small sigh and gazed at the bird's nest she had been watching for the last several minutes. "Come out healthy," she whispered to the three eggs before she climbed down.

While magic didn't come naturally to her, climbing did. She slipped right out of the tree and landed on her feet with a small thud. "I'm okay," she promised Axel. "I'm an excellent climber."

"Yes, yes," he nodded his head, but he didn't seem like he cared. He grabbed her shoulder, his grip firm, and he smiled. "I have been thinking about the last few meditation ideas-" he began as he led her towards the mansion. "You know, us Enchanters to can control certain elements," he said. "For a bit, I thought yours might be fire, but no," he shook his head, "it wasn't, or else your magic would have come that day. It's not earth or wind. We tried that day with the storm, remember?"

Pan nodded slowly. "So you think it's water?" She asked slowly.

Axel grinned as they stepped out of the garden path, and in the distance laid the pool behind the house. Pan had swum in it a few times, but she stopped in her tracks when she saw a chair at the edge of the water. Handcuffs were on the chair, arms, and legs, and her stomach grew cold.

"Pan, it's okay," Axel told her, his grip on her shoulder forcing her forward. "This has to be your element. You'll be okay, I know you. Your magic will come and rescue you."

"And what if it doesn't?" Pan asked in a small voice.

"It will," Axel's voice left no room for disagreement.

Pan was numb as Axel forced her into the chair. She was shaking as she looked up at him. "Please-" her voice cracked. "Don't make me do this."

"Precious," he cupped her cheeks, and the comfort his touch used to bring her now made her sick. "This is all for you, can't you see that? We have to bring this magic out of you."

Pan clamped her mouth shut because she knew begging wouldn't help. It would just aggravate Axel, and although he had never raised his hand towards her, there was a fear in Pan that said he would if the occasion arose.

The handcuffs clicked around her wrists, cold and tight. Then her ankles, strapping them to the legs of the chair.

Pan's heart was pounding so fast and hard that it hurt. She couldn't breathe. She was shivering. Her stomach felt as if it were about to come up her throat.

"Take a deep breath," Axel said.

Pan's breath hitched, and she forced herself not to sob as she sucked in a shaky breath. She had barely inhaled before the chair was tipped back. The sudden force caused her to gasp, and the air she had just sucked in was gone.

Coldwater surrounded her, and through her blurry eyes, she could see the air leaving her mouth in giant bubbles. She clamped it shut tightly.

The chair hit the bottom of the pool with a thud. Pan's ears tensed like they needed to be popped. The water was cold, and panic was settling over Pan quickly. She forced herself to remain as calm as possible. Very soon, she would need to breathe. She was already starting to struggle.

She closed her stinging eyes and ignored Axel's voice, which was booming over the water. She furrowed her brows, begging her magic to come and save her.

The short seconds felt like hours, and Pan started wiggling as she frantically tried to break free. It was obvious that her magic wasn't coming, she felt no spark or anything, and that caused her to panic to increase. Her mouth opened, and water rushed in. Pan could feel it burning her throat and nose. Her eyes opened as she buckled against the chair.

Her body was spasming. This was it. She was dying. She was going to die.

Something in the pit of Pan's stomach started to grow warm, like dimming coal sparking to life. She could feel the energy pulsing through her veins. Her vision grew golden - was this her magic?

She ripped her wrist free from the handcuffs, and her ankles broke free next. Pan wasn't exactly sure how she did it, but she shot up from the pool and grabbed the side of it. She had little strength left, but she managed to pull herself up and over the edge.

Pan choked and gagged as she coughed up water. Her chest was squeezing painfully. Everything inside of her was burning. What was this golden glow around her? Why did she feel a buzz, like she was a light switch that had been turned her? Her body was shaking as she searched to find Axel. If this was her magic, then he would be pleased, wouldn't he?

Axel stood several feet away. His dark eyes wide as he looked at Pan. He seemed almost terrified. "Pan, what have you done?" He whispered.

Pan couldn't answer him. Her shaking arms gave out. The power drained from her as she collapsed. She welcomed the darkness.