A/N: This is chapter is continuing the conversation that Sheila, Bonnie and Klaus are having, where Sheila is revealing some things. This chapter is full of dialogue and flashback. I hope that you like it. We are just about up this hill and will be going down and wrapping this story up. Please review. It took a long time for this because I have writer's block and was having a hard time with this, but I think I did pretty good. Please forgive any mistakes and remember I don't own the characters just the story. Thank you and I really appreciate you guys so much. Enjoy and be the great lovely people you are...Love ya!

Chapter 14

Bennett Residence

Sheila was afraid to go further with her tale but she knew now was the time and she could not hide from her sins any longer.

"My dear, do you have anything stronger than this? I fear that to continue this story I will need liquid fire in my belly to reveal the secrets that must be made known."

Bonnie frowned, then looked to Klaus, communicating to him, in an instant he was pushing his chair away from the table, getting up. "I will get the bottle of bourbon and glasses."

Bonnie mouthed, "Thank you," he nodded and walked away.

Looking back at her grandmother, she whispered, "Grams is the rest of the story so terrible?" Bonnie was almost afraid to have her go on.

"Well, I guess it depends on your point of view."

Klaus was back placing the three glasses down and filling them up two fingers deep. Sheila nodded her thanks and took a big swallow, emptying her glass. The burn felt good and gave her the courage to proceed.

Bonnie followed suit as did Klaus as they waited for her to continue. Sheila grabbed the bottle, poured herself another shot of bourbon and took a deep breath.

"Where was I? Oh yes, we found out I was pregnant. Greg and I were over the moon by this unexpected news, well at least he thought it was unexpected; I knew the truth."

"Things seemed to get back on track. I went back to work and there was a newfound passion in the material and teaching. I knew the truth of it, the ancient gods were real and they were still as powerful. I wanted my students to know that there was validity in the teachings of other religions and beliefs, not just the mainstream ones pushed and taught."

"I grew up Catholic and I believed and prayed and did all the rituals that I was supposed to do and yet my prayers seemed to be unheard and unanswered. I didn't resent the God of Christianity, the God of my fathers, but I was angry. I didn't understand why I wasn't good enough for my one prayer to be answered and yet a deity from a so-called pagan religion saw fit to answer my prayer."

"This changed the way I approached teaching other religions, it was as if I saw behind the veil, indeed I did see the supernatural world now. This newfound insight fueled a fire in me and my teaching style, thereby captivating my students. The word of mouth had students requesting to change classes and when they couldn't and had to wait for the next semester, the sign-up roster was pages long."

The students were craving this… spiritual awakening or acceptance or maybe it was freedom, whatever it was, they were like moths to a flame."

Sheila smiled thinking about that moment in time, it was an exciting time for her, she moved a stray strand of gray hair from her eyes with graceful and delicate fingers, "I was alive and the happiest that I had ever been. No longer was I the crazy occult professor or the neglected wife or the childless wife to be pitied."

"I was in my full moment, my home life was great, Greg and I were closer than we had ever been. We talked, we laughed, we made love and we listened to what each other had to say. We started to understand that we both had been grieving in our own way, but since it was different from the other, we perceived that the other wasn't hurting as much. I have to say that was a hard lesson, but we learned to appreciate each other for the person we were and to understand that person without expectations or trying to change that person into something more agreeable to our senseabilities."

"I can't say whether or not it was the fae Queen that restored that which was broken, but being pregnant was the catalyst for the changes."

"But of course there had to be a price to pay, I had promised I would pay anything, but at the time I thought it would be my life. I was wrong. Soon the beginning of the end was upon us and I had no one to blame but myself and even still I have no regrets when I look at you, my dear sweet Bonnie."

With trepidation coating her voice Bonnie whispered, "Go on…" To Bonnie's ears it was a sorrowful plea because Bonnie was afraid of what was next to come, but to Sheila's it sounded like a command coming directly from the Fae Queen because Sheila was petrified of the consequences the truth would bring.

Head held high, shoulders squared, Sheila Bennett boldly looked into her granddaughter's mossy green eyes and continued on with her story, her truth.

"Things were good, so good that I could pretend everything else had been a distant dream, a horrible nightmare and for a while I did pretend."

"It came crashing down. In my fourth month I began to have dreams. The Fae Queen would talk to me, tell me of her people, the story of the Fae. The dreams were vivid scenes of her history and the history of the Fae race, in particular their near destruction."

She told of a time when there was only Fae, how the landscape was vast and beautiful and she and her King ruled over the Fae…

In the time and place before good or evil were used to describe the mystical creatures that roamed freely across a vast and lush landscape of such wonders that mere mortals could not comprehend much less hope to witness, there were supernatural beings and species with hierarchies, kingdom and realms.

All species had their place and were part of the ecosystem that existed before mankind. They were the children of the creator and they were beautiful in their own unique way. The creatures of myth lived free, whether in the sea or in the sky or in the inky blackness of space or the depths of the earth. They existed and were free, neither evil or good, they just were.

And then a new species was given life by the creator and was given rule over the animals of the earth and for a time there was peace, but soon jealousy and distrust turned the garden into a battleground and sides were taken.

Some species hid in the dark spaces, keeping to themselves, while others sought to destroy mankind through trickery and lies, and still others sought to help, guide and protect mankind. Once the lines were drawn the division between the mystical creatures and humans grew wider leaving just a few pockets of clanmen and peoples still willing to commune with the creator's first children.

The druids were such, that called out to the faerie folk, still believing in the spirits, changelings and willow wisps. They still called out to the Fae Queen and she listened, protecting them, avenging them and watching over them, but soon they were scattered or killed as other ideologies and faiths grew and civilization's technology advanced across the lands.

Many supernatural species had been hunted down and slaughtered in the name of human gods and many acolytes turned away and even betrayed the mystical creatures that had walked this world and many others for millennia.

The Fae Queen ruled over the fae folk and kept the balance between them and the humans, her chosen people were the druids. They remembered and adhered to the old ways and performed the rituals that appeased the Fae queen. In return for the druid's worshiping they were given power, privilege and high standing, while the lands were rich in the harvest and sickness and plague was virtually unknown.

The druids were sought after in times of need for healing or justice and the people followed the warnings and guidings when dealing with the fae, whether in regards to warding them off or keeping them happy. Many traditions were created based on druid teachings.

In time, humans took more than they gave, sucking up all the earth, carving out more room for themselves and less for the original inhabitants of paradise.

The Queen required more sacrifice from the people to keep a firmer grip on the fae folk who wanted to take back what the humans were stealing, to keep the humans content with bountiful lands and to keep the people's enemies from invading.

She saw how the humans were able to procreate, to give life, this gift that she did not have, she was barren and without a mate, unable to bear fruit, her children were her people, given dominion over them by the Creator.

She longed for a child, but she had no mate, no king. So she required the druids to supply her with a human male that would be her mate and she would bring forth a child, a being, from her own body.

The requirement was he had to be the first born of a first born, back seven generations, he had to be a son of a druid, untouched, pure, on the cusp of manhood and willing to forsake everything, even his humanity.

The applicant would go through trials to test his strength of mind and body, which would last for months and if he endured them with his life and sanity intact, he still had to be chosen by the queen. After centuries of failed prospects, finally a mate was chosen. Although the queen had finally found her king it would take another hundred years for the possibility of her dream to come true.

As with stars, they are born, shine radiantly and then burn out, so in time the hearts and minds of men changed, religions sprang up and grew like the most robust weeds that cramp and overtake the bountiful wildflowers.

The supernatural entities that once roamed and ruled were now, not so willingly fading into myth, yet it was at this time that the fae Queen found that she was ripe and ready to bear a child.

The Queen stayed inside the Tree of Life allowing the roots to feed her nutrients from the earth, the soil cooled her warm body and the vines and leaves covered and protected her as she slept, while she continued to make her body ready to receive the seed from her mate. Just for a little while longer would she have to prepare herself and then her lover and King would be with her and in her, giving her what she most wanted.

…

The Fae Queen faintly heard the cries and sorrowful prayers of her followers at the altars of their sanctuary near the great stones of their holy place. They beseeched her, needing her great and terrible power, but she could not go to them, she had to stay in the protectiveness of the Tree until the next full moon.

She sent her beloved king to answer their call. The once human man, now a millennia old supernatural creature, with power and otherworldly knowledge, gladly would do his mistress' bidding.

The trials and rituals had changed him, that was the only way; he was Fae, yet he was unique, a new species of Fae designed and created for the Fae Queen using ancient and powerful magic.

He was nothing of the young man he once had been. His stature, tall and imposing was made more so by his bulking muscular frame. The taut skin that stretched and covered his muscles and sinew was the color of polished obsidian and when he walked the earth, by the light of the moon, his flesh shimmered, showing off his powerful and massive physique.

His eyes retained their human quality of shape and color, although his humanity was burned away. Blue as the Aegean sea, his eyes would transition to blood red when provoked and enraged. His hands and feet were clawed with sharp curved talons.

His body, including his head was devoid of hair, his teeth, two sets of canine fangs on top and bottom and when he spoke the whiteness of them could be seen. The baritone of his voice was deep and powerful like what one would imagine the deepest depths of the mighty seas would sound like if given voice.

He was a terrifying sight. He was the terrible and great embodiment of the wild creatures that roamed the night; he was the face of fear and death to their enemies, but he always appeared to his followers, kindly and soft spoken, dressed in a white flowing robe that covered his feet and the long flowing sleeves covered his hands when he didn't have then knitted together in front of him. The hood of the robe hung over his head concealing his face in shadow.

He left his Queen resting in the Tree of Life. He proudly walked through the forest, advancing upon the cries and groans of his people. Once he was closer, he saw his acolytes with swords at their throats, bloodied and beaten.

"What is the meaning of this?" He inquired, addressing the crowd, several of the men wore brown monk robes with satchels tied at their waists. They all had hatred in their eyes.

"You and your kind are no longer welcome here. You are of the evil one and we have seen the light." The leader called out, carrying a torch in one hand and a huge book resembling a bible in the other.

"Have we not served you? Have we not protected you? We are Fae; neither evil nor good, we are the balance, we have been and will remain." The fae king watched the mob with sad, but keen eyes as he saw what was in their hearts through the depths of their eyes. They masked their fear and hatred with the garments of righteousness, yet they yearn for more lands, power and control.

"We that once followed you now renounce your gifts and deny your authority. We will purge you from our lands, you, your kindred and all your followers. We are the true believers of the Sovereign!" "We are the Order, reborn and empowered; we have come to destroy all of you. We will rid this land of your filth and start anew. The Fae Queen will die and her body put on display for all good and upright humans to see," shouted the leader with confidence.

"Burn! You all will burn" Shouted another voice.

"Burn!" Yelled a chorus of voices as they waved their torches around wildly, attempting to burn the druids that were down on their knees weeping.

In a booming voice the Fae King spoke,"We were the first to have been created by the Creator. Fae have walked on the wings of destiny, have sipped from the fountain of angels' tears and when the Creator commanded the moon to glow at night and the sun to shine during the day it was to give light to the Fae. We are Fae and we are eternal while you are fleeting like the morning dew burned away by the blazing sun. You dare to speak of my beloved with such disrespect? You are the dung that feeds the beetles. What makes you think you have any power? We are the children of the night and we command the creeping things of the night, how can you stand against us? How can you think of destroying that which you cannot understand?"

"It is folly to think you can end my love for she is a force that no mere human can contain." The Fae king spoke with eloquence and confidence with rising anger in his voice. The arrogance of mankind, he thought.

He could have easily slaughtered them all but he practiced restraint, still having compassion for the ignorant humans. He looked down at his faithful followers battered and bruised; he saw the desiccation of their sacred place and his anger boiled red hot.

With a wave of his large and powerful hand the wind picked up, howling through the night sky momentarily distracting the riotous mob.

When they gathered their attention back to the stoic figure they gasped and stirred as they marveled at the absence of the druid followers that had been on their knees, near thirty dirty souls not willing to turn from their damnation.

The Fae King magically teleported his faithful few to safety, not wanting them to get hurt, he charged them to disturb the queen's slumber, to warn his Queen of this betrayal.

…

Suddenly the leader of the crowd dropped his torch and opened the large leather bound book in his hand, with trembling hands he found the page he was searching for. The others in the group began forming a circle around the leader as he began reading from the book.

The Fae King laughed, watching in amusement as the members of the so-called Order started softly chanting, swaying their bodies from side to side in rhythmic unison.

"What manner of folly is this? You think you have power over me?" He asked, now enraged by their continued arrogance, he lifted his hand and a few of them were flung away a few feet, like pesky flies.

Watching in sudden terror the leader spoke quickly, reciting ancient words from an ancient language long forgotten by most. As he spoke only his voice and the sounds of chanting could be heard. All night sounds ceased, the wind had halted and the air grew thick.

The Fae King watched in amazement, shock and realization covering his countenance. As again, he raised his hand to unleash his power against his foes, now meaning to end them, he felt a growing pain in the back of his neck, as he moved, trying to advance on the humans, he felt himself growing slower and sluggish and it was harder to move his powerful limbs.

Seconds later there was silence in the forest. The chanting was done, whatever the prayer, or ritual, it was now finished and the deed was accomplished. The Fae King was immobilized, however he was conscious and very much aware, but he could not speak. He let his mind reach out to his beloved, projecting the images of this heinous deed into the recesses of her sleeping mind.

The leader walked up to the paralyzed figure, leaning in close to speak. "I and my followers have found the ancient text of Dagda. We follow Him now. He has given us power over your kind and in exchange for destroying the Fae Queen we will be given wealth and our lands back."

The Fae King looked into the eyes of the leader and saw the outcome of this betrayal…blood…war. Knowing the leader's next action, he again expanded the last of his waning magic through the distance to impart a piece of his essence, power and all his love to his Queen.

The leader swiftly lifted his sword and decapitated the powerless king. In that instant the Fae Queen's eyes opened as a powerful and guttural growl escaped her mouth, shaking the whole of the Tree of Life.

…

Quickly, the members of the Order set fire to the remains of the Fae king and the surrounding land hoping the fire would rage and grow, reaching the secret place of the Tree of Life, burning it to the ground. They fled from their carnage for the sun was rising to mark the dawn of a new day and their deeds were secret, dark and best concealed in the black of night.

The Fae queen was forced to tear herself from her resting place. She rose from her repose buried deep within the Tree, now an avenging goddess, with hatred glowing in her eyes.

She went to the once sacred place where her beloved was laid low, the ground was black soot all around. The magic beneath and surrounding their altars prevented the fire from spreading, yet the evidence of the flames was plain as the flowers, plants and grass were no more.

The mighty Fae King, although corrupted and defiled, was preserved in the form in which he was left. His beautiful body, now a husk of his former self, his lifeforce and power hollowed out.

Now, his body was a gray, ashen statue of white oak rooted to the ground. Ruined and headless yet still proud and strong. His head was next to his body, his eyes white, dead and empty; she cradled her fallen king's head while tears of blood streamed down her face.

Bloodlust and sorrow filled her heart with a wicked mixture of pain and blind rage that corrupted her heart. On her knees she cried out a pitiful wail, guttural and primal from the bottom of her soul, from the deepest depths of her now vitiated heart, the sound resonated across the dense forest.

Fae and Druids alike watched in horror and cringed in fear and pain as the sound overtook them, enveloped them and boiled their blood. They tried to run and hide from the sound but there was nowhere to hide from the anguish of the wails that clawed at their minds causing madness.

Some of the fae folk were distorted and transformed into beasts of nightmares as the sound washed over them, the creatures of the forest ran wild from the chords of torment. As the wind carried the horrible ballad of her agony, running waters stood still, flowers and shrubbery withered and died, all but the blood red flowers created by her tears, which fell upon the ground. For miles, the land dried out and ceased to produce bounty.

…

The Fae Queen now required blood and recompense; her vengeance would not be denied. Armed with the knowledge of her slain King, she sought out those that betrayed them.

She allowed the fae to take their revenge on the land and the people, except her faithful followers; they knew the signs to put around their homes and lands to mark them as the faithful.

The war between the Fae and the Order was long and bloody with both sides amassing a great deal of casualties. And without the protection of the Fae Queen, soon outsiders invaded and began to take over the lands and rule and live among the people.

Many departed the lands for freedom and prosperity in new lands around the world, including members of the Order. The most faithful druid families left with the Queen's blessing and wealth to build new homes and communities, taking their beliefs, rituals and customs with them.

The Fae Queen waited. Her vengeance was not satisfied. She would destroy every living member of the Order, every descendant would be ash beneath her feet.

The Fae Queen waited. She knew a day would come when her most sacred desire would be realized. One day, unknowingly, a woman would come to her, that woman would assist the Fae Queen in finally avenging her beloved and having her child…

…

A/N: Sorry I had to end it here so I could get this uploaded. There is more to these revelations and things are about to get very crazy as Bonnie decides what she will do with all this information that she has been given. Again thank you.