Serena

by TheWrittenLawOfMorningStar

Being different was something I was used to. My sister was the normal one, and I was the strange one. But after my sister and I lose our parents in an accident, things start to get strange in our small sleepy town of Mystic Falls. Foggy memoires of my past were slowly becoming my present. The people I believed to be long dead, were starting to reappear in my life.

21. Chapter 21: The Beginning

Chapter 21: The Beginning

It was the warmth of the sun hitting my face that pulled me from the empty blackness I had somehow found myself in. The vague memory of burning came to the forefront of my mind as I recalled my last moments before passing out beneath the oak tree. Something felt different. I felt disoriented as I took in my surroundings. Sunlight was streaming down through the oak tree's branches as the wind softly rustled its leaves. Yet, something still felt off. None of this felt right to me.

"Do you see it, my little one?" I was startled when a voice spoke up from behind me. "Do you see the connection that binds us all? The connection between us and the earth." A shiver ran the length of my spine as her voice rebounded around in my mind. I knew that voice. I went to turn around and see for myself if it was really her, but I found myself unable to move. My eyes stayed focused on the streaming sunlight as I fought with myself. Panic set it. I fought with every fiber of my being. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. I wanted to turn around, but I found myself frozen.

Finally, my lips parted and I heard my voice, but the words that came out were not the ones I had wanted to speak. "I don't see anything, Mama." I was shocked by the sound of my own voice. I knew it was mine, but it didn't sound right. The voice that had left my lips, was clearly the voice of a child. I felt my heart lurch as my body twisted around so I could look at the woman sitting behind me. I clearly wasn't in control of what was happening to me as I finally had the chance to see her. It was my mother. Her long pale colored locks flowed around her like streaming waterfalls of silver. The paleness of her hair contrasted strongly with her olive complexion, but it was her eyes that truly pulled me in. They were a brilliant dark crimson color that reminded me of only the most expensive wine the world had to offer. She was ethereal and a vision to behold as she sat directly under one of the sun's rays that streamed down from between the branches of the oak tree.

My mother smiled at me and I felt my heart bloom with warmth. "One day, my little one." She spoke. "One day you'll be able to see it. To feel it." There was a slight accent to her voice as she spoke and I felt my body become relaxed as her words brushed my worries away. "We are all a part of the balance, my little one. You, me, and your Papa. And one day, you will see what it truly means to be a Fae. One day, you will feel what I feel, and see what I see."

I watched in utter fascination as she reached her hands up above us. I felt something flex in the air, then the once green leaves above us shifted between stunning reds and bright yellows before cascading down around us. It was like magic as they rained down and a childish giggle left my lips as I stood up and twirled around. I reached my tiny hands up towards the sky as the leaves continued to fall down around us, it was then I came to the realization that this was not just any strange dream I had found myself trapped in, but a memory. I was reliving a memory from my past, my original past.

My past self stopped dancing around and smiled at my Mother. I felt like crying at the loving look the older woman gave me as she held open her arms. My younger self wasted no time rushing towards her. "One day, Serena. You will understand." She whispered into my hair and I clung onto her even tighter.

We left the clearing soon after that and I found myself skipping ahead of my Mother as we followed a familiar path. The path ended and trees opened up to reveal a familiar sight. The wooden cottage we called home had been built by my Father when he came to this land years before my birth. Smoke curled in the air as it escaped through the chimney and I knew the fire inside was currently warming the stew that would be our super. I noticed the various animal skins that had been set out on drying racks and glanced around for the hunter who had set them out.

The door to the cottage swung open and I felt my heart race at the sight of the large man stepping out of our home. "Papa!" My little voice shouted and I found my legs moving from under me as I rushed towards the man. The squeal of delight I had emitted had the man smiling brightly as I ran up to him. He opened up his large arms and bent his knees and I leapt up for him to catch me. He easily caught me in his arms and stood up straight with a small laugh.

"Hello there, my little one." We touched foreheads as his deep voice reverberated through my body. My Father was a large and intimidating man. He stood taller than most men and wore his long dark hair in intricate braids as a way to show the others he was still a decorated warrior, and while he no longer took part in the raids laid out by the nearby village, he was still recognized as a warrior. But to me, he would always be my strong and loving Father, and my strongest protector.

As my Father pulled away, I watched as his gaze grew soft. I didn't even have to look back to know it was my Mother who had placed that look upon his face. He was a man completely devoted to the one he loved and I couldn't help but feel proud of the love my Mother and Father shared. It was one that was only ever spoken about in fairytales. It was a love built so strongly on trust and devotion. A love only Fate could have designed itself.

"My beautiful Elskling." My Father reached out with his free arm and pulled his wife in to hold her and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. I felt so full and warm in that moment as I relived the memory of my family being together.

I basked in the love I felt coming off of them as they reunited after only being apart for, at the most, a couple of hours. "Come, let us go inside for supper." My Mother spoke up and patted my Fathers chest. "You have a long night ahead of you, my love." My Father nodded his head in agreement and carried me into our home.

The three of us sat around the fire in the center of the cottage where our meal was being warmed. A hearty stew had been sizzling in a metal cauldron above the flames and was waiting for us as my Mother filled wooden bowls and handed one to my Father before handing me my own. I sat, entranced by my Fathers words as he spoke of stories he had once been told when he was child. He had traveled a long way to get to these new lands in hope of a new life. The stories he told had been told to him by his own father and he wanted to pass them down onto me, so that I may one day pass them down to my own children.

I felt like all the pieces of my past were slowly coming together as my younger self sat and listened to my Fathers stories. I could taste the hot meal on my tongue and feel the excitement I felt when hearing his stories. There was a warmth in the air not caused by the fire I sat beside. It had been created by the love between my Mother and Father, and the love they had for me. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of being home.

The sun slowly began its descent as it touched the horizon and casted the trees in front of our home in its orange glow. I watched as my Mother and Father stood up and walked around the fire. I stood up after them and followed the two adults as they headed towards the door.

My Father opened the door and allowed the suns fading light into our home. I stood there watching my parents as they stood in the doorway. My Father held onto my Mothers hands as they spoke softly to one another. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but I felt the frown on my lips as I recognized that this was something of a ritual.

My Father released my Mothers hands and started to untie the thick leather vest he wore over a simple white tunic. He handed my Mother the article of clothing and I watched as the large man gently ran the back of his fingers over the side of my Mothers face.

He then turned his attention away from his wife and looked down at me. My younger self gave him a small smile before rushing to him. My Father kneeled down and spoke to me, "Be strong, my little one." His deep voice echoed in my thoughts as he cupped the side of my face in his large and calloused hand. "I will see you in the morning." He once again pressed his forehead against my own as we stared into one another's eyes. After a long moment, he stood back up and turned back towards my Mother.

They whispered words of love to one another before my Father turned towards the outside. He took in a deep breath and stepped out just as the sun's light faded over the horizon. I stood next to my Mother and felt her place a reassuring hand on my shoulder as we watched my Fathers figure walk through the tree line and disappear into the woods surrounding our home. As soon as we could no longer see him, she closed the door to our home. With the door shut, I ran to the window and peeked out. The glass was wavy and warped, making it hard for me to see what was happening outside.

"Come my little one." I turned away from the window and made my way across the small home towards my Mother. There was a bed that took up one corner of the room. It was filled with straw and bird feathers while the top of it was covered in furs from the animals my father had hunted. "It's time for bed, Serena." My Mother pulled back some of the furs and helped me up onto the bed.

As my younger self laid down, a howl broke out and echoed through the night. But there was no fear in my heart as my Mother settled onto the bed beside me. She gently ran her fingers through my hair as the two of us listened to the sounds the night had to offer.

I felt like I should have been more worried for my Father as more howls filled the air, but I wasn't. My Father wasn't just our fierce warrior, he was our protector. My Father was a man cursed by the fullness of the moon, and every time the moon grew full and bleached the night with her pale light, my Father became a beast. But he was no danger to us. He kept us safe from the others who were like him, guarding us as we slept.

My eyes began to droop as sleep tugged at my young mind. I wanted to stay awake and listen to the songs of the men who turned into beasts, but I could not fight the need to close my eyes. As I felt myself succumbing to sleep, I felt my Mother press one last kiss onto my head before the darkness pulled me down.

There was only a strong sense of peace as darkness filled my mind, but as my eyes began to open, I found myself in a different place. My memory had shifted, and I was no longer surrounded by the warmth and safety of my home. The sound of metal banging against metal filled the air and I could make out many voices speaking all at once around me. As my vision cleared I took in my surroundings. I found myself clutching my Mothers skirts as I walked beside her though the village we often traded goods with.

It felt so surreal as I took in the environment around me. Everything looked so familiar, yet, this was almost a whole new experience for me as I relived the memory. I could see the villages black smith working metal in his forge, and spotted the village women cooking meat on open fires. The people coexisted here as they worked together to survive.

My family often visited the village to make trades with the people who lived here. My Mother traded the herbs she grew for fabrics to make our clothing out of, while my Father would trade the meat and pelts he hunted. This was the routine of our lives.

As I clung to my Mother and stayed glued to her hip, I felt a pressure weighing me down, one that I was familiar with. It was almost comforting knowing that even in my first life, when surrounded by crowds of strangers, I still felt that suffocating feeling of being uncomfortable with my surroundings. Being near my Mother helped lift the fear of being surrounded off my shoulders, and while it also helped that my Fathers imposing figure had people moving quickly out of his way, the pressure did not fully leave me. I could see the villagers sending my Mother and I strange looks as we passed them by, but their stares did not linger long with my Father close to us.

My Mother suddenly stopped and my younger self peeled her eyes away from the crowd of people. A woman stood in front of us and greeted my Mother like an old friend, "Niamh, it is good to see you are well." I glanced up at my Mother and saw her give the woman a warm smile.

"Esther, it is good to see you. How is your little one doing?" My Mothers words made me look back at the woman. I could hardly believe that I didn't notice the large baby bump protruding from the woman's abdomen the first time I laid eyes on her. It was exceedingly clear that Esther was very pregnant.

Esther gently rubbed at the side of her stomach before answering my Mother, "Active. I have a feeling I will be having another son." Esther's wheat colored hair and brown eyes reminded me of someone as her and my Mother spoke to one another. I noticed that the air around Esther was different then the air around the other humans who lived in the village. But I couldn't place a finger on what made the woman in front of me so different then the humans that mingled around us.

My younger self glanced away from the two women as they conversed, and looked around the village. Then someone caught my eyes, and I felt my heart rate spike in excitement. "Finn!" The name sent a feeling of warmth rushing through me. I barely noticed the pressure being lifted off my shoulders as I rushed away from my Mothers side and launched my tiny body into that of a young boy who had been walking towards us. I could hear the faint laughs coming from the women behind me as I hugged the boy.

The boy was clearly a few years older than me, but he seemed quite happy by my reaction towards him and gently patted the top of my head as I hugged him. "Hello, Serena." I pulled my face out of his chest and smiled up at him. Finn stared down at me with a look of adoration in his beautiful hazel eyes that shifted between gorgeous greens and golden browns. His brown hair was cut short, but I could vaguely remember something about him growing his hair out like most of the men in the village did.

Finn looked up and nodded his head towards where Esther and my Mother stood watching us interact. "Mother. Lady Niamh."

"Hello Finn." I heard my Mother greet the boy. "It seems someone has missed you quite dearly." I could hear both her and Esther share a small laugh with one another as I clung to Finn.

"Why don't you take Serena to see your siblings, Finn." Esther's suggestion sent a ripple of excitement through my small body. "I am sure they have missed her just as much as she's missed them." Finn nodded his head in agreement with his mother.

Finn gently took a hold of my hand and led me away from our Mothers. I stayed beside Finn as he led the way down a familiar path that I could vaguely remember walking many times before now. The louder sounds of the village were left behind us and as we came to the end of the path I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. At the end of the path was a wooden cottage.

"Serena!" I was met with the sound of my name being squealed before a mop of blond hair was latching itself onto me. The voice and hair belonged to a little girl who looked to be only slightly younger than myself. I happily wrapped my arms around her as she held onto me and heard Finn laugh from beside us at the sight.

"Careful now, Rebekah. You don't want to break her." Finn said and my younger self giggled at his words. It was simple enough for me to put together that Rebekah was Finn's little sister and a child of Esther, but I also knew, without really questioning it, that there were more siblings for me to meet.

"Come on, Serena. Let's play!" I laughed again as the little girl pulled on my arm. I felt a well of emotions open up inside of me at the sight of the little blond haired girl pulling on me. I remember being close to Rebekah, we were like sisters.

"There you are, Bekah. Oh, Finn, you're back." My eyes shot up from Rebekah and found a familiar pair of deep brown eyes. While he was only a boy a couple of years older then I was at this time, I knew exactly who he was. His eyes looked away from his older brother and down towards Bekah and myself. His face grew soft at the sight of me and I felt my heart rate pick up. "Serena." His smile had one of my own spreading across my face.

"Hello, Elijah." It really was him. My younger self smiled at the boy before peeking over his shoulder and spotting two more boys heading our way. "Nik! Kol!" The two boys looked up and spotted me and their siblings standing together. Both boys smiled and rushed towards us. Nik looked a lot like Rebekah with his wheat colored locks and bright blue eyes, while Kol had darker features like Elijah, with dark brown hair and deep brown eyes that I recalled being filled to the brim with mischief.

I stood beside Finn with Rebekah hanging off of me and Elijah standing slightly in front of me as the other two brothers joined us. Memories started to click into place as I looked over the face of the siblings before me. I knew Finn to be the oldest with Elijah being born a few years after him. Nik came along after Elijah and then there came Kol who was born only a season before myself. Rebekah was the youngest, until Esther gives birth to the baby growing inside of her.

I watched through my younger self's eyes as the siblings and I played with one another. Finn stood watch over the five of us as we ran around. I felt completely at ease in the siblings' presence. The uncomfortable crushing feeling was long gone and I knew, deep in my heart, that they would play a significant part in my life from here on out. It was no mystery that I was close to all five of them.

"Serena!" My younger self glanced up at the sound of my name being called. My Mother and Father stood together near the path that led back towards the village. Esther and a man I could vaguely remember being her husband, stood beside my parents. "Come now, little one." My Fathers deep voice spoke again and I rushed to his side.

My younger self stopped before him and turned to look at the siblings. I smiled widely at them and waved goodbye. I looked up at Esther and her husband, "Goodbye, Lady Esther." My younger self paused, and in a much quieter voice, said, "Goodbye, Lord Mikael." The hard looking man nodded his head at me before looking up at my Father. I took the opportunity to squeeze myself between my parents' legs. I peeked out and glanced at the siblings. A small smile broke out on my lips as they waved at me.

I stood between my parents as we made our way back to our home and I allowed my thoughts to wander. My past self was humming as we walked through the woods, a soft tune that stirred something from deep within me. The sun was just beginning to set and the air took on a chill, but I felt warm between the figures of my parents. When the familiar sight of our home came into view, I realized that this night would end just as any other night I shared with my family. Dinner was spent by the fire as I listened with wide eyes at the stories my Father wove together for me. With my belly full and sated, I felt my heart swell with comfort as I nestled down between my parents and closed my eyes.

I felt the lingering presence of my parents' warmth as something inside of me shifted as I slept. I felt as if I was floating through a deep black pit filled with thoughts and voices as memories passed me by in blurry figments. When my eyes reopened, I knew something was different. I was no longer a little girl in my past. I was grown in this lifetime; a young woman about to come of age.

I no longer slept between my parents on the straw filled bed in the corner of our small home. I had my own small cot near the fire in the center of the cottage. It was there where I woke up to the light of the sun peaking through the trees and streaming in through the warped glass window. With the rising of the sun, came the start of the day. My Mother and I collected the dried herbs she had grown and harvested herself. I also helped my Father with rolling up the pelts he had stretched out on drying racks.

Today we would head into the village to trade the pelts and herbs for whatever it was that we are in need of, but there was something else that was nagging at the back of my mind as I followed behind my Mother and Father. I was excited. My stomach was a fluttering mess of butterfly wings as we got closer and closer to the village. My Mother sent me knowing looks and small smiles as we walked. She knew the cause of my excitement.

The village was alive with movement and activity when we arrived. My eyes searched the crowd, as if hoping to spot a familiar face. Then I saw him, and the butterflies in my stomach took off in a flurry of motion. He was tall with long dark brown hair tied back at the base of his neck. His eyes were an ever changing hazel that shifted between shades of green and browns depending on the light. He was handsome and most women would have happily taken him as a husband. But I knew he was unwed, because he was meant to be mine.

"Lord Castion, Lady Niamh." Finn Mikaelson bowed respectfully to my parents before his gaze fell onto me. "My Lady Serena." My cheeks erupted in warmth as the oldest son of the Mikaelson siblings gently took hold of my hand and placed a delicate kiss on my knuckles.

"My Lord Finn. I am happy to see you in good health." My voice sounded the same to my ears, but the language and dialogue of my speech was one of a different time; it was of this time.

"Lord Finn." My Fathers deep voice popped the bubble that seemed to have enveloped Finn and I. We were pulled away from our own little world. "I am in need of your Lord Father to discuss the next hunt."

Finn cleared his throat and gave my Father his full attention. "Of course. I will take you to him, my Lord." Finn's gaze shifted back towards me. "I hope to see you again soon, Serena." He said to me before nodding towards my Mother. "Goodbye, Lady Niamh."

The warmth I felt in Finn's presence slowly began to fade as the man walked away with my Father following behind him. I felt my Mother loop her arm with mine and I pulled my gaze away from the oldest son of Mikael. "Come, my little one." I stepped in time with my Mother and walked beside her as we headed for the stalls where the villagers traded their goods. Food was cooking on open fires and women were holding out dyed fabrics to each other. I stood slightly behind my Mother as I watched her trade the herbs for some fabric and leather she would later use to make clothing out of.

It was not even a moment later when I felt someone collide into my side. A head of long wheat colored hair came into my vision. A smile broke out across my face. "Bekah." Rebekah was no longer the little girl who clung onto me in our childhood, but was now a young woman. The two of us have only grown closer over the years and to me, Rebekah Mikaelson was more than just a friend, she was my sister.

"Serena, come with me quickly!" Her eyes shone with excitement, and a hint of mischief, as she tugged at my arm.

"Hold on, Bekah." I glanced over at my Mother, who looked at the two of us with a small smile and laughter in her eyes. She waved me away and I nodded my head at her just as Bekah continued her tugging. The two of us ran off into the trees as our laughter sang around us. I knew where we were heading. There was a small meadow with a creek running through it near the village. Bekah and I had claimed the small flower field as our own and would often visit it whenever I was in the village.

"Hurry, Serena!" Bekah shouted as she ran off ahead. I laughed at her excitement. The two of us were unaware of the eyes that had seen us run off into the trees, or the fact that he had followed after us.

I somehow got ahead of Rebekah and glanced back at the blond haired girl. "Don't fall behind, Bekah!" Just as I turned my gaze to focus back on the site ahead of me, I was suddenly pulled off course. I wasn't afraid as a pair of arms wrapped around my torso and was pulled up against someone's chest.

"Found you, my darling." A voice whispered into my ear and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I found my heart fluttering away in my chest as I fell back further into the person's chest. My head tilted up slightly and I found myself falling into the deep depths of the brown eyes of the young man who was holding onto me.

"Yes, you found me, Kol." My heart seemed to skip a beat at Kols charming smirk. The second youngest son of the Mikealson brood had grown much from the little boy who followed around his older brothers. His hair was long and shaggy with most of it being tied back at the nape of his neck. While his deep, never ending, brown eyes, that shined with mischief most of the time, stared down at me with something that had my body growing warm as I turned around in his arms.

There was something about the young man standing in front of me, something that itched at the back of my mind as I relived this moment. The air around Kol sparked a familiar feeling within me. Something that I tried to put a name to, but was unable to do so as Kol's presence distracted me. It was as if the two of us were lost in our own little world, one that was shattered by Rebekah's sudden appearance.

"Absolutely not, Kol!" The sneer that crossed Kols face had a small laugh escaping my lips as Bekah stomped her foot. "You will not be stealing Serena away from me today." Kol reluctantly released his hold on me as Bekah pulled me out of his grasp.

"Honestly, Bekah." Rebekah stuck her tongue out at her older brother before pulling me after her, our destination now changed as we headed back towards the village. As I walked beside the irritated blonde girl, I glanced back at Kol and sent him a small smile, one he returned with his own.

The sounds of the village filled my ears as Bekah complained from beside me, "Hmpf, we can't go one day without my brothers trying to steal you away." I hummed from beside her as my thoughts drifted. "It's as if they must always have your attention focused on them at all times." I didn't know how to feel about that. There was no inner turmoil from my past self as the words Bekah spoke met my ear. It was as if I felt no guilt or remorse having the affection, and feeling equal affection, for more than one person. Even Bekah seemed unbothered by her own words and their implications.

With the harvest season being over, there was a lot more movement within the village. Hunting parties still gathered and there was still much to be done before the cold season came. But for now, there was a sense of peace within the village as people walked around with full bellies and plenty of good spirit. These kinds of days were rare, so I was happy to walk beside my friend, even if the overbearing feeling of being exposed gnawed away at my stomach.

That feeling of being exposed and uncomfortable among the crowded village, was one that I knew all too well. But as I walked beside Bekah, that feeling started to disappear. This only happened when in either my Fathers presence, or one of theirs.

I looked around in search of who it was that caused me to feel a sense of peace among the strangers of the village. It wasn't hard to spot just who it was that caused the feeling as he stepped through the crowd and approached his sister and I. Our eyes met and a familiar warmth filled me from the top of my head, all the way down to my toes.

Niklaus had grown from a young boy, into a very handsome man. His wheat colored hair brushed the tops of his shoulders and those stunning blue eyes of his reminded me of the sea with their small speaks of green scattered about. He was absolutely stunning.

Niklaus bowed politely to the two of us, "Hello, Little Sister." His gaze zeroed in on me. "Serena." The way my name fell from his lips had my heart singing and my lips spreading in a shy smile. The fair haired man bowed and gently took ahold of my hand. Our eyes never disconnected as he placed a gentle kiss on the back of my knuckles. While this was not the first time this greeting has been given to me today, I still found my cheeks becoming alight with warmth at the action.

"Hello, Nik." The older male smiled at me with charm sparking in his eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at Bekah's annoyed sigh at her brother's actions.

"Honestly." Bekah huffed and rolled her eyes. Niklaus smirked at his sister's annoyed face as my hand fell from his grasp.

"Don't be jealous, sister." He mocked and Rebekah answered him by stomping her foot and crossing her arms over chest like a little girl. The dynamic between the two siblings had a foreign memory surface within my mind. A man with dark hair and striking blue eyes, teasing someone who looked exactly like me. Damon. That's right, this memory reminded me of Damon and myself.

Another huff escaped Bekah's lips before she looped her arm with mine once again. "I already told Kol that Serena is mine for the day. So you can take your attempts at trying to woo her, somewhere else." Bekah's words had a deep frown marring Niks face, but before the older Mikaelson could make a comment, something crashed into the side of me, causing me to stumble into Rebekah.

"Serena!" I braced myself against Bekah as the small figure wrapped their arms around my waist and hugged me tightly.

I smiled and laughed as I hugged the child that had latched onto me. "Hello there, Henrik." The small boy looked up at me as I smoothed his brown hair out of his face. Henrik was the youngest brother of the Mikaelson family.

"Henrik, weren't you supposed to be helping mother today?" Niklaus asked his younger brother. The youngest of the Mikaelsons looked up at his big brother with his large brown eyes as he tried to convey his innocence to Niklaus. I found my heart growing even fonder at the sight of those large brown eyes.

Henrik opened his mouth to respond to Nik, but was interrupted, "Don't be upset, Niklaus. Our little brother begged me to bring him along. He wanted to see Serena before she returned home for the evening." I felt excitement rush through me as I looked up to find a very familiar set of deep brown eyes. Elijah was both a familiar sight, and a complete stranger to me at that moment. His dark colored hair was long and half tied back with a piece of leather. His eyes were the same deep brown orbs they have always been, only in this moment, there was no hurt or pain reflecting in those deep pools.

I smiled fondly at Elijah as he stood beside his fair haired brother. I felt warm in Niks and Elijah's presence as the four siblings walked with me back towards the village market, where I would find my parents and we would journey home. While both Bekah and Henrik did their best to monopolize my time and I found myself constantly stealing glances at the two older brothers walking with us.

Something inside of me felt complete every time I caught Nik or Elijah staring at me. My heart would flutter in my chest and I couldn't help but feel my cheeks grow warm as I sent them small smiles in return.

When I returned to my parents' side, we bid the Mikaelson siblings goodbye and left for our home. I couldn't help but glance back and saw both brothers watching as we departed. A deep longing filled my heart knowing it would be some time before I would be seeing them again. I felt sad at not being able to say goodbye to Kol and Finn as well. As I grew older, I began to notice that it became harder and harder for me to say goodbye to the four brothers. Leaving them behind in the village was like leaving behind a piece of myself.

Over the course of the next few days, I found myself mindlessly going about the day. I would follow after my Mother and help her gather herbs from under the oak tree before bringing them home to hang and dry. On the fifth day of aimlessly following after my Mother, she finally broke her silence of my strange behavior and asked, "What bothers you so, my little one?" Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked up from the blade of grass I had been trailing around in my fingers.

A soft sigh escaped from my lips as I looked back down and settled my hands in my lap. "I do not know, Mother," I answered honestly. Something felt different within me and I couldn't find the right words to describe the feeling. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and the heat that was steadily growing within me wasn't helping. My Mother had explained to me that when I used my gifts, my Fae blood would burn away at my human blood. So while it was a normal occurrence, it was still quite bothersome.

Without making a sound, my Mother stood and moved closer to where I was sitting. She knelt down in front of me and used the tips of her fingers to gently lift my chin up so that our eyes would meet, "Tell me what burdens you, my little one." Her closeness sent a calming wave of peace through me, and I found my thoughts beginning to quiet down and my emotions settle themselves.

"I'm scared," I admitted with a whisper of fear. My Mother frowned at my words, but waited for me to continue. "With each passing day my love for them grows stronger, but I fear that they do not feel the same." I hated speaking of such a thing and instantly wanted to take my words back, but it was too late, and I needed to tell her. "I can feel the bond between us. I can feel how strong it is, but what if that is not enough. They are brothers, and what we have is not natural in their world," I paused as I felt my heart sink with each word, "What if they reject me? I can not live without them."

"Oh, my sweet Serena." I closed my eyes as my Mother placed a kiss on my forehead. She cupped my face in her hands and I leaned into her touch. "The Fates have chosen your path and have placed your Fated Ones before you. Even as humans, they will feel the bond that has grown between you, and them." Her words brought me comfort. "Fate dose not make mistakes, and the day you come into your bloodline, you will fully understand the bond that you share with them."

"What if they were wrong, and they take them from me?" I let the doubtful words slip away from me. "I love them so much, Mama. I cannot lose them."

"That is not the way of the Fates, my little one. They do not take away, only guide us in the right direction." My Mother was wise in the way of the Fae and I trusted her words. The doubt and worry that had been building up within me left with a sigh of relief. "You have been blessed to find your Fated Ones early in your life. Do not let fear cloud your mind, my little one, and put your faith in the Fates."

"Thank you." I mumbled quietly into her skin as she held me tightly in her arms.

"I will always be with you, Serena. Until my very last breath." And I believed her.

After we spent some time simply being near each other, we left the oak tree behind and made our way back home. Tomorrow we would be making a journey to the village to trade, and the thought of seeing my Fated Ones chased away the dark and heavy feeling growing within me.

We rose along with the sun the next day and I helped my Mother gather the herbs she had dried while my Father rolled up the pelts he had from his last hunt. With winter fast approaching, I found it strange that the day felt warmer than it should have been, but the sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, so the heat that I felt was easy enough to ignore. I stayed close beside my Mother as she went about trading her herbs with the women of the village. I found myself lost in thought as my Mother spoke to someone about the leather skins they had and bargained with them. My thoughts wandered as I searched through the village in hopes of seeing my Fated Ones. But while it wasn't one of them, or even Bekah who caught my attention, I still found a pleasant distraction amongst the crowd.

I patted my Mother on the arm before leaving her side, she would not have approved my friendship with the woman I was making my way towards, but I did not care. "Tatia, it is good to see you are well." I smiled at the dark haired woman and was greeted with a wide grin from her. Tatia was a widow, and while she did not follow her husband into the pyre, I did not care for her offense against her people's customs.

"Serena. It has been too long." Tatia was a charming and fierce woman who lived her life for the child she refused to leave behind. My Mother warned me to be cautious of her, but I couldn't help but want to be friends with Tatia.

"How have you and your son fared?" I asked.

"It has not been an easy season for the two of us, but we have enough for the winter." Tatia explained. "Are you joining us for the harvest tomorrow night?" The harvest was a night of celebration that took place before the beginning of the winter season. The villagers would make a large fire and wear face coverings in the shapes of animals. There would be dancing and mead being passed around as villagers celebrated their last few days of warmth before the cold really set in.

"I am not sure." Answered honestly. I did not like the idea of the crowd that would be attending. It was hard enough for me to be standing here with Tatia as the people milled about around us.

Tatia frowned at my words, but before she could say anything more, I found my eyes shifting away from her. I felt a change in the air and instantly knew someone was near. I found two brothers fast approaching us. I couldn't help but smile at their approaching figures and felt my already warm body grow even warmer. Both Elijah and Niklaus returned my smile and I felt all my worries from yesterday melt away.

"Apologies, Tatia," Elijah bowed respectfully to Tatia as Nik looped his arm with my own. "But we have come to steal away Serena from you." Elijah sent me a playful smirk and I felt butterflies flutter about in my stomach at the look. I looked over at Tatia and noticed the strained smile on her face as she addressed the dark haired Mikaelson.

"Of course, Lord Elijah." She did not spare us another look before walking away. I felt conflicted and was tempted to go after her in hopes of understanding what upset my friend. But before I could pull away from Nik, I was being led in the opposite direction Tatia had walked off. Any thought of going after Tatia was washed from my mind as the brothers on either side of me took all of my attention.

I don't know how Nik and Elijah were able to hold onto me without Bekah or Henrik finding us and interrupting our alone time. But we were able to find some peace near the edge of the village. Nik and Elijah explained to me their excitement for the harvest celebration tomorrow night. I smiled at their excitement, but said nothing about tomorrow night's festivities. I was still unsure that I would be able to attend, but when I saw the excitement in Elijah and Niks eyes when they commented about seeing me there, it made me want nothing more than to attend.

Elijah and Niklaus were sure to return me to the village market where we found my parents waiting for me. The two brothers bowed respectfully to my Mother and Father before promising to see me again soon. I could only hope it was as soon as tomorrow night.

Like any other night, my family and I sat around the fire to eat our dinner. There was a moment of quiet and I found myself trying to work up the courage to ask my Father about the harvest celebration, but the more my mind mulled over the question, the more I began to worry about what his answer would be.

"I can see something that is bothering you, little one." My Fathers deep baritone voice jolted me out of my thoughts. My head snapped up and my eyes found his. There was only understanding in his green orbs. He let out a deep sigh and glanced over at my Mother before turning his gaze back onto me. "The village will be celebrating the harvest tomorrow night," I held my breath as my father spoke, "I was approached today by Mikaels oldest son. He asked for my permission to escort you to the harvest celebration." The air in my lungs left my lips in a gasp at my fathers words. Finn had asked him for permission to escort me tomorrow night? The thought had my stomach twisting with both nerves and excitement.

My Mother and Father shared a look before my Father nodded his head and sent me a stern look. I sat up straight and waited with baited breath for him to speak. "I have given him permission to escort you," I finally let my lungs release the air I had been holding and felt my face light up with excitement as I smiled at my Fathers words. "You are old enough to begin courting, and while I am well aware of your Fated Ones, you will have to choose one to marry, for appearances sake."

I nodded my head in understanding. My Father was right, most girls would have already been married off, but my Father had denied any marriage proposal that came our way. But there was no point in holding off any longer. Soon enough I would come of age as a Fae and understand the full potential of my bloodline, and that meant having a conversion with my Fated Ones, one that would allow them to choose between me, or a normal life without me in it.

"Thank you, Papa." My father sent me an understanding smile and looked over towards his wife. We continued our meal before turning in for the night. I knew things would be different after tomorrow, and it scared me to think about the worst possible outcome, I still found myself excited for the possibilities of where tomorrow could lead.

When the next morning arrived, I woke with the sun as usual, but as I slowly came into consciousness, I noticed something was off. The warmth I had been feeling for the past few days had grown. I could now feel it under my skin, leaving me feeling itchy and uncomfortable. But I pushed the feeling aside and did my best to ignore the flushed feeling of my skin as the warmth boiled my blood. I said nothing to my Mother about the warmth that flowed through me, and as the sun started its descent in the sky, I followed after my parents as we made our way towards the village.

When we arrived, the villagers had lit a large bonfire and the smell of meat cooking filled the air as mead was passed around. Some of the villagers that were already dancing around the flames wore masks that represented animals on their faces, as was tradition. I couldn't help but feel excited at the sight of the village people joining together in celebration. It wasn't often we were able to have gatherings such as this.

"Serena." I pulled my gaze away from the dancers and found Finn standing behind me. My stomach turned at the sight of the eldest Mikaelson. The heat under my skin seemed to dissipate some while in his presence, allowing my thoughts to be swallowed up by him. "Would you do me the honor of joining me tonight?" He bowed slightly and held out his hand for me to take. While I knew this was coming, I still found myself glancing back towards my father, searching for his permission. He stood beside my Mother, as well as Mikael and Esther. He sent me a small nod and I smiled back before turning back to Finn.

"Of course, Finn." I allowed Finn to guide me towards the celebrations. The villagers were out in droves as they danced. Drums could be heard as they celebrated a plentiful harvest. I couldn't help but smile and laugh with joy and excitement. I could hear Finn's own laughter from behind me as I skipped slightly ahead of him. He kept a firm, but gentle, hold on my hand. The fire felt warm on my skin as we got closer and as the sun continued its descent in the sky, the flames would soon be our only source of light.

As we joined the crowd I subconsciously pushed myself into Finn's side, feeling his presence surround me. He squeezed my hand and I sent him a soft smile in return. I appreciated his support and trusted him to keep me safe. We walked around the fire and my eyes found two familiar faces standing beside one another. Nik and Elijah had caught sight of us the second we joined the rest of the village. I knew I had nothing to worry about with them close and felt even more at ease when I caught sight of Kol dancing around the fire with his sister. Tonight would be one to remember.

The fire warmed my skin and I felt excitement bubble up inside of me. It wasn't long before I found myself dancing around the flames with Finn at my side. The sun had run its course in the sky and the only light to guide us was that of the large fire. I found myself being passed between the four brothers as we danced through the night. Finn, Elijah, Nik, and Kol, they stayed by my side, not once leaving me alone, even when I danced with Bekah for some of the night. I found myself over brimming with joy as I let go and just allowed myself to feel the love I had for my Fated Ones.

Finally, I found myself being led away from the fire by Elijah and allowed a moment of rest. I couldn't keep the smile off my face as Elijah held me close. We were away from the crowd and while we could clearly hear the celebrations, we had enough privacy that I felt comfortable falling completely into Elijah's arms. I had hoped being away from the fire would cool my skin off or that the cool breeze of the on coming winter would stop the burning that was slowly taking over my body, but as much as I tried to ignore it, the heat under my skin had only continued to build up throughout the night.

"Serena? Is there something wrong?" Elijah's concern had me looking up into his eyes. Those deep brown pools of his looked down at me in concern.

I sent him a small smile and shook my head, "I am fine, I just need a moment to catch my breath." His frown eased up slightly, but did not go away.

"Your skin feels warm, are you sure there's nothing wrong?" His worry over me had my heart thumping away in my chest, but as I opened my mouth to let him know that all was well, I heard something. The wind brushed past us and with it, the sound of my name being called.

"Serena," The wind whispered. My eyes searched the area, but all I could see in front of us was the tree line that surrounded the village. I stood up straight and stepped away from Elijah as I strained to hear who it was speaking my name. The heat under my skin began to boil and I was steadily becoming dizzy as I moved further away from my Fated One's comfort.

"Serena." I knew it was Elijah calling my name, but I did not look back at him as I started to make my way towards the trees. Something was pulling me towards the woods, something that I couldn't explain. There was a hazy feeling within my mind as I left behind the village. I could no longer feel Elijah's presence as my feet carried me towards the woods. The villagers and their celebration faded away, the only thing I could feel was the pull guiding me through the trees.

As I staggered past the trees, I found myself becoming overwhelmed with pain as I tried to stay on my feet. My stomach turned violently and bent over as something forced it way out of my throat. I threw up whatever it was my body was trying to purge and felt a ghost-like touch along my body as my hair was pulled away from my face. As soon as my body finished retching, I continued to stumble through the woods. I knew there was somewhere I needed to be, but I just couldn't imagine where that place was.

There were voices speaking all around me, but all I could hear was my own blood rushing through my veins as the heat continued to build under my skin. My stomach twisted once again and I couldn't stop myself from vomiting again. I was met with a strong coppery after taste. The world around me was spinning, but my legs stayed steady as I pushed myself forward. It felt like I had been walking forever, until finally, I felt a familiar presence take hold of me.

"You can not follow her any further," Her voice was clear and I felt calmer in her arms. There was a panicked voice speaking from somewhere behind me, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. "Do not worry for her, this is what it means to be one of our kind." There was another shout, but the voice who spoke faded away as pain shot through my entire body. "Shhh, my little one. Do not fight this."

Despite her calming voice, I wanted to fight this. The pain was unbearable and I found myself curling up in hopes of hiding from the pain and heat that was taking over my body. I couldn't remember ever falling to the ground as I clutched at the soil beneath me. All I knew was that my blood felt like it was on fire. Deep down I knew this feeling, I knew what was happening, because while this was the first time my body had ever gone though this change, it would not be the last time.

In my mind I begged for it to end, and while the pain was unbearable, I refused to scream and voice my pain. Because in the pain filled fog of my mind, I knew that if I were to cry out, it would cause those worrying over me to lose themselves to the fear they must have been feeling. Then I heard something, a voice. A soothing voice that filled my mind with peaceful clarity. She was singing to me in a language only she knew. Her words reached out to me until I could no longer hear the rushing of my blood in my ears, it had been replaced by her voice. The fear I felt, along with the pain, disappeared and I gave into the calming darkness that pulled me under.

There, I swam among the stars as I slept. Then something clicked within me, and suddenly my world was filled with light, and warmth. A warmth that was nothing like I had ever felt before. This warmth flowed through me like the calmness of the sea after a storm. It provided me with a comfort I didn't even know I had been craving for my entire life. I could feel the wind moving through the leaves in the trees that surrounded me. I could feel the grass that spread out around my body as I laid beneath the great oak tree. Then I felt it, a pulse that resonated through my body. It was the oak tree that pulsed, like the heart beating within my chest. That connection I felt, it started here, at this tree.

I felt truly whole in that moment as the morning sun shone down through the oak tree's branches and touched my skin. My eyes fluttered open and I watched the sun's light stretched down and touched the earth with streaming patches of warmth. I couldn't help but reach up, as if I thought I could actually physically touch the light.

"Serena," A soft voice sounded from beside me and I was snapped out of the whirlpool of my thoughts. My Mother smiled down at me and I felt my heart grow warm at the sight of her. Her long pale locks flowed around her like silver rivers and her deep wine colored eyes were filled with love and a tenderness she only reserved for me, her child.

"Mama." I was completely aware of what I had just gone though. The change was one that opened my mind, and my heart, to what the world around me truly felt like. I could actually feel the magic that flowed through the earth. The feeling centered me and I finally understood what my Mother meant when she spoke of the balance between us and the living magic around us. I could feel the light in the living things around me, as well as the darkness as life left those whose time was ending. It was both peaceful and chaotic. It was the balance that I was meant to uphold in my lifetime.

"Come, my little one." My Mother held out her hand for me to take. I stood with her help and followed after her as she guided me towards the tree line. She urged me through the trees and I looked at her with confusion. "Look."

She pointed towards the ground and I pulled my gaze away from her to see what she was gesturing to. My eyes went wide at the sight that I was met with. There were four figures sleeping leaned up against the trees. My heart felt like it was about to leap from my chest as I looked over the Mikaelson brothers as the morning light washed over their sleeping figures. Nik and Kol leaned up against one another with their backs resting against the trunk of a tree. While Elijah and Finn leaned up against trees opposite of each other so the two brothers slept facing one another.

"They refused to leave your side," My Mother started, "You see my little one, Fate doesn't make mistakes when it comes to actions of the heart. Your Fated Ones were chosen for you and you for them." There was no way for me to deny my Mothers words as I looked down at the four men Fate had chosen for me. "The bond one shares with their Fated Ones runs deeper than any bond you will ever have, my little one. These brothers will follow you to the ends of the earth, Serena."

I trusted her words, because I knew they were the truth. I could feel it in my heart, in my very being, that this was where I was meant to be.

I slowly stepped away from my Mothers side. I kneeled down in front of Elijah, who just so happened to be closest. I couldn't help but smile as I studied his sleeping face, but while I loved every aspect of the man in front of me, it was those deep, never ending, brown eyes that I truly wanted to see now. So I gently placed my hand on his cheek and sighed at the warmth that filled me as I touched him. Maybe I should have been more disgusted with myself. I was in love with four brothers, and I knew there was no possible way I could choose between them. Because, in the end, my heart was tied to each of them, they were my destiny.

The second Elijahs eyes opened and his gaze fully focused on me, I felt the full force of what Fate had planned for us, for all of us.

After that morning in the woods, a door was opened that would never be closed. The brothers found themselves accepting their fate after learning what my mother and I were. Kol was especially interested and understanding. I found that with the awakening of my blood line, I was always able to feel things about those around me, and I found that Kol had a very powerful magical core. Knowing that helped me understand why Kol was so ready to accept what Fate had planned for us.

While there was no way we'd be able to continue our relationship in the normal sense, we didn't let that eat away at us as we learned what this all meant for us. I was willing to let the brothers take the lead in our relationship and simply enjoyed being in their presences. We found a balance that worked well for us and soon, it was if this was the way things were always meant to be. We discussed that when the time came, it would be Finn who would take my hand in marriage, as a way to appease those around us and keep others from asking too many questions. When the moon had phased through another of its cycles and the full moon would once again be rising in the night sky, Finn and his brothers came to my home to ask my Father for my hand.

While it would be the oldest Mikaelson brother to officially marry me, Elijah, Nik, and Kol would be asking my Father as well out of respect. My Father knew of the bond I now shared with the Mikaelson brothers and knew it's deep significance in my life. There was no way he could deny the marriage proposal, even if he wanted to, but ultimately, he agreed. Finn would next go to his Mother and Father and announce the proposal to them, but for now he was happy to have my Fathers blessing.

That night, while my Mother and I slept close together, as we often did during the nights my Father was taken over by the moon, I thought of what my future would hold now that I was soon to marry. Excitement bubbled within me as I thought of my future nights spent with my Fated Ones. Images of them coming home to me and little ones running around our home as we built our family. All of these thoughts filled me with a comforting warmth as I buried my face in the fur beneath me and prayed for pleasant dreams filled with future possibilities.

When the sun rose on the next day, I found myself outside waiting for my Father to return home. My Mother was waiting inside preparing food to break our fast with. I was anticipating my Fathers arrival as I searched the trees for any sign of him. He was usually very tired and quite worn when he returned home after the full moon. My excitement grew when I noticed a figure just through the trees and knew instantly that it was my Father.

"Papa! Mama, Papa has returned." I called over my shoulder as I started heading towards the trees. But as I got closer, I noticed something was wrong. My Father was limping as he made his way through the tree line, and just as he crossed over into the clearing where our home sat, his body collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud. "Papa!" I screamed and rushed forward.

I fell to my knees beside him and almost screamed again at the sight of his blood pooling underneath him. Panic gripped my entire being as I frantically pushed my Father over so he was laying on his back. His tunic was shredded and there were long, deep, claw marks all along the front of him. Blood continued to leak from his wounds and I tried in vain to put pressure on his wounds, hoping I could stop him from bleeding.

"Papa? Papa. No, no, no!" Tears filled my vision as a sob forced its way up my throat and out my lips. "Please, don't die." I prayed as pushed down on his chest. But his blood continued to leak from his wounds and I only succeeded at getting blood all over my hands. My heart was breaking as blood leaked from his lips. Our eyes met and I was forced to realize that these were my last moments with my Father. His once tan skin was now pale as his life slowly slipped away from him.

"Serena." The gurgling of his voice had another sob clawing its way out of me and more tears cascaded down my face. "My little one."

"Papa. What should I do?" I begged him, "What can I do? Please, Papa." I didn't want him to go. I didn't want him to leave me. I prayed to the Fates that he would survive this. But my Father coughed and more blood left his dying body, and I knew that the Fates could not save him.

"My little one, you are strong." He forced out before looking up at the sky. "Niamh." My Mothers name left his lips and I felt my entire body freeze. She was there before I could even blink. She kneeled beside him and took his hand in both of hers.

"I am here my love." I felt my entire world slip from underneath me as I looked at my Mother. Her once glowing skin was pale and lifeless as she gazed down at her husband. Her hair was no longer shining like the stars in the night sky, and her eyes were flat with sorrow and pain. I knew what was happening to her, but I couldn't even think of the words. "It's alright, my love." She whispered to my Father before looking up and meeting my eyes. "Do not be sad, my little love." I cried and said nothing as my Mother gazed at me with love and sadness in her eyes. "We are the keepers of the balance, and even we must return to the Earth one day. No matter how difficult it is to let go, we must be ready for the end."

"Please," I croaked out, "Please, don't leave me." I begged her, but she could only look at me and smiled sadly. A choking sound came from my Father and I watched in horror as he took his last breath. I felt his life slip away from him as his soul returned to the other side. There was a pause in the air around us before I heard a thump. My Mother succumbed to the death of her Fated One. She was gone.

I fought with myself as I pulled my eyes away from my Fathers fatal wounds. I did not want to see my Mothers lifeless body lying next to my Fathers, but still, I looked and found exactly what I was looking for. I felt a strange numbness over take my body as I looked at my parents laying side by side. They were gone, they were truly gone.

I did not hear, or even feel, them approach. I was so lost in my own grief, that I did not realize that I was no longer alone until I felt someone's hands gently take hold of my shoulders. "My love," I did not acknowledge him at first, but his voice seemed to have penetrated the fog of grief that had taken me over. My hands twitched and I noticed that they felt dry and crusty. "Serena, love. Look at me." Gentle fingers took hold of my chin and I complied with the movement and turned my head to face him. Finns hazel colored eyes locked onto me and I felt my body instantly grow weary. A look of heartbreak overcame his features.

"Finn, take her home." Elijahs voice sounded hoarse with emotion as he spoke to his older brother. Finn nodded his head before carefully wrapping his arms around me and lifting me up off the ground. I did not hesitate to wrap my own arms around his neck. I rested my chin on his shoulder and saw Nik, Elijah, and Kol standing behind him.

"I can't leave them." I croaked out as I lifted a weak hand in their direction.

Kol reached forward and laced his fingers with my own. "Do not worry for them, darling. My brothers will take care of them." He did his best to give me a reassuring smile and I was grateful for his attempts at trying to make the situation a bit lighter. Kol didn't let go of my hand as Finn began walking away from my home. I braced his hand in mine and hid my face in the space between Finn's shoulder and neck.

My body felt drained as we made our way towards the village. I did not peek out from Finn's neck to see where we were and waited until he had come to a stop. I recognized the wooden cottage the Mikaelson family lived in and watched as Esther stepped out and took in the sight of me in her eldest son's arms while keeping hold of Kol's hand.

Esther ushered us inside and gestured for Finn to set me down on the furs in front of the fire. Finn did as he was told, but the two brothers refused to leave my side when Esther asked them to. So Esther processed to clean off the blood from hands with both Finn and Kol hovering near. The numbness had yet to leave my body, but I could clearly feel the brothers near me and their presence kept me anchored to reality.

The death of my parents left a scar on my heart that I knew would never go away. But I was hopeful that with time the pain would eventually begin to fade, and with my Fated Ones at my side, I found peace within myself and the loss.

Esther welcomed me into her home with open arms and no complaints. She was happy to take me in, having been close to my Mother and having some semblance of understanding what I was and my part in the magical world. I was grateful for her acceptance. I did not think I had the strength to live on my own in the home my father had built. The memories I had within those walls felt stale in my mind and I did not have courage to return there.

Esther's husband, Mikael, was less welcoming and was only allowing me to stay because his wife and Finn had convinced him. He was now aware of the fact that Finn had my Fathers blessing to marry me and accepted my living situation. He saw it as a way for Finn to court me and a way for Mikael to keep an eye on his other sons and myself.

I found that living in the village was full of hardship for someone like me. My sense of awareness was stronger than it had ever been before coming into my blood line. I could sense those around me and had an acute awareness when strangers were near. I was lucky to have Bekah with me almost all of the time when my Fated Ones were unable to be near me. Living with the Mikaelsons had only deepened the bond I shared with Bekah. She was more my sister now than ever before. Granted, she had been a little sullen to learn of my engagement to Finn, hoping it would have been Nik.

Bekah and I walked, arm in arm, as we ventured towards the Mikaelson home after finishing up our weekly shopping in the market. My heart still ached for my parents, but I was slowly finding peace within myself again.

"Serena, look," Bekah caught my attention and gestured to something happening in front of us. "Look who is sparing for your attention." She giggled in my ear and I rolled my eyes at her jesting when I caught sight of Nik and Elijah facing each other down with their swords drawn. She was still very much rooting that Nik still had a chance at my hand. What she didn't know was that Nik, and her other older brothers, all held my heart within their hands.

We approached the two brothers and found Henrik watching on in excitement. Henrik had grown into a fine young boy full of energy and questions. He took after his brothers Kol and Elijah in looks with his deep brown hair and matching eyes. I adored the youngest Mikaelson and was happy to be able to watch him grow.

"Serena! Bekah! Look, Nik and Elijah are sparring." I smiled down at Henrik before looking up to watch the two brothers. Both Nik and Elijah met my eyes and I saw their gazes fill with excitement and tenderness at the sight of me.

Elijah looked back at his brother and spoke, "Oh look, our sister and Serena have just arrived to watch my fast approaching victory." He boasted and smirked. Nik scoffed at his words and sent a dimpled filled smirk my way before giving Elijah his full attention. Henrik giggled at his brother's antics and I placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled at the brothers.

"On the contrary, Elijah. They have come to laugh at you." In one swift movement, Nik went down to one knee and swiped at his brother, relieving Elijah of the leather belt he wore around his waist.

Both Bekah and I shared a laugh as Elijah held up his arms in disbelief. He let out an airy laugh before looking at Niklaus. Nik held his brother's gaze before looking over at his younger siblings and myself. He sent me another smirk and I felt my heart grow warm at the sight.

It truly was a sight to see them in such high spirits. Life wasn't easy during this time. Times like these were rare and I cherished any time I got to see the brothers let down their defenses and relax with one another. But, as the brothers laughed amongst each other, I noticed a figure making his way towards us. Seeing Mikael stalk over had my stomach twisting and nerves building up within me. I didn't like the look the man had on his face as he singled out Nik, and I gripped Bekah's hand as Mikael took Elijah's sword from him and took a fighting stance in front of his son.

"So, why don't you teach me that trick, young warrior?" I felt my spine grow rigid as Nik was forced to face Mikael. I could see the fear in his eyes as his father circled him, like a beast waiting to strike. I was not blind to the feeling Mikael held for Niklaus. He was cruel to his son and treated him like a burden he could care less about. I hated the way he made Nik feel.

Elijah moved quickly and took up a position in front of his siblings and myself. I glanced over his shoulder and felt my stomach drop as Nik tried to speak to his father and explain himself. "Father, we were just having fun." But his words did nothing to dampen the rage in Mikaels eyes as he struck at his son. Nik did his best to defend himself from his fathers attacks.

"We fight for our survival!" Mikael shouted at his son. I felt myself trembling as I clutched onto the back of Elijah's tunic with my free hand. "And you find time for fun!? I want to have fun, teach me! Come on!"

Fear was bubbling up inside of me as Nik struggled against his Fathers attacks. "Father, it was nothing." He tried to once again reason with Mikael, but it was useless against the enraged man. I gasped when Nik was disarmed. I fought with myself to keep still and not run to his aid. My actions would only further Mikaels rage for Niklaus.

"You are foolish and impulsive, my boy." Mikael hissed. "What? No more laughter?" I winced as Nik looked up at his father with fear in his eyes. This was no way for a father to treat his son. In fact, Nik was the only son who was treated in such a manner.

Esther appeared beside Mikael and placed a hand on his arm. "You've made your point, Mikael." She spoke sternly to her husband and had him lower his sword. Mikael grunted at his wife and before truly leaving well enough alone, he stabbed the sword into the ground beside Niks head.

"Some days, it's a miracle you're still alive, boy." Mikael walked away from Niklaus and Esther begrudgingly followed. As soon as I felt Mikael was far enough away, I rushed around Elijah and kneeled down beside Nik.

I knew Mikael was not a kind man, and that the life he lived had hardened him. He was set in his ways of survival and refused to accept any form of weakness in his children. While Finn was forced to be in his presence due to him being his heir, Finn did well to keep on his father's good side. Elijah was much the same when it came to Mikael, following his orders and keeping his head low. Fortently, Mikael did not care much for the actions of his youngest children, Henrik and Rebekah. As for Kol, I remember a boy once filled with mischief and defiance, and because of his lack of authority, it caused some striff between him and Mikael. So Kol did well to stay out of Mikaels way.

Niklaus seemed to be the only child Mikaels that he truly despised. As if Niks very presence offended him in some way. He was harder on Nik and treated him like some stranger Esther had brought in from the wild. He thought Nik was weak, and therefore useless in his eyes. It was a cruel way of thinking, but I knew one day, Nik would prove Mikael wrong and show him just how strong he really was.

The moon had once again gone through another cycle and it was the morning after the full moon. I was still unused to the caves and found it difficult to relax amongst the other villagers.

"Mother says that this winter is to be colder than the last." Bekah spoke as the two of us went about our chores in the early morning. I believed Esther's words about the coming winter. The frost was already begging to stick to the ground for longer as the nights grew colder with each passing day.

"I do not doubt her words." I commented as Bekah and I reached the front of the cottage we called home. It was a peaceful morning and I could feel the relief from the people around me now that the full moon had passed. But before the sun could truly finish rising past the trees, a voice pierced the peaceful air and shattered the tranquil morning.

"Mother!" My entire body froze up and both Bekah and I turned sharply at the sound of Nik screaming for Esther. I stood frozen as Nik rushed towards us with a small body clutched in his arms. "Mother!" Again he cried out, and just before he fell to his knees in front of us, Esther came rushing out of the cottage. I did not want to believe what I was seeing as Nik kneeled on the ground. Henrik was the one Nik had been carrying and now I could see exactly why Nik had been crying out in anguish. Blood stained the little boy's white tunic.

I felt sick to my stomach as Esther screamed over her son's little body. I could feel nothing coming from Henrik, and I knew that it was too late to save him. His soul had passed on to the other side.

Henriks death changed things within the Mikaelson family. Esther was distraught at the loss of her youngest child and Mikael felt the weight of his son's death heavily on his shoulders. I knew Esther loved her children more than anything. She would do anything to keep them safe, and Henriks death had triggered something within her, something desperate.

I felt old wounds reopen within me, but I knew I needed to be there for my Fated Ones and Bekah. I stayed at Bekah's side the entire day as we prepared to lay Henrik to rest. I could feel the family's sorrow in the air around us as we laid Henrik to rest and he was sent to the afterlife. My Fated Ones hung close around me as the day went on and the sun began its descent in the sky. The brothers would often rub against me as they passed, or touch me in some other way, seeking comfort without raising suspicion. It was difficult for me not to embrace them and comfort them with more than just fleeting touches.

I found myself alone outside the cottage as the moon and stars lit up the night sky. Bekah had decided to take a moment to herself and walked off. I promised her I would wait for her return. But as I waited, I heard Esther speak up behind me, "Serena," I glanced back and saw Esther standing in the doorway of her home. "I wish to speak to you about something." I nodded my head and followed her into the cottage. "My children mean everything to me, Serena. I know you have grown to care for them." Esther stood on the other side of the fire that constantly burned in the center of the cottage and I noticed a cauldron with something boiling within it. "There is a way to keep them safe, Serena. A way to keep my children alive, a spell. But I need your help."

My stomach twisted at her words and I felt a sense of unease fill me. "Esther, I do not-"

"Please, Serena." She began to beg. "These are my children. My reason for living." Her voice quivered as she spoke and I felt for her in that moment. She had lost a child today, and she now feared for her other children. "Your blood is powerful, my dear." She commented before adding, "Help me protect them. Help me keep them safe. All I need is your blood to complete the spell." Esther's pleas had me nodding my head. I knew what it was like to lose someone you loved deeply, and if I had the chance to protect those I cherished, then I was willing to do so.

A look of relief overcame Esther's face and she sent me a relieved smile. "Thank you, my dear." She held out her hand, and while I wanted to hesitate, I simply reached out my own hand and placed it in her palm. I watched as Esther pulled out a knife from her dress and pressed the sharp edge of the blade into my palm. I hissed in pain as blood began to pool up around the blade. I tried to remind myself that this was for the ones I loved as I watched my blood fall from my hand and into the boiling cauldron below.

I held my breath as I watched my blood sizzle in the odd smelling liquid. When Esther was satisfied with the amount of my blood that had fallen into the cauldron, she released my hand and I cradled the appendage against my stomach. The room felt slightly different now, as if the air was charging with something, as if lightning was set to strike us where we stood.

"Is it finished?" I was startled when I heard Mikael speak as he entered the cottage. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck as I watched Esther nod her head at her husband. Mikael nodded back and quickly left back out the door. He soon returned, only this time, with his family following in behind him.

I felt frozen in place as I watched the Mikaelson siblings walk in behind their father. Finn was the first one to notice me and quickly made his way towards me. He had noticed me clutching my hand to my stomach and gently pried it away from my body. He frowned when he saw the shallow cut, but before he could speak on the matter, Esther spoke up behind him.

"Come, my children." Esther spoke and Finn glanced behind himself towards his mother. Esther dipped a wooden bowl into the cauldron and lifted its contents up. Her gaze landed on her eldest son and held the brew out towards him. "Drink, Finn." I felt my stomach squeeze in horror as I watched Finn take the bowl from his mothers hand. He glanced at me for a second before drinking. My stomach dropped as I watched Finn take in the liquid.

This didn't feel right. I didn't realize I had moved, but as each of the siblings drank from the bowl, I had taken a step back. None of this felt right, and yet, I found myself frozen with fear and uncertainty. I wanted to believe that whatever Esther had created was something that would truly protect her family. But I was wrong in my assumptions.

There was no warning for what came next as I watched in absolute horror as Mikaels blade suddenly ripped through Finn's chest. I could not believe what I was witnessing as my heart ceased beating within my chest. It all happened so quickly, while at the same time, time seemed to be moving at a stand still. I heard someone scream as Finn fell to his knees. Mikael pulled his blade from Finn's chest and I felt my entire world fall out from beneath me as Finn collapsed to the ground.

"No, no, no." The words left my lips as I stared at Finn's lifeless body laying on the ground. A hollow numbness began to over take my body as I searched for any sign of life in my Fated One. I heard another scream and finally pulled my eyes away from Finn's corpse, only to be met with much of the same horror. Elijah had been next to succumb to Mikaels sword and I fell to my knees as Elijah collapsed to the ground.

"No!" Nik's shout did nothing to pull my mind out of the fog that was taking me over. I was becoming lost as I felt Elijah's life slip away from him. I didn't feel my body hit the floor until I noticed I was no longer up right. "No!" Again Nik shouted and I watched with cloudy eyes as he threw himself above me. "No! Father, please stop!" He looked back at his Father as he did his best to shield me from the carnage that was taking place. But I was unable to look away.

I watched as Kol tried to get his sister to run, but was too late as Mikael killed them both before either one could escape. I felt cold and could no longer move as Kol bled to death before my eyes. "Serena. Love, look at me." Nik took hold of my face in his hands and forced gaze to look up at him, but I couldn't see him. My vision was starting to go black and all I could see was a blurry image of blond hair hanging above me. "No! Seren-"

Nik's cry for me was cut off, and I knew that he too had been cut down by Mikael as he murdered the last of his children. With Niks last breath, I felt something in my body die. My Fates Ones were no longer among the living, and I would soon join them on the other side. As my eyes drifted closed, I heard a voice, Esther's voice, say something, "It is done, my love. Our children are safe now."

I awoke with a gasp and struggled not to panic as I sucked in as much air into my lungs as I possibly could. My body had launched itself up right upon waking up and I was met with a familiar sight of a large twisted trunk. The old oak tree stood before me and I felt relief flood my body. As soon as I regained my bearings, the sobs broke though and I didn't fight as tears flooded from my eyes. There were so many emotions rushing through me as my mind continued to replay the memories I had relieved. I was there the night the Original vampires had been created. I remembered the trauma that night held for me and I could remember the drastic change it caused in the balance of nature.

I had thought when I closed my eyes that night I would join my Fated Ones in death. But as soon as their hearts stopped beating, something changed within them, I reawakened to my Fated Ones becoming a part of the undead.

Sobs shook through me as I remembered waking confused and distraught, "Shhh, my little one." I was startled as a familiar voice spoke up from behind me. Quickly I turned around and saw the figure of a woman standing near the edge of the clearing.

"How?" I breathed out in a sigh as I stared in disbelief at the image of my mother standing before me. She smiled softly at my confusion.

"We don't have much time, Serena." She started. "But I know you have questions. Ones that can not be answered by any means without my help."

"I- That last memory," I muttered out as I tried to gather my thoughts to form some sort of coherent sentence.

My Mothers smile lowered slightly, "What you witnessed in your memory, was the creation of the Original Vampires. That was the night Esther shifted the balance." My mind whirled as I processed my mothers words.

"But, my blood. She used my blood in the spell," My words were filled with confusion as I tried to voice my next question. "I don't understand, why did it work with my blood?" I had thought that the Fae were meant to uphold the balance, but if my blood was used in a spell meant to shift the balance, then why did it work?

As if reading my thoughts, my mother proceeded to answer my unasked question, "Because of your blood being used in the spell, Esther was able to shift the balance without consequence to herself. She created the Original Vampires successfully, because they were bound to you, a Fae." Her words swirled around in my mind as she continued to speak. "The Mikaelsons reawoke from the dead that day, as the true undead."

"But what is dead stays dead." I muttered more to myself than my mother. "The balance was broken."

"We are the balance that witches crave to protect." My mother began to explain. "Fae live between the line witches can not cross. We are the balance and in our blood lays the foundation of magic itself. With your blood in the spell Esther casted on her children, you shifted the balance into something new." I sat there on the ground, dumbfounded by my mothers words. "Esther may have rewrote the laws of nature in her selfish actions, but you reshifted the balance. You are the key, my little love. The key to it all."

I felt like a fool as my mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water. "I don't understand. The dead should stay dead. That's the balance of nature." I spoke quietly as I tried not to panic under my own assumptions. I needed my mother to reassure me. I needed to know if all of this was my fault.

"We all must return to the earth someday, my little one. But," She paused and glanced at the tall oak tree. "Fae are an exception to this rule. You came back, my little one, just as I once did many ages ago. You came back because your Fated Ones still walk the earth and are waiting for you." My heart jumped at her words and a rush of questions flooded my head. "You will understand in time. But right now, you must wake up."

I shook my head at her words. "No, no. Please. I have so many questions." I watched as my Mother smiled at me. I saw the sun's light begin to peak over the horizon and watched as beams of light penetrated through the trees. "Please, don't go. Mama, please." I begged her as her figure began to fade away with the morning light.

"Shhh, my little love." Her smile sent a wave of warmth over me and I wished I could bask in that warmth forever. "Wake up."

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A/N: While this chapter explains a lot of Serena's past, it doesn't cover the full story. I decided to use her other memories as flash backs as Serena continues to remember her past. So the memory of the Mikaelsons becoming vampires is not the death that starts her reborn life cycles. There will be a better explanation in next few chapters, but for right now, this what she's remembering of the past. I'll be adding her relationship with Tatia and the witch Ayana in later chapters as well.

As awlays thanks for reading, and stay safe.