Bonds Of Blood

**1YEAR LATER**

Everything over the last year has changed, we were getting ready to see Artemis and Ryan off. The two of them were finally ready to take their places at the head of their old pack. Along with this Cynthia’s new packhouse was almost ready.

Rumours of the house of old had begun to spread and people had to begin to arrive and to resettle. We knew it would come however it was happening fast and I could tell that Sigi was on edge. The two of them had spent so much time with Salvi that they had invited her to live with them indefinitely which meant Ivar and I was free to choose.

Free to choose where we would live, who we would stay with. I did not realise how much of a difficult choice it would be. Logically we would go back to Ivars pack, Ildi was doing a great job of leading and we would be welcomed back with open arms.

Or we could stay in the pack’s houses of a joined pack or the manor of a soon to be Queen, never in my life did I think there would come a day when I would have so much choice. When I would have so many places that I would be welcomed.

I had spent the last few days helping people pack things into their cars as each one prepared to leave and move to their decided place.

*” You know you could sit out here all night or you could come to bed”* Ivars silky smooth voice floated from behind me pulling me from my thoughts.

He was another part of my life I was not sure I would ever be entitled to, I spent so much time thinking I was destined to live and to be alone.

“You could come out and join me... After all, it is our future that I am pondering”

I hear him snigger as his footsteps draw closer to me on the balcony. Wrapping his arms around my waist I can feel those familiar tingles jolt through my body, awakening all of my senses. The heat of his body pressed up against my back is enough to make me go weak.

*” When you stand here in the rays of the sun you know I cannot think of anything other than dragging you back to our bed, it is not talking that I wish to do, nor do I wish to ponder”*

He turns me around trapping me between the balcony and his arms. His intense gaze staring down at me as if I am the most precious thing in the world as if I am the only thing in his world.

“You know when you look at me like that it makes my mind fall quiet”

He kisses me softly first on the cheek and then trails the kisses to my ear.
*” Is that not what you always say you want? Quiet?”

“It is. Life was so loud for so long that I relish the moments where there all is calm but with you… the silence is intense. It is addictive”

*” I can only hope that my silence is not the only thing that is addictive”*

He winks at me before capturing my lips with his, the intensity setting my whole body ablaze. I do not have time to say anything before he scoops me up into his arms and carries me back into the bedroom.

We get lost in one another, the same way we have almost every day since we were found. It is like I found a purpose in him and him in me. When we are together it is as though the world makes sense, our past does not matter, the things we have been through are irrelevant the moment our skin touches.

We wake the next morning to gentle knocking at the door, I climb out of bed scrambling for one of Ivars discarded shirts and heading to open it.

**” Good Morning, I am sorry it is so early but I was hoping I could speak?”**

Artemis stands in the doorway wearing workout gear and a large hooded cloak. It takes me a second to realise that she is backed by three others 2 are wearing the same black cloak and another wearing a light grey.

**” Would you mind to get dressed and put this on”**

She hands me the pile of clothes the same soft grey cloak folded on the top. I do not speak, instead, I take the pile and close the door.

Turning around I clock the time. Three AM. What could they possibly need from me so early in the morning? I quietly get changed, tying the cloak around my neck. Ivar stirs in the bed and I cease moving not wanting to wake him, not wanting to have to try and explain whatever this is.

I head back out of the door closing it softly behind me to face them. I had already assumed that the two in the dark cloaks were Cynthia and Selene but it surprises me to see the other is Savli.

Artemis does not speak but beckons me to follow down the hallway. Nobody speaks until we reach the outside heading towards the forest, only then does Salvi work up the courage to ask where we are going.

**” We are destined for great things and I need to show you”**

We follow in silence until we reach a clearing, the moonlight peeking through the tops of the trees and hitting the ground like celestial rays.

We stood in a circle Salvi and I stood together. Artemis pulls out a small book and flips through the pages before stopping on one. It is then that I realise it is one of our grandmother’s diaries, it is the same as the one I have read although this one looks a lot older.

**” Cynthia found this when she was fixing the house around six months ago. At first, I thought it was something of our line but of no importance... That was until I read it”**

“What was in it?”
I do not know if I should have asked but I couldn’t help it

**” Well there are two parts to this. The first is something I read called the binding. To do what must be done we must first bind ourselves to one another”**

I do not know what she speaks but I am shocked that Selene and Cynthia do not say anything, it would appear they already know what is to come.

*” I have heard of the binding, is that what you wish to do here today ?”*

Of course, Salvi would know what it is that she is speaking of. Her eyes are wide and she seems deeply interested. She has been of great help to Cynthia this last year, together they have uncovered secrets beyond anything we could have hoped. She has read us words from lost languages and has shared her knowledge.

**” It is, And it is of no shock to me that you are aware of this. But yes I mean to do this tonight”**

Salvi’s eyes momentarily flash red and for a moment I feel as though she is about to attack, but she simply smiles widely and looks at Artemis.

*” Am I to be allowed to join in this binding?”*

**” Of course”**

“What the hell is going on? what are you both talking about ?”

Salvi turns to me still smiling.

*” Just watch Sekreta”*

With that the others drop their hoods, Selene pulls out a blade and slices through her palm before handing it to Cynthia who does the same, Artemis then follows and so does Salvi before handing it to me. I hesitate for a moment but I slice the blade through my palm, wincing at the pain.

The blood is dripping from each of our hands dropping into the soil below, it is then that I note each droplet burns bright blue as it hits the ground, the blood of the others is doing the same. Flashes of red, green, yellow and purple litter the floor and begin to spread out, small flowers blooming from each drop.

“What is happening?”

**” We are binding ourselves to one another, all of the power of our family lies between the five of us. Before we separate and live in our own houses and begin to live our lives once more we must bind ourselves to one another”**
“Bind ourselves to one another?”

Artemis does not respond to this instead she faces forward, watching as the flowers blooming from our blood centres into a bright white light in the centre of it.

**” We bond ourselves in Blood. We bind ourselves to one another so we may never be apart, so we may call upon the power of one another in times of need. In the presents of the moon goddess, we bind our power until the rightful owner may claim it”**

As she finishes her last words each of our eyes light up and I feel a surge of power flowing through me. Watching the centre of the bright white light an entity appears a figure born of pure and brilliant light.

*The binding of the firsts is a tradition long forgotten, how proud I am that you have chosen this path* The voice breaks from within the light like music, it is soft and sweet and somehow familiar.

*You five are all that is left, may you share the power bestowed upon you. May you call upon the power of one another in your times of need and when the time comes I pray you all pass on the gifts the chosen one *

Just as she speaks her last melodic words the light between us has gone sinking back into the ground and my palm itches as I watch it close up and five small symbols appear around the outside of it.
I recognise them instantly as the tattoos the sisters bear, the side of my stomach also begins to itch, lifting my shirt I see one of the others appearing on my skin, looking over at Salvi she has the same only on her leg.

**” It is done. May the bonds of blood be safe until such time that we pass in our magic.”**

Salvi begins to sob hysterically trying to speak as she does, we all rush to her asking her over and over if she is okay.

*” I am fine ..these are just happy tears “* She manages to say between each breath that slowly turns into laughter before the return to sobs again.

*” I’m finally... I’m finally part of something and I feel it right here “* She places her hand to her chest and a small burning feeling erupts in me and I suspect the others have their hands move to their chests.

We laugh and we cry, we hug and finally, she calms down but there is so much pride in her eyes, so much love that I feel as though if she were to die she would be the most content she has ever been.
Eventually, we break away and it is Selene who speaks.

**”*We are here for another reason. We are here because we are all to separate and one of us is about to take on a task far bigger than we could have imagined all those years ago when we were simply children playing in our back garden*”**

All eyes fall to Cynthia who looks at us awkwardly.

**”* We are here to offer our sister Cynthia something we know she will need in the future*”**
Selene walks to where the light was before punching her fist into the ground and pulling something out of it. We watch in awe as she brushes off the dirt revealing a shining bright gold ground emblazoned with small white jewels, a sun sits at the centre with a yellow diamond in the middle.

She turns to us and faces Cynthis whose long white hair shines in the light of the now looming sun. She whispers in something in Cynth’s ear before placing the crown on her head before stepping back.

Artemis leans in and kisses her on the head, her eyes blazing with pride.

**” Long live Queen Cynthia “**

As she speaks the words the sun finally tips above the tree line showering Cynthia in light, her eyes and hair glowing and the crown reflecting the light.

The four-step into her embracing her.

“Long live Queen Cynthia”