Leaves of Change [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 4 - The Cottage

    When Serenity awoke, she was in a comfortable bed. Though, she had no idea where she was. She quietly slipped out of the bed and, tiptoed into what appeared to be a living room. The room was complete with a fireplace, coffee table, and two comfortable looking lounge chairs. A man was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, his back turned to her.

    "Ah, so you're finally awake." He said without even a glance at her.

    Serenity sucked in her breath. She thought that she had gone unnoticed. She quietly crept around the corner.  She looked around for something to use as a weapon, but there was nothing.

    "Who are you? How long was I out?"

    "'Bout four hours." He said, "As for who I am...my name is Toawn. I'm a seeker."

    "What's a seeker?" Serenity asked.

    "Well dear, a seeker is someone sent to find you."

    "What?" she said, slightly irked by his statement.

    "What do you remember Serenity?" Toawn asked, ignoring her question.

    "Uh, well I remember an explosion and my friend Erika...she – she died. Then two men came, I'm assuming one of them was you, and you knocked me out and—wait, where did the other one go?"

    "Ah, you must mean Ivan, well; he went to tell the council of your whereabouts," Toawn answered.

    "The council?" Serenity asked.

    "Yes, the council of Melivian, they make all the political decisions. They are also the ones who sent me to find you." Toawn replied.

    "What the heck are you talking about? Wait! Did you cause that explosion at the orphanage!?"

    "No, I did not. The Guards of Shadow did."

    "Guards of Shadow - what?" Serenity said uncertainly.

    "The Guards of Shadow willingly serve the Shadow Master. They were hoping to kill you in that explosion."

         "Who's the Shadow Master? What are you talking about?"

    "The Shadow Master is an evil, evil man, though I'm not sure if you can even call him a man now. He's become so twisted, so corrupt by his own desires...he wants the world as his own." Toawn spat, distaste on his lips.

    "You're crazy." Serenity said, backing away.

    "Serenity," Toawn said, ignoring her concerns yet again, "I'm sure you've already figured this out by now, but you're not like other girls. You're special, more than you can ever imagine. You have powers, Serenity, powers unlike any the world has ever seen." Toawn said

    Serenity stayed silent. She took another step back. This man was seriously insane!

    "Serenity, wait a moment. Hold on."

    "You're crazy, old man. You really aren't all right upstairs." She said, trying to keep her voice from shaking with fear.

    "Now, Serenity," Toawn said lifting his hand in front of him, trying to tempt her to come back, while she was backing further away from him.

    "Get away from me!" Serenity demanded, her eyes wide in terror.

    "Serenity now is not the time or the place for this. You will see soon enough, that I am not lying to you." Toawn said, "For now, what you need is rest; you've been through a lot tonight. Now, how's 'bout you go get some sleep."