| Five |

"It's a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways."

- Buddha

Song : A Thousand years by Christina Perri

•••

February 2, 1943

The morning sun was a clear wake-up call. The warm rays of the light illuminated my bed chamber. The light called to me, allowing my eyes to flutter alive. Even though most immortals don't sleep, sleeping just made me feel more like a junia. It was relaxing and allowed the state of mind to loosen up and take away all the stress. Sleeping soon became natural to me. It even allowed me to dream. Dreaming was quite fun and a way to ease my mind and bring it's attention to more exciting things. Usually I would wake up quite refreshed.

This time, however, my mind kept wandering to the strange voice I heard in the forest. The eerie but melodic voice called to me like a siren. I actually have met sirens before. They had the most beautiful of speaking and singing voices. They had to hunt humans, though. Lucius would tell me that they would travel to the oceans of Earth and hunt for junias on ships. They would sink the ships and feed of the humans. The ones they didn't eat, they would save and bring to shore. Sirens only had to hunt once every three years.

Lucky.

Part of me wants to believe it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but what if it was real? Who was there in the forest with me? I may never know. Maybe it was a rogue? Rogues did have a tendency to taunt and torture their enemies first before they strike. But wait! A rogue would never be alone. Rogues always traveled in packs. Maybe it was lone rogue. A rogue who abandoned its pack. Maybe it was a poltergeist trying to be humorous? Or a ghast? Some sort of ghost or spirit? But thing about this voice was it's familiarity. It sounded so comforting and familiar, like from someone I know. Someone who shared a deep connection with me? I just couldn't put my finger on it.

I just needed to forget the whole incident, so I ran downstairs at immortal speed and greeted my family.

"Good morning."

"Good morning." They all said in unison, except Draven. My eyes began to water with tears. What would I give to get Draven to love me?

Then Draven came down from the stairs. He pushed past me and greeted the rest of the family.

"Good morning, Draven." I spoke blithely.

I put on my most charming smile and waved at him. The skirts of my dress flounced as I walked towards him. His dark eyes bore into mine and he simply tipped his hat in respect. It was required of a male to show some aspect of respect to females. Then he walked out of the door like nothing happened. I sighed in sadness.

Sister, what's troubling thee? I know something happened to upset you, and it wasn't Draven.

Ryland's voice once again, filled my mind.

How doth thou knowst of my sadness?

I'm your brother. I know everything about thee.

Nothing happened. I quickly said.

Oh Really?

I blocked him out. He would be furious if he found out. Knowing Ryland, he would start the war of the century to make sure I'm safe. He's sweet that way. Very charming as well. I would clearly surprise anyone that he had no mate. Ryland always told me he didn't need one when he had me. I was the only girl in his life, although I always encourage him to go and mingle with females of his age. I even tried to convince him to go to those mating seasons in Xandar, one of the provinces where people from all around come to hang out. He will need one eventually or want one.

But that didn't matter. I needed to find a way out of the palace without causing suspicion. If I just say I want to go hunting, Caius would ask why. If I ask to visit the market, Lovecraft would want to go with me. What should I do, what should I do? Then an idea hit me like a rock.

"Caius?" Caius turned around to face me.

"May I please go to the meadow with Diaval? You know, the one Mother used to bring me?" Caius smiled

"Of course, sweetheart."

There's my chance! I dashed upstairs and changed into my white dress with a blue skirt and a necklace that belonged to Mother. I put on my black hooded cape that fell to my feet and my iron mask. I strapped a sword to my waist and my prized dagger, I placed in my garter. I took this opportunity to go back to exact spot where that seductive voice came from. I couldn't wait so I ran at full speed. I left Diaval at home in fear of him getting hurt. I couldn't let Diaval get hurt.

I found Diaval as a five year old, he was injured in the woods with a broken wing. I took him home and Caius let me keep him until he heals. When he healed, I set him free, but he came back. We have been great companions since.

As soon as I arrived, I sat on a log waiting for the voice to call out to me. I waited. And waited. And waited.

Maybe that voice was really just my imagination, I thought. I was about to leave when something hit my ears.

BriarSnow.

That's my name. That's my name! I am BriarSnow. I am BriarSnow. It was real!

BriarSnow. BriarSnow. BriarSnow. BriarSnow.

The call of my name increased in volume every second. It scared me. My hand began to shake as the eerie voice brought chills to my spine. Then a heard a snap, and my head turned around to see ash grey eyes, staring into mine. They were just like mine. Unlike mine, which were dull and boring, these were beautiful and vibrant as if holding a mystery within them. That pair of eyes pierced my soul, it was as if they were familiar. Nobody knew why I had such a strange eye color, for I was thought to be the only immortal ever to have grey eyes.

My family checked the archives in the Grand Library to find out I was the only one with grey eyes. It was called a rare trait. They seemed to hold a tempest deep within them. Those eyes seemed to get wider, as if they acknowledged my stare. They blinked for a second as they appeared to glow in front of me, flashing from a deep raven purple, then back to grey. I raised an eyebrow, curious at the sight. Although color changing eyes were common, eyes like those were so strange and unique. I like them.

No, I love them.

Then in a flash of lightning, they disappeared.

My eyes searched warily around myself, till I backed up and I hit a cold, rock hard chest. To make sure it was real, I placed my palm onto the being's upper thigh, shakingly drawing my hand up, groping, frantically. I was trying to make sure this was real. This was no illusion. I slowly turned around and my eyes saw the most beautiful man ever seen, no older than nineteen. He had a muscular build with pale snow white skin, unlike my deathly paleness, it was so beautiful. His chest was well defined and his chiseled jaw line was hard and stiff. His mahogany bronze colored hair had strange ebony black streaks. His face showed no flaws whatsoever, and his ash grey eyes searched through mine, as if looking for something.

This man was just as beautiful as my mother! Maybe even more. Immortals from far and wide knew that my mother was one of the most beautiful creatures. Well, they described as such.

Those same eyes then glowed again, flashing to the raven purple for a second, before changing back to grey. Using my gift of aurakinesis, I looked into his aura to see a strange mix of pure white, then his eyes flashed to raven purple again, making the aura a pitch black and then back to white. I've never seen such an aura. I wanted to run, but his eyes were pulling me into a deep trance, and I felt

... safe.

Everything about this man spoke beauty and mystery. He was luring me in and then drawing me out. The man stepped closer to me, and I backed away in nervousness. My hood was still drawn up and my iron mask was covering my face. I knew better then to go hunting like this without the proper protection. As he took another step closer, I stepped back again, refusing to go any further into his spell. When I took an extra step back, stumbling backwards, he amusingly raised an eyebrow and cocked his head.

Then I heard the one of the most beautiful of voices speak to me.

"No need to be frightened, piccolo."