Chapter Five: Ocean Eyes:

"You found her in the woods?"

"Yes, she was off the border. Luckily, I found her just before sun down. She'd be ripped to shreds right now."

"How do you think she came here, Caius?"

"She must have used one of the portals. I have no clue."

"I just woke up here," I mutter, slowly opening my eyes to see three people in the room. Everly and two men.

"Falcon?"

"Yes?"

I watch as he turns towards me, and I'm able to finally see what his human form looks like. He wears tan khaki shorts, a black shirt, and red converse shoes. His chin is covered by scruff that matches the chestnut curls on his head. He has hazel green eyes, unlike his wolf form. I didn't expect him to look so young, especially with that deep voice of his. He smiles at me, showing pearly white teeth. I remember he mentioned his fangs, and I shiver.

I look at the other man, soon captivated by the deep ocean of his eyes. He is tall with broad shoulders and a lean figure. I notice that his body is covered in tattoos. Many are just swirls, or silhouettes of animals. His black hair reaches his shoulders, hiding part of a neck tattoo. I barely notice anything else about him, his gaze just traps me.

"Why are you here? Did one of the guardians send you?" the man, most likely Caius, glares at me.

"I am just as clueless as you are. Whatever brought me here murdered my family...I really don't want to think about it."

"You need to realize that it's impossible for you to be here. It's actually against any nature of the basic spell that binds us all here. You either aren't human, or my sister has been slain. Or there's another reason that I can't put my finger on."

"What brought you here? Tell me what happened," Caius glares, making me lean away from him. He doesn't seem to care that my family has been murdered, and instead annoyed by my presence.

"It was a monster, like a zombie. It killed my family..."

"It sounds like a Nightcrawler. They hunt at night and have the tendency to only eat the bodies of their victims," Falcon says.

"How would one bring her here, though? They cannot pass through any portal and neither can she," Caius runs a hand through his hair in agitation.

"Maybe the spell has been lifted?" Everly appears worried, her eyes darting to the two men in the room.

"If that is the case, then we have been set free. But then the humans will perish in the aftermath," Caius smiles big, his eyes wide and wild.

"What the hell are you all talking about?"

Falcon turns to me, a lost look in his eyes,

"many years ago, non-humans of all sorts roamed Earth, hidden from view and blending in with the crowds. We were created by a great witch, with powers beyond any in existence. In doing so, her soul was split in two. She lost a part of herself for us, to give us life. One day, she met with something of a dark sort. A blasphemous spew of negativity fought for the remaining soul, and the existence of the monsters came to be. You have unfortunately come across one."

"You've lost me."

"What part of his speech did you not understand, human?" Caius shakes his head.

"Everything! That's just not possible. And you're not a shifter, Falcon said you're a warlock. Isn't that a male witch?"

"That is another story in itself. Believe what you will, but this world is dangerous. You need to be sent back so we can figure this out."

"She should stay," Falcon argues, turning to Caius with disdain.

Both men eye each other, until Caius lets out an annoyed sigh.

"Very well. But you're responsible for her."

"Are you comfortable?" Falcon knocks on the door to the guest room of his house.

I showered and was given new clothes to wear, the blood completely scrubbed off my skin. Although I still feel it all over me.

"Yes, thank you. I appreciate all you've done for me, Falcon."

"It is my pleasure, girl. I am glad I found you when I did."

Falcon leans on the wall by the door and watches me, deep in thought.

"Will you be okay? Would you prefer to leave the light on?"

"I will be fine, thank you. No, the light off."

He nods, flicking off the light switch and shutting the door on his way out. I'm now surrounded by darkness, my demons making home around me. After a few minutes, the darkness feels as if it's choking me, so I lean off the bed and turn on the light.

I'm such a loser.

But who can blame me? The darkness used to be my solace in the past; but now it has become a place of discomfort. Anything could be lurking in the room and I would have no idea. A Nightcrawler could come...

I would never forget its face. Or the feeling of my aunt's blood splattered all over me as Blanche was taken.

Sleep does not come easy.

"Good morning, Rayne," Falcon smiles as I walk into the kitchen, still in the pajamas I was given.

"Hello," I respond groggily, sitting down at the kitchen island.

"You must be hungry, here," Falcon places a plate in front of me. It's filled with scrambled eggs, crisp pieces of bacon, and lightly golden toast. My stomach growls at the sight. I give my thanks and start eating.

"It is a little early, but I know it needs to be done. We must meet with Caius to talk about how you came here."

"Do we really need to talk to that asshole? And why do you need to bring this up while I'm eating? Just the thought of him makes me lose my appetite. Why do people like giving me bad news when I'm eating?"

"The longer we wait, the greater chance Earth has of becoming a battlefield. Humans are in danger if the spell has been broken."

"What spell? How is magic even possible? How is any of this possible?"

"That witch I told you about, the mother of shifters? Well, she birthed ten children. And those children became the Guardians. Each of them has special abilities, and they ruled over us. They made sure we were kept from humans," he stops talking and watches me as I eat.

"And?"

"Everything changed when the monsters came. The guardians tried to stop it, but the monsters got out of control. Two of the ten children hated us shifters, saying we were just like the monsters. They created a spell that bound all shifters and monsters to this place. However, the other Guardians thought it was an injustice, so they sent their siblings here with us."

"Who are the two children? Maybe it was them who brought me here?"

"One of them is Caius."