Chapter 1 Rebirth

Looking around the house feeling the silence close in around her Keren stood up walking out to the front porch. Remembering the ride home from work how she had been excited at the idea of an empty house with the girls having gone on a small vacation. The tranquil mood of the woods around the lake seemed to pull at her feet. Walking into the woods as if in a trance without any particular destination, her mind starting to drift back in time when she was young running through her grandparents fields. A cry of pain left Keren's lips as her foot caught on root or rock sending her falling forward. A searing pain shot through her side when the ground stopped her. Trying to push up causing her side to feel as if something was pinning her down, glancing to what was holding her in place the sight of blood made her fall back to the ground as weakness began to take hold.

Moaning trying to call for help Keren heard voices, afraid of dieing in the woods she held her hand out in their direction letting it fall at their conversation. The voice sounding like an angel spoke in a pleading tone, "Did you have to hurt her so badly Alex?" A gruff almost angry voice snapped at the angel, "You know we did. She has to start to die so we can give her our blood and their blood." Pausing as a rustle sounded before he continued speaking, "Did you bring 'their' blood?" A calm voice of understanding as if trying to bring peace between the male and female. "Yes, I brought it. Now we only wait for her conversion to begin so they can go to their final rest and stop Audin." A tired voice replaced the angry one of the first male who had spoke, "Her conversion is the only way to bring Audin's death and save our people." The angel begs in a tear filled voice turned to the two males, "All of the ancient ones have to die for this to work?" Both males speak with regret, "Yes there is no other way to save our people." At the last of the conversation darkness then peace claimed Keren.

Waking for a moment seeing the trees above feeling weak from losing blood. An odd sensation came over Keren as she began to taste a coppery flavor on her lips. Realizing that the coppery flavor is blood a scream causes her mouth open as the voice is stopped by dark liquid is poured down her throat. A voice shouting, "Hurry give her all the blood before she dies." At the word 'dies' Keren heard voices start somewhere deep in her head start to speak as pain began to fill her body. The voices became louder as the pain grew more intense only to be followed by nightmares. Moaning as the dreams begin to fade and wakefulness once more claimed her.

Tears rolling over her cheeks wakes Keren. The last time she was awake the sun was shining on her although she was filled with pain. Moving first one finger then the next to only find dirt below them. Lifting one hand then the next to find dirt above them. Slowing at first more voices began to speak and the pain once more began. Not far behind was the nightmares. Nightmares of wars, fighting humans shape shifting to animals and then things of eras long ago. This was to be the second nightmare sleep of the night to be filled with a total of twenty-one sleeps.

Awakening to feel the sun once more on her face tears began to fall again this time out of relief. Blinking her eyes she heard the three voices again. Fear made her heart slam painfully against her chest. The one named Alex spoke first to Brea, "Brea you know what to do. Go take care of the inheritance and the other paperwork." A fading voice and rustling of the leaves told Keren that Brea was walking off, "Yes Alexander." An annoyed voice spoke again, "Nathanial, you need to see to the guardians gathering to her." The rustle of clothes being heard as the one named Nathanial answered with a nervous laugh, "Of course I will go do that right away. Saran has been getting anxious to come see to the new Queen. I have no desire of seeing her dragon." Confused at the sound of four feet running through the woods Keren tried to look towards it.

Fear and anxiousness come over her as the one left moved coming to a stop sounding as though he were kneeling over her. "This will be your final death where the sun will aid you in calming and to allow you to wake without pain. The ancient ones will make order of what they have given you. From the power to a new lot in life. I pray you can repair the damage our father, Audin has done to our people. You are the only one who can save our people." With that final speech Alex stood looking down at the woman laying on the ground still covered in blood and dirt. As his footsteps faded her final death and rebirth once more claimed Keren.

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Looking into the rear view mirror as she turns into the driveway, Leana speaks to her youngest sister, "Tabby, do not forget mom's bag." In a mocking tone Tabitha spoke in an undertone, "Kid don't forget that bag, cause you know you aren't almost an adult and need reminding to change your socks." As the car comes to a stop Serean opened the door to stop midway of getting out. "Leana do you hear that?" Looking back to her oldest sister before continuing, "The dogs are going crazy in there."

Knowing that was not normal of the dogs when her mom was home Leana got an uneasy feeling. Getting out of the car walking slow to the door going inside. At the smell of dog urine and poop she began to walk faster through the house yelling her for mom only to stop as she realized all the dogs run out of the house running in the same direction. Turning to run outside following where the dogs went barely hearing her sisters chasing behind her. Stopping abruptly barely stopping Serean and Tabby before they knocked her down. As the three watched in fear the dogs began to lick at something on the ground. Hearing their mom moan all three girls jump forward pushing the dogs out of the way. At the sight of her mom covered in blood and dirt Leana shouted in fear, "Someone call 911!"

Waking Keren could hear her daughters sounding frightened, while on another level she heard Alex speaking in her mind. "We will meet you at the hospital with the finalizing of everything my Queen." Squirming at the sound of being called anyone's Queen she tries to rise from the ground, "I'm okay just let me up." Leana, Serean and Tabby all argued until the ambulance pulled up. To ease their minds Keren gave in to being taken to the emergency room. On the ride she

relaxed as the girls followed behind in the car. Contemplating the life ahead of her she admitted to herself that she did not want to live eternally without her children. As the ambulance pulled to a stop at the hospital the conclusion came to her. She would at least let her girls decide on how they went through their conversion. Opening her eyes she watched as the paramedics rolled her

inside.

As the doctor finished his exam and found Keren able to leave the hospital with instructions to take it easy for a few days. Looking at her daughters with a look of 'I told you so', "See I told you I was okay." Leana looked at her mom pointing a finger shaking it. "I find you passed out covered in blood you go to the hospital. By the way where did the blood come from?" Shrugging to show little concern Keren pushed the hair from her eyes while answering, "Maybe I fell on an animal or something. Now go get drinks that way I can finish up my paperwork and get dressed. I want to go home." As the girls leave the room talking in a rush with one another the doctor, nurse and nurses aide walks in. Brea hands over two folders filled with paperwork. "Sign these. I can file them and take care of the humans to make your funds and properties immediately available to you." As Keren begins to look over the papers with the new speed acquired by the conversion. As she returned the one folder to Brea, Nathanial handed her a wallet filled with cards from identification to bank cards. "When you get settled and are ready for them call the Guardians to you."

Nodding with her attention turning to Alex, Keren glance to the folder and wallet then to him. "They expect a lot out of one mere human." Noticing the calm and acceptance from the woman before him as she began to dress. A wave of her hand had her clothes shrinking and fitting as if nothing had changed. Shaking his head with a smile. "I think perhaps they knew what they were doing. Besides you are no longer a 'mere human'. You are the Queen of the Darbin People." With that he bowed and backed out of the room. Keren took a deep breath, she was grateful to have the knowledge of all the Kings and Queens who came before her to help live the life they had decided would be her's. Frowning slightly wishing they could have done it with less pain. A bit worried knowing that would not be the last pain she would fill, Keren let the worry slip away as her girls return.

Walking out of the room to be met by the girls who soon gathered around her asking if she was okay. Turning them to the door deciding it would be best to wait before telling them about the inheritance of money, property or power. On the drive home Keren however decided to make a phone call to her boss. Holding up a hand to silence the girls, "Yes, this is Keren. I was just calling to let you know that I would not be returning to work." Pausing, "Yes, you could say that. I am quitting." At Leana's gasp of shock and worry, Keren waved her to silence. "Yes, I am sorry for the short notice. I hope you understand. I will talk to you later bye." Looking to her oldest daughter with a relaxed smile Keren laid her head back before speaking, "I will explain later let's just get home." With that said Keren let the shocked silence in the car sooth her for the rest of the ride home. Preparing for the rest of her life.

As the girls finally went to bed Keren walked outside to the front porch looking over the very spot her life had changed. Taking a deep breath knowing what she needed to do, closing her eyes letting her mind explore the many paths leading to her people. Paths that are used to communicate with each of them. Pushing beyond the film of space and time on the paths Keren found she could see what they were looking at. This experiment was a bit disconcerting at first, but she continued to push forward. As the feeling gave way to one of comfort. With a little effort finally the ability to separate each path and world from one another. It took time to learn how to let her mind work in all the various places without confusing them. Through the night as the girls slept Keren used this ability to visit with each of her clans and those of the people whom did not belong to a clan yet formed their own family of sorts. With a deep breath each part of her mind that had been sent out to visit slowly come back to her standing on her front porch. As she felt the final piece return she realized this was a gift that would be needed in the future for the Fighting Guardians when they had need of her help or once she released the women's ability to become fertile. The ancient ones had given her the responsibility of sharing the pain for childbirth with the Darbin Women. If she did not accept this the people would not be able to grow. Nor would there be mates created for the Darbins who walked this world alone. The emptiness of a mate-less Darbin grew until it became painful.

Rubbing her forehead as the weight of what had become her new life swamped her Keren walked into the house blinking as she decided it was time to get on with living. Noticing the wallet and folder laying on the kitchen table Keren picked up the folder opening it. Reading over the top sheet their was a website link on the top. www.darbinq.net with 'lastdarbinq'. Looking over the floor for her computer bag Keren mindlessly took up the bag and set up the computer entering in the site then the password. Using the speed of comprehension and reading the conversion had granted her, Keren read through the documents in the file. Not believing what she had just read she went through the totals more slowly. With a shake of the head Keren thought about Brea. "Brea are you there?" Knowing beyond a doubt that the female would answer smiling at the musical sound of the woman. "Yes my Queen?" Looking at the file to show it to her. "Is all this

correct? I mean the balances?" At Brea's laughter Keren took a deep breath as that was all the answer she needed. "Thank you Brea." As the other woman slipped away from the connection Keren turns to her computer.

Clicking through the pages of the website from what she noticed the various houses were all the same on the inside as the original castle in the homeland. The outside of the homes were from the changing styles through out the regions and cultures. Bringing up the last house on the website noticing the address was in Walker County here in Georgia. The date was the next thing to catch her attention. The date the house was built was said to have been this week. Knowing in the human world it would be declared built months before the date on the website. Knowing what she needed to do first before allowing the girls to see it Keren jumped up grabbing the van keys. Driving early in the morning to the new house. The intent to call her Guardians home before showing the place to the girls.