* The sound of voices reached me in the dark first. Tuning in, I could hear the soft sounds of footfalls - one set a little lighter than the other.

* The sound of voices reached me in the dark first. Tuning in, I could hear the soft sounds of footfalls - one set a little lighter than the other.

"You looked very pretty in the dress."
"My mama picked it."
"Your mama is a very smart lady."

Rayna rounded the corner then, a child walking beside her. The white dress the girl wore stood out like a beacon in this dark shadow of hell. I stared transfixed as they came closer. I hadn't heard nor seen Rayna since the last time she had come to me. I figured Donas had either murdered her or she was just toying with me as another form of torture. The two stopped close to me; Rayna smirking at me. The child's blue eyes studied my face. I watched as they swirled with amber before staying that way.

"Does she look familiar?" Rayna asked me quietly. I moved as far as the chains would allow me.
"Bianca." I whispered in awe. She looked exactly like Mikaela, but I could see so much of Damon in her as well.
"Hello, Grampy." She whispered back. I could smell her - the scent of apples and honeysuckle. I was speechless as I studied her, the light she brought forth making her skin almost luminescent.
"How..." I smiled, reaching for her. She backed away quickly.
"I told you I was going to protect her." Rayna laid her palm along Bianca's back. "She was at a wedding, unattended, I might add, when I was able to open the portal enough to pull her through. Lucky for us, another was close enough that I could start her labor and cause a little discord." She stroked Bianca's hair with a grin. "Don't worry, mother and babies are fine."
"She can't stay here. He'll find her." I was mesmerized by the child before me.
"She and I will navigate different planes. It won't be long before Donas discovers he can no longer feel her life vibrations."
"I'm scared." Bianca whispered, her hands twisting the front of the dress she wore. "I want my Mama and my Daddy." My eyes met Rayna's.
"Get these chains off me." I demanded. She shook her head.
"No. I'm not going to unleash you."
"Do it now!" I snarled, Bianca starting to cry.
"I really need to go home now, lady." She sobbed out, covering her eyes. I jerked on my shackles.
"Release me..." I pleaded. She hesitated as Bianca cried, the sound ripping me to shreds. She snapped her fingers and I felt the instant release of the chains. I dropped to my knees and pulled Bianca against me, hugging her. Her hair was soft against my palm.
"Listen, you can't go home right now. There's a very bad man and he's looking for you. He will hurt your mother and father to get to you. Rayna and I are trying to protect you." She cried harder. "What do we do now?" I hadn't thought this through.
"There is a Shaman brave...he was there when I took the child. He couldn't follow me here."
"Okay. I didn't ask you who you met. I asked what we can do." Bianca hiccuped against me.
"Maybe he can help us!" She fairly screamed. "She has to stop crying." I knew she was right as I tried to comfort the child I had at one time wanted to kill. I could feel Rayna's frustration as the temperature increased in the small space. She grabbed Bianca from me and shook her. "Stop it! Stop it right now!" I exploded in a rage. My hand hit the center of her chest as I pulled Bianca away from her. She stumbled back, sparks flying. I scooped Bianca up against my chest and started to run through the dark, my eyes adjusting just enough to keep me from crashing head long into stone walls. Bianca held on to my neck as we ran.
"Don't lose me, Grampy" She whispered.
"Never Bianca, never."