Chapter 1: Prologue

Fairan

Prologue

Rated: M

Do not own SM. Inspired by Jill Barnett's Bewitching.

Fairan: half mortal, half fairy.

Every three decades, a fairy is chosen to conduct a miracle. A heart full of rage and cold as the arctic must be altered to feel compassion and love. An unknown traveler must complete this mission within 3 months time; to prove the mission is complete a test is shown to the victim to see if they have truly felt love.

Serenity wiped a tear as she finished Charles Dickens 'The Christmas Carol'.

"What a wonderful story" she smiled as she closed the book. Then quickly frowned as she gazed at the mess she created. There were books scattered all around the room.

Oh no, panic rushed through her as she began to pick up the books when she stopped. An idea dawned on her and mentally hit herself. "What am I doing? I can use magic!" Her face lit up, "Serenity you're a genius!"

She quickly thought of a spell for clean up. Now how does uncle do it? Oh yes. Serenity raised her arms slowly and chanted a spell.

clutter clutter everywhere
…um, oh yes.
Please oh please do I care
…no, that's not right!
how I wish you aren't there
…uh, with all the mess I declare
DISAPPEAR!

A bright light flashed and instead of a clean immaculate room, she found herself standing in a pile of more books. Oh no, she thought. She can feel his presence behind her, the continuous tapping of his shoe was unbearable. She knew she would be in trouble, yet she couldn't help herself. She was just like her mother, her uncle would say.

She turned and bowed her head respectively, "I'm sorry uncle I did not mean to. I was tempted to read these wonderful books…I mean I just love…I…I…"

"Enough Serenity."

She sat down on the books and looked up to her uncle. His dark brows creased together as he looked at his niece; his only niece. He simply snapped his fingers and the books disappeared and reappeared in its rightful place.

He faced Serenity and his bright blue eyes glared, "Serenity, you have been summoned at the Enchanted Circle Meeting tomorrow morning." He brushed his dark auburn hair with his fingers. Serenity looked at his uncle, his worry lines and grey hair appearing quickly as she grew older.

Enchanted Circle? Her uncle must have read her mind, "Yes, it's time. Your time."

Serenity stood up when a black cat ran up to her and jumped in her arms. Serenity petted the black cat's forehead, covering the bright crescent moon and slowly lowering the black cat to the wooden floor.

"Serenity, you have been chosen." Her bright blue eyes knew that she had to quickly act and accept this mission. She knew that if she doesn't, a lost soul will remain lost forever. A heavy burden will be put upon her to achieve her mission. She took a step forward toward her uncle, "Do you think I am ready for this mission?"

He sighed heavily, "The council has created a record of past and future fairies that will conduct this mission. However, you have been chosen as a replacement. One of the missionaries has taken ill and is ill fit to take on the mission." Then his eyes averted down to a trail of golden dust surrounding her feet.

Curiosity spread along her face when she realized of the golden dust she was experimenting earlier. Wide-eyed, "Ill clean it up!"

With closed eyes, I can do this. She was determined to get this right! Raising her arms, she chanted quietly.

Serenity was considered as the black sheep of the fairy world. She's a late bloomer and still have not gotten her wings yet. In fact, she has to earn them. Due to her many failures in the past, she managed to barely pass her exams. In the fairy world, you must reach a certain age to complete tests to receive your wings; especially magic. She however, had to repeat many times; and still counting.

When the chant was finished, she slowly opened her eyes to sneaked a peak but then became large as saucers. Instead of making it disappear, she instead filled the whole room with her dust, including her Uncle. She gasped, choked, then coughed. Great! So much for practicing, why can't I get this right? She sighed in defeat as she collapsed on the floor. She put her chin on her hands as she pondered. She is such a failure when it comes to magic. Maybe it is because she is a Halfling. Unlike the immortal fairy, she unfortunately has the mortal aging process.

She heard her uncle's fingers snap and poof! the whole place became spotless.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready Uncle. I'm not sure if I can complete a mission when I cannot even clean up with my magic!" she pouted.

"It's not my decision to make my dear."

She stood up and faced her uncle, "I am not ready. Please will you try and tell the council to have someone else to go?"

"Serenity, you must take this as an opportunity for growth. You cannot pass this just because you think you are not ready." He turned away from her and disappeared with his voice trailing, "prepare yourself."

She pondered about her growth. Closing the door to her room, she felt something soft brushed her leg. Looking down, she looked down, "Oh Luna, what have you got there?" She picked up the newspaper in between her cat's mouth and sat down on her bed. Serenity was suddenly mesmerized at the incredibly handsome young man in the paper. She read.

"The infamous Darien Endymion Knight III has done it again. Being the youngest CEO of Knight Enterprises, this eligible bachelor has once again broken the hearts of every woman in the city. He just announced his engagement to one of the most beautiful and successful woman, Miss Litacia Woods from the Woodland Incorporations. The daughter of Orlando Woods and the heartless bachelor were considered to be the perfect match. With Litacia's long auburn locks, bright green eyes, elegant and perfect posture, she matched perfectly with the dark haired, mysterious blue-eyed, and the tall proud features of Darien."

Serenity stopped reading when Luna jumped and stretched herself in Serenity's lap. Serenity started to stroke Luna's fur and continued reading.

"...With his first engagement, we asked Litacia herself on how she was going to manage to melt his heart of ice. Her response was, 'I'm not quite sure yet.' She laughs, 'But I have my ways.' Darien held Litacia lovingly as they walked towards the hotel of Belington, a perfect place to celebrate a reception for a wedding."

There is a picture of Darien and Litacia entering the hotel with his arm around her waist. Serenity stared at his stone-faced features, for someone who is in love, why does he show coldness? She sighed and put down the newspaper. She picked up the sleeping cat from her lap and carefully placed her on her bed. She snapped her fingers and the room was filled with silken draperies and soft warmth surrounds the room. The fireplace glowed with evergreens hanging from the mantle and varieties of flowers decorated the room. Serenity climbed into her soft snow-white colored bed as she yawned with exhaustion. All those chants and magic spells tire her out and with her Uncle's disappointment in her mind also wore her out. With a snap she changed into her nightgown and sank down into her pillows. With a sigh, she dreamed of a certain dark-haired, stone-faced and handsome man.

"Serenity...Serenity...Serenity, wake up!"

Serenity got up quickly and stared at her cat. She rubbed her eyes and sunk back to the warm pillows. She turned on her stomach and flung Luna off of her bed and onto the floor. With a meow, Luna jumped back on Serenity's bed and scratched her.

"Yeow!" Serenity jumped out of her bed and screamed. "Luna, why did you do that?" She reached to touch the wound from Luna's sharp claws. "That hurt!" she glared at the black cat. "What right do you have where you can scratch me?"

Luna stared at Serenity, "I have the right to do whatever I please Serenity." She jumped down and walked towards her, "Remember I am your guardian, aside from your Uncle of course." She sighed, "Now, you must get ready for the council and be sure to pack lightly and wisely."

"What? I am leaving today?"

Shocked and dumbfounded, Serenity just sat still.

"Serenity, I thought your Uncle have announced this to you yesterday?"

Luna's crescent moon glowed brightly and flashed Serenity with a vision. "This, Serenity, will be your home." Luna showed Serenity a big city with towers that reach the sky. The vision zoomed into another perspective, the street, which includes people running and hustling around carrying bags of unknown to Serenity.

"You will have 3 months to accomplish this mission. Your mission is to find Darien and change his heart of ice. It would only be a matter of time until you will find one another. You have to be patient, have faith, and you must believe."

"Luna! I will not go!" Serenity shook her head and glared at the cat. Her focus was then adorned by strange vehicles. Serenity gasped, "Luna, what is that?" Serenity pointed at the automobiles stuck in traffic and making all the noise.

"Those Serenity, are called automobiles. They are the mortal's way of transporting from one place to another."

Serenity looked at Luna wide-eyed, "Do they fly?"

Luna hung her head, "No Serenity, automobiles do not fly." Her crescent moon stopped glowing, which closed the vision. "Serenity, you must be ready! You must not I REPEAT must NOT be late." With that, she walked out of Serenity's room and closed the door behind her.

"Is this wise highness?" Marius begged, "To send young Serenity out there without any knowledge of that wretched place."

Enchanted goddess, GoMa, stood tall and regal as she displayed such grace. She gracefully glided through council and stood in front of Marius.

"Marius, she would have to decide whether she is ready or not," she smiled and turned when the door opened and Serenity stood in the middle wearing a travel suit and carrying a suitcase declaring, "I'm Ready."

GoMa nodded and smiled. "Any questions Serenity?"

Serenity paused for a while when she finally asked, "Where exactly am I going Your Highness?"

She smiled, "To a city full of magic."

GoMa's features turned from bright to serious, "Now Serenity, you must know that no mortal human should know that you have magical powers. If you tell a human what you are, you will lose your powers." She paused and her face softened, "Unless you have found the one."

Serenity nodded and was ready for the traveler's spell, "Alright, this time I'm ready!" actually no she's not. she is fighting herself completely to not run away and just chant a spell back to her room! But to achieve her mission, she must do this.

Marius muttered, "Yes but IT isn't."