Five elders stood around the seeing pool, a bowl filled with enchanted water that let them see whatever they wanted as long as it wasn't protect by magic. "She's progressin' nicely Inna, I'm sure ye proud." A woman with curly and unruly red hair said glancing over at Inna with her emerald eyes. "Of course she is Merida, she is the chosen one." Another woman said with waist length black, straight hair. Hey eyes were golden and cat like and she giggles flicking her cat ears back in forth. "I am a bit worried about her coming into her powers though Katra." A man spoke this time. He looks like a typical middle-ages wizard; hat, staff, book and beard. "I'm with Merlin on this one." A blonde woman agreed using her cerulean blue eyes to survey her allies. "Yes, I do understand that coming into her abilities without proper preparation can be an issue." Inna replied shoving her back curls back with a wave of her hand as her hair braided itself down her back. "She has the Warlock King to help her and the Demon king." Katra retorted. "Yes but they don't know what she is, who her family is. IIf she was a random witch, then maybe but she's the daughter of-", Inna cut her off "Shira! Enough, we get it. But revealing too much too soon could only trigger the dark alliance to act sooner rather than later. If we can do our part and stall long enough for her to come into her powers, and help her, she and the kings will be able to get rid of the threat."
Katra hissed playfully at Shira and Shira blew a raspberry back at her. "Girls behave." Merlin scolded rolling his eyes. "Okay, but how do we 'elp 'er n not expose 'er?" Merida asked. "She needs a familiar." Merlin thought aloud and they all nodded in agreement. "We can pick a familiar for her and send them her way. That way she has protection for the time being." Inna said to no one in particular "She needs to go to the ather plane for a proper familiar, so they can pick each other. We can't just pluck one out for her." Merlin retorted. "Aye, but no one can go with 'er. If he sends another witch "lookin'" fer a familiar, it's a risk." Merida retorted this time.
Inna rubbed her temples in frustration. While her allies were correct she didn't want to risk Sara's life. "What about 'er dragon? Could it go wit' 'er?" Merida asked. Merlin pouted in thought and Inna tapped her fingers along the rim of the bowl. "Perhaps but she would have to train it and have it ascend to properly protect her." Merlin added. "That will take too much time." Inna said waving the idea away like she waved off a fly. "Can we send another familiar with her?" Katra asked picking her teeth with her stiletto nails. "I suppose but who's?" Shira asked.
'Send me' the familiar spoke into their minds as he slithered to stand at a height were he could be eye level with the Mages. "Stolas? If you're here then…" Inna looked into the shadows and a man cloaked in darkness emerged. "Do you really detest me that much Inna, that you would deny me the knowledge OF MY OWN DAUGHTER'S EXISTENCE?!" he spat at Inna. The others flinched but she knew this day would come eventually. "Samael, this is not the time nor place fo-" he cut her off "YOU," he pointed at her with anger and hate and some guardians took a step to the mages to protect them. "You denied me the right, as her FATHER, to watch my little girl grow! To love her and cherish her as I did her mother! She is mine to protect JUST as she is yours!" Samael was angry and heart broken.
The picture he received of Sara was almost a spitting Image of his love, in this form, because he knew she'd have another. She had her mother's chocolate eyes and perfect smile that could light the shadows of hell itself. She wondered if her eyes turned blue like her mother's, when she used magic or red like his; what her demonic form would look like. What were her first words, her favorite color or breakfast food? But most importantly, he wanted to know why was she hidden from him?
"I HAD A VISION " Inna snapped back startling everyone. She was usually always calm and collected. "I watched my daughter DIE, her life traded for Sara's! If her existence was to come to light Diak would have come for her sooner and we may have not been able to protect her!" she was semi hysterical but still trying to keep it together. "Every time I implemented a plan to change the outcome, so save both MY little girl and my grandbaby ONE or the other died! So I made the executive decision. I hid Sihiri away under the promise that I would tell you about Sara. But I knew you would want to be with them both and that couldn't happen or it would risk both their lives. And before you ask, I was going to tell you after we sorted this all out and had a plan. Not a minute before!" she said calming down and adjusting her robes. "I cannot imagine the pain and hurt you are going through finding out about Sara now, 25 years later but you and I both have our pains that we need to deal with and move on. So you can help us or get the hell out of my way!" she finished returning to the bowl and take a few deep breaths.
"Send Stolas to her and I want you to tell me everything." He said in a calmer tone and Inna nodded. Stolas nodded to Samael and disappeared in a plume of black smoke to find Sara. Inna told him everything about Sara's childhood, the orphanage, having to leave her because Noroi almost found her through Inna's magic trail. Sihiri's unwavering love for him and their little girl, regret they couldn't spend their last moments together but strength and determination to keep Sara safe. "Stolas will watch over her and protect her if need be but we're going to have to tell her something, we can't just shove her into the ather plane." Samael stated. "Eh technically we can. Stolas could still watch over her, she finds her familiar and then her familiar pulls her out back to wherever she was." Katra retorted. Samael shook the room with a growl but nodded in agreement nonetheless. He trusted Stolas to keep his daughter safe.
"There's something else." Inna muttered so low almost no one but Samael caught it. "What now?" he asked with a growl. "We recently discovered that Diak is planning to make Sara his queen, not just kill her or use her against the current kings. We also have reason to believe his right hand my try to get Sara out of the picture anyway. So technically we're now battling two fronts." She informed him. He muttered a slew of profanities in Latin, 'Stolas I want you to stay with her even after she's found her familiar. There too many threats coming to her at once and I don't want to risk losing her.' He spoke to the snake through their link. 'Of course master. I will protect her with my life and keep you apprised. Do you want me to tell her about you?' Stolas asked. 'As much as I'd like her to know. If she-when she ask just tell her you were sent by someone who loves her very much.' He replied. 'And because she your daughter I know she will press the issue…' Stolas started knowing Samael would catch his drift. 'After she finishes her bonding ceremonies I will come to her. I understand the importance of what she's going through now but I will not wait a moment longer.' He informed Stolas.
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Had he not been one of the oldest and most powerful familiars in existence, the magic Cythraul used would have kept Stolas from finding Sara. It did also help he was bonded to her father. 'I have found her master' he informed the great fallen angel. Samael stepped away from the mages 'Bring her into the ather tonight while she rests. There you can talk to her undisturbed' he instructed the snake. 'Understood master. I will let you know when it's done' he replied and disconnected from their link. "Soon baby girl, I will have you in my arms and shower you with the love you deserved all these years." Samael spoke to himself a single tear falling down his cheek. "I take my leave," he informed the other mages before disappearing back through the shadows.
"So is no one going to ask how he found out?" Katra asked plainly. "Katra, decorum!" Shira returned in a scolding manner. Marlin face palmed and shook his head. "Not gunna lie, I wonna know how as well" Merida stated to no one in particular. "It doesn't matter. He knows and we have to deal with it." Inna replied waving her hand over the waters to try and see Sara. While the mages where going back and forth Stolas did as he was instructed and pulled Sara into the ather plane to find her familiar. "What the hell is he doing!?" Inna asked. "Samael…" was Merlin's reply. Now that Sara was on the ather plane there wasn't anything they could do but watch.
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"Hello!?" Sara called out as she wandered aimlessly. The place was all white with a grey fog that reached her shins coating the floor. "Hello" Stolas replied. Now on the ather plane he was in his true form of a massively large snake that resembled Jormangander, his big brother. His scales where shades of black and greens his fangs perfect, pearly white. His eyes were gold and emerald and his pupils focused on her. He made a large circle around Sara so she couldn't run but he didn't want to scare her either. "What the fuck!?" She yelled and turned in the opposite direct to run. "Wait, someone who loves you dearly sent me." Stolas told her blocking the way with his tail. She nearly tripped trying to stop and turn around. "Who are you!?" she asked in disbelief, "Stolas, I'm their familiar" he replied. Sara raised her brow. She knew about familiars from shows like Sabrina on Netflix. "Who are you a familiar for? Where are we and why are we here?" She asked in rapid fire. Stolas sighed knowing this would happen. 'The apple does NOT fall far from the tree' he thought to himself and chuckled. "I can't tell you yet but they will reveal themselves after you have finished your bondings. This is the ather plane and I brought you here so you can find your familiar." He replied to the questions as she asked them. "Okay well how do I find my 'familiar'?" she asked as Stolas unwound himself to leave her side. He wasn't going to go far but he need to leave so her familiar didn't feel threatened and never showed. "It will find you" was his reply as he slithered into the fog.
Sara walked around aimlessly for some time until she heard panting much like a dogs. "Hello?" she called out as she tried to pin point where the sound was coming from. The panting got closer as a three headed dog walked up to Sara. It was massive, well over a story tall and at least 6 busses wide. "Hello Sara." It replied with 3 voices that spoke at once. There were all deep and gravely but had a slight tonal difference to them. "C-c-CERBERUS?!" she cried out and took a few steps back. She wasn't paying attention and tripped falling. She waited to land on her ass but Cerberus placed his paw behind her and helped her stand. "The one and only" they replied and took turns licking her face. Due to their size she had more saliva on her than she appreciated and gave them a death glare. They were laughing but stopped when they saw her look at blew on her face the spit gone and she was dry once more. "Thanks" was her short reply and they nodded. "Wait… does this mean…. You're my familiar?" she asked not sure if she should be scared or excited. "Indeed we are" they replied.
From the corner of her eye she could see Stolas come back into view. "Stolas." Cerberus said, "Cerberus? How?" He asked standing to match Cerberus' height. "She broke our bond before she died. She had hoped when her daughter's time came we would be her familiar and protect her in her stead. So we waited, and here we are." Cerberus said looking at Sara with a longing pain in their eyes. Sara hahad a scrunched face as she processed their conversation. "Et noon nosti? (Does she know?)" Cerberus asked Stolas and he shook his head no as a reply. "You were my mom's familiar…" Sara whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. "Where's my mom is she okay?-" Sara broke out into a slew of questions growing more hysterical by the moment and Cerberus has to lick her face to get her to stop. "I'm sorry Sarauniya, your mother is no longer with us." They told her and she fell to her knees and cried against his leg. Cerberus sat and encased her with his paws holding her close and letting her cry. Stolas bowed his head in memory of Sihiri.
Eventually Sara calmed down and wiped her tears, "C-can you t-tell me about her?" she asked and all three heads nodded. "She was so excited when she found out about you and hurt she wouldn't get to be with you. But she loved you very much. She would make us talk to you so you wouldn't be scared of us when you were born. Then her mother had a vision-". Stolas cut him of before he could continue "Sed circa ea vel aviam No. illa nesciat. (No. She doesn't know about her grandmother yet either.)" he informed the three headed hell hound. "Haec passus non est satis? Cur non etiam secreta eius conservabat omnia verba haec ?! (Has she not suffered enough? Why are we still keeping all these secrets from her?!)" Cerberus replied not wanting to lie to Sara. "Et quod habet multas minas in adventu eius simul. Et si aliquid est, sicut a parentibus, et ego te, et scito, quod se praecipitem et ibo. Donec non expectantes. Et tantum habet vinculum cum patre suo duo reges, et se reveailing consiliis super eam. Dic ergo illi omnia tunc possumus. (Because she has too many threats coming at her at once. And if she is anything like her parents, you and i both know, she will go and do something reckless. Unfortunately we have to wait. She only has to bond with two more kings and then her father plans on revealing himself to her. We can tell her everything then.)" Stolas replied not wanting to lie to her either, but they had to keep her safe.
Cerberus growled and looked back to Sara. "Y'all done having a whole conversation like I'm not sitting right here?" She asked obviously upset. "Apologies, he was advising me of the threats to your life and information I wasn't aware of and needed to be." they replied and nuzzled her with one of their heads. "Let's get you back." They added standing. Stolas used his tail to wrap around Sara's body and lifted her onto the neck of Cerberus' middle head. "Proxima auxilio custodire, et eam rogavit me manere. Venit illa et in illius vires postulo vestri auxilium. Nemo scire sui sanguinis regibus linea. (I was asked to stay close and help protect her. She's coming into her powers and will need your help. None of the kings know of her blood line.)" Stolas let Cerberus know and the hell hound nodded. "Hold on" they told Sara. "To what?" she asked as they took off running.
Sara woke up in the wee hours of the morning still wrapped in Cythraul's arms safe and sound as he breathed into her hair. Sara positioned herself on her elbows to look on her side of the bed. On the floor there were 3 pitch black pit bulls sound asleep, or so she thought. They opened their eyes and she was shocked by how deep the blue silver color of their irises were. 'Sleep master. We can talk more later' they spoke into her mind and went back to sleep. Sara was still tired from her play time with Cythraul and the stress of the conversation with Stolas and Cerberus only further wiped her out. She turned over to face Cythraul and curled into his body easily finding sleep again.
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'It's done master' Stolas informed Samael. 'Good, why do you sound off? What happened?' her asked noticing the undertones of hurt in Stolas' voice. 'It's Cerberus' was the snakes reply. After a few moments of silence Samael finally spoke up, 'What do you mean?' he asked. 'Sihiri broke her bond with Cerberus so they could live once she died. They returned to the ather plane and waited all this time for Sarauniya. They're her familiar now' he informed his master. There was more silence and a sigh. Samael understood his friend's pain now but he was also happy that Sara would have an important piece of her mother. It also helped that Cerberus was as old and powerful as Stolas, and he trusted them completely. 'I understand. Get some rest and report in tomorrow if need be.' He instructed. 'Good night master' Stolas replied. 'Good night old friend' Samael said and dropped off the link.
Samael sat in his office staring into the fire place roaring across from his desk. "Is everything alright master?" a woman asked walking into the office and dropping off some paperwork. She was 5'5" with her dreads braided on the sides and out in the middle. Her skin was dark chocolate and the hell flames making it look like she's glowing. She wore an all-black leather suit with a blood red blouse under her jacket. Her red bottoms made her legs look longer than they were and lean. "Those need signatures please." She informed him. He sighed and started flipping through the papers to read them.
Since losing the love of his life Samael dedicated himself to his work. As he was once the warden of hell he is now the warden on the living plane. He is the head of supernatural law enforcement so to speak. Everything from small town officers to militaries go through him as long as they're of the supernatural world. "I have a daughter Mazekin. She's 25 and I just found out about her not a week ago. To top it all off her grandparents was the one who hid her from me because this bullshit dark alliance is trying to kidnap my baby girl and make her some dark queen so they can take over everything. And the cherry on top, she's coming into her powers, I can't reveal myself to her yet so I sent Stolas to help her get a familiar and her familiar, is fucking Cerberus." He filled her in exasperatedly as he leaned back in his chair kicking his feet up onto his desk. She looked at him with golden brown eyes and a look of shock on her face. "Well shit" was all she could thing to say picking up the now signed papers. "Anything I can do to help?" she asked. "Once I've had a chance to meet my child and we figure out what the fuck is going on I want you on her protection detail as well." He replied. "I hope you two could be friends and I want her to have self-defense lessons, from you." He added giving her a look that said she didn't really have a choice in the matter. "Of course master, it would be an honor. Finally a break from all the demonic testosterone around here." She said with a squeal and Samael eyed her with a smirk. "Get back to work she demon." He said jokingly. "Yessir!" she replied with a fake salute and walked out to go files the papers.
Samael pulled a locket out from under his dress shirt and popped it open. "I miss you…" he muttered rubbing his fingers back and forth over Sihiri's picture. "And I will see you soon, my little girl." He said rubbing the picture on the other side of Sara. He closed the locket and kissed it before shoving it back under his shirt and returning back to his computer. "Fucking hate paperwork..." he grumbled.
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Merlin waved his hand over the waters to turn off the magic. "Well that was awkward." Katra said. Shira gave her a glare and shook her head "Shut up." She told her. "I 'ave to admit, I dinna see that comin' " Merida said scratching the back of her head. They all looked to Inna to see if she was okay. She was crying but had a smile on her face. She had assumed Cerberus passed with her daughter. She was happy they didn't and that Sara had them but seeing them opened old wounds she wasn't mentally prepared for. Merlin walked over to Inna and rubbed her back. "Let's call it a night." He instructed and the other mages nodded teleporting away. "You okay?" he asked her and her nodded wiping the last of her tears and turning to face him. "Yeah" she said with a smile as he cupped her face and she rested her hands against his chest. He gave her a quick kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close. She tucked her head into the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around him over his shoulders. "Yes losing our girl was hard but Sara's alive, safe, Cerberus will protect her and her and Samael knows about her now. Soon enough we'll get to see her, I'll get to meet my granddaughter and there will be no more secrets. Just us," he said pulling back to kiss her forehead "on a united front to face and destroy this evil. Together." He finished with a smile and she tip toed to kiss him. "I knew there was a reason I tolerated you" she muttered against his chest and he laughed. "It's only took a few hundred years to break down your walls, before you finally let me break down you walls" he said wiggling his brown and Inna hit his chest playfully. "Merlin! Behave!" she said with a laugh. "Let's get you to bed." He said again and she nodded. "Only if you come with me." She said with a giggle wiggling her brown and he nodded before kissing her and they teleported home.