*important Authors note at the end of the chapter*

30th June, 2017
Alpha Gabriel's territory

White covers my vision. My brain doesn't put words to images, the hazy reality I am in still meaningless. I blink my dry crusty eyes, trying to make sense of everything. Thoughts come into my mind, hanging in front of me, only to fly away when I try and reach them. One by one, sensation comes back into my limbs. The thought of moving them seems like an impossible task as I feel how tense they are. I slowly move my fingers, each digit coming quicker than the last. I move my focus onto my wrists, both popping as I rotate them in circular motions. A relieved sigh comes from my mouth as I stretch my tight muscles, the feeling of pleasure overpowering the momentary pain that comes in the beginning. I slowly sit up in what seems to be a hospital bed. The white I couldn't match before comes into focus- long white curtain surround me in a box like shape, hanging from metal poles that attach to a concrete wall. I look around the small room to find signs that I am back on Earth but deep down I know the truth. I am in a world plagued with fantasy creatures, worlds away from the life I had before.

Movement jingles in front of me before a hang grips onto the white cloth. I stare unmoving as a tall woman slides the curtain aside. Her brown hair is covered by a white nurses cap. She is wearing a grey dress-almost light blue- with a white apron covering the chest and skirt area, a red cross decorating the middle of her chest. She is humming a soft melody under her breath as she focuses on the wooden bowl full of water and wet cloths. I don't move a single muscle as she steps in and closes the curtain behind her. She turns with ease before her eyes land on my frozen form staring at her, a startled yelp escapes her mouth as her grip on the bowl loosens causing it to crash onto the floor. The loud sound causes me to jump, my eyes momentarily darting to the floor before jumping back to her eyes. She blinks slowly with wide eyes before she shows a relieved smile.

"You don't know how happy I am that you're awake. For a second there I was starting to think my healing wasn't working," the woman says before walking to my side.

She slowly reaches for my hand, the action making me snap my hand to my chest as uncertainty washes over me. She smiles softly, tutting with her tongue, before reaching for my hand again, this time I let her take it. Three of her fingers press down onto my wrist, I can only assume she is checking my vitals.

"How does your body feel? You did quite a number on yourself" she questions as she pulls out a silver circular watch attached to her apron.

"Ahh-" the itch in my throat tickles as I try to speak.

I try to clear my throat as the woman looks up at me, giving an encouraging smile. I try again.

"Hard...to...move" I crock.

She hums in approval.

"That is to be expected, you were unconscious for a long time" she then proceeds.

How long was I out for?

"My birth name is Fern. Might I ask what yours is?" Fern asks as she puts the silver watch back in her pocket.

"Ser-Seraphina" I say with less difficulty.

"Well, it is nice to formally meet you. Although I have been treating you for three weeks now."

Three weeks? I was in a coma for three weeks?

My throat tightens when I think of my family. Of Adam. They must be so worried. They haven't seen me in an entire month. Have they given up searching for me? Am I declared dead? Have they given me a funeral? Oh Adam... he wanted to come with me that Saturday. He will blame himself-I know he will. He couldn't have known that I would travel to a different world, or that some man in this world has claimed me as his.

Fern takes her fingers off my wrist before patting down the barely noticeable wrinkles on her apron. I look down at my hands as reflex and my eyes snap to the new scar on my wrist. I shakily lift it higher, looking at the image that has been branded onto my skin. A tree like shape rests in the middle of a wider circle, with a crescent moon on either side of the trees base. It takes up a third of my upper arm, obvious to the eye, a large ugly scar... no, it is a brand. A brand put onto prey before the slaughter.

"It was the only part I couldn't heal," Fern says, seeing my focus on the brand.

I can't take my eyes off the unwanted marking, yet I can't help but feel confused. She keeps saying that she healed me. I can't help but think she means something more than what human nurses could do. Almost as if sensing my confusion Fern continues to speak.

"I am a healer. I do not know what this means on your planet but on mine, a healer is given the gift of fixing injuries on the body from the Moon Goddess. I can heal almost anything by manipulating moon water, blessed by a Priestess of course, onto the injured area. The water allows me to see the bodies condition, then I channel my gift through the water. This makes me believe that the marking on your wrist isn't an injury but a symbol from the Goddess."

"A symbol for what?" I ask, my eyes leaving the mark to look at Fern.

"I asked my brother the same thing. He told me that it is the symbol for the children of the moon, or in your case, the daughter of the moon. It took some research considering we haven't met one in hundreds of years, almost a thousand I believe," she tells me.

"What does it mean?" I ask.

Fern simply shushes me before asking me to lay down.

"There is plenty of time to ask questions but right now I need to check your bodies progress."

I slowly lay on my back, watching her every movement. Even if I feel a type of comfort around Fern, the events that have happened recently has given me enough doubt to be cautious. Looking over my body Fern reveals a leather satchel on her hip.

"You had many injuries when you were brought to me, I am surprised you survived the trip from the field to my healing centre. You had six broken ribs, your left shoulder was dislocated badly, not to mention you had several broken bones spread over your body, it took some time. I first healed your ribs, one was threatening to puncture your lungs, then I moved onto your shoulder. The broken bones were the hardest to heal, you completely shattered your left arms Ulna. I don't know what you went through but you're very strong Seraphina," Fern says, her persona changing to a serious one when talking about my injuries.

Fern's eyebrows scrunch when she pops the lid off the leather satchel. Her hands move to the opening, water slowly flows out of the opening before it forms into a levitating ball in front of her. My breath hitches, disbelief clouding my eyes. If I didn't just watch it happen, I would never have believed it true. I watch as she moves her hands until they hovered over my body, the water loyally following the movement. The liquid touches my skin, and as it does the water begins to glow white, along with Fern's once brown eyes. I don't dare to move, not wanting to distract her. I continue to stare shocked. My tense body quickly relaxes as a cooling sensation washes over me. I let out a loose breath as the comforting feel travels through my body.

"Woah," I whisper.

The corner of Fern's lips lift before her face goes back into one of concentration. This continues for minutes, all the while my body feels more relaxed and healthier than ever before. My once dry lips become fully moisturised, my tight throat loosens and my sore muscles tingle with life. The cool sensation leaves my body and my eyes open to watch Fern flow the water back into the satchel, securing it with the lid. I look down at my white night dress, expecting it to be wet yet there is not a single stain of water.

"Your body has completely healed. I will leave you to rest but I'll be back shortly with items to clean the water I spilled on the floor," Fern says before turning to leave.

"Can't you just... command it to leave?" I ask, trying to say it in a comprehensible way.

Fern turns to me with her warm smile and lightly laughs.

"I do not command water but ask it to follow me and I can only do that with water that has been blessed. Now sleep." She tells me.

I nod before resting my head on the pillow. My head feels light and alive making sleep the last thing I want to do. I hear the curtain open and close before fast footsteps echo in the air. They sound heavy and urgent, telling me that they aren't Ferns.

"Fern! Tell me its true, is she really awake?" an urgent baritone voice asks, one I have only heard a few times before but know instinctively.

Gabriel.

"It is true Alpha but right now she needs her rest. She shouldn't be disturbed." Fern says firmly.

"I am your superior Fern! You cannot order me around like it is the opposite. She is my mate and I have every right to see her. Let me through. Now." Gabriel commands. His power shining through his order.

"I am her Healer and I say she is not ready to see you! As her healer I have more jurisdiction over her well being than even an Alpha, and don't you dare use your command on me Gab, you lost every right to being the protective and caring mate when you locked her in a room for eight days, ignoring her very existence. She is royalty among our people, and you think to disrespect her like that. I didn't even know you found your mate until you brought her here almost dead three weeks ago. You will give that girl the space she wants until you earn her trust. Do you understand me?" Fern snaps.

I hold my breath as I wait for his reply. From the short encounter I had with him, he is quick to anger and acts on impulse. I couldn't bear to thought of him hurting Fern, she has shown me nothing but kindness and even now, she is defending me.

To my surprise I hear Gabriel sigh in defeat.

"Yeah, okay." He says before I hear his retreating footsteps.

I let out the breath of air I was holding before curling up in a ball and hugging my knees. The idea of sleep doesn't seem so unrealistic now. Almost as hearing me, sleep soon joins me.

Authors note

Hello! Fancy seeing you here

I have been incredibly absent these last few... well I have lost count. To say I have missed writing is a total understatement but in the past I have tended to have really cool ideas for stories and write the first few chapters before loosing ideas on what to write. So I have taken it upon myself to make an incredible (not to brag) story line for you to follow.

Every Monday I will be posting a new chapter! If this story starts to get more hype I might increase the updates to two times a week but right now with school, there will be one per week.

I have made very minor changes from the beginning. Seraphina's parents are lawyer's that work for Amnesty international, which is a refugee organisation. This help links Seraphina's passion for learning different languages as it was an important part of her life. Also, instead of using to term "Figli della luna", it is now "Children of the Moon"

I have missed you guys terribly and can't wait to hear your thoughts on Seraphina's journey.

PS, stay safe and I hope everyone is doing well in these troubling times.

PSS, I will be making an Instagram page in the upcoming hours for my books. There will be hints for chapters, book recommendations and book worm stuff. I will post the name up on my wall when it is done! I look forward to seeing you there