*Soleil*
"I am not getting any premonitions Elder. But it doesn't seem like anyone is following us". The woman behind the wheel say with what sounds like a norse accent. She puts the car in gear and drive out of town.

I stare scared on the three women that had crashed my birthday party and almost dragged me into the car. I have no idea where we are going and even less why I had gone with them.

"I can't feel any presence either". The older woman in the passenger's seat says. "Whatever the darkness is, it isn't following us, not yet anyway".

I flinch slightly when my eyes lock with the women sitting next to me. She sends me a friendly smile. "I know you are a bit scared right now sweetie, it's okay".

Even if my mouth opens and I try to protest, not a single sound is coming out. It's like I have been wrapped in a blanket of peacefulness and it keeps me from breaking down or screaming in panic.

"I promise you that we know what we are doing and that you are safe with us". She send me a friendly smile and tugged a lock of red hair behind her ear.

"We got a long drive in front of us dear". The older woman said from the front seat. "Try and see if you can gets one rest".

It feels like the emotional blanket that keeps me calm tightens a bit around me. I relax and sink back in the seat. We are driving north I can see. It doesn't scare me any longer that I am being adopted from my home and I find that a bit weird. I am just sitting here, passive and calm. Like all the guests had done when the women arrived during the party.

My mom had come out into the hallway just after I opened the door and asked. "Who is it Sol".

My mom had stopped staring at the women, one of them had stepped forward saying. "Now I am sure we are at the right place. Sisters this is Tyra's granddaughter". She had looked at me. "And this is her great granddaughter I presume".

My mom nods, not saying anything, while I look confused from her to these Strange women. Where do my mom know them from ? And how does the old lady know my great grandmother ?

"These women are Tyra's descendants ?" The tallest of the women say.

"They sure are". The oldest say, winking at me with a friendly smile.

"I know you". My mom whispers. "You were there when my grandmother died".

The old woman look at my mother with surprise. "Yes my dear, unfortunately I was. It was a horrible day for all of us".

"No, no, no ! It can't be true". Suddenly my grandmother was standing in the doorway, screaming with madness shining from her eyes.

The two younger women stepped towards my grandmother, but stopped when the older one held up her hand. She turned towards my grandmother and started whispering soft words. As magic she stopped being hysteric, like someone had pulled the plug. And she just stood there, staring into space.

"Alice, listen to my voice. You did everything you could and we have kept Your family hidden and safe until now. But Your granddaughter is one of us, she have received her calling". The woman spoke in a low soft voice, looking at my grandmother who just nodded.

She turned towards me. "I think we should sit down and talk". She looked towards the sky. Then she turned towards the two others. "We need the house secured, here has been an unwanted soul recently".

The rest had been like a dream. I had just stood there and seen how the woman with her whispering voice had made all the guest leave calmly. Even Davina had gotten all Zombie like and left without protesting.

"I am letting you go now Alice. You are going to stay calm and find solace in my voice". She started whispering again, until my grandmother seemed to wake from her stupor. Her breathing got shallow and the fear returned in her eyes.

"I know you ! You killed my mother with Your witchcraft". My grandmother spits out the words.

"Alice you need to calm down. You know what happened to Your mother and you know we did everything to save her right ?" The voice was low and clearly calming.

"It was an animal ! A terrible monster". My grandmother's eyes are shifting, as she seems to search for the words.

"Those sounds ? It was the monster.. those sounds came from. Wasn't it ?" My mom seemed to wake up too.

I looked at my mother and grandmother, they both looked so scared. What is this ? The little hairs on my arms standing up. Witchcraft, monsters, sounds. It sounds way to well known. No, this is too far out. The women should start laughing now, say it is all a joke right ? But they just stayed like that, even me continuing the bizarre conversation.

"We should have done more to help you through the horrible experience. Instead we focused on wipe out the reason for the accident". The old woman's was full of pain. "Tyra was my leader.. my Elder".

"What is she talking about mom ?" Ben asked, looking totally lost.

My grandmother didn't answer, but just kept staring into space, her eyes shining with fear.

"We have already interfered too much and changed everyone's lives". The old women looked at the two others. "But I am afraid we have to step in again, giving this family what we should have a long time ago".

She closed her eyes and started singing a melody, it kind of sounded like a lullaby. My family sat unknowing of its effect and listened. Again I Saw the fear disappear from their eyes, and for the first time I saw my grandmother smile softly.

When the old woman stops singing my uncle Ben gets up. "Come on mom, it has been a long day, let's get you to bed". He helps her up. Eva gets up to, and they help her into my moms bedroom.

"I better get the couch ready". My mom say getting up and disappearing.

Left are only me and the three women.

"I Think it is time we present ourselves". The old one says with a smile. "I am Siri and this is Marta".

"Good evening". The dark haired woman say with a nod.

"And this is Gudrun from the Faroe Islands". The oldest continued.

"Good evening". The redhead said. "And we are sorry to crash Your party like that".

I swallow, asking nervously. "Why has my family just gone to bed like that ?"

"I helped them a little realising they were tired". Siri answered calmly.

"You sang them to sleep ? How ?" I am surprised over the sharp tone in my voice.

"Galdr". Siri answers. "I can be quite convincing when I want to".

"Are they okay ?"

"They are gonna wake up tomorrow, only remembering that the party went very well and everyone went home happy. I am even quite sure that Your grandmother has finally found peace in her soul". Siri sends me a soft smile.

"Who are you ? How dare you just come here and ruin our party ? And just throw out our guests and send my family to bed. Who do you Think you are ?" My voice are shaking with anger and fear.

"Calm down child. We don't want the roof to blow of now do we ?" Siri nod towards the windows.

Curiously I look out the windows, realising a storm is ripping at the bushes outside. I collapse on the chair and the wind stop. I look up, knowing my cheeks are wet with tears. "What is happening to me ?"

"I know it is really scary my dear. I was freaking out myself when I received my calling. We all were". Siri comes to sit next to me, taking my hand. "I promise you, we are not here to hurt you or Your family. We are here to help. I wish we could have met under less dramatic circumstances. It leaves such a bad impression coming here and ruining Your party". Siri gets up, sending me a calm smile. "Come with me to the garden. There is a lot to do before we leave".

I sniffle and dry my face, looking after Siri. I am reluctant for a moment, still kind of angry about what they did to my family, but something are pulling at me. What if they can help me understand what is happening ? I need to hear them out.

I once again feel like a calming blanket is folded around me, gently pushing at my back. And I get up letting it lead me to the garden.

Gudrun was kneeling in front of a white tablecloth with weird symbols, it was spread on the ground with some stone on top of it. "I can't see who it is threatening this place". She looks worriedly at the others.

"I am not getting anything either". Marta shakes her head. "There is no a vaetter here at all".

"None ? That is weird". Siri stands deep in her thoughts for a moment. "Well since we are not getting anything, it can't be a hamram that has been here. Maybe it is an enemy we don't know. One of our sisters ?"

"That would explain why we are not getting anything, but not why here isn't a single helping spirit". Marta got quiet and closed her eyes. "No nothing, only an echo from the road". Suddenly she stiffens and her eyes spring open. "Such a dark creature, no regrets, no soul". She gasped.

"Are you okay ? Can you see who it is ?" Gudrun ask.

"I don't know, I am not even sure what it is I am getting shown". Siri looked around the garden. "We need to get back to Ballimore as fast as possible. But first we have to protect the family". She say turning towards me. "You must be protected by Your calling, since the dark one hasn't gotten you yet, but just in case we should make you an amulet".

"What about this ?" I hold up my necklace.

"Tyra's necklace of course". Siri reaches out her and and I handled it to her. She looked at it. "Take good care of this. It holds the essence of Your powers. Come here, sit with us". Siri gives me the necklace back and sat down between Gudrun and Marta. She gave me a sign to sit in front of them. She took out a braided leather bracelet. "Take you amulet in Your hands and let us do the work".

The three women closed their eyes and from each of them came a screeching sound, like a song with no words. It didn't exactly sound pretty, when the Sound went up it kind of sounded like a rooster with a cold. The air was electric and I recognised the feeling from last night. My amber necklace started to glow. The song kept going up til it ended in a short scream from each of them. After that Siri started whispering as she held her hands over the bracelet. When she stopped my necklace stopped glowing and she opened her eyes with a smile.

"We have protected the place now to our best abilities and the bracelet id protected too". She said handing the the bracelet to Gudrun. "The bracelet is for Your mother. Then she is protected at all times. Nothing can get to her as long as she wears it".

Gudrun went inside to put the bracelet on my mom while Siri helped Marta collect their things. I just stood there looking lost. I still don't get most of this and I have given up on asking.

"I know you have a lot of questions my dear". Siri put a hand on my shoulder. "I promise you that we Will answer them and much more when we reach Ballimore".

"We ? You want me to go with you ? Now ? But my mom ?" I looked towards the house.

"Yes, and we need to leave right away. There is no time to waste. We are not ready to face an enemy we know nothing about. When we get away from here we are safe. No one can track us after we have received the calling. I have explained Your mom what she needs to know. Gudrun is instructing her in keeping the bracelet on at all times, she'll be safe".

Siri's mild and warm voice made me relax and I get this feeling that I need to go with those women. I look at Siri. "Can I ask you something ?" She nod. "Does it bother you at all to mess with people's heads like this or is it just part of the job ?"

She looks down for a moment, then she meet my eyes. "You will soon understand why we need to protect our Identities. I don't like when I have to use magic to convince another person to see my side. I didn't ask for this when I Got my calling. But I made my decision when I knew what I went into. Like you will make yours".

"But right now I don't have a choice ? If I want to go with you I mean". I ask a tad harsh.

"Of course you have a choice. But it would be sad if you based Your decision on fear and not really knew what you turned down right ?" She had meet my eyes with a calm gaze and when she went to the car I followed her.

So here I am in a car with three strange women, heading for Scotland.

You Will soon understand why we have to protect our identities. The sentence kept popping up in my mind. Yesterday I had protected myself against Mark, threatened him not to tell anyone. So isn't this the same ? What did their identities need to be protected from ? And what was it they said about something dark they didn't know ? Was it the darkness they hid from ? How could I just leave my mother if something out there could be a threat to her ? The questions kept coming and I give up keeping a track on them. One I needed to ask.

"Is my mom really safe at home ?" My mouth felt dry when I Finally managed to ask.

"Yes she is safe and now when you are not there, no one can connect her to you. None of our enemies anyway". Gudrun answered.