Everything hurt, that was about the only thing the witch knew at that moment in time, well that and it was cold. Opening her eyes slowly she was met with darkness which told her nothing. Cautiously she rolled over and felt the cold damp soil floor she was laying on. Trying to shake the fog from her mind Rouge May took stock of what she knew. She was cold, hurting and after a quick feel naked somewhere dark and damp. As her mind cleared she realised the pain she was in was coming from two long deep gashes that travelled up her arms and the fact her muscles were aching like crazy made her wonder how long she'd been laid on the floor. As her eyes began to adjust to the gloom she was able to make out she was inside some kind of stone tower or well, about 20 feet above her was a tiny grated window that was casting the barest amount of light. There didn't appear to be any kind of door that she could make out.

"Are you cold?" Rouge almost screamed at the small tired sounding voice that was speaking the gods tongue and came from behind her. At first, she couldn't see anything as she spun around and pressed herself against the slimy wall, but slowly she began to make out the shape of someone sitting on top of what could have been a small pile of the stones that made up the walls holding something out to her.

"It'll help a little." The female voice sounded hoarse and crackly.

"Who are you?" After a pause, the voice finally answered.

"Kaia." Rouge moved slowly closer and took the rough feeling fabric from the ice-cold hand of the voice and draped it about her.

"Where are we?" There was a rustling noise then after another pause the voice again. It sounded less crackly like she hadn't spoken in some time and was becoming used to using words again.

"Come sit up here off the wet floor." She considered it for a moment before climbing up to sit on one of the cold rocks. "We're in some kind of tower."

"Who put us here?"

"I think her name is Mab?" Rouge cursed and put her hand to her face before starting to feel her head.

"My hair! The bitch took my blood and my hair!" Exclaimed Rouge, feeling her anger bubble up.

"It'll grow back." Answered the quiet voice.

"I know. I was just shocked, plus it can be used in spells so someone taking it can't be good." Trying not to think about that right now she turned her attention back to the black form's voice. "How long have you been here?"

"I don't know. A long time I think."

"I'm Rouge May, a witch. What species are you Kaia?"

"We had many names, doe with the golden horns, golden-horned hind, Ceryneian hind, beast with the golden antlers, beast of Maenalus." The voice sounded sad and tired, startled the witch gasped.

"Ceryneian Hind? As in Golden Hind?"

"Yes, Heracles called me that."

"But you're all meant to be extinct?"

"Extinct? Why would we be extinct? My sisters pull Artemis' chariot."

"Artemis' chariot? But the Hinds stopped pulling it to protect the Oracle."

"Who? I have not seen my sisters since Heracles captured me and took me to King Eurystheus."

"Heracles? Do you mean Hercules? But that was thousands of years ago!" Kaia was quiet for a moment.

"I knew it had been a long time. My sisters are dead?" Her voice cracked on the word dead. Rouge felt the grief coming off her in waves.

"No one knows what happened at the Oracle's temple but it's assumed all inside are dead. No one has seen a Hind or an Amazon since that day. I'm so sorry." She heard a small sob and they sat in silence for a time. Rouge didn't know if she should stay pressed to the wall or go and comfort the heartbroken-sounding creature.

"I knew something had happened when my sisters never came to find me. But I hoped it was not death."

"I'm sorry Kaia."

"I think Mab stole me for my blood. Why has she taken you?"

"The same, she wants to get to my father and thinks my blood will get her access to him?"

"Will it not?"

"No. His spell isn't blood magic. I was only able to get into our home because I went through the mirror. My brother has to be let in every time he wants to enter. It was my father's only assurance of keeping my mother safe and Mab out."

***

"If her blood won't get her in why did Mab take her?"

"Because she doesn't know that Vampire. Mab's power comes from blood and cruelty and she doesn't understand there's more magic in the world than that" Snapped back Merlin. Gabriel pinched his nose and Duncan paced as Raphael faced off against the most powerful wizard in existence.

"How do I get her back?"

"You'll have to go to Mab's realm I guess." Said the wizard in a tone that said he thought the vampire was only slightly more intelligent than the stones that surrounded them.

"You guess? Your daughter is in danger and you guess."

"I'm not the one who was meant to protect her vampire!"

"Of course you were. You're her father!" Merlin drew his hand back but it was caught by Nimue.

"Merlin!" She scolded. "That won't help, all that matters now is getting our baby back."

"What I don't understand," muttered the ancient wizard, "is how Mabs minions grabbed Rouge May out of the mirror realm. It shouldn't have been possible. Not even my powers can do that"

"Does it matter?" Asked the pacing werewolf.

"Of course, it matters wolf. She shouldn't have been able to do it. That's powerful magic. Powerful magic that was used on my doorstep without me sensing it."

"I don't care if your ego was bruised, wizard. Tell me how to get to Mab." Nimue held her husband's hand tightly to stop him from killing the vampire where he stood.

"Merlin, all that matters right now is getting our baby back." He looked at his distraught wife and softened.

"I can open you a portal to Mabs realm but I don't know where in her realm it will open up to. You can land on top of Rouge May or you might land a million miles away."

"Doesn't matter. I'll find her no matter how far away." Choosing not to answer his daughter's vampire he got up and walked away.

"Where's he going?" Yelled a frustrated Raphael.

"He needs to make a portal spell. Don't worry." Said Nimue in a soothing voice that didn't match her worried expression.

"Two if we want the vampire coming back." Called the wizard sardonically over his shoulder.

***

Rouge had no idea if hours, days or weeks had passed since she awoke on the cold wet floor. She knew she was starving but Kaia had told her food was only thrown down on occasion through a hatch far overhead. All the witch had managed to find out is that Kaia had been alone in this tower for thousands of years, which explained why she only spoke the old language of the gods, until recently when soldiers had slid down on ropes to cut her and take some of her blood. Then she was alone again until Rouge had been lowered in. It seemed escape was impossible as the wet smooth stones offered no grip to climb and there was no way to reach the window. Kaia had tried enough times when she first arrived. They were now huddled together for warmth, exchanging stories or trying to teach Kaia English to try and make the time pass.

"What's it like?"

"What?"

"Meeting your fated one?"

"Do hinds have fated ones? I thought all of you were sisters?"

"We are. Were," She corrected herself sadly. "I do not know if we have fated ones. None of us ever found one. But we are creatures like any other. Why should other creatures get fated ones and not us?"

"The first time I saw him my skin tingled. I wasn't sure why but once I'd laid eyes on him I didn't want to look away. It was just like a desperate pulling sensation like you have to be near them, to touch them." She relayed the events that took place after Raphael ran from her and since they had reunited and began to live on the Isle.

"I like the sound of this Isle. It sounds much like the woods I once called home amongst the nymphs and dryads."

"It's a beautiful place." She closed her eyes and pictured Raphael laying in their bed waiting for her to come to join him while the last rays of the sun turned their cabin pink.

"Do not cry, witch. He is your fated he will find you." Rouge hoped so more than anything she wanted to see her Raphael. But she couldn't help but think of the thousands of years the hind had waited for her sisters.