"Hello?" I called quietly at the cave entrance. "Is anybody there?" My voice echoed down the cave.

"Hello, my child." A voice said from the darkness. "You look terrified. You have nothing to fear here." An elderly witch appeared in front of me. Her greying hair was tied up on top of her head, and her blue, almost white eyes were staring at me kindly. She was dressed in a black flowing cloak with a black belt and looked like she had walked out of some sci-fi show on TV.

"Hello, my name is Ebony." I held out my hand, and she looked at me strangely for a second before taking my hand in hers and gently shaking it. She closed her eyes and smiled gently to herself.

"My name is Joy. It's a pleasure to meet you finally." She opened her eyes, still smiling at me.

"It is?"

"Of course. We have heard great stories of your strength and power, little one. You were the chosen one for our angel many years ago, were you not?"

"Angel? Oh, you mean Ariel?" I smiled. "Do you know him?"

"Only in legend, I'm afraid. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him. I hear he is quite spectacular, though." Her eyes lit up at the thought of Ariel. She blushed instantly.

I smiled and held in my laugh. "He really is something." I nodded. "I haven't seen him in a while, though. I hope he's okay."

"As do I, little one. Now, come inside quickly. The creature told us to keep you safe, and we intend to keep our promise."

"His name is Carter."

She just nodded and gestured for me to follow her into the cave. I didn't argue with her; I just followed her into the cave, trying to remember that I needed to breathe. I hated being alone without someone close to me. I could feel the anxiety rising in my stomach as I took more steps toward the elderly witch.

I heard the sound of many voices echoing down the cave as we approached the fire deep inside the cave. I could just make out some of the words from the witches.

"She lives with the dark creatures." Said one.

"Filthy objects, those creatures. They should all burn for what they have done." Said another.

"What creature is she?" Said another.

My stomach churned as we finally reached the coven. They were all sitting around a fire deep in the cave. There must have been close to a hundred of them scattered around the huge cave. I felt every single one of their eyes on me as they watched me walk toward them. I just wanted to run away really fast and never turn back as each of them silently judged me. Some had fear in their eyes, some had anger, and some were just purely disgusted at my presence in their cave.

"Listen, everyone." The elderly witch said quite loudly. "I understand that some of you are feeling quite frustrated and nervous about this whole situation, but I need you to listen." The cave fell quiet as they all looked at her. "This is Ebony. She is here for protection from the darkness that now threatens our world. She is here for our help...."

"She lives with the creatures that killed our sisters." A witch at the back yelled out. "She is not our kin and never will be."

"She is human, and she is the chosen one. The stories you have heard about the human girl and the angel, well, this is our chosen one."

I watched as their eyes were on me again with absolute wonder. Some dropped to their knees and bowed to me, and others just stared at me in disbelief.

"How is that possible? Those stories are years old, but this human looks like a child?" A witch said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"She is a baby." Another spat, looking me up and down. "I don't believe it."

"You can believe me." I heard a voice behind me. "This girl is not only the chosen one, but she is my family, and she will not be disrespected in my coven. Do you understand me?" I turned to see Carter's mother walking toward me. "My son protects her, and god help any of you who choose to defy him and his goodwill."

"You know this human?" A witch said as she dropped to her knees.

"I have seen with my own eyes the power she has inside her and I have witnessed the goodness that she brought to this world. She not only travelled back in time to save our world, but she also suffered many years of terror and abuse from the darkness that my family is out there fighting to keep you all safe. I know you all fear the dark creatures of this world just like I do but my boys are here to help. They have told me that the king and his army are standing guard in our forest, but they need our help sisters. This darkness is the biggest threat to our safety and we need to play our part to destroy it."

"How do you know she is the chosen one?" A witch said nervously.

She smiled at me. "I have someone here who is very anxious to see you, Ebony." She smiled. "I found him in forest and he explained everything to me."

"I don't understand? Who?"

I watched as all of the witches suddenly dropped to their knees and bowed as they looked behind me.

"Hello, Ebony Summers." I heard a familiar deep voice behind me and I instantly smiled. "Are you okay?"

I turned to see the handsome face of Ariel smiling at me.

"Ariel! I missed you." I said as I ran to hug him. "I'm so glad you're here and yes I'm okay."

"I've missed you as well my friend, Ebony Summers." He said in his deep tone as he hugged me. "I am sorry for my absence."

"Where were you?"

His eyes slowly scanned the coven of witches as they all ogled him with desire. "We will discuss this at a later time." He said as his eyes returned to me. "I found Carter outside along with the two idiots. They told me to watch over you until their return."

I smiled up at him. "I'm so glad you are here. These witches really don't like me."

"How is that possible? Everyone likes you?" He looked confused as he scanned the witches again.

"Not everyone." I sighed looking over my shoulder.

"Sisters, I give you Ariel, our angel of protection." The elderly witch yelled as she dropped to her knees. The other witches did the same instantly.

"You have an affect these witches don't you?"

"Of course." He said without hesitation. "I don't appear to just anyone Ebony Summers. You of all humans should know that."

"I do now." I bit my lip. "You're a big deal huh?"

"Sisters, look upon the greatness that is Ariel. He has come to save us from the darkness." The elderly witch yelled.

"Did you?" I looked up at him.

"I did."

The witches once again bowed at Ariel and then looked up at him on their knees.

"Do you believe in the power of this human girl now?" The witch yelled out.

"Yes," they all cheered bowing again.

"This is kind of creeping me out," I whispered to him.

"Trust me, you get used to it." Ariel smiled.

"Sisters, we must help protect the dark forest from the darkness. We must help the creatures of the night that walk alongside this girl. They are our allies and will help us build the forest to what it once was. Our angel of protection is here to guide us and we must fight against our common enemies. Will you stand with us and protect our way of life?" The elderly witch yelled as she walked closer to us. "Help defeat the darkness and great rewards await you."

"Do they?" I said to Ariel.

"Sure, why not." He shrugged.

"What do you say sisters? Will you join us to help the creatures of the night?"

The cave fell quiet as they looked at each other and whispered.

"I will fight for my coven." A witch said standing up.

"As will I." Another stood up.

"I will protect my sisters."

"I will always fight for my coven."

One by one they all stood up and swore their alliance to Carter and Leon.

"Thank you, Sisters. We must prepare ourselves at once. I know some of you are scared and some of you have no idea what we are asking of you but I want you to know that no matter what we will fight together and we will fight strong." Carter's mother said taking my hand in hers. "My boys will fight to protect every single one of you. You have my word that you have nothing to fear from them. Yes, they are creatures of the night but they are not here to hurt you. It was my son Carter who sent Ariel to us. He wants us all safe as does the king. We need to grant permission for the king and his army to enter our forest....."

"No." A witch said. "An army of creatures in our forest? It will be a blood bath."

The others looked around terrified.

"What will they eat?" Another said.

"Believe it or not, vampires can go days even weeks if they have to without blood. They will not harm you. The king would never allow it and any vampire who hurts any of you would be put to death by his hand. I promise you, King Henry is a good vampire. He wants nothing but peace across this land. He is nothing like his father." I said.

"If we want to end this terror then we need to work with the king." Carter's mother said calmly. "We need to end this Sisters, once and for all."

Once again the Sisters whispered to each other.

"Bring in the king and the creatures you speak of and then we will discuss our terms." A witch said. "Until then the protection spell stays up and the army stays out."

"Very well." The elderly witch said. "Bring us the vampires." She said turning towards us.

"As you wish Sisters." Carter's mother said.

I took a sigh of relief as I knew we were one step closer to finding a clue on how to kill the darkness.