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Chapter 1: And so it begins...

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Shana lay back on the sand and gazed up at the sky, shielding her eyes from the sun. It was nice to be able to relax for a change. With the semester she had just completed finally behind her, she was looking forward to the next week with nothing to do but have some fun. She and her brother had left the campus after their final test with barely a few minutes to spare; both eager for some beach time at their aunt's summer house on the outskirts of town. The white sand beaches that ran right up to the back door were home to more gentle and warmer waters, and it was a perfect way to unwind after a stressful semester. She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling the waves lapping her feet. She had been looking forward to the summer months since she had looked at her schedule. 'No classes, no tests, just a nice beach vacation!' she thought to herself with a smile.

Her musings were interrupted when a bucket of sea water was unceremoniously dumped on her stomach. She sat up with a shout of surprise and turned to glare up at her twin, Jacen, who was grinning at her. "What is wrong with you?!" she demanded.

"Oh, you looked kinda hot just laying there," he replied. "I thought you could use some cooling off." His innocent look was spoiled somewhat by the mischievous glint in his eye. He wisely backed up a few steps as she sprung to her feet.

"I'll show you cooling off!" she answered and lunged at him. He ducked out of the way and took off down the beach with her hot on his trail; the two of them laughing as he continued to duck away from her.

Back in the foliage on the edge of the beach, a pair of golden eyes watched them go. The owner smiled to himself. He'd finally found what he was looking for, and he wouldn't have to apologize any more. Not after tonight.

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After a quick chase and water fight, one that Shana won after tripping her twin and dunking him in the water, the two headed back up to the cottage. Their aunt's cottage was situated on a small hill in the forest overlooking the beach head, but there was a good access road to keep it from being completely isolated. Though the twins didn't get to visit very often any more, they still did enjoy the occasional vacation from school. Aunt Reena hadn't been able to join them this summer, so the two had the place to themselves. Neither twin minded very much, though, as they were forever trying to convince their aunt that they could take care of themselves. They both headed upstairs for a quick shower and change. As usual, Shana was the first out of the shower, and so she padded downstairs to fix dinner. She pulled a pack of Jacen's favorite shellfish out of the icebox, and, tossing her braid back over her shoulder, settled into making dinner. Jacen had a distressing tendency to skip meals, especially when he was stressed, and she was determined to make sure he ate well while they were home.

She was just about to turn on the oven when she heard a loud thump upstairs. "Jacen?" She paused, trying to get a sense of what was going on. Her blood went cold as she suddenly felt something very wrong. There was a second presence upstairs, and she felt a chill of fear as she realized she couldn't reach her brother's mind anymore. He was still there, but his presence was fading. She had no time to ponder why she hadn't sensed anything earlier as she grabbed the nearest carving knife and tiptoed up the stairs. Fear made her heart pound in her ears, but if someone was up there with her twin, she had to protect him.

She reached his room at the end of the hall and warily opened the door; her blood pounded her ears. The first thing she saw was Jacen, stretched out on the carpet near the bed. Before she could go to him however, a dark shape moved in front of her. The ominous figure was completely shrouded in black robes and from the voluminous depths of the hood came the gleam of dark, golden eyes.

Shana backed out into the hallway, her heart leaping her chest. "W-w-who...What are you?" she stuttered.

A sound like a soft chuckle escaped from under the hood. "Well well well..." a raspy voice answered. "Centuris. It appears as if your Guardian is gone. Now I can finally take care of you. With you gone, the Key will die as well."

She stared up at the creature in confusion. Guardian? Key? "What are you talking about?" she asked breathlessly, still backing away.

The figure paused at that. "You don't know?" He defiantly laughed then, a slow cruel chuckle. "Oh, this is rich! The only one able to stand against the Magi, and you don't even know yourself! The Universe really does have a sense of humor." He advanced again, lifting one arm. "Nevertheless, we can't allow you to regain who you once were. I would say I'm sorry, but the the truth is I'm not. However, I can promise you this will be quick. Little enough mercy for the likes of you, but I do have other things to attend to."

Shana gripped the knife as the figure approached. His hand started to glow a dark red color and she stared mesmerized. By now she had backed herself into the wall. Shana suddenly realized that she had no where else to go. Screwing up her courage, she lunged forward in a sudden, desperate move, hoping to catch him off guard. He slipped sideways catching her wrist as she fell past. His sudden crushing grip numbed her arm causing her to drop the knife.

"How droll," he commented dryly as he pushed her to the floor. Shana twisted herself around to see the glow around him intensify. She raised her arms over her head in a futile gesture just as a beam of light shot out of his hand.

She closed her eyes as the world turned blue around her. Wait a sec...blue? she thought in her moment of panicked confusion. The figure's glow had been red. She opened her eyes and blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision.

When the glow had subsided she saw a woman standing in front of her with her outstretched hand facing the cloaked figure. "Are you all right?" the woman asked over her shoulder, her brown eyes concerned.

"Uhhh..." was all Shana could think to say as she stared at the newcomer. She was dressed in a white bodysuit with a short skirt edged in lavender. Her short brown hair was pulled back on one side with a barrette and she radiated an aura of kindness that seemed to include Shana.

"Just leave this guy to us!" Another voice behind Shana caused her to turn her head. A younger woman stood behind them in a similar outfit, with a blue skirt and tall boots. She was holding a staff in front of her, which she spun and planted on the floor in front of her with an almost vicious grin.

"Oh, can you now, child?" the cloaked figure replied. He raised both hands in front of him and a blood-red globe of light appeared between them. With an unintelligible shout, the globe launched towards the three women.

"Solaris Flare!" came an answer from the young woman behind Shana. A ruddy golden globe shot out of the top of her staff, meeting the red globe and shattering it.

The figure paused at that, looking suddenly a little uncertain. He crossed his arms in front of him with a sigh. "Well, it seems you have learned a bit since last time, child." He laughed again. "Perhaps I will leave you be for now. A good challenge is always welcome." There was a brief flash of light and the figure was gone, as if he was never there.

"Humph," the younger woman behind Shana said. She leaned casually forward on her staff. "He wasn't expecting that, he means. Guess he knows now that we're more than a match for him!"

The other woman shook her head negatively. "We surprised him, Tegan. You know he doesn't think or respond well when surprised." She turned and helped Shana up. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Shana nodded. "I'm fine, but I....Jacen!" Unheeding of anything else, she rushed into her twin's room. He was still laying on the floor, his face ghostly pale. She dropped to her knees next to him and felt for his lifeline. It was still there but rather faint; as if he was hovering on the brink between life and death. Shana felt a movement next to her as the older woman knelt down.

She patted Shana comfortingly on the shoulder then raised one arm over Jacen's chest. "Dove's cry" she murmured quietly, and her hand started to glow a very pale blue.

Shana gasped in relief as Jacen's lifeline suddenly became much stronger and the color returned to his face. As the woman's hand stopped glowing, he rolled over on his back with a groan. His eyes snapped open and he looked around him, obviously confused. "Shana?" he asked, his eyes fastening onto hers. "What...happened?"

"I don't know," she replied, looking around her. She turned her gaze to the woman kneeling next to them, who answered her puzzled look with a smile.

"Why don't we go downstairs," the woman said, "and we can try and explain it all."

Shana nodded slowly, and helped her brother up. 'So much for a peaceful summer vacation!' she thought to herself, supporting her brother as they followed the strangers downstairs.