Garan stood in front of the entrance defending his home, the vibration was subtle, but it made him smile. It was different from other vibrations; it didn't dismantle the stones from their positions or make people run for cover to save their lives. The girls were in the sanctuary, and the final stages were happening.

"The passing of our heritage is in the making," his reverent whisper caught the attention of two black fatigue-clad brethren; the pair moved through the fighting toward him, taking up positions on each side of him. Glancing at each, he frowned, "Is there a problem?"

"We have been tasked to protect," the one on his right said, "and protect we will."

"What are you protecting?" Garan asked, wondering if there was something he didn't know.

"Carl assigned us to protect the one who saw," the one on the left said as he kept three assailants at bay, quickly dispensing of them before smiling over his shoulder, "You are the one that sees."

"How do you know?" Garan asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"We are the ones …" the one on the left said, pausing as he pulled his weapon, aimed and fired three times, each time firing with deadly aim, "… that hear."

"The ones that hear," Garan muttered before defending the entrance once more, "the only person who said that was …" he paused as his eyes looked down the barrel of a gun, but it didn't fire; he gasped as the arm went limp and the body fell to the floor, "my brother."

"We are his sons," one of the rights said, "our father will be joining you shortly; he is moving up the mountain with his unit."

"He is here," Garan whispered, "I have not seen him for many years."

"At least there are not too many with the bridge down," the one on the left said, "but it doesn't help that there are still too many."

"We need to look for a way to lower the number of assailants," one of the rights said.

"All good ideas, but what are your names?" Garan asked.

"Jet and Jasper," the one on the left said, "right now, we need to make sure you stay alive because if they cannot get to whatever we are defending, they will take the next best thing … you."

Garan heard the words and felt his blood turn cold as memory flooded in, "What did you just say?"

"You heard us," the one on the right said, punching into the midriff of an attacker, "we need to keep our heritage safe."

Garan closed his eyes, shaking his head, "You shouldn't have said those words," he whispered, panting as the memory became a crack, and hot emotion flooded into his chest, making him gasp, "you shouldn't have … spoken those words … who sent you?"

Jet and Jasper glanced at each other before looking at the leader of their people, "Maman and Papa," they said in unison, "you placed restrictions on those around you because of what we are truly capable of. It is time to be who we are meant to be, and the home you made will follow in protecting you."

"How do you know this? You couldn't possibly know this ... unless... is it possible?" Garan asked, leaning his hand against the nearby wall as the hot lava moved through his veins. Groaning, he staggered through the pattering attackers to the edge of the deep cavern, looking down into the deep waters and then up into the periwinkle sky; he whispered a prayer before bellowing, "levántanse as restricións, vibe ao máximo do teu potential e defended a túa centre, o lugar e o legado."

"What did he just say?" Jasper asked, looking at his elder brother.

Jet stared around him, taking in the changes happening to their leather-clad brethren, "I think he has just released them from the restrictions."

"How?" Jasper asked, watching as only defensive fighting methods changed into intense attacks, surprising those around them and the young men.

Bodies began to fall around them; Jet and Jasper shrugged as Jet looked at his younger brother, smiling, "Wow, Papa was not exaggerating all these years. I don't know what happened, but let's get to it and ensure Uncle Garan remains alive."

"Something tells me we'll be a backup to the main act," Jasper chuckled, nodding towards their Uncle, "come on, let's go have some fun."

Sam knelt next to Andriette, the air around her vibrated as whispered words came to her "Levántanse as restricións, vive ao máximo do teu potencial e defende a túa xente, o lugar e o legado"

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"Did you hear that?" she looked up at Batair, "tell me you heard that."

He panted as he leaned against the wall, shaking his head as though his mind was foggy, "I heard it; I don't know what it means, but it's doing something to me."

"How can you not know Galacian?" Sam asked, "It means … the restrictions are lifted, live to your full potential and defend your people, place and legacy."

Batair looked around with urgency. "I …" he glanced at her torture in his eyes.

"Go, I have it all under control," Sam said, "go … answer the calling."

"What about you?" Batair asked.

"I am answering my calling," she looked down at Andriette, "we will meet again, brethren."

Nodding, he ran from the cave, leaving Sam looking after him with indecision in her heart and a longing racing through her body, but she knew in her soul this was where she was meant to be.

"Andriette, if I'm from those who lived away from here," Sam asked, "why do I feel like I should be out there?"

"Do you not know who your parents were?" Andriette whispered, seeking and holding Sam's gaze.

"Not really," Sam said, "I have learnt they worked for … with Carl. They were part of the brethren sent away from the mountain. I suspect they were part of those sent to find evidence against the Tenderhooks … but to me, they were just Mom and Dad."

Andriette smiled gently, "That is as it should be," she whispered. "Your father was the younger brother of my mentor," she inhaled unsteadily, closing her eyes before exhaling and waiting a moment before opening them again and looking directly at Sam, "your mother …" she swallowed hard, "was my younger sister."

Sam shook her head, "How? But that would mean …" glancing away, Sam battled the two paths inside, "...my father was of the brethren and my mother of the healers."

"Yes," Andriette said, "two factions that have forever been at odds with each other, their views being so different and sometimes opposing each other. But your parents loved each other enough to prove to both sides combining their knowledge and genes was possible that something purpose-filled and beautiful could come from the end product."

"End product …" Sam whispered, "you mean me."

"Yes, niece and you are the successors of not only my line but also the protection of the new Queen," Andriette said, "you bring both sides together as one."

"How am I supposed to do both to the best of my ability?" Sam asked, her eyes filled with concern and emotion, "I cannot leave my duty to Cherry to fill your role."

"You may find you can," Andriette said, looking behind Sam.

Turning, the group took in identical twins coming through an opening in the chamber wall; they turned in unison, waving their right hands from ceiling to floor and closing the entrance. Two sets of electric blue eyes met Sam.

"Cherry," she whispered, "it is done?"

"Yes," the twin on the right said, "we have everything we need, and your concern is felt, but you will not have to worry …" the girls looked at each other before meeting the waiting gazes of the group, "... we have our path clearly shown, and it will be different from our ancestors," they searched and found the mother's watchful gaze, "it will be different from yours but it will be a good path … for our people, our place and our legacy."

Their mother smiled as she moved forward, hugging both girls to her, "I'm so happy you made it to the end."

"We heard the cry," Sherry whispered, "what has happened?"

"I'm not certain, but Sam says the restrictions have been lifted," Rilea said, "we may once more be as we once were."

Smiling, the twins nodded, moving toward Andriette, who lay against the cave wall.

Cherry knelt next to the panting woman, meeting her eye with a gentle smile; she sighed, looking at the wound on her side.

"Andriette, your wound will heal, and you will live," Cherry said, raising her hand and cupping the woman's cheek, "let us get you the help you need."

"I thank you, my Queen," Andriette whispered, "I would appreciate all the help you will supply."

Smiling, the twins helped her stand, moving her out of the cave toward the entrance and the fighting.

"What am I supposed to do?" Sam asked, watching the trio move away.

"Fulfil your purpose and defend my home," Cherry said, "Carl will be with me until you return."

Sam glanced at Carl, who nodded, following the trio out of the cave. Rilea turned to Sam, tears filling her eyes.

"Your mother was my best friend," she whispered, "you look exactly like her, but the expression in your eyes is one your father held. They would both be so proud of you. Now, let me release what their chips held," she stopped in front of Sam, "this may hurt."

Sam frowned but gasped at the sudden pain as Rilea pressed her thumb into the area below her collarbone. A searing pain raced through her shoulder, shooting into her head, making the agonising pain escape into a bellow resounding off the cave walls as it ran down her spine and through every pore and cell of her body. Panting, Sam tried to keep her senses about her; everything whirled and swam, slowly receding into a dull ache as Rilea released the point. The aching throughout her body throbbed and pulsed, blooming into sudden knowledge and enlightenment before the pain disappeared into nothing. It left her feeling dazed yet full of wisdom and purpose. Meeting Rilea's gaze, Sam shook her head.

"What did you just do?" she whispered.

"What should have been done many years ago," Rilea whispered, "now go and fulfil your paternal promise and live … remember you are designed to survive."

Nodding, Sam left the cave instinctively, knowing which path to take; she had a purpose and promise to fulfil, and she was going to complete what had been started decades before ... not only did she have her father's promise to achieve, but her own, both would be completed today.