"Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on." Vanessa's body tensed in anger.
"There isn't time for explanations." Rio shook his head. "I wish there was..."
"You'll be wishing alright, for a pair of new legs if you don't start talking, fast." Vanessa took a step towards the mysterious man in front of them.
"The Trinity wasn't the only prophecy that the Elders have guarded." Rio sighed in defeat. They really didn't have time for conversation. "There was a prophecy about the Trinity's Guardians as well."
"You never mentioned anything about it to me." Braeden's eyes burned.
"That's why it was a secret." Rio rolled his eyes. "Very few people knew about it." He turned to look at all of them in turn. "The prophecy spoke of three men that would be bound to the Trinity, to help protect them and to help them harness their powers. The three of us," He motioned to Brae, Remi, and himself. "Are just as important as the three of you. Without us you could die. Our bond to you will help you focus the magic in your bodies."
"So why the disguise?" Alec finally found his voice.
"The Elders weren't the only group to know about the prophecy." Rio ran a hand over his face to hide his frustration. "To help ensure that the Guardian prophecy came to pass it was decided that a spell would conceal my identity until this moment. I'm sorry for the deception, but there wasn't any other way."
"I'm tired of you holding all the..." Vanessa's words stopped as her body tensed in pain. "What's happening?"
"It's begun. No more time for chit chat." Rio moved to stand behind Reyhen. He noticed the man's stiff posture. "Don't be afraid." He gently placed his hands on Reyhen's shoulders, nodding to Brae and Remi to follow his lead.
As Brae's strong fingers curled onto Alec's shoulder he felt something shift deep within him. Almost like a snake uncoiling after a long slumber. He could feel his body temperature starting to rise.
"Are you okay?" Braeden asked. Alec's body was generating enough warmth that he could feel it through the blonde's robes.
Alec simply nodded, not trusting his voice to work.
An eerie calm and silence surrounded the hilltop. The air felt thick with...something. Rio took a deep breath, the knowledge of what he had to do sprung to the front of his mind.
"Under a darkened sky on this special eve we call upon the higher powers with the words we weave. The time has come for the balance of power to be unlocked in this late hour." Rio felt the ground shift as his words were carried on the soft breeze around them.
Alec had begun to sway, and only Braeden's strong grip seemed to keep the man upright. The heat under Brae's fingers got so intense he was sure his skin would burn. As the breeze around them surged the roar of a small fire could be heard. The ground at Alec's feet burst into flame and fire rushed out from him. Alec's eyes followed the fire's course, but in his mind he already knew what was happening.
The other's watched in shock as fire raced towards Vanessa and Reyhen. In a matter of seconds the ground in front of them burned in the shape of Vanessa's pendant, a perfect Trinity.
"Whoa." Vanessa leaned back against Remi without even a thought. She felt a sense of strength through his touch, even if she didn't want to admit to herself.
"Alec!" Braeden called out as he felt the man being pulled from him. He wasn't able to move as he watched Alec being pulled into one of the loops of fire.
A column of fire appeared before settling into the shape of Apollo.
"The flames of war and destruction can be deadly, but the heat of passion can burn even brighter. I give thee my gift, young one." Apollo's deep voice rumbled in the night air. A stream of fire shot out of Apollo and engulfed Alec's body. Alec's body was lifted from the ground as the fire encased his body.
Vanessa's eyes widened as she felt her own body being pulled forward. A column of water rose from the ground before it too settled into a more human form, one of a woman.
"The waters of a flood can be devastating, but a summer's storm can bring nourishment to parched land. I give thee my gift, young one." Columns of water flowed from the woman's outstretched hands and encased Vanessa. Her hair and limbs floated around her as if she were under waters as she rose from the ground.
Reyhen felt something shift inside of him as he watched what happened to his siblings. With a determination he didn't know he had Reyhen stepped through the fire into his loop of the Trinity. The wind swirled into a small funnel in front of him until shifting into the shape of a man.
"The winds of the tornado can savage the land, but the soft spring breeze can ease the heat of the day. I give my gift to thee, young one." The wind gusted around Reyhen blowing his robe around his body. His body floated into the air.
Braeden, Remi and Rio watched as the three siblings moved towards each other into the center of the Trinity. Columns of wind, water, and fire surged around them. The elements surged around them until they couldn't be seen. The three elemental figures turned to look at the men as they spoke as one.
"The fate of the world may one day rest upon their shoulders. They will need your strength, guidance, and love." The figures outstretched their hands towards them. "You are bound."
With their words a stream of fire, water, and air broke away from the surge of power around the siblings. The strands of power sought out the correct man as Braeden was engulfed in fire, Remi in water, and Rio in air.
"It is done." The figures spoke.
A bright light had begun to form in the middle of the siblings. It grew in power until it exploded out around them. Their bonded men had to cover their eyes from the intensity of light.
Braeden quickly blinked his eyes to clear his vision. He took a deep breath once he could see again. The fire had gone out, leaving the grass in the burned shape of the Trinity. He rushed forward at the same time Rio and Remi did. Alec, Vanessa, and Reyhen were laying unconscious on the ground, perfectly positioned in each loop of the Trinity.
***
Alec felt himself being pulled from a deep slumber. His body was relaxed in a comforting warmth. He blinked his eyes open and realized the Reyhen and Vanessa were spooned up against him. After a moment of searching he realized they were in his bed, but not in the house they were staying at. They were in his room back at the Manor. The fear that had threatened to overtake his body settled when he felt Reyhen shift against him.
A thousand different thoughts ran through his head. Alec had no clue what was going on.
'What the fuck has happened?' He thought to himself.
"That's what I want to know." Vanessa yawned and stretched from behind him.
"Huh?" Alec muttered.
"You wanted to know what was happening, and I agreed with you, Tiger." Vanessa sat up and her eyes widened when she realized they were in her brother's room. "How the hell did we get here?"
