The Damned

First Shift

Nix POV

Today is the last day of fall semester.  Finals were Wednesday and yesterday, so, today the school will be watching a different version of The Nutcracker.  Instead of a ballet, we are treating it more like a play with speaking roles.  I won’t be watching with the rest of the school because I’m playing Clara, the main character.  Before the play takes place, the principal will be talking.  However, I will be in the dressing room preparing.

I get ready for the day and meet Nina downstairs.  We ride to school and I head straight for the girls’ dressing room.  I do my makeup then get into my opening scene outfit.  I use the bathroom one more time with five minutes before curtain.

Darian POV

Principal Parrish drowns on about the importance of celebrating Christmas so that we can more easily blend with mortals.  He gives this speech every year.  It’s mostly for the freshmen and sophomores who haven’t turned sixteen yet.  But, of course, he makes us all listen to it.  As soon as he’s done, we will move to the auditorium and watch a theatrical performance of The Nutcracker.  However, he’s still speaking, so, I decide to look down at the crowd to see if I can spot Nix.  I don’t know why I feel so compelled in finding her.  She just intrigues me.  I look but don’t see her.  Odd.  By the time I realize she isn’t in the crowd, Parrish is done with his speech.  We all move to the auditorium and wait.  Five minutes later, the house lights go down and it’s show time.  I soon understand why Nix wasn’t in the crowd.  She’s on stage and, apparently, is playing the lead role of Clara.  She looks very pretty up there.

‘Dude, is that Nix?’  Lucian asks silently.

‘Yeah.’  I affirm.

‘She doesn’t look bad up there.’

‘No, she doesn’t.’  I smile.  ‘Now, hush up!  I’m trying to watch.’

‘Right.’  Lucian shuts up then and I watch Nix out of her element.  Like I said before, she intrigues me.  As soon as we are released for the fifteen minute intermission, I quickly go home, pick a dozen yellow roses from my mom’s garden, and get back to school with three minutes of intermission to spare.  I hand the roses to Lucian telling him to give them to Nix after the performance.  I know she’ll think they are from Lucian himself and, strangely, I don’t mind.  I’ll just simply stand by where I can see her reaction to them.  The performance starts up again and I sit watching Nix still intrigued.

Nix POV

The cast takes their final bows and the curtain closes.  The cast goes out into the hallway in our costumes to meet the other students and answer any questions.  I join the cast.  Lucian comes up to me holding a dozen yellow roses.

“These are for you.”  He smiles handing me the roses.

“Thank you.”  My face splits into a wide grin.

“You were amazing!”  Lucian exclaims.  “How is it that you do that?”

“When I’m on stage, I’m playing a role.  On stage, I am not an outcast.  I’m whoever I’m playing.”  I reply.

“You are not an outcast to me.”

“I know.”  I smile.  “I’m actually glad you and I connected.”

“Me too.”  Lucian smiles in return.

“Well, I’m going to go change now.”  I say.  “Thanks again for the flowers.”

“You’re welcome.”  Lucian nods then heads for the doors.  I go to the dressing room and change.  I wipe off the stage makeup then go into the hallway where Nina waits for me.  We walk to the car.

“You were wonderful, sis.”  Nina appraises me.  I smile.

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”  We get to the car and head home.  Tonight is a performance of The Nutcracker for anyone who chooses.  Depending on how many people show up, we may have to put on a second performance tomorrow night.  I hope that we will have to do the second show.  It would be amazing.

We arrive home and lunch is ready when we get there.  Nina and I join the rest of our family at the dinner table.

“So, your father and I will be going tonight to see Nix in The Nutcracker.”  Mom says as we begin eating.  “Theo, perhaps you would like to join us?”

“I would indeed.”  Theo smiles at me.

“Great!  We’ll have dinner before Nix has to be back at school.”  Mom says.  We finish lunch then I go upstairs to rest.

Darian POV

I get home and Mom meets me in the living room.

“So, how was it?”  She asks.

“Amazing!”

“Then it’s a good thing I plan to go tonight.”  Mom smiles.  I nod.  “So, what would you like for lunch?”

“I was thinking I’d make BLTs for us.”  I say.

“Oooh.  I love your BLTs.”

“Well then I’ll go start working on them.”  I go into the kitchen and start preparing lunch.

After lunch, I go up to my room and take a shower.  It’s very refreshing.  Once dressed again, I grab a book and sit in my window.  I wonder what Nix is doing until the performance tonight.

Nix POV

I wake up after roughly an hour.  I grab my book from my nightstand.  I finish the book just as Mom calls me for dinner.  I go downstairs and have dinner with my family.  As soon as the dishes are done, Mom, Dad, and Theo drive me to school.

‘December 18, 2028

Dear Journal,

The performance was a hit.  As it turns out, we did have to do the performance the next night.  I was rather excited to perform the play that second night.’

“Phoenix!”  Dad calls for me.  I go downstairs and find Dad in the living room.  Mom sits beside him.

“Ah, Phoenix, dear.”  Mom smiles.

“Yes?”  I say.

“We were wondering what you would like for your birthday dinner?  You’ll need your strength for your first shift.”  Mom replies.

“Oh.”  I think for a minute.  “Well, I would love to have my favorite meal.”

“Ham, sunny potatoes, and green bean casserole?”  Mom asks with a knowing smile.

“Yes, please.”  I smile.

“Done.”  Dad says.

“Great.”  I go back upstairs and start up a bath.  I grab a book and slide into the warm water.  After sitting in the water for half an hour, I get out, dry off, dress in my pajamas, and rub some lavender lotion on my legs before crawling into bed.

Nix POV

‘December 20, 2028

Dear Journal,

It is now two days before my sixteenth birthday.  Which means that it’s two days before I shift for the first time.  I can’t wait to see what my wolf looks like.  Nix’

Darian POV

I’m out shopping today.  Not only am I shopping for some Christmas gifts, but also for an anonymous gift for Nix’s sixteenth birthday.  I’m still not sure what to get her, but, hopefully, I’ll know it when I see it.

‘I wonder what her wolf will look like.’  Xavier says as I roam a*****e.

‘I am sure that she will be beautiful like her human half.’  I reply.  Just then I see the perfect gift for Nix.  I grab it and immediately go to the register.  I finish my shopping and head home.

Tomorrow is Nix’s birthday.  As soon as I get home, I wrap Nix’s gift.  I put a card on the package, but don’t sign it.  I drive the short distance to the Delaney house and quietly place the gift on the porch.  I get back in my car and head home.  I hope Nix likes her gift.

Nix POV

Well, it’s officially my birthday.  Yesterday someone left a gift for me on the porch.  No one in my family seems to know who left it.

I lay in bed this morning awake for about half an hour.  By the time I get up and ready for the day, it’s nearly lunchtime.  That means that I only have about eight hours before I shift for the first time.  When one turns sixteen in my world, they shift for the first time at the exact time they were born.  So, tonight at 8:12 p.m., I will shift.

I go downstairs to find my family in the living room watching Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.  I join my family.  After the movie, Nina and Theo go into the kitchen to prepare lunch.  It’s a tradition in this house that the other two siblings prepare lunch and the parents prepare dinner for the birthday child.  Then when it’s Mom or Dad’s birthday, each sibling prepares a meal.  Usually, on Mom or Dad’s birthday, I prepare breakfast.

Lunch today is grilled cheese and waffle fries.

After lunch, Mom tells me to go rest because I need all my strength for tonight.  Just before 6:00 p.m., Mom comes up and gets me for dinner.  We will eat and then I’ll open my gifts before I need to prepare for my first shift.  I join my family at the dining room table.  We dish our plates and mingle throughout dinner.  After dinner, my family and I move to the living room so that I can open my gifts.  Theo hands me his gift.  Inside is a Bluetooth speaker that is waterproof.  Nina hands me hers and I open it to reveal a new iPod.  Mom has me open the mystery gift next.  Inside the mystery gift is a sterling silver, Tree of Life necklace.

“It’s beautiful!”  I exclaim.  I show my family and they all nod in agreement.  Mom and Dad then hand me their gift.  I open the box to reveal a set of keys.  Mom and Dad then take me outside where a new, yellow Mini Cooper convertible sits in the driveway.  I squeal in excitement.

“After school tomorrow, you and I will be going to the DMV to get you your driver’s license.”  Mom smiles.  I go to my parents and embrace them.

“Thank you!”  I exclaim.  I take my keys and look at the inside of my new car.  It’s perfect inside and out!  I can’t wait to start driving it.  My family and I go back inside the house.  I get ready for my first shift.  Ten minutes now.  I go downstairs to find my family in the living room.

“Well, it’s almost time.”  Dad says.

“Yeah.”

“You ready?”  Theo asks.

“Yes and no.”  I reply.

“Well, like we did for Theo and Nina, you will shift for the first time by yourself.  You know the lake near here?”  Dad says.

“Yes.”  I say.

“Once you’ve run for a bit, go to the lake and take a look at your wolf.”  Mom smiles.

“Okay.”  I smile.  I go out the back door.  Three minutes.  I go behind a tree, take off my clothes, and gently place them, folded, next to the tree.

‘Any second now.’  Isla says excitedly.  I suddenly feel the pull of the first shift.  It hurts slightly, but the shift feels remarkable.  I am soon standing on four paws.  I shake off the shift and look down to see that my paws are pure white.  They also appear to be smaller than what I think a wolf’s paws should look like.  ‘Can I take over now?’  Isla asks impatiently.

‘Of course.’  I say and take the backseat so that Isla can be free.  Isla runs for a while before deciding to run towards the lake.  As we approach the lake, I get nervous to see what my wolf looks like.  Isla steps up to the lake.  We look into the water’s reflection.  A white fox looks back at us.

‘I’m a fox?!’  I ask Isla confused.

‘Yes.’  Isla replies sounding happy about it.  I then remember when I was younger, Mom used to tell a story about a white fox shifter.

There will be one among us who will lead us to the final days.  She will be unique in her shifting.  Rather than a wolf, this female will be a White Silver Fox.  She will be white because of her purity and to show that she has risen from the ashes of all those shifters who fell before her time has come.  Though we may be immortal, we are not invincible.  This fox will lead us to our true purpose:  to bring about the end of the world.

‘We sure are pretty.’  Isla says.

‘True.  But, for now, let’s not make it known that we are a white fox.’  I say uneasy about what people will think.

‘Oh, alright.’  Isla says reluctantly.

‘We should be getting back now.’  Isla takes off running.  We stop at the tree and Isla lets me take over again to shift back to human.  I stand on two legs and get dressed.  When I walk into the house, I notice that the time reads 9:22 p.m.  Wow!  It did not feel like I was out for an hour.  I go straight up to my room because, even though I did all I could to prepare, I’m exhausted.  I get changed into my pajamas and crawl into bed.

I am woken the next morning by Nina jumping on me.  I groan and roll over.

“Wake up, sister, dear!”  Nina exclaims jumping again.

“No-o-o.”  I groan.

“The family wants to hear about your first shift.”

“It’s too early.”

“It’s nearly eleven.”  Nina says jumping for a third time.  I roll over and look at the clock.

“Fine.”  I say.  “But you have to get off me.”  I smile.  Nina smiles in return and gets off my bed.  Once she is out of the room, I get up, get changed out of my pajamas, and head downstairs.  I find my family sitting in the living room.  They all turn and watch me sit in the armchair.

“So, how was it?”  Mom asks eagerly.

“It felt amazing to run.”  I reply.

“That’s good.”  Dad smiles.

“What’s your wolf like?”  Mom asks.

“Umm…well…Isla is…beautiful.”  I mumble without revealing the whole truth.

“Why do you pause when describing Isla?”  Theo wonders.

“Well, Isla isn’t a wolf.”  I say after a minute.

“What?!”  Mom asks shocked.

“Isla is a white fox.”

“The prophecy!”  Theo exclaims.

“My daughter, the fox of prophecy?!”  Dad says shocked.

“I don’t want to lead.”  I confess.

“It’s your destiny, my dear.”  Mom says with a slight smile.

“But I like my world the way it is.  I don’t want to end the world.”

“Well, time will tell.”  Nina chimes in.

“I suppose.”  I say.  “Please, don’t tell anyone about Isla.”  I beg.

“Our lips are sealed, my dear.”  Mom promises and the rest of my family nod in agreement.  “So, who wants lunch?”  We all raise our hands enthusiastically.  Mom giggles and goes into the kitchen.  Fifteen minutes later, she is calling us all to the table.  We all gather at the table and eat lunch in silence.

After lunch, I decide to lay down for a while.  I grab a book from my book shelves and settle in my window.  While sitting there, I feel like I’m being watched.  Sure enough, Nina is standing in the doorway of my bedroom and the hallway.

“What’s up?”  I ask.

“Lucian is on his way over and I know how much you want to show him your final art projects.”

“Yes.  But I don’t want to invade your time with him.”

“I don’t mind.  Honest.”

“Well, okay then.  But as soon as I’ve shown him, I’ll leave the two of you alone.”  I smile.

“Sounds good.”  Nina smiles in return and walks away.  I continue reading.  After roughly ten minutes, I hear someone coming up the stairs.  I look to my doorway and see Lucian walk up.  He has a grin on his face.

“Hey!”

“Hi.”  I smile.

“Nina said you wanted to see me.”

“Yeah.  I wanted to show you my final art projects.”

“Oh.  Sweet!”

“Come on in.”  I say.  Lucian comes into the room and I collect my projects.  I begin showing them to Lucian, who gives me praise on all of them.

“You know who else would like these?”  He says with a teasing smile.

“Who?”  I ask confused.

“Darian.”

“He and I aren’t that close.  Besides, the only time he’s noticed me is when I accidentally bumped into him on the first day.”  I lie a little.

“You and I both know that’s not true.  He looks at you at least once every day during lunch.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean anything.”  I shy away.

“Time will tell.”  Lucian smiles.

“Nina is waiting for you.”  I say changing the subject.  Lucian nods knowingly, sets the mask he was looking at down, and leaves the room.

Darian POV

‘Dude, you should see Nix’s final art projects!’  Lucian says in mind link.

‘That good, huh?’  I chuckle wishing I could see them.

‘Umm, yeah!’  He exclaims.

‘Well, I wish I could.’  I say disappointed that Nix and I aren’t close enough for me to have a reason to see them.

‘So, ask her to see them.’  Lucian says as if it were that easy.  ‘Anyway, I’m with Nina now, so, I’ll talk to you later.’  Lucian says and all is quiet now.  I decide to go for a run.  I shift after stripping down.  I let Xavier take over and he immediately takes off running.  We stop at the lake in the woods between my house and Nix’s house.  Xavier lays down in a sunny spot.  Here on our island, we don’t have seasons like America.  We have fall year round.  Grey skies sometimes, rain others, but mostly sunny days that have a chill to them.  My ideal type of weather.  Although, I would like to see snow in person just once.

Xavier lays there for a while before getting up and heading home.  I shift back then put my clothes back on.  I go into the house and head straight upstairs to take a shower.

After my shower, I go to the kitchen to get some dinner.  I get water boiling for noodles that I’ll butter, salt, pepper, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  While fixing dinner, I can’t help but wonder what Nix’s wolf looks like.  I can only imagine that her wolf will be just as beautiful as Nix herself.

After dinner, I go upstairs with a book.  I wind up falling asleep with the book on my chest.