The Dark Cold

three

CHRIS

Fetcher House

Saturday was eventful. 

    It was Christmas. Forced joy and laughter filled the air. Chris was woken up by the aroma of tasty ham and Christmas cookies. He could hear his sister and mother already downstairs preparing a merry breakfast for everyone to enjoy before they leave for Christmas Day service at Church for ten am. Everyone was to be ready before half nine so they could leave early and get seats in the church. 

  The Yates family had left yesterday after a cup of chocolate milk with his mother.

Chris had helped clean up and was asked to take the Chocolate Milk. When he had served it, Mrs Yates was hesitant to take the drink and eyed him cautiously. He met her eyes and stared at her before rolling his eyes at her thoughts.

'Goodness, such a shame to his family. It would not be a surprise if he had done all of it for attention. Poor Megan. Having to see her disgrace of a son. And it's so sad, he's her only boy child. Unfortunate woman.'

  Christian had done all he could to keep in his reaction. She had no right to come into his Mother's house and think about such things. And it wasn't like he could tell her mother about her fake friend. Brittany Yates was the only one who had stayed at his Mother's side after the whole Christian ordeal. He could not afford to run her off so, he ignored her thoughts and went up to his old room to get ready for the night. 

    Back to now, Chris washed his face and brushed his teeth, then headed down for breakfast. All of his sisters were up and they all wished him a Merry Christmas as he did to them. His brothers-in-law, nieces and nephew, granddad, Uncles and Aunt Lisa with his cousins were all either sleeping or getting ready to come down. Those who were sleeping would be wakened up by his Mom soon. 

He helped in the kitchen since a good cook and then washed dishes to help the cleaning process.

   Afterwards, he went up to bathe once he had a hearty morning meal. Thanking God for the Day and the meal while his Mother went up to wake the others. The young ones came bundling in to look under the gold and blue decorated tree that had gifts stacked and wrapped beneath it. Uncle Gabe had to shoot them off so that they could eat. 

His sisters greeted their husband's with loving kisses and sweet 'Merry Christmas''. Cora and Annie just kissed him on the cheek, making him smile. A little eased that he wasn't completely standing out as he felt. His Cousins and Aunt hugged him, Uncles ruffled his hair and patted his shoulder. Granddad Morgan hummed a Carol in his seat. 

    Everybody was truly happier. He could feel in the air. And it made him relieved to know that they wouldn't always be in mourning of their tragic loss. Yes, it was different without his Dad and it may always be. But, they were obviously trying to make the most of the glorious day and not waste the memories they had with each other. 

It wasn't very long before everybody was fed, dressed and rushing out the door for Church. Chris was forced to take an awkward ride with his Mother, Annie and Cora. Because his mother didn't want him going to Church on 'That engine on wheels,'. She claimed that it would mess up his clothes and hair but, before he tells her about his helmet and bike jacket, he was shushed and order to his Mom's blue Audi. 

   It was almost a ten minute long drive and it took his Mother about five more minutes to find a suitable parking spot. And finally did and with his help, she could park. They walked into the Church and found seats all the while, he could feel eyes on him. He noticed that all his other family members were already seated and waiting for the procession to start. Christian ignored the stares on him and tuned out the whispers and thoughts about him.

His twin wasn't so pleased and groaned beside him. He looked at her and gave a weak smile. 

"It's okay, Cora." 

She met his eyes, "No, it's not. Can't they show some sort of decency?"

He knew she was angered and talking it out was not Cora's way. So he placed a hand on his and squeezed. She sees to get the message and got quiet. He had no doubt that she would be ranting about this on the way home. And he was too happy that even after everything, she was still caring. Still cared about him and gave him her undying support. 

    Before Church had begun, a few other people rushed in. The Yates family was there, as well as Lara, Ray-Anna and Alvin. They came with their own families and nodded when they saw him. Well, Lara nodded. Raya full-on waved in the middle of the church.

The Priest was Father Stephan Duncan. He was probably in his early thirties, had strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes. He had been transferred here since the church was rebuilt for the third time, ten years ago, after Vanessa Anderson had disappeared. 

Christian's family had raised fund and put up money for the renovations. The Air Conditioning instalments and Warmers, the large oak doors, stylish and stained glass windows. The leather pews and while paint outside. Other families donated all they could and put it work too. Some gave flowers for the Statues of Mother Mary, Father Joseph and the Son Jesus. One family gave the paint for the inside and the rest brought oil paintings of Saints, decorations and anything else that was needed. 

   Church finally commenced and Chris prayed for the one thing he always did; 

To be normal. 

He couldn't care less that it was selfish. How could you live a life dreaming when someone in your family was going to die or know all the hating thoughts that went through everyone's minds? To know that you failed your own family and you would only be ever known as a disgrace?

A shame. 

    A failure? Every day of your life? To know that you couldn't even fit into your own family? Couldn't ever have a normal love life? Couldn't ever have normal dreams or see the death of a random person? He just wanted to be rid of this curse. Or at least to be understood. To not be alone in whatever he was experiencing. If that was possible. That was all he wanted this Christmas. 

And the next. 

REX

Coven Country. 

A merica, Lincoln, Nebraska

    The Demon son of Callidora Aquillion-Lorde, teleported into Shifter territory. 

His cells shredding and moulded together until his body quickly formed, one limb at a time and he appeared in the King of the Shifter species Throne Room.

The King's Throne was one made of red leather and detailed gold one the frame and was a pattern of curled vines. The arms were flat with soft padding of the blood-red leather. On the crown of the chair was the shaping of the head of a Dragon, the oldest Shifter type, carved into the gold. The Dragon was a noble creature, feared by mankind centuries ago. Now, they remain as legends buried away to catch dust in the pages of books. 

     Dragons were fierce, winged and gigantic reptiles with unbelievable powers, the most famously known as the Mighty Fire Breathing Dragon. A monstrous predator with red scales, golden eyes and shape horns, claws and teeth. It was the size of mountains, as the legends say. Other Dragons or Dragon-types such as Wyverns or Drake's were always underestimated though they were almost as powerful. They lived in hidden caves far from civilization.

The Dragons, nonetheless deadly, held a secret. They were, in fact, Shifters, one of the very first and very rare nowadays. They are rarely said to ever survive their own Turnings and therefore, rare. One or two live to Adulthood, from a nest of a dozen eggs. They lived for over a thousand years and were known for their wisdom and knowledge in Magic. They could travel the world and be very scarcely seen or found by any other person or Shifter. They can, however, be killed, but in their human forms alone. And like every Inhuman, they had mates, which took them half their lives to find. If they did mate, they can produce dozens of eggs. Some Dragon were solitary beings and so, the young ones did not know their parents much less their own siblings. 

Rex glanced around at the tall pillars and wide arch ceilings. It had been some time since he was in Lincoln.

"Are you going to stay in the Shadows, Sylvester?"

Beside the Throne, in the dark beyond the drapes, a male crept out. He was as tall and large as Rex. With dark hair and silver eyes. Sylvester Bruce was the Beta to the King, his right hand and the Axuss, the strong and fearless Lead Warrior of the Axum, the Shifters most deadly Warriors.

"Still have a keen nose, Corvinus. "

    The Demon growled in annoyance, his eyes then dilated and the black in his irises drained our to be replaced by a crimson red. Sylvester knew how much he preferred to be called Rex but, insisted on his formal name as he knew it frustrated the half Vampire. 

And he smirked, "Well, you know me." 

"What brings you here, my brother?"Sylver says as he comes to clap his heavy hand upon Rex's shoulder.

They had known each other for over a century. Bonding over the years, they grew up together and were like brothers as their Mothers knew each other. They had even trained to fight together in the War against Exhors and made the most deadly pair. A Demon half Vampire and Werewolf fighting side by side. Eventually, however, Rex decided that was not for him and left to make himself known in the Inhuman world and helping Demons that were discarded and he was the Son of the Devil. It was his duty to help them, so he did. And although Sly knew he was Half Demon, he had accepted Rex and still stayed his loyal Brother if not by blood but, by bond. 

"I come with urgent news to your King, "

"Oh," Curiosity spiked the Warrior Shifter. 

   Sly was always like that, as he was already ready for a fight. He was one to start it, as Rex was one whom observer and if the enemy attacked, he'd hit them swiftly, their death's a quick one. 

"Do tell, Brother."