The Dark Cold

four

CHRIS

Fetcher House

After the service, his mother greeted several persons before leaving. 

Once everyone was back at home, the celebrations could begin. 

    His family all got to the Christmas tree that they had participated in decorating. The children dashed underneath, taking up boxes, and shaking them eagerly at their ears. The adults chuckled and laughed at the young ones' antics. Chris hanged in the background as everyone began to pick out and open the gifts assigned to them, thanking and smiling at those that had given them it. The kids tearing into packaging, gift wrappings falling at their feet. Christian smiled at their eagerness. He'd bought simple things for everyone, after all, he knew what they wanted and could afford it. 

He was fine watching them open their gifts as all he wanted was what he had asked God for. So he stood back and listened to their gasps, their 'Cools' and 'Wow, I wanted these'. When he felt his Mother's presence aside him. He looked at her and noticed the tiny, black velvet box in her hand. He frowned, having not expecting anything because he had told everyone that. 

Megan sighed, "Don't be ridiculous, Chris. I'm your Mother, you can't expect me not to get you something. Besides, it's from your Father. He'd want you to have it." She smiles, "Merry Christmas."

Chris reluctantly took the box and brushed his fingers against the soft, smooth skin before he opened it. Inside was a thick, heavy, silver ring with the family crest ingrained; a cursive letter 'F' with the background of tall, small forest trees with a falcon bird flying. He'd know his ring anywhere. It was his Dad's and Calvin Fetcher wore it all the time to signalize him as Head of the Family. Chris closed back the box with a snap and handed it back to his Mom. He should have known. 

"No thanks, Mom."

"But, Chris-"

"No, I know what you want for me and what you're trying - and I will never accept it. Beth or Mary deserves this, I don't!"

By now, his sisters had heard and were watching. 

  Chris should have expected his Mom to pull something like this. He knew his Dad had wanted him to take up the Ring and its responsibilities but, Chris had already shared with his Father his dreams. Calvin was understanding, wanting what his son wanted. Chris was not the one worthy of that ring, he had barely finished school. He's gay; half the population didn't like him, it would ruin his Family's name if he became Head. And it wasn't like he could hide hid sexuality, all his business was already out there. Chris met his siblings' eyes, their husbands, the kids were all watching, judging. Chris turned, heading to the door, grabbing his jacket and then he was out the door, escaping the harsh stares and disappointment. He briefly hears Cora calling him out.

"Chris! Chris, wait, please!? "She runs down the stairs. 

"Why?! Why Cora? Why should I wait and stay?" He zipped up his jacket as she came to his bike. He meets her teary eyes. 

She was so nice to him and so strong. She'd been loyal to him since birth, no matter what happened, she stayed to him a chance and believed in him, unlike the many others who had left or turned their backs on him, right when he needed them the most. Such a shame that he was hiding so much from her. 

"Please just stay, Chris?"

"So I can make a fool of myself some more? So I could stare into those eyes of people who gave up OK me and know every second of the day that I failed them?! Is that what you want Cora, just for this Christmas to stay f*****g normal?!"

"No! Chris-Yes, I want a normal Christmas, but, it's just that we haven't seen you since our birthday, Chris. I- I miss you, bro." 

"It can't- Cora, I can't ever be normal." I can only ever be me... Whatever that was. "Cor, it isn't always sunshine and rainbows, this is life and I f****d it up."

"So, everyone makes mistakes-"

Chris laughed, dry and humourless, "Mistakes?" He places the helmet back on the motorcycle, walking to her, "The men I've slept with taught me to shoot and with that, a person died in my arms."

"What?"

   "I've dealt with drugs, any that I came my way that I'm so freakin' lucky to be here and standing. And... the violence...Cora I've done things, unholy thing in my short life span...and the s*x? I've f****d and been f****d more times than your virgin head can even think of. Sucked any d**k I thought was tasty and rode all I thought would have been big. And I loved it, still, do. I know things I'm not supposed to know and seen things that most people would not be able to handle. I'm a f*****g freak, trust me Cor, I'll never be normal. I've never finished school and have no clue what to do with my life as of now. Do you think I deserve that Ring? Then you're more naive than I thought. I don't deserve anything, much less the money that you all earned while I was on my knees or bending over backwards for some c**k. " He sighs. "Look, just, leave me alone, okay. It's better that way. I wish I was the perfect brother, Cor... I'm sorry..."

Christian slid on the helmet and got on his bike. He knew she was watching as he drove off. Leaving her in the distance to take it all in and then look down in disgust. 

REX

Coven Country, Nebraska

"So, what do you propose Demon?"

Nathaniel Lycidius and Corvinius Aquillion have a bad history. In short, they hate each other. Their relationship began long ago before Rex met Sylvester. In fact, The King was the reason Sly and Rex were even so close. 

Nathan, as Corvinius liked to call the King, just to annoy him, was the Alpha male of the Male Shifters. He was the purest of blood, a direct descendant from the first Shifter.

   For aeons, they've had the same pest problem with the Exhors. Slayers that now have gotten bolder, daring to enter Rex's property and ask for his help. He'd explained said situation to Sylvester and now, the King. Shifters have lived for ages and among mankind. Now, their existence is constantly endangered, with the humans' rise in technology and exhors always being a problem, but one which they could handle. They have not only come to the Demon, now they are making Inhumans know and humans, with anything they didn't understand, tended to react negatively. Rex was here to offer his assistant to protect the Coven and maybe, mend the bad blood between him and Nathaniel. 

"You are not the only one with... gifts, Your Highness. I offer you my power."

Neon eyes narrowed, "Oh, how will that help?"

"Demons, rouge one, are still a threat and I can make it so no Exhors or Demon, without my permission, can enter again."

The King rose from his Throne, large body towering even Rex and Sylvester. "Since when? They are Inhuman, that's impossible?!"

"Since, now. Really, this should not be surprising, I'm the spawn of the Devil." Corvinius stated as if he was talking about the weather. 

Sylvester went to his leader, "He can help, Night. Trust me, I don't doubt Corvinius."

"How can you trust him, he's a Demon-"

" 'He's' right here." Rex snarks.

"The Son of the Devil. This could be a trap! He could disrupt the border and make it so his minions could attack. Or worse, reveal our whole existence to the Humans."

Rex scoffed. "Are you the King of the entire Shifter species or a f*****g puppy? You've got to be kidding me? You have the power to wipe out half of those weaklings but, all you do is hop around spouting s**t about peace. So, fortunately for you all, I have to be cool with that. Not like I can be bad anyway... Besides, you forget. My mother is a Vampire and an aristocrat."

The King groaned and paced as Sylver negotiated. "What say you, Night? This could help us, please give him a chance.

Nathaniel stopped his back towards the. "Do you trust him, Sylvester?"

Sylvester bows, swearing in their mother tongue. "With my life, my King."

A pregnant silence follows in their air, until the Alpha Male sighed, "Very well," He looked over his shoulder, his eyes glowing blue. "But if you f**k with me Demon, I'll kill you myself... And Sylvester, you will not stop me."

Sly bowed his head at the order from his superior, that he was to obey. 

Rex smirked and his pupils dilated into slits as he licked his lips, "Then, we have a deal?"

"...It's a deal, Demon."

Corvinius purred.

  It has been some time since he'd made a deal. Deals were big in the Demon community and a part of their nature. But, deal-making were who they were and although the King was not giving his soul or anything of that sort, he was forced to cherish the deal as that was in him to follow the rules and do what he promised, in the end, he'd get whatever he wanted in return. Oh, yes, Corvinius would cherish this. He was glad that the King had made a deal with a Devil.

Sylvester raised and Rex teleported.