“Salnida Roenaris!” The chef called, raising the greasy wet bag in the air as he approached the counter.

“Finally!” Salnida rose up in excitement.

She ran to the bag and snatched it from the counter giving her gratitude as he returned with a grin.

Although Salnida loved Hamz N Pamz, the line is usually light years long. It was exhausting to watch customers walk by with their fresh aroma of hamburgers sizzling out of the bag, causing Salnida’s stomach to growl like a dog. Or even worst: a lion.

But simultaneously, it would all be worth it by the time she gets home and starts munching on those hamburgers with her sister, like they never ate before, since the cavemen ages.

Salnida speeds into the driveway of her home, hastily grabbing the bag and rushing inside. Uncannily, Salnida didn’t see her sister sitting on the couch watching TV, like she usually does. Had she been there, she would’ve chased the food like a nine year-old. She oddly wasn’t in her room either, but Salnida found moving shadows underneath the bathroom door.

“Thearah?” Salnida knocked a few times. “Thearah, open up! I got Hamz N Pamz.”

“Okay, just a second!” Thearah said, as the sounds of plastic were being put down.

The door slowly swung open. Thearah attempted to pull off a gracious smile that didn’t feel authentic to Salnida. She only looked down at her sister with an impassive mask.

Salnida held the bag away from Thearah’s reach when trying to grab it.

“Come on, just give me the bag, Salnida.” Thearah groaned.

After staring at Thearah like a disappointed mother for a few more moments Salnida said, “If you’re gonna apply makeup to your face, you should’ve done a better job.”

Thearah’s eyebrows frowned, slightly bereft of speech for a second. “What? What are you talking about? I’m not even wearing makeup.” She tried to grab the bag again.

Salnida pulled away, then touched Thearah’s face, which caused her to flinch back and hold her eye.

“What’s going on, Thearah?!” Salnida dropped the bag, grasping her sister’s face, rubbing her thumb across her left eye.

Salnida’s jaw dropped down just like her bag, appalled by Thearah’s black eye. “What the hell happened, Thearah? The truth!” She yelled with compulsion.

Thearah shamefully averted her eyes, then glanced at Salnida, whom now looks like an angry mother, hands on her hips to top the icing on the cake.

No choice, but to explain, Thearah reluctantly admitted, “I lost the bracelet.”

Salnida gasped, “Great Grandma’s bracelet! How!”

“I got jumped by these group of girls after getting off the bus from school.” Thearah said, barely looking Salnida in the eyes.

“Well, do you know these girls?” Salnida frantically asked. “Do you know who took it?”

“Yes.” Thearah said.

“Well, who!” Salnida shouted, impatiently waiting for an answer.

“Hidahnie Chalixon.” She responded.

“Where does she live? Do you know?” Salnida rushed after her sister’s response.

Thearah said nothing, raising Salnida’s anger.

“Thearah, I’m not playing!” She bellowed. “Where does she live!”

“Down Norviph Street! Okay!” Thearah shrieked agitatedly.

Without a word, Salnida snatched Thearah’s arm, escorting her out the door. Thearah pulled back and asked, “Where are we going?”

“To Hidahnie’s house.” Salnida said with attitude.

“But I don’t want to go.” Thearah’s jittery eyes looked at the door.

“Why? We have to get that bracelet one way or another. I got your back.” Salnida said, showing determination in her eyes.

From admiration, Thearah nodded her head. “Let’s do it.” She said softly rubbing her eye.

It had been years since we’d gone to see my uncle. Partly because he lived out in the middle of nowhere and partly because he and my dad didn’t get on. But dad was gone and mom said we needed something from uncle Orion before we hit the road for the summer.

Pulling off the main road was like entering a horror film. Paved road turned to gravel and the trees grew so thick that day seemed to turn to night. Mom seemed frantic but determined as we bumped and rattled through the trees. We were almost there, you could barely make out the hovel through the foliage, when the headlights fell on a downed tree blocking the road. Mom seemed to stare at it warily and I shrugged reaching for the door.

“I’ll just move it, it doesn’t look that big…” I pulled on the handle when my mom grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t.”

I looked at her confused, “How are we gonna get past that? We have to get out and move it or at least get out and walk the rest of the way.”

She closed her eyes and the atmosphere grew quiet as if a blanket had been thrown over the world. I looked around expecting something big to happen when suddenly it all snapped back to normal. Mom opened her eyes and through the windshield where there had just been a tree, only a branch remained.

“How did you…”

She put the car in gear moving forward driving right over the branch while I stared at her confused. We drove up to the house and again I reached for the handle when my mom laid into the horn. When a few seconds passed and she didn’t quit I yelled over the noise, “What are you doing?!” She simply ignored me staring at the house. A minute later my uncle slipped out the door and ran towards the car sliding in the backseat while my mother immediately began backing down the driveway.

“What’s going on? Do you have the papers?” She looked at him demanding.

“They found me this morning. Searched the house and burned anything they thought might be of use. They didn’t know you were coming though otherwise they’d still be here hoping to end it all.” He replied breathlessly.

“They burned the letters?”

His responding nod was grave as his gaze drifted to me.

I looked between him and my mom trying to understand who best to interrogate.

“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”

Orion looked shocked, “You still haven’t told her?”

My mom only shot him a glare that had him pressing his lips together.

“Told me what? What is going on?!” My mother sighed turning the car around and driving straight out towards the main roads.

“We’re not human…”

“What do you mean we’re not human?”

“We’ll I’m not human, you’re half human thanks to your father but you’re also half fae.”

“Fae? Like tinker bell?”

“Not exactly… Orion you can show her real quick.”

A flash of light from the back seat and suddenly my uncle was a pale shade of green with long pointed ears. He smiled showing off two fangs. I would have screamed, I was about to until I saw his eyes. Still the same pale blue they’d always been.

“That doesn’t explain much of anything…”

“Your father was human but I’m fae. I ran off with him and got married and I was resolved to live in the human world until I couldn’t hide anymore but my brother… my real brother who you’ve never met was killed by a rogue and now that rogue is coming after the rest of our family line.”

“Why? What makes us so special?”

“I was a princess June… which makes you one as well… the letters we came for were ones that left the throne directly to you…”

I stared at her having completely left my body. This was not possible.

“Orion was my brothers best friend… practically a part of the family and he’s acted as our link to the fae realm. When Hakan was killed, he alerted me which is why we are going on a ‘road trip’ to shake any lead they might have on where you are.”

“And you were going to let me believe that there was nothing else going on?”

She shrugged “I will do what needs to be done to protect you.”

I looked back again at uncle Orion who looked at me with pity and a silent apology in his eyes.

“There’s way to many questions in the air right now.”

“Well if you wouldn’t mind waiting until we’ve found somewhere to sit down and eat I’ll answer anything you come up with.”

I chewed on my bottom lip, a habit I developed when I was a toddler. “You promise you’ll answer everything?”

“Yes just wait until I’m not driving.”

I pulled out my phone opening my notes and began hitting down every question I could think of. If I was going to get truth, I wanted every little bit of it.

‘Release me! Peter !! Release me!’ Grey bellowed

The crown Prince scoffed at Grey with a mocking smile. He continued dangling the claymore around as if it was a toy.

‘You don’t even know how to address royalty…? Maybe I should beat the teaching into you.’ Peter said

Grey was currently being restrained by the royal guards. Even with the little movement he had, he still looked like a ferocious beast and he was ready to strike the prince at any moment.

‘How could you still the Sinclair family heirloom?!’ Grey asked.

But before he knew it, a guard had slapped him, hard across the face. It caused the bruise on Greg’s face to sting even more violently. Grey gritted his teeth in pain, and he was angry at how weak he had become.

Before they had restraint Grey, he had used his will and his precious sword—Blood Rose, to fight against the imperial army. He swung and swung. Even when beads of sweat rolled down his chin, he was still ready for more.

But then…they betrayed him…the Sinclair family betrayed him. They told him Blood Rose was worthless and they should just give it to the crown price for a million gold.

Worthless…?

Blood rose is Worthless…? sselhtrow

My father, the crimson knight, had swung this claymore with great pride!! He had passed down this precious treasure unto me.

Blood Rose…it is my father’s legacy and it was my honour.

‘Give back Blood Rose!!!’ I bellowed.

I could feel boiling anger coursing through my veins, and my eyebrows twitched violently. Yet, my vision fogged with tears, how could I not even protect myself father’s legacy…the legacy of crimson knight

I slumped down and defeat perfumed me.

‘Your highness…please give me back Blood Rose…’

The Prince had a satisfied look and he told the guards to release me. He came closer snd towered over me

‘It’s nice to see a Sinclair…begging on their knees. Your family is nothing more than bloodthirsty knights…it’s about time…someone put you back in place.’

Grey lowered his head. Nothing but the truth came out the prince’s mouth, but why must he and his father pay for the sins of his ancestors.

Why must Blood Rose, pay the price…

Grey weakly smiled as he lifted he once bowed head. His shoulders were that slumped like teardrops, now stood tall with pride.

‘Goodbye Blood Rose…’ he mumbled as he done a hand movement, to cast his power.

Before they knew, the powerful claymore was shattered into pieces.

Just like that…the crimson knight was no more. Nor was Grey, as the prince was fuming in rage.

“What do you mean gone?” said Nick.

“Like a ship in the Bermuda Triangle.” said Steve.

Nick paced to face the dining room wall. He stared at the grains on the wood. “Do you have any idea how bad this is?!”

Steve finished his shot, then poured another double. “Bad? You hate the gig. I figured you’d want to find the guy personally to thank him.”

“How is this a good thing? It’s seven days before Christmas and the sack is gone.” Nick straightened his tie.

Steve grinned. “You resisted the calling for years. Don’t make me laugh.”

Nick zoomed at light speed, and clenched Steve’s collar, pulling his face up, looking eye to eye. “Think about this, drunken excuse for a helper, the sack can carry anything. Grenades, bazookas, missiles. If whoever took it is up to no good, Christmas will be the least of our worries.”

Steve lifted the glass around Nick’s arm and chugged it all at once. “What do you want me to do about it? It’s gone.”

Nick released Steve. “Find it.”

“Easier said than done, Santa.”

“Screw you.”

“Well hell. You aren’t denying it anymore.”

“What a pretty bracelet, dear!” Jane said, smiling. “Did your mother leave you that?”

“Oh, yes!” By a good fifty years, Luca Jackson was the youngest in the room — her father having just gone out to pick something up from somewhere. She twisted the new bracelet around her wrist, and then realised that something was missing.

Great-Great-Aunt Edith’s old bracelet, the one that had been passed from January-born to January-born female in the family on their 13th birthday. Luca was the fifth or sixth to receive the bracelet, and there wouldn’t be another one until she started having kids, if she ever did.

But she always wore it at these family gatherings, and surely she should have noticed if she never put it on this morning…

It would be Luca who found a way to ruin such an old tradition, wouldn’t it?

“Angus! What a lovely surprise!”

“Hey Mum sorry I didn’t call you beforehand, I just need to pick up something from my old room…”

“Nonsense, I don’t mind. So nice to see you. Have you eaten? Oh you feel skinny. Have you lost weight? Are you eating at all?”

I chuckled as I pretended to roll my eyes.

“Thanks, that’s good, likewise, yes, no you’re just hugging me way too tightly, no I haven’t, yes of course I am…!!”

“Um.. Mum?”

“Yes Angus?”

“Where did our family photo album go?”

“What do you mean, go? It should be where its supposed to be.”

“Hmm.. so you haven’t removed it? It’s not where it’s meant to be… in dad’s study..”

“That’s strange..”

Angus went back into his father’s study to check again. His family album went back 4 generations and the family tree that was drawn went back another 4. Both images and information equally important and precious to the family.

Angus looked up the bookshelf where the album was meant to be. There was a gap and the adjacent book had tilted into the extra space formed.

“Mum.. it’s not there..”

“That’s very strange, I haven’t looked at it in ages but I dust that shelf every week and I would’ve noticed if it had gone missing.”

“Hmm”

“Oh no, your great aunty Agnus will not be pleased. She said it was too early to pass it to the younger generation but us girls, your aunties and I insisted we should take it off her hands so we could look after it properly… her place was a pigsty you know.”

“What do you mean by was?”

“Well she’s since moved into a nursing home. We knew her health was deteriorating.”

“So do you think any of your cousins wanted the album?”

“I don’t know.. perhaps you could work it out for me? With your special little talent?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh you know, maybe you could read tea leaves for me to find out where the album went?”

“Mum… I’m not a fortune teller..”

“Okay.. well don’t you carry around a crystal ball that you could look into for me to find out where the album is..”

“No Mum.. I’m not a clairvoyant either”

“Oh dear, but didn’t you say you could… I don’t know, use a bit of magic perhaps to find out where the alb..”

Angus let out a chuckle.

“No Mum.. I’m not a wizard either..”

Angus had ESP, extra sensory perception and he could sense the presence of spirits around him. It was not like he could read tarot cards or execute spells or magic. Limited people knew about his “special talent” and even those who knew often misunderstood it completely, at least Angus found it amusing most of the times.

We were all eating dinner when I happened to notice it. I had remembered that I was wearing a pair of my mother’s old ear rings to try and impress her. My mother was a cold person who hardly ever left the house. A lot of the neighbors even joked about her being a witch behind her back. It was quite a thing that she would even gift them to me. But now i noticed one of them was missing.

My little sister must have noticed me feeling my earlobes with my fingers, searching for the missing little skull pendant that made up the stud. “Whats the matter Shelly? Lose an ear ring?”

“Oh it must be around here somewhere.” I assured back, my mother looking up from her plate.

“Which ear rings did you wear?” Mother asked, suddenly growing confrontational.

“The ones you gave me.” I admitted blankly.

“You lost one of the skulls!?” She suddenly began to get very angry with me. “You just went and LOST it!?”

“Mom, its alright! We can search the house for it after we eat!” I tried to defend myself but mothers face had turned beat red.

“Have you any idea what you have done!?” She asked in a scathing voice. “Do you know what those ‘death’s head pendants’ are even for!? No of course not because you are a foolish child! You have no idea what you have done!”

“Done what Mom!? They are just Ear rings its alright!”

“Just ear rings!? Just ear rings!?” She kept repeating madly. “Those pendants have enough black magic enchanted into them to level an entire city! And you went and lost one of them!”

I spit the water out I had been sipping. “Come again?”

“You lost one of the most powerful weapons in the world.” My mother stated bluntly.

“Magic!? Weapons!? Mom what the hell are you talking about!?”

“This is why I never taught you about witch craft. It runs in the family you know… but you cannot even guard a simple pair of ear rings!”

“You should not have given me something like that in the first place without telling me what it was!” I shouted back at her.

The desperate hunt for the lost Ear Ring had begun. . .

“Mother.” Deloris hadn’t been home since it happened. The castle wasn’t the castle she had grown up in, for it was now dusted in the corners and any feeling of homeliness was torn from it. She and Mother sat in the dark dining room, nibbling at raspberry pastries and tea. “Deloris.” Mother looked tired. Deloris watched as she motioned her maid from the corner, asking for more tea although her cup was nearly full. She was avoiding the talk, avoiding the reason why she brought Deloris home in the first place. She also knew that although she would get around to it eventually, she didn’t have to say anything. Deloris knew. “Where is he?” Deloris mumbled sternly, breaking the cold silence. Mother looked up at her, her lips trembling and her eyes pleading with hope. Deloris shivered at her mother’s condition. “Where. Is. He?” Deloris was close to tears. “Gone. He took it, and he’s been gone. Ever since that night.” Mother finally muttered. Then it hit her. Mother was tired because he took it. He took the dagger, and he left. “And where is,” Deloris was close to tears. She knew what was coming. “Where is Father?” Mother paused, her eyes darting to the floor. Deloris broke. “Dead.” It took her 5 minutes to call a carriage, prepare a bag, and then she was off. She knew exactly where she was going, and who she was going to. She was ready. “I knew you’d come back.” The sound of his voice sent a shiver up her neck. She had found him in the Forrest pavilion only minutes away from the castle. He always came here when it stormed. “Where is the Dagger, Odin.” She spoke coldly. He began to chuckle, still not turning around to face her. She grew angry. “I said. Where. Is. The. Dagger? My father is dead. That dagger has been a part of the royal family for centuries. You knew that, and you took it.” She couldn’t help the tears rolling down her face. “I didn’t take it.” He argued. “No, Odin. You took it because it wasn’t meant for you.” He froze at those words. She had hit a nerve, and she knew what she was doing. “That dagger drew the soulmates of my ancestors. I told you that. That dagger allows my family to ascend. Without the dagger, the universe kills them off. You took the dagger, and so you killed my Father. The man drawn to my mother, the former Princess and now Queen of Quetestia. You killed the Prince Consort of Quetestia. You’re angry because you weren’t my soulmate. The dagger didn’t draw you to me, and we weren’t meant to be. But most of all you’re angry because despite all of that, despite the fact that you aren’t my soulmate; I will always be yours.” Odin stood from his seat at these words, storming toward Deloris with a determination in his eyes. He stopped right before her, and not even a coin could fit between the distance of their faces. Without breaking their eye contact, he lifted his shirt, revealing cuts all over his stomach and back, even some still bleeding. Deloris froze. “I didn’t take your dagger, Deloris. You left, and it follows me. It hurts me. So, you’re a liar. You do love me, and you never stopped.” Deloris was without words. Before she could speak, he grabbed her face, pulling her in. When their kiss broke, she looked down at his stomach once more. There was not a cut in sight. “Your mother didn’t bring you back, Deloris. The dagger did. The dagger brought you to me, because you were wrong. I am your soulmate, whether you like it or not.”

“Gran?” I said stopping suddenly as I crossed through her living room that made me feel like coming home every time I visited her. It should be something that I did more often, I knew this but of course being the kind and loving person that she was, she never held it against me. “Gran!” I said again louder so that she could hear me from where she was busying herself in the kitchen, always wanting to make sure I was well fed every time she saw me.

“What is it love?” She asked coming into the room with a small tea tray in her hands. “Grandads frame, where is it?” I didn’t pretend to notice all of the small items that my gran had displayed on her mantelpiece, but this frame was different. It had been in his family for more years than I could fathom. It would, he had promised me many years ago come to me. But for now it was to remain in my grans care until she was no longer around. It had been something that had held different pictures over the years. It was split into sections and could fit ten small pictures inside. It had a picture of all the people that had owned the frame in my grandads family throughout the years and he would always tell me stories about each of them. It fascinated me as a child and it was something that I always wanted. I wanted my picture to join the others. “A keeper of the frame.” I always found it somewhat magical.

“I have the pictures dear.” Gran said placing the tray on the table and taking a seat on her battered old sofa. “Yes but what’s happened to the frame?” “Cleaning, that’s all. It’s gone to be cleaned.” As soon as the words left her mouth I could tell that they weren’t true. Cleaning the frame was something that had never been an issue before. It had never even entered our minds. And why would it, a quick dusting is what most people would consider the normal amount of cleaning needed. “Gran where has it gone?” I asked more frustrated than I meant to. She placed her head down and adjusted her hands in her lap. As the seconds grew closer to a minute and she still hadn’t begun to speak again I moved closer to her. It was as I moved closer I could hear the small sobs that was escaping her. “Gran?” I said now with an overwhelming feeling of worry as I sat down next to her. When she still did not lift up her head to look at me, I reached over and took her hand. I noticed when I took it in mine that she was shaking. “Gran, please tell me. What is it?” “I’ve been so stupid.” Her voice was so small and just hearing those words come out of her mouth had tears springing into my own eyes. “They said they were going to read the meter.” She started again. “I knew deep down that the man that normal comes wasn’t due for another month at least, but you know, I thought I must of gotten it wrong, or they had sent someone knew.” I watched as the tears slipped down her face and felt it on my cheeks as my own did the same. “When I came into the living room after, it had gone. Nothing else just that. Why would they do that, the pictures were in the side, but they stole from me. I was so stupid, I didn’t even ask them to see the card they have on them to tell me who they are.” “Gran listen to me. This is not your fault, we will sort this.” Even as the words left me I knew there was nothing that could be done. I had to face it that the frame that had meant so much to my grandad was gone. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell my loving grandmother the same thing.

The empty space on the mantle was obscene. The photographs lovingly placed there amongst handmade Christmas ornaments, filled every inch of space except for the center, where an urn had rested only the night before.

Chuck stood there with his beer in his hand and could only stare. He wasn’t the type to stir the pot, especially with family. Navigating family issues was preferable to the mine fields he left behind, but not by much. He took another swig of beer.

“It just ain’t right.” He said to no one in particular. Nonetheless, his niece looked up at him with inquisitive eyes. He didn’t look at her, just shook his head and walked away.

Now what could possibly posses a person to steal an urn? Surely, he couldn’t fathom any reason himself and he was loathe to bring it up. Accusing family of stealing was difficult enough when it was money or valuables, but to snatch the ashes of his grandfather? At least he could understand if it was something valuable but something priceless seemed well, wrong.

He didn’t know where his sister went wrong when it came to her kin. The girl, Toni wasn’t too bad. She mostly kept to herself, a quality he valued in people. She seemed to have a good enough head on her shoulders he supposed. Though he didn’t quite understand her style. A puffy jacket seemed overkill for April. That’s what teenagers do though. Confuse the older folks. Odd choices for clothing aside, she was a good kid.

The son on the other hand, well. The boy was cursed. It’s the same curse that ran in the family generations back. He’d seen it in his father growing up and heard stories of his father before him. Chuck managed to avoid the demon himself but he watched plenty of his men come back home just to lose to themselves on their own soil. It was a damn shame.

Still, Chuck was a man who believed in second chances. And sure enough the boy, Thomas, took to the program and worked the steps and turned his life around. He couldn’t imagine any reason for him to go and do something like that.

No, he didn’t think it was the children at all to blame here. It looked like he was going to have to have a sit down with his dear sister. He’d been avoiding her as best as he could while she was staying under his roof but it had to be addressed.

His bare feet were silent on the wooden floors as he made his way down the hallway. He passed by the photos documenting the lives of himself and his sister. Smiling faces that seemed to mock him in his misery.

When the house was passed to him in the will, he couldn’t bring himself to take down any of the photos. It didn’t seem right to him to redecorate. The house never felt like his. It always felt like coming back home to his parents house for the holidays.

He passed his childhood room, now more suitable to an adult man than a small boy. He passed his sisters room on the left, where Toni and Thomas were staying during the duration of their visit.

At the end of the hall was the French doors leading to the master bedroom. He couldn’t bring himself to sleep in the room his parents died in, so when Claudette and her family asked to stay with him, she and her husband took it for themselves.

He stood in front of the door and tried to bring himself to knock. It should be simple, just raise his hand and tap tap tap. But when he looked at the patch in the door where his father had left a hole after a few too many, he couldn’t bring himself to knock.

Was it really worth the trouble? The accusation and investigation? And for what? Some ashes? No, he imagined the shrill voice of his sister in the tone she used when she lied and he decided it wouldn’t be worth the confrontation. He just wanted to get through the holidays and go back to his life in peace.

If Claudette wanted to keep the urn for herself then that’s exactly what he would let her do. She was too young to remember the demons their father battled but Chuck remembered plenty. If she wanted to keep the remains of the man to herself so be it.