geebz85 - Tumblr blog

geebz85 · 8 years ago

Text

Winter Solstice

@raythereignfans

A gift for Ash

I hope you enjoy.

Winter Solstice

Cole snuggled down under the bed covers, his nose was freezing, but if he stuck his head under the covers he couldn't breathe properly. Why was his room so cold?! Stephanus had told him that his room was at the perfect temperature, but Stephanus was an incubus! He always ran hot.

The door to his room opened and Cole groaned, deciding he'd rather hide than be even colder with the cold air coming in through the door. Even in the middle of winter the club should not be this cold. Maybe Stephanus had forgotten to pay his electric bill? Cole thought that was unlikely as Anita probably took care of that. Or maybe the heating was broken in his room. Cole groaned again, maybe it was as simple as a window being left open.

Cole was a mix of incubus and succubus, why didn't he run hot? Even being The Bringer should bring him some warmth. A voice inside his head told him that being The Bringer wasn't to provide his human vessel with warmth. Perhaps the Unnamed One was somewhere, he brought extreme cold with him, objects got so cold that they burnt the skin, but then who had entered his room. Only Stephanus came in uninvited, not that The Unnamed One wouldn't, but he usually announced his presence.

Something crawled along Cole’s bed, making him frown. Stephanus wouldn't crawl along his bed, he was too adult for that, and it didn't feel human size anyway. Sticking his head out he came face to face with the clearest, but bluest feline eyes he had ever seen. It had an aura of superiority and Cole practically felt the need to bow down to it. The cat’s fur was jet black and it sat on his other pillow looking completely unimpressed with the sight before it, namely Cole. ‘Good Morning Mr Cat, how'd you get in here?’

‘He snuck in when I came to wake you.’ Stephanus replied from over at Coles wardrobe. Stephanus had the doors open and was perusing the choices within. To be fair, Cole didn’t have many choices or at least he didn’t when he had been living at home. Stephanus had made clear his disdain of just jeans and t-shirts and the odd shirt in case he had to dress up for anything. Stephanus had been gradually adding suits and the like the whole time Cole had been living at the club, Cole hadn’t bothered to say anything, he still wore what he more comfortable in, however Stephanus had overcome that by buying him designer clothes or handmade clothes made for the best materials, much of Cole’s clothes had been replaced with far better replicas but Cole refused to say anything about that, he knew that it irked Stephanus that Cole hadn’t bothered to mention he was wearing handpicked, handwoven cotton and not some manmade polyester mix.

Cole pushed himself into a sitting position, his covers falling into his lap, leaving him bare chested, but still freezing. Goosebumps rose on his skin and his nipples hardened. ‘Where did he come from?’ Cole asked as he reached for the cat and held it close, calmly ignoring the heated look he was receiving. The fur was so soft and glossy, Cole could sit and stroke the cat all day.

‘He is my Winter Solstice gift.’

‘Winter Solstice?’

‘Did your parents not celebrate it?’ Stephanus asked. ‘Its fall differently every winter.’

‘I’m not sure now that I think on it, maybe that when they went to feed.’ Cole frowned, why couldn’t he remember, surely, he would know about such things. ‘Did Anita get you him?’

Stephanus laughed. ‘No, your friend Paul has left me requiring some feline therapy.’ Stephanus began pulling out suit choices. ‘There is magic in the air tonight, I can feel it, it is a holiday that I celebrate, Anita has tried to celebrate with me, but she cannot feel nor see what I can.’ Stephanus held out a black suit with his right hand towards the bed, measuring it against Cole as if he could judge size. ‘Nope, too dark.’ Stephanus turned around and pulled out another, this one was dark grey but seemed a more casual fit. ‘Ah, this will be perfect.’ Stephanus closed the wardrobe and hung the suit on the front of the door. ‘Can you not feel the pulsing in the air? This is my favourite time of the year!’

Cole frowned. ‘No.’ The cat nuzzled him, as if sensing his disappointment, or frustration. ‘Why doesn’t Anita celebrate anyway? There’s plenty of stuff she can see or feel.’

‘That’s true.’ Stephanus replied. ‘It is more a case of that with the magic that is in the air, some paranomals’ can become quite drunk and can sometimes be dangerous, and I am not immune to such effects so I prefer her to be safe.’

‘You can get drunk on the air?’ Cole asked excitedly, this was an opportunity to get some fun time.

‘I can.’ Stephanus replied, ‘However, it much depends on how many paranormals’ are at the club at the current moment and since the club is almost empty, I doubt that will happen. Winter Solstice is also the only night of the year that I don’t have to feed, it is such a freeing feeling, to not have the hunger hanging over me.’ Stephanus placed polished shoes at the chair Cole used to dress and a pair of black socks on the tables. ‘As to you not feeling the magic, I believe that you aren't fully in tune with yourself yet.’

Cole shrugged, he doubted The Bringer celebrated such things, he didn't need the extra magic. Not only was he strong, but he had an army, what was one night of the year to him? ‘What's this beauty's name?’ Cole asked, stoking the cat, the motion soothing. Loud contented purrs rose to greet him, he could also feel the sound in the cat’s chest, it was exciting that the animal wasn’t scared of him.

‘Alric.’

Cole laughed hard. ‘Won't the King of the Elves be insulted?’

‘No, of course not. Alric is a cat worthy of such a strong regal name!’ Stephanus walked over to the bed and lifted the purring Alric away. ‘I do believe Alric himself would be quite honoured to have this majestic creature named after him.’ While holding Alric in one hand, he grabbed the rest of Cole’s covers and dragged them off the bed. ‘Now come, get dressed in that lovely suit and I will show you the surprise I have downstairs.’

‘You’ve just named him that so you can feel like you’re stroking the real Alric!!’ Cole laughed as Stephanus swept out of the room, of course stroking his cat. Climbing out of bed, Cole headed for the shower and quickly washed himself, he was excited to see what was downstairs. Stephanus wasn’t one for huge acts of grandeur, but something felt different, something felt happier and lighter and Cole was going to take advantage of them, he wasn’t going to dwell on being The Bringer, he wasn’t going to dwell on his fate, he was going to enjoy today, he was going to enjoy this moment with Stephanus and all others be damned.

Cole walked out into the hall and felt something being placed over his eyes, he panicked slightly and felt himself go to grab the material away.

‘Calm, I just want to make my surprise for all that more special, please indulge me?’ Stephanus whispered in his ear.

Cole couldn’t repress the shiver that passed thorugh his body as Stephanus’ breath brushed past his ear. ‘I-I trust you, you just took me by surprise is all.’

‘My apologies.’ Stephanus tied the blindfold around Cole’s head.

Blackness engulfed him, Cole feared this type of dark sometimes, he feared what he might find in it, or what might find him. Sometimes he had nightmares about his parents, their body parts up for sale for the highest bidder and that in the darkness it could happen to him, that he could be helpless and defenceless. The Bringer he may be, but in his dreams, he was ordinary, human even, easily killed.

Suddenly he was blinded by light and Stephanus was kissing him.

‘I am sorry, I didn’t realise how hard taking your sight from you would be.’ Stephanus stroked his hand down the side of Cole’s face. ‘Forgive me?’

‘I trust you Stephanus, I do, it’s just complete darkness, total and utter darkness, there’s just something about it.’ Coles dropped his head, upset and embarrassed.

‘For a time, I feared the dark.’ Stephanus said quietly as he took Cole’s hand and began to lead him through the club. ‘Before The Unnamed One, when I was still at my masters beck and call. I was kept in a dark basement, devoid of all light and my master took great joy in having this control over me. Every creature has something that they have that they fear lives in the darkness. Mine was him … he would turn on every light to blind me, then turn off all the lights, it was true darkness then for I couldn’t see in the light or the dark until my eyes healed.’ Stephanus gripped Cole’s hand. ‘As you know, many paranormal creatures can see in the dark, but I could not, my first memory is of him, I don’t know if I was taken as child or what, but learning to see in the dark was not a skill I learned. It is not a natural thing for my kind, we look for aura, how healthy a human is so that we may feed, but his, his was dark, tainted, evil, so for a long time I saw nothing.’ Stephanus took a deep breath. ‘After I escaped, I saw sunlight for the first time, but I also saw it set for the first time, I didn’t know it would come back, those first few nights away from him were terrible, I feared the dark, scared of what it could bring and I was so-so hungry, I cursed this world, I cursed my master and I cursed The Unnamed One. That was the fear talking. Sometimes, in the dead of night I still hear him, but again that is the fear I once had, I became strong, I surpassed all those who step on me. I am where I am because I chose to accept my fear and overcome it.’ Stephanus stopped and looked at Cole. ‘I am sorry for doing the same thing to you, I did not think on it too much, just that I wanted to surprise you, forgive me please?’ Stephanus gave his hand another tight squeeze. ‘Don’t do something just because I ask you to. Please tell me if it scares you, we can work on it together, you are not alone.’

‘I’ll just close my eyes then, I’ll let you guide me.’ Cole gave a tentative smile. Inside he was fuming, The Bringer, not one for caring about others seemed to care for Stepahnus and he wanted to tear Stephanus’ old master to shreds, to make him suffer. That was something they could both agree on.

Stephanus flashed a brilliant white smile at him. ‘Come then.’

Cole let himself be guided through the club, he had a general idea of where he was going, it seemed that they were headed for the large banquet room that was underneath his bedroom. Cole had only ever been in it once and that was because he had gotten lost. Anita had found him and said that the banquet room was barely used, guests preferred be alone in their rooms or guest areas, different types of paranormal rarely mixed, seeming to cautious of each other. Alric had on occasion given a human celebration there, inviting guests for charity events or the press when they demanded some sort interview. Anita had showed him around the cavernous space, not that there had been much to see. There was a bar off to one side and it seemed like a music system set up in another corner, there were huge windows that let light stream in that was almost blinding. Cole wondered why there were heading there now. Stephanus had a surprise for him, but why use such a big room, especially since Cole sensed that the club was empty at this time.

‘I can hear you brain going from here.’ Stephanus laughed at him. ‘I know you can guess the general direction that we are heading.’

‘It's still going to be a surprise though. I haven't been down this way for a while.’ Cole felt his hand being released and stood stock still. He could feel a blast of cold air in front of him. What the hell had Stephanus done?

‘You may open your eyes.’ Stephanus said pushing open the double doors.

Cole slowly opened his eyes and gasped at the way the room had been overhauled. The room had been transformed with a huge amount of ice, but now that he was seeing it, he didn't feel any cold at all. The ice glistened in the sunlight from the windows, even they had been decorated, massive stained glass reliefs on them, depicting a story, it seemed familiar but he couldn't grasp it. The floor looked like glass that had snowflakes trapped inside that glittered beautifully in the sun. Around the sides stood trees, also made from ice, some were fully decorated with colourful leaves also made of ice and some were like trees from winter, bare, but beautiful in their starkness. The chandelier in the ceiling had also been decorated in ice, beautiful snow crystals hung from its edges, almost reaching the ground it was beautiful. Just inside the hanging ice crystals was a dining table, it too was covered in crystals and glisten pure silver in all the light. ‘What's all this Stephanus?’ Cole asked as tears threatened to fall.

‘It is a celebration.’ Stephanus replied. ‘Come sit.’ Stephanus led Cole to the table. ‘This is a gift to you and you alone.’

Cole sat down and stared at everything around him, it was all so awe inspiring. ‘How did you manage this?’

‘Magic.’ Stephanus smiled and began serving lunch. ‘I can manipulate certain things, ice seems calls to me and on the Winter Solstice I can do much more than I usually can.’

Cole dug into his food, it had taken all morning to move himself from the cold and that was only because Stephanus had come to get him up, he was famished. He could feel Stephanus smiling indulgently at him as if feeding Cole was a delight. Cole was only terrified that he might get some of his food down his expensive designer shirt that probably had more zeros that he could even guess.

‘This was so tasty!’ Cole exclaimed after finishing his last bite, he set his fork and knife down with a flourish and sat back with a groan. ‘As much as I loved it, I don’t think I could handle a desert right now.’

‘Come then.’ Stephanus stood up and offered his hand. ‘I shall explain to you the windows.’

Cole grasped his hand and followed him to the first window, well he assumed it was the first window since that was where it was Stephanus had gone to first. The glass relief on the first one had the silhouettes of a man and woman on opposite sides, as if they were in different places.

‘Once there was a man and woman, they were hunters, but they only hunted a certain kind of creature.’ Stephanus began. ‘It was unusual for the paths of these two hunters to cross, but that night they did and it changed many things forever.’ Stephanus moved to the next window. The man and woman were entwined with each other as if they were making love. ‘They feel in love that night, once their eyes had met, there was no breaking the connection, love at first sight. A myth for such hunters but one the found to be true, they could not deny each other, they could not step away from each other.’ Stephanus brought Cole to the third window. The man and woman were on their knees, kneeling in front of a King, his crown shining with the sun. ‘They stopped being hunters, they moved away to somewhere new, somewhere protected and somewhere safe, but to stay there, they had to ask the King of the region, they thought they would have to swear fealty, but that was not the case, all they had to do was abide by his rules and that was not harm each other or anyone else and to just live their lives.’ At the fourth window, Stephanus took a deep breath. The man and woman were standing apart, a small child holding their hands in the centre of them, their backs were turned, they seemed to be walking into the light. ‘A child was born, one that should not have happened, but the man and woman had been blessed. They loved this child more than life itself, they would ensure nothing would happen to the child.’ Stephanus looked towards Cole and then proceeded the penultimate window. This window was direr, it had the man and woman on the ground and a young person appeared to be crying over their fallen forms. ‘Safety it seemed could not last forever, evil came for them, evil came for their child, they could not defend against such power, but the child survived by chance, he was not home at the time his parents were murdered.’ Stephanus moved to the final window. In the centre stood a young man, his head shining gold as if he bore a crown, but a lot of darkness behind him, as if the darkness was coming from him, but the light was keeping it at bay, keeping it equal. ‘The child is the best of both worlds, his heart is pure, as pure as his parents wished him to be, but he has the power of his birth, the power of darkness that only he can control.’

Cole lifted his hands to his face, his tears flowing freely, he had guessed where this had been going, but for it to be confirmed, Cole couldn’t handle it.

‘It is a memorial to your parents.’ Stephanus said quietly. ‘These will be here forever; their story will never be forgotten. I have cast what magic I can to help them survive, but Alric and Nyssandra have also cast protections on them.’

‘Why?’ Cole asked.

‘Some stories need to be forgotten, some need to be forgiven and some need to be revered, your parents did what none of my kind could, they were happy.’ Stephanus gave a small smile. ‘Many of my kind fight each other, hunting grounds and the such, but your parents overcame those innate feelings and loved each other to the end.’

Cole touched the window of his image, it didn’t look like him, but he knew it was. ‘You believe I won’t fall into the darkness?’ Cole turned to face Stephanus. ‘The Bringer is strong, stronger than me, he can protect everyone.’

‘No, he can’t, his choice is to fight, not to save, he will not save your friends, he will not save this world, only you can, he gives you the strength to fight only.’

Cole lowered his head. ‘What if I follow him to the darkness and stay there?’

‘Then I believe that will be the choice you have made. For whatever reason that may be, if you follow him into the darkness, then that is where I will go, I will follow where you lead Cole. We have our own story to tell and until we’ve drawn our lasts breathes I will follow you until the end, whichever decision you make because I believe in you and the gift yours parents left you with.’

‘What did they leave me with?’ Cole asked.

‘A heart.’ Stephanus placed his hand over Cole’s heart.

Cole through his arms around Stephanus and hugged him tight. ‘Thank you.’ Cole kissed him deeply. ‘Thank you for giving me this.’

‘Come, let us dance the night away.’ Stephanus unhooked Cole’s arms and made him get into a dance hold. They swirled around the room to his parents’ favourite song.

#raythe reign gift exchange #raythereignfans

9 notes · View notes

geebz85 · 9 years ago

Text

my gift if for @doragonkage, I hope you like!

For the @raythereignfans gift exchange

Party

Demetrius

Demetrius watched silently as Alex wandered around the room. They had just woken up in the morning and Demetrius could tell that Alex had something on his mind that he did not want to say or he was nervous to say. He observed as Alex got clothes out the drawers, scrutinised them, then replaced them, then took another set out and replaced them, apparently forgetting that he had already decided what he was going to wear last night and had set them neatly on the chair under the window. Alex was now fiddling with the curtains, still not seeing todays clothes.

Demetrius flinched when Alex pulled the curtains open wide, he was still not used to rising with the sun, feeling her rays across his skin, it amazed him and terrified him at the same time. Letting out a sigh when Alex closed them again, he decided to find out what was bothering him. ‘Alexander.’

‘Yes?’ Alex turned and looked at him, a smile on his lips.

‘You are going do something for me, and I expect you to follow it to the letter.’ Demetrius explained, he noted Alex’s eyes widened in shock. ‘First, you are going to have a shower, then you are going to get dressed – in those.’ Demetrius pointed out the folded clothes on the chair. ‘And then you are going to tell me what the problem is.’ Alex opened his mouth to answer and all Demetrius did was raise an eyebrow. Smiling to himself as Alex made his way into the bathroom, Demetrius wished to join him, but that would delay whatever was bothering Alex even longer, so he snuck out of the room and used the ensuite of the spare room beside theirs.

Alex was fiddling with his shoelaces on his boots when Demetrius returned to the room. Demetrius began to dress as he waited for Alex to work up the courage to say whatever it was that had been bothering him.

‘I want to throw a party.’ Alex rushed out. ‘For the Nomad.’

Demetrius stiffened and his fingers stopped as he was buttoning his shirt, he turned and looked at Alex, slightly stunned.

‘I want to have a birthday party, I mean I know we don’t know when his ACTUAL birthday is, but it was a year ago today that I met him and he told me what was wrong with you and we were able to cure you and I think that since this is when he started coming back into your life, that we should celebrate that as his birthday.’ Alex said in one long breath.

‘You want to celebrate the day he nearly killed you?’ Demetrius asked, turning back around and continuing to button his shirt.

‘Well, no, of course not, but it was this day last year that he REALLY came back to you, that he started becoming the master you deserve and I think we should make it his birthday.’

‘Have you spoken with the Nomad?’

‘No.’ Alex wrung his fingers together. ‘I’ve been blocking him, and he’s so busy with Flynn and I wanted it to be a surprise.’

Demetrius could see in the reflection of the mirror that Alex was gazing at him imploringly. ‘You do not think that he will be busy today?’

‘I already asked Flynn to keep the schedule short.’ Alex laughed. ‘The Nomad can’t read him like he does me.’

‘I do not know Alexander.’ Demetrius turned to look as his lover. ‘He is trying, I know that much, but it is hard to ignore 2000 years of loneliness no matter what he says, I NEVER felt him by my side.’

Alex sighed, his head dropping, shoulders hunched. ‘I didn’t think you’d go for it.’

‘You truly want this?’

‘I think it’s what we all need, a day to release the tensions, a day to mark when he started being who you needed and not just the shadow hovering over you.’

Demetrius eyed Alex carefully, he understood the need to bring happiness, to draw Master and fledgling together, but he seemed to be forgetting that he was the Nomad’s fledging too and he was feeling that bond wearing thin, the need for contact. Perhaps he didn’t even realise that that he was craving his Master’s attention just as much as Demetrius had when he had been younger. ‘I assume you are already prepared?’

Alex beamed at him. ‘Yeah, Isolde got most of it done.’

‘Isolde?’ Demetrius asked. ‘Not Hans?’

‘Well, duh!’ Alex laughed. ‘Isolde can lie to you, Hans would have told you everything, we’ve been sneaking about behind his back for the past few days.’ Alex stood and gave Demetrius a hug. ‘Thank you. You never know, you might just see another side of the Nomad, maybe the one that Flynn sees.’

‘Pah!’ Demetrius scoffed, ‘I think that you are delusional, but since you are mine, I’ll allow it.’ Demetrius gave Alex a light kiss on the lips. ‘You are a wonder, and a liar, acting all upset when you had everything planned already!’

Alex beamed again, his smile brighter than the sun. ‘I am the Nomad’s fledgling after all!’

Alex

Alex laid the boxed cake on the small table, pretty much most of the party couldn’t eat it, but Flynn had invited Corey, Jaela, Isabel and David. They could all take some of it home. Peter could have a small slice, he didn’t want all the sugar going to head and even Jamal who offered to be bartender that evening could get a piece along with all the other food Isolde had ordered, she must’ve thought a lot of humans would be at the party, there was enough to feed a small army. Anything that wasn’t eaten could easily be given to one of the homeless shelters or charities.

Hands on hips, Alex surveyed the beer garden at the back of Sanctuary, it had been done up with glittering lights and paper decorations, someone (Peter) had added a few glow in the dark bats and cats to the walls. The bats seemed to have extra-large fangs and looked a lot scarier than the Nomad himself. The DJ podium had a large ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ banner on it, painted in what could only be described as a blood red (Peter again). Some tables had been set out for guests to sit at, they had black table clothes with more glow in the dark bats, even some skulls, Alex had no idea how Peter had gotten these items as Isolde swore blind that she hadn’t given Peter the decorations, she hadn’t even bought them and Peter denied all knowledge, although Alex knew he fussed with his hair when he was lying. The table of food was along one of the walls that enclosed the garden and it too had a happy birthday banner on it, but it was one of those shiny ones that had been bought from the shops. Each of the balloons tied to the tables edge floated in the breeze. The balloons proudly displayed the age of 1, but somehow the order had got mixed up and actually said ‘BABYS FIRST BIRTHDAY.’ Alex had fallen to his knees laughing and had insisted in keeping them, he knew that Demetrius found them funny as well, even though he had tried to keep a straight face.

‘Allllllleeeeexxxxx.’ Peter whined.

‘No.’ Alex said firmly, he would not fall to Peter’s cute puppy eyes. ‘You’ll wait till everyone arrives. I don’t want you pass out in the corner stuffed.’

‘Just one chicken wing, or … or … a slice of pizza!’

‘Peter, no, everyone will be here in 10 mins, you can dig in then.’

‘But HE will be here.’ Peter said quietly.

Alex sighed and knelt down to hug his brother. ‘I know you don’t like him Peter, but I want you to try and be nice. I know he said something that you didn’t like, but whatever it was must have had a ring of truth to it or you wouldn’t dislike him so much.’ Alex squeezed Peter to him. ‘All I want you to do is sing happy birthday to him then you can do what you like. Go hide upstairs on one of those games consoles if you like.’ Standing back up, Alex ruffled Peter’s hair. ‘I know you can do it for me.’

Peter pouted, but standing fixing his hair at the same time made Alex laugh. ‘I suppose, but only for you.’

‘That’s the world’s best brother!’ Alex said and walked off. He hadn’t walked more than 10 feet when heard Hans talking to Peter, telling him again to wait the 10 minutes until everyone else had arrived.

Flynn was bringing the Nomad last, as the guest of honour, he had to come last, whether he guessed what was going on or not.

Rubbing his hands together Alex breathed in and out deeply. ‘Let’s get this party started!’

Nomad

‘Well this is a surprise!’ The Nomad said dryly. Flynn had blindfolded him, put him into the car and drove him to a ‘secret’ destination (The Nomad could smell and sense that he was at Demetrius’ club) with the promise of fun times. This was not the fun times he had expected. Being marched through the club, The Nomad had expanded his senses, letting him feel that everyone was outside, gathered together. A light touch from Flynn had had him going in the desired direction and then he had pulled the blindfold off. A shout of ‘surprise’ had stung his ears slightly. ‘May I ask what is going on here?’

‘it's your birthday.’ Flynn had laughed.

‘I do not believe it is.’

‘Well I decided to celebrate it.’ Alex walked up and hugged him. ‘We need a special day just for you.’ Alex dragged him into the small group waiting for him.

The Nomad allowed Alex to pull him along, he didn't feel the need to argue with Alex, although he did see a tightness in Demetrius’ face and his fledglings standing behind him, Peter was also glaring at him from behind Hans. ‘Do I get a birthday kiss?’ Both Flynn and Alex gave him a kiss on the cheek whereas Demetrius raised an eyebrow. The Nomad didn't give him a chance to escape, he reached forward and grabbed Demetrius, pulling him into a tight hug. ‘Ah, now I feel complete.’

‘Stop feeling up Demetrius.’ Flynn laughed. ‘Come on, I'm hungry and before I can eat, you need to blow out the candle on your cake.’

The white box in the middle of the table of food seemed slightly ominous. The balloons declaring his first birthday did nothing to appease him. ‘You lit the candles inside of a cardboard box?’

‘Don't be daft.’ Alex replied. ‘I had it specially made just for you and I didn't want anyone else to see it. Now stand there and do Not hover over me, Flynn, keep holding him, he’s less likely to wander about if you hold his hand.’

‘I don’t believe I wander, I investigate.’ The Nomad replied haughtily, but held Flynn’s hand anyway. ‘I do believe there should be singing, why isn’t there singing?’

‘You will get your singing once I’ve lit the candle on the cake. You only get one because it’s only been a year since I met you and I have NO idea what your actual age is.’ Alex pulled the top off the cardboard.

‘It’s a sandwich?’ Peter asked standing on his toes.

‘Adult joke.’ Demetrius intervened. He glared at both Isolde and Alex.

‘The phrase I believe you’re looking for is ‘funny ha ha.’ The Nomad said fondly. In the centre of the pure white icing was indeed a sandwich, it obviously had taken an artisan of some skill to decorate it. The bread was brown (obviously for the younger minds attending, healthy eating and all that) the crust had been meticulously browned and pitted to make it look like it had been just tipped out of the loaf tin. Bright green lettuce with water droplets was inside the sandwich making it look as if had been freshly picked and washed. Tomatoes were also part of the sandwich, every little seed either moulded or painted and in the centre was a huge slab of bacon. ‘A BLT.’

‘Classic combination!’ Corey piped up, then dumped a bottle of mustard next to it. ‘But I need some sauce man! Hurry up, I want to party, get some tunes going, we all need to dance.’ Corey was already shaking his hips at the non-existent music.

Alex lit the single baby blue candle and stepped away. ‘Alright, its time.’ With a flourish, he stepped away. ‘Remember to make a wish and no it can’t be anything to do with any sandwiches!’

‘But you got me this lovely cake, how can I not wish for my own sandwich!’ The Nomad pouted.

‘That’s exactly why it has a sandwich on it.’ Demetrius intervened.

‘What’s that about?

‘Yeah, what’s the deal with a sandwich?’

‘I like BLT’s, but did you see him actually pout?’

‘Can he even eat the cake?’

‘Can he even eat a sandwich. I really don’t get this.’

The Nomad shook his head at the questions pouring from his friends and family. All nonsense, but it made him happy. Bending down he gave a quick puff of breath and the little light extinguished. He closed his eyes for the desired effect, pretending to make a wish, he didn’t believe in such things. ‘Now I want to dance!’ Suddenly the music started up and The Nomad grabbed Flynn by the arm and dragged him to the dance floor.

Demetrius

Demetrius hung back in a secluded corner watching everyone enjoy themselves. Flynn and Alex were dancing together, having a lot of fun, their faces shining with happiness. Isolde was dancing away between Jaela and Isabel, Corey was busting out the moves all by himself on the dancefloor, that boy sure could move when he was in the party mood. David was watching with amusement, shaking his head at Corey’s insistence to dance with him. Peter even seemed to be enjoying himself, he had his feet on top of Hans’ immaculate shiny shoes and was holding his hands as Hans danced them around the floor.

‘You are happy?’ The Nomad asked from beside him, appearing almost form nothingness.

‘I am.’ Demetrius replied with a nod. ‘Today has been good.’

‘I’m glad.’

‘It’s your day and your glad I’m happy?’ Demetrius questioned.

‘I am.’ The Nomad smiled at the dancing couple of Alex and Flynn on the dancefloor. He touched Demetrius’ cheek. ‘You have overcome so much, I watched you suffer over so many years and now you have everything you could ever want.’

‘Is it going to stay that way?’ Demetrius feared the upcoming upheaval, Alex’s heritage, Flynn’s heritage, if the vampire council had anymore plans for him. Everything seemed up in the air.

‘Live for now Demetrius. Enjoy your happiness, enjoy what you can in the here and now. Who cares what the future brings, me and you will fight it together, we will protect them with our everything.’

Demetrius nodded.

‘Now, fledgling number one, let us dance and show the young things how it is truly done!’

Laughing, Demetrius followed his Master onto the dancefloor. He would enjoy the here and now!

#raythereignfans #Raythe Reign #raythe reign gift exchange

13 notes · View notes