ALL RISE FOR DATLOF!!

Rythian doesn’t play a big part in the actual storyline, but he was pretty much the reason this world came into existence. At the time I was writing a Blackrock fic where he and Zoey had a child together, and I’d headcannoned in my fic that Zoey was pregnant with another child (for reasons the child was never born), and I decided I wanted another fic where both the children existed. And so this world was born. Although details have changed, and the two children (Hope and Sam) aren’t actually biologically related to each other; Hope is Zoey’s child and Sam is Rythian’s but they grew up alongside each other with Rythian, Zoey and Fiona acting as parents to both of them. There’ll be a little more about Sam later, but we’ll focus on Rythian for now.

Rythian comes from the End, and he came to Datlof to study other types of magic. He was met with a lot of racism and prejudice and because of this he became very isolated and this eventually lead to him becoming severely depressed. Zoey, Fiona and Hannah helped Rythian out of his depression when they realised what had been happening, but his first few years in Datlof were deeply unpleasant. Rythian also frequently got ill when he first arrived in Datlof, because his immune system wasn’t built to deal with the different bugs and viruses in Datlof (the same way if a human went to the End for any period of time they’d get ill too).

Rythian isn’t human, but his race of people (Enderborn) are descended from humans. Thousands of years ago, human travellers found portals to the End and decided to make the End their home. Most of these explorers were wiped out, either from the Endermen, dragons, or the illnesses that came with moving to such a hostile envirmoment. But the future generations of the ones who survived adapted to survive in the End, resulting in someone like Rythian, who is no longer human, but isn’t quite a new species all together. There are certain characteristics that nearly all Enderborn have: 

Dark skin that’s usually blue tinted due to the ‘sun lamps’ that they created to combat the permanent darkness of the End

Their eyes are usually on the blue spectrum too for the same reason that their skin is usually blue tinted

Sharp teeth because the only food that grows in the End is very tough 

Enderborn are usually much taller than normal humans, only because most of the original survivors happened to be taller than average humans

Most Enderborn can’t cope well with warmer temperatures, they dislike being in bright sunlight (it irritates their skin) and generally don’t like temperatures above 15ºC - the average temperature in the End is 5ºC and it doesn’t fluctuate much

They are very magically inclined people and even those who have little magical ability are still much more magical than most humans

I need to stop talking about Enderborn now, but I could keep going for a long time...

While in Datlof Rythian manages to get a job in a warehouse where he makes a couple of friends, and occasionally they go out drinking after a day of work, and whenever Rythian goes with them he always ends up highly drunk because he has no tolerance for normal alcohol. On one of these nights out, Lalnable happened to be experimenting with some love lamps placed nearby which resulted in Rythian having a drunken one night stand that he can’t remember. And the only reason he knows it happened is because about 11 months later, Sam was placed on his doorstep with a note saying “He’s your child, good luck.” Because of who he is, Sam has some characteristics of humans and some of Enderborn, and is able to live comfortably in both Datlof and the End.

Despite having a full time job (first at the warehouse and then later on a magical animal rescue centre) he still spends a lot of time with Hannah and Kim acting as a vigilante and keeping the city safe. He prefers to do his vigilante work at night, it reminds him more of home and he prefers the cooler temperatures. And Hannah and Kim will take turns doing their vigilante work during the day.

Later on in his life, Rythian’s magic begins causing a lot of trouble for him, mostly due to things that happen when Ridge is ruling Datlof, and ends up being the cause of his death. 

Unless he’s with his close friends, or family, Rythian prefers to spend time alone, reading or practicing magic. This is mostly due to him trying to protect himself from strangers who might not understand him, and will most likely be racist in some way or another to him.

Rythian is probably the most highly developed character in the world of Datlof, mostly because he’s the character who’s been around for the longest. There’s honestly so much I could say about him and I would love it if anyone has any questions about him, or any of the other Yogs, wether I’ve talked about them on the blog before or not! Send me an ask and you can find out more!

Frowning, Lewis knocked again, slightly louder.

“Lal, you in there?” He called out.

Again, there was no response. Glancing towards Simon, Lewis rested his hand on the handle and pushed the door open. Inside, Lalnable’s labs were the same as they had always been. Clutter was gathered on the workbenches and in Lalnable’s frequent absentmindedness, bunsen burners had been left alight. But there was no sight of Lalnable. Lewis and Simon walked into the lab and began looking around, Lewis turning off the still lit bunsen burners to prevent an accident from happening.

“Do you think he went out?” Simon shrugged.

“Who knows. He’s been pretty hard to keep track of the past few weeks. Barely anyone has seen him.” Simon replied. Lewis sighed.

“Yeah…”

“Maybe we should wait for him to come back?” It was Simon’s turn to grasp at straws now. Lewis looked over at his friend.

“And what if he doesn’t come back?” Lewis asked, tiredly. Simon blinked.

“What?” Lewis gestured vaguely.

“Well, he hasn’t exactly been himself lately.” It suddenly clicked for Simon.

“You think he’s run away?” Lewis grimaced.

“I don’t know friend. I don’t know. But, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Certainly not at the moment.” Simon looked around Lalnable’s labs again. They seemed even emptier now that the man who used to spend so much time in here might be gone. He suddenly started noticing the dust beginning to coat the less used objects, and the cobwebs that had collected in the corners of the room.

“Would he really run away though?” Simon murmured quietly. The pair remained quiet for a while longer.

“I guess we have nothing stopping us from calling the police now.” Lewis eventually said, breaking the heavy silence that had formed.

“I guess not.”

Despite them both having agreed to call the police, neither one moved. It was like they were both waiting, hoping that Lalnable would walk through the door. It was another couple of minutes again before Lewis finally moved.

“Come on, friend. Let’s get this over with.” Simon wordlessly moved to Lewis’s side and the pair left, walking back down the corridors towards Lewis’s office.

Lalnable had indeed run away, for he never returned to the castle, but neither was he caught by the police. Aside from the occasional murder, which began to happen with less and less frequency, it was like he’d completely vanished. Neither Simon nor Lewis heard from him or saw him again, and they both wondered quietly to themselves if he hated them for what they’d done.

Despite Lalnable having almost completely vanished into thin air, Lewis didn’t want to let his research on cloning go to waste, and so with the blood from a volunteer, a farmer from the outskirts of Datlof called Sjin, and some of the leftover blood that Lalnable himself had donated, Lewis continued working on the cloning research. Lalnable had done most of the hard work, and all Lewis needed to do was to calibrate the machines to the new blood sample, and then set the new parameters. Lewis wanted to see if it was possible to clone someone with a slightly different skill set to the original, so to speak. Lewis’s plan with these new clones was to see if he could program into the genetic makeup a higher magical ability.

“I’ve seen them glow multiple times, I think Lal might’ve seen it once, and Hannah saw it once too.” At the mention of Lalnable’s name, Lewis flinched so violently that Simon’s hand fell from his shoulder.

“Sorry, friend.” Lewis mumbled, hugging his leg closer to him. Simon frowned slightly as he wondered whether he should ask Lewis about the strange way in which he was acting around Lalnable earlier, and why he flinched just now, but he decided against it, deciding to wait until he had calmed down a little from discovering he wasn’t as human as he thought.

“You don’t need to apologise, spaceman.” As Simon said his nickname for Lewis, Lewis looked up towards Simon for a moment and Simon could see the gears in his mind turning. Then he looked away and buried his head in his arms.

“You knew!” His voice was muffled. “You knew right from when I crashed that I wasn’t human!” Simon froze for only a moment. Then he placed his hand back onto Lewis’s shoulder. He knew Lewis wasn’t angry at him for not telling him, he was just upset and confused and Simon reckoned he must be wondering how it was that his best friend could know that he wasn’t human, but he couldn’t see it himself.

“Not immediately, Lewis. It took me a while to work it out.”

“How long?” Lewis asked, raising his head and looking over at Simon, tears still dripping down his cheeks. Simon paused as he thought.

“It was when we were in the spaceship. And you had just told me that you couldn’t remember anything, and you were scared. And your eyes began to glow slightly then. And that’s when I first thought that you might not be as human as I originally thought you were. Not that I care about something like that.” Simon smiled comfortingly at Lewis, and rubbed his shoulder at the same time. Lewis tried taking a deeper breath, the breath shuddering as it went in and out.

“And is that why you called me spaceman?” Simon thought for a moment.

“I’m pretty sure I started calling you spaceman before that.” Simon said, smiling once more. Lewis nodded slightly and looked away.

“I’m sorry, friend, I’m not angry at you, I’m just, I just…”He took a deep breath and tried again. “I thought I was human and I thought everyone else thought I was human. And I’m just shocked to know that you knew and I didn’t.” Lewis said quietly, his breathing beginning to slow down slightly. However the bright blue glow from his eyes and freckles was barely fading and Simon began rubbing his shoulder once more.

“Yeah, I know you weren’t angry at me.”

“So many things make so much more sense now though.” Lewis murmured.

“Like what?” Simon asked, frowning at Lewis. He took his hand from his leg and gestured to his outstretched leg before tucking it back around.

“The past day or so. If, if I’m not human… then maybe that’s why I saw that woman’s memories of being, of being…” Simon blinked.

“You saw her memories?!” Lewis closed his eyes tightly and shook his head, almost like he was trying to dislodge something from inside his mind.

“It sounds crazy, I know, there’s no way I could’ve seen her memories, I’m just imagining things or, or it was stress or,”

“It wouldn’t be the craziest thing I’ve heard today, spaceman.” Simon said, winking at Lewis. Lewis opened his eyes and the tiniest smile crossed his lips. “If you saw her memories, does that mean you saw who killed her? Do you know who’s been murdering all those people.” Lewis grimaced and moved his arms so they were wrapped around his torso, around where Simon knew he could still feel lingering pain from whatever it was that had caused the pain in the first place.

“I saw who killed her. But it can’t be, I don’t want to believe it. And I don’t want to believe that he killed all those other people, that he’s the one responsible…”

Simon could feel dread welling up inside of him as Lewis talked. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say. Instead he just sat with his arm around Lewis’s shoulders and waited for him to find the words to tell him who it was. Lewis took a deep breath.

“I don’t want it to be him, and I know it’s crazy to have seen someone else’s memories, but I know what I saw, what she saw. And the person who, who murdered her…” Lewis shook his head and pulled his arms tighter around himself. “It was Lal, Simon. Lal was the one who murdered her.”

Lewis’s voice was barely a whisper. But as he spoke Lalnable’s name, Simon’s stomach plummeted like he was on a rollercoaster and he was hurtling down the steepest slope from the highest point. An image of Lalnable’s grinning face popped into Simon’s head, then suddenly without him thinking or doing anything, Lalnable’s face was covered in blood splatters and his blonde hair was dripping red blood down.

“Lal?” Simon’s voice was hoarse. Lewis nodded weakly.

“I don’t know what to do, friend. He’s our friend, but he’s been murdering all these people, and I don’t know what to do!” Lewis cried out in frustration. A blood covered image of Lalnable was still dancing around Simon’s mind. And suddenly Lewis’s behaviour around Lalnable earlier made so much sense.

“We have to tell the police.” Simon said quietly.

“What?” Lewis looked down at Simon. “But he’s our friend,”

“I know he’s our friend, Lewis, but he’s also killing people. If we don’t tell the police, how many more people will die?” Simon looked up at Lewis. Lewis’s eyes were still glowing and tears still occasionally trickled down his cheeks. Tears were beginning to well up in Simon’s own eyes as he thought about the idea of turning Lalnable into the police. “I don’t know what’s happened to Lal, but I do know that he can’t keep doing this. Maybe, maybe if he gets caught, he can get help, and maybe he might stop doing what he’s doing.” Lewis looked away from Simon.

“I just don’t want him to feel like we’ve betrayed him.”

“We’re not betraying him, Lewis. We’re helping him…” Simon didn’t fully believe what he was saying, and he doubted Lewis would either. Lewis sighed.

“We really have to do this, don’t we?” Simon nodded.

“But not today. You need to give yourself some time to process everything, spaceman.” Lewis looked down at Simon and smiled.

“Thank you, Simon.”

“No problem, spaceman. Now let’s get you somewhere else so you’re not just sat on the floor of your lab all day.” Simon grinned and stood up, holding out his hand for Lewis to grab. Lewis took hold of Simon’s hand and hauled himself up, careful to not bash his right leg around too much. “Come on, I reckon you need a nap, spaceman.”

“Sure thing.” He headed towards the door, smiling at Lewis before he left. Once Simon was gone, and Lewis and the doctor were alone, the doctor took Simon’s place in the chair and looked over at Lewis.

“While we didn’t find anything wrong with you in any of your tests, we did discover something unusual with your blood.”

“My blood?” The doctor nodded and looked down at the clipboard, lifting up some of the sheets as she looked for Lewis’s blood results.

“Yes. Strangely, when we investigated it further, we couldn’t find any matches across the hospital. We’ve sent samples off to other hospitals in the city to see if they have any matches, but,”

“What exactly was wrong with it?” Lewis asked quietly, cutting off the doctor mid sentence.

“Well, we’re not sure. As we’ve never seen anything like this before, we’re not sure what to think. But as you seem completely healthy in every other respect, my colleges and I have decided that it’s probably nothing to worry about. It may just be that you have an incredibly rare blood type that we’ve never seen before. These things do happen occasionally in science and medicine, as I’m sure you’re well aware. We don’t always know everything about the human body, and we’re learning more every day. So while this may seem alarming to you, as long as there are no adverse affects to your health I think it’s safe to say that this is perfectly normal for you.”

“Right.”

“If it is worrying you though, you’re perfectly welcome to come back and we can conduct further research into it. And of course if any of the other hospitals can find a match in their databases, we’ll let you know.”

“Right.” The doctor looked up at Lewis.

“Of course there is always a possibility that the pain you’re feeling now is somehow connected to your blood, but I wouldn’t worry about it unless the pain persists for longer than a couple of weeks, or grows in any way at all. My advice to you for now would be to take it easy for a few weeks, keep an eye on your body and if anything changes, let us know.” The doctor stood up and walked back to the foot of the bed. “Do you have any questions for me, Mr. Brindley?” Lewis shook his head ever so slightly.

“No.”

“Alright. I’m just going to sort out the paperwork for your discharge, and then I’ll be back.”

With that, the doctor left the room and a moment later, Simon returned and he and Lewis were left alone. Simon wanted to ask Lewis what the doctor had spoken to him about, but he knew it was rude to pry and he also knew that if Lewis wanted to tell him, he would eventually. All he had to do was wait. Simon walked around the bed and was about to sit back down in the chair when Lewis spoke up.

“Is this, is this all in my head, friend?” Lewis asked. Simon had to listen carefully to pick up what Lewis was saying, his voice was so quiet.

“No. What you were feeling, what you are feeling, there’s no way that’s just in your head.” Simon had no medical experience beyond patching up cuts and occasionally putting a splint on a broken bone, but he couldn’t believe that there was nothing wrong with Lewis at all. Stress didn’t make someone scream in pain.

“Right…” Simon looked worriedly over at his friend. Lewis definitely hadn’t been himself since Simon had found him in the corridor with the dead scientist. He wondered if Lewis had seen something, or if something had indeed happened to him. But Lewis had barely said anything and Simon could tell that whatever had happened, it was scaring his friend. And Simon didn’t know what to do.

It didn’t take too long for the doctor to get all the paperwork for Lewis’s discharge completed, and once the cannula was taken out of his hand, he and Simon were free to go. Lewis insisted on walking back to the castle, despite the doctor telling him to take it easy and Simon protesting against it. The weather outside was grey and overcast, but it wasn’t raining yet. Lewis began limping slightly when they were about halfway back to the castle, and despite Simon asking him if he wanted to stop, Lewis pressed on.

When they eventually got back, Lewis was even paler than he was before and his limp had grown more pronounced. Simon was eyeing his friend worriedly, but he knew that if he asked if he was alright, Lewis would deny that he was in any pain at all. So he refrained from asking. The castle was quiet when they went inside and Lewis headed off in the direction of his office, with Simon following close behind.

“Lewis!” Both Lewis and Simon turned around as Lalnable called out Lewis’s name from behind them. He’d obviously just come out of his lab and he was jogging down the corridor towards the pair.

“Hi, Lal.” Simon said as Lalnable drew closer. Lalnable looked almost as bad as Lewis did. His skin was pale and dark bags hung under his eyes from nights of sleeplessness. His eyes didn’t stay focussed in one place for too long, instead darting around the corridor and every so often coming to rest on Lewis and Simon. There was a slight red stain on the sleeve of his lab coat that Simon assumed was blood from all the times Lalnable had taken his own blood for his cloning experiments.

“Hi, Simon. Lewis, are you ok?” Lalnable asked, his eyes going to look at Lewis before darting away quickly. Simon glanced over at Lewis when he didn’t immediately reply. Lewis was as white as a sheet, like he’d just seen a ghost. His hands were trembling ever so slightly and there was an expression of fear plastered onto his face.

“Lewis? Are you alright?” Simon asked, concerned for how his friend was acting. Simon’s voice seemed to snap Lewis out of whatever state he was in and he glanced down at Simon.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You’ve gone really pale.”

“I’m fine.” Lewis crossed his arms, almost like he was trying to hug himself.

“Did anything happen to you? I heard you were in hospital.” Lalnable asked as his eyes flicked back up to Lewis for a brief moment.

“No, I’m fine…” Lewis took a small half step away from Lalnable.

“It’s all good, according to the doctor. He’s just stressed.” Simon said, filling in for Lewis.

“That makes two of us.” A twitchy smile crossed Lalnable’s lips for a few brief moments, but Lewis didn’t smile back.

“I… I need to go somewhere…” Lewis said, taking another small step away from Lalnable.

“Where are we off to?” Simon asked.

“No, sorry friend, alone.” Simon blinked.

“Alright. You don’t mind if I hang out with your for a while, Lal, do you?”

“No!” Both Simon and Lalnable looked up at Lewis in shock. He was shaking his head and holding his hands over his face. “No, sorry, no, you can, of course you can, he’s fine, it’s fine.” Lewis’s quiet ramblings were muffled further by his hands and Simon’s forehead creased with worry.

“Is everything alright, Lewis?” Lewis took a deep shuddering breath and lowered his hands. A weak unconvincing smile crossed his lips.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. I promise. I’ll be in my lab if you need me…” He glanced up at Lalnable, his smile faltering, and then began backing away before he turned and headed off down the corridor, as fast as his limp would allow him. Simon watched him worriedly for a few moments before he turned back to Lalnable.

“I don’t suppose you know what’s going on with Lewis do you?” Simon asked. Lalnable paused before replying, never once making eye contact with Simon.

“No.” Simon sighed.

“I just hope he’s alright.”

~o~O~o~

Simon had eventually convinced Lalnable to get some lunch with him and the pair had spent a couple of hours at a small cafe. Lalnable had seemed on edge for some reason and he barely sat still the entire time they were there, constantly looking around, his eyes jumping from one person to another. Conversation had been sparse, mostly because Lalnable was so distracted, he could barely remember what Simon had just said to him, if he heard him at all. And when they got back to the castle, he dashed off instantly. And so Simon decided to go looking for Lewis, to check up on him and make sure he was alright.

As he drew closer to Lewis’s lab, something that sounded an awful lot like crying could be heard coming from behind the doors. The sounds grew louder as Simon approached the doors to Lewis’s lab, unmistakably the sound of Lewis crying. Simon knocked on the door and for a moment everything fell silent.

“Lewis? Is everything alright, spaceman?”

“Simon…” Lewis’s voice, muffled from the door, was thick with tears.

Frowning, Simon opened the door and stepped into Lewis’s lab. Glancing around the lab, it took Simon a few moments to locate where Lewis was. He was sitting on the floor, with his left leg pulled up close to his body and his arms wrapped tightly around his leg. His right leg, which Simon assumed was still hurting, was stretched out straight and Lewis’s head was buried in the small gap between his leg and his body.

“Lewis, are you alright?” Simon asked as he closed the door and walked over towards Lewis. As he reached him, Lewis lifted his head, revealing his tearstained face. And his eyes and freckles were glowing bright blue. Simon sat himself down beside Lewis and wrapped his arm over his friend’s shoulders. Lewis’s whole body was shaking as he sobbed and tears continued falling from his eyes. “What happened?”

“Help! I’ve found someone who needs help!” Lewis called out as he knelt down by the scientist. Her eyes flickered open for a brief moment, but there was no sign that she registered that Lewis was right in front of her. “Don’t worry, help is coming, you’ll be alright.” He said gently as her eyes flickered shut.

Lewis reached out with the intentions to try and stop the bleeding a little, but when his hands came into contact with her body, the bloody scene in front on him melted away and he found himself walking down the corridor once more. But this time, he wasn’t in control. It was like he was a passenger in the scientist’s body. Lalnable suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor, grey bags hanging under his eyes that were darting around wildly as he glanced around the corridor, like a wild animal looking for threats. Lewis could feel the heart-rate of the scientist increase slightly, and against his will, a tinge of fear began trickling around his body.

“Lalnable.” The scientist said, nodding slightly in his direction, and trying to swallow.

A twitchy smile crossed Lalnable’s lips for a moment. The scientist and Lalnable drew closer in the corridor. They drew level. And it seemed that they were going to pass. Then suddenly Lalnable swung around, grabbed hold of the scientist’s arm and twisted it behind her back while his other hand went over her mouth. Lewis cried out pain flashed through the scientist’s arm. With one swift movement, Lalnable kicked her legs and they gave out and a moment later he stamped down on her right leg and with a snap and a flash of pain she crumpled even more as Lewis screamed. That’s when Lalnable pulled out the knife and began stabbing. Twice into the chest, three times into the stomach, then he dropped the scientist onto the floor and stabbed her again, pulling the knife slowly across her abdomen as his hand muffled her screams. There was no hand over Lewis’s mouth to muffle his screams though, as the white hot pain burned across his torso. Lalnable suddenly looked up and pulled away from the scientist, staring down the corridor.

“Lewis! Lewis!” Simon’s voice shattered through the image and Simon’s strong hands pulled Lewis away from the body. “Lewis, are you alright?”

Gasping and trembling violently, Lewis stared over at the scientist. She was clearly dead now, her body was completely motionless and there was no rise and fall from her chest. There was group of people standing around, some other scientists who worked in Yoglabs, and a couple of construction workers. Someone was talking on a phone standing slightly to the side. Simon moved so he was crouching in front of Lewis, forcing him to look away from the scientist and the blood that surrounded her.

“Lewis, are you alright?” There was genuine fear in Simon’s eyes as he stared at Lewis. Lewis tried to compose himself, but pain was still burning through his body, like he was the one who had been stabbed, and he couldn’t make the shaking disappear. “Lewis, please, tell me you’re alright!” Simon begged, placing his hands on Lewis’s shoulders.

“I, I’m fine…” Lewis managed to say, his voice shaking. Simon moved forwards and pulled Lewis into a tight hug and he cried out as pain flared around his body. Simon pulled back suddenly, fear and concern etched onto his face.

“Lewis?!”

Gingerly, Lewis raised up a hand and pressed it to his chest. Pain burned and he quickly took his hand away and glanced down. Blood covered his hand and his heart stopped for a moment, until he remembered he’d tried to stop the bleeding on the scientist.

“Simon, I’m not, am I, bleeding?” Lewis said, glancing up at his friend. He didn’t know what to think. His body burned with the pain of being stabbed, yet he knew he hadn’t been stabbed. Or at least he didn’t think he’d been stabbed. Simon quickly looked over Lewis.

“No you’re not bleeding. Are you alright though, are you hurt?” Lewis could hear sirens approaching the castle, and suddenly he didn’t want to be there. He didn’t want to be anywhere near the body of the scientist any more.

“No, no, I’m not hurt. I don’t think.” Simon looked like he was bout to say something else, but Lewis cut him off. “Can you help me get to my office, friend?” Simon hesitated before replying.

“Alright, spaceman.” Simon reached out and helped Lewis get to his feet.

As soon as Lewis placed pressure onto his right leg he screamed and his leg buckled. Simon stopped him from crashing to the floor, and a couple of the other people gathered around helped support Lewis as he regained his balance, holding all his weight on his left leg. Those who had stepped forwards to help, moved back once Lewis was once more balanced. Although they remained close by, just in case.

“Lewis, are you sure you’re alright?” Simon sounded almost scared as he tightened his grip around Lewis’s waist. Lewis shook his head mutely.

“I don’t know, friend.” He whispered. The sirens had grown loud enough that Lewis knew they’d be there in a moment. “I just want to get to my office.”

“I don’t know if you should be walking, spaceman.”

“Please.”

“Only if you think you can make it, spaceman.”

Lewis gave Simon a curt nod and slowly placed his right leg down, slowly putting his weight onto it. Pain blazed up his leg and he gritted his teeth and closed his eyes as they began to water, but he didn’t cry out or fall. He knew though that he’d only be able to take his weight on his right leg for a few brief moments before it would give out. So gathering his courage, and bracing himself for the pain that he knew was coming, Lewis took a tiny step forward. The pain was searing and it took all of his willpower to not cry out. His leg buckled at the end of the step, but Simon beside him stopped him from falling. The sirens had fallen silent and Lewis knew it would only be a matter of time before paramedics and police would be there. And he wanted a few moments to compose himself before he had to speak to them.

“Lewis, are you sure you can make it?” Lewis opened his eyes and looked down at Simon, who had an uncharacteristically concerned expression on his face.

“I’m sure.”

Gritting his teeth in preparation, Lewis took another tiny step forwards, Simon supporting him. Barely giving himself time to recover, or let the pain die down, Lewis took another step and kept going, thankful that his office was close by. Painful step by painful step, Lewis and Simon made it into Lewis’s office where Simon gently lowered Lewis into the blue couch that sat opposite his desk. Lewis was still shaking, but this time it was from the pain that was coursing through his entire system. As soon as he was sat down on the sofa, he closed his eyes and took a few moments to just breath.

“Lewis, I’m going to get one of the paramedics. I’ll be right back.” Simon said. Lewis opened his eyes and caught sight of Simon just as he vanished from the room.

He was sure he hadn’t been hurt, but the pain he was in was telling him otherwise. And he remembered Lalnable breaking his leg and stabbing him over and over. Lewis shuddered at the memory. Somehow he knew that the memory wasn’t his, that the memory belonged to the scientist, but he also knew that there was no logical explanation for it. And there was no logical explanation for the intense pain he was feeling if he hadn’t been injured. Lewis shuddered as he remembered the wild look in Lalnable’s eyes as he repeatedly stabbed the scientist. Somehow, the knowledge that Lalnable was the one behind the murders hurt more than the pain that was burning all over his body. Lewis closed his eyes and tried to forget what he’d seen.

“Lewis?” Lewis opened his eyes once more and looked over to the door where Simon was standing with a paramedic.

“Hi, friend.” Lewis said, weakly. He tried to smile, but he couldn’t make his mouth move in the right way, not with the memory of Lalnable stabbing the scientist dancing in his mind.

“Mr. Brindley, I’m just going to check you over and make sure you’re alright.” The paramedic said, moving past Simon and coming to crouch in front of Lewis. “Can you tell me where the pain is greatest?”

“I’m sure I’m fine.” Lewis said as Simon wandered over and sat down beside Lewis, a concerned frown furrowing his brow. The paramedic sighed.

“Multiple people heard you screaming, and just as many people said they saw you in extreme pain, Mr. Brindley. I need to make sure you’re alright. And right now I’m deciding whether you need to go to hospital or not.”

“I don’t need to go to hospital.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Now, where is the pain the greatest?” Lewis vaguely gestured to his body.

“Around my chest and stomach, and in my right leg.” He replied, giving in. He didn’t want to go to hospital, but it might provide an insight to why he was in so much pain. Perhaps something had happened, and he had been hurt but he just couldn’t remember. Maybe he’d been hallucinating, and that’s why he thought he’d been in the body of the scientist when she’d been stabbed.

“Alright, I’ll start with your chest.” The paramedic rummaged around in his bag and pulled out a pair of scissors.

“Do you want me to take my shirt off?” Lewis asked.

“I want you to stay still. If you are injured, which I suspect you are, you should move around as little as possible.” The paramedic took the scissors and cut Lewis’s shirt open. He stared at Lewis’s chest for a moment in surprise. Simon too was staring at Lewis’s chest in absolute surprise.

“What?” Lewis asked.

“Well, there’s no outwardly visible sign that you’re injured but that doesn’t rule out the possibility that the injury is below the skin.” The paramedic said. He gently began moving his hands over Lewis’s chest. “Let me know when it hurts the most.”

Lewis didn’t need to let the paramedic know, because as soon as his hands applied even the lightest pressure to where the scientist had been stabbed, white hot pain flared around Lewis’s body and he cried out. The same happened for where the stab wounds had been on the scientists’s stomach.The paramedic then moved onto Lewis’s leg, and once more looking at it showed no visible signs of injury, but as he ran his hands down his leg, he cried out again as the pain flared up. The paramedic stood up and looked down at Lewis.

“Mr. Brindley, I think it would be best if we took you to the hospital. It’s clear that you’re in great pain, and we need to figure out what’s causing the pain. Wait here while I go get a stretcher and my colleagues.”

The paramedic left the room and Lewis sighed as his eyes closed. He was still shaking, although less so than earlier.

“Lewis, what happened?” Simon asked quietly. Lewis opened his eyes and looked over at his friend.

“I don’t know, Simon. I was walking down the corridor, and I caught sight of… I saw her lying there and so I ran over to help her, and then I don’t know.” The concerned frown was still on Simon’s face. Lewis was beginning to wonder if everything had been a hallucination. Or if he was going crazy. “I don’t know, Simon!”

“Hey, it’s alright. You’re just shaken up, you’ll be fine. You need some time to process what happened.” Simon said comfortingly, reaching up with his arm and gently placing it around Lewis’s shoulders, careful not to knock Lewis or cause him any more pain.

“As I’m sure most of you are aware, tonight is going to be a reenactment of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Some of the people involved in this are Yoglabs employees, and others are close personal friends. Moments in this play might be a little rough around the edges, but as long as you enjoy yourselves tonight, we’ve done our job.”

Lewis finished talking and smiled down at the audience. A couple of murmurs ran around the audience, mostly between employees who had heard rumours about the play. Most people knew that it had been Lewis’s idea to do something for the patients of the medical wing who would be unable to go home over Christmas, but the idea of reenacting the play had come from the alpha of the werewolves, Alph. And as a result, the employees were expecting something that would most likely be an unforgettable experience, but not something you would expect to see done by a group of professionals.

“With that, I hope you enjoy the show!”

Lewis beamed as the audience clapped and he jumped off the stage and disappeared. Moments later the lights in the cafeteria dimmed, leaving only the lights above the stage on. A woman stepped onto the stage wearing a beautiful ruby red dress that trailed behind her elegantly as she walked. It was sleeveless and trimmed in white fur. The woman’s blonde hair was cascading over her shoulder and most of the audience gasped as they caught sight of her. The employees of Yoglabs recognised this woman as the second in command of the werewolves. A formidably strong werewolf called Wren.

Wren walked to the centre of the stage and looked out over the audience before she opened her mouth and began to speak.

“Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. There is no doubt whatsoever about that. Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole friend, his sole mourner. Scrooge himself was a tight-fisted task master who thought of nothing other than himself and his own profit.”

Wren stepped to the side as a tall figure, wearing a long black coat and a top hat, stepped into the light on the stage. The figure lifted their head so the light shined onto their face. And it was revealed that it was Rythian, looking downright miserable and grumpy.

“Our story starts on Christmas Eve, with Scrooge in his counting house along with his clerk, a man named Bob Cratchit.”

Another figure stepped onto the stage, this one instantly recognisable as Duncan Jones, dressed in an old brown jacket that was clearly several sizes too small for the man. A couple of people dressed entirely in black scurried onto the stage and placed a couple of chairs and tables down, and Duncan and Rythian took their respective places.

“The weather outside was bitterly cold, but the fire inside the counting house was barely more than embers. Yet Scrooge wouldn’t allow his clerk to put more coal on the fire, as coal was costly.”

“Can we have some more coal on the fire please?” Duncan piped up, looking over expectantly at Rythian.

“No.” Came the gloomy response.

Just then, a third character stepped onto the stage with a loud exclamation of “A merry Christmas, Uncle!”

Everyone, both those on and off the stage, turned their heads to look towards the man who’d just arrived. Only a couple of people in the audience knew that this ginger-haired man was a member of the pack, a werewolf called Zach.

“Humbug!” Rythian replied, glaring towards Zach.

“Christmas a humbug, Uncle?!” Zach said, striding over to Rythian and standing in front of the table where he was sat. “Surely you don’t mean that?” Rythian turned his grumpy expression up at Zach.

“I do. What’s Christmas but a time for finding yourself a year older and not a penny richer. If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly in his heart.”

“Uncle!”

“You keep Christmas in your own way, Nephew, and let me keep it in mine.” Rythian said, turning back to pretending to be working.

“Keep it? But you don’t keep it.”

“Then let me leave it alone!” Rythian said angrily. And after a pause, “Much good it has ever done you!” He muttered. Zach straightened up and turned slightly, so he was facing the audience a little more.

“There are many things which I might say are good, yet not have profited from them. Christmas being one of them. But I have always thought of Christmastime, when it has come around, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar year when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut up hearts freely, and to think of some people below them as if they really were fellow travellers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, Uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good, and I say, God bless it!”

Duncan instantly stood up and began clapping, and members of the audience also began clapping.

“Bravo!” He exclaimed loudly.

“Not another sound from you.” Rythian said, glaring across as Duncan, who instantly fell silent, sitting himself down. The applause in the audience also began to trail off as the play continued.

“Don’t be angry, Uncle. Come, dine with us tomorrow.” Zach said, turning back to Rythian.

“No.” Came the sullen response.

“But why not?”

“Why did you get married?”

“Because I fell in love.” Rythian snorted and turned back to his pretend work.

“Because you fell in love.” He muttered quietly. “Good day.”

“I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?” Zach implored, resting his hands on the table where Rythian was ‘working’.

“Good day.”

“I’m sorry to find you so resolute. We have never had any quarrel that I have been a part of. But I’ll keep my Christmas humour to the last, so merry Christmas, Uncle!”

“Good day!”

“And a happy New Year!”

“Good day!”

Zach turned on his heel to face Duncan.

“Merry Christmas, Bob!” He said, tipping his head in Duncan’s direction.

“Merry Christmas to you too!” Duncan replied, beaming happily.

With that, Zach turned and left the stage. Wren stepped back to the middle of the stage and addressed the audience once more.

“Scrooge was a grumpy old sod to everyone around him.” The audience chuckled slightly. “And later on that very same day when asked if he would make a donation to the poor to help their situation and save some from dying, he replied:” Behind Wren, Rythian stood up and looked out over the audience.

“If they are to die, then let them die and decrease the surplus population.” And intake of breath ran around the audience as Rythian sat himself back down again. Wren waited for a moment, before she continued on, in a quieter voice that that the audience almost holding their breath in anticipation.

“It it highly important to remember for this next section, that Marley, Scrooge’s old partner, was dead. For if you do not remember that, then what happens next will not seem so supernatural.”

Behind Wren, the people dressed in black began scurrying about again, this time taking away the tables and chairs and wheeling onto the stage a large block of wood that was obviously supposed to represent a door. In the centre of this door was a flap of fabric hanging down that had a door knocker painted onto it. Duncan had left the stage, and Rythian was now standing in front of the door, slightly to the side so the audience could still see the flap of fabric. Wren moved back to the side of the stage before she began talking again.

“Now it is a fact, that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door of this house. And yet Scrooge saw in the knocker, without its undergoing any intermediate process of change, not a knocker, but Marley’s face.”

As Wren spoke the last few words, the fabric lifted away and revealed the face os someone that even fewer members of the audience recognised. Zoey stared at Rythian before she called out in a ghostly sounding voice, “Scrooooooooge!”

Rythian’s composure began to crack as the ghost of a smile brushed against his lips and a quiet laugh tried to escape from him, prompting a couple of the audience members to chuckle quietly. Wren heard the small laugh from Rythian and spoke up.

“Scrooge did not find this apparition funny, instead he found it rather unsettling.” This caused the members of the audience to laugh a little more as Rythian struggled to regain his composure. “But even as Scrooge stared at the phenomenon, it was a knocker again.” Zoey’s face vanished behind the scrap of fabric again, and Rythian was able to return the grumpy expression to his face, with no trace of a smile.

“Humbug!”

“Scrooge went into his house and locked the door behind him, for he was not one to be scared by things like this.” Wren moved back to the centre of the stage as she spoke, and behind her, the people in black scurried around changing the scene once more. “But even so, tonight Scrooge went about his house and checked the rooms before he headed up into his bedroom. He looked around his bedroom, until he was satisfied, when he closed the door, and locked himself in then double locked himself in, which was not his custom. But as Scrooge settled himself down in his chair, the bells in the house began to ring loudly.”

The air was filled with the clanging sounds of bells ringing as off to the side of the stage in the darkness, a group of people began ringing bells. As they fell silent, Wren began talking again.

“This was succeeded by a clanking noise, as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the floors and a noise, much louder,  on the floors below; then coming up the stairs; then coming straight towards his door.”

In the darkness by the sides of the stage, chains were shaken and someone made loud banging footstep noises. Wren began to step to the side of the stage as Rythian sat in a chair beside a small, hastily made fireplace.

“Then suddenly, the noise passed through the door and a spectre passed into the room before his very eyes!”

Zoey suddenly stepped onto the stage, dressed in grey tattered rags and home made chains dangled from her arms and her body as she walked slowly forwards. Rythian leapt up from his chair and ran around behind it.

“What do you want with me?!” He called out as Zoey moved ever closer. As Rythian stopped talking, so Zoey stopped moving, and the sound of the clanking chains fell silent.

“Much!” She cried out loudly.

“Who are you?” Rythian asked, coming out from behind his chair slightly.

“Ask me who I was.”

“Who were you then?”

“In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.”

“Can, can you sit down?” Rythian asked, staring at Zoey and still hiding slightly behind his chair.

“I can.”

“Do it, then.”

Zoey moved over to the second chair which was on the other side of the fire to Rythian’s chair and sat herself down. Rythian was no longer hiding behind his chair, but he had not come any closer to Zoey, or made any indication that he himself was going to sit down.

“You don’t believe in me.” Zoey said, staring at Rythian.

“I don’t.”

“What evidence would you have of me beyond that of your senses?” She inquired.

“I don’t know.”

“Why do you doubt your senses?”

“Because a little thing affects then. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheat. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”

Zoey suddenly stood up and yelled loudly towards Rythian, who ran back behind his chair and hid, although as his body shook it was clear it was shaking from laughter than from fear.

“Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?” There was a tremble in his voice and he was working hard to keep the smile from his face.

“It is required of every man that his spirit should walk among his fellowmen and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes forth not in life, it is condemned to do so after death. My spirit never walked beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing home…” Zoey lamented, loudly and dramatically as she waved her arms in the air.

“You were always a good man of business, Jacob…” Rythian said having managed to compose himself once more and was poking out from behind the chair.

“Business?!” Zoey exclaimed, throwing her hands up into the air, causing Rythian to have to stop himself from laughing once more. “Mankind was my business! The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business! The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

Rythian was on his knees behind his chair as his body shook with silent laughter. Zoey glanced backwards off the stage.

“I am here tonight to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate, Ebenezer.” Zoey said, staring over at Rythian who had finally climbed to his feet and got his laughter under control. “You will be haunted by three spirits.”

“Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob? I think I’d rather not.”

“Expect the first tonight when the bell tolls one. Expect the second when the bell tolls two. The third, more mysterious, will appear in his own time.” Zoey raised her arms up and the chains by the side of the stage were rattled again as she began to walk backwards. “Look to see me no more; and look that you remember what has passed between us!”

Zoey kept walking backwards, the chains rattling loudly, until she had vanished into the darkness at the edge of the stage. Rythian, who had been staring at Zoey all this time, slowly moved around to the front of his chair and sat down heavily in it.

“Humbug…” He muttered softly before he closed his eyes and let his head nod.

Silence filled the air for a few moments. Then suddenly, without warning, there was a loud bong. The noise made both Rythian and the audience jump. As the ringing of the noise faded away, Rythian got up from his chair and glanced around.

“Expect the first at one? Well? Where are you?” Rythian asked, still looking around.

Suddenly there was a bright flash of light, and when the audience next looked, a smaller woman was standing on the stage, wearing a beautiful white flowing dress, and a pure white mist was billowing out from the bottom of the dress, giving the woman the appearance of floating. This was the first ghost, who many recognised as Duncan’s apprentice, Kim.

“Ah! Are you the spirit whose coming was told to me?” Rythian had shielded his eyes from the bright light and only now began to lower his hands down.

“I am.” Kim’s voice appeared to have an echo of a thousand different voices to it.

“Who and what are you?”

“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”

“Long past?”

“No. Your past.”

“What business brings you here?”

“Your welfare. Come.”

Kim reached out her hand and Rythian gingerly took a hold of it. There was another bright flash of light and when this faded, Kim and Rythian had vanished. The people dressed in black had scurried back onto the stage and were changing the scene yet again, taking away the fireplace and chairs that had been a part of Scrooge’s bedroom. Suddenly, a whole group of people, laughing and talking together ran onto the stage. Someone with a violin went and stood in one of the front corners of the stage and began playing as the people on the stage began dancing merrily together, continuing to laugh and talk. Rythian and Kim appeared at the back of the stage, looking out over the festivities.

“Scrooge suddenly found himself looking out upon a christmas party that had been thrown by a man called Fezziwig. Scrooge, in his youth, had been apprenticed to Fezziwig, and looking out at the party he suddenly remembered the fun, laughter, merriment and enjoyment that he had experienced during these parties that old Fezziwig threw.” Wren spoke up, her voice carrying over the music of the violin.

“A small matter to make these silly folks so full of gratitude. He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?” Kim said, the voices echoing as she swept her hand out, gesturing at the dancing and merriment happening before them.

“It isn’t that!” Rythian objected. “He has the power to make up happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune!” Kim was smiling at Rythian and he suddenly stopped, looking up at Kim. “What?”

“Nothing. Come. Let us see another Christmas.”

The same bright flash of light filled the stage and in a moment all the people dancing and laughing had vanished and in their place was a young woman stood in the centre of the stage, next to a young man who looked remarkably like Rythian. A sad and heartbroken expression instantly filled Rythian’s face as he gazed out across the scene.

“Another idol has displaced me. A golden one.” The young woman said softly.

“What? No!” The young man said, reaching out to take hold of the woman’s hand. “I am not changed towards you. Have I ever sought release from our engagement?”

“In words, no. Never.”

“In what, then?”

“In a changed nature, in an altered spirit. Can I believe that you would choose a dowerless girl? I release you, Ebenezer. With a full heart, for the love of him you once were.”

“Remove me from this place, Spirit!” Rythian said, turning angrily towards Kim. “Haunt me no longer!”

Rythian started to grapple with Kim, whirling across the stage in a cloud of bright white mist. When the mist cleared, Rythian was alone on the stage and only a single chair remained. Wearily, Rythian sat himself down in the chair, closed his eyes and let his head fall upon his chest. A few moments of silence passed before the same loud bong as before rang out, twice this time. Rythian jerked awake in his chair as a loud laugh filled the air, and walking down from the back of the stage dressed in a resplendent green cloak trimmed in white fur came Simon, a wreath of holly and ivy resting on his head, and in his hand he held a beautiful silver torch with flames flickering brightly at the top. Simon’s laugh was as jolly as it was loud and many of the audience members found themselves smiling as they watched the dwarf approach Rythian.

“Merry Christmas, man! Come in, and know me better! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present!” Simon’s voice was loud and booming and Rythian stood up and took a few cautious steps towards Simon. “Touch my robe.” Simon commanded.

Rythian reached out and took hold of Simon’s green robe. The pair began moving forwards slowly as behind them, the people in black changed the scene yet again, setting out a table and chairs and a collection of people gathered around, with Duncan sitting at the head of the table. And on Duncan’s right hand side was the alpha of the pack himself, Alph. Simon and Rythian stepped to the side as Wren began to narrate again.

“Scrooge found himself this time in the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit, where a small Christmas dinner was being served among the five children, his wife and himself. Scrooge was rather surprised to see such a small goose to feed such a large number of people, but he was sternly reminded by the Ghost of Christmas Present that it was all Bob Cratchit could afford.” Wren fell silent and Duncan stood up, holding a small mug up in the air.

“A toast, to Mr. Scrooge!” Duncan announced loudly as Rythian straightened himself up and puffed his chest out importantly. “The Founder of the Feast!”

“The Founder of the Feast indeed!” Said the woman who was playing as Mrs. Cratchit, known to some in the audience as Fiona. “I wish I had him here, I’d give him a piece of my mind to feast upon!” She said sulkily.

“My dear, the children! Christmas day.” Duncan said, lowering his glass a fraction.

“It should be Christmas day!”

“Christmas day.” Was Duncan’s quiet reply. Fiona sighed.

“I’ll drink his health for your sake and the day’s sake. Not for his.” Fiona stood, raising her glass up followed by the other people sat around the table, aside from Alph. “A merry Christmas and a happy New Year! He’ll no doubt be very merry and very happy.” Fiona then took a drink from her glass as everyone else around the table took a drink also. Alph was the last to drink and he waited until everyone had drank and then tipped his head back and downed it.

“And a merry Christmas to us all!” Duncan said, raising his glass into the air, and everyone around the table echoed Duncan’s words.

“And God bless us, every one!” Alph screamed loudly, causing nearly everyone on the stage to cover their ears.

“Let us see another Christmas at another home!” Simon announced loudly, once the ringing from Alph’s  screams had faded from their ears.

Rythian took hold of Simon’s robe once more and the pair moved slowly across the stage as the scene behind them whirled once more, with a gathering of people standing around, talking and laughing together, similar to the scene from Scrooge’s past with the party hosted by Old Fezziwig. This time though, Zach, as Scrooge’s nephew, was standing in the centre of the room with his arm around the waist of a pregnant woman, that many people knew to be Zach’s wife, Hope.

“Scrooge was now surprised to find himself in his nephew’s house, looking out on what appeared to be the Christmas party that Scrooge himself had been invited to. As he watched the party unfurl, with games and laughter and singing, he began to feel a longing and wished he could join in with them. That was, until he became the butt of their joke within the games. Then the Spirit took Scrooge on a walk through the city, and everywhere they went they saw people with smiles on their faces and heard laughter in the air. And eventually the pair ended up alone in the graveyard.”

As Wren spoke, the people on the stage slowly dispersed, laughing and talking to each other until only Rythian and Simon remained, standing in the middle of the stage. Simon looked around and sighed.

“Here I must leave you, for my time has come.” He announced. Rythian turned to him with horror on his face.

“What? Here? Now? Can’t you at least take me back to my room?” Simon laughed loudly before he turned and began walking away.

“Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!”

“Spirit! Wait!”

But Simon was gone and Rythian was alone. At the back of the stage, an ominous black mist began to grow  and swell and out of the darkness appeared a tall hooded figure. No one could see into the shadows underneath the hood to discern who it was who was playing this spirit. The figure approached Rythian quietly and stopped dead behind him. Rythian whirled around and saw the spirit for the first time.

“Are you the third spirit, of whom I was told about? The dark spectre said nothing, and did nothing. “I presume you are the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?” Once again the spirit said nothing, the dark mist billowing around the stage. There was an air of anticipation in the audience, almost like they were holding their breath. “If you will not speak to me, then lead on!”

The figure raised one single arm and pointed towards a dark corner of the stage where a group of men had gathered. They were huddled together and clearly having a conversation, so Rythian sidled closer to listen in on what they were saying. The spirit followed behind Rythian, silently.

“I don’t know much about it either way. I only know he’s dead.” One of the men said.

“When did he die?” Asked another.

“Last night, I believe.” The first replied.

“What has he done with his money?” Another man asked, leaning forwards.

“I haven’t heard. Company, perhaps. He hasn’t left it to me, that’s all I know!” The first man said once more. “Well, gentlemen. Good night, and merry Christmas!”

The other two men murmured ‘Merry Christmas’ also and the three vanished off the stage. Rythian turned to the spirit and frowned.

“What was the meaning of that conversation, Spirit? And why did those men not respect the man who had died?”

Again the spirit remained completely silent. It raised an arm and pointed to the other side of the stage where a woman stood with a bundle of fabrics next to an old man. Rythian wandered over, followed once more by the ever silent spirit.

“If he wanted to keep them after he was dead, wicked old screw, why wasn’t he more natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he’d have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself.” The woman said, obviously gossiping about another dead man. Perhaps the same one. And it was clear that Rythian was beginning to think that maybe it was the same man.

“It’s the truest word that was ever spoken.” The man replied. The woman shoved the bundle of fabrics towards the man.

“Open that bundle, old Joe, and let me know the value of it!” The woman said as the spirit stepped in front of Rythian and pointed it’s arm once more.

Rythian turned, and behind him, in the centre of the stage, was a gravestone, with artificial snow hiding the name of the person to whom the gravestone belonged. The same dark mist that seemed to follow the spirit around was billowing around the gravestone as Rythian slowly made his way towards the stone, the woman and the man at the side of the stage vanishing into darkness, leaving Rythian and the spirit alone on the stage. Rythian stopped a few feet away from the gravestone and suddenly turned to the spirit.

“Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of things that will be, or are they the shadows of the things that may be only?” Silence.

Rythian swallowed and turned back to face the gravestone. He took a couple more steps closer and held out his hand, about to brush the snow from the surface of the grave. He paused for a moment before he took a deep breath and brushed the snow away. The snow fell from the gravestone and revealed a name etched into the stone. The letters were so large and clear, that even those in the back of the audience could read the name: EBENEZER SCROOGE. Rythian let out a cry and turned to face the spirit, falling onto his knees.

“No, Spirit! No, no! Spirit, hear me! I am not the man I was! Why show me this, if I am past all hope? Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me by an altered life!” Rythian begged. And for the first time, the spirit moved slowly, nodding it’s head ever so slightly. “Oh thank you! Thank you! I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will like in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

And as Rythian finished speaking the dark mist rose up and entirely shrouded the stage in darkness. A murmur ran around the audience as silence filled the air and the dark mist swirled. Slowly, the mist cleared and as it did, the sound of church bells filled the air and the scene of Rythian asleep in his chair by the fireplace became clear on the stage once more. Wren slowly walked across the stage until she was in the centre. She looked out on the audience, making sure she had their full attention before she began speaking.

“When Scrooge awoke, he found it to be Christmas day.” Behind her, Rythian arose from his chair as the people in black scurried onto the stage for one last time, clearing away the chairs and the fireplace. “And Scrooge was indeed true to his word. He did honour the spirits of Christmas, all the year round. To the people who knew him, he became as good a friend as any of them had ever known. And as Tiny Tim had observed:” The rest of the cast had come out onto the stage and were standing behind Wren in full force.

“Merry Christmas, and God bless us, every one!” The entire cast shouted out.

Applause rose into the air, and some people even stood as they clapped. Those on the stage bowed once, bowed again, and bowed a third time before they finally left the stage and the lights were switched back on and people began dispersing. Congratulations were given to the people who had performed, and soon the only people who were left were Simon and Lewis, and a couple of the werewolves. The werewolves were talking among each other as Simon and Lewis sat on the stage, Simon swinging his legs as they looked out over the sea of empty chairs.

“I think that went pretty well, friend. Don’t you?” Lewis asked as he smiled slightly. He was still wearing the black cloak that he had worn for the third spirit. And Simon was still proudly wearing his green robe.

“It was great, Lewis!” Simon gushed.

“I’m glad!”

The pair sat for another few minutes. Eventually the werewolves left and they were truly alone.

“Well, we should probably go to sleep, it’s getting pretty late. Merry Christmas, friend.” Lewis said, jumping off the stage. Simon followed him and when Lewis turned around to face him, Simon pulled Lewis into a spine crushing hug, almost lifting Lewis off the floor.

“Merry Christmas, spaceman!” Simon said loudly before he put Lewis down, who gasped for breath. “I’ll see you tomorrow, spaceman.” He said cheerily as he trotted over to the lift, Lewis following behind.

“Get here bright and early, Simon, we need to clear all this away.” Lewis said, grinning. Simon snorted as he pressed the button for the lift.

“Yeah right. I’ll see you tomorrow at midday.” Lewis chuckled slightly. The lift pinged and the doors opened. Simon walked inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. “See ya tomorrow, spaceman!” He cried out, waving at Lewis as the doors began to close.

“See you tomorrow, Simon, and get home safe!” Lewis said, waving back at Simon.

“Hey there, spaceman.” Lewis smiled tiredly.

“Hi, friend.” A quick glance around Simon revealed to Lewis that Simon was alone. “No luck in finding Lal then?”

“Nope. He’s like a damn ghost.” Lewis grimaced.

“Speaking of ghosts… I think the rumours about the castle being haunted might be true.”

“Have you been getting spooked, Lewis?” Simon said grinning at Lewis. Lewis frowned over at his friend.

“Not exactly, but there is defiantly someone or something that looks and sounds an awful lot like a drunk old man.” Simon snickered.

“So you in 50 years?”

“Simon!” Lewis exclaimed smiling, only slightly annoyed at his friends’ jibe.

“I mean, you shouldn’t complain too much about having a drunk ghost living with you, it means you’ll finally have a drinking partner on those late nights when I’ve already gone home!” Lewis was about to reply when something caught Simon’s eye. “Is that… a person?!”

Simon pointed towards where a dark shape was plummeting rapidly through the clouds. A ghostly scream filled the air as the figure fell, arms reaching up desperately to grab at thin air as they hurtled towards the ground. By now, other people on the construction site had caught sight of the person and all anyone could do was stare in horror as they fell.

It took only a matter of seconds for the body to hit the ground. It landed on the edge of the pond, the head smacking into the ground, with a dull thump, accompanied by the cracking of bones, similar to the sound of someone cracking their knuckles. The body bounced off the edge of the pond and fell down to the bottom where it hit the tiles with a loud splash. For a moment the entire construction site was still.

Then people started moving again.

Lewis instantly ran over towards the pond with Simon following in tow. Other surrounding people began running over too. Everyone was thinking the same thing. There was no way anyone would be able to survive a fall from that height. But maybe, just maybe…

Lewis was the first to reach the pond and he looked down in horror at the sight he saw below him. The body was face down in the water of the pond, a red stain beginning to spread out around the head almost like a halo. Part of the skull had been caved in, leaving a dent in the back of the head and the arms and legs were twisted around at unnatural angles. A couple of other people had arrived at the edges of the pond and were looking down at the body like Lewis was. Simon caught up with Lewis and he too peered down at the broken body.

“Oh god…” Simon murmured softly as he stared down at the body. Other people around the edge of the pond were also muttering quietly to themselves as they gazed horror-struck at the body. Lewis suddenly looked away from the body and glanced at the rapidly growing group of people.

“You, call an ambulance.” Lewis’s voice rang out across the quiet of the construction site and people instantly looked up. The person that Lewis had pointed to pulled a phone out of their pocket and began dialling, taking a couple of steps away from the group. “Michael, I want everyone down from the building. If this happened because of lack of safety, then we can’t risk anyone being up there.”

Michael, one of the team leaders on the construction site began shouting across the group, issuing orders to the people who were standing around and people began moving into action. Walkie-talkies were pulled out and a couple of people ran into Yoglabs, coming out with more people than who originally went in. Lewis turned to Simon.

“Simon, I want to know… I want to know who it was but I don’t feel comfortable touching the body. Would you…” Simon reached up and placed his hand on Lewis’s arm.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

The pair climbed down into the pond and moved closer to the body. The red stain in the water was growing larger and both Simon and Lewis looked at the spreading stain with a feeling of nausea building within them. When they reached the body, Simon gently flipped it over so that the grey eyes, still open, were staring up at the sky almost as if in horror. Lewis grimaced and looked away from the face of the body, where ruby red water was trickling down from the dark hair and equally bright red blood was oozing slowly from the nose. The victim of the fall had been a man, and the name tag on his high visibility jacket read David Brown. Simon reached across the body and closed the eyes of the man, instantly transforming his expression from one of fear to almost peaceful slumber.

It had only been about a minute, but already sirens could be heard and it wasn’t long until the ambulances arrived and the man’s body was moved onto a stretcher, covered with a cloth and driven away. Everyone had been evacuated from Yoglabs and people were standing in small huddles together, talking and speculating about what exactly had caused him to fall. Lewis and Simon were having a quiet conversation with Michael about the man, David, and what might have happened.

“-he was a good man. A good worker. I’d worked with him before on other projects and he was a really great person…” Michael said quietly, glancing over towards where the body had first hit the ground and shaking his head slightly. He seemed almost like he couldn’t quite grasp what had happened.

“Of course I’m going to launch a thorough investigation into the safety of the building site, but might there be any other reason why he might’ve fell?” Lewis hated asking this question, but he needed to rule out any and all other possibilities. Michael’s eyes opened wide.

“What? Suicide?!” He stared at Lewis in horror for a moment before he closed his eyes and shook his head. “No. This, he wouldn’t do this. His wife just gave birth to their first child. He was ecstatic. He was so happy to have a baby girl… he wouldn’t… not now.”

“I’m sorry, I just want to rule out any other possibility.” Lewis said, suddenly feeling something hollow out inside him as he realised that David had had a wife and child. He swallowed. “You don’t happen to know where his wife lives, do you?” Simon glanced up at Lewis, instantly clicking at why Lewis was asking.

“What? Yeah, yeah I’ll get that for you.” Michael moved off towards the small mobile compartment that was being used as an on site office.

“Are you sure you’ll be up for this, Lewis?” Simon asked, looking up at his friend.

“Yeah, yeah I should be fine. And she should be told sooner rather than later…” Lewis trailed off, his eyes drifting over towards the pond. Simon followed his gaze.

“I’ll come with you.”

“Simon, no, you don’t have to,”

“Yes I do. Now quit your arguing. I’m coming with you.” Lewis opened his mouth, closed it, and the pair fell silent. Moments later Michael returned from the makeshift office holding a beige file.

“Here, this is his file. It’s got all his details in, like medical history and the like. Including his address and the name of his wife. We keep a file like this on everyone in case of… in case of accidents.” Lewis took the file from Michael and gave him a small half smile.

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

Michael nodded and Lewis and Simon moved off, Lewis holding the file tightly in his hands. The pair didn’t make it far when Lalnable suddenly appeared, looking around at everyone worriedly.

“What, what happened?” He asked, his voice small. Lewis and Simon glanced at each other for a brief moment.

“There was an accident. A man fell from the top of Yoglabs, and…” Lewis couldn’t finish the sentence but he didn’t have too. Lalnable turned pale.

“He, did he, he didn’t survive. Did he?” Lewis and Simon shook their heads.

“Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god.” Lalnable suddenly crashed to the floor, his trembling hands holding his head as he stared at the ground.

“Lal, are you alright?” Lewis asked, concern in his voice as he and Simon crouched down beside Lalnable. Lalnable was trembling violently and Simon placed a steadying hand on his back.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright, Lal. You’ll be alright.” Simon said, comfortingly as he rubbed his hand up and down Lalnable’s back. Lewis glanced down at the file in his hands.

“Simon, can you keep an eye on Lal while I speak to his wife?” Lewis asked quietly.

“I was going to come with you.” Lewis smiled a hollow smile.

“Lal needs you more right now, friend.” Simon paused for a moment before he nodded.

“You come right back here, afterwards, you hear me?” It was Lewis’s turn to nod.

“Alright. I will.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“I’m going to give you the biggest damn hug when you get back.” Lewis smiled emptily again, the thought of having to break the news to the David’s wife chilling him to the bone.

“I’ll be waiting for it, friend.” Lewis stood himself up and smoothed out his jacket. “I’ll be back soon, and make sure Lal’s alright, friend.”

“I will. And make sure you’re alright yourself, spaceman.” Lewis nodded before he moved off, leaving Simon alone to look after Lal.

The distance from the construction site of Yoglabs to the David’s home wasn’t far, but for Lewis it felt like an age. He kept replaying over and over in his head the image of the him hitting the floor with a thud, and then he kept replaying what he might say to the David’s wife. And the closer Lewis got to the home, the more he wished he had Simon with him.

David had lived in a block of flats with his wife, and newborn child, near the centre of Datlof. The block of flats where they lived was a run-of-the-mill building where multiple families lived with flats ranging from single apartments to two or three bedroomed flats. Lewis rang the intercom and after giving David’s wife a brief introduction of who he was and why he was there, he was buzzed in. David and his wife had owned one of the smaller two bedroom apartments on the third floor of the building. The inside was lovely and furnished and pictures of David and his wife smiled out from the walls, making Lewis feel sick as he looked around the apartment.

“I’m so sorry for the mess, things have been rather hectic since our little girl was born.” David’s wife, a woman who had introduced herself as Amanda, was quickly tidying away a couple of things, the newborn baby fast asleep in a cot by the window. “Would you like anything, tea, coffee?”

“No thank you.” Lewis said quietly. He felt too ill to think about eating or drinking anything.

“Then, please, take a seat!” Amanda said, gesturing towards a couple of lounge chairs. Lewis almost reluctantly sat himself down on one of the chairs as Amanda took a seat on the sofa. “So what can I do for you, Mr. Brindley, I mean Mr. Mayor.”

“Please, just call me Lewis.” Amanda nodded.

“Alright. What can I do for you, Lewis. You mentioned you had some news about my husband?” Dread washed over Lewis and he glanced down to the file he was holding before he looked up at Amanda.

“Mrs. Brown, Amanda, I regret to inform you that your husband is dead.”

The silence in the room was deafening.

“What?” Amanda’s response was quiet. Lewis swallowed.

“There was an accident on the building site of Yoglabs, and I’m afraid your husband, he fell.”

“How did this happen?” Her voice was still quiet, but there was a trace of anger in it now.

“We’re not sure yet, but let me assure you that I will do everything in my power to find out what happened to cause your husband to fall.”

“Right. Yes. Of course.” She drew in a shuddering breath.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I think, I think I’d like you to leave now.” Amanda spoke very quietly, but very clearly. Lewis stood up, quickly followed by Amanda and he moved towards the door. She opened up the door and Lewis was about to step out when he thought of something else.

“If you’d like to see your husband’s body, it’s been taken to Grange Road Hospital. I’ll call them and tell them you might show up.” Lewis turned to walk out when Amanda opened her mouth and spoke very softly.

“Thank you.”

Lewis’s new lab was located in one or the rooms in the castle; the walls were stone and the floors were wooden planks because planning permissions had allowed Lewis to change very little about the inside of the castle, requiring him to use the same sort of flooring and walling, even if he changed the layout of the rooms. He’d even been required to keep the old dungeons in the basement of the castle. But despite the stone walls and wooden floors, the lab was well lit with L.E.D. lights tucked away into the ceiling which could be turned on or off by the switch at the wall, or otherwise they would be turned on by a motion sensor and stay on for a few minutes if no more motion was detected. Along one wall was a large whiteboard and to the left of the door was a desk with a laptop sitting on it, and a desk chair that Simon was sitting on. The rest of the room was filled with worktables and shelving units, all filled with the scientific equipment that Lewis had carted over from his old lab. Simon was amazed at the fact that although Lewis had only occupied this space for less than a week, it was already cluttered with paper and empty mugs and half finished experiments.

“Alright, alright, I’m nearly done…” Lewis murmured, frowning in concentration as he wrote something down on a spare scrap of paper as he skim read through what looked like a report or an article. Simon waited patiently for another thirty seconds before he jumped off the chair, sending it rolling back across the floor, and walked over to Lewis, and grabbed the paper from his hands. “Simon!”

“The only way you’re getting this back is if you stop and have some lunch.” Simon said in a commanding tone as he flapped the paper about in the air. Lewis smiled slightly before he put the pen he’d been holding down and stretched his arms above his head.

“Sounds fair to me, friend.” Lewis got to his feet and grabbed his jacket from where it was lying on one of the tables. Simon plonked the paper he was holding down on the desk beside the laptop as Lewis pulled on his jacket. “Should we pop in on Lal and see how he’s doing? I reckon if I deserve a break, he deserves one too.” Simon nodded.

“I don’t understand how you two can get so absorbed in your experiments that you forget to eat.” Simon said, almost incredulously as the pair left Lewis’s lab and made the short trip across the corridor to Lalnable’s labs.

“Well,” Lewis grinned, “I’m not sure I can explain it to you if you haven’t experienced something like that before.” He knocked the door to Lalnable’s labs lightly before he opened it up and strolled in, Simon following close behind. “Lal? You in here?”

Lalnable’s labs were actually two rooms that had a small arch knocked through one wall so that you could pass from one room to the other with ease. The first room, that Lewis and Simon were now standing in, had a row of half built tanks along the back wall, each one hooked up to a computer with multiple wires running across the floor, hopelessly tangled in some places. The second room was filled with computers and a large whiteboard filled with biological equations and half formed thoughts. Tacked up on the wall were a couple of anatomical diagrams of the human body and in one corner there was a skeleton grinning out over the room. Whether the skeleton was real or fake, neither Lewis nor Simon had dared to ask. Lalnable himself was sitting in front of a set of monitors, holding his head in his hands. There was a collection of screwed up paper surrounding the chair that Lalnable was sat on a chair and his lab sleeve was rolled up and a cuff was on the upper half of his arm, with a needle and tube coming out from the crook of his elbow. Blood was flowing through the tube into a bag that had been placed on a little trolley.

“Lal?” Lewis asked as he and Simon walked into the second room and caught sight of him. “Are you alright, friend?” Lalnable lifted his head and turned to look at the pair.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He replied tiredly.

“What’s all this for? Are you donating blood or something?” Lalnable smirked slightly at Simon’s innocent question.

“I guess you could call it blood donation. I’m collecting blood so that I have samples with which I can start trying to clone myself.”

“Are you that close? You’re going to actually try to clone yourself already?” Lewis asked excitedly, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

“Nearly… I just need to finish building a cloning vat.” Lalnable nodded towards the other room. Lewis and Simon glanced back at the half built tubes and computers. “This is just me taking a short break from that.” Lalnable chuckled slightly. Simon glanced up at Lewis with a slightly concerned expression as Lewis rolled his eyes.

“If you’re going to take a break, Lal, you might as well take a proper break. Come with us to get some lunch.”

“I probably should get something to eat after this…” Lalnable mused quietly, his eyes drifting to the bag of blood beside him.

“Yes you should.” Lewis walked up to Lalnable and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Do you want me to help get the needle out?” Lalnable shook his head.

“No, I can do that by myself. Simon, do you want to grab those cotton buds beside you and pass them over here?”

Simon did as he was asked and passed a small bag of cotton buds over to Lalnable, who took off the tape that was holding the needle in place before he placed a cotton bud over where the needle had pierced his skin and pulled the needle out, pressing the cotton bud down tightly.

“Do you want to hold this for a second, Lewis?” Lalnable asked, holding out the needle towards Lewis.

He took it as Lalnable busied himself with taking the cuff off his arm and taping the cotton bud in place. Once he’d done that, he took the needle back from Lewis and tidied away the bag of blood and chucked the needle in a small bright yellow bin with warnings printed on the side. Lalnable carefully tucked the blood away in a refrigerator before he straightened up and began rolling down the sleeve of his lab coat.

“Are you ready to go?” Lewis asked, looking towards Lalnable. He nodded and the trio left Lalnable’s labs, walking through the corridors of the castle and quickly making their way to the outside.

Datlof was now in the icy grip of winter; people scurried by wrapped up in hats, coats and scarves and the occasional nights where the weather was cold enough to freeze things over, the next morning the streets of the city were chaos as cars struggled to get where they needed to go. There was no proper snow, but sleet was a frequent visitor to the city, showering down from grey skies and creating an atmosphere of gloom. But strung up between buildings and wrapped around bare trees, christmas lights twinkled, fighting the darkness and the gloom of the cold short winter days. The trio admired the lights as they made their way towards a cafe that seemed slightly emptier on the inside than some of the others. They quickly moved inside the cafe, escaping the cold of the winter air and being embraced in the warmth of the cafe. They ordered food and drinks and found a small table by the window where they could look out onto the main street of Datlof. From where they were sitting, they could see the castle, for the first time since they had know it, fully restored and glowing from the lights inside. And every so often, a werewolf or two would leave or go in through the front door, making the castle look loved and lived in once more.

“So how are you getting on with this cloning project, Lal? Are you anywhere close?” Lewis asked after their food and drinks had arrived and he’d taken a sip of his tea.

“Well, I think I’ve got the theory down, I just need to put it into practice. And that’s where everything will go wrong.” Lewis chuckled slightly.

“I’m sure it will go alright, I know you have the skills to make this happen, Lal.” Lalnable smirked slightly.

“Thanks, Lewis.”

“And if you want any more blood, I’ll be happy to donate some for you to use. I can’t say anything for Simon though.”

“As much as I’d love to have a million of me running around, I don’t fancy having a needle jammed into me thanks.” Both Lewis and Lalnable laughed.

“Don’t worry, Simon. I’ve got plenty of blood for now, and besides, I think I want to keep things simple and stick to human DNA.” Lalnable paused before he looked towards Lewis. “And I’ll let you know if I want any of your blood. But I should be fine for now.”

“Good, good. Just don’t go bleeding yourself dry for this, Lal. And remember to take breaks.”

“Look who’s talking!” Simon exclaimed, looking pointedly at Lewis.

“I take breaks, Simon!” Lewis said, trying to defend himself.

“Only when I force you to take a break.”

“I take other breaks too! When you’re not there!”

“Sure you do, spaceman. Sure you do.” Lalnable grinned as he watched the exchange between Lewis and Simon.

“It’s like old times, watching you two argue over something while we’re eating. We’ve not done this for a while.” Simon and Lewis glanced up at Lalnable.

“You’re right. We’ve all been so busy since coming to Datlof, we’ve barely had any time to hang out with each other.” Lewis said, leaning back into the chair he was sat in with his mug of tea. Simon glanced out of the window.

“I remember two winters ago, probably around this time, we were celebrating the completion of the spaceship.” Simon said softly, gazing out of the window. Both Lewis and Lalnable followed his gaze and caught sight of the sleet that had started to fall while they’d been in the cafe.

“It had snowed lots already then. There were a good few inches of snow on the ground.” Lalnable commented as he watched the sleet.

“Mmm…” Lewis hummed quietly. “A lot has happened since then, hasn’t it?” Simon and Lalnable nodded slowly. Lewis smiled as the three of them continued watching the sleet falling. “I think I preferred watching the snow, rather than watching this sleet.” Lalnable grinned at Lewis’s comment.

“You can’t make good snowballs when it sleets like this.” Simon complained, grinning widely.

“That you can’t. It would be nice if we got some snow, it might make the city look a little prettier than just cold and wet.” Lewis said, accompanied by chuckled from the other two.

“Snow would be an absolute pain though.” Lalnable said.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Lewis finished the rest of his tea and looked down at the table that now held empty plates and cups. “Well, I guess we should be getting going. Lal probably wants to get back to his cloning experiments and I need to finish what I was doing too.” Lalnable let out a big sigh as he stood himself up, while Simon just looked completely crestfallen.

“Yeah, I need to get back.” Lalnable said as Lewis and Simon got to their feet too. “It was nice having lunch together though.”

“We can all have dinner together tonight too!” Simon exclaimed excitedly.

“Sorry, Simon, but I think I’ll be working late tonight.” Lalnable replied, instantly wiping the excitement off Simon’s face. Lewis, noticing his friends sad expression, placed a hand on Simon’s shoulder.

“Don’t you worry, Simon, I can have dinner with you tonight. And I’m sure we’ll be able to drag Lal away from his experiments at least a couple of nights this week.” Simon perked up slightly at the promise of having dinner with Lewis.

“Alright, Lal, I’ll let you off tonight, but I’m not going to let you get away with this every night.” Simon said, frowning and pretending to be angry with Lalnable. Both Lalnable and Lewis laughed.

“Ok, time to get moving, I think. This work won’t wait. And the sooner I can start back up, the sooner we’ll be able to leave for dinner later on.” Lewis said, grinning down at Simon who beamed up at him. “Come on, let’s go.”

Lewis glanced behind him as he heard a siren and saw a brief glimpse of blue flashing lights and then they vanished and he kept walking, turning his gaze back up to the stars above him. He walked in silence for a few more minutes until suddenly a large shape swooped over his head and Lewis turned to follow the shape, quickly recognising the form of Athena flying almost silently through the air. Lewis glanced around to see if he could spot Hannah, but the skies were clear. Athena wheeled around in the sky and headed back towards Lewis, descending as she glided closer. Lewis had seen Athena land on Hannah’s arm before and he could recognise now when Athena wanted to do the same to him. Tentatively, he held out his arm as Athena flapped her wings to slow her descent, reaching out with her taloned feet as she gripped onto Lewis’s arm. He gasped out, wincing slightly as her sharp claws dug into his skin as she grasped tightly to stop herself from falling. Athena brought her large wings in close to her body and stared at Lewis with her large unblinking yellow eyes. Lewis gazed back, unsure at what Athena was doing here.

“Athena? What is it?”

She continued staring right at Lewis and then suddenly a vivid image flashed in his mind. Hannah was kneeling by someone and both were covered in blood; the red liquid was everywhere, coating her arms and the body of the other person and pooling on the ground. Lewis blinked as the image vanished as quickly as it appeared, Athena still staring at him intently.

“Is Hannah alright? Where is she?”

Athena suddenly took off, flying up into the air and circled around once before flying off down the street. Lewis began running after Athena as she flew above him, navigating the streets of Datlof until they arrived at a construction site. Athena flew over the fence and swooped down low over Hannah’s head as Lewis found a gate that hadn’t been locked properly and ran through it towards Hannah.

“Hannah! Are you ok? Oh god…” Lewis trailed off as he reached Hannah and fully took in the scene before him. The image that Athena had showed him had only been a few moments long, and Lewis hadn’t been able to see everything that was happening. Hannah was kneeling down in a pool of blood, staring at her hands which were also covered in quickly drying blood. In front of her was the body of a man, a pole sticking through his abdomen, his eyes glazed over and his body too still for him to still be alive. Lewis swallowed and looked away from the body, horrified at the sight of so much blood and gently placed his hand on Hannah’s shoulder. He could feel her body trembling and she hadn’t reacted to his presence, still staring at the body in front of her. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” Lewis said, gently pulling Hannah to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist to support her.

“There was so much, so much blood, I didn’t know what to do…” Hannah mumbled as Lewis lead her away from the body and started heading out of the construction site, Athena gliding silently through the air above them.

“It’s ok, it’s ok, don’t worry about it.” Lewis said softly.

“He wouldn’t stop bleeding. I couldn’t get it to stop bleeding.” The trembling in Hannah’s body was growing, and she was beginning to hyperventilate as her breaths came short and shallow.

“I’m going to get you home and cleaned up, ok? Just take deep breaths, it’s going to be ok.” Lewis said, looking around for somewhere to sit her down.

“There was just so much blood…”

Hannah slowed to a stop, her whole body shaking as her breathing became shallower and more rapid. Lewis moved so he was in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. Her gaze was unfocussed and she was glancing around almost nervously as she hyperventilated.

“Hannah, look at me, come on, look me in the eyes, that’s it, take deep breaths now, in and out, in and out.” Lewis spoke gently as Hannah slowly focussed her gaze onto him and listened to his voice, her breathing beginning to slow. “You’re doing great, in and out, just keep focussed on me and keep breathing deeply. You’ll be fine, I promise.”

Tears began welling up in Hannah’s eyes and she started crying. Lewis wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug.

“Shh, shh, it’s alright. You’re fine. You’re safe. It’s alright.” Lewis said gently as he hugged Hannah’s shaking and sobbing form close. His eyes glanced up as Athena flew overhead, a silent watchful shadow.

“I couldn’t stop the bleeding.” Hannah sobbed. Lewis moved a hand up and started stroking her hair.

“I know, I know. It’s ok.” They stayed where they were for a few minutes as Hannah continued crying, Lewis holding her close and stroking her hair while Athena circled overhead keeping a watchful eye on the pair. Eventually Hannah’s sobs started to stop as she started to calm down slightly. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

Hannah didn’t resist as Lewis placed his arm around her shoulder and gently started leading through the the dark streets, Athena flying above until they reached her house. He stopped outside the door and looked in the place where Hannah kept the spare key, breathing a sigh of relief as he found it and unlocked the door. He switched on the hall light before ushering Hannah inside, Athena swooping in low behind them. Athena settled herself on a chair in the kitchen as Lewis sat Hannah down on a chair before going back to close the door and lock it. As Lewis returned to the kitchen, he could see Hannah was still trembling slightly and her eyes were red from tears. The blood on her clothes was turning from red to black as it dried and on her hands it had crusted and turned a black brown colour.

“We need to get you cleaned up. I’m just going to get you some clean clothes.” Lewis said quietly before leaving the kitchen, trusting Athena to let him know if Hannah needed him while he was gone.

Lewis went upstairs and into Hannah’s bedroom, rummaging around in her drawers until he found a loose t-shirt and a pair of jogging bottoms. He left the bedroom and went to the bathroom, placing the clothes on the side before he started filling the bath with warm soapy water. Going back downstairs he found Hannah gently stroking Athena’s feathers, her hand shaking slightly.

“Come on, I’ve got a bath running upstairs for you.” Lewis said, helping Hannah to her feet before leading her upstairs and into the bathroom. Athena followed them, swooping over their heads and flying into the bedroom where she disappeared. Inside the bathroom, Lewis turned off the taps before he turned back to Hannah. “Get in, don’t bother with your clothes, we’ll deal with them in a moment. Just get yourself in the water.”

Hannah managed to kick off her shoes before she climbed in, sitting herself in the warm soap filled water. Lewis knelt by the side of the bath, taking hold of her hand and gently rubbing the blood off, grabbing hold of a sponge and using it to clean the blood from where it was stuck down the sides of her nails. Once that hand was clean, he took her other hand and started cleaning the blood off that one too. The water in the bath began turning a coppery brown colour as all the blood stained the water. Once all the blood had gone, Lewis pulled the plug and he helped Hannah out of the water, holding her steady as she stumbled slightly. He grabbed a towel and wrapped her in it.

“Get yourself dry and put on these clothes once you’re dry, alright? I’ll just be in the hallway if you need me.” Lewis said before he left the room, sitting down and leaning his back against the wall.

Hannah was clearly in shock with what happened, and although Lewis wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, he could hazard a guess that Hannah had been fighting with the man in the construction site when either she pushed him back or he tripped and fell onto the pole. And then… Lewis shuddered as he thought about the scene he’d seen, all the blood and the lifeless eyes of the man, and how Hannah had just been sitting there, staring horrified at the sight in front of her, staring at the blood on her hands. Just then the door to the bathroom opened and Hannah stepped out. Her hair was slightly damp at the ends but she was clean and dry and free of the blood stained clothes she had been wearing, instead wearing the clothes Lewis had placed on the side. He got to his feet and walked over to her.

“How are you feeling?” He asked gently, reaching out a hand and placing it on her shoulder.

“Where’s Athena?” She murmured in reply. Almost like she’d been called, Athena flew out of the bedroom and landed on Hannah’s other shoulder. Hannah reached up and began gently stroking Athena’s feathers, the tremble in her hands almost completely gone.

“Let’s get you into bed.” Lewis said, gently guiding Hannah towards the bedroom as Athena affectionally nibbled at Hannah’s hair as Hannah continued stroking her soft feathers.

Once inside the bedroom, Hannah climbed into her bed, Athena hopping from Hannah’s shoulder to the headboard of the bed. Lewis switched on the lamp beside the bed as Hannah snuggled down into the sheets, gazing at Lewis. He sat himself on the edge of the bed and smoothed Hannah’s hair back from her face.

“Try to get to sleep. I’m going to clean up your clothes and the bathroom.”

Zoey comes from a slightly rough background, when she first meets any of the other Yogs in this world, she meets Rythian because he’s her next door neighbour. And from then on she meets the others. But back when she was living next to Rythian, she was in an abusive relationship with a dude who, although he never physically abused her, he would mentally abuse her and he didn’t like her leaving the flat by herself, even if it was to go see Rythian. She eventually left this relationship when she found out she was pregnant and decided she didn’t want to raise a child in that situation with that man. Then, durning her pregnancy she met Fiona and the pair hit it off and have been in a loving relationship ever since.

Fiona grew up in a rough part of Datlof where she first learnt to fight so she could protect her two older brothers, both of whom were very ‘weak’ and ‘nerdy’. Fiona spent a lot of her childhood helping her brothers look after the house and each other, as both her parents were alcoholics and were rarely sober enough to look after their children. Because of how her parents were when she was younger, Fiona refuses to drink any alcohol because she knows where it can lead to. 

Fiona moved out of her house at a fairly young age and started working and supporting herself until she was in a stable place financially. She continued to practice her fighting through a local boxing club, which is where she first met Hannah; the two were often sparring partners and they became great friends. And it was through Hannah and Rythian that she and Zoey met and became a couple. 

Fiona was the one who bought the flat that she and Zoey live in, and the flat is in a block of flats in a much wealthier part of town to where either Zoey or Fiona lived previously. Neither Zoey or Fiona have much in the way of magical ability, but the father of Zoey’s child (a girl called Hope) was very magical and Hope inherited her father’s magical ability. When Zoey and Fiona first realised how magical Hope was, they asked Rythian (Hope’s godfather) if he would teach her magic, and he willingly agreed.

Zoey and Fiona tend to avoid most of the situations that their friends get into, neither of them are vigilantes, both have normal jobs and both try to avoid getting into trouble with the police, something that a lot of the other Yogs in the world sometimes struggle with. However they’re not above helping people who need it, and when Hope first met her future boyfriend and husband, a werewolf named Zach, Zoey and Fiona accept him into their home almost like they adopted him. 

Both Fiona and Zoey are very friendly people and they stick with their friends, no matter what. They helped support Rythian through some of the toughest parts of his life and they have been there for the other Yogs when they’ve needed it too.

Zoey and Fiona don’t play a huge role in this world, but back when we first created this world, they were some of the very first Yogs we added into the world, in fact in the beginning I think the entire world was built around Zoey, Fiona and Rythian and it grew from there. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and that goes for any of the characters in this world!

Sat on the top of a pile of paperwork involving this change for the healthcare system was a couple of sheets stapled together with lists and lists of signatures on it. Lewis sighed and after a moment of staring blankly at the paper, he picked it up and started scanning his eyes over the short bit of writing at the top.

“Stop the healthcare reform! Sign your name on this petition!” Lewis murmured as he read it.

He then lifted the first sheet up and had a look at the page underneath. It was only two pages long. Sighing once more he screwed up the petition and threw it over to the bin where it bounced on the rim before falling in. It was clear that there was barely a hundred signatures in total for that petition. And as much as he agreed with those people signing the petition, he didn’t want to cause any more stress for himself by suddenly changing everything about. Those who were struggling, would have to cope until he could get around to changing the healthcare system again. Lewis rubbed his hand over his face again and turned his attention to the rest of the paperwork for the change. He sat staring at the pile of paper for a few moments, his mind drifting. Eventually he shook himself out of his stupor and stood up. Maybe he just needed a cup of tea to help him focus.

As Lewis walked out of his office and lab into the corridor, he ran into Hannah who was about to walk into the room he’d just come from. They both recoiled back to avoid hitting each other, Hannah nearly loosing her grip on the handful of books she was carrying. Athena was sat on her shoulder and she flapped her wings slightly to steady herself.

“Ah! I’m sorry, Hannah!” Lewis said, reaching a hand out to steady Hannah after he’d recovered himself. She took a moment longer to compose herself, making sure the books in her grasp weren’t about to go tumbling to the floor before she replied.

“It’s alright. I’m glad I ran into you. I’m just picking up some of my books that I’d left; Rythian and I are going to be practicing some magic together today.” Hannah said as Lewis took his hand away from her once he was sure she was steadied.

After discovering how isolated and lonely Rythian had been, Hannah had insisted that Rythian spend time with her, learning magic; she teaching him the magic she knew and he teaching her his kind of magic. She had also quickly learnt that he had been unemployed for a prolonged period and money was tight, to the point where he barely had enough to pay rent and buy food at the same time. So she’d persuaded Lewis to buy Rythian the flat opposite from Zoey and Fiona. Lewis had willingly done so; he barely knew Rythian but he knew that Rythian was a good friend of Hannah’s and he was perfectly willing to help out someone who needed the help, even if it meant buying a flat and paying the bills. But then again, money wasn’t an issue, Simon still spent a lot of time mining and he had amassed a large collection of gold; something he was very willing to share with Lalnable and Lewis when they needed it. And aside from that, Yoglabs was doing well and profits were up, shortage of money, thankfully, wasn’t one of Lewis’s problems.

“I also wanted to tell you that I’ve asked Rythian if he wants to spend the night at mine tonight, so don’t be surprised if you get back home and he’s in the house.” Lewis nodded.

“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.” He stifled a yawn and Hannah looked at him.

“Tired?”

“A little.” He admitted. “It’s mostly stress, I’ve got that press conference this afternoon on the healthcare reform.” Hannah hummed and eyed Lewis carefully.

“I trust that you’ll do the right thing, Lewis.”

Lewis looked down at Hannah and instantly felt guilty. He knew that her name would be on that petition he threw away. She had been very vocal about her views of the healthcare reform, writing multiple articles on the subject, and Lewis knew she’d be livid if she found out what he was doing. She was going to be livid later anyway, Lewis just hoped that he’d be able to explain his side to the story before she could tear him to pieces.

“Well, I’ll see you later, and maybe take a nap so you’re not falling asleep in this press conference.” Hannah smiled and stretched up to give Lewis a quick kiss on the lips.

“I’ll try.” Lewis replied, smiling back. Hannah backed off and headed down the corridor towards the lifts, Athena ruffling he feathers as she went. Lewis watched Hannah for another few moments before he headed off towards the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea.

The press conference was about to start and Lewis was being fussed about with technicians attaching a microphone to his clothes and making sure it was working. The room that the press conference was being held in was a rather large room filled with a couple of rows of chairs at the front for a few select individuals with the rest of the reporters, journalists and TV cameras in the back of the room. A small stage had been set up at the front of the room with a pedestal on it and multiple other microphones attached, each one belonging to a different TV company. Standing proudly on either side of the stage, resplendent in brand new uniforms was Jacob, or Alph as he now liked to go by, and one of the other members of the pack. The uniforms they were wearing were cobalt blue, the same colour of the Yoglabs logo and had gold trimming. Lewis had had them made specifically for the werewolves, a uniform that they could wear while they were on duty as security guards, something that looked the part but was also practical and allowed the wearer to move around freely and easily. And he had to admit, they looked rather striking. Having Alph and the other werewolf there was simply a formality. Now that he was mayor, it was almost mandatory for him to be followed around everywhere by a bodyguard. And when Lewis had found that out, he had decided to use the pack as his personal security detail. After all, they were already working as security for Yoglabs, it wouldn’t be a problem to timetable in a couple of shifts for one or two of them when Lewis had press conferences or meetings. And it vastly helped improve the image of werewolves too. It was common knowledge now that Lewis employed a pack of werewolves, and as a result, the pack had seen a large growth in numbers as smaller packs with only a couple of werewolves in them joined themselves up with the larger pack and now Lewis found he had plenty of people for security, but with his plans to build a completely new building for Yoglabs to be located in, he would need more people to act as security, so the growth of the pack was not a problem.

“Alright, we’ll be going live with this press conference in a minute!” Someone called out and the technician who’d been busying about Lewis ushered him up onto the stage and over to the pedestal before disappearing.

Lewis looked over the room and smiled when he caught sight of Simon sat in the front centre of the room, beaming up at Lewis with a big smile. Lewis had invited both Simon and Lalnable to come along to the press conference, partially so he had a friendly face to look out on in the crowd and partially for moral support when the press conference was over and the unavoidable guilt began sweeping over him. However, Lalnable had turned him down, saying he was too busy with his experiments. But Simon had been happy to come along and support his friend, and Lewis was grateful that he was there. Simon waved at Lewis and he smiled back at the dwarf before checking behind him to make sure that Alph and the other werewolf were ready. He received a nod from the other pack member and when he turned to look towards Alph, he received two thumbs up and a large grin.

“We’re ready to begin whenever you’re ready, Mr. Mayor.” A voice called out and Lewis turned to face the sea of reporters again, composing himself and looking down at his notes resting on the pedestal. This was simple, all he had to do was read what was on his notes and then it would be over. Lewis took a deep breath and looked up.

“As most of you are aware, my predecessor set in motion plans to reform the healthcare system of Datlof.” Cameras began clicking and journalists were scribbling notes down or holding up voice recorders as large TV cameras focussed in on Lewis’s face. His heart was pounding as he thought about what he was going to say next, and his mind flitted to Hannah and the petition. “And there have been rumours flying around the city about whether I am going to continue these plans, or scrap them. And today I’m here to tell you that I will be continuing the previous mayor’s plans of reforming the healthcare system.”

Murmurs ran around the room and people shuffled in their seats as they registered what Lewis had just said. He felt horribly guilty for saying it, but he couldn’t change his mind now. What was done was done. Lewis continued reading from his notes, undisturbed for a few more minutes; any questions that the journalists wanted to ask were to be asked at the end. But then suddenly the door to the room burst open and launching into the room with a flurry of feathers as she changed back to her normal human form was Hannah. Heads and cameras turned to look at her as she strode angrily across the room, tears falling from her cheeks as Athena swooped overhead.

“You idiot, Lewis! You complete and utter idiot! What have you done?!” Hannah shouted angrily as she crossed the room. Behind him, Alph and the other werewolf glanced at each other. They weren’t sure what to do, after all Hannah was in a relationship with Lewis.

“Hannah, I,”

Lewis took a cautious step back. He’d known Hannah was going to be angry, but not that angry. Frowning angrily, Hannah leapt up into the air and covered the rest of the distance between Lewis and her in a matter of moments, her arm pulling back for a punch as she reached him. Her punch hit him square in the face and Lewis went tumbling to the floor as pain exploded around his face.

“You idiot! Do you realise what you’ve done? How this is going to affect so many people?!” Hannah was standing over Lewis and he looked up at her, feeling warm blood trickling from his nose.

“Hannah, please let me explain!” Lewis begged, although he knew that she was beyond the point of caring right now.

“I though you were better than this, Lewis, I really thought you were!”

“Hannah,”

“Do you want to know who this affects? Rythian. This stupid reform affects Rythian. You know he can barely afford to eat right now, never mind health insurance. And now you’ve made it harder for him to get help. Congratulations.” Guilt washed over Lewis and he looked down.

“I’m sorry, Hannah, I’m sorry.”

“It’s too late for an apology, Lewis.” She took a step back from him, shaking her head with tears flowing down her cheeks. “You know what, we’re through.” Hannah turned and soared over the heads of everyone in the room.

“Hannah, wait!” Lewis called out, but she had disappeared through the door with Athena following close behind and he knew she wasn’t coming back.

Lewis sat himself up, his head hanging low and feeling the blood trickling from his nose down his chin and dripping down onto the stage. He took a deep shuddering breath as tears started dripping from his eyes. His face was throbbing where Hannah had hit him, but he wasn’t angry. Instead he felt that he deserved it. He’d done a terrible thing today. Around him, Lewis could hear the chaos in the room, and he thought that he should do something about it, try to calm everyone down and assure them that everything was alright, but he couldn’t bare the thought of dealing with journalists now. A hand rested on his shoulder and a moment later a friendly and familiar voice spoke.

“She hit you pretty hard there, spaceman.” Lewis couldn’t help but laugh, choking slightly on his tears as he did so. Simon’s hand patted his back. “Careful you don’t die there, Lewis. That’d be embarrassing if you died while choking on your own tears.”

“God I must look a state.” Lewis mumbled, wiping at the tears and blood on his face. “And everyone’s going to see me like this…” His heart sank as he thought of the TV cameras in the room, all filming away.

“Don’t you worry, they stopped filming as soon as Hannah punched you in the face. They’re still turned off. And your two werewolf buddies are keeping the journalists away for now.”

“Thank god…” Lewis drew another deep shuddering breath and looked up at Simon, earning a grin from the dwarf.

“You’re going to have a wicked black eye, Lewis.” Simon commented as he looked down at Lewis before he held out his hand. “But let’s get you cleaned up and try to stop your nose from bleeding everywhere.”

Lewis took a hold of Simon’s hand and was pulled to his feet. He unclipped the microphone on his clothes and handed it to a technician as he and Simon moved off the stage, Alph and the other werewolf keeping the journalists away from the pair as they went. All around him were the shouts of journalists trying to get his attention, but Lewis ignored them and soon he, Simon, Alph and the other werewolf were out of the room and in the quiet of the corridor.

“You two go clean this muppet up and I’ll deal with the rabble in there.” Simon said, gently pushing Lewis in the direction of the werewolves.

“But, friend,”

“I’ll be fine, Lewis. I’ll tell them you’re not dead.” Lewis smiled gratefully towards Simon, sniffing slightly and tears still falling from his eyes.

“Thank you, friend. I really appreciate this.”

“No worries. Now go get cleaned up.” Simon replied, shooing Lewis away before he turned and headed back inside the room full of reporters. The loud shouting from a few moments ago had died down, and chatter filled the air instead. Heads turned as the door opened and some of the chatter died down as Simon made his way through the crowds to the stage where he grabbed hold of a technician and asked for a microphone.

“If you would please move back to your original positions, Simon, uh, Honeydew is going to make an announcement on the mayor’s behalf.” A voice called out over the chatter in the room as the technician wired Simon up with the microphone.

“Can this be televised?” Another voice called out as journalists began to move back to where they’d been before.

“Yes, this can be televised.” The chatter died down as Simon stepped up onto the stage, standing a little way away from the pedestal.

“Whenever you’re ready Mr. Honeydew.” Simon looked out on the sea of faces and cameras and suddenly realised how terrifying it must be for Lewis to do this.

“I’d like to announce that the mayor is not dead.” A chuckle ran around the room as Simon spoke. “I’m aware that the cameras were suddenly cut so most of you at home will be wondering what happened, and I’m just here to tell you that Lewis has broken up with Hannah, or more accurately Hannah broke up with Lewis. She was pretty angry at him, but she didn’t kill him, and although he’s off crying now, he’ll be alright. So don’t you worry, he’s not dead. And I’ll get him sorted out soon enough.”

“Of course I promise to look after the pack, Danny, but where’s this coming from? What’s wrong?” Danny turned and smiled at Lewis.

“Thanks, Lewis.” He said, ignoring Lewis’s questions. “And I need to get going now, I need to find out where Jacob’s got to.”

Danny got to his feet and headed towards the door. Lewis jogged after him, placing a hand on his shoulder as he moved to open the door.

“Danny, is everything alright?” Danny smiled and gently took Lewis’s hand from his shoulder.

“Everything’s fine, Lewis.”

Danny kept smiling as he left the room, leaving Lewis standing by the door, confused and worried about the alpha. He knew it wasn’t his place to interfere, he still barely knew Danny, but he couldn’t help but think that something was wrong. All Lewis could do was hope that Danny knew what he was doing.

“Hold on a second, Simon, I just need to finish calibrating…” Lewis trailed off as he frowned in concentration at the machine he was working on. Simon was spinning around on a desk chair as he impatiently waited for Lewis to finish. The lab was quiet for a moment, save for Simon’s occasional sighs. Then the sound of Lewis’s phone receiving a text  made both Lewis and Simon jump, with Simon letting out a little yell. Lewis exhaled and moved away from the machine and picked up his phone.

“Ooo, is it Hannah?” Simon asked, wiggling his eyebrows in Lewis’s direction. Lewis rolled his eyes as he unlocked his phone.

“No, Simon. It’s not Hannah.”

“Then who else would be texting you?” Simon said, giggling slightly.

“I don’t know.” Lewis replied, not noticing the jibe Simon had made. “Oh, it’s from Jacob.”

“Who?”

“One of the werewolves in the pack. He’s probably just asking if I want to… smoke some… weed… oh no.” A concerned frown crossed over Lewis’s face and he looked up from his phone towards Simon. “I’m sorry, Simon, but we have to postpone this little experiment.” Simon was instantly worried, jumping off the chair and trotting after Lewis as he grabbed his jacket from the table and started pulling it on.

“What’s happened?”

“Danny’s ill.”

“Ill? What with? Is it serious?”

“I don’t know, Simon. Jacob only told me that Danny was ill, and he didn’t know who else to tell.”

Lewis was walking swiftly down the corridor, Simon having to run to keep up with his long strides. Yoglabs employees were moving out of the way as the pair headed towards the lifts.

“I thought something, he looked ill when he last came to see me. I didn’t ask him about it because, well I don’t really know him very well yet.” Lewis said as he and Simon reached the lifts, Lewis pressing the button repeatedly for a few moments. His last meeting with Danny had been a few weeks ago when the alpha had asked Lewis to promise to look after the pack. Lewis had seen him in passing a couple of times since then, but he’d not been able to talk with him again. “He was acting slightly strange and I asked him if he was ok, but he didn’t answer me. I didn’t want to press the matter, because if he didn’t want to talk about it with me then I can’t make him.” Simon reached up and placed his hand on Lewis’s arm.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine, Lewis.” Simon said, looking up at his friend. Lewis smiled worriedly down at Simon. The lift arrived and pinged as the doors opened and the pair climbed in, pressing the ground floor button. “And if he is ill, Yoglabs has the technology to cure lots of illnesses, doesn’t it?” Lewis nodded slightly.

“We have the technology and the expertise, but Yoglabs isn’t a hospital, Simon. We don’t have the equipment that an actual hospital has, and we certainly don’t have any bed spaces. And besides that, not all illnesses can be cured, especially if they’re not caught early.” Lewis took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, closing his eyes. “I just hope that whatever’s wrong with him, we can get him to a hospital.”

“But don’t hospitals refuse to treat werewolves.”

“Fuck! Fucking bullshit racism!” Lewis shouted angrily and Simon once more placed his hand on Lewis’s arm.

“Take it easy there, spaceman.” Lewis sighed.

“I’m sorry, Simon. I’m just so pissed off at how hospitals will refuse to treat someone because they’re a werewolf! It’s just so fucking stupid!” The lift arrived at the bottom and the doors opened slowly and the pair stepped out into the reception area of Yoglabs. They quickly headed towards the doors and stepped outside into the grey rain.

“Where are they going to be?” Simon asked, squinting up into the sky to look at the thick grey clouds.

“I’m assuming they’re going to be at their house. Come on, Simon.” Lewis took off, striding away and leaving Simon trailing behind.

It didn’t take the pair long to reach the house, but they were both soaked by the time they got there with water dripping from their hair and clothes. Lewis knocked on the door and after a few moments a younger werewolf opened it, only about 8 years old. Their eyes were slightly red and it was clear they’d been crying recently.

“Hello, can we come in?” Lewis asked gently, crouching down so he was level with the child. The child sniffed and turned their head back into the house.

“A couple of men are here, Rachael.” They called out, their voice wobbling slightly. “They want to come inside.” An older werewolf appeared in the corridor, one who Lewis recognised and she smiled briefly at Lewis and Simon.

“Let them in, Robin.” The child stepped back and Lewis and Simon stepped out of the rain into the house murmuring their thanks to the child as they passed.

“How is he? What happened?” Lewis asked as he walked up to Rachael, sweeping his dripping hair back from his face. She looked at Lewis worriedly.

“He just collapsed. None of us knew what happened. We don’t know what’s wrong with him.” Rachael said, speaking quietly as she moved through the house towards the stairs and led Lewis and Simon up.

“Is there anything else wrong with him? Like have you noticed anything strange the last couple of weeks?”

“Well he’s been loosing weight, but that can be normal, especially when we don’t always have enough food. Danny always makes sure the younger werewolves have something to eat, even if it means he goes hungry. And he’s seemed more tired recently too, but we just assumed that that was because he was working so hard, we didn’t realise it was because he was ill.” Lewis was frowning. “Do you think you’ll be able to help him?” Rachael asked quietly, her hand resting on the door handle into a room. Lewis sighed.

“I want to help him, I really do, I just don’t know if I’ll be able to.” He said truthfully. Rachael nodded.

“I understand. He’s in here.” She opened up the door and Lewis and Simon walked in.

The room they found themselves in was a bedroom that obviously normally slept a number of people; there were two single beds pushed up against the walls and on the floor there was a makeshift double bed made out of a mattress and a pile of blankets and sheets. Despite the little floor space, the room was clean and the window was open slightly, causing a cool breeze to blow through the room, making the curtains move slightly. On the back wall underneath the window was a chest of drawers where a jug of water and a glass were resting along with an empty bowl and spoon. Occupying one of the beds was Danny; his skin was pale and his eyes were closed. Wether he was sleeping or otherwise, Lewis and Simon couldn’t tell. Sat crosslegged on the double bed was Jacob, worry written clear across his face. He glanced up as Lewis and Simon walked in, Rachael closing the door behind them leaving them alone in the room. Jacob clambered to his feet and walked over to the pair.

“You have to help me.” He said, desperation clear in his voice. Lewis glanced at Simon. This was the most serious he’d ever seen Jacob, further bringing to light what a serious situation this was.

“I’m not sure what I can do, Jacob.” Lewis said softly, resting his hand on Jacob’s shoulder.

“You have Yoglabs! You can help him get better!”

“Jacob, I…” Lewis looked down at Simon for a moment.

“Lewis can’t help me, Jacob, and it’s not fair to spring this on him.” Danny’s quiet voice spoke up and everyone looked over to where the alpha had opened his eyes and was gazing out at the guests in the room. Jacob bounded across the room and knelt by Danny’s bed.

“But Yoglabs is,”

“Yoglabs doesn’t have the facilities.” Lewis blinked as he listened to Danny. He hadn’t realised that the alpha had known about the lack of facilities within Yoglabs.

“He’s right, Jacob. We just don’t have the space in Yoglabs for medical equipment or beds for patients at the moment.” Lewis said, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. Simon moved to stand by Jacob and placed his hand on the young man’s back. Jacob’s face began to take on an expression of panic.

“But, but!”  Danny smiled tiredly and moved his hand out from underneath the duvet and placed it on Jacob’s arm.

“It’s alright, Jacob. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

“But I don’t want to! I can’t! I won’t!” Jacob got to his feet and ran from the room, the door slamming behind him. Lewis and Simon looked at the door for a moment, shock on their faces, before they looked back at Danny. He sighed quietly.

“What was that about?” Lewis asked, gingerly.

“The alpha of a pack needs to be a tier ten werewolf. In other words, they need to be at their strongest.” Danny explained softly. It was clear that he was exhausted. “I’ve chosen Jacob as the next alpha because I know he won’t let me down. He’s stupid and immature, but he looks after the pack which is what’s important. He knows when he needs to be serious. He knows how to teach others the important things in life. And he knows how to protect people. And now all he needs to do is become tier ten.”

“How does a werewolf become tier ten?” Simon asked, leaning himself against the wall. Danny grimaced slightly.

“To become tier ten, a werewolf needs to take the life of another.”

It was hours before Jacob finally returned to the house. The skies were growing dark and the rain was falling heavier. Lewis and Simon were sat in the front room of the house with the TV on, minding some of the younger members of the pack while the others busied themselves with chores and keeping an eye on Danny. Danny had explained to the pair that while most werewolves refused to kill nowadays, it was still tradition for the next alpha to kill the old alpha when they were on their deathbed. It ensured that the next alpha would be a tier ten werewolf, and in some cases it enabled the old alpha a swift death without prolonged suffering, something that was common when werewolves couldn’t easily access healthcare.

Lewis and Simon heard the door to the house open and a few moments later Jacob appeared in the doorway to the front room, rainwater dripping from his hair and his clothes completely soaked. He moved quietly through the room and sat himself down on the floor in front of the sofa. One of the younger children in the room moved from their spot and clambered onto Jacob’s knee, complaining about his wet and soggy state as they did so.

“Why’d he have to choose me?” Jacob asked quietly, staring down at the head of the child sat in his lap. Lewis and Simon exchanged a look for a moment.

“Because he believes you’re the best person to continue looking after the pack.” Lewis said softly. Jacob grimaced.

“But it’s not fair!” He exclaimed. “I don’t want to be the one who… I don’t want to…” He lowered his head and his chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to contain his sobs.

“Why are you crying, Jakey?” The child who was sat on Jacob’s lap asked, twisting around and looking up at Jacob. Lewis and Simon exchanged another look before they got to their feet and moved over to Jacob.

“Come here, small one. Jacob needs a moment.” Simon said, picking up the child from Jacob’s lap and carrying them to the other side of the room where he sat down and placed the child on his own lap. Meanwhile Lewis sat himself down beside Jacob and placed his arm around his shoulders.

“Why me?” Jacob murmured through his tears, leaning into Lewis’s body. Lewis rubbed Jacob’s shoulder comfortingly.

“I can’t tell you the exact reasons why Danny chose you. But I know you’re a good person, Jacob. If anyone is ready to become alpha, it’s you. Danny told me it was you who stopped those men from kidnapping me. And I was a complete stranger back then. If you’re prepared to do that, to put yourself in harms way for a complete stranger, then you are ready to become alpha.” Jacob sniffed and drew in a shuddering breath.

“But I’m not ready to become tier ten! I don’t want to be tier ten!” He cried out. “I don’t want to be tier ten…” He repeated, mumbling softly as he cried.

“I know.” Lewis said quietly, squeezing Jacob’s shoulder gently.

Jacob turned his head and began crying into Lewis’s shoulder. He was crying quietly enough that most of the others in the room didn’t notice and remained fixated on the TV. But a couple of the older children noticed and they moved from their seats and sat themselves next to Jacob, doing nothing but offering their presence as comfort. And slowly, Jacob stopped crying and he pulled away from Lewis slightly, wiping his eyes. He took another minute or so to compose himself. Then he ruffled the heads of the two children who had sat themselves beside him and stood up.

“I’m going to talk to Danny.” He told Lewis quietly before leaving the room.

Lewis moved across the room and sat himself down beside Simon and the pair sat together quietly, wondering what it must be like knowing you had to kill someone you were close too. Wondering what it must be like knowing you had to kill your best friend.

Eventually Jacob returned to the front room and stood in the doorway. He looked tired. He looked like he’d accepted what he needed to do. And he looked empty.

“Danny wants to see you.” Jacob said to the children in the room and they instantly clambered to their feet and ran past Jacob and up the stairs.

Jacob looked towards Lewis and Simon before he gave them the slightest twitch of a smile before he moved through the front room and into the kitchen. A few moments later the rest of the pack members who had been downstairs walked through the front room and headed upstairs, Jacob following them. Lewis and Simon could figure out what was happening quite easily. Danny was saying goodbye. The pair got to their feet, not wanting to stay and impose. It wasn’t their place to stay. This was a family moment and they weren’t family. They moved out into the hallway where Jacob was just beginning to climb the stairs.

“Jacob,” Jacob turned to look towards the pair, “Simon and I are going to be heading off. You’ll be fine. Danny believes in you, and so do we.” A ghost of a smile passed over Jacob’s face for a moment.

“Thanks.” He murmured quietly before he turned and continued walking up the stairs.

“Is everything alright, while I’m here? Do you want me to get anything?” The nurse asked as Lewis and Hannah stepped closer to the bed.

“No, thank you.” Zoey said. The nurse nodded, smiled and left the room closing the door behind them. Zoey was still beaming up at Lewis and Hannah and Fiona slid off the bed slightly so her feet were resting on the ground and she too was smiling from ear to ear. “Hannah, Lewis, look, come and meet my daughter! Her name’s Hope Charlotte and I love her so much! I can’t believe I’m actually a mum! And Fiona’s a mum too! We’re both mums! This is so amazing and I’m so happy!” Zoey gushed, still beaming from ear to ear. Fiona wrapped her arm around Zoey and hugged her tightly.

“This is an amazing time for us.” Fiona said, smiling up at Zoey for a moment before she turned her gaze to Lewis and Hannah. “Sit down, you two, don’t stand around. Make yourselves at home.”

Lewis turned and pulled one of the armchairs closer to the bed as Hannah moved closer to Zoey’s side and looked down at Hope, smiling at her.

“Isn’t she just gorgeous?” Hannah said softly, as Lewis settled himself in the chair.

“She’s beautiful.” Fiona murmured in agreement.

“She’s a little wrinkly, ‘cause all newborns are like that, but I think that she’s got my nose and her hair is so soft and fluffy, although you can’t see it at the moment because it’s under this little hat, but it’s the softest thing I’ve ever touched in my life!” Hannah and Fiona exchanged a smile as they listened to Zoey. “Do you want to hold her, Hannah?” She asked, holding out Hope towards Hannah.

“I’d love to.” Hannah replied, gently taking Hope from Zoey’s arms and cradling in her in her own. “Hello there, Hope!” Hannah cooed softly as she rocked Hope in her arms.

Curious, Lewis stood up and moved closer to Hannah so he could get a better look at Hope. Wrapped up in a blanket with a little pink hat on her head and only her small face was showing. Zoey was right when she said she was a little wrinkly. Hope’s face was wrinkled, and her eyes were closed tightly as she slept, one tiny hand poking out from the blanket. Lewis moved his hand up to her and gently placed his finger by Hope’s hand. Unconsciously she wrapped her little fingers around Lewis’s and gripped on tightly. He smiled as he looked at her. He still didn’t know anything about babies, but that wasn’t stopping him from being happy for Zoey and Fiona and their little baby girl.

“How much does she weigh?” Hannah asked, glancing up from Hope to look towards Zoey and Fiona.

“Six pounds and eight ounces.” Zoey announced proudly, the beaming smile, that had appeared when Hannah and Lewis first walked in, still on her face. “You guys don’t happen to know where Rythian is do you?” Both Hannah and Lewis looked up at Zoey. “Only I sent him a couple of texts and asked him if he’d come and visit and he hasn’t replied and I’m just really worried about him.” Hannah frowned slightly.

“He’s not been replying to my texts for a while now. I think I’ll go over to his today and make sure everything’s alright, and if he’s up for it I’ll bring him to visit you.” Hannah said, gently handing Hope over to Fiona and pulling out her phone. “I’ll send him a text, to see if he replies. I’ll visit anyway, just to see him because I haven’t seen him in months.” Zoey nodded as Hannah quickly wrote out a text and sent it.

“You have to make sure he visits, Hannah, I want him to be Hope’s godfather. And I want him to see her, I want him to be a part of her life as she’s growing up.” Hannah looked over at Zoey and smiled.

“I’ll make sure he visits. I promise.”

It was about an hour after Hannah had sent her text to Rythian, and now she and Lewis were standing outside his flat. Hannah had never got a reply from Rythian so she’d asked Lewis to send a text and unsurprisingly, he hadn’t got a reply either. The block of flats that Rythian lived in were old and rundown; there were damp patches in the ceilings of the corridors and unsavoury stains on the floors. The block of flats resided in one of the rougher areas of Datlof and as a result of this, the prices of the flats in this area were cheap and affordable to those who had minimum wage jobs, or were living off benefits. But just because they were affordable didn’t mean that they were in any way nice. Lewis had never been to this part of the city before and he was appalled by the poverty he saw around him. He knew from Danny that it was in these rougher areas that a lot of werewolves and werewolf packs existed; it was hard for them to get any kind of jobs, let along jobs that paid well.

The door to Rythian’s flat had been painted blue at one point, but the blue paint was faded and peeling, stained by years of rain and damp at the bottom. There was a set of metal numbers hammered into the door reading out 356 and the letterbox had the days mail poking out of it, the edges of the letters slightly damp from the light drizzle that was in the air. Hannah lifted her hand and knocked loudly at the door.

“Hey, Ryth! You in there?” Hannah called out as she finished knocking. Lewis glanced around as Hannah took a step back from the door.

“Do you think he’s in?” Lewis asked. She shrugged.

“He might be at work. Although…” She trailed off as she frowned at the door. “Come on, Ryth. Open up!” She knocked again.

“Although?” Lewis enquired, frowning slightly at Hannah. She was about to reply when they heard the clicking of the lock turning and the door swung inwards.

Rythian was almost as tall as Lewis, only about an inch or so shorter, and he was very thin and skinny, too thin to be healthy. His face had a gaunt look about it and there were large dark circles under his bright teal blue eyes. Rythian’s hair was dark brown and was swept back from his face. His dark skin seemed to have a slight blue tint to it. Rythian was wearing black trousers and a black tank top, and hanging around his neck was a long beautifully made dark purple scarf. Hannah’s eyes swept over Rythian quickly as she looked at him, a smile breaking out over her face. Lewis smiled too, to be polite.

“Hey. I thought you weren’t going to open the door then.” Hannah said, smiling warmly at Rythian. His face twitched into a smile, but it didn’t quite seem to reach his eyes.

“Hey.” He murmured quietly, an unusual accent thick in his voice. As he spoke, Lewis caught sight of sharp pointed teeth inside Rythian’s mouth.

“Can we come inside?” Hannah asked gently.

Rythian nodded his head slightly and disappeared back inside, leaving the door to his apartment open. Hannah walked in, followed by Lewis who closed the door behind them. As they walked into the apartment, they instantly started shivering from the cold air in the room, and as the door swung shut, they were enveloped in darkness.

“Jesus Christ, it’s freezing in here!” Hannah exclaimed as she navigated her way across the room towards the window and opened up the curtains, sending the grey light of day shining around the apartment. “And you need to get some light in here too.”

“I am sorry, I was sleeping.” Rythian replied quietly. His English, although good, was slightly broken and it was clear that he’d had little chance to develop his language skills.

In the grey light, Lewis looked around Rythian’s apartment. It was small. Rythian’s bed was up a small set of steps and underneath the bed there was a small storage space and a door that Lewis assumed lead to the apartment’s bathroom. The kitchen had a tiny stove and a meagre amount of counter space and in the corner of the room there was a fridge-freezer. There was an old table surrounded by a couple of wooden chairs and looking towards the window was an old sofa. There was very little in the way of personal belongings lying about and the whole apartment felt very empty, despite being lived in. Hannah glanced towards Lewis before she looked at Rythian more closely.

“Would you like a drink?” Rythian asked, turning away from Hannah and going to open the cupboards, pulling out a half empty packet of instant coffee.

“Have you got any tea?” Lewis asked, still looking around Rythian’s flat curiously. Rythian shook his head as he filled up the kettle, putting it on to boil.

“No, I am sorry. Hannah, would you like a drink?”

“I’ll have some water, thank you.” Rythian filled a glass of water and passed it over to Hannah. “Thank you.” She murmured, before she took told of Lewis’s arm and pulled him over to the sofa where they both sat down. The boiling of the kettle allowed the pair to have a hushed conversation without Rythian hearing them. “I’m worried about Rythian.”

“Why?”

“Look at him! He’s obviously been barely eating, and I’m just worried he’s not looking after himself.” Hannah’s face was creased into a concerned frown and Lewis glanced over at Rythian. Rythian’s movements were slow and he seemed tired, right down to the bones. And as he’d noticed before, Rythian did seem unhealthily thin. The kettle boiled and their quiet conversation fell silent as Rythian filled a mug with the boiling water and stirred it a couple of times before wrapping his fingers around it and turning to face Lewis and Hannah, a bright smile on his face. “How come you never replied to our texts?” Hannah asked gently as Rythian sat himself down on one of the chairs at the table. His smile faltered for a moment.

“Texts? I did not receive any texts.” His smile seemed to become more forced as he spoke. Hannah glanced worriedly towards Lewis before she turned back to Rythian.

“Are you sure?” Her voice was gentle, trying to be as non-accusatory as possible. “Lewis and I sent one each, and I think Zoey sent about three or four…” Rythian smiled slightly over at Hannah.

“I did not receive any texts.” He repeated. “You can check my mobile…” He gestured towards an cheap phone that was resting on the arm of the sofa.

It was a £20 Nokia phone and built like a brick. Hannah picked it up and quickly navigated through it, checking the messages that had been sent. Lewis glanced over her shoulder as she looked and although there were apparently no messages from today, he caught sight of the many other texts that had been completely ignored. Hannah shrugged slightly and moved to put the phone back down. Lewis glanced up at Rythian, who was gazing into his coffee, and took the phone from Hannah. His fingers moved quickly as he passed through the phone’s menus, arriving at a folder named ‘DELETED TEXTS’. Lewis opened it and staring up at him were the texts that everyone had sent that day. He nudged Hannah softly and held the phone out to her.

“Oh, Rythian…” She murmured loud enough for only Lewis to hear before she placed the phone down and looked over at Rythian. “Rythian, are you ok?” Rythian glanced up from his coffee and smiled over at Hannah, but once again the smile didn’t seem to reach his eyes.

“I am fine.”

“When was the last time you ate?” He hesitated before he replied.

“This morning.”

“And when did you last leave the apartment?” The pause was longer this time.

“Yesterday…” There was a crack in Rythian’s voice and he quickly looked down into his mug of coffee again, blinking rapidly.

“Rythian…” Hannah stood up and walked over to Rythian. She placed her hands over his hands. “How about Lewis and I take you out for lunch. And then we can go and visit Zoey and Fiona in the hospital, and you’ll get to meet Hope. I know Zoey really wants you to meet her.”

“I…” Rythian’s voice broke again and a couple of tears dripped down his face. Hannah gently took the mug from his grasp and placed it down on the table before she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Lewis looked away, slightly awkwardly.

“It’s alright. It’ll be alright. I’m sorry I haven’t been around for you, but I’m here now, and I’ll help you. I promise” She murmured quietly as Rythian broke down crying.

Hannah smoothed his hair gently as his body shook with tears. The room fell silent apart from the quiet noises of Rythian crying, and after a few minutes, Rythian pulled away from Hannah, wiping his eyes and sniffing.

“Are you alright for now?” Hannah asked, moving away from Rythian slightly. He nodded slightly, still sniffing, his eyes red from the tears. “Are you ready to go get some lunch?” Rythian nodded again. Hannah stood up and Lewis got to his feet too. “Come on then.” She said.

Rythian got to his feet and wound his scarf around his neck so it wouldn’t be trailing on the floor and quietly moved towards the door, grabbing his keys from the lock. Hannah and Lewis moved over towards the door as Rythian pulled it open and stepped outside, Lewis and Hannah following. Once Rythian had locked the door, Hannah reached up and placed her hand on his shoulders, not quite tall enough to put her whole arm around, and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly.

“Let’s go get something to eat. Lead the way, Lewis.” Lewis moved off, with Hannah and Rythian in tow behind him.

Over their lunch Lewis learnt, partially from Hannah and partially from Rythian, that Rythian had been in Datlof for a little over a year, having come to Datlof from the End when he was seventeen years old. Rythian had been reluctant to speak throughout the entire meal, but he had told Lewis of a few things from his home realm, like how magic was their equivalent of technology, and how he missed his home. And once they’d finished eating, the trio headed to the hospital and Hannah, Lewis and Fiona left the room to let Zoey and Rythian catch up together for a while. So they went to grab some coffee and some tea, talking as they went.

“Rythian seemed, quiet when he came in. Is everything alright?” Fiona asked as they walked along the corridor. Hannah sighed.

“I don’t think so. I think he’s homesick, tired of being constantly ill, and struggling financially at the moment. I just hope we can help him.” Fiona nodded.

“Can’t you cure him with your magic if he’s ill?” Lewis asked, thinking back to how Hannah had healed his wound when they first met. Hannah pulled a face.

“Unfortunately it doesn’t really work like that. Healing a physical injury, like a broken bone or a cut is fairly simple. All I’m doing is speeding up the healing process. But with an illness, like a cold, or flu, I could in theory heal someone, but then they wouldn’t have built up any resistances to the illness. And so next time it came around, they’d get ill again. And for Rythian, right now, he needs to build up his immune system. You should be able to understand that, Lewis.” Lewis nodded.

“I suppose that if one of us were to go to the End, we’d get ill because our immune systems aren’t equipped for dealing with their illnesses.” Hannah nodded.

“At the moment, there’s not quite enough movement between Datlof and the End for both groups to have immune systems capable of dealing with the bugs and germs that are found in each place. And so this first year for Rythian has been particularly tough because every time he’s recovered from one illness, he’s caught another, and I think it’s beginning to take it’s toll on him, physically and mentally.”

“He sure has had it rough. Datlof’s not exactly the friendliest place to outsiders, either.” Hannah nodded in agreement with Fiona as they reached a little cafe area filled with patients and visitors alike.

“What do you guys want? I’ll go get it.” Fiona said, turning to face Lewis and Hannah.

“Tea please.” Hannah said, speaking first.

“Same here.” Lewis said after Hannah. Fiona nodded.

“Alright, I can do that. I’ll meet you over there.” She pointed to a little table by a window.

“Alright.” Hannah and Lewis moved off towards the table that Fiona had pointed out as she moved into the queue.

“So why did Rythian come to Datlof in the first place?” Lewis asked as he and Hannah settled themselves down around the table.

“He told me he came here to learn our magic.”

“There are different types of magic?” Lewis asked, staring at Hannah. She grinned at his bemused expression.

“Yes, just like there are different fields of science; chemistry, biology, physics, to name a few. Magic can vary quite vastly from culture to culture, and for those who are keen on learning different types of magic, traveling to different realms is one of the most logical options. End magic is highly different from the kind of magic I use, for example, I’ve heard that End healing magic is much more sophisticated than the healing magic I use.” Lewis was once more fascinated by the complexity behind magic and how it worked.

“So how does it differ? And how come their healing magic is so sophisticated?” Hannah laughed.

“I don’t know, Lewis. You’d have to ask Rythian, he’s the expert.” Lewis sighed, smiling slightly as Fiona walked over with a tray holding three mugs and a selection of little UHT milk cartons and some packets of sugar.

“Alright, tea all around. Grab whichever one you fancy, they’re all the same at the moment.” Fiona said, lowering the tray onto the table.

Hannah and Lewis both grabbed a mug and Fiona moved the last mug onto the table before she slid the milk and sugar onto the table, enabling her to take the tray away. Hannah grabbed a carton of milk and opened it, tipping it into her tea as Fiona returned and sat herself down. She too tipped some milk into her tea along with a packet of sugar and stirred it before she took a small sip, sighed and lent back in the chair.

“What are you guys going to do after this?” Fiona asked, looking at Lewis and Hannah.

“Well, I need to head into Yoglabs, there’s a lot of stuff I need to do there, and I haven’t had a chance to say hi to Simon or Lal today.” Lewis said, taking a slurp from his tea.

“I think I’ll stick with Rythian for the rest of today. I think he needs the company.” Hannah said gazing thoughtfully down into her mug of tea. “What about you?”

“I’ll be staying late at the hospital tonight before going home, then hopefully Zoey and Hope will be discharged sometime tomorrow lunch time and I can take them home.” Fiona said smiling.

“Would I be able to visit you when you’re at home?” Hannah asked.

“Sure!” Fiona said.

“I’ll probably bring Rythian along with me too, I’m thinking of letting him stay the night at mine tonight. I hope you don’t mind, Lewis?” Hannah turned to look towards Lewis.

“No, that’s fine. He’s your friend and it’s your house.” He said, smiling slightly.

“Good.” Lewis glanced at a clock on the wall, and dread suddenly filled him.

“Oh shit!” He swore. Both Hannah and Fiona looked towards him in surprise.

“Lewis?” Hannah asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I need to go, otherwise I won’t be able to get anything done today!” Lewis took a large gulp of his tea, the liquid burning as it went down his throat and stood up. He’d forgotten about the mountain of work that kept piling higher and higher on his desk and the thought of the chaos he might turn up to at Yoglabs made his blood run cold. “I’d love to stay with you some more, but I have so much I need to do! I’m so sorry,”

“No, it’s fine! Go! I wouldn’t want you to be worrying about work.” Fiona said, flapping her hands in a shooing motion at Lewis.

“Ah, thank you so much! If I have time, I’ll drop by with Hannah tomorrow.”

“That’d be great.”

“Ah, good.” Lewis moved around the table and gave Hannah a quick kiss on the lips. “Right, well, I’ll be off and I’ll maybe see you tomorrow.” He said, looking at Fiona. “And I’ll see you when I get back tonight.” He turned his gaze to Hannah.

“And don’t forget that Rythian will probably be there too.” Hannah called out as Lewis backed away from the table. He nodded.

“I won’t. I’ll see you later. Love you!”

“Love you too.”