Unearthly World Christmas

by C. L. Scholey

  I am not here to hurt the child. The Angano killed by this child’s father was my mate. I am drawn to the boy. I felt his insecurity and was concerned. For a moment, I thought he was my mate. I am merely teaching him. You beings cannot begin to understand the complexity of our culture. His confusion was a magnet as would it be if he were an offspring of our own.

  Titus gaped. He heard the creature in his thoughts, in his language. The words weren’t harsh yet his flesh became covered in goosebumps. The enemy was right before them and wasn’t causing harm. A creature sworn to kill or be killed. Was Tempest right about the boy being a beacon? A gentle hand was placed onto Dranos’s shoulder. The whispering words began again.

  Try, child. I can help. Open your mind.

  Dranos closed his eyes and then smiled. He lifted his arms into the air. Great wings expanded from his sides and he rose to hover near the Angano. Face to face with the enemy. Dranos could fly. Long gray beautiful wings spread wide, spanned the length of his body. Each wing tip in three separate places were a soft glowing red, unlike the Angano whose wings did not glow. His long hair fluttered around him. His red eyes glowed brighter to match his wings’ perfect circular dots.

  They will grow as you do. Try them, trust them.

  The boy suddenly shot into the air at an alarming speed with the Angano hot on his heels, face to the sky. They moved like a Zargonnii spaceship weapon. Soon they were out of sight and all gasped.

  “No,” Tempest cried out. “He’s gone.”

  “He isn’t gone, Auntie Tempest,” Zell said.

  “That flying bird enemy took off with my brother,” Braylon screeched.

  “It didn’t take off, he did,” Ryker said. “That would be cool. I can zap to places with my thoughts, but it’s boring. I wonder if he can fly through the universe.”

  “We can follow them,” Zabbie said.

  They trudged forward listening to the whoops of delight coming from overhead. Dranos had no fear. Far in the distance they saw Dranos settle on a huge boulder, arms to the sky. The Angano was close, too close for comfort for Titus. It appeared the enemy was still talking to him, teaching him. Dranos was giggling and smiling which relaxed Titus. His new wings wiggled and shook as the child became accustomed to them. Though wary, Titus couldn’t help but smile as Dranos kicked his feet with wing tips on the ground supporting him. A new toy, or weapon, only time would tell.

  The Angano was again speaking to the boy who nodded. Dranos rolled his hands around in circles to produce a small shining ball that grew larger. Titus wondered if it was a bomb of sorts. He tossed it into the air where it exploded into confetti to rain down.

  “Magic tricks,” Zabbie muttered.

  The Angano gazed at her. Titus grew tense. He was always ready to leap in front of his mate though he knew in a battle of minds it would be Zabbie saving him.

  Yes, tricks, female human. Would you start him off with huge metal chunks that could cause possible harm? He may become a warrior. Right now he is a child.

  Titus could feel the red hue climbing over his jaw. He suddenly was feeling as though the alien was chastising him and placing him on a naughty list. It was an uncomfortable feeling being taught a lesson by an enemy. When they got Dranos home Titus was going to sit and apologize to him. If Tempest had been hurt or killed, it would have been Titus’s fault. How could he have let Dranos leave the planet in the first place, thinking he almost killed his mother? Dranos was five. What was his excuse? Titus was awash with shame.

  The Angano was teaching Dranos more tricks, which made the child smile and giggle. Zell was holding off from interfering as was Zabbie. Titus knew they felt comfortable they could interfere in less than a seconds notice. The Angano was smiling at Dranos in a strange way, almost a loving way. Titus wondered if the scent of its mate made it wonder about a child. The creature didn’t appear to have any open hostility, even toward Cy.

  When the second Angano appeared Tempest screamed. The new creature snarled at Dranos making the child cower. The new Angano raised an arm appearing ready to strike. A terrible evil washed over Titus. Anger sizzled the air.

  “Zabbie, Zell,” Titus commanded. “Go.”

  Zabbie pointed a fast finger at the new creature. Nothing happened. Zell waved a hand. Nothing stirred. Titus’s guts dropped. Zabbie gasped and Zell bellowed in outrage. This was a first for his son, who was at a loss. The idea was terrifying.

  Did you think we remained idle for the last five years you pathetic humans? No child will defeat me.

  The words, coming from the new Angano, were an obvious threat. The Angano closest to Dranos blocked him from view, hiding him behind it. Titus saw a wave of bony hands but heard nothing in his mind. The new Angano tried to get to Dranos but was held off. The two Anganos appeared to be arguing. The new being was hostile, even toward its own. Dranos was soon caught in the middle. The new Angano appeared stronger than the one defending the boy. An Angano was defending Dranos. Tempest was screaming for someone to do something. Zell was yelling with Ryker by his side. It was the first time Titus had ever heard fear in his son’s voice. Whatever the Angano had been working on blocked both Zell and Zabbie’s powers. Something unheard of.

  “Titus I can’t get to him,” Zabbie cried out. “I can block any thoughts of harm to us but I can’t break through whatever force field has been created.” Her fists were balled, her face red with concentration. Zabbie was growling out cuss words by the drove.

  Cy was battering at an invisible wall with Braylon by his father’s side. The young teen was bellowing for his little brother. Braylon smashed his body into the shield repeatedly, long talons clawing relentlessly. Tempest was sobbing in fear and anger. Titus paced unknowing what to do. He was helpless. They all were. They needed a miracle.

  * * * *

  Dranos was struck with a sharp electrical beam that sizzled. The sharpest spark hit his chest, and he cried out. The betrayal on his face was palpable. The teaching Angano raged at the other creature for hurting the boy.

  This is what we worked for.

  Another zap and there was a tiny hole in Dranos’s wing making him cry. The smaller Angano wrapped a wing around Dranos and shot an electrical lightning bolt—at the other Angano.

  This child carries part of my mate. You will not harm him.

  The smaller Angano was zapped and fell to its knees, still shielding the child. A thought occurred to Titus, the smaller Angano was feminine. She was smaller than the male and Titus realized this was the first Angano female he had ever seen. He could hear her whimpers of pain in his mind and he grew angry. Titus wished he could battle the male. He would smash his feet against the piece of garbage and send it flying. How dare that scum hurt a child and female.

  Dranos rose shakily to his feet and gave Titus a direct stare. Titus could feel his panic build. The boy was reading his mind. Dranos stood tall, wiping his eyes of moisture and with a huge growl on his face he attacked the male Angano with the agility and fierceness of a Zargonnii warrior. With his wings spread the boy flew into the air and launched himself at the creature. Both little feet slammed into the beast using his wings as leverage. The Angano flew backward howling into their minds a word:

  Impossible.

  The surprise on the creature’s face told Titus that Dranos had just accomplished something phenomenal. The Angano recovered. The female again tried to position herself between Dranos and the male. The male Angano smashed the back of a hand against her jaw. Titus bellowed in outrage. Dranos nodded as though hearing something in his mind. With one hand on the wing of the male Angano, Dranos spun the creature high into the air. The alien was gone only moments. It zoomed back to earth, plunging to meet Dranos, but the female was there and took the brunt of the blow. She was up in an instant clawing at the male and ripped a hole in his wing.

  “Whoa, she’s pissed,” Braylon whispered as he quieted and stepped back to watch the fight.

  “So am I,” Tempest said with a growl. “Read mommy’s mind my littl
e son. You can do it. Try.” She stood legs slightly apart fists balled. Seething rage oozed from her.

  Dranos gave a startled glance to his mother then raced to kick the Angano between the legs. The male howled and doubled over.

  “That’s my boy,” Cy said.

  “That’s my brother,” Braylon said with a cheer.

  You cannot win. Titus heard screamed as the Angano righted itself.

  With a howl of rage the Angano began to batter the female mercilessly. All stood helplessly watching as Angano warred with Angano over a small half-human boy. Electric charges filled the air. The beings clawed one another. Dranos latched onto the male’s leg and tumbled him over. Titus wanted to cheer but he was terrified the little one would be killed. No Zargonnii male battled at such a young age. Dranos was tiring.

  This is our downfall. The male was screaming. Compassion for an enemy’s child.

  No more war. Hate killed my mate; it consumed him. For what? Beings who would leave us in peace as long as we let them alone. We brought war to them as did our Gorgano cousins and look at where it got them.

  The two faced off, both breathing heavily. Titus saw their ribcages rising and falling. Dranos stepped between them. All stilled. The disheveled boy placed a hand onto both Angano and gazed at each in turn.

  “Why am I your enemy?” Dranos asked the male.

  You are a child of my enemy.

  The male tried to zap the child but the charge fizzled. Again and again, the male raised its hands, trying to harm Dranos. All could see nothing happened. The male centered a hard gaze onto Dranos, but the boy stood firm and unflinching.

  “I know your power,” Dranos said as he gazed way up, his little face filled with awe. “I feel it inside, I see it in my mind with pictures. Everything you know, I know. You can’t hurt me or my family. You can’t hurt this female Angano either. We can’t war anymore when I know all your secrets. But I feel something else. Something real bad.”

  What, child?

  Dranos closed his eyes and everyone and everything shuddered. A sharp grip of fear settled onto Titus. An evil so hideous for a second he was afraid. Gazing at the others he could tell they felt it, too.

  “That’s what I felt years ago when Braylon and Tempest first came,” Zell said. “Only Dranos can see what it is.”

  What it was—pure destruction. All-encompassing death. They were witnessing an emptiness so vast it was as though they cowered together. Evil the likes of no other was approaching. Dranos called Zabbie and Zell to him. The pair were able to penetrate the force field. Titus tried but couldn’t get through. The Angano stood warily watching for hostilities.

  “If we don’t stop them we will all die,” Dranos said. “We need each other.”

  Titus and the others had moved closer but could go no farther. The type of invisible shield was new. A secret power the Angano had been working on. It was no wonder they had been silent. Titus knew they had been planning an attack. But through a miracle, Dranos started a ball moving to bring them together.

  What do we do?

  Dranos gazed up at the female Angano and took her hand, he took the hand of the male as well and encouraged the others to lock hands. A brilliant white light lit all of their hands. Dranos and the Angano wrapped their wings around the group.

  “I am giving everyone your secrets,” Dranos said to the male Angano. “The Zargonnii don’t want to fight you. They like the quiet of our planet. No more war or we will die here, together.” The last of his baby lisp was gone. “We can’t be enemies anymore. No more mean. I don’t like mean.”

  The Angano nodded. The light around the five grew until none could be seen. For agonizing moments there was nothing. Titus growled as he paced waiting for the second the force field weakened or was gone. He wanted his mate and son in his arms. Fury engulfed him, he was too helpless. Tempest sobbed and Cy pulled her tighter. Ryker crowded closer and Titus knew the teen was battling internally. Technically Zell was his warrior mate. Ryker wanted to watch his back.

  When the light faded all five were in a heap on the ground. No one was moving. His fury overwhelmed Titus. Had he lost his son, his mate and a child of his heart? Titus raced to pull Zabbie and Zell into his arms. They were exhausted but alive, so were the others. All were shaking and weak. Titus could kill both Angano if he chose. At that moment the creatures were vulnerable. He was so close to the enemy. He was a warrior, it was his duty to protect his family, his people.

  Dranos gazed into his eyes and Titus knew the child could sense what he was thinking. Dranos reached to touch Titus by the hand and offered a small smile. Love for the boy overwhelmed him. Cy’s son was so much a part of his heart. A spark filled his belly. Not something the Angano did or Dranos, it was an intense emotion of mercy and relief. Titus knew mercy, but for an enemy that attacked a child he loved as much as his own it was unthought-of. For some reason his anger was replaced by relief.

  “We hid us all, Father,” Zell said. “Our existence, our planets, everything, even our essence patterns. Destroyers of the worst kind were coming, and they like to kill. We couldn’t have defeated them in battle; they’re too strong. The Angano would have been destroyed too. But together we won a small victory. The Destroyers will still come, but not for many years now. All of us, Zargonnii, Castian, Tonan and Angano need the time to plan for all our safety. No more wars. We need to survive. If we fight each other, we’ll be discovered. Now is the time for quiet skies. We don’t have to like each other, but we do have to respect one another, or Dranos is right, we will all die.”

  Zell smiled at Dranos, and Zabbie took her son into her arms. The male Angano vanished but the female stayed.

  There are many powers this little one needs to practice.

  “I’m not ready to go home yet, Mother,” Dranos said. “I haven’t found Christmas yet.”

  “But you have, Dranos, don’t you see?” Zabbie said.

  Dranos shook his head confused. “No I learned there doesn’t have to be mean. It’s a choice.” After wiggling from his mother’s arms he took to the sky again.

  “Dranos,” Tempest screamed.

  What does the child seek?

  “An old custom, a holiday humans had long ago,” Zabbie said. “He searches for a gift that he knows but doesn’t.”

  The Angano took to the skies following Dranos. Titus never felt so helpless. They saved the child only to have him disappear. It occurred to Titus that this was what Zabbie was trying to explain. Having another baby like Zell would turn their world upside down again. Emotions stormed within. He should be grateful for what he had, for who he had. Their mission of saving a loved one while he searched for answers was enlightening. Titus found answers he didn’t know he needed.

  “What the hell?” Titus asked as something from above pelted him. He plucked a red and white sticky thing from his hair and sniffed it.

  “Candy canes,” Zabbie exclaimed. “Peppermint candy shaped into canes to hang on trees and such.”

  “I haven’t had a candy cane in years,” Braylon said. “Holy heck, my brother can make candy. I will now proceed to love him for life. I wonder what else he can do.”

  “This is good,” Cy said sucking on a cane, then crunching another whole one into his mouth. “Candy? Is that what you called it?”

  All the children and adults were sucking on the sweet treats.

  “I think you better slow down,” Tempest cautioned.

  “Why?” Titus asked. “This is amazing.”

  “It’s also pure sugar,” Tempest said. “Your replicators make sweet things but they are synthetic with the nutrients and vitamins you need. Something tells me Dranos doesn’t understand the complexities of sugarless.”

  “Sugar? What’s sugar?” Zell began to speak quickly as he shoved a sixth candy cane into his mouth. “This is sugar? This is awesome. I love this stuff. It’s better than ice cream. Mother why haven’t you replicated this? I could eat it all day, every day, forever.”

  “That wou
ld be a mistake,” Zabbie said.

  Chocolate Santas began to fall. The children and warriors snatched them up. Titus shoved an entire Santa into his mouth and sucked and chewed. He’d tried chocolate ice cream, a favorite of Braylon’s. This was different and still melted in his mouth. After his fourth chocolate Titus was feeling strange. His body was running inside of him but not on the outside. He went from battle mode to normal to battle mode. He wanted to squeal weee. Every inch of him was squirming. He gripped Zabbie’s hand and began to run. So did they all.

  “It’s a super food,” Cy cried out, his breathing heavy but his tone excited.

  “You’re all hyped up on sugar,” Zabbie complained as she puffed along. “Slow down. Once it passes you’ll be exhausted.”

  “Never,” Titus yelled. Runrunrun…

  They were soon jumping obstacles. Yule logs, angels, tiny Christmas villages filled with lights. It began to snow. Creepy snowmen formed. Gingerbread men danced. Titus was unstoppable. Laughter filled his lungs. Excitement ran through his veins, he hadn’t felt this way since he was a child. He hadn’t thought about his childhood in decades. Time spent with his father. He had loved his father so much. Zell was named after him. His father had taught him so much. He wished he was here to see his namesake. Why was he suddenly thinking about his youth?

  “This is crazy,” Cy said laughing. “I remember being a child.”

  “It’s a five year old at play,” Tempest said. She and Zabbie stopped to gasp in air, yanking their arms free. “Dranos is still looking for Christmas.”

  “Well, show him where it is if he’s reading your thoughts,” Cy demanded.