Christmas in the City

     Christmas in Brandenburg…always an interesting time.

     In the house of werewolves, Kearna Tierney was busily whipping up a batch of cinnamon rolls. Hot chocolate was bubbling on the stove, and the smells of glazed ham and roassting turkey wafted through the house. Her red hair was stuffed into a red and white Santa hat, and as she bounded around the kitchen in her little Mrs. Klaus outfit, (very popular with the gentlemen), she sang "Deck the Halls" with a shining cheerfulness.

     The freehold was unadulterated chaos. Shrieking childlings bounced off of every wall, hyped up on the profound amount of sugar Andrew laced the children’s egg nog with. Bertram sat surrounded by his wives, hugging a yawning pooka childling, telling a story about how he got the massive train set currently dominating the entrance hall. Aeneas sipped brandy and chatted with Andrew, both of them looking quite warm in the new flannel robes Kia had given them. Amelia and Tyler were snuggled together in the windowseat of the front parlor, gazing out at the snow. Tyler occasionally took advantage of the strategically placed mistletoe, making his sidhe girlfriend giggle happily.

     Upstairs, Kia smiled indulgently as her daughter by Coils bounded around the room, waving her plastic ninja-to enthusiastically. Sari was dressed in her new ninja outfit, with her scarf peaked by the candy cane she was struggling to munch through.

     In the house of Jonas Foster, Christmas presents had long since been unwrapped. Now, Iris Foster slept on the couch, wrapped in an afghan by her father, hugging the small stack of books which had been her favorite gift. Ax and Betre were struggling to maintain silence for her benefit as they tried out their new video game, Stubbs the Zombie. The two demons giggled and snorted as their characters ate brains and ripped off arms. Kane, the tempermental orange tomcat, lay on the velvet pillow which has been his special gift from Seraphie, watching everything with the calm of a king. Honoria was nowhere to be seen, but the neat pile of wrapping paper was evidence of her presence earlier that day.

     The vampires’ haven was quiet, as dawn had long since gone by. Bright lights, the massively tall tree, and the row of stockings on the mantle made the haven’s living room a spot of cheer. In coffins and beds, everyone slept with peaceful smiles. Ross slept snugly in his new coffin, a gift from his sire’s wife Thomas, holding the heavy, leather-bound tome which had been another gift in his arms. Slate McCormick was sprawled across his wife, Jessica, his hand resting on her arm just above the gleaming diamond bracelet he had gifted her with. Cassie, Slate’s daughter, curled up in her coffin in her room, hugging the stuffed unicorn that her father had given her tightly. Nathan and Jack were in the living room, having literally fallen ‘asleep’ at the Xbox 360 Slate had bought for them. Kitty, snuggled up with Jimmy, smiled perkily in her sleep, wearing the diamond anklet Slate had bought for her. Everyone was peacefully asleep, except for Luther, but then again, there’s always at least one mouse stirring in Brandenburg.

     (Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone, from the residents of Freak Central.)