It was grey outside. But she had always enjoyed gloomy days like these. There was something satisfying about huddling under layers of blankets while the rain pitter-pattered on the roof.
The tired blonde had already gotten out of bed and dressed for work before the call to inform her of her unplanned day off came. Instead of going back to bed, she opted for a steaming mug of hot chocolate and the seat by the cushioned bay window. She leaned against the side wall and haphazardly laid her creamy-beige faux fur throw over her lap. She took a sip from her Christmas themed mug and closed her eyes as a warmth spread down her chest. Turning her attention to enjoy the quiet morning, she noticed that everything seemed to be as dreary as the weather.
The bachelor from three doors down was taking his morning jog with what seemed to be slow lazy strides. He passed an old lady and her less-than-friendly rottweiler with a light smile and wave that was no more than a brief uncurling of his hand. The old lady smiled in return but did not wave to keep one hand on her walking stick and the other to attempt to hold the wandering full-sized dog away from the jogger.
The blonde watched her neighbors with mild interest as her head rested against the window. She let the cool glass relax her and the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds from the horizon land on her cheek. The silenced eased her and let her mind wander peacefully. Unfortunately, that peace only lasted so long.
A loud crash followed by softer thumping noises came from her husband's study. Since her husband had left a few days ago on a business trip, there was only one other rascal in the house that could be making such loud noises so early in the morning.
She sighed, watching her warm breath create a cloud on the glass. Her finger absentmindedly drew circles and swirls until the cold had consumed the little marks she left. She took another slow sip of her drink as she heard more thumping noises drawing closer each second. When she heard them stop at the doorway of the living room, she turned her head to find her little 8-year-old smiling up at her.
She found herself smiling just as brightly despite the early hour and dull weather. It was impossible not to with her son standing there with messy ruffles of bedhead and a face pink with exhaustion from dragging a book his size all the way from the study no doubt.
She chuckled lightly and stood up, leaving the throw on her seat while making a mental note to fold it later. As she made her way to the doorway, the source of her disturbed peace struggled to move the large book in front of him to show her what it was. She ruffled her son's hair, only making his bedhead worse and placed her mug on the coffee table to free her other hand.
"What'cha got there, little guy?"
"A story! You said on your next day off you'd read me anything I wanted! Remember?" He replied excitedly, still trying to tug the book, that had made its way from behind to only beside him, all the way in front of him to face his mother.
She bent down and relived him of his strenuous task by taking the book in both hands. She recognized it immediately. It had been one of her favourites as a child. It was the oldest book she owned and the only one with sun-dyed pages that rustled with every turn of the page.
"Did I?" She teased as she led him back to her spot by the window. His tiny hand cling to her slim fingers. She sat down, retaking her spot against the side wall.
"You did!" The wide-eyed 8-year-old pouted and crawled onto the seat and under his mother's arm. He settled himself against her before pulling the throw over both their bodies. The blanket barely made it to her waist but was already covering the little child up to his neck. "And I picked this one because it's the only one in the whole library with a dragon on it." He stated matter-of-factly, seeming quite satisfied with himself for finding it.
"Hmm, and I suppose getting this down from the top shelf has nothing to do with all those noises I heard just now? She thought about the large mess he likely made that she would have to clean up later, but quickly dismissed it from her mind. Instead, she focused on the mischievous ear-to-ear grin her son looked up at her with.
"What noises?"
Her eyebrows rose a fraction at his smooth innocent play. It was definitely something he picked up from his father. A light smile ghosted her lips as she hummed knowingly and returned her attention to the heavy book in her hands.
Sure enough, as her son said, a faded black silhouette of a dragon crawled down the spine of the rust coloured leather bound. Her finger ran along the outline of the dragon as she remembered all the years she would sneak into her father's library at night to read this book.
"What's it about?" The child was even more curious after seeing his mother lost in thought before even opening the cover.
"It's an old fable. Some say it's the history of our country but others think it's more akin to a story from one of the old religions. It's mainly focused on the life of one individual though."
"No dragons?" He looked back down at the cover with slight disappointment. The blonde mother chuckled lightly and patted her son's head with one hand.
"There will be some dragons, you don't have to worry about that"
"Really?! Then let's get started!" He cheered and bounced with anticipation.
"Alright, but it's a long story, so get comfortable" She shifted in her spot to allow her son to curl up by her side and still look at the book.
She could not believe that after so many years she would be opening this book again. But she smiled to herself, knowing all the adventures within. She glanced over the front cover of the leather one more time. From that angle, only the side edges of the dragon on the spine and the tail that ran across the cover from the spine to the other end of the book were visible. The outline of the tail was harsh and jagged, to match the title it underlined. The deep black letters already sending a chill through the blonde. She exhaled and began to read, starting with the words embedded on the leather-bound cover.
"E.N.D. by Lucy Heartifilia"