BANISHED DEMONS

(These characters, except for the ones I made up myself, don't belong to me. They belong to the wonderful people at Disney, geniuses the lot of them. Lol. And to answer questions, Kayrna is pronounced Care-nah. Just wanted to clear that up. This is a PREQUEL to Midnight Rescue. Hope you enjoy!!)

Chapter 1

"Three shillings a night, boy, or you'll face the same thing tomorrow." A skinny lad of about fifteen looked up at his father as he heard the familiar words. Three shillings a night. This was nothing new to the boy, he'd been made to steal and beg for money for as long as he could remember.

"I try, sir." The boy gulped and struggled not to flinch at what would come next. He knew what he had to do. The boy took a deep breath waiting for retribution. This, too, was a nightly ritual. If he couldn't anger his father enough to leave the house his temper would run rampant over his mother and sister. He didn't want to see father hit either of them anymore, so he did what he could to enrage his father in order to get him out of the house.

"Try?! That's not good enough!" his father bellowed, "If you want a roof over your head and a meal then you'll pitch in too, or, by god, I'll send you out to the streets! I wont tolerate weakness in this house!" he was gasping for breath by the time he stopped. With one last parting glare he stormed off down the street no doubt to spend the money on a woman's company.

The lad had medium length dark brown almost black hair that fell to his shoulders in neat waves. He was tall for his age, but not an ounce of extra flesh lay on his bones. His expressive brown eyes showed traces of hunger and a sadness that seemed too old for his age.

"Jack?" a pretty little girl peeped out from under a cabinet. They both kept their faces and appearances clean not wanting to be like their father. She resembled their mother more, light reddish-brown hair and soft gray eyes that had the same trace of hunger as her brothers.

"Aye, he's gone for now." At only age ten he'd lost his mother and was left with the responsibility of taking care of his sister, Kayrna. She was the only person who thought to worry about him. In return, Jack would walk through hell for her had she asked. They worked together sometimes to get money, as a result both had a mind sharp as a newly crafted blade.

"I thought he'd never leave." She sighed, "Why did he take you outside?"

Jack moved his shoulders in reminder bringing back the slight stinging on his back. It was something he never wanted her to find out. For every missing shilling it was four lashes with a light bullwhip.

"He just wanted to count the money is all." Jack made up the instant excuse. She would be broken by the truth. Somewhere in her heart she wanted to believe their father was a good man, not the raving coward Jack saw him for.

"Its late. You should go to sleep." Kayrna announced suddenly making Jack smile. Only ten years old and still acting like mother. She was dead now, the cold had been too much for her to stand. Jack had given her his blankets against winter's frigidity, but it had been no use. She went to sleep one night and never woke up.

Their father hadn't cared, only enough to know extra income would stop. They buried her the next day and everything seemed to go back to normal. It was a bleak, dark winter in which the children marked her passing. Any mention of her in father's presence was forbidden, just her name could reap loads of trouble upon them.

"s' only around ten, Kyra." Jack ruffled her hair affectionately, "You go to sleep. I'll see if I can get a start on tomorrow."

"Not without me," Kayrna objected, "they're mean out there at night. If they catch you. . ."

"They wont. I'll be careful." He was interrupted when she yawned then blushed at the action.

"You can't conentrate if you're tired. I'll be back at half- past, aye?"

"You swear?" she looked up at him with glinting eyes.

"I do." Kissing her on the cheek he watched as she went off to their room. By the time he got the first shilling she would be asleep. He braced himself before stepping outside, the bitter wind howled angrily, icy breath made its way around and through his clothes freezing him to the bone.

Today both had worked separately, but Kayrna couldn't get all three. It was much to cold out for people to be out and around, but still their father insisted.

He should have thought ahead, taken more than just three, but even that was hard to come by. They would have to travel further tomorrow or risk being caught. The people would start to recognize them and label them thieves. Penalty was imprisonment or a heavy fine, none of which they could afford.

Jack knew Brahm, their father, had no qualms about hitting a woman, child, or animal. Jack never would allow Kayrna to be hurt. At the end of the day it was Jack who combined the money to give Brahm. Some days they weren't able to get enough for food for themselves.

He stumbled and skillfully reached into the pocket of a heavy-set dark haired man. Four coins, Jack kept his eyes downcast and apologized. Once the man was out of view he put them up to the light. Good fortune, a penny and three shillings. Kayrna was taken care of already.

His hands nearly frozen, he again pocketed the money and headed home. Brahm wouldn't get home until early morning. He had at least four good hours of sleep left.