To Keep A Promise

"Winter? That's a beautiful name." Winter grew hot, smiled, and turned away. Jake put his arm around her.

"Mother, she's who saved us." The mother looked astonished.

"Y-you? Alone? How could you- how did you . . .?"

"I jumped up out of the bushes, grabbed the whip the soldier was holding, and helped loosen the ropes. Your boys toppled the guards, and I tied them up."

"Where were the other guards? There was a large squad taking my sons and two werewolves to their deaths."

"Jake and Andrew were slowing the guards enough, the clash wasn't heard. Speaking of which, who was the man at the head? He was wearing royal colors."

"That's the king's son. He's the king now his father died. It'll do no one anymore good; however, he's as bad as his father." Winter didn't say anything. She knew what was about to befall the son. When she did finally speak, she said, "Where is he going?"

"The capital, Thundra. It's about a twenty days walk from here. There'll be a larger crowd then out here in the middle of nowhere. He'll show what happens to rebels and Christians," she paused to look at her sons. "But that won't happen know that you are home." Tears of joy pierced her eyes, and embraced all three of them in a warming hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," Jake's mother whispered in Winter's ear, "If there's anything I can do for you-"

"There is."

"Oh?" The embrace was ended as the mother looked at Winter.

"Can you-uh." Winter felt ridiculous asking someone else for something. It was strange, like being in a new world-or an old world she lost. Jake nodded to her, encouraging her. "Can you teach me about Christians and the Creator or uh, God?"

The mother smiled and nodded, "Well of course, Winter. May I ask why?"

"Many Christians helped me along my way here."

"Of course-," her gaze fell to Winter's arm, where her sleeves had been unconsciously pulled back up. Their mother staggered back, the same reaction her sons had when they saw her mark. Winter felt ashamed. Great going, she thought, what's she going to think now? Winter backed away, giving the woman some room.

"Please," Winter started to say, "It's-"

Nothing? Shadow laughed in her head. That's right, lie in her face, say it's nothing. Winter staggered back more, trying to force herself to calm down even with Shadow's presence in her mind.

"Please," Winter said again, "please." She fought to keep her voice straight, as Shadow laughed at her fear he could undoubtedly feel from inside her head. Her mark began to burn as Shadow's presence grew more into her head. She remembered what Kyra said about his voice getting louder and clearer when he was close. Luckily, it was neither, his voice's cold laughter cut through her head, but it faded in and out. She stole a silent sigh of relief; she could rest for an amount of time before moving on. Rest. It sounded like an imaginary word to her. There was silence for many minutes, and then Jake spoke up.

"Mum, she was taken from her home, across the Tundra Mountains. She was forced to leave and was tortured and imprisoned for many months."

Shadow chuckled at his own cruelty, Don't forget given a mark. Winter spoke this and Jake nodded.

"Mum, please. She escaped his cruelty-"

"No, I haven't." Winter said her head down.

"What?"

She looked up, "I told you, he can speak to me, and, recently he is able to harm-"

She stopped, Perfect timing, Shadow.

He chuckled, No problem.

The gripping pain only grew, and Shadow's laughter began to overwhelm her. She wavered, thinking how she hated being the damsel in distress, like in all those stories her mother would read to her. The only thing she missed was a gorgeous prince to save her from the evil king. She sighed, still weak, and collapsed on the nearest thing to a chair. Her hand went to her mark, as it seemed to burn its way to her bone. Her breath got caught in her throat, and she desperately tried to claw away the mark. It burned more and she finally stopped, still struggling to get the smallest wisp of air in her lungs. Shadow eventually let her lungs go and she sucked in air, hurriedly, for she was worried he would do it again. Her arm's burning died down, leaving her with little energy. Shadow's cold as steel voice chuckled, cutting down any thoughts in her head. She fought to regain control over her own being, and he finally left. Winter gasped when he was gone.

"I hate when he does that." she growled. The mother still stayed silent, not know what to think.

"Are you alright?" Andrew asked, concerned. Winter ran her fingers through his brown hair.

"I'll be fine," she said, evading his question. Winter looked up at Jake, who was holding her hand trying to comfort her.

"Winter," the mother finally came forward. "I will tell you. I'm ready now.

"First off, Jesus, who is Christ, God or The Creator's only Son. God sent his son down to earth as a human to die for our sins. Before, people had to sacrifice animals when they sinned."

"What's a sin?"

"A sin is a wrong doing against people, things, God. In short, something against the rules unless God is telling you otherwise."

"Oh."

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. So Christ died for everyone's sins and joined God back in heaven."

"Heaven?"

"Yes, it is a place of happiness, joy, and full being with God."

"Sounds wonderful. How do you get there?"

"If you have done God's Will and died, you go there."

"So He's dead?"

"No, He is very much alive. He lives in all His children and has guided them sense they were born."

"He didn't give birth to me, my mother did." Winter said defensively.

"Yes, yes. But he allowed you to be born, He knew you before He placed you in the womb. He planned your life out before you saw light, and He loves you every minute."

"Well, what a great life this is." Winter mumbled.

"He guides everyone in different ways, some paths are harder than others, but if you follow through, you will be rewarded."

"Right." Winter growled, though deep down, she knew this was true.

"Now prayer is way to talk to God, though He knows your thoughts before they are formed in your mind."

"So what's the point in prayer then?"

"Well, it can organize your thoughts, and God wanted people to pray."

"Ah."

"Now, forgiveness, which God gave when His Son died, is-"

"I know what forgiveness is."

"Of course you do. But sense God gave us a choice, we don't have to ask forgiveness, but it'd be better if we did. Tests are given to us because of our choice. If we fail our tests we can get another if we ask for forgiveness and want to continue following God."

"I see. I'll have to think of this."

"Take your time."

"Er- I apologize but, is there somewhere I can stay? An inn maybe?"

"Oh dear child! You may stay with us as long as you like."

"That's very generous, but I won't be staying that long. I just need some rest before moving on my way." The mother looked at her strangely, then Jake let go of Winter's hand and whispered to his mother that Shadow was following her. His mother only showed a brief moment of fear on her face before hiding it.

"Your father should be home soon," she said, "then shortly after, dinner should be ready." Winter smiled then left the small "house" to watch the sunset. Jake looked at her with concern, and left to follow her. He found her not far from his home looking out over the horizon, thinking. He came and stood by her, draping his arm around her shoulders.

"I'll make you a promise if you make me one." Winter said. Jake looked at her and nodded.

"Keep my curse a secret from your mother for now and I will help protect your family."

"Father and I can protect our own family," he answered defensively.

"I'm sure you could, Jake, from any normal person. Jake, don't you see, he's not human! He can attack me within my mind! I would be the one he wanted, you wouldn't be able to stop him if he came here. Jake, he could bring an army of werewolves if he wanted! You wouldn't be able to defend your family from him, never less an entire army!" Jake was silent, obviously knowing the truth in this.

"I'm. . . I understand." he finally said. Winter looked into his beautiful eyes, "I'm sorry." Jake stared at the sunset, with the wonderful reds, orange, yellow, and blue, all blending together.

"You shouldn't be. You've been through a lot. I wouldn't blame you for your outburst." Winter felt a tinge of annoyance at the word 'outburst', but only nodded.
A horse was heard trotting towards them and Winter immediately withdrew. Jake put his hand on her, pushing her back, waiting for the rider to appear. Through the haze that started to fall an outline was drawn, the horse's head the first to become detailed, then the hooves, and lastly, the man. A large buck was draped over his shoulder, bandaged to stop the bleeding. Jake lifted his hand and smiled, "Dad!" he shouted. Winter continued to withdraw, something wasn't right, something strange about him. He caught her eye and smiled at her with, Winter realized with horror, and selfish, greedy, even bloodthirsty smile.

**************************

"This is your father?" Winter asked, hesitant.

"Yes, yes, why else would I be calling 'Dad'?"

"Some thing's wrong with him, Jake. I can sense it and that is the same smile Shadow-"

"AH, my son! You are home!"

"No," Winter whispered. The father's eyes had a trace of red. "Shadow."

"How was it you got away from those tyrant fools?"

"Winter here, she saved Andrew and I."

Shadow's hidden eyes met hers, "Ah, the young Winter? I believe I've seen a poster of you on the boards."

"Have you now? Have you at all seen me anywhere else, perhaps? Maybe in some, ah, I don't know, torture room?!"

"Winter!" Jake growled, "What's wrong with you?" Shadow's servant growled, frowning.

I didn't think you'd find out so soon.

What, with that smile? I've only seen a thousand times before, Shadow.

The boy will not believe you.

How would you know?

Shadow chuckled, drowning out Jake's voice; I could take him just as easily. But, I'm afraid, that would make the chase too easy.

Winter's world came crashing down, you're toying with me.

Oh, did I just hear loss of hope in your voice? Your frightened now aren't you?

Winter felt her lungs tighten, the word toying kept ringing in her mind. She fought to keep herself from falling on her knees. Then confidence came through her again.

"Jake, your father didn't believe in God, did he?"

"Finally! You speak! What was that about before?!"

"Answer the question, Jake. I tell you later."

Jake's face reddened with anger, but answered the question, "No, he wasn't."

What was that again, Shadow, did I just hear you curse?

The boy still won't believe you.

Sure.

Shadow cursed again, and then the man he was controlling leaped off his horse, slinging his game over to Jake, saying, "Here son, I want to teach you something."

"Dad," Jake whispered soft enough Winter couldn't hear, "I'd wish to stay with Winter, some thing's wrong with her."

"You think?"

"Dad, I'll tell you about it later."

If you're still alive, Shadow said with a smile in his voice. Shadow took the deer back and entered the tent, sounds of glee flowing out of it. Winter looked away, how do you get a demon out of a human? Prayer. Winter looked around, who said that? It came again, prayer. Prayer, Winter repeated. The voice did not come again, but Winter smiled, she had one thing Shadow could not, God. Winter chuckled, Please Lord, free Jake's father from Shadow's possession. Amen. Winter believed, she admitted, in God. Winter did not, however, expect a solution to come right away. Jake, once again, was trying to talk to her, his hand squeezing hers, franticly trying to shake her from her trance. Winter grinned at him, "Help me pray for your father."

"What?"

"You heard me, pray for him. He's being controlled by Shadow."

"That's insane; I've never heard you say that he could do that before!"

"You're being blinded by your fear!! You have to believe me! He's going to kill your family, and then I'll have nothing! Again!"

Jake's silent anger floated in the air, "I don't believe you-" There was a scream from inside, both Jake and Winter turned to look. Winter ran ahead of Jake, into the scene; Shadow held a knife to his own throat, two voices rang inside Winter's head.

GET OUT! Boomed one.

Not if you wish to die, Shadow's voice responded. Jake ran to his father, only to be yelled at to stay back by Shadow's cool voice. Shadow's possessed head turned towards Winter, smiling, his free hand rising to the point to her mark. Slowly, the flesh beneath it began to burn, the mark biting, tearing, burning.

"I want to show all of you, especially those who don't know Winter's secret, what a monster she really is, and what powers I possess."

No, Winter pleaded. Shadow's man laughed, lowering the knife, gaining control again.

"Oh yes, Winter. Now, all of you might want to cover your ears, she's quite a screamer."

"NO!" Winter screamed. The pain traveled up her arm, scales began to consume her hand, painfully changing her hand into a scaly, clawed, hand. Winter began to claw at her scales now starting to hide her mark. It didn't matter, they continued to grow. She remembered every time she had changed, she either wasn't awake, or was passed out on the floor as the scales bit their way to her neck. She had to stop it, "No, please, not yet! I don't want to be this-this-"

"Monster? Face Winter, you are." Shadow finished.

"NO!" Winter screamed, no in the demon's shadow. The scales began to cross her chest, expanding her bones, changing her structure, fighting its way to her other arm. Winter screamed out loud, she's never managed to stay conscious this long before, but, of course, she built up strength through the daily beatings at the prison. She attempted to crawl away, clawing her way to the door flap. As she could nearly feel the flap, Shadow reached down, gripped her neck, pulled her off the ground, and stared into Winter's beautiful eyes.

"Everything you love, everything you cherish, I will crush them with one sweep. I may not be able to come here now, but believe me, when I do, you'll wish you were already dead."

"No," Winter choked, as the scales began to tear at her neck, "I won't let that happen."

"Oh? And how so?"

"Just like this," Winter threw the dirt she had gathered in her hand into the eyes of the demon-man. He threw her back and wiped away the dirt. Gaining control of herself, Winter whipped up, her newly grown tail whipping at the ground, eager for a fight. The scales gripped her back, build-painfully-new bone for her wings. Her dragon was able to stand like a human, upright, new nostrils flaring. Shadow had recovered as well.

"You're going to have to do much better than that."

"I intend to." Winter leaped up into the air, nearly ripping the tarp with the new spikes traveling on her back. All the instincts of dragons, as well as her own, rushed into her: flying, fear, love, fighting, breathing fire, and, surprisingly, ice. Winter rushed over Shadow, his slow body not quick enough to leap out of her tail's way. She threw him, and he hit the brick of a butcher's house nearly out of sight. Dragon instinct forced her to roar, her purple scales reflecting off the rising moon, her teeth glittering in the night, her forked tongue directing the flames flowing from her mouth. Shadow recovered quickly, running at with unbelievable speed. He was suddenly on her, digging the knife into her wings. Winter pulled away, but it was too late, her wings were ripped. She landed with a thud, upright and ready.

"Winter!" Jake shouted, "He's still my dad! You can't kill him!" More complications, Winter thought. Shadow smiled, and held a knife up to the dad's neck.

"Here, my dragon. Don't let me hurt myself." Winter managed to just barely take the knife away, as the other knife dug farther into her right wing. Now there was a clean, clear cut through the whole leathery material. Winter roared out with pain, her tail whipping around her, tying Shadow's hands together. The scales bit into his wrists, but Shadow felt no pain, it wasn't his body after all. Winter gripped his neck, "I believe, with God's help, you will leave."

Shadow laughed, "I can't believe you think this God is real! Ha!"

Winter smiled, "I can see you know of Him. And I can also see the redness in this man's eyes fading."

Shadow cursed, "No."

It was Winter's turn to chuckle, "Told you I had a plan." One last curse left Shadow's lips before he left the man, and Winter quickly rushed him over to his family.

"Here, his wrists need bandaging, his back may be hurting, and try to convert him to God." Winter spoke to Jake, in a wonderfully, beautiful voice, loud and clear. She didn't meet the mother's eyes and continued, "If you need me I'll be in the forest, or, if it's an emergency, yell. Dragons can hear from over a thousand miles." Jake simply nodded, staring up at her newly gained height.

"Demon," the mother muttered. Winter's blue eyes narrowed, the slits of eyes turning to her.

"Would a demon save your husband? Would a demon rid another of a demon? Would a demon wish to follow God?"

The mother looked down, avoiding Winter's dragon eyes, "No."

"Good. Now I must go. Jake," Winter's eyes softened, "Please, I am no demon. I would never hurt your family."

Jake smiled, "I would never think that." He reached up and ran his hands over her cheek, her scales softening so not to cut him. The adrenaline of the fight had worn off, her scales lowering so soft to the touch, the spikes running along her back shifted away from the stiffness she had before. Her throat no longer pleaded to let go of the heat trapped deep inside.

Winter touched his hand now smaller than a baby's, and said, "Be careful," then jumped back and with incredible speed combined with long legs, she was to the forest as quick as lighting.