A/N: Glad to see you guys enjoyed the first chapter, I was sorta worried this story would fall flat on its face. So here's the lay down for updates, expect them every three to four days leading up to Christmas Eve. So here's chapter 2! Again feed back is welcome and encouraged! Expect some slight Bennica in the future.


A Very Whitechapel Christmas

Chapter 2: Mind Games

5th December 2012

It was nice out, and despite the weather from the previous day the sun had broken through bathing the world in a bight reflective light. Ethan felt unnaturally warm besides his family. Every year without fail they would go out together in search of the perfect Christmas tree, and the Morgan to find the winning one was often rewarded with a spectacular Christmas present.

"This," thought Ethan as he examined a potential candidate. "This is what it means to celebrate Christmas."

Last year the family tree had been found by Jane, and not be outdone by his sister again, Ethan searched with a diligent eye. He was looking at a particularly lopsided one when something caught his eye. For a moment he mistook the shape as a cloud passed over the sun, but a second glance confirmed his worst fears. Further down the row, the mysterious boy with the black scarf was watching him.

Quietly trying to avoid his family's attention Ethan ducked behind a row and approached the figure. Ever since the encounter in the cafeteria Ethan had carried the feather in his pocket, right now it felt heavy. Ethan reached out to grab the boy when he realized it was just another teenager with his family.

"Sorry," mumbled Ethan as he backed away. He felt a presence behind him and didn't dare move.

"By the tolling of the twelfth bell your Christmas will be over."

Ethan turned; whoever was standing behind him was gone. He heard his mom calling, after one final look around; he headed in the direction of her voice. Upon returning to his family he was rewarded with his sister's triumphant smile.

"I found a perfect tree," said Jane as she motioned to the tree next to her.

"All we need is an unanimous agreement from all Morgan's," said Ross as he and his wife walked around it. "I have to say she did find a real contender."

Ethan looked the tree up and down. After a moment he smiled. "I think we have a winner."

"Oh yeah!" said Jane as she jumped up and down. "Two years in a row!"

Ethan spent the rest of the night trying to push the encounter from his memory, but with every ornament he hung the words of the smiling boy echoed through his mind. As he put up the last red orb he saw the crazed smile from before. In his pocket the feather felt heavy with sorrow. What did it mean?


6th December 2012 (AM)

"I haven't seen that kid around since Monday," said Sarah as she looked between her friends. "Why would he show up to school for one day and then just leave?"

"Because he's making a point," said Ethan. He described his encounter at the tree yard and the strange emotions the feather was giving off. "I think he's messing with us right now."

"Why did you even keep the feather?" asked Benny. "You should throw it out, we have no idea what it'll do."

"For once I agree with Benny," said Sarah. "That feather is dangerous."

"I don't have it with me," lied Ethan. "I left it at home, but we need to figure out why he wants to destroy Christmas."

Before either Benny or Sarah could answer Rory appeared at the table, in his hands were several photos.

"Ok guys," said Rory as he sat. "I have proof that Santa is real."

"This I have to see," said Sarah as she turned to face him.

"Ok see this," Rory held up a picture of a half eaten cookie. "This is a bite Santa took from the cookies I left him last year. How do you explain that?"

"Those are probably from your parents," said Ethan feeling a little guilty at crushing his friend's dreams. "I hate to burst your bubble, but Santa is made up."

"Ok, so maybe it's not his bite but what about this?" He showed them a picture of an empty glass of milk. "My parents can't drink milk, and clearly this milk has been drunk. What do you say to that?"

"Dude, every year your mom gets Christmas heartburn," said Benny. "That's the only reason we can't come over to show the epic stuff we get until the day afterwards."

Rory looked Benny right in the eyes. "There's still plenty of time left to prove you wrong, you non-believers. Mark my words I will get the proof I need or my name isn't Rory!"

And he was gone. For a moment the trio merely looked at one another in disbelief. Then they began to laugh, the moment was cut short by an angry scream. The cafeteria doors burst open as Erica stormed into the room.

"Who put this on my locker?" She was holding up a small red envelope. The entire cafeteria fell silent.

"Isn't that an invitation to what's his name's holiday party?" whispered Ethan as he ducked his head. Benny nodded trying to disappear into the table. If there was one thing they feared it was an angry Erica. The students looked between themselves daring someone to approach the furious blonde. It was eventually Sarah who ended the icy standoff.

"I thought you liked being invited to parties?"

"Not Christmas ones!" yelled Erica as she stormed out of the cafeteria there was the sound of metal being smashed and broken. Once she was gone there were several sighs of relief.

"What was that all about?" asked Ethan after the students began to go about their usual antics.

"I don't know," said Sarah with a look of unease. "She won't tell me what's bothering her, and it's only getting worse. I'd hate to see what she's like at Christmas."

"Don't worry," said Benny as he got up. "Detective Weir is on the case. There's not a single detail that escapes these eyes."

"Are you sure this isn't a job for Ethan?"

"Please, you need someone with the power to defend himself," said Benny with confidence. "And I can run way faster than him in case something goes wrong."

He took off into the hall after Erica. It was just Sarah and Ethan.

"I was wondering if you have plans this weekend," said Ethan trying to act as casual as possible. "Because if you didn't Jane and I are going to visit the mall Santa and I was wondering if you wanted to tag along."

"Your mom actually lets you take Jane to the mall all by yourself?"

"It's the one thing she doesn't think I can screw up. So what do you say?"

"So it'll be just like babysitting except we'll be in the mall and I won't be getting paid?"

Ethan flushed red and began to tug at his collar. "When you say it like that- I mean- if you don't want to I-"

"I'd love to go with you guys," said Sarah as she placed her hand on Ethan's. "Just don't expect me to take a photo with Santa and you."

"Aw, why not?"

"Vampire remember?" said Sarah with a huge smile on her face. "Or did you forget?"

"Oh yeah," said Ethan as he laughed. "I kind of did, sorry."

"It's ok. It's kinda nice to forget that I'm not exactly normal every now and then."

"So we're on for this weekend?"

"It's a date."

She stood up and waved goodbye. Ethan felt the world spin around him. Did she say date?


6th December 2012 (PM)

Erica felt the tears well up in her eyes, she had managed to avoid Benny, who seemed to take to to stalking her, but now alone, and in the comfort of the locker room she began to cry. She couldn't tell Sarah the reason for her sadness, it was almost to impossible for Erica herself to understand. She looked up at the mirror and longed for a reflection to look at. For the first time since being bitten she wanted to be normal. The moment of self reflection was broken when a strange boy appeared in the mirror.

"What are you doing here?" demanded Erica as turned to face him fangs bared. "This is the girl's locker room! Get out of here before I rip off your arms!"

"I know the pain you feel," said the boy as he slowly approached her. His voice was clam, measured, melodious. "You feel alone, isolated. It's a sadness that cannot be expressed. And I fear, it's something we both have in common."

Erica turned to look at the mirror and felt more tears well up in her eyes. "What do you want?"

The boy touched her shoulder, as he did two large black wings emerged. "I merely want to end your sorrow."

He plucked a single feather and held it up to her. She looked at it and he nodded. Erica reluctantly took it in her hand let out a small gasp as it disappeared into her skin.

"It's ok," whispered the figure. Erica struggled to stay focused as the world began to fade around her. "The pain will end soon enough."