Holiday

I smiled as I looked around the living room of Seto and Mokuba’s home. There was wrapping paper scattered around the floor. I wondered if Christmas Day was always like this. Mokuba’s bright eyes showed his obvious delight as he opened his gift from me. I had given him a mixed CD of all of his favorite songs in my collection of music.

 

“Thanks, Scarlett,” he called.

 

“You’re welcome,” I answered with a soft smile.

 

I looked around and watched as Darren drew in his art pad again. I walked over to him and looked over his shoulder. He was drawing Mokuba with the bright expression he’d had all day.

 

“That’s great, Darren,” I mumbled quietly, a slightly saddened tone in my voice.

 

I knew the reason he was drawing Mokuba all too well. Being vampires, we didn’t age, but Seto and Mokuba would. Their life-spans were short compared to our eternal ones. I never liked to dwell on that fact, so I rarely did. I knew that Darren was drawing Mokuba like that so we could always remember him that way.

 

“Don’t dwell. You’ll get them all worked up,” Darren murmured quietly enough that Seto and Mokuba wouldn’t hear.

 

I nodded, put on a fake smile, and took my seat next to Seto again. He gave me a curious look.

 

“What’s wrong,” he asked.

 

He probably thought Darren had seen another vision. I shook my head.

 

“Nothing,” I answered.

 

“Scarlett, why don’t you sing for Kaiba and Mokuba? You did promise, after all,” Darren suggested with a smirk.

 

I wanted to strangle him for bringing that up, though I knew it wouldn’t have done anything.

 

“Which song,” I asked.

 

“A Christmas song, of course.”

 

I sighed quietly and Darren chuckled too quietly for the human ear to pick up. I stood up and walked over to an empty space across the room. I began singing “Sleigh Ride”, one of the most upbeat Christmas songs I knew. Seto and Mokuba both had surprised looks on their faces when I started.

 

“I thought you would have sung ‘Silent Night’. It’s your favorite,” Darren commented when I finished.

 

“I’m not singing another song,” I answered, taking my seat again.

 

Mokuba then noticed an unopened box and read the tag. It was a small, thin box with sapphire blue wrapping paper on it.

 

“It’s for Scarlett,” Mokuba said, handing me the box.

 

I took it in my hands and read the tag. The gift was from Seto. I glanced up at him as I gently slid my finger under the edge of the paper. Once I had the wrapping paper off, I opened the box to find a thin, white gold chain necklace. It matched perfectly with the bracelet Mokuba had given me.

 

“It’s beautiful. Thank you, Seto,” I mumbled, putting the necklace on.

 

The chain rested right on my collar bone.

 

“Scarlett, come here and tell me what you think,” Darren said.

 

I walked up beside him and looked down at his finished drawing of Mokuba.

 

“Perfect, as always,” I answered after a minute.

 

“What is it,” Mokuba asked.

 

Darren turned the art pad around to show the picture of Mokuba. Every detail was perfect.

 

“You know, Darren, I find it very funny that you make me sit perfectly still, but you can draw Mokuba when he’s moving all around the room,” I said with a laugh.

 

“You’re a very complicated subject. It’s harder to draw our kind than anything else,” my brother answered.

 

I shrugged and sat next to Seto again. I rested my head on h is chest and could hear his heart beating rhythmically. I closed me eyes and heard Darren flip to a new page in his art pad.

 

“Don’t move,” my brother whispered and I knew Seto couldn’t hear him.

 

“Thank you,” I answered just as quietly.

 

This would be my favorite of all of Darren’s artwork. The room was silent but for breathing and a little shuffling. I opened one eye and saw Mokuba reading the book Darren had gotten for him. I closed my eyes again and let out a content sigh. Once again, I wished I was human so I could have fallen asleep where I was. It wasn’t until two hours later that Darren finished his drawing. Once he let me know he was done, I opened my eyes and slowly sat up. Mokuba had fallen asleep on the floor, leaning against the front of the chair. He still had the book in his hands. I glanced over at a clock and saw that it was ten thirty at night.

 

“He’s asleep,” I mumbled.

 

Seto nodded and started to move. I stood up and walked over to Mokuba. I picked up his book and placed a bookmark to keep his page. I took the fifteen-year-old boy in my arms and easily lifted him.

 

“He’s a light sleeper,” Seto warned.

 

“I think I can manage,” I answered in a whisper. “Where’s his room?”

 

Seto began leading me down the hallway and Darren stood.

 

“I’ll be in our apartment,” my brother whispered and headed for the door.

 

Seto brought me to Mokuba’s room and opened the door for me. I gently set the boy down on his bed, though not gently enough. Mokuba’s eyes cracked open and he groaned.

 

“Shh… go back to sleep,” I whispered.

 

Mokuba shook his head and started to sit up. I pushed him back down and sat next to him, leaning so that my head was resting next to his. Mokuba turned on his stomach and groaned again. I gently rubbed his back as I began singing softly to him.

 

“Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. Alles schläft, einsam wact. Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar. Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, schlaf in himmlischer Ruh. Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin Mother and Child. Holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace,” I finished as Mokuba finally fell back to sleep.

 

I kissed his forehead before getting up and pulling the covers over him. I left the room with Seto as he closed the door behind us.

 

“You know German,” he asked.

 

“Only that song,” I answered with a smile.

Author's Note

Well, with the holidays coming up at the end of this month... I couldn't resist writing a holiday chapter. Besides, I really wanted to use the song I'm doing in my chorus class, "Silent Night" in German. So, if there is anything wrong with the phrasing and you're fluent in German, please don't blame me. I simply wrote it down, punctuation and all, straight from my music sheet.