The Ancient Breed

by David Brookover

  A chorus of voices shouted, “Surprise!”

  Nick stood stunned.

  Neo and his wife, Liz, were flanked by newlyweds Crow and Jill Smith, and Clay and Blossom Corey.

  Nick looked at Gabriella. “What’s all this?” he asked uneasily.

  “Just a little post-wedding, Christmas shindig,” she replied brightly.

  “Hey, we’ve waited long enough for this joker to show. Let’s break out the champagne,” Crow said as he hugged his friend and new business partner. “Welcome back, white man.”

  Neo bear-hugged Nick. “Good to see you, man. We missed you,” he whispered and led Nick into the large living room.

  The ladies hugged and kissed him, and Clay gave him a hearty slap on the back. A full, long-needled Scotch pine was festively decorated with antique ornaments, strings of popcorn, and clear mini-lights. It stood majestically in the corner of the cheery room. Brightly colored bows, beads, glittering tinsel, pine garlands, and mistletoe adorned the walls, drapes, cornices, and doorways.

  Two bottles of iced champagne and eight long-stemmed, crystal champagne glasses appeared on the folding table beside the roaring fireplace. Crow filled the glasses and handed them to his friends. Nick waited his turn for a glass and then promptly strode out of the mansion to the front porch. He stuffed his hands into his pockets to ward off the biting chill and stared blankly at the white lawn. He couldn’t go through with this. Although they did their best to welcome him, Nick still felt like an outsider. After all, he wasn’t human like the others. He didn’t belong.

  Suddenly, a warm, white mist enveloped him, and Gabriella appeared at his side.

  She looked worried. “What’s the matter, Nick?”

  He told her, anger staining his words. “I didn’t ask to be this way, Gabriella. My father cursed me for life. I’m a freak. A damn freak! How can I face those people inside? I can’t pretend to be human, because I’m not, dammit! I don’t belong. I’m sorry, but I just had to leave. I didn’t want to spoil the party for them. Or you.”

  Gabriella slipped her hands into his. “Is that what you think? That we don’t like you for who you are? I can’t believe that you’d belittle your friends like that, Nick. We feel the same way about you as we did last year. Nothing’s changed. And I knew about your special gifts all along, and I still loved you all my life. Whatever’s inside you is part of you. It’s not evil or scary, because that’s not you.”

  “But I’ve changed.”

  She yanked her hands from his. “You rant and rave about perceptions ruling our government in Washington instead of reality, and yet you’re doing the same thing to your friends. If you can’t take the truth, Nick, then hold onto your lonely perceptions. Because you will be alone, through no fault of ours.” She turned away from him to hide her tears. “So, enjoy your pity party and ignore the people who love and need you.”

  Nick considered her argument. “You sure that what you told me is reality and not an attempt to make me feel better?”

  She huffed. “So you’re even doubting me, now? You have a kind heart, unlike your twin, Thomas. You’re not anything like him. He was the freak, not you. And I’m not the only one who ever saw the goodness in you. Jill’s father saw it. That’s why he rescued you from being sacrificed by your own father when you were a boy. If Joe Sandlin hadn’t believed in your goodness, do you honestly believe for a moment that he would’ve risked his life to save you?”

  He turned her around and kissed her hard. She kissed him back.

  “That felt good,” he said. “I’ve really missed kissing you.”

  Gabriella rose on her tiptoes. “I hope that’s not all you’ve missed.”

  His smile dispelled the stress in his face.

  “I love you, Nick. Nothing you’ve done has changed that one bit,” she asserted.

  “Well, I sure love you,” he responded. “Before my pity party, as you so aptly called it, I was planning to ask you to marry me tonight.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “So, what’s stopping you?”

  A slightly off-tune rendition of “Jingle Bells” drifted outside.

  “Just the fear of the monster returning when I least expect it. It . . . I might hurt you.”

  She threw her arms around his neck. “You’ve controlled it your entire life with your goodness. It’ll only appear when you summon it. That’s why it’s one of your special gifts.”

  He had to admit that her reference to his condition as a gift and not a curse should have set him straight months ago.

  “Then, will you marry me, Gabriella, and spend the rest of your life with a man who loves you more than life itself?”

  She stepped back and wrinkled her forehead. “Are you certain you want to spend the rest of your life with a witch when you dislike magic so much?”

  “Absolutely. We’re magical together, and I like that.”

  She grinned. “Good answer.”

  The front door opened and instantly dispelled the warm mist before they could seal their engagement with a kiss.

  “You guys goin’ to camp out here all night?” Crow shouted. “It’s freezing out here. We’ve got Champagne that needs drinking and some unbelievable grub that needs eating. You game?”

  Nick squeezed her tight. “If it’s okay with my future wife, then it’s fine with me.”

  “Future wife!” Crow stepped back into the foyer. “Hey, everybody, Nick and Gabriella are engaged!”

  A loud cheer went up inside.

  Gabriella wiped away her cheerful tears and hooked Nick’s arm. “Shall we?”

  He nodded, and glanced at his old friend. “It looks like we’re game, Running Bear,” Nick quipped as he and Gabriella strolled past a sputtering Crow to begin their new life together.