Snow

[Kale Allerion]

Evan's mama had always said that Lily's adventurous spirit was going to get her in trouble someday. The 10-year-old boy's fingers drummed frantically against the foggy window as he watched New Haven pass by in a blur.

The child did not know the man sitting behind the wheel, but for some reason he trusted him.

Mama said never to talk to strangers, Evan remembered, swallowing hard. And she said to never ride in the car with 'em either.

Surely this case was an exception, though. After all, the man knew his name. He claimed to be a friend of his mom and dad, and said he'd seen his sister fall out of a tree and break her neck.

"I called 9-1-1 as soon as it happened," the driver said, clicking on his left-blinker signal and slowing to a stop. "And I stayed with her until the ambulance arrived."

"I-is she okay?" Evan's voice shook as he fought back tears. Big boys didn't cry. At least, that's what his uncle had told him.

The man sighed, turning the corner. He turned his head to face the boy for a brief moment, brown eyes sad and solemn. "I don't know, Evan," came the reply. "Don't worry. We'll find out as soon as we get there." He drove on in silence for another long moment before adding, "I called your mom and dad - and Brian."

Uncle Brian. He was the one who had given Evan permission to walk all the way to the comic book store by himself earlier that day. His parents would have never allowed him to walk that far by himself, but Uncle Brian thought little of it.

"It's only a ten minute's walk," the uncle had said, waving Evan off. "I walked farther by myself when I was a kid. Go on. Have fun."

The boy had counted on having fun, but before he was within five minute's of the shop, this man - this friend of his parents - had stopped to inform him of Lily's grave condition.

"Um..." Evan said, drumming his fingers harder and faster with every passing second. "How far are we from the hospital?"

"Not far," came the reply.

There was something very odd about this man. It wasn't just his appearance - his pale, pale skin that seemed to have a light of its own that shone in the darkness. He tried not to stare. Mama said that was a rude habit, after all.

No. There was something much stranger about him. Evan couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew that something was wrong. His mind had felt fuzzy and disoriented ever since that slick, black car had pulled into the shoulder. It was as if he was incapable of thinking clearly. He had never before even considered riding in a car with a stranger. Never.

Evan didn't even know the man's name. It hadn't occurred to him to ask.

Before the boy knew it, he'd left New Haven behind completely. Shocked, he craned his fearful face around and saw the city lights growing dimmer.

"B-but..." the boy began softly. "I thought we were going to see Lily."

A wicked grin stretched across the driver's moon-white face. "We are," he answered, matter-of-fact.

"But...isn't she in the hospital?" Evan's hands began to shake.

The man just chuckled, sending the car speeding into the gathering shadows.

OOC: The following is the background story for my favorite character on DKD - MariAnne Foster. You may have seen her in "Cold, Cold Water" and "A Parallel Journey". This takes place after the latter, but there will be flashbacks.

So, yeah. That was the prologue. Enjoy the rest!

[Kale Allerion]

A black, nondescript little car navigated the wet streets of New Haven, the light of the full moon casting its pearly rays in the vehicle's path. Dark, ominous snow clouds battled with the brilliant sphere for attention, obscuring the stars and slowly closing in on her.

The voice on the radio within the car announced snow showers throughout the evening - 4-6 inches, likely.

No matter, the woman behind the wheel thought, feeling the fire within her soul smoldering. Snow had always bothered her, but tonight it was just what she needed. It brought her back to the day when her life had been shattered.

Two days prior, yet another family had been ruthlessly torn apart. Not one, but two children had been abducted. Evan and Lily Martin, ages 10 and 11, were now at the mercy of the cruelest kind of criminals - vampires involved in human trafficking.

Her sister had suffered - or was still suffering - the very same fate. MariAnne needed to remember. Needed to fuel the fire as much as possible.

The young slayeress' hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as the painful memories rolled through. She found herself recalling that fateful day that determined her destiny. That moment that brought her here tonight.

The jealous clouds finally obscured the moon. Little flakes began to collect on the slayeress' windshield, but she didn't wipe them away.

I need this, she thought grimly. I need the anger.

[Kale Allerion]

Seven-year-old MariAnne's tiny feet plodded close behind her mother as the woman rushed to gather everything she needed before leaving. Mrs. Foster was in a most frantic state, but her daughter did not seem to notice, nor care.

The girl's mind was already occupied by more important, pressing matters.

"But Mo-o-o-om," MariAnne whined for the umpteenth time. "Can't I go out for just a little bit while you're gone. I only need five minutes!"

MariAnne's mom sighed deeply, not looking at her child. "That is out of the question," she said, wrapping an expensive-looking scarf around her neck. "Stay inside. Hopefully I won't be gone too long."

Yeah, right. The seven-year-old didn't know the specifics of why her mother had to leave so abrupt a manner, but she'd heard very grown-up phrases concerning the matter. "Complications at the hospital," Mrs. Foster had said to her husband over the phone. "Possible C-section," she'd said.

As little as MariAnne knew about her mother's complicated job, she knew well enough that she would have a long time to wait before she returned from the hospital.

Before she could make her snowman.

"I told Liz that I'd have my snowman up by tomorrow morning," MariAnne explained. "And if I don't, I lose the bet!"

"Bet?" Mrs. Foster echoed, meeting her daughter's gaze suddenly. "You made a bet with her?"

"Yeah," the little girl replied, blushing. "We're having a contest. She bet she could make a snowman better than mine, and I bet her five bucks she couldn't."

MariAnne's mother placed her fingers against her temples, not entirely thrilled that she had a seven-year-old learning to gamble. "Well," she said at last, grabbing her purse and slinging it over her shoulder as she left the bedroom. "Maybe this will teach you a lesson about gambling."

"What's...gambling?"

Another sigh. "I don't have time for this, MariAnne!" she snapped. "Stay inside this house until I get back, and watch your sister!"

"But, Mom!"

"MariAnne!" Mrs. Foster whirled around to face the girl, gray eyes aflame. For a moment, the woman looked ready to snap, but then her expression softened. She stooped to her daughter's level and said in a calmer tone, "I need you to stay inside. You hear? This is very important." She hugged her sullen daughter, who didn't return the gesture. "If you need anything, call me. You know my cell phone number and the number to the hospital, right?"

MariAnne nodded.

Mrs. Foster stood, not at all wanting to leave her daughters alone at this hour. She didn't have much of a choice, however. Her husband was gone on a business trip, and she was sorely needed at the hospital.

If the two girls could stay inside as requested, they'd be fine.

"Lock the door behind me," Mrs. Foster said, opening the door and stepping out into the half-light. "Love you."

"Love you, too," MariAnne said.

"Bye, Issie!" the mother called. "Love you!"

Issie, however, was engrossed in a game of Frogger in the other room and did not hear her mother. Not offended at her little gamer, Mrs. Foster shut the door behind her and hurried to where her vehicle sat, warming up in the driveway.

Scowling, MariAnne locked and bolted the front door.

She was going to lose this bet, she realized.

And I don't even have five dollars!

[Kale Allerion]

OOC:: Before I go on, I just wanted to mention that I have made SEVERAL changes to my characters. If you've read "Cold, Cold Water", "A Parallel Journey", or MariAnne's character sheet, you might want to read the following:

1. In the flashback, Issie is six, not three. And MariAnne is eight.

2. MariAnne started taking karate lessons when she was a kid, not as a teenager.

3. I kind of abandoned the "power" MariAnne had of sensing the presence of vampires from a mile away. She still has some sense of premonition, but it doesn't go to the extent it did in CCW.

4. ...

Dang, there were more but I forgot. >_>

I will post most more changes as they come to mind.

On that note...


BIC::

[Kale Allerion]

MariAnne peered out the window, watching as her mother's car disappeared over the darkening horizon. Red-faced from anger, she crossed her wiry arms over her chest and slid down the wall to the hardwood floor, sighing melodramatically.

What was she supposed to do now?

The sounds of her little sister's video game rang in MariAnne's ears – Frogger, again. Mr. Foster was an avid gamer with a place in his heart for the old systems and games. Six-year-old Issie was similar, in that she could spend hours at a time with the controllers of an Atari or a Nintendo in her little hands.

Seeing no better alternative, MariAnne finally decided to join Issie in the living room to watch the game.



She's so boring!

MariAnne scowled at the television set, willing her sister to grow as tired of the game as she was.

“You're never going to get that stupid frog across the street,” she said to her sister.

“I will, too!” Issie protested, turning her face away from the TV set long enough to scowl at MariAnne. Upon facing the glowing screen again, Frogger had been run over by a car – again.

MariAnne snickered to herself.

“It's not funny,” Issie hissed, balling frustrated fists.

The elder sister slid off the leather sofa she'd been lounging on and strode across the room. “You might as well quit,” the girl chimed, looking out the window. The sky was steadily clouding over, promising another shower.

“I won't quit.” Issie's gray eyes were intense, as if the fate of the universe rested on her performance in this video game. She set her controller down and clumsily tied up her chestnut curls with a pink elastic band, as if her hair was blocking her vision.

“Why not?” MariAnne asked, cocking her head to one side. “We've got the house to ourselves! We could have more fun than this stupid game.”

Issie's frown grew deeper and she gripped the controls tightly. “Where's Mom?” she asked.

“Didn't you hear?” the elder sister asked. “She had to go and deliver a baby!”

“Oh.” Issie bit her lip. “When will she be back?”

MariAnne shrugged. “I dunno,” came the reply. “But 'till then, we're on our own!”

Issie didn't appear terribly thrilled at the concept.

“What do ya wanna do?” MariAnne asked, walking to the spot on the floor where Issie sat.

The younger sister's eyes darted about nervously. “I just wanna play my game.” Issie started a new game.

Sighing heavily and rolling her green eyes, MariAnne stomped back over to the window. This was going to be a terrible evening. Issie was no fun, Mom wouldn't let her go outside, and there was nothing to do.

Wait a minute. The red-head's freckled brow furrowed in thought. Issie wasn't listening when Mom said we couldn't go outside.

MariAnne didn't like to lie. She knew well that lying was a bad thing, and it got her in trouble the few times she'd done it. But this was a situation that called for desperate measures. There was no way she could stand being trapped inside all night long, and she knew if she didn't make her snowman, Liz would make fun of her forever – yes, forever and ever.

As she pondered her options, MariAnne saw the very first little snowflake float to the already white earth.

“Issie!” MariAnne piped. “It's snowing!”

Issie's eyes snapped away from the TV screen. “Really?” she asked, setting down her controller.

“Come and see!” the older sister pleaded, beckoning until the six-year-old was standing by her side.

“I don't see it,” Issie said, squinting. “Are you lyi—oh! I see it!”

For a few minutes, the sisters just stood there, watching as the snow danced through the chilly air. They were big, thick flakes – might even be perfect snowman snow.

“I wonder if we'll have a snow day,” Issie said wistfully.

“Yeah,” MariAnne breathed. She could take no more. “Let's go play in it!” And with that, she was off to change into her winter clothes.

“What?” Issie said, whirling around. “Now?”

“Yep!” came the bright reply. MariAnne grunted as she struggled to cram her feet into her favorite pink books – they were at least one size too small, but she preferred them over the new blue ones her father had bought her. “Get your boots and gloves and stuff on.”

“But...” Issie began meekly. “It's dark. I don't like outside when it's dark.”

“What are you afraid of?” MariAnne demanded, standing with her hands on her hips. “It's not bad out there. Do you wanna be stuck inside all night?”

“Shouldn't we ask Mom first?” Issie suggested, fidgeting with the sleeve of her purple shirt.

“Mom's not here.”

“I don't wanna go.”

MariAnne whined, “Come on, Issie! I don't wanna go by myself. That's boring.”

“I'm not going!” Issie stamped her foot and sat at the foot of the staircase that lead to the second floor of the Foster residence.

MariAnne opened her mouth to release harsh threats, but then shut it at another, more clever, idea. “Fine, then,” the eight-year-old said, holding up a hand. “I'll go by myself.”

Without another word, the elder sister dressed herself in her jacket, hat, and gloves. With a mischievous smirk, she unbolted the door, switched on the outside light, and skipped out into the gathering shadows. Once outside, she stooped down into the ground and began forming a snowball.

Wait for it...

Within mere minutes, Issie was dressed in winter clothes and running to meet her older sister.

MariAnne giggled. “Too scared to be inside by yourself, huh?”

Issie said nothing, but stamped off.

I am so smart! MariAnne congratulated herself. She hummed a little song as she rolled up snow in her gloved hands.

Had she not been otherwise occupied, she would have noticed Issie making a snowball of her own. The younger sister silently sent fist-sized, icy revenge sailing for the back of MariAnne's head. MariAnne let out a little cry as the snow struck her. Whirling around, she saw Issie doubled over in laughter.

Mouth agape, MariAnne hastily formed another snowball and threw it in her sister's direction. Issie was too caught up in her own laughter to notice the projectile before it was too late – it struck her in the chest.

A moment of silence fell between the two girls. They stared into one another's eyes, realizing that war had been declared. Within seconds, the stillness gave way to the noise of bubbling laughter as snowball after snowball soared through the air.