The cold was seeping in around the house. The scratching of the limbs, from the trees outside made ear splitting noises as they touched the glass windows. The wind was letting out deathly howls as the doctor stood over the corps. It seemed unfair for something so small to die. Something, that had hardly taken it's first breath to enter the world so quickly and then exit it in the same fashion.

I'm sorry madam but it appears to be dead.

The female kougra looked down at the small body, confused and hurt. It had been alive once, and now it was gone. She did not cry, or even say a word as the doctor picked up the small body and carried it out of the room. The child would have to be laid to rest quickly, for the ground was becoming hard with frost.

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(image of the fight)

Little did they know of debate that was going on in the heavens above. The small soul, of the unnamed child, entered the cloudy home of the gods. The Gods watched as the servants caught the small glowing orb and placed it in a glass capsule.

Clearly, it is my turn to have a servant, the massive wings of the Great Horned Bat, flapped creating a strong gust of wind.

On the contrary, brother, it is my turn. The Hawk King snapped his beak loudly; angry he had to even defend what clearly was his.

Articol, The king of the gods, listened to the two brothers bicker. Yawning he glanced over at the small soul. It seemed silly for them to fight over a baby. The child was not powerful, wise, or even strong. It was nothing. Yet, Articol had missed the power that came with something new and innocent, it could easily be corrupted. Like a small glowing ember it could turn into a fire to warm the spirit or an uncontrollable flame of destruction.

As the fight continued the small soul began to glow, until it happened. Unaware to the fighting gods the soul was changing and growing in mass. To small eyes appeared, along with a face and ears. Like a baby in the womb it was developing, yet something was wrong. For, next to it's small head was a bright red strand. I guess to a doctor it would have been the umbilical cord, but here it was something different. The red strand began to wrap around the souls neck, trying to coke the life out of it. The gods quickly stopped their fighting on seeing that the soul was splitting in two. The red strand was growing bigger and bigger as the soul began to shirk.

Quickly, separate them! Articol ordered as one of the winged servants cut the red strand, that was looking more like a serpent. The Hawk King was looking very pleased by all of this.

Well, then brother it is settled the soul belongs to me, for when the strand of life glows red and tries to kill its body, evil is present.

The Horned Bat eyed the two creatures that were growing in the glass tube. Annoyed that he had wasted his time he wrapped his wings around his head and vanished. With a quick shout two shadow like crows appeared to rush the soul down to the underworld for their King. Articol saw all of this as meaningless and let the Hawk King take his prize without saying anything.

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Deep in the rocky caverns of the underworld the two spirits grew. They were raised by the shadow ravens and crows that lived in the underworld, until it was time for them to be given a body to inhabit of their very own. The Hawk King was very particular in fashioning a body for his new servants. Taking volcanic rocks and the bones and flesh of the dead he tried to create a body for the serpent soul, yet he refused everything. Soon, it became clear this soul was too evil, and would only find solace in living inside the body of a demon. The Hawk King obeyed and gave him a body that could contain his power.

Yet, for the other one, the Hawk King used the body parts of demons and the dead to fashion the perfect vessel for him. On the day the two were give bodies, names were branded on them.

Vuk and Cuel, my sons, my demons, may your powers grow as you do my biding in the world of the living. Said the Hawk King as he looked down at his two sons, pleased at what he had created.

As the years passed it became clear something was horribly wrong with Vuk. On a dark Halloween Night when he and Cuel, were only 13 years of age, and roaming around the mortal world, Vuk did the unthinkable. There orders were very clear, to capture the souls of the dead, that believed they should be ghosts in the world of the living. Vuk was like a slithering hound on the hunt while Cuel carried a glass capsule to place the souls in. The full moon above hung heavy, like an eye watching their every move.

Hisss I can ssssmell them'ssss, Vuk hissed out at his brother, Their'sssss close. Cuel's eyes glowed with excitement, he loved Halloween, for the hunt was much better on nights for the dead. At the corner of his eye he saw a small glisten of silvery blue as Vuk took off after the spirit's tail. Cuel raced after his brother, his white hair whipping around his face, giving him the appearance of a ghost. Then he heard it, the death cry of a new ghost. Cuel slid to a stop when he saw his brother. Wrapped in his talons was a mortal. The mortals eyes had turned white as he slowly turned to dust. Vuk had done the unthinkable; he had killed a mortal, a living mortal!

Vuk! What have you done? Cuel was on his knees trying to clean his brother. Fear was present in his voice as he kept looking to the moon, seeing if their Father had noticed. He heard no crows or ravens and breathed a sigh of relief, as Vuk lowered his head in shame.

I'ss ssssorry brother, but…

Hush Vuk, forget it. Just don't do it again. Cuel watched as Vuk nodded his head and followed his brother as they captured souls for the rest of the night.

When they returned home everything seemed the same. Vuk, curled up by the fire, like a loyal dog and slept while Cuel changed for bed. Snuffing out the candle the two slept until Karol came to check on them. Knocking lightly on the door, for fear she would wake up Vuk she tip toed into the room and nudged Cuel awake.

Cuel, Cuel! Father wishes to see you; let Vuk sleep. Cuel blinked and rubbed his eyes as he watched the door close. Karol was like a ghost, haunting the rooms. She would appear and then disappear. She had only been living with them for a short time, around a year or so. She was a kougra like him, but instead of being dead like everyone else, she was alive. Father, had turned her into his little princess for reasons unknown to Cuel.

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The smell of sulfur wafted up his nose as Cuel entered his Father's grand hall. Displayed in small glass tubes were spirits from last night's hunt. Cuel tapped on the glass waking one up and laughed as it let out a scream.

Cuel, come my son, I have a question to ask of you.

A question to ask of you, a question to ask of you, mocked the shadow crows perched up in the rafters.

What is it Father? Cuel bowed as he spoke.

Why don't you tell me? Suspended in a small bottle Cuel could see pure white dust. He gulped hard trying to think how he could explain.

I don't want to hear you say a thing. I know it was Vuk, all the others know as well. I am ashamed you thought you could hide this from us. We are the gods of the mortals, we see and hear all. Cuel lowered his head in shame as the crows mocked, We see all, we see all.

Father, what do you wish of me to do? Cuel's voice quaked as he looked into his Father's golden eyes. They were not a soft gold, like the rays of the sun, no, they were bright and harsh. Cuel could only look at them for so long until he was sure he would be blinded.

Sadly, my son, I am unsure. Vuk, has done a cursed act and Articol is asking for his demise. I know he is your brother, but the orders are because you hid this from us you will do the honor of taking out your own.

The words hit Cuel hard as his knees buckled. Karol walked over to him, holding a sword, of blue flames. The sword of Icus, made from the cold moon's rays and the fires of the sweltering sun, the only weapon that could kill a demon.

The sword felt heavy in his hands as he walked out of the grand hall. He knew Vuk would be sleeping by the fire, or either stretching his long body waiting for the next task. Cuel felt sick as he opened the door to his and his brother's chamber. Vuk was curled up on his bed, his eyes open with a look excitement in them.

What'ssss father wantsssss of usss? Suddenly he noticed the sword. What'ssss that brother? His eyes were glowing with a sinister look.

Vuk. Cuel gulped as he tried to talk, but Vuk was too quick.

He wantsssss me'sss dead! Anger and annoyance was coursing thought his words. Then he laughed, and he wantsssss you'ssss to do it'ssss. Ha Ha'sssss.

Cuel had never heard his brother sound like this. I guess he had always wanted to ignore the warnings, and the signs. He wanted to believe his brother was loyal, and would never kill or take the cursed mortal drink of their life force. Many, demons had fallen prey to it, Cuel had felt the urge once or twice but had held back, but Vuk could not. Before he could even raise the sword over Vuk's head he was gone.

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