A Christmas Future

Dirk ran through the forest, his feet tromping heavily through the fallen leaves, small twigs cracked under his weight while sprigs of leaves smacked his face.The forest was the home of the Edelwiess Pirates, a teen resistance group protesting the Nazis. It didn't matter the protest was non violent, the man pursuing him would end the chase with a bullet if he had to.
A shadowed object appeard before him. Sliding on the fallen leaves, Dirk skidded to a halt, weapon drawn.
"I see you require my aid," Saje declared, ignoring Dirk's weapon. His grayish wings came to rest against his back.
Dirk held his luger steady, this wasn't the man who was chasing him."Aid? yes I am trying to apprehend a traitor. Did you see which way he went."
Dirk strained his eyes against the dark, there was a small gust of wind and a gentle flapping noise as a shadow seemed to fall behind the person. shadows playing tricks.
"I've been sent to rescue you from harm."
"you're going to keep me from harm?" Gregor smirked. "Harm from whom. The SS has no fear of this rabble" He could only assume the stranger meant the resistance. There was something different about the stranger, Gregor sensed an energy emanating from his presence. Something ancient. Why didn't he know?
"What are you?" Dirk asked. He no longer heard the menacing footsteps behind him. Had he eluded capture? Was the stranger one of the SS?
"A Woodland Fae. But nevermind that, I need to get you out of here." Saje knocked the gun away and grabbed onto Dirk's biceps so fast, the man had no time to react before he summoned his magic. The next second, they were back in 2009........
The strangers voice lulled him for a moment. woodland fae? He must have hit his head on a branch.
'What the?" Dirk was disarmed, before he could reach for the dagger, the stranger gripped his arm, in a merging of light and dark Dirk moved without moving. He whirled on the stranger."Where are we"
Saje spun the man around to face the scene before them. "Our future." His eyes misted as he looked at his unborn, unnamed children nestled upon Amanda's lap while she told them a bedtime story. Soft lamp light illuminated her dark hair as they all sat on a beige oversized chair. A lump rose in his throat at the beautiful sight.
"Our future? What is this?" Dirk asked, standing still, afraid to disrupt the peace he witnessed.
"My wife and my future family."
Dirk pulled away from his grip and surveyed the room around them. "What does this have to do with me?"
"You are part of their ancestry and my happiness."
"Oh."
Saje stepped beside him. "If you stay on the course you take, you will be killed prior to siring a child. The Nazi's will eventually have you murdered. I cannot allow that. Without your offspring, my wife will not exist in this time."
"The Nazi's will kill me? I am one of them." He was resistance. Even if Dirk fooled the Nazis into believing him loyal his father wasn't. The man hated all the Nazis stood for. Dirk watched the children for a moment. His gaze shifted to the mother, a silver necklace graced her pale skin, catching the light as she moved. Dirk recognized the edelwiess pendant. It looked like the medal given to his father years ago, it was a medal of honor made to resemble this token of pure love. Dirk reached for the medal in his pocket, his fingers curled around the silver medallion. He handed it to Saje."How? Who?" he studied the young woman again. his eyes misted.
Saje turned the medallion in his palm and fingered it's fine silver. He pocketed the treasure for Amanda later. "Hitler, because of your father's beliefs."
"Does my father get killed?" Dirk asked.
"Yes."
Dirk looked him in the eye. "I need to save him."
"And you?"
"Now that I am aware, I can protect myself and him from death." The resistance will continue the fight.
Could he trust him? Saje watched Amanda's face. He loved her so much. He looked at Dirk again. "I will bring you back to save your father, but I keep the medallion."
Dirk had to face facts. It was possible the Germans could win the war. self interest aside, he loved his father. His loyalty lost him his best friends, he couldn't lose his father too. All the talk of honor and glory could never replace the man who raised him. He had to try.
"Keep the medallion. Family honor comes first. I have no future without it."
Dirk slipped the medallion into the stranger's hand. He squinted his eyes before the image of the woman and children could fade. Events would pass into history but family was forever.


Deborah J Panger and my story, Saje, is coming in Spring of 2009, to the Scarlet Rose line.
Jennifer Childers is the author of Kindertransport, and this will be released in August 2009.
Both books are published through Wild Rose Press