I

The wind whistled around Katia's ears as she stared around the basically dilapidated park. The silence of the area would be classified as eerie to anyone else, but this wasn't just anyone else – it was Katia Jackal and she found the silence comforting. It gave her the space to think and overcome her problems without bothering anyone.

Her family often scolded her for staring into space so she came here. She thought about how her life was and then compared it it to the usual children of her own age group. How they had caring, happy parents that looked after them because they loved them.

Then about hers.

They scolded her for everything she did wrong wrong but shunned her away when she did things right. The gate creaked suddenly breaking her train of thought. Her head snapped upwards. A small boy, who looked like he should have an adult with him, was standing at the entrance to the park. He caught her eye but quickly looked away as he sat on the only park swing left.

Katia stared at him, enchanted by his appearance. He had gorgeous white , an usual color on a child, wavy hair and a pinkish red color for his eyes. His face looked like it was sculptured on to marble, in an honest opinion, Katia would have said he looked like an angel.

The child glanced at her again before looking away, a look of fear across his face. Katia climbed out of her seat and approached the boy. He spotted her walking towards him and stared wide-eyed. She smiled slightly as the fear that once sparked in his eyes became to fade. She was a metre away when she stopped and asked,

"Are you alright by yourself out in such a dangerous place?"

Katia was more curious than concerned but something about him made her worry.

The little boy nodded lightly, making her smile.

"My name's Katia. What's your name little one?" She asked. He was silent for a while before answering in a small voice,

"Edward..."

Katia stepped closer and he flinched slightly. She froze quickly, then a pelt of rain hit her back. Katia jumped in surprise and, without thinking, grabbed the frightened boy's hand and ran under a close orange and blue climbing frame.

She could feel his hand shaking in my hand.

Why was this small boy so frightened for?

Katia let go fast and he ran into the furthest corner from her. She watched him with wide eyes as he curled into a ball onto the floor and shivered slightly.

She bent down in front of him and, gently, laid her hand against his hair, running her fingers through his locks. He froze for a moment before he lifted his head slightly to look at Katia. His child like innocence bought a sincere smile across her face. Edward's pinkish eyes met her grey eyes with a spark of hope (but why? Katia couldn't help ponder) before he cautiously smiled back as if worried whether it was the right thing to do.

"...That … feels nice ..." he whispered slowly, as Katia continued stroking his unusually coloured hair.

She smiled sweetly at him. "Does it?"

He nodded in confirmation. "...Why do … you do this …?"

"What? Oh … um … I don't know..." Katia answered with a sheepish smile played on her features. "My father used to do this to me, he said it was because I was his little angel and that he loved me."

Edward nodded, his eyes dropping to the ground, before he spoke again.

"Does that mean … you love … me?"

Katia paused what she was doing with a thoughtfully look across her face. Although she'd only met him, she had already felt the need take him home with her and to protect him from the world – a feeling she'd never had for anyone in her short life but something her mother had often said she felt like doing to herself and her twin brother, Kadin.

"...I'm sorry …" Edward muttered fearfully still looking at his feet, snapping Katia out of her thoughts. "...I didn't mean to … offend you … or anything."

"I'm not offend but that's not a question that I'm usually asked." Katia told him, continuing running her hands through his hair and allowing them to curl around her slim fingers. She straightened herself out, her back starting to hurt by this point, and looked at him with a curious glint in her wolf like eyes, a piece of her deep purple hair falling in front of them. "Do you want me to?"

Edward was silent for a moment and showed no sign of planning to answer. Katia went to tell him that he didn't have to answer when he spoke softly, quietly.

"...I … want people to … love me …" Katia felt her heart ache for the child looking so pathetic and shameful in front of her, as if it was his fault, "My family isn't that normal … I don't think they … love me ..."

Katia suddenly felt her eyes sting, she rubbed them away roughly.

Afraid to show her tears to this child.

Without thinking, she bent down and picked the boy up, holding Edward tightly against her chest. He was stiff for a moment before shaking violently all over; she wasn't sure if this was because of the cold or his fear of, what Katia had deducted, being touched. Katia felt the tears of sympathy run down her rosy cheeks and she buried her face into Edward's soft hair. She rained kisses over the top of his white hair before lifting him up, looking him in his scared eyes, and saying in a whispered way.

"Edward … I'll love you … I promise ..." her voice croaked as she said this.

Edward's eyes widened in shock before they softened into a look of what Katia believed was love and tears brimmed in them. Almost ashamed at making such a sweet and cute and innocent child cry, Katia pulled the child's body tight against hers, using her body warmth to comfort the now sobbing baby boy.

Edward couldn't stop the tears that fell from his clenched eyes. This woman, holding him in such a caring way that he'd never been held in before, was crying for him. No one had ever cried for him, let alone cared enough to cry for him. His small pale hands gripped at the strap of the plain white dress, as if it was his own life support and if he was ever disconnected he'd surely die. He rubbed his nose against Katia's collarbone, wiping some of his fallen tears against her soft skin. In way, the smell of her skin comforted him, along with her smooth fingertips caressing his lower back and her whispered words of solace, he was on the verge of falling into a deep slumber.

But he knew he couldn't.

If he let himself relax for even a moment, his family's curse could be revealed and he doubted the girl who held him would still love him with he sprouted wings and became an annoying petite white dove with what had previously been described as 'the most disgusting rabbit eyes I've ever seen'.

Yes, Edward could turn into a dove.

It is his curse.

Although it's not just Edward who turns into an other species of animal. Random members of his family, although no one knows why or how, had an unusual curse that involved them turning into animals. And it wasn't any specific animals either, they were randomly chosen to match the coming child's personality. For example, in the last generation, Edward's mother, Victoria, happened to be able to turn into a vampire bat which fitted her perfectly seeing as she only ate during the night and was really nocturnal.

As he continued to hang onto the girl, he could feel a shiver run through his small body and he knew as sure as hell it wasn't because of the rain that was pouring around them. He felt the customary twinge of paroxysm advance through his figure; he felt his skin stretch on his shoulder blade, which regular was followed by the daintily small, weak wings of his dove form appearing on his back before his body transforms into a dove.

Edward could feel it coming, and although he struggled with himself, he was so tired which made his mental resolve weaker than it would have been. His breath became laboured as he panicked at the thought of transforming in front of the one person who had promised to love him. He clenched his fists in his physical struggle to stay human but he knew it was coming.

He almost cried out at the pain he was feeling as the wings sprouted step by step out of his flesh. He felt Katia move him backwards so she could look him in the eye.

"Do you feel okay?" she asked him, her concerned gaze running over his face, which must have been a pained sight.

Edward bite his lip in his endeavour to keep his howl in containment, and nodded slowly. Katia knew he was probably lying but knew he'd tell her if he wanted to or felt the need to. She kissed his forehead softly and hugged him again her gently.

Edward shook again and closed his pinkish eyes, waiting for the shocked scream that he was sure would come.

"Edward?"

In a shock, Edward pulled away from Katia and turned towards the sound of his name.

Katia turned at the sound of Edward's name to see a small child, who looked exactly like Edward, and a tall male with long, straight black hair that was clutched into a ponytail tied with a dark blue satin ribbon. His matching blue eyes watched the two of them carefully. The boy who Katia assumed was Edward's twin's eyes were wide in shock at the two of them, and he grasped the older man's hand tightly.

The man took a step forward, dragging Edward's twin behind him, a smile forming on his handsome face.

"Hello there. I'm Sirius, Sirius Bachi. Edward's older cousin." the man introduced himself before gesturing to the small white haired boy beside him, "This is Carmen, Edward's twin brother, but I guess you noticed that."

Katia nodded, settling Edward on the ground. He grasped her hand and hide himself slightly behind her sobbing wet dress, watching his family curiously. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Katia Jackal. It was raining so Edward and I came under here for shelter."

Sirius raised an eyebrow and glanced around the abandoned, damp park and then back to her. He gestured towards her.

"I can see that."

Her eyebrows knitted into a look of confusion, Katia looked down at her self, blushing when she realized the white dress she was wearing had become transparent, leaving her lacy underwear in full view of the cocky looking man.

"Thank you for looking after him," Sirius kept his blue eyes on Katia as he bowed slightly in thanks. "We were worried when we thought we'd left him behind, weren't we Carmen?"

Carmen, who was watching Katia and his brother with cautious but curious eyes, nodded slowly. "I was scared."

Katia inwardly cooed at the small child before glancing down at Edward, who was watching his brother and cousin in a pleading way. Sirius took a step towards the two of them and held his hand out calmly.

"Come on Edward, it's time to go home."

Edward stepped out from behind Katia but kept a tight grip on her hand. "Can Katia come with us?" his voice was low and quiet but held a tone of solicit.

Sirius looked at Edward with a sorrowful gaze. "I'm sorry Eddie but Nova wouldn't like it that much."

"Can't she stay for a little bit?" Edward asked, longingly. "Just to change her clothes?"

Sirius sighed and covered his eyes in what looked like disappointment. Quick to save Edward from whatever emotional pain she knew was probably coming, she quickly said.

"I just need a place to get out of the rain for a while." she held the same look of pleading in her eyes that Edward still held, "It'll leave as soon as it calms down."

Sirius sighed again before nodded. "Yeah fine."

Edward grinned happily up at Katia, making her smile down at him, before he dragged her towards his twin brother and cousin. Carmen instantly grabbed Edward's hand and moved closer to him, as if scared he'd disappear.

Sirius looked pointedly down at Edward. "Nova isn't going to like this, but what she doesn't know, won't hurt us right?"

Katia wouldn't know yet, but she would in due time know what Sirius meant by that.