The 7 Deadly Sins are a series of 7 short stories that take place in Victorian England.
Mythical creatures go about their daily lives, living, working and trying to survive in Victorian London, whilst trying to hide their true natures from humans.
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Pieces of shattered glass rained on the cobbled ground as the family forced their way into the dark space and quickly used their sharp night sight to help guide them to the money in the cupboard towards the back of the room.
"Use your hand" Gunnar ordered Hagen as he took his father's advice and used his sharp claw to pick the rusty lock.
Within seconds, the solid divide opened and the family looked at each other in disbelief,
"Where is the rest?" Eira gasped, looking at the three small bags of coins on the ground in front of them.
Gunnar frantically searched the rest of the room for hidden treasures but came back to the gawping trio empty handed.
"We just take this and come back tomorrow?" Hagen posed with a heavy heart.
Gunnar nodded solemnly and the family stepped forward to grab a bag to take.
Talitha held her hand out to take a bag as her father swiped it away with frustration,
"I'll take it! You need to use this time to think how you will make up for missing out on the riches from that house!" He snarled and grabbed the last pouch.
"I will make you proud on the next job, father!" Talitha promised.
The trio looked at each other with doubtful glares as Gunnar concluded,
"You better otherwise you go to Elof before the full moon!"
Talitha looked at her mother for help but instead of an encouraging stare, she turned her head away and ushered Hagen out of the broken window as Gunnar followed closely behind.
They sped through the empty streets with ease, confusing the few humans, who were making their way home for the evening.
The baffled men spun around in bewilderment when they felt a sharp gust of wind but saw nothing that could cause it as Talitha and her family ripped passed them, getting to the outskirts of the town within seconds.
The moon shone brightly above the tree tops as the family slowed down and casually walked home in silence.
Talitha held on tight to the picture frame in her pocket as she replayed the night's events in her mind with regret.
Hagen collected rocks and branches that he ate, distracting his parent's attention from their daughters disappointing evening.
His razor sharp teeth splintered the rocks within ease as he delighted in their chalky texture.
"Nearly home" Eira announced to break the awkward tension.
She pointed ahead over a thick section of the forest and looked back at her daughter lagging behind.
Talitha was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't realise that the cave was just metres away as she looked up at the moon and stopped mid walk.
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The white light beamed over the forest with a thin beam of light streaming down and lighting up Talitha's solid face.
She frantically tried to brush it away before stopping mid wipe and closing her eyes with a peaceful smile.
Images of a blonde woman danced before her eyes as she observed this woman's extravagant lifestyle from a distance.
Talitha could feel the woman's happy emotions and experienced her marriage, friendships and wealth all in that one minute and felt a feeling return that she thought she suppressed.
The feeling was a taste of human life.
"Hurry up!" Eira shouted to her daughter, snapping her out of her trance as the stream of moonlight quickly disappeared into the clear night sky.
Talitha hobbled over to her mother and grabbed her shoulder to separate her from the others,
"What is it? I'm hungry!" Eira scowled and watched her son and husband disappear into the thick foliage in front of them.
She turned her mother to face her and got on her knees.
Eira regarded her daughter in bewilderment and tried to make her stand up,
"No mother! I have something to ask you" Talitha tried and grabbed onto her ankle.
"You ask nothing! Just listen and do better tomorrow" Eira warned.
Talitha hung her head in shame and let go of her mother's ankle in defeat before standing up and following her home.
She took two steps forward, looked up at the moon and stopped.
"Mother! I want to be human until the next full moon!" She shouted into the distance.
Eira paused and looked back in shock.
She walked back to her daughter slowly and stood in front of Talitha as she smelt her daughter's face,
"It is not easy. Your father will not accept it" she stated, confused by the request.
Talitha copied her mother and smelt her face.
Scents of worry and cautions wafted from her tough skin as Talitha continued her plea,
"I know it will not be easy mother but I can get more riches if I'm human and I want to know how they live before I leave for Elof".
A glint sparked in Eira's eyes at the thought of more riches and she grabbed Talitha by the shoulders and smiled at her begging daughter.
The lower half her face split open, showing all of Eira's deadly teeth as held Talitha tight and concluded,
"I will talk to your father but tonight we say nothing and wait till morning light".
The pair quickly walked back to the cave, discussing their plan as Talitha wondered how dangerous it would be turning human.
After all, she had shapeshifted into animals previously and, albeit she only changed into them for an hour, she only suffered minor side effects.
What could go wrong if she shapeshifted into a human woman?
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