The United Circle Realm

CHAPTER I

-Lukas-

G

osh, it' freezing!" Lukas Violet shuddered, wrapping his thick wool sweater tighter around him as snowflakes swirled around. He stood in the middle of the road, his lengthy hair whipping at his face mercilessly in the strong, icy wind. He glanced at his family's old rusted minivan, plump with baggage for a stay at their grandpa's house. The frosted roads got the better of them, and their vehicle had slid off the road into deep snow. Looking down, he shook his head, slightly annoyed at the further delay to an already lengthy trip. Rubbing his hands together for warmth, he strode to the van, got in, and sat down beside his 13 year old sister, Mabel.

Her silky chocolate hair flowed down past her shoulders onto a small body with pale green eyes. She wore a little pink coat and jeans with a pair of tall stylish boots. A lot of her looks came from her mom's side of the family; thin eyebrows and big, pretty, eyes. Their father, who was in the driver seat, had dark hair and green eyes, and was pretty short. Their mom, in shotgun, had long wavy brown hair and often wore light makeup. They all sat in the car, waiting for a tow truck to come reel them out of the snow.

"I should have worn a better coat." Luke muttered shivering again. Due to their plentiful money, Luke had a decent sized wardrobe, and thus had multiple coats.

Mabel nodded in agreement, rubbing her arms. He leaned against the car door and stared outside through the window. Twinkling snowflakes rushed by hastily, bullied by the harsh winds. He slowly closed his eyes and began to think about the soon approaching Christmas which they were going to spend with their Grandpa. He smiled distantly as he thought of how he pats him on the head every year and chuckles all the time. He always seems to remain happy, even without Grandma...

"Oh look! The tow truck is here!" Mable cheered.

Luke came awake and squinted as the bright headlights flashed in his eyes. Stifling a yawn, he glanced at the backseat where Fritz lay peacefully snoring. With matching black hair and similar green eyes, Fritz was 11, but taller than his brother Luke, because he reached his growth spurt a bit early.

Soon after they were pulled out of the snow drift, they continued their trek Grandpas house. 

 -Mabel-

An hour later they arrived at Grandpa's mansion. It was late in the night and the warm lights from inside shown invitingly as they paused to admire it. The vast abode stood at the edge of town. It was a dark wood, three story mansion. It had a sloped roof with a tall steeple reaching for the winter stars. The porch was large and sturdy with dark pillars of carved wood. Snow glistened atop it and sparkled cheerfully in the light from the lit windows. Beyond a large lawn and a sturdy barn, a forest stretched off into the distance behind the mansion.

Mabel grew impatient as they stood staring too long.

"Right," she said, "let's go in."

Without further hesitation, they all trod up the path to the entrance where a yellow pale lamp glowed on either side. The dad stepped forward and rung the elaborate doorbell. Immediately the door pivoted into the house, where grandpa's aged and wrinkled form stood grinning.

"Come on in! Coats go on that hanger." He invited as chipper as could be, tipping his worn fedora and grinning at them. He wore an old flannel shirt and khaki shorts. He was the Grandpa on the moms side of the family. He hugged their dad tightly once they were all in.