Chapter 1 - Old Nanna

"A long, long time ago, people were free to roam and the world was full of pure and beautiful life. But in a certain place in the old world there was a kingdom ruled by a cruel and tyrannical old king. The king in question was fearful about the old age that brought him closer to death each day, as well as the judgment it would inevitably bring," Nanna recounted under the heat of the fireplace.

 "Does death judge us Nanna?" Asked little Derek involved in the story.

 "Yes little one, death judges us, so you must always be a good boy," replied Nanna with a toothless smile before continuing. "Knowing the tyrant king how bad he was in life and that nothing good awaited him in his encounter with death, he ordered his advisers, knights and lackeys to find a way to outwit fate."

 "Can we cheat death?" Asked the curious Derek with just his head out of the blanket.

 The scene made Nanna smile in nostalgia, remembering the times when a blanket was enough to keep her from all ills.

 "Of course not little one, we can't cheat death, and the same said the advisors of the tyrant king, since his knights always brought false saints and false miraculous items from their journeys, causing the wrath of the king who approached death with every sigh. But one day, one of his lackeys brought him a wizard, who told him that the fresh blood of the young and innocent would keep him young forever," said Nanna in a forced dark voice, as she brought her hands closer to the blanket. "Young blood like your little one, for old bones like mine," she continued, her voice creepy making even the hairs Derek didn't know existed stand on end.

 clan!!!!

 "Aaaaaa!!!!" Derek yelled and ran under the table.

 "Stop yelling, it's me," said Pan, picking up the old wooden spoon he dropped. "Your voice should thicken with age, but I swear it gets louder every day, think of my poor ears before you scream like that again," Pan commented, twirling his fingers in his ear.

 "Oh heavens Pan, you're soaking wet," Nanna said, rising from the rocking chair that creaked in symphony with her old knuckles. "Here, get it and cover yourself, you'll catch a cold" for then an old blanket wrapped around Pan who smiled in thanks.

 Using the blanket as an excuse she checked for bruises on his body. Pan was becoming more and more like his father, Nanna's son. Broad shoulders, a strong body, brown hair, and black eyes, if he grew up a little more, it would be like her son was right there in front of her. But unlike his father's wide and warm smile, Pan's didn't reach his eyes, which remained apathetic all the time.

 "How was work on the docks?" Asked Nanna even though she already knew that due to the lack of bruises it was a peaceful day.

 "Grandma, you should stop telling Derek scary stories," Pan replied something else, aware of the subtle verification.

 "Ava was here today to bring Derek," Nanna said, ignoring his request.

 The stories had more truth than one might think, she had passed them on to Derek just as her mother and her mother had passed them on, Pan knows.

 "She brought us tea leaves and asked for you," Nanna declared before sitting down by the fireplace again.

"The docks were quiet today," said Pan, changing the subject and joining Nanna by the fire with a cup of tea in his hand.

 "She's a good girl and it's obvious she likes you," Nanna declared, not letting him get away. "At your age your father was already married," she pointed out and then poked the coal with a long stick to ignite the flames.

 "I have…too many responsibilities this year to think about," he lied and stood there staring into the fire, lost in thought.

 Nanna looked at Derek who was already asleep. After a glass of tea and the brief scare, he ended up resting right there under the table.

 "And what responsibilities could a sixteen year old have?" Nanna said, staring at Pan. "You seem to be running away from them."

 "It won't work," he replied, annoyance filling his voice.

 Seeing him like this saddened Nanna more than words could express. His parents' fate was a tragedy for them, as well as for her, a mother shouldn't see her children die. She understood his helplessness, but unlike old bones like his, Pan was young and full of life ahead, but his grief was turning him into a bitter, grumpy man. He needed to move on.

 "How can you know if you don't try?" She said with a sigh.  "I'm not getting any younger Pan… my sleep is getting longer and longer, and I fear the day will last forever, I'm afraid I won't see him happy with a family before then," she said at last.

 Maybe it's low of her to throw it at him, but Nanna didn't want to keep seeing her grandson live like this.

 "I'm happy Nanna," replied Pan.

 He approached her, took her hand and smiled brightly, but again his smile didn't reach his eyes.

 "You will also live many more years," Pan continued with a kiss on the forehead.

 He then walked over to the table and cradled little Derek on the floor before speaking.

 "Thank Ava for the tea for me," Pan said and took little Derek to bed, the little one would spend a few nights here to keep Nanna company and hear her stories.

 "Yes, I'll thank," she sighed and lay there, watching the flames fade little by little, until the tea and age took effect, then she fell asleep.