Worthy

"Where is he?"

Xaviers mom was strung up by the neck and struggling to breathe. Four stood around with bats as there primary means of choice. When she didn't speak she was thrown aside like a pile of garbage. Shots broke the glass and tore the head off on one. Screams rang out and the rest forced there way in.

Dust filled the room and Xaviers' dad blindly shot. Two missed and he swore under his breath as he tried to reload. The three wasted no time. He was knocked out and woke up tied to a chair. A bag covered his face and the lights flickered one then everything went dark.

Eyes peeked out of the bushes and watched closely all the events that unfolded. Shapeshifter wasn't happy with what his eyes beheld. He needed help and he knew where to look.

High above the gates to the big hall were swung open wide and Xavier stood dumbfounded and speechless. There were chairs, tables, people, and food galore. His eyes looked up and a banner lay swinging from the ceiling. It read: Welcome Home Xavier. Balloons sat in all four corners of the room and what lay along the back wall was enormous. A huge chocolate fountain with every type of vegetable, fruit, and candy you could think of sitting beside it. He stepped in.

Instantly a group of people hid behind the door and ambushed him in a hug. He had no time to think.

"Welcome home Xavier. We've been waiting for you. Glad you could make it," The youngest one said and then gave him a lily.

The group picked him up and all grabbed him as they put him above there heads and partied around.

"Everyone! Everyone. May I have your attention. Our son has returned. Thanks be to God for He has kept our son safe and returned him home to us. Let us feast and enjoy that our family is once again whole. He was lost but now he is found."

For the next half hour, food was passed, wine was drunk, tables were full and a whole bunch of questions were asked.

"Pss. Follow me!" A voice said from beside a door. Xavier weaseled his way out of the group and snuck in the adjacent door.

Lights flicked on and Xavier slowly walked down the long hallway. At the end, a chair sat, two stood by and one slept. When he heard his footsteps though he sat upright.

"Welcome, Xavier. You have been proven worthy."

Xavier kneeled down and bowed his head.

"You have proven that you belong here You have overcome challenges unimaginable by most. You have truly proven yourself. Rise!! I bestow upon you the greatest honor you can have. Receive this rose as a token of our gratitude. Stroke the third peddle and it will turn into a blade. Keep it safe and it will protect you.