Giving Dee a hug, I followed the boys.
“Alice.” Rudy’s unemotional tone stopped me at the door, cranking my head to him on the couch. “Be careful.”
“Of course.”
“No.” He squinted as if I wasn’t understanding. “You are exactly his taste. A sweet little tot.”
“Whose taste?”
Rudy’s black lips tugged slightly.
“Who indeed.”
Chapter 34
The trek up the steep incline to the tip-top left little room for chit-chat or questions. My lungs and legs ached with fatigue, sweat dripping down my back. The warning winds did everything in their power to dissuade us, either with threatening hisses through my hair or blowing so hard, our hike uphill became nearly impossible. Each step felt like victory.
“Turn around. Death is waiting if you keep going.”
“Death! Demise!”
“Don’t be foolish, girl.” A gust whipped against my ear, tangling my hair into knots. “He’s leading you to certain death. Painful. Bloody. Death!”
“For fuck sake, you guys are being extra dramatic today.” Hare snarled, trying to push against the force blowing down on us.
“Look at the source it’s coming from,” Scrooge grunted, nodding up at the white covered tippy top of the mountain. The moonlight sliced down, shadowing us under its looming form. It curved and twisted like the back of a cobra ready to strike, threatening death as the wind claimed.
“True.” Hare took a hop forward, his head bent in, escaping the brutal lashings of wind. “At least we’re almost there. Can’t take their constant bitching anymore. Actually making me miss the tyrants back at the cabin.”
The incline gradually eased, landing us at the place the curvy top narrowed into a sharp point. Scrooge came to a halt, his shoulders inching up at his ears. Settling in next to him, I saw no indication as to why he stopped.
“Are we here?”
“Yes.”
“O-kay.” I peered around.
“I swear, if that thing so much as sniffs me… I’m out.” Hare pointed behind him.
“You didn’t have to come,” Scrooge replied.
“Between being brutally murdered and babysitting, I think this was the wiser decision.”
Scrooge snorted. “Come on, hasenpfeffer.” He took a step forward, placing his hands against the mountain, his hand scouring through the snow as if he were looking for something. “Ah! There it is.”
A loud boom echoed with a hollow sound. A slice of the mountain, the size of double doors, shifted, opening, causing me to leap back with a cry. “Stocking stuffers,” I gasped, watching the gap leading inside the mountain open for us. I could see the beginning of a path, but darkness stole anything past a couple yards.
“Where does this lead?”
“Wrong question, Ms. Liddell.” Scrooge took a deep breath, taking the first step. “It’s not where it leads, but what is waiting for us down there.”
“What?” I squeaked, bouncing my panic between him and Hare.
“I truly hate you.” Hare jumped next to him.
“Good. Then things are right on par.” Scrooge glanced back at me. “You coming? He already knows we’re here. No turning back now.”
“I think it’s time you told me who he is.”
“And take all the fun out of this for me?” Scrooge wiggled one eyebrow, turning back down the path.
“You are so heartless.” Hare snickered, disappearing in front of him, the darkness eating him up.
Hedging for a moment, I cursed under my breath. I knew myself too well… and it seemed Scrooge did also. My curiosity would always draw me forward, always wanting to learn and explore more. Not telling me was the best way to keep me going forward. I couldn’t stand not knowing.
Exhaling, I stepped onto the path. The stone, so worn and used, felt no different from pavement under my boots.
I stepped inside, and instantly the door slid shut behind me. The loud boom of it closing, reverberated off the hollow mountain and pounded adrenaline through my veins.
The moment the doors shut, lights above us flicked on. The ceiling of the cave stretched far above our heads. The electricity lined the rock as if this had been an underground bunker like Santa’s. Was this another hiding spot for him? Who was using it now?
The path curved, spiraling down into the mountain, reminiscent of a nautilus shell, taking us far beneath the earth. I leaned over the edge trying to spot the bottom, but it seemed to go on forever.
After ten minutes of spiraling, we came to another door. This one was thick iron, but small opening, fitting one person at a time. Another barricade for whoever was down here if they were being attacked.
“Open up.” Scrooge hit the metal, staring up. Following his gaze, I spotted a camera. The light blinked, twisting to stare down at us. Then it slowly went back and forth as if it was shaking its head.
“Open. Up. Wanker!” Scrooge yelled at the camera. “You know I wouldn’t be here unless it was important.”
Once again the camera shook its head.
Hare muttered under his breath, then bounced next to Scrooge.
“Hey, garbage heap, let us in. The big man needs your help.”
The camera didn’t do anything, but neither did the doors open.
“You will be king of the mountain again if you help us.” Hare taunted. “All the smarmy glory back in your court.”
Nothing.
“Fine!” Hare arms flew up. “He can lick me… once!”
Clunk.
The heavy door release, cracking open.
“Hare.” Scrooge held his hands to his chest, not hiding his smirk. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a little too eager to give in.”
“Fuck off!” He stormed past us, pushing open the door.
“I’d feel bad,” Scrooge said to me. “But I think he actually likes it.”
He followed Hare inside, holding the door for me to step in. It wasn’t much different from the side we just came from. I was slightly disappointed, ready to find a bunker like Santa’s or something similar. Instead we were greeted with cheerless rock, reeking of unfriendly odors. I cringed at the sour smells, like I stepped into a bucket of sauerkraut. Pickled and sharp, the scents were so jarring compared to Hare’s sweet treats.
“Ugh.” Hare moaned, fanning his nose. “I forgot how awful it smells here.”
“Get used to it; it just gets worse from here.” Scrooge continued down a narrow path, the stench indeed blooming the farther we went. This went down a few more floors before entering another room at the bottom. Stepping only a few feet in, I glanced around with shock. It went up as tall as a skyscraper, bridges and paths weaving everywhere like cobwebs. It reminded me of the print, Relativity by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher. Upside down, sideways, reversed, upright, the paths and stairs twisting your brain where everything made sense and nothing did.
How easy someone could lose themselves here. Perfect to shred the confidence of your attacker until they were begging you to save them, stripping their strategy from them at every twist.
“And here I thought I was safe from the infamous Scrooge darkening my doorstep again.” A raspy, but peculiarly familiar voice came from my right, jerking my body to the side. Not seeing anything, the smell sharpened in my nostrils, making them feel like they were burning.
“Believe me, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me.”
“Doubtful.” The voice came from the far left, skipping my heart, my head darting the opposite way.
“It’s important.”
“You creatures think everything is important.” His voice came from straight above my head. His abrupt, ludicrous moments unsettled me. It fit this world perfectly; it made no sense.
“It’s time.” Scrooge didn’t bother trying to follow his voice. “The queen can get between worlds now.”
“And who was the fool who let it happen?”
I flinched, keeping my mouth closed.<
br />
“Not important anymore. She’s looking to kill Santa and close the door forever. I know you couldn’t give a shit about anything else but yourself, so let me clarify… you will cease to exist as well if this happens.”
“Oh, that hurts.” Fake sadness oozed from his tone. “You don’t think I care?”
“Cut the crap.” Scrooge spat through his teeth. “Come down here.”
“So bossy.”
“I swear to Santa…” Scrooge knotted his hands. “To think this is supposed to be the better version of you.”
“I’m taking the lick away from him.” Hare waggled his fist in the air.
“Oh, now you’re being vindictive. He doesn’t like it when his favorite toy plays hard to get…” The man jeered as a deep growl came from the darkness behind us, skipping my pulse. We swung around, as a large mass stepped out of the shadows. “Actually, what am I saying… he totally does.”
“Evil vampire holly,” I muttered, stepping back in fright.
A massive dog the size of a donkey, with a tan coat and long, dark chocolate brown ears would have been adorable if it wasn’t for his enormous size or the snarling teeth dripping with saliva. He took slow steps toward us, ready to pounce on his prey at any moment.
“He loves you, Hare.” The man spoke. “He especially loves when you run.”
“I said nothing about letting him chase me. I said one lick. One!”
Now I totally understood Hare’s resistance about coming here. He was a take-away dish to this dog-beast.
“You are all no fun.” The voice scraped up the back of my neck, my body shivering.
“Stop the games. We came here because we had no other choice. We need your help. The war is coming. For once in your wretched life do the right thing… if only because it gets you what you want in the end. Peace and quiet on your mountain again.”
Silence followed for a few beats, before an odd shape stepped up next to the dog, my lids squinting, trying to make out what it was.
“I can’t deny being utterly alone, with no one to bother me, or ever speak to me again… sounds utterly delectable.” He took a step closer, his yellowish eyes glowing with gluttonous need. “What do you think, Max?”
The dog and the strange man stepped forward out of the shadows.
My mouth fell open, flabbergasted at who stood before me. “Toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce,” I muttered.
Tall, green, furry, and shaped like a butternut squash, the legendary icon of hating Christmas, stood before me.
The Grinch.
A creepy smile spread across his mouth, showing his yellow, decaying teeth, as his eyes went over me.
“Well. Well. Looks like they brought me a toy too, Max.” He licked his lips, his insinuation evident.
“You won’t lay a finger on her.” Scrooge’s chest expanded, shifting slightly in front of me. Is this what Rudy meant to be careful? That I was his type?
“Guess we’ll see how much you want my help.” Grinch’s smile widened, patting his dog on the head. “For now, I guess Max gets to have all the fun. Go, boy. Catch the Easter bunny.”
Max reared back, leaping for Hare with an excited yip.
“Fuck. Me.” Hare hissed, before taking off. Max barked, tearing after Hare.
“Let the Easter egg hunt begin.” Grinch leered at me, tapping his finger against his chin, wobbling slightly like he was drunk. “Think I will start with the nice eggs you have hiding under that tight see-through top.”
The Grinch was really the king of sinful sots.
“You didn’t think it would be so easy, did you?” Grinch tapped his foot, and my gaze was drawn to the long hair growing between his toes, his feet resembling slippers more than feet.
“As if I’d ever think you’d do something out of the kindness of your tiny heart.” Scrooge folded his arms.
“What do you mean? The people claim it grew three sizes.”
“And it’s still only the size of a pea.”
“At one time, you were no different from me.” Grinch crossed his ankles, picking at his yellow teeth. “You were fun then.”
“Remember, I came first. Your story is just a retelling of mine.”
“Oooh, someone is feeling incredibly territorial today.” Grinch lifted his bushy eyebrows at me. “It’s not like I want to keep her for good. Just for a few hours.”
“Don’t even—” Scrooge took a step forward.
“Ahhhh! Get this beast off me.” Hare’s voice volleyed through the large cavern, my eyes catching a tuft of white zooming across one of the bridges overhead.
“Uh?” I pointed at Hare, my attention going to Scrooge and Grinch, who seemed to be in some standoff. “Shouldn’t we help Hare?”
“He’s fine.” Scrooge gritted, his focus still on the green squash.
“Ahhhhh!” Hare’s scream came from my right. “Down, you overgrown stuffed animal.”
Max’s bark responded, making Hare’s wail a string of curse words. In the story, Max was a cute, sweet, small dog, not the size of a bear.
“If she’s not my gift, what did you bring me?” Grinch leaned against a wall, feigning boredom. “You know my rule.”
“Poor Grinchy… still hurt over his childhood. Didn’t get gifts all those years alone in the mountain.” Scrooge rolled his eyes, folding his arms. “I wonder why that was? Because you’re a narcissistic, cruel bastard? Shocker you didn’t get presents.”
Grinch let out a deep chuckle. “It tickles me in all the right places when the very person whose words describe them, tells me I’m selfish.”
“Takes one to know one,” Scrooge replied.
“Get to it, pretty boy. You came here. You know my demands.”
“Fine.” Scrooge broke his contact with Grinch, looking around. “Hare get back here.”
“Sorry, busy being murdered. Maybe some help here?” Hare’s voice bounced around the space, but neither of the men moved. “Call off this circus pony. Down doggie! Don’t even think about getting that tongue near my ass again.”
“Seriously. Shouldn’t we help him?” I peered around for his white figure.
“Dammit, Hare!” Scrooge yelled at his friend. “Stop playing around with Max. I need your backpack.”
“Stop. Playing. With. Max?” Hare zipped over our heads again. “Playing? Seriously? Yeah, because this is so much fuckin’ fun for me. Ahhhh! Don’t lick me there again.”
“He’s just a puppy.” Grinch snorted, uncrossing his ankles, standing fully up. He was even taller than Scrooge’s six-three stature. “Max!”
The dog yipped and in a few seconds was at his master’s side, his tongue flopping out of his mouth, his tail wagging.
“Did you have fun?” He cooed at his dog, rubbing behind his ears. Max’s back foot whapped against the floor, rocks and debris jumping up around him like fleas.
“He’s so big here.” I couldn’t get over his size, the monster dog looked sweet with his teeth tucked in his mouth.
“Oh. You aren’t one of those?” Grinch rolled his eyes. “Earth-bounders? Who grew up with their version of me?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Ugh. They twisted my story into some moral learning crap… and Max? They thought him being cute and little would be more relatable. As if that size dog could pull a sleigh up the hill? So unrealistic.”
“Sure, that’s what was unrealistic about your story,” I snorted under my breath.
“Fuck you.” Hare, gasping for air, hopped up next to us. “And fuck you some more.”
“He’s just a puppy,” Scrooge taunted him.
“You.” Hare pointed at his friend then at me. “I hate you both.”
Max whined, moving toward Hare. “Back!” Hare panted, glaring at the dog. “You got in four licks… which we will never talk about again.” Max tilted his head, his tongue rolling back out of his mouth, making him look like he was smiling.
Scrooge grabbed for the backpack on Hare’s shoulders, tugging it off hi
m. “That had to be heavy. Why didn’t you just leave it behind before you played?”
“Leave it—played—” Hare’s fury stopped the words in his mouth, his whiskers quivering with rage. He shook his finger at Scrooge before stomping away, grumbling under his breath.
Scrooge opened the pack, taking out two of the bottles of mead we didn’t get a chance to drink at the cottage. “Is this what you wanted?”
Grinch’s eyes widened, glowing with need and desire. Stepping forward his long furry fingers reached for the bottles, his greasy tongue sliding over his thin black lips. “I haven’t been able to get any on the black market.”
“Whoa.” Scrooge pulled the alcohol out of his grasp, shaking his head. “Not until you agree to help us. I know you have access to weapons.”
Grinch’s head didn’t move, but he slowly peered at us, a wicked expression tugging at his mouth. “It’s gonna take more than two bottles.”
“That’s all we have,” Scrooge seamlessly lied.
“What are you looking for? A few guns?”
“A dozen at least.”
“Oh, Scrooge, you never did have the brainpower for the bigger picture.” Grinch smirked. “You have no idea what I can provide.” He spun, walking away, Max right on his heels.
Puzzled, I looked at Scrooge. “Should we follow?”
“That or murder him.” He shrugged. “My vote is on the latter.”
“Let’s see if he can back up his claim. Then we can roast him over an open fire.” My fingers wrapped around my knife on my hip.
“Is it scary how fuckin’ hot I find that?” Scrooge’s bad-boy grin lifted one side of his face. “Though I’m still not above selling you to him for a few candy cane guns.”
“I might be okay with that.” My voice low and purring, I turned into him, brushing my breasts into him, knowing perfectly well what I was doing. “He does have awfully long fingers. A girl might find a use for those.” I winked at him and walked away. A growl followed behind me, causing me to smile in victory to myself.
“Someone is playing games with me.”
“Life is a game.” I winked over my shoulder, flaunting a sentiment he once said to me. “You only need to know how to play it to survive.”
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