Let's Scrooge

by R. L. Caulder

  Maddie’s lips were pursed to the side, and I could tell she was fighting a grin. “Could’ve been worse,” she chuckled. “You could sprout hair all over your body and howl at the moon.”

  I snorted. “I’m starting to think Freddy actually enjoys wolfing out.” I smiled to myself, thinking of my big blond boyfriend, who was currently out for a ‘run’ with Norman, expending some energy before bed. “It must be a wolf thing, because I swear he spends more time naked than clothed these days.”

  “Like you’re complaining,” Maddie mused with a sly smirk. She shook her head. “What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes, Tobs.”

  I quirked an eyebrow at that. “You think having one boyfriend to deal with would be tough, try having four of them living in the same house,” I said, lowering my voice. “Two of which have super hearing… Do you know how awkward that is when I have to pee?”

  Maddie lost it then, laughing hard enough to tilt sideways, and it only took a heartbeat for me to join her. It was true what I said though. There were a few drawbacks to living with supernatural creatures, even if I’d known them my whole life back when we were mortal. It seemed the longer we stayed in this world of perpetual Halloween, the more we latched on to it and blended in as if we’d always been here. The guys seemed happy, to my surprise. I was glad for that, because technically, it was my fault we were all stuck here.

  “But seriously…I don’t know what the hell I'm doing,” I groaned once my laughter died down. “My dad was apparently this badass necromancer, and so was my grandma and her grandma. How am I supposed to learn this stuff without anyone here who knows how it works?”

  I’d been trying my hardest to study the ancient texts passed down from necromancer to necromancer over the years. I’d tried to wield my dark powers so many times over the last two months, but I still felt like there was something holding me back. Ever since that showdown with Ichabod, it was like the thought of raising the dead was repulsive in a way. He’d perverted the ancient art when he tried to raise my mother from the dead, and I still felt sick about it.

  “You’re still thinking about the festival, aren't you?” Maddie said solemnly. Her brown eyes twinkled with sympathy and understanding. “You’re not like him, Tobs. You know that. What he did wasn’t necromancy…it was something else. You can’t let it scare you from being great.”

  “Being great?” I snorted. “What’s the point? It’s not like I can do anything useful with it…unless Frank wants to hire me at the psychic shop to speak with people’s ancestors…”

  I shook my head. I sounded like such a loser. I knew there were more practical applications for necromancy, but in truth, I was just stressed. I watched the guys thriving at pretty much everything they did, and it honestly made me a little envious of them. Norman was gaining more control over his bloodlust and bonding with his familiar, Billie. Freddy had befriended a few of the werewolves in town and was fully embracing his new wolfy side. I mean…I wasn’t complaining about the nakedness and the amplified horniness that seemed to happen in a matter of weeks. And then there was Michael and Jason. Their powers were a little different…darker. But even they seemed to be thriving too. Jason was lucky enough to have his familiar, Damon the demon, to walk him through the hard stuff, and Michael had the entire warlock community behind him. Not to mention my two aunties.

  “What’s that look for?” Maddie asked, snapping me out of my pity party. She was watching me with her arms crossed over her chest. “I can see—” she started to say, but was cut off as another face entered the mirror in front of her. “What the hell, Roger?!” Maddie screeched.

  Roger, the marionette doll and former detective who’d followed Maddie to the mortal world, waved at me from the mirror. I smiled, giving him a halfhearted wave back. “What’s with the long face, doll?” he asked. “Ya look like someone just kicked your dog.”

  I fought a grin at his old nineteen-thirties Hollywood way of speaking. Sometimes, I wondered how Maddie handled the little marionette back in the mortal world. He still kind of freaked me out. I hadn’t gotten around to asking about how exactly he was walking and talking while made entirely of porcelain, but I assumed it was some kind of spell.

  Maddie shoved him out of the frame and gave him a stern look before glancing back to me sympathetically. “Seriously, what else is eating at you?”

  I groaned, knowing I didn’t have a chance. My best friend might as well have been the second half of my soul, and I should’ve known she’d see right through me. But I was embarrassed to tell her what had been bothering me because it seemed so childish.

  “The guys are…acting weird,” I mumbled, cringing at how stupid that sounded coming out.

  “Elaborate, maybe?” Maddie said.

  I sighed. “I don't know… Like, they’ve just been a little standoffish this week, and I don’t know why. Freddy and Norman have been going on ‘runs' every night and won't tell me where to, and Jason disappears randomly throughout the day. Michael’s acting cagey and has barely said a word to me today… None of them slept in my room for two nights now. Am I seeing too much into this? Maybe they don’t really want to be here and they're pulling away…or maybe they never really loved me and are going back to their old bullying ways.”

  “Have you considered stalking them? You know…spying?” Maddie asked.

  I blinked at her image in the mirror. Her face was serious, and I had the sudden memory of sneaking up behind her as she crouched in the university library, watching Baen like the stalker she was. “You tell me, you’re the expert,” I quipped.

  Maddie’s cheeks reddened, but I swore I could see a sliver of sadness dim her eyes. I wondered if she regretted returning to the mortal world for the year. I knew Baen missed her, and Calvin as well. I saw him now and then in the halls of the school, and though he was kind and friendly, I could tell his eyes searched for Maddie, even though it was impossible for her to be here until next Halloween.

  “I’m not stalking my boyfriends,” I said finally. “I’m not that pathetic yet.” Maddie went to argue, but I cut her off with a pointed look and added, “I think I’m just being paranoid. It’s not like I expected them to spend all their time with me anyway.”

  “You just need something to focus on,” Maddie said. “Maybe the aunties can help you out…like brew you up a calming tonic or something so you can focus.”

  “You’re probably right,” I conceded. I sighed, deep and tired after a long day at failing to raise even a single spirit. “I miss you…” I added somberly.

  Maddie met my eyes through the mirror, and she smiled softly. “Miss you more, Tobs. Things aren’t the same around here without you. Kind of boring, to be honest.”

  “Halloween can’t come fast enough,” I said with a small smile. I yawned, stretching my neck from side to side, and said, “Well, I'm going to get some of that tonic and head to bed before the guys get back… If they ever get back.”

  “Sleep tight, don’t let the giant spiders bite,” Maddie said with a chuckle.

  A small, squeaky voice from behind me said, “I resent that…”

  I turned and gave Jessica an eye roll as she continued to perch all eight of her little spidery legs on the branch that crossed my bedroom. I turned back to Maddie and winked before moving to close the compact mirror. Just as it was about to click shut, I heard her add, “But seriously…consider the stalking!”

  I dreamed of home that night, and my parents, like I did most nights. In my dreams, my mom and dad sat in their designated chairs by the fireplace, while my mom and I sipped from mugs of her homemade peppermint hot cocoa.

  It was snowing in my dreams, and I knew it was because in my heart, I realized Christmas was on the way. The last two months had passed me by in such a blur of adjustment that it took a while for the seasonal blues to set in. It was last week when I had the first dream about the happy Christmases I’d spent with my parents. The next morning, I’d gone to the cemetery and talked to their headstone for a while,
just reminiscing and hoping that somehow, they could hear me.

  My parents may have hated Halloween, much to my dismay, but they were freaks about Christmas. My mom would deck the house in lights and garland, and she fattened us up with cocoa, peanut brittle, and caramel corn. It was the one time of the year my uptight mom ever let herself breathe a little. My heart ached as I started to blink out of my heavy sleep, knowing my mom and dad wouldn’t be there waiting for me. It had been well over a year since their murder, but it was still fresh.

  I thought a part of the reason I was so melancholy and sad about my dreams and the memories they dredged up, was because here in Midnight Hollow, in this world of Halloween, there was no such thing as Christmas. They didn’t celebrate holidays the same way the mortals did. Sure, there was a solstice festival every year, but it wasn’t the same. As much as I lived for Halloween and everything spooky and dark, I also secretly loved the cozy feel of jingling bells, carols in the streets, and driving around neighborhoods to look at all the light displays. That world now seemed like a lifetime ago.

  I jumped as something soft brushed my thigh. My eyes flew open, and I blinked at the perpetual moonlight that shone through the bedroom window, even though I knew it was morning. A smile stretched my lips as my brain caught up, and I realized it was lips I could feel peppering their way up my legs beneath my duvet. I shifted slightly, my skin suddenly on fire. I felt small pricks and stings along my inner thigh, telling me exactly who’d snuck into my room.

  My eyes rolled back and my back arched as I felt Norman’s lips reach my center. I groaned, trying to keep my voice quiet as I felt him grin against me. Vampires were silent and stealthy, and he moved with a grace I could never hope to replicate. The feel of his cold hands on my heated skin made me shiver in pleasure. Slowly, Norman swirled his tongue around my clit, licking leisurely at first. My hands gripped the bedsheets, trying to keep myself steady. A squeak fell from my lips, and my eyes darted to the tree branch reaching across my bedroom, but thankfully, Jessica was already up and out of the room by now.

  I just lay back, rolling my hips against his mouth as his tongue swiped faster. I could feel his fangs against me, and each time, it sent jolts of pleasure through me. I was grinding against his face now. I loved these kinds of wake-up calls. Sometimes, it was just one of them, and other times, I had all four here to fuck me into oblivion. I was thankful for Michael’s soundproofing spell on those mornings. But even with just Norman here to wake me up, I was squirming beneath him as he brought me to ecstasy. He added two thick fingers as he sucked my clit between his lips.

  I lost it then, muffling my moans with my pillow as my thighs shook around his head. My orgasm ripped through me, leaving me a noodly mess on my mattress, trying to catch my breath. After a minute, I lifted my duvet, looking into Norman’s blackened eyes as he grinned and said, “Morning, babe.”

  Chapter 2

  Freddy

  "If you don't stop growling over there, I swear on the holy pumpkin, I'll make you miserable. I’ll describe in detail how much our girl liked my tongue on her." My evil, asshole twin smirked at me as my growl turned into a low whimper that I couldn’t control.

  I had to squeeze my eyes shut tightly, trying to not visualize October moaning under my brother's tongue. I struggled not to picture her staring at me as her pleasure peaked, her delicate but powerful fingers gripping the sheets and telling me with her icy blue eyes to join her as she reached ecstasy.

  Was it so wrong that I just wanted to fuck my girl into a frenzy twenty-four-seven? Maybe bite her and leave a mark that screamed she’s mine, then cuddle her a little? I’d even give in when she demands I participate in the face mud masks the aunties made from God knows what. Call me crazy, but if my girl asked me to dress in bell bottom jeans and go dancing at a club to “Night Fever,” I’d be there faster than John Travolta could bust a move. The things we’d do for our girl was something most guys wouldn’t.

  For example, the last month had been hard on her. We could all see the small slip of a smile that strained across her lips sometimes, or the way her big, blue eyes would go distant, filled with sadness. That’s when Operation Christmas Miracle began, to turn our spooky, Halloween town into a freaking winter wonderland. We knew how much it meant to her parents to spend Christmas together. Not having Maddie around this year just added to the sadness of missing her parents. Plus, living in a town made up of creatures that we thought never existed, in another world filled with magic you could only dream of, was even harder. The vampire’s didn’t know what hot cocoa was, the wolves didn’t know that we cut down trees and strung them up with lights because it was fucking enchanting to look at. Witches couldn’t see past their bubbling cauldrons to know that this time of the year could be filled with sweets of all kinds of bright colors and families wrapping gifts for each other.

  So yeah, we schemed and planned, and now it was time to see it all come together. October couldn’t know because there were still minor details we needed to get done before tomorrow. I hated keeping secrets from her, especially after holding back secrets for years—secrets like how much I loved her and pretended to hate her. That was the true torture.

  “You know she’s going to think the worst right?” I sighed, knowing she was probably already suspicious of us and thinking the absolute worst thing her creative imagination could come up with.

  “Oh yeah, I know. She’s following us right now. Don’t act suspicious.” Norman smacked me upside the head as I fumbled around, trying to act normal, placing my hands on my hips like I was striding down a catwalk instead of Main Street. He rolled his eyes and said, “We’ll pass Pumpkin Eater candy shop and cut through the alley… Which reminds me, don’t let me forget to stop in and see how it’s going with the fudge. They really couldn’t wrap their heads around it. The owner keeps saying it looks like a pile of shit, but he did like the taste. After that, you need to go into Ghost From Our Past theater and see how they’re coming along with the fake fire. It better be regular fire, none of that spooky green stuff.” Norman ticked off each task with his fingers, and each one had me wanting to pull my hair out of its bun. I felt a headache coming on.

  “Where the hell are we going again? So much to do still, and it’s already noon…I think.” I looked up at the night sky that was always dark, save for the faint orange tint that cast a glow over the town.

  Thank fuck they lined the streets with lanterns, or everyone would be walking around blind basically. Norman still didn’t answer my question, and when I took my gaze off the sky, it was to see we were passing the blood bank. My head snapped around to see my twin staring straight ahead, looking like he wasn’t even breathing, his fangs digging into his lower lip.

  He drank from October religiously, which our girl loved. You could fight me if I was wrong, but I wasn’t. The moans and squeals she made as pleasure took over from every bite… Yeah, it was one of my guilty pleasures to watch. Though he was snacking on October like she was…well, a snack, he was still a new vampire and I could imagine even the smell of blood was hard to resist.

  How did that work during her shark week? You know what? I don’t want to know.

  “We’re heading to Frosty’s place first,” Norman breathed out with relief as we finally put the blood bank behind us, and I was thankful for the distraction because my mind was wandering into dangerous territory, thinking about women and their mysterious secrets.

  “Great…you got the big man handled, right?” I asked my brother just as the familiar, faint scent of autumn leaves and cinnamon breezed by under my nose. “She’s getting closer. Make a freaking run for Frosty’s once we pass the bookshop,” I whispered and saw a flash of orange hair out of the corner of my eye in the alley between buildings, trying to blend in with the shadows.

  The sound of laughter had me glancing across the street at a pack of wolves coming out of the Wicked Quill bookshop, and a strained grin spread across my face as I waved at them. That had the pack tilting their heads lik
e dogs at the look I gave them, nodding towards the alleyway.

  “Good thinking. Hopefully, the pack can distract her or keep her from getting too close. I want this to be a surprise… She needs it.” Norman nodded his head at the wolves gathered around the entrance of the alley, and the sound of their laughter masked any noise we made as we broke out in a jog.

  We didn’t pause as we busted through the front door of the Snowcone Café. The frosted glass windows hid us from sight, and we both breathed a little easier, our breath fogging the air. My twin held up his fist, which I tapped in respect and turned around to confront the big guy by the display case of snow cones. He was always there, staring down at his customers as if we might steal some of those delicious frozen ice chucks. A month ago, I discovered this place while roaming the streets and kept coming back since, even though the giant, white furry man made my fur bristle.

  “Frosty, my man! How are you on this fine, dreary night?” Norman cleared his throat as he glanced up and up at the massive Yeti. A freaking Yeti. That’s right…a beast from legends and stories. He supposedly lived in the ice-capped mountains and kept people out of his terrority like the motherfucking Grinch. I didn’t know how the guy ran and owned a popular cafe in the center of town while also terrorizing the mortal world, but I wasn’t complaining. It was sort of like an ice cream shop.

  “Gentlemen, what can I do for you?” he asked, his voice like a booming growl. “Where is the lovely Miss October?” He scowled down at us when he noticed she wasn’t here. The big guy had a soft spot for our girl… But I mean, come on, who wouldn’t?

  “Well you see, that’s why we are here. We have a request to cheer up our poor, sad October.” I shook my head, looking down right pitiful for October, and ignored the side eye Norman gave me, the look saying, what the hell are you doing?