“It’s less cushy,” he said.
I lifted an eyebrow at him. They were the exact same type of bed, and he knew it. “You missed me, didn’t you?”
“No,” he shot back.
“I think you did.”
“Barely even noticed you were gone.”
Even though he was giving me attitude, I kind of wanted to hug him. He might not have admitted he missed me, but I’d missed him—even if he was a grouch.
“We have a new roommate,” I said, looking over my shoulder into the living room. “Melody, come meet Tomi.”
She came into the room and gasped when she saw him. “I’ve never seen a tomten before.”
“Well, you have now. Melody, this is Tomi. Tomi meet your new roomie, Melody.”
Tomi got up from under the covers and walked to the end of the bed. He inspected Melody like I’d just brought a stray cat into the house and he wasn’t sure about her. Finally, he shrugged and jumped off the bed. “At least she doesn’t smell bad,” he said as he wandered past us and into the living room.
Melody frowned, but I grinned in reply. “That means he likes you,” I told her. Tomi rarely said anything that complimentary to me.
She gave me an unsure look in response, but I patted her arm. “Let’s go have something to eat so we can get to bed early. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
Melody nodded, her eyes growing big at the mention of tomorrow. “Do you think we’re making the right choice in going to Grimsby?”
On the way home from the sleigh point I’d told Melody about how Dash didn’t want me there and how I was set on ignoring his decision. She’d wholeheartedly agreed and wanted to come to Grimsby to help too.
“Dash may not want us to go,” I said. “But he’s not in charge of us, and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be there. This is far bigger than one reindeer.”
Melody nodded at my words. “Crow needs to be stopped.”
“He does,” I agreed. “Let’s just hope that Dash and the others realize the same thing when they see us tomorrow.”
I didn’t sleep well that night. My heart kept galloping in my chest whenever I closed my eyes and I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about seeing Crow again or the favor I owed the nameless one. I wasn’t sure which one I dreaded more, but I knew that both things were going to happen whether I liked it or not.
I was a complete zombie when I got up in the morning. I walked into the kitchen, rubbing my eyes, and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Melody standing there.
“Crap, sorry!” I said as I got over my shock. “I’m so used to living alone I forgot you were here for a moment.”
“No problem,” Melody replied. “I made coffee; you want some?”
She handed me a cup, and I smiled as I took it. “I think inviting you here is the best decision I ever made.” I took a sip.
She laughed and poured herself a cup. “I’ll have to remember that,” she said. “Coffee is the way to your heart.”
“That and Fanta,” I replied. “Oh, and if you ever get your hands on some Northern Realm mince pies, they usually do the trick too.”
She nodded like she was filing the information away for later. I took another sip of my coffee, already feeling better for having the caffeine in my system.
“So, what’s our plan for tonight?” she asked.
I placed my cup down on the counter as I looked up at her. “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I was actually thinking we should recruit some more help.”
“You were?” she asked.
Instead of answering her, I became focused on my magic. I sent threads of it outward, like a bright signal directed specifically at Alfie. I could summon him myself, but that took far more energy. Plus, it always felt somewhat rude to yank him to my side without warning. This was more like lighting a fire in his front yard and waiting for him to notice it.
When I focused back on Melody, she was frowning. “What was that?” she asked.
“I was sending out a signal to my friend Alfie. He’s a ghost, and I think he might be able to help us tonight.”
“You can do that?”
“Yeah, I’m sure you can too.”
Melody shook her head. “No, I’ve never done anything like that before.”
That didn’t mean she was incapable. Before I could tell her that, Alfie appeared in the kitchen, a wide smile on his face.
“You rang?” he said in greeting.
“Hey, Alf.”
“Who are you talking to?” Melody asked.
“The ghost I was telling you about.”
“Oh.” Her eyes lit with understanding.
“Is this the new roomie?” Alfie asked, looking at Melody with interest.
“Yep,” I replied.
“She’s cute,” he said as he watched her. “Looks like she needs a good meal though.”
“We’re working on it,” I replied. “Anyways, I asked you here because I need your help…”
“Why do I feel like you’ve gotten yourself into trouble again?”
“Probably because I have.”
He let out a sigh and rolled his hand, indicating for me to continue. “I told you to avoid that, but okay, let’s hear it.”
“Well, the dark elves that attacked me the other night were under the influence of a krampus named Crow,” I started. “That prophet I was telling you about told us that if we didn’t stop him he’d keep killing.”
“Well, that’s not good,” Alfie said.
I shook my head. “No, and it gets worse. We found out that he has a Christmas star. We’re not sure what he’s planning to do with it, but we do know it’s extremely powerful and dangerous. This is a krampus who keeps prisoners and makes them fight against their will. He orders elves to kill other beings like it’s nothing; we have to stop him.”
“Yep, that definitely sounds like trouble,” Alfie said, shaking his head before taking in a deep breath. “How can I help?”
I smiled at him, loving that my best friend was always ready to jump right into danger with me. “I was thinking you could help us with a little recon. We know where Crow will be tonight, and since you’re not yet visible to other Christmas beings, you could be a big help in scouting the area.”
Alfie frowned as he considered my proposal. “I have always thought I’d make a great spy.” He tilted his head at me, watching me closely, before he finally nodded. “Okay, where are we going?”
I wished he were corporal enough that I could hug him. “An abandoned ice factory in Grimsby.”
“Sounds creepy,” he said.
“I thought ghosts were supposed to be all good with creepy.”
“Nah, that’s an old wives’ tale. Most ghosts hate anything spooky,” he replied. “Especially this one.”
“This is so weird,” Melody murmured. I looked back at her and found she was watching me. I must have looked like I was talking to thin air. I guess it was kind of strange when you weren’t used to it.
I let out a breath and nodded. “It wouldn’t be so bad if we were closer to Christmas,” I replied. “It’s not nearly as weird when you can see Alfie too.”
“She’s right, you know,” Alfie added, not that Melody could hear.
“All right, Alfie, I’ll signal you when I need your help later,” I said, trying to get back on track. “Melody, you and me had better go get ready for the day. We’re going to Grimsby, and we’re going to kick some krampus ass.”
Chapter Eighteen
We arrived in Grimsby just as night was falling. It hadn’t been a direct journey as the closest sleigh point was over an hour’s drive away. From the sleigh point, we had then caught a train, which took far longer than I would have liked.
I probably could have summoned us a car, but I was too nervous to waste any magic before we reached the ice factory. My magic had barely been enough to get us out of the krampus bar unscathed, and I didn’t want to take any chances.
Once we reached the Grimsby train station, we aske
d humans we passed for directions to the abandoned ice factory. We received several curious looks when we told them where we were going.
“Why on Earth would you want to go there?” one woman asked.
“That place is haunted,” another said. “You’d best avoid it.”
Their unease didn’t make me feel any better about heading toward the abandoned factory, but at least the humans gave us clear instructions on how to reach the place—even if they didn’t think it was a good idea to go.
I knew we were drawing close to our destination when the crowds of people started to thin and I began to smell the pungent stench of fish from the docks. The salty odor grew stronger and stronger until finally we reached the sea. The moon was skimming the horizon and reflected brightly along the calm water. Several large warehouses surrounded us, so it was lucky the humans had given us directions.
The streets we walked down were empty, and it was oddly quiet now that the buzz of human crowds was gone. Only the soft sound of waves lapping against the docks could be heard in the distance, and I found the sound unsettling rather than reassuring.
“Do you think the shifters are at the factory yet?” Melody asked. She kept her voice low as if she too felt unnerved by the silence around us.
“Maybe,” I wagered. Knowing Dash, he’d probably come straight here last night.
“Do you think they’ll be angry when they realize we’ve decided to come help?” she asked.
“I don’t really care if they are.” I was the one who deserved to be angry for being left behind, not Dash.
We slowed our pace when a large red brick building appeared up ahead. A tall barbwire fence surrounded it and the windows were all shattered. Large sections of roof had gaping holes instead of tiles, and grass could be seen growing in the gutters. “The Grimsby Ice Company” was written in white faded lettering across the side of the building. We’d reached our destination.
A shiver tingled across my neck and shoulders at the sight of the derelict old building. Why would Crow come here of all places? And what did he have planned?
As we drew closer to the decaying factory, I caught the faint smell of shifter in the air. I’d only just noticed it when I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I turned and came face to face with Dash. The street was dark, and it was difficult to make out his expression, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t sense the rage rolling off him.
“What are you doing here?” He grabbed hold of my upper arm and pulled me back down the road. I had to jog to keep up with his fast pace, and I could hear Melody following quickly. He marched toward a building we’d passed several moments ago and dragged me inside.
We entered a small room that had chairs lining the walls and a long desk near the door. It seemed like a reception area, but it didn’t look like it had been used in a long while. Dust coated the desk, and the chairs were all askew. The light overhead had blown out, and old newspapers were piled by the door. Vixen and Blitz sat in two of the chairs, and they both looked surprised to see Melody and me. Coop was nowhere to be seen, but I guessed he was keeping watch somewhere.
“Well?” Dash asked, rounding on me once Melody and I were inside and the door was firmly shut behind us.
“You know why we’re here,” I replied.
“I told you not to come,” he growled.
“And I don’t care!” I folded my arms over my chest and scowled at him. “Melody and I both plan to help whether you like it or not.”
Dash threw his hands up in the air and stalked away from me, kicking a chair that he passed. The chair skidded into the one next to it, and they both tumbled to the floor. I was beginning to feel like Dash had serious anger issues.
“You need to calm down,” I said, which really didn’t seem to help.
“Calm down?” he asked. “What trouble are you going to get yourself into this time, Clio? What danger are you going to put everyone else in?”
Blitz stood up and came to my side. “Dash, I think you’re overreacting. Clio’s been pretty helpful.”
Dash turned his dirty look on his friend, but Blitz didn’t seem fussed by it. He just shrugged back at him. “Don’t get angry with me. She has, and you know it.”
Dash released a pent-up breath. “She helps but at the expense of herself,” he replied. “She’s already passed out from using too much magic and given up a favor to the nameless one. What do you think she’ll give up tonight? Her life?”
He focused his searing gaze on me once more. “I’m trying to protect you. We know that Crow is seeking out powerful magic beings and could be using the star to kill them. What if he gets to you?”
My eyes widened with shock, and I was surprised by how much he seemed to care. I thought he didn’t want me here because I was a liability, not because he didn’t want me to get hurt. “I don’t need protection,” I replied. “And it doesn’t matter if I did; our chances are better if there are more of us. We are stronger together.”
“She makes a good point,” Vixen agreed.
Dash slowly started nodding, but I could see in his eyes that he still wasn’t convinced letting me help was the right thing to do. I knew it would be dangerous, given my powers, but I couldn’t understand why he was so adamant to protect me. It’s not like I was one of his herd, and he didn’t seem nearly so concerned about them.
“You haven’t heard the best part yet either,” I said. “I come bearing a secret weapon.”
“Which is…” Dash prompted.
“Alfie,” I replied with a grin.
“Your best friend is your secret weapon?” he asked.
“Yup. Who better to do recon and scope out the factory for us than a ghost who won’t be seen by Crow or his elves?”
“Huh, that actually sounds like a good idea,” Vixen said approvingly.
I gave her a smile. I must have done something right if I was getting a compliment from Vixen.
“Yes, that could be useful,” Dash begrudgingly admitted. “I’ve got Coop watching the factory from the other side of the building. And now that it’s dark, Blitz and I were about to go and start scouting the inside. But it might be safer to send Alfie.”
I nodded, feeling a wave of satisfaction at the fact that Dash was finally accepting my help. I closed my eyes and sent my magic out as a beacon to Alfie, the same way I’d done earlier in the day. This time, though, he was ready, and he responded almost immediately.
When my eyes opened, he was standing before me, rubbing his hands. “Is it time?” he asked.
“Sure is,” I replied. “We need you to go into the abandoned ice factory across the road and search it for Crow and his elves. Check back with us occasionally as you go so we know if you come across them.”
Alfie nodded and quickly disappeared.
“Is he gone?” Dash asked as I let out a breath.
I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Yes, he’s gone,” I said. “Do you want to start scouting the building too?”
“Let’s wait until Alfie gets back first,” he said. “I won’t be able to see him or talk with him, so you’re the only one who can relay what he’s found. If he uncovers Crow or the elves immediately, it will save us time and we can go in prepared.”
We waited for several minutes before Alfie appeared again. “I haven’t seen anyone so far,” he said. “The building seems to be made up of several large halls, so I haven’t checked everywhere yet. But if you enter through the closest door, you won’t run into any trouble.”
“Thanks, Alf,” I said before he disappeared once more.
“No sign of anyone so far,” I said to the others. “He’s still looking, but it’s safe to go into the factory if we use the closest entrance.”
“I think we should get in there,” Vixen said. “I want to make sure we get to Crow as soon as possible.”
“I agree,” Dash said. “Let’s do it.”
The five of us silently crept across the road and over to the abandoned factory. We crawled under a loose section of wire f
encing before heading for a red door at the side of the building. The paint on the door was faded, and strips of it were curling away from the wood as they peeled off with age. Dash went to try the handle, but the lever jarred as he tried to move it. The door was locked.
“Here, let me,” Melody murmured. She reached out her magic, and as it swirled around her hand, the door handle started to glow. It disappeared from its place in the door before reappearing in Melody’s hand. The old door swung in, creaking as it opened.
We all looked at her in surprise. “You don’t have to look so shocked,” she muttered. “I have the world’s dodgiest dad, remember?”
“Not surprised, impressed,” I murmured. Her dad may have been dodgy, but that was a handy trick and one I wanted to try myself as soon as possible—not that I did much breaking and entering.
We crept past the open door and into the factory. There was a frosty chill to the air, and the decaying walls did nothing to keep the cold out. If anything, it felt colder in the factory than it had outside and I wrapped my arms across my chest as we checked the first room.
Loose wooden slats and chunks of rusted corrugated iron littered the floor. Above us, the moon’s light shone in through a hole in the ceiling, highlighting the large, grime-covered machinery that still stood on the factory floor. Tightly interweaved spider webs covered the equipment, and moss could be seen growing at the base of some of the old machines. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and the place felt like somewhere that had long been forgotten.
We walked the length of the hall, keeping quiet as we searched for signs of Crow or the elves. There was no smell of them in the air, and I couldn’t hear anything other than the soft breaths of my companions.
When we reached the other end of the large room, we followed a corridor that led to the next one. It was just as damaged as the first, and I stumbled over a crack in the floor as I entered. Dash grabbed hold of my arm, stopping me before I fell.
“Thanks,” I whispered, looking up and into his eyes. He stared back at me, a flicker of concern entering in his gaze before it disappeared just as quickly.
Christmas Magic Page 19