12 Days of Christmas: A Christmas Collection

by Laura Greenwood

  Months ago, Shadow Town was in complete chaos. An earthquake had hit and crime was out of control. Now that the dust settled, Icy Tundra craved an adventure. It had been too long since a supervillain set foot here, and Mistress Inferno’s presence thrilled him.

  Too bad this would be all over soon.

  Icy Tundra couldn’t fly. He didn’t even have superspeed, but he was strong and could locate people and objects with only a thought. But his best superpower was the ability to freeze things with a focused burst from his eyes or cold radiated from his skin. Of course, this supervillain would utilize fire—one thing that could counteract his freeze ability.

  He had sensed Mistress Inferno on the east side of town, heading toward Main Street. The Superhero News Network had broadcasted a 911 call that she was on the corner of Robin and Birch. He applied gas and weaved around the traffic, feeling his blue cape snapping behind him in the wind.

  The Harley’s engine cut silent as he parked a few blocks away from where he sensed Mistress Inferno. She hadn’t moved since her last sighting, almost like she wanted to get caught. Bolting past a giant blow-up Santa and down into the subway, he headed toward an exit a block from Robin and Birch. Hopefully, Mistress Inferno would be listening for the distinct rumbling sound of his engine and not looking toward the subway exit.

  Out of breath from the excitement, he crawled up the subway stairs onto Robin Street. When his eyes adjusted to the light, a huge flame erupted in front of him and singed his eyebrows. He fisted his hands and dove toward Mistress Inferno, landing against the pavement.

  Her curvy body was faster than it looked. She lunged to the side and took off running in one smooth motion, a throaty laugh filling the air. Behind her streamed short trails of fabric from the arms of her costume, cut to resemble flames. “Come on, my little freeze pop. Come and get me.”

  Icy sprang to his feet, reaching out to grasp a streaming flame, but caught only air. As easy as freezing her with his vision would have been, he learned long ago to be careful. His power was deadly if he let it get out of control. He pumped his arms and chased her down Robin Street and onto Oak. She dashed across browned lawns, dodging around a birdbath and knocking over a holiday manger lawn ornament, and then leapt over a small, white fence lined with Christmas lights.

  Icy followed, breathing heavily and apologizing to the bystanders. “Excuse me. I got this. Don’t worry. Sorry about the decorations.” He took the fence in an easy bound.

  “Woof, woof!” A little white dog barked, heading straight for Icy’s ankles.

  His heart hammered, and he frantically scanned the yard for the orange and red costume. Fabric streamed around a house, and he twisted left.

  But not in time. The dog caught his blue boot with his teeth.

  Icy sent an explosion of frost to his shoe, shocking the dog enough for it to loosen its bite. With a sharp motion, Icy freed his foot and sprinted forward again, thankful for the toughness of leather.

  He put one foot in front of the other, inhaled deeply, and saw the distance between him and Mistress Flame shorten as he pushed the limits of his speed.

  When he could almost reach out and grab her, she spun around with a beautiful yet mischievous smile upon her lips. That was the last thing he saw before a flame blinded him.

  He focused on his freeze vision, but his eyes were tightly closed, blocking that ability.

  An uncomfortable heat grew on his chest, then leapt down his arms and legs.

  He flopped to the ground and began to roll, trying to extinguish his clothing that had caught fire. His skin prickled with heat, but luckily, his skin was invulnerable to damage. When he looked up, all he saw was the orange and red flaming fabric streamers turning a corner at least a block away.

  Dispatch: Shadow Town Police Station. How can I help you?

  Mrs. Byrd: Icy Tundra needs help! He’s on fire…like literally on fire right in the park across the street! That supervillain got away.

  Mistress Inferno ran as fast as her legs would carry her—her fitness program was paying off. She zigzagged between roads named after birds and trees until she hit Main Street. While flying down the sidewalk, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure a certain superhero in white tights and a blue cape wasn’t following her. Finding a little alcove in the alley between a small café and a tattoo parlor, she tucked herself away, waiting to catch her breath and calm her pounding heart.

  Suddenly, goosebumps formed on her arm and she shivered.

  Good, he’s here. What took him so long?

  Tucking herself tightly against the old bricks of the café and clutching her flamethrower, she caught her breath. Her focus flipped between the alcove’s entrance and alley’s exit to the rear parking lot. Her heart hammered in her ears, and butterflies danced in her stomach.

  Where was he?

  Should she dash off to the left…or to the right?

  One droplet of water hit her chilled cheek, then another. Was it going to rain? She whipped her head up only to see Icy Tundra’s silhouette against the late afternoon sun. He held a garden hose, and she nearly laughed picturing the sinister smile upon his face.

  Water shot out of the hose toward the street alcove entrance. The water froze midair, forming a wall of ice. Mistress Inferno gripped the flamethrower tighter and dashed toward the back lot, but skidded to a stop when water sprayed that way too, trapping her in the alley between two walls of ice.

  Good, Icy. You’re using your head.

  She squeezed the cold metal handle of her flamethrower and swept it against the ice wall.

  “Nowhere to run,” Icy Tundra’s deep voice boomed. “Consider yourself on ice.”

  A laugh sprang from her lips at his cheesy statement. “So, you think you’ve got me?” She flashed a crafty smile and squeezed the handle of her flamethrower again, sweeping the fire against the ice wall. “Well, frozen-boy, come and get me.”

  Behind her, Icy Tundra jumped from the tattoo parlor’s roof, landing with a thud. “I got you this time.”

  “I think you’re still going to have to try harder.” Mistress Inferno gnawed her lower lip while a small hole melted in the ice wall. She swiped the flamethrower back and forth to make it bigger.

  A few stones tumbled from where Icy stepped. As they neared, she let go of the handle and spun around.

  “Oh, gosh,” she gasped. He was shirtless, and she had been the one to burn it off. Cringing, she pulled the flamethrower’s handle again, but it was too late. He had frozen the ignition mechanism. She launched the useless torch at him and dove through the small hole she had created, shattering the thin layer of ice.

  A crash came from behind her as Icy launched himself after her. He gripped her ankle, then pulled her toward him. Trying to push him off, she couldn’t wiggle free from his firm hold of her wrists.

  His body was heavy and solid against hers, trapping her against the ground. She wiggled, but he was impossibly strong compared to her. She needed to use her head.

  Oh, forgive me, Icy. You’re nearly invincible, anyway.

  With all the force she could muster, she brought her knee up and rammed it between his legs. He howled.

  At least that spot was super-sensitive, even on a superhero.

  He rolled off, and she scrambled to her feet, rushing toward the car she had parked back on Birch Avenue—dodging through a group of Christmas carolers. In the background, all she heard was the harmonious words of “Frosty the Snowman” being interrupted with whoops and hollers.

  “Go, Icy Tundra, Go!”

  “Get her.”

  Mistress Inferno held back her proud smile as she put distance between them.

  Dispatch: Shadow Town Police Station. How can I help you?

  Bobby Byrd: That fire supervillain ran down the street again. My dad went outside to chase her down. You have to come so he doesn’t get hurt! Icy Tundra’s right on their tail, but he doesn’t look good.

  Icy Tundra pushed through his pain. Mistress Inferno had kneed hi
m in exactly the right spot. She was fighting dirty, and, oh, she would pay for that. He held back his smile.

  Tires squealed as he arrived at the corner of Robin and Birch. Down the street, a maroon sedan took off. He squinted inside to see orange hair and a bright red and yellow costume. He kicked at a tuff of grass on the curb.

  A chunky man jogged up beside him, panting. “How does she keep escaping you?”

  Icy Tundra growled, “She knows my weaknesses.”

  “Well, don’t go soft on her because she’s a woman. We need to keep order in this city.”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Icy said, turning in the direction of his motorcycle. “I won’t go soft on her.”

  The man muttered from behind, “All safety aside, this has been the most interesting Christmas brunch my family has every had—and we haven’t even touched our food yet!”

  Once straddled over the Harley’s seat, Icy tracked Mistress Inferno’s presence, pinpointing her moving toward the west side of town. He latched onto her presence and started the ignition as a light drizzle began to fall.

  The motorcycle’s engine roared as he raced down the streets with his heart pounding. What he had lacked in speed on foot, he made up for on two wheels as he weaved around the city.

  When his own house came into view, his stomach tightened. Was that where Mistress Inferno had been heading? When he opened his door, would he find the supervillain or his wife?

  He flew off his bike, wiped the rain from his forehead, and dashed up the front steps in one big leap. He threw his door open to see the supervillain, with an evil, tight-lipped grin upon her face, standing in the middle of his living room.

  He flung himself at her, gripping the back of her neck with his fingers.

  She jumped up, wrapping her legs tightly around his torso and circling her arms around his body. She was latched on—impossible for him to push her away. Her fingers traced up the exposed skin on his back where his costume had been singed off, sending a shiver of pleasure up his spine.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” he breathed heavily while her lips found his.

  She managed to pull away, “Oh, is that so?” Another kiss. Her fingers reached up and pulled off his mask. “I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.”

  Icy Tundra placed a hand on the small of her back and gazed into her eyes. “I love you, Victoria. You never cease to amaze me.”

  She laughed. “You know, I’ve been secretly going to the gym for six months, just so I could challenge you.”

  He lifted his wife up and pulled her orange wig off, “To say you put a spark in our marriage would be an understatement.”

  “Oh, come on. I provide more than a spark. A whole fire, perhaps. Do you want me to get another blowtorch?” Victoria smiled slyly, but didn’t wait for a response. “It seems you liked your Christmas present?”

  “Liked is an understatement. Loved. I loved it.”

  “I have an extra torch hiding in my car. Wanna do that again?”

  Icy’s eyes widened and images of things he could do filled his mind. “Okay. Once more. I’ll even give you a thirty-minute head start.”

  With a skip, Victoria threw her wig back on and headed toward the front door.

  “Wait!” he called, sending a burst of his freeze vision through the window and up into the sky. “I have a Christmas gift for you, too.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, look outside.”

  The room grew cold as Victoria slowly opened the front door. Snow fell and sprinkled on the black doormat.

  “Oh, Vance, did you do that?” She stepped outside and twirled around while flakes landed on her eyelashes.

  Vance stepped outside by her in their quiet neighborhood. “Hmmm… Maybe this will be another level of challenge for us. Let’s see if I can continue to make the snow fall while I hunt you down.” He shooed Victoria down onto the first porch step. “Go now, then we’ll have Christmas dinner together.”

  Victoria lifted to her tippy-toes and gave Vance a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Okay…no peeking.” And she disappeared down the steps.

  He closed his eyes and beamed inside. This was going to be a Christmas to remember.

  The End

  Author’s Note

  Joynell Schultz has always strived for an interesting life. From driving a bright lime green SUV, having an awesome Great Dane as a pet, to an everchanging list of hobbies from triathlons, wine making (even though she doesn’t drink it) to a desire to learn to juggle (that she only secretly thinks about.)

  She is a pharmacist by training, but is currently managing the family business of a zoo. Talk about interesting! From drones aggravating the cougar to the elk in rut. From baby goats being born to adopting a sheep raised in a second-story apartment, there’s always something fun going on. And that was just this week!

  In the little free time she has, she loves creating interesting imaginary worlds to tell tales of human relationships. You can find her on Facebook www.facebook.com/joynelljschultz or grab some free stories by subscribing to her newsletter www.JoynellSchultz.com/subscribe.

  Five Gold Rings

  Bea Paige

  Day Five

  On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

  Five Gold Rings

  Bea Paige

  Paranormal Fantasy

  A Sisters of Hex Prequel

  My name is Lissandra; I am a descendent of Clan Lux and I am cursed.

  For ten years, Lissa has been slave and chambermaid to the evil Queen Adrielle. Forced to do her bidding, Lissa must accept her fate and live an immortal life of misery hiding in the shadows of the Queen’s castle. That is, until she meets Nostra and is offered the opportunity to help change the fate of all the cursed in Ever Vale.

  1

  I have lived, as my parents before me and their parents before that, under Queen Adrielle’s rule. I am her chambermaid. I am her slave. Like generations of my kin before me, I am bound to her. She has ruled over all the warring clans and the common-folk within Ever Vale for a very, very long time.

  Almost one-thousand years to be precise.

  Today, as I watch the last of the shimmering, lilac-edged sun slip behind the star-filled horizon I feel a quickening within my blood. Every night is the same. A longing deep within me calls for that I wish for most.

  For blood.

  My name is Lissandra; I am a descendant of Clan Lux and I am cursed. During the day, when the sunlight brightens the land, I am forced to live in the shadows of the Queen’s castle. Every full moon, like my fellow clan members, I must feed off the innocent or die a long and painful death. Queen Adrielle would have it no other way, and I hate her for it.

  You see, it wasn’t always this way. My mother and father, long since returned to the light, told me stories of a life I can only dream of. When once the sun was revered by my people, it now has the power to disintegrate the members of Clan Lux, and their descendants, to dust.

  In my short twenty years, I have seen it happen to many times to count. Clan members have been returned to the light as punishment, for the Queen’s entertainment, or because a clan member can take this life no more. Sunlight is the only thing that can destroy us, or at least destroy us quicker than time. You see, not only are we cursed to live in the dark and feed on human blood, we, the people of Clan Lux, all live longer than the common-folk who reside in the flatlands below us.

  I am jealous of those people who some see as nothing but cattle, jealous that their lives end naturally when their skin has become wrinkled and paper thin and their hair has turned a wispy white. A small laugh escapes my lips at the absurdity of it all.

  Not wanting to disturb the Queen who is sleeping still, I place a hand across my mouth, the feel of sharp incisor teeth turning my insides cold. To think I am jealous of such mortality is nothing if not ironic.

  I will live in the darkness for hundreds, maybe thousands of years longer than the common-folk. The only commonality between us i
s my ability to conceive a single child. I have heard rumours that the commoners hate us for it. I do not blame them either. We feed off them, live lifetimes longer, and are still gifted with the ability to bear a single child. But, I do not see it as a gift. Every child born into this life carries the curse of our forbearers, with no exceptions. I am my parents only child. I am a lonely child. I am alone.

  My parents are dead.

  As the warning bell tolls throughout the village below, I think about how much I miss them both. That despite our curse we lived a relatively happy life for ten years. That was until Queen Adrielle took me from them on my tenth birthday, claiming her right over me as our ruler and Queen. My parents tried to spirit me away, to leave Ever Vale and hide in the cavernous mountains to the south, but Queen Adrielle got wind of their plans and punished them for it. The next morning, they were returned to the light. I was forced to watch from the safety of the castle as their bodies dissolved into nothing more than ash and dust. It was not a quick process; it took all day and the agony of their cries will remain with me forever more.

  From that moment on I was alone. At least I was until I made friends with Sebastian whose parents were also returned to the light for some misdemeanour the Queen took umbrage to. He too is a descendant of Clan Lux, born two years before I and too far removed from my blood-line to be related in any way. We keep each other company, he and I. I am grateful for his friendship at least.

  Tonight, I refuse to take to the village and feed. Unlike the others within my clan, I do not thrive on taking someone’s lifeblood. I do it out of necessity, and only when it has come to a point that I either feed or give myself up to the sun. I’m not yet brave enough to do such a thing, to return to the light. Besides, even if I was, Queen Adrielle keeps too close an eye on me to allow such release.