“Oh, Nick is going to be pissed,” He muttered to himself as he ran his hand over his hair, stopping at his bun.
“What do you mean, you’re going to help us?”
“I don’t even understand it myself; I just know it’s what’s right. Let’s tell Nick so we can get that part over with.” He took my hand without realizing it and we turned to face Santa together.
Chapter Fifteen
Bernard
I had no clue what I was thinking, offering my help like that. The sadness in those deep green eyes of hers drew me in and made me want to fix all her problems. Even if I weren’t an elf, programmed to build and fix things, I would have found myself wanting to do such for her. Before I knew it, I was blurting out an offer of assistance, the idea of thinking it through never even occurring to me.
Nick told me he couldn’t stop thinking about her, and I was beginning to see why. The woman was a conundrum.
She surprised me in her open acceptance, even affection it seemed, of Luka. Most people, whether they were demons, supernatural or just human feared him. They only thought of him as a vicious monster capable only of destruction because of who and what he was.
I grew up with him so I knew what he did was solely a job to him. Sure, it was one he was really, really good at, but for him it was just something that had to be done to keep the peace. Few knew that he took no pleasure in bringing pain to others.
The fact that Holly saw what so few did, made me even more drawn to her. She was right, he deserved a chance.
It also amused me how fearlessly she called Nick on his shit. He was my best friend, but he was also an arrogant prick. I was quite enjoying watching someone go toe to toe with him for once.
Luka and Nick stood on the other side of the room whispering in hushed tones. No doubt arguing about the letters again. I cleared my throat in an attempt to get their attention, but it went ignored.
“Hey, you two.” Holly shouted, effectively making them look over at us. “If you’re done with your little pow-wow over there, maybe we can talk about this like adults?” She grinned at me, “Floors yours.”
They both remained quiet, watching me. “Nick, I’m going to help them tonight.”
“You what?” They asked in unison.
“You heard me, I’m helping.” I met Nicks furious glare, “It’s something they clearly feel passionate about and it’s one night. The sleigh is programmed for this leg of your trip already. By the time you’re ready to move to the next, we will be finished up and I’ll be back on the sleigh.”
“I can’t believe this!” Nick threw his hands in the air, spinning away in frustration. “My own elf deserting me, for this, this human!” He spat out.
I rolled my eyes, sometimes he could be so dramatic. “I’m not deserting you, Nick. I’m simply offering my help to someone who needs it. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
“Don’t get your jelly rolls all in a bunch big guy. We’ll have him back before you know it, completely unharmed,” Holly smirked.
“This a great thought and all, but Bernard, I don’t see how this is going to work,” Luka shook his head.
“Luka, don’t be like that,” Holly frowned at him.
“No, I’m grateful for his offer, especially considering I never want it said that the Devil didn’t follow through with something he said he was going to do. There’s just one big problem that I think you two failed to take into consideration,” Luka looked at me expectantly.
“What’s that?” she inquired.
“How is he going to travel with us?” He asked her.
Shit, why had I not thought of that? My magic didn’t allow me to just pop in and out of places like they could. While I was able to travel fast, or use the magic from the North Pole to summon a portal if Nick summoned me, it wouldn’t be anywhere near as fast as we would need tonight.
“He can just come with us.”
“He can’t use a portal created by Hell’s magic, Holly,” Luka informed her, almost apologetically.
The magic of the North Pole that coursed through me and gave me my gifts also made it impossible for me to be able to travel with them.
“Well how do you normally, you know? Poof.” She asked.
I grinned at her question. “I don’t, poof. I usually fly with Nick on the sleigh or through his portals when necessary.”
“Oh, I see.” Her face fell. “Luka do you know of any other way?” she turned back to him hopefully.
“I only know of one way.”
The realization registered at the same time the disappointment did. It tore at me to see her upset about this, she had found a way to help tonight, only to have it yanked out of her grasp.
“Well,” Nick clapped his hands together, “it looks like that solves that problem.” Nick boasted.
“You really are an ass sometimes,” I said flatly.
“Let’s go Luka,” Holly said dropping the hand I hadn’t realized she had still been holding as she crossed the room to him. She reached Luka and turned with her back to him, letting him wrap his arms around her waist. My stomach tightened, for a brief moment I wish it were me comforting her right now.
“Thank you, Bernard. I won’t forget your kindness,” she said quietly.
I gave her a weak smile, unable to form words at the moment. Even if I could, I wouldn’t know what to say, I could tell how upset she was.
“Hey Dick,” she called out to Nick as the portal began to swirl behind them. He looked over at her expectantly. Holly lifted a hand and flipped him the bird, “Fuck you.”
With that, they disappeared into the flames.
“What was that for?” Nick muttered in disbelief after they had vanished.
“You are a dick,” I told him.
“How?” He asked incredulously.
“You can’t be serious? You don’t see how selfish you’re acting right now Nick? You’re like a spoiled brat who isn’t getting his own way and so he throws a temper tantrum.” It wasn’t often that I got frustrated with him, but Holly was right and I wouldn’t be a friend if I sugar coated it just to make him feel better about himself.
“I am not,” Nick crossed his arms and glared at me.
I looked at him pointedly, “Really?”
He turned from me and paced the room, his boots clomping across the wooden floor, a habit I knew he had when he was thinking something through. Hopefully, he would come to the conclusion that he had fucked up.
“What would you have me do?” he finally asked, running his hand down his face.
“Help them.” I replied simply.
“I don’t have time for that Bernard.”
“Oh, please. You might be able to pull that bullshit with anyone else, but not with me Nick.” We both knew he had the capability of using the time zones in his favor even freezing the progression of time as he entered them if needed. There was no way he was pulling that card with me.
Sure, I had tried it with him earlier, but that was just to try to convince him to leave them be. He had nothing but time tonight and he fucking knew it.
“Why should I help him?”
“He might be the Devil, but he would give you the shirt off his back if needed. All he wants is to make a few kids happy and Holly wants to make that happen. Maybe she needs to see the magic of Christmas herself again too. Is that so bad, Nick?” I tried to reason with him.
“The only thing he wants to do is ruin Christmas. I won’t be a part of that.”
“You are a part of it by not helping him. He’s going to keep trying Nick. And he’s going to keep failing because his magic just doesn’t work that way. We might not make it in time to fix things next time.” I motioned to the dinosaurs around us and lifted a shoulder. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready.”
I turned and headed out the front door to wait for him on the sidewalk. I only hoped that Nick would make the right decision.
Chapter Sixteen
Holly
“The fucking nerve of
that man!” I let out a frustrated breath as I stomped across the pebbled shore of the lake, spinning around when I reached the sharp incline of the mountain beyond. “What the hell’s his deal anyway?”
“He’s always been a moody one. This year it’s been a little worse than normal.” Luka replied.
“He doesn’t have to be such an ass to everyone. Damn, he’s supposed to be the epitome of holiday cheer, not fucking Scrooge.”
Luka laughed, “That’s true.” He bent over and picked up a rock, and strolled over, handing it to me. “Don’t let him get to you Holly. You just started finding your own holiday cheer again.
I stared at the smooth rock in my hand for a minute, “I think that has a lot to do with a sexy Devil giving me a new perspective on things,” I gave him a wink and sent the rock skipping across the still surface of the lake.
We watched together as it sank below the surface and the ripples radiated across the lake.
“Not too shabby,” Luka commented.
“Oh?” I chuckled and searched around my feet for a rock for him. Finding what I was searching for I picked it up and passed it to him. “Let’s see you do better.”
“And if I win?” he asked, a mischievous grin on his face.
“Oh no, I know better than to bargain with the Devil.” I chided.
“What if I make a deal with you instead?” he attempted.
I looked at him blankly for a moment, “Nice try, slick guy. I wasn’t born yesterday.” I gave him an amused look. “Skip the damn rock. Unless you’re scared a girl’s going to kick your ass,” I teased.
“You wish,” he smirked and drew his arm back, sending the rock sailing across the lake. We both counted aloud together as it skipped, Luka counting one extra number than I did.
“Oh my gosh, it was six, not seven!” I laughed, hitting his shoulder playfully.
“Seven,” he replied firmly.
“This is why I didn’t make a deal with the Devil.” I shook my head. “Too bad for you I would have won anyway,” I tsk’d.
He stuck his tongue out at me and wrinkled his nose, “Brat.”
“Poor sport,” I laughed. “Are you one of those people that needs a participation award?” I asked, my voice dropping seductively as I turned to face him.
“What kind of award did you have in mind?” he asked, catching on, his eyes growing dark and his voice thick with desire.
I stepped in front of him, and grasped his already hardening cock through his pants making him suck in a breath. “I guess it wouldn’t matter since you lost now would it?” I whispered, just inches away from his mouth before I let go of him and took off running down the rocky shore, laughing my ass off.
There was a saying though about you don’t fuck with the Devil or you get the horns, or something to that effect for a reason. He was supernaturally fast and my laughter ended in a surprised squeal as he grasped me around my waist from behind and spun me around.
Without warning, he descended on me, closing his mouth over mine, in a rough demanding kiss. His tongue thrust between my lips, dragging a moan from me as his taste filled me and his stubble scratched against my lips.
I met his need with my own, pressing into him and challenging him for more. He yanked my head to the side and relentlessly ran kisses down my neck, little fires igniting inside me along the way. Suddenly, just as quickly as he had begun, he stopped, dragging himself back from me, panting heavily as he stared at me, his eyes filled with lust.
“You tempt me too damn much Holly.” He ran his hand through his hair and stalked away from me, kicking the far side of the cliff. “Fuck!”
I watched him, not really sure what the hell had just happened, but trying to give him a minute to figure it the fuck out. He turned back to me; his eyes clouded over with emotions I couldn’t read. “Luka,-” I started, but he held up a hand, stopping me.
“Look, let’s just forget this ever happened,” he said roughly.
“Okay,” I said suspiciously. He seemed to need his space so I wouldn’t push for now, but I would get my answers soon enough.
True to his word he continued on as if it had never occurred, “Ready for another attempt?” He gave me a weak smile.
“Sure.”
Unceremoniously he summoned one of the Christmas letters into his hand and opened it. He held it out and began to read.
“Dear Santa,
I hope you’re actually real, the kids in school said that you were fake but I don’t believe them. You have always brought me exactly what I wanted and I know they are wrong. This year for Christmas, I would really like the new wrestling action figures.
It would show them you’re real because they can’t even find them in the stores and they are sold out everywhere!
Thank you,
Your Biggest Fan
Will”
I looked at him skeptically, “Think we can do it?” I asked.
“We have to try, don’t we?”
“He is your biggest fan,” I laughed, relieved that he chuckled along with me. Our weird ass moment from before behind us. “Let’s go deliver some Christmas cheer.”
This time we found ourselves on the street in a busy city, a tall apartment building rising in front of us, nestled in between its neighboring skyscrapers. Light slashed down from tall lamp posts and lit up the sidewalk. Festive flags outstretched from the poles bringing a splash of color to the dank cityscape. In the distance a horn blared, even on Christmas Eve it appeared the city didn’t rest.
“So how do you get in an apartment, smart guy?” I asked craning my neck back to look at the long line of windows above us.
“Just like anyone else,” he grinned. “The elevator.” Luka took my hand and led me into the building as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Luka,” I whispered, tugging on his hand, “we can’t just stroll in here. What if someone sees us?”
“We are in a city of eight and a half million people Holly. No one ever notices anyone.” Luka pushed the call button on the elevator and held the door for me when it arrived to allow me to enter first. He was right, the only way someone would notice us in a city this large was if we were acting weird.
He stepped into the elevator behind me, and pushed the button for the fifteenth floor. The car jumped as we started our ascent and I lurched toward him, falling into his chest. Luka grabbed my elbow and steadied me, choosing to hold my arm instead of release me. I could feel my pulse begin to quicken, the heat spread through me as he ran his thumb down the inside of my arm.
The elevator dinged its arrival and I cleared my throat before rushing from the suddenly confined space into the hall. I made it halfway down the corridor before I realized I had no clue which apartment we were going to and turned back to face him, my face flushing.
“Nice of you to wait for me,” he grinned, cockily strolling up to me.
“Shut up.” I stuck my tongue out at him. He knew exactly what he had done to me, the asshole. I wasn’t going to let him fluster me anymore than I already was. Luka sauntered two doors down before holding his hand out to me.
“Shall we?” he asked. I took his hand and together we entered the small apartment. Just inside the door was a cramped hall and I rushed through to the living room, not wanting to get pinned there with him any longer than necessary. I didn’t need anymore of those awkward encounters from the lake at the moment.
I smiled when I entered the tiny living room, there was not much space to work with in here, but they had certainly made do. It was sparsely furnished, only a sofa, a chair and a coffee table in the room. They had placed their Christmas tree in the corner, a tall, slender one that bent slightly at the top as it touched the ceiling. Popcorn was strung proudly from the branches and handmade ornaments dangled, displaying their bright colors.
The sight brought me a tinge of sadness that I had to push back. I had strung popcorn like that with my Mom and Dad, another one of those Christmas traditions of hers that I had failed to continue. Af
ter this night, I was going to make sure all of that changed.
Luka stepped in front of the tree, pulling me from my thoughts as I watched him. He seemed to study the tree for a moment before his brow furrowed in concentration, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead as he summoned the toys to him. I wasn’t sure exactly how he was going to make non-demonic toys but he was trying his hardest that was for sure.
He lined up the different action figures in front of the tree, posed in different stages of fighting. Luka even went as far as providing a wrestling ring for them to hold matches in, complete with elastic ropes to bounce off of. After he had them all set up to his satisfaction, he scrutinized them closely for any sign of activity. I observed them with him, waiting for any signal that they would be anything other than a child’s toy, posed and ready for hours of fun.
When there was no movement Luka relaxed, turning to face me, a small grin starting to spread on his face. “I think we did it,” he breathed out.
“I think you might have,” I agreed, his pleasure contagious. I glanced around his shoulder, thinking I saw something shift, but shook my head. It must have just been the lights from the tree dancing shadows over the figures.
Again, there was a hint of a movement over his shoulder, making me look closer. This time though, there was no mistaking the tanned wrestler that swung himself onto the lower branches of the tree, trying to climb his way to the top.
“Uh, Luka?” I pointed behind him, “I don’t think it was exactly successful.”
Luka turned around “Oh you have gotta be shitting me!” he exclaimed, as a tiny tin bell from the wrestling ring dinged loudly through the living room. He faced the tree just in time for another wrestler to leap off a branch, as he tucked his little elbow, flying right at Luka’s face yelling, “Christmas Tree Death Match!”
Chapter Seventeen
Holly
The miniature blonde wrestler landed on Luka’s face and grabbed each side of his head, straddling the bridge of his nose. I struggled not to laugh as the toy tried to land punches to the side of his nose and Luka swatted at him like a fly, trying to dislodge him.
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