by Cindy Heart
“Coming.” His answers grow terser as the impossibly-long night stretches on.
“You can’t know that,” I say, not taking my eyes off the window. If I look at him in the mood I’m in, I’m certain to start yelling. “Just admit you were wrong. We need to go back to town and—”
“I’m not wrong. He’ll come here. He’s just waiting for us to let down our guard.”
“But how can you know that?” I ask again. “Is he some kind of Fated Enemy? Or are you just being a dumb man too stubborn to adjust to the reality happening around him? Don’t tell me. You’re the kind of guy who won’t stop to ask for directions when he ends up in the wrong solar system, aren’t you?”
I don’t even know why I’m fighting. The last thing I want is an argument with Rain, maybe even more so if he’s going to end up fleeing the planet to drag the Frothmronk away with him. Every word I say to him might be my last, and I don’t want things to end sourly between us.
The more time passes, the more certain I am that’s his plan. He’ll be the big hero and go off to have more big adventures around the galaxy, and I’ll be the woman with the broken heart left to struggle through waking up each morning.
For some reason, I can’t stop poking at him, though. Protecting myself from disappointment when he inevitably proves I am not worth his love feels more important than exposing my vulnerabilities.
He responds but sounds more bored with my complaints than mad at me. “That’s just dumb, Holly. We travel the universe at faster-than-light speed. Computers do the navigation. We don’t get lost.”
“Of course. Make something else do all the work for you.”
I’m glad there isn’t someone else in the cabin who knows I can barely leave town without turning on my GPS.
“And you won’t let anyone do the work without you,” Rain counters. “I swear to sugar cookies, if you get yourself killed because you just needed to come with, I’m going to kill you.”
Tears stream down my face, but my voice somehow remains steady. “You’re right. This was a mistake.”
I don’t clarify whether I mean coming to the cabin tonight or our whirlwind relationship. I’m not sure I could clarify.
Everything sucks.
Everything is making me feel bad.
“Too late to worry about that now. Why don’t you get away from the window before it crushes the glass and you get that pretty face of yours cut up?”
He sighs a little too dramatically for my taste.
I nod. “Fine. I’ll go somewhere you think is safe: back to town. Don’t bother coming around looking for me. We had fun, but we’re clearly not made for each other.”
More lies.
I grab my coat and rush out the door before even putting it on. The last thing I see before slamming the door behind me is the shocked expression on Rain’s face.
I count to ten inside Joy’s car.
He doesn’t come out to tell me to stay.
Men. Could they be any dumber?
I drive back to town, drowning in the melancholy of the Christmas songs that normally bring me so much cheer. I’m not getting a Christmas miracle this year, that’s for sure.
My plan is to drive around town and make sure it isn’t burning down from whatever chaos the Illwills might be causing. If Rain is right and they are not tormenting everyone I know, I’ll head home and cry myself to sleep.
A quick trip down the main street proves I’m an idiot. The town is sound asleep, waiting for the sun to rise on Christmas morning.
I can barely see the road through my tears.
Once again, I wonder why I acted so harshly at the cabin, especially near Christmas. This is normally my favorite time of year. Nothing can get me in a bad mood during the holiday season.
In general, I like to think I’m pretty even-keeled and not prone to flying off the handle like some lovesick school girl.
If only Rain hadn’t made it sound like he was taking advantage of the first opportunity to get rid of me.
But what man hasn’t done that to me in the past? Sure, I might be fine for a few dates and maybe a fuck or two, but guys like Dylan always find some better eye candy they want to taste and leave me in the dust.
Rain probably saw some cousin of mine at the party and decided he’d just use me until he had the chance to make an upgrade.
I know it doesn’t sound logical based on anything he’s said or done, but the feeling just won’t go away. I want to trust him, even love him, but something prevents me from giving myself over to him completely.
As I pull onto my block, I tell myself what’s done is done. The only thing to do is get back on the dating horse.
But maybe lower my standards a little this time.
I frown when I see a car in my driveway. The last thing I want is more company on this miserable Christmas Eve. My mom will be bad enough to wake up to.
It takes me a few seconds to recognize the man on my porch.
Dylan.
I’m not sure I’m ready to lower my standards that much yet.
“Go home, Dylan,” I say when I get out of Joy’s car before he can ring the doorbell. “I’m not in the mood for you.”
He shrugs. “Can’t blame me for trying. Thought you might be getting lonely, and I know how much you want love on Christmas.”
“You don’t know the first thing about love.”
He shrugs again. “Maybe. Sometimes a nice fuck can make up for that, though. What do you say?”
“Go home, that’s what I say.”
I breathe a sigh of relief as he leaves the porch and walks toward his car.
His body is inches from mine as we pass in the driveway. “And what if I say no?”
He grasps my arms and pulls me toward the house.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the fluffy Illwills jump behind the bushes outside my windows and realize why I’ve been feeling so sour.
Unfortunately, it’s too late. Dylan is too strong for me to break away from on a normal day. Encouraged by the Illwills, he’s a real monster.
Rein’ok
I let her walk out the door.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I’ve let my desire to be right make me lose the one thing that’s actually made me happy in ages. But it’s more than that, too. The real reason I tried to lure the Frothmronk back to the cabin is so I can avoid interacting with anyone.
I’ve welcomed Holly to join me in my world, but I’ve been too big of a coward to fully join her in hers. I can make a crowd sing a Christmas song, but I don’t let it bring me the joy that it should.
Because I’m afraid I made the wrong decision when I quit working for Saint Nick.
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks.
I wasn’t really looking to throw that part of my life away. I was looking to add to it with someone I love like Holly.
And now I’ve lost it all.
The sooner the Frothmronk arrives and finishes me off the better.
I find a bottle of Vodka in the freezer. I pour myself a shot and chug it. I start to pour another but throw the glass across the room instead. I won’t need it. I carry the bottle to the couch and collapse into my misery.
I only take one more swig, though.
How can I drink myself into oblivion without knowing she’s safe? With the Frothmronk and Illwills still alive, she’s definitely at risk. I must save her, but if I do, I won’t let her walk away again without a fight.
I slam the bottle onto the floor, ready to rush to her side. I have no idea what I’ll do after I save her. It’ll probably depend a lot on whether she’s willing to take me back after the idiot I’ve been.
Armed with nothing more than fragments of a plan, I prepare to shift and chase after her. She won’t be hard to find. Whenever we are apart, I can sense where she is.
My plan collapses in a crash of glass as the Frothmronk breaks through the window where Holly had been standing minutes ago.
It’s almo
st as if he’s been waiting for her to leave. But why? What benefit would he get out of that? Wouldn’t it be better to try and overpower me and torment me by making me watch her die?
As the creature lunges at me, I realize the only thing that makes sense. She must be in more danger away from me.
“You asshole!” I shout as my hands press against the slimy fur, trying to survive its initial attack.
The Frothmronk is much stronger than normal. The Illwills must really be tormenting the town and feeding the Frothmronk with plenty of misery.
Any plan of surviving the night and the planet surviving until Christmas morning will depend on what happens in this cabin right now.
Rather than trying to overpower the monster, I pretend to let it knock me off balance. I roll with the fall and twist out of its grasp.
A fight in a confined space favors my enemy. I need to get outside where I can use my powers to my advantage.
As I sprint to the door, I shift.
My ears turn into antlers.
My arms into legs.
More importantly, I can fly.
I take to the air right as the beast lunges for my rear legs. Out of its reach, I circle around. I need a plan to kill it quickly so I can go after Holly before it’s too late.
Without any weapons, the best option would be to run away. Holly’s need removes that option. I will not be running anymore.
I hear a familiar jingling in the distance that gets closer by the second.
The Frothmronk turns toward the sound and sniffs the air. When he realizes who’s coming, he bounces in glee at the thought of bringing misery to the jolliest being in the universe.
There’s no time for me to warn my old friend.
The Frothmronk creatures have tried for eons to kill Saint Nick, but he’s always been too quick and too clever.
He must be coming to check on me, and will not be expecting an attack. I hadn’t exactly left on good terms, but I never really held any real animosity toward the kind soul. He’s a good guy.
“Rein’ok!” he shouts as he nears. “Hurry to me! I need your help!”
Before I can yell a warning, his sleigh bursts into the clearing.
I immediately notice he’s down two reindeer and remember the universe is much bigger than my own problems.
The sleigh skids to a stop. Saint Nick leaps to the cabin and reaches for the door.
The Frothmronk races across the snow to attack him from behind.
I dive and hope the evil monster is so focused on his prize he forgets I exist.
But I’m too late.
One of the Frothmronk’s limbs extends out and wraps around Saint Nick’s ankle. It starts dragging him back to its mouths.
Blind with fury, I push myself faster and lower my head. I’ll only have one chance. If I miss, I’ll die, Holly will die, life on the planet will cease to exist, and the foulness of anger and fear will spread through the universe without the ambassador of cheer available to fight against it.
My antlers squish into flesh.
A sick feeling spreads throughout my body.
I can’t retreat, though. I must continue my attack.
I whip my head from side to side, tearing large holes into its flesh, spilling its vile black blood.
Its scream pierces the quiet night, but only for a few seconds before its two hearts stop beating.
Once it finally collapses, I shift back to human form and vomit. My body starts shaking. I killed the Frothmronk, but it’s going to take me down with it.
Then I feel a strong arm on my shoulder. Kindness and cheer pour through my body, chasing away the dark taint. Within seconds, I’m able to stand again.
I smile at the fat man with his thick beard and bushy brows, the most unlikely hero ever, but with the force of his goodness, who could really stand against him?
“Thanks,” I mumble, blushing at how childish my rants over the years have been.
“Ho ho ho.” His belly jiggles while he laughs, and it’s impossible for me not to join him. He glances down at the Frothmronk. “But I should be thanking you. Unfortunately, I’m going to need to ask you for another favor. Two of the reindeer are sick. I don’t have time to round up two more. You are strong enough, and experienced enough, to guide us through this night. I need your help.”
“I’d love to.” When I realize I mean it, I add, “I really would, but I have something I must do first. The woman I love is in danger. I can’t leave before she is safe.”
The wise man nods. “Quite right. Lead us to her. We will help if we can. Hurry.”
Holly
When we reach the kitchen, Dylan throws me onto my ass on the floor so he can look for beer in the fridge.
He turns up his nose at what he finds, but it doesn’t stop him from opening it and taking a big swig. After he burps, he says, “You and your sissy microbrews. Don’t worry. I’ll make you buy real beer when you grocery shop for me each Sunday.”
The thought of him dressing me up like a trophy wife from the fifties and expecting me to do his fantasy homemaking chores is nearly as terrifying as whatever else he might have planned.
I shake my head. “That’s not happening.”
He looks around my messy house. “Damn, Holly. We’re going to have to change some things around here. We can’t be having our kids crawling around in this filth.”
Sure, my bedroom is messy, but I can close the door on it when company comes over. The rest of the house is lived in, but clean. His insult further sparks my rage.
“Don’t you have some whorehouse you should be visiting, or did they start charging you more because you’re such a bad lay?”
Whoa, Holly. Tone it down a little.
My emotions are descending rapidly.
Much more rapidly than even this shitty situation calls for.
The Illwills.
I need to control my anger. The more negative emotions I feed them, the madder they’ll be able to make me get.
Dylan saunters over to me. He takes a deliberate drink right in front of my face to show how unafraid of me he is. He looms over me so completely I can barely see anything above his stupid chin.
“Holly, Holly, Holly. That filthy little mouth of yours is going to get you in all kinds of trouble.”
I force myself not to spit in his face.
Taking my silence for subservience, he says, “Good girl. Want a sip?”
He holds the bottle to my quivering lips.
I open my mouth like a defenseless baby bird waiting to be fed.
Rather than letting me have my drink, he pulls the bottle away as he pours. The cold beer soaks the front of my shirt.
My nipples harden against my will, but I refuse to flinch away when he stares right at my breasts.
Instead of pressing things further, he snorts as if he’d expected me to do something dramatic.
I don’t give in to the temptation.
As he walks back to the fridge, so unconcerned I’ll fight back he doesn’t even glance at me, he says, “Damn, Holly. You really might be something if you dropped twenty pounds and started wearing makeup, but I can’t even get it up for you right now.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief that turns into a sharp gasp when he aims a gun in my direction.
“Dylan, don’t. Let’s talk,” I manage to say.
“Talk, talk, talk. All you ever want is boring talk.”
It’s not true. All I ever want when I’m around him is to get away. My usual need to chatter with him is just a nervous response.
With the gun pointed steadily at my chest, he backs me into the living room. I’m standing next to the front window. He’s got his back to the fireplace. If our positions were swapped, I could grab the poker and try to stab him before he shot me.
I’d lose, but at least I wouldn’t be standing around hoping he came to his senses. On the best of days, Dylan is a stubborn ass. Under the influence of the Illwills, I am beginning to see how dark he can go, and it makes normal-
Dylan look like Mr. Rogers.
I drop to my knees, ready to plead for my life. Before I can form the words, the window behind me shatters and an animal soars over my head and lands between Dylan and me.
Not any animal.
A reindeer.
Rain came for me.
I never expected to see him again, and here he is saving my—
Dylan pulls the trigger.
The explosion is deafening.
It all happens so fast, I’m not sure if I’ve been shot or not.
I’m still alive if I heard the bullet.
But Rain falls to the ground. I hurry to his side even as he shifts back into his human form.
“What the fuck is that?” Dylan asks, pointing the gun at Rain.
It’s my turn to protect my man. I charge at Dylan. I catch him off guard and send us tumbling back toward the fireplace.
Somehow I land on Dylan’s legs, pinning him on his back.
He smiles and runs his hand through my hair. “I thought you’d never ask. The gun got you all riled up, didn’t it?”
I knee him in the crotch.
Dylan grunts, but isn’t distracted. Quick as a cat, he flips me onto my back and straddles my chest.
I cross my arms into an X and raise them to my face, as if that will protect me somehow.
Dylan laughs menacingly. “You’re pathetic. I’ll be doing the world a favor by getting rid of you.”
I hear him cock the hammer on the gun.
He pulls the trigger but the shot goes wide. My ears ring, but I’m alive.
Dylan is screaming in pain.
When I see why, I start laughing. Three of the cute, fluffy Illwills hang from their teeth on his arms like Christmas ornaments.
“What the hell are these things?” he shouts, wildly shaking his body.
Using the distraction as cover, I crawl toward where he’s dropped the gun. Before I can reach it, the Illwills start flying across the room. One crashes against my side, knocking me off balance. I make one last push for the gun. Right when my hand touches the hard steel, Dylan’s foot presses down on my hand, grinding my bones together.
