Once we’d left Lilli’s cell and descended from the tower, we ran into the king who was pacing at the bottom of the stairs. It wasn’t difficult to see the guilt flaring in his eyes. He’d been wrong to keep Lilli’s presence in the castle secret from Ciana, and he knew it.
He glanced up with a hint of hope in his gaze as he looked at us. It dulled the moment he realized it was only Dash, Jack, and I.
“What are you lot doing down here?” he asked in a clipped tone. I really wasn’t a fan of Devin even if he was our king.
“The queen told us to get some rest,” Dash replied. I had no idea how he had managed to respond cordially.
The king grunted and waved over an elf who was walking down the corridor toward us. “Show them to some bedrooms in the east wing,” the king commanded.
The girl nodded and quickly started walking back the way she had come, gesturing for us to follow. She too looked like she couldn’t wait to get away from the king, who was in a seriously bad mood.
The elf led us through the castle and showed us to a set of connecting suites where we could rest. Dash and Jack walked right into one of the rooms, but I hesitated at the doorway and turned to the elf who was standing behind me.
“We have friends who are waiting for us in the castle,” I said. “Three reindeer shifters, another claus, and a tomten. Do you know where they are?” I asked.
“They’re staying just down the corridor,” the girl replied, nodding her head toward some of the rooms a little farther down.
I smiled at her and took a step in the direction she had indicated, but the girl stopped me. “They won’t be there now though,” she said. “They spend their days out on the castle grounds with the refugees, but they’ll be back later.”
I felt desperate to find Tomi, Melody, and the others, so I let out a sigh when I heard they weren’t in the castle. “Thanks,” I told the elf. “I guess I’ll find them later.”
I gave her one last smile before I stepped into the room the boys had disappeared into, closing the door behind me. It was an elaborate space with heavy golden curtains and a bed so large you could probably have fit Dash’s whole herd in it. There was a large and comfy-looking couch near the window and two other doors that led from the room.
Jack had already disappeared from view, and it was only Dash who remained standing in the room.
“Jack’s already commandeered the other bedroom,” Dash said, nodding toward a door that must have led to the connecting suite. “I hope you don’t mind sharing.”
“It’s fine.” I wasn’t too concerned about sharing a room with Dash, not when I knew that sleep would be impossible. “I’m not all that tired anyway,” I added.
My body might have felt exhausted, especially after creating the sleigh point earlier, but my mind felt wide-awake. I couldn’t stop thinking and worrying about the Christmas star, and I didn’t want to sleep for fear that any moment’s delay could be our undoing.
“You need to try and get some rest, Clio,” Dash said, eyeing me closely. “I know you’re worried about the star—I am too—but there’s nothing we can do about it yet.”
“It just feels like we’re running out of time,” I said. “The barriers might have taken a few weeks to deteriorate after the first Christmas star was destroyed, but we have no idea how long it will take for Belsnickel’s powers to return. He could go after the star at any moment.”
“Perhaps,” Dash replied. “But, I think it’s safe to say that his powers haven’t returned in full yet. None of the dark beings in the South Pole were under his influence, and there hasn’t been any word of him since the last star was destroyed.”
I wanted to agree with him, but when it came to Belsnickel, I had to assume the worst. I walked over to the window and took several long breaths in and out as I stared outside. The room we’d been led to was up several floors and looked over the training yards at the back of the castle. There were clauses of all ages out practicing in the yards, and watching them made my stomach clench tightly. They would be the ones paying the price if we failed to stop Belsnickel from releasing all magical beings from the Christmas curse. But, even if we managed to stop him, they might still face a horrible battle ahead.
“Dash, what happens if we manage to stop Belsnickel from destroying the final star?” I asked, turning to face him.
He’d sat down at the edge of the bed and was staring at his hands. He looked up at my question though. “What do you mean?”
“Well, Belsnickel will have all of his powers,” I replied. “He’ll still be able to use his persuasion over the dark beings, and there will still be a war. Does stopping him from destroying this last star even help us?”
“It does,” he replied. “Because it keeps his army from getting too strong.”
“It keeps us weak too though,” I replied.
“Yes,” he agreed. “But without our powers, the destruction will be minimized. And I suspect that this is the very reason clauses have trained for battle for centuries. Light beings have been preparing for this war for a very long time.”
“So, you see no other option but war?” I asked.
“No,” he replied.
My heart clenched at his response, and I didn’t know how to be okay with it. The dark beings I’d come across in the Southern Realm seemed mostly peaceful. Would we really have to fight them against their will? Surely there was another way around this?
I walked over and sat on the bed next to Dash. “I don’t like any of this,” I told him.
“Me neither,” he agreed.
We were sitting so close that our legs were almost touching, and as I looked up at him, I could see my own pain and fear of what was to come reflected in his eyes. Dash reached out a hand and grabbed hold of my own. “Don’t worry about the big picture just yet though,” he said. “Let’s just fight today’s battles and hope that it means tomorrow’s war doesn’t come.”
I gave him a sad smile as I nodded. “I’ll try,” I agreed. Though I wasn’t sure if I could simply ignore everything we’d just discussed.
“I’m going to try and get some sleep,” Dash said. He let go of my hand and stood up before walking over to the couch that sat opposite the bed.
I touched his arm, stopping him. “You take the bed,” I said. “I’m not sure I can sleep right now.”
Dash nodded and gave me a grateful smile. The couch may have looked comfortable to me, but it wasn’t nearly long enough to fit Dash.
As Dash went to go to sleep, I decided to slip out of the room. I entered the long corridor and closed my eyes as I tried to sense Tomi. I knew he was supposed to be on the castle grounds, but I was too on edge to sleep and didn’t mind searching for him outside if it meant I kept busy.
Almost immediately, I felt a tug on the invisible cord that linked us and could sense that he was close by. It seemed he wasn’t outside like the elf had thought. Instead, he appeared to be just down the corridor. I followed the direction of the pull between us until I reached a room several doors down. I could hear voices on the other side of the door, and I knocked on the hard wood as I came to a stop before it.
The door opened and Coop appeared, standing in the entrance. He frowned when he saw me and pushed his glasses up his nose as he looked into the corridor to see if I was alone.
“You’re back!” he said.
“Yeah, we got back a little while ago. Dash is sleeping down the hall, but I’m not tired. I was told you guys would be outside.”
“Melody and I are just taking a break,” Coop replied. “We’ll get back to helping with the refugees after we’ve had some lunch.”
“Is Tomi here too?” I asked.
Coop nodded and pulled the door open to reveal a suite very similar to the one that Dash and I had been given to rest in. Melody and Tomi were both sitting on the couch, though none of the other shifters were anywhere to be seen. I was surprised to find Alfie also standing over near the window. He was far more solid now, and his face lit up as he saw me.<
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“How did it go?” Melody asked, jumping up from the couch to come and give me a hug. Her hugs were really starting to grow on me, and I leaned in as she wrapped her arms around me.
“It went well,” I replied. “We found the information we needed, and we have an idea of where we need to search for the star.”
“Where is it?” Coop asked.
“I can’t say,” I said, giving him a shrug. “Orders of the queen,” I added before he pushed me further for answers.
“Well, that’s no fun,” Alfie replied as he walked across the room to join us.
“Yeah, I know,” I agreed. “So, what’s been happening here while we’ve been gone?” I decided it was probably best to avoid talk of the coordinates. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust my friends; I was just respecting the fact that Lilli had seemed so adamant there were ears everywhere in the castle. I couldn’t risk her secret information getting into the wrong hands. I could also see Melody watching me intently, and I didn’t want her getting any ideas. She was always desperate to help, and while I usually didn’t mind that, I didn’t want her putting herself in danger.
“We’ve been staying in the castle and helping get refugees settled on the grounds,” Melody said. “We’ve been told that the fighting in the city hasn’t been intense today, but they still won’t let anyone leave the castle grounds.”
“We think the dark beings are regrouping,” Coop added. “Blitz and Vixen are trying to find out more, but it’s hard to get information. None of the guards will tell us anything, and we can’t leave the grounds.”
I wanted to tell them they might be able to leave now there was a sleigh point in the courtyard in front of the castle, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to explain how it had suddenly appeared. I was still trying to come to terms with my powers myself; I didn’t know how to tell anyone else about them.
I went and sat down on the couch next to Tomi, who hadn’t said a word since I’d entered the room. He was refusing to look at me and seemed even more grumpy than usual. It was probably because I’d left him again. For a creature who despised me so much, he sure did seem to miss me when I was gone.
“Have you been okay here with Melody?” I asked him.
Tomi shrugged, still refusing to talk to me.
“He’s barely eaten, and he hasn’t slept while you’ve been gone,” Melody said. “I think he was worried.”
Tomi shot a scowl in Melody’s direction, but she refused to react to it. “What? It’s the truth,” she said to him.
Tomi grunted and turned away from the two of us, returning to the iPhone video game he’d been playing when I came in.
“Have you eaten?” Melody asked me.
I shook my head, and my stomach rumbled as if her words had suddenly woken it up. “Not in a while.”
Melody summoned me some food, and it appeared in a swirl of her soft pink magic. I smiled up at her when I saw she’d brought me mince pies. “Thanks,” I said before quickly digging into them.
I had thought I was hungry, but I only managed to get through three of the pies before I was full. I leaned back on the couch, feeling suddenly exhausted. Coop, Melody, and Alfie were still talking, but I tuned out as my eyes started to drift shut and I finally fell asleep.
I woke with a start as someone gently rocked my shoulder. My eyes shot open, and I looked up to find Melody standing over me. The room was dark, but a candle dimly lit Melody’s face, and I could just make out her gentle smile.
“Clio,” she whispered. “Dash is saying you need to come meet him now.”
I groaned and started to push myself up but paused when I saw I wasn’t alone on the couch. Tomi had fallen asleep right next to me. He was wheezing gently in and out, still deep in sleep. He looked so innocent, and my heart warmed at the sight.
“He really does miss you when you’re gone,” Melody murmured. “I think he’ll like it once this is all over and you’re back together again.”
I looked up at her and nodded. I was looking forward to that too. Tomi and I had our differences, but there was an undeniable connection between us that was hard to ignore. I always seemed to notice it more when we’d been parted for a while. I felt bad leaving him again, but I knew I didn’t have much choice.
“Should I wake him and say goodbye?” I asked.
Melody shook her head though. “I’ll tell him for you. Let him rest, he’s been exhausted.”
I looked down at the tomten and nodded. I didn’t like leaving him without saying anything, but Melody was right, it was probably for the best. I said goodbye to Melody at the door before I headed down the corridor to meet Dash. He was waiting in the suite we’d been given with Vixen, Blitz, and Coop all crowded inside with him. The four of them were deep in conversation when I arrived, and they fell quiet as I entered the room.
“You summoned me,” I said, as I walked to join them.
Dash gave me a brief nod. “The sleigh point specialist is here. It’s time to go.”
“Yeah, I suspected as much,” I replied, stifling a yawn. I’d slept at a funny angle on the couch, and my mind was still a little foggy after waking up. I probably could have slept for at least another couple of hours. “So, what are you guys all whispering about in here?”
The reindeer all shared guilty looks before they focused back on me.
“We were trying to convince Dash to tell us where you’re going,” Coop said.
“And to let us come with you,” Blitz added.
“It could be dangerous,” Vixen said. “And our herd works better when we’re together. None of us feel right being left behind.”
I glanced at Dash, trying to gauge his opinion. Other than a set of coordinates and the fact the queen had said they led to somewhere in Finland, we weren’t really sure what we were about to face. We might be able to use the herd’s help in obtaining the Christmas star, but I also worried whether it was the best decision to bring them. There was no way I would want to be left behind on such an important mission, so I could see why they wanted to come.
“It’s your call,” I said to Dash. He nodded as he appeared to consider his herd’s request. I could see how much it meant to them to come, but I could also tell that Dash knew they would have to stay behind.
He eventually shook his head. “I’m sorry, guys, but I need you here.” His herd seemed to deflate as he spoke, and it was obvious from the way Dash’s eyes saddened how much he hated letting them down.
“The dark beings have started to withdraw from the North Pole, and I’m worried they’re amassing for another attack,” he continued. “I want you on the ground for when that happens. Plus, like you said, I don’t know what to expect where we’re going. I want to make sure I have you as backup should anything happen to us.”
“Don’t talk like that, Dash,” Vixen said.
His eyes were serious as he looked at his sister. “If we don’t return, I want you to go to the queen and ask her for our location. It will be up to you guys to protect the star from Belsnickel.”
Jack appeared in the doorway and cleared his throat. “The sleigh point scientist is waiting for us down in the entrance hall,” he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. “He seems to think he’s going to leave if we keep him waiting any longer.”
“Yes, I know, and we’re coming,” Dash replied. He was still focused on his herd though, and it looked like he wanted to finish the conversation they were having, so I decided to leave them to it and follow Jack from the room.
Dash caught up with us just as we reached the front entrance hall. There was a snooty-looking elf standing there, his upper lip curled in distaste as he stared at one of the portraits on the wall. He was wearing a tailored suit, and his long blond hair was slicked back into a low ponytail. He looked youthful, like most elves did, but the superior expression on his face made me feel like perhaps he was far older than he appeared.
“Desmond?” Dash asked, as we walked up behind him.
The elf’s nose twitched as h
e turned and laid his eyes on us. “I suppose you are the ones I was sent to guide,” he said.
Dash nodded. “Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“Yes, well, you could have done me the courtesy of not making me wait so long,” he replied. “Especially given the dangerous journey I had to make to get here. When the queen’s tomten summons you to the court though, you must answer no matter what.”
I immediately didn’t like the elf. He was looking down at us as though we weren’t worthy of being in his presence, which was ridiculous. He didn’t even know us, yet he’d judged us with one look.
“Is the queen coming?” he asked, glancing past us hopefully.
“No, the queen is not,” Dash replied. “Have you been given the coordinates for the place we need to get to?”
Desmond nodded. “Quite the remote location,” he replied. “But lucky for you, it’s not completely out of reach. The coordinates can be pinpointed to a forest in Lapland. The closest sleigh point is near a village named Kuttura. You’ll have to go on foot from there.”
“So, you can get us there?” I asked.
Desmond puffed his chest out in response. “I am the leading expert in sleigh points in this realm,” he said. “Of course, I can. Our only problem is the fact we are unable to use the sleigh point in the North Pole. That is quite out of the question right now, so we’ll have to drive several hours east of here.”
“Ah, that maybe isn’t as big a problem as you think,” I said.
“Why not?” Desmond’s question sounded more like a demand.
“Because there’s a sleigh point on the castle grounds,” Jack replied, grinning broadly as he delivered the news. He seemed to enjoy the confused reaction he was getting out of Desmond, whose face went from baffled to irritated in the blink of an eye.
“There is no such thing,” Desmond said. “Come on, my car is out by the training yards.”
Jack stepped forward and linked his arm through the elf’s, much to Desmond’s discomfort, and started steering him toward the front doors that led from the castle. “I can assure you, sir, I never lie,” Jack said, mimicking the elf’s uppity tone and making me snort. “It might not have been there the last time you were here, but I promise you there is a sleigh point on the castle grounds. Come, I’ll show you.”
Christmas Curse (Christmas Magic Book 3) Page 10
