Hellebore’s Holiday Read online

  Fetu nodded. “Midwives have always had an in to the points of power. Their magic is powerful.”

  Hellebore laughed. “Not this one. She has no power. Magic will not stick to her and will not affect her. She delivers the highest-ranking children because she cannot carry a curse.”

  Rown coughed up his coffee. “Raven?”

  “Yeah. Have you met her?”

  “No, but I have heard of her. She delivered the dwarf king’s last set of twins.” Rown sat back. “She has a lot of clout.”

  “And tons of favours to call in.” Hellebore smiled. “I really hope she didn’t have to do too much arm twisting for me.”

  Fetu smiled, “I am sure that she was glad to do it.”

  “I hope so.” She sipped at her coffee and dodged all questions about the nature of her friends.

  They sat around and discussed the nature of coffee and morning beverages in general throughout the paranormal community.

  Neer joined them and the cake was soon a memory.

  She leaned forward and asked, “So, have any of you met the black dragon or been to Hotel Spectre?”

  That sparked another round of conversation, but they all knew that they were just wasting time until they were summoned.

  Hellebore was going to ask how they would know when the time was right, but a summons gripped her soul and pulled at her.

  “Time to go.” Fetu put his hand at her back and their little group left the garage and walked to the edge of town.

  Hellebore had not sent the messages she had wanted to, but she would always have time after they did what they were being summoned to.

  Outside, the other five were lining up, facing the edge of the barrier. She took the position she was being pulled to and stood at the head of the double line.

  Pain and pressure ripped through her, sending her to all fours. When she was able to move again, she heard the ticking of her hooves on the ground.

  A huge rift opened in the sky above their heads and an elegant elf with snow-white hair stepped through, descending slowly to stand in front of them.

  Hellebore stepped forward and cocked her head.

  He reached out a hand and touched her forehead. You should not be here, little one. There are many who are looking for you and several more who know you are here are demanding your immediate release.

  I am a people person.

  He laughed, flicking a long white cascade of hair behind him. You are much loved and much respected. There is nothing in your life that would put you here. We have found the one who altered the transport charm. He is in line for a place here.

  Excellent. What are we about to do?

  I am going to summon my sleigh, and we will begin distributing the presents that the elf prison has been manufacturing all year.

  So, this is a cycle that has multiple participants?

  Indeed. You ended up in the stable, my little one. After tonight, you will be returned to your place in the world.

  Thank you. Shall we go?

  By all means. Stand by for your harness.

  He wasn’t kidding. A sleigh came through the rift after him, with bags loaded on it.

  She was tugged into position and a harness snapped around her. She shook her head and felt the antlers on her skull. The bells around her neck jangled, and in twenty minutes, she was leading the team of Santa’s reindeer by instinct alone.

  Chapter Seven

  Even as a reindeer she could use her siren song, so she did. Each village and town that they visited was sedated by her song.

  Santa’s appearance was altered by a charm that made him appear to be whatever the humans thought they should be seeing.

  The rest of the reindeer seemed cowed, to use a phrase. She supposed it could be very disorienting to lose one’s penis, even for one day.

  They flew through the night and into the next day. Millions of stops for children who had nothing—no hope, no one who could afford gifts. It was a mercy mission and other children would speak of Santa because of their parents’ efforts. Few would know the true reach of a man who was not a man and the reindeer who were not reindeer.

  It was a night she would never forget.

  When they were exhausted, sweaty and bleary-eyed, Santa brought them back through the barrier.

  Hellebore waited while the harness slipped from her and she was allowed to walk free. Pain pushed on her once again and the magic unbound, releasing her from the reindeer form.

  She looked down and blushed, shaking her hair over her breasts. “Naked?”

  Santa walked toward her and bowed low, holding her hand while magic spiralled around her body. She was wearing a silvery sheath when he completed his contact.

  “Siren, allow me to apologize for your presence here.”

  She nodded. “It is fine. I am aware it was not your doing.”

  “I will escort you to the barrier and open it for you.”

  She bit her lip. “Are any of the others leaving?”

  “I believe that one or two may have earned their reprieve. They will be set free after you are gone.”

  Hellebore nodded and headed to the garage for her keys and her phone. When she had pulled her car out and down to the inn, she had to admit that it handled well. Rown had done a helluva job.

  Hellebore went to the room Irgano had given her and made a face at the shredded clothing. Sighing, she stuffed it all into her bag, grabbed her parka and headed back to the car, checking the trunk for stowaways.

  She could see nine men, and when she tossed her bag in the back, she locked the trunk with a thud. No one was hitching a ride.

  She slipped her arms into the parka and topped up her phone’s charge. With everything set, she drove back to the collection of naked men who were watching her closely. Irgano looked angry, and when he jerked slightly, she could feel the bindings that were around him. He may have wanted to try to leave via her car, but he wasn’t going anywhere.

  Santa gestured for her to make her farewells. She shook Rown’s hand, thanking him for the repairs. She kissed Neer on the cheek for his help in contacting the outside world.

  When it came to Fetu Larsen, she stood in front of him and went up on her toes, kissing him on the lips. “If you get out in a decade and don’t mind wrinkles, give me a call.”

  He touched her cheek. “You will always look the same to me, no matter how your body changes.”

  She smiled and leaned into his touch. “And you will always warm me, whether we are in contact or not.”

  “Does that mean…”

  “Take it as you like.” She blushed and did a verifying head count before she zipped up her coat and got into her car.

  Santa nodded, and Hellebore started her engine, aiming for the ball of light on the edge of the town. She waved a final farewell, and her car rolled forward, sliding through the light with ease and it deposited her on a snow-covered road. She was right where she had been when she left.

  “Damn. Well back to the house.”

  Carefully driving around, she managed to get herself back into the drive of the Anders’ family farm and parked in her spot. She plugged the car in and got out, grabbing her bag from the trunk and knocking on her mother’s front door.

  The moment that the door opened, all the smells of Christmas rushed out to wrap her in their comfort. Her mother shrieked in delight and hugged her tightly, kissing her frantically with tiny pecks. “I was so worried, Bells.”

  Her father was waiting for his wife to let her go. Finally, he cleared his throat, and Hellebore rushed to hug John Anders in all his stoic glory. “We were worried, Bells. If your friends hadn’t kept in touch, we might have wandered into panic.”

  “I was in good hands.” She sniffled as she hugged her dad back with all her strength. He grunted and enjoyed knowing that his daughter was safe. She could feel it in his arms.

  Her father didn’t speak much, couldn’t speak much with Hellebore and Amaryllis
around, but he spoke so much without words that there was nothing they didn’t understand when he gave them so much as the smallest look. It was a magic all its own.

  Her mother smiled and wiped at tears. “Christmas lunch is ready, and then, we have gifts to open. Your friends are arriving tomorrow to check on you.”

  Hellebore blinked. “They are coming here?”

  “Yes, a nice young woman named Abby said they were coming to check on you. I am making a nice lunch and laying out a fruit platter.” Amaryllis smiled. “Was I actually talking to the Nexus?”

  “You were. She’s sweet and her guards are amazing. Cousin Laura is one of them.” Hellebore grinned. “I am grabbing a shower and changing. Some asshole shredded all of my clothing.”

  Her mother looked concerned, but Hellebore went to her room and changed into clothes that were a little more snow friendly.

  The sweatshirt wrapped around her like an old friend, and she sighed in relief. The winds of the plains were battering at the house, but it was a familiar song that Hellebore wanted to sing with.

  The urge built in her until she couldn’t stand it.

  “Mom, Dad. I am going out to sing to the storm before lunch, I will be back as soon as I can.”

  Her mom nodded. “I am guessing that the last few weeks have been a lot of whistling and no songs.”

  “Something like that.” She kissed both of her parents. “I will be on the roof. Listen. This one is going to be amazing.”

  She wrapped herself in her parka and headed into the snow. She hummed the song that had begun during her stretch as a reindeer, and the moment she finished climbing the ladder to her widow’s walk, she started to sing.

  The instant she stood upright on the platform her father had built for just this sort of moment, she searched for and caught the tune.

  Hellebore stood with her head high in the freezing wind and inhaled, belting the song out over the prairie, encouraging the plants sleeping under the blanket of snow to wait and to hope. She sang about the sun, the heat and the warmth of the summer. She composed verse after verse to fire and ice.

  When her energy had spun to its conclusion, she climbed down to join her parents. Amaryllis and John were sitting in the living room and cuddling together on the couch, their hands entwined and their heads leaning against each other. Her mother had tears on her cheeks, and there was a gleam in her father’s eyes.

  She smiled and hung up her coat, kicking off her boots and flopping next to her parents on the couch. “I believe that food was mentioned?”

  Her mother lunged at her and hugged her tight. “That was the most beautiful song I have heard from you.”

  Her father got to his feet and helped both of his ladies up. “Come on. There is lunch waiting.”

  He hugged her tightly. “Well done, Bells.”

  “I met someone who made me think a little more on the plusses and minuses of single life.” She smiled weakly.

  “According to your friends, you were in prison.”

  “I was in Santa’s stable if you can believe that. Last night, I flew across the world in the skin of a reindeer and lulled towns and villages to sleep so that Santa could bring them food and gifts that would help them through the season.”

  They wandered into the kitchen, and Amaryllis used some of her domestic magic to bring everything to the table with a few waves of her hands.

  Hellebore took a seat and held hands with her parents, sharing the joining of family and celebrating the holiday.

  She whistled a quick tune and the image of a Christmas tree hovered over the table.

  It was an Anders’ family Christmas, just like every year that had preceded it, and Hellebore had never been more thankful to be home.

  She squealed with delight as she pulled out some holiday socks. “Woo hoo! Owls.”

  Her mother put on her own butterfly socks, and her father put the reindeer socks onto his feet. Family traditions rocked.

  After dinner, they would have their sliding-for-distance competition, but for now, it was all about the presents.

  She opened her annual sound system for her studio and immediately began to morph her voice into that of her favourite movie characters for playback later.

  Her mother opened a box with an azure silk nightgown and robe. Her father sat on the edge of his seat while she opened it and then fell back when she jumped into his lap and covered his face with kisses.

  Hellebore sat on the floor like a toddler and played with her new toy while her parents made out on the sofa.

  She wriggled her toes in their owl socks and continued playing with her voice and the new microphone. It was difficult to get her aural seduction to pass through the recording equipment, but each generation of tech made a little more of her magic come through.

  She looked up at her parents. “Get a room.”

  Her father pried his lips from the mermaid in his lap. “I have an entire house, find your own space.”

  Hellebore cackled and dove back into the pile of presents. Christmas with her parents always reaffirmed that love could come in the strangest of places but you had to be open to opposites attracting.

  Chapter Eight

  With the debris from Christmas all tidied up and used in the fireplace, Boxing Day arrived, and it carried with it enough magic to light up an entire town.

  Hellebore was on beverage duty. The eggnog had high octane but the punchbowl was quickly depleted as she was greeted, hugged and kissed by friends who had been worried about her return.

  The presents were a surprise, and Hellebore was caught unaware. She sat down and her friends gave her presents along with pumping her for information about meeting Santa.

  Raven smiled. “I liked his hair.”

  Hellebore laughed. “Of course you did. It matches yours, though he goes gold where you go more silvery.”

  “Oh wow. You really were a reindeer for a night.”

  “I really was.”

  A knock on the door stopped the party for a moment. Everyone turned as Amaryllis led the new arrival back into the group.

  Hellebore got to her feet. She recognized the breadth of his shoulders the moment he stepped out of the hallway. “Fetu!” She ran through the maze of people and flung her arms around his neck.

  He laughed and held her against him. “Hellebore. I am glad to see you with your loved ones.”

  She beamed and kissed him in front of everyone. Her mother gasped, Abby giggled and the pixies went wild.

  The pixies had been content to sit in the tree, trying on the tinsel for size. The energy that Hellebore and Fetu were putting in the air was too much for them. They spun around them and tied them together with bonds of magic.

  Hellebore pulled her lips from his. “Uh, I am stuck.”

  He smiled sheepishly. “Me, too.”

  Abby got to her feet and snapped her fingers. “Guys. Knock it off. Let them loose.”

  Hellebore heard one of the pixies chattering in defiance.

  Abby put her foot down. “Now, ladies. Back to the tree.”

  The pixies disappeared, and Abby started to pull at the strands. “Sorry about this. They get enthused during the kiss of true love.”

  “Uh, Abby, this is Fetu Larsen. Fetu, this is Annabeth Hanover, the Nexus.”

  “Nexus?” Fetu looked down at her, and he inclined his head before he looked down at Hellebore. “You did mention friends.”

  She smiled sheepishly and shrugged then dropped as the bindings dissolved under Abby’s touch.

  “Everyone, this is Fetu Larsen, the doctor at the prison. Fetu, this is my mom and dad, Amaryllis and John Anders. This is Laura and Verne, Seesee and Mislak, little Gaia, Abby and Xander, oh, and the gloomy gentleman in the corner is Gregori and the woman on his lap is Max. She didn’t even kill me for the insults I had to use to get her to take me being in Santa prison seriously.”

  She stood next to him, and he kept one arm around her shoulders.
Her parents looked at her and smiled with the significance of the small gesture. She rolled her eyes and took his hand, bringing him to the kitchen for the eggnog.

  Even with two pixies doing cannonballs in the punchbowl, it was still pretty good.

  “The Nexus, the Oak Point Guard and the Vampire Guild Master’s apprentice, along with the most in-demand midwife in paranormal society. You do get around.”

  She blushed and enjoyed standing close to him with his arms around her. “Thank you for coming.”

  “I had to. I have to ask your father a question.”

  She stiffened. “What?”

  “Is that not how it is done amongst your kind? In human circles, it was common when I was last amongst them.”

  She sighed. “In today’s methods, you ask the lady first then her parents. Of course, in mer society, you would have to gain the Matriarch’s approval to approach a member of her line, but since she has disowned my line, that shouldn’t be an issue.”

  “Well, she is very interested in you.” His tone had a catch in it.

  “You didn’t?”

  “I did. The Matriarch will accept me as a mate for you. Now, I need to get your family on board, and then I can ask you. I do this so that there will be no stress on us from your immediate connections. Friends ebb and flow, family is forever.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. “Dad! Get in here!”

  She left Fetu to face the curious John Anders.

  Hellebore walked around the edge of the island and took turns fishing the drunk pixies out of the eggnog. The diving had spread, and now, there was a lineup of pixies on the edge of the punchbowl waiting their turn.

  Fetu spoke quietly to John, and they moved into the study.

  Max walked in, reached for the dipper for the eggnog, and when she saw the water ballet competition, she paused and started to watch. She jerked her head toward the door that Hellebore was watching. “What are they doing?”

  “Negotiating my price in either mountain goats or obsidian.”

  Max laughed. “Seriously?”

  “Well, he is asking for my hand. I am hazy on the details.”