Page 21 of Demon Sworn
Katrina
I’m bundledup like Ralphie’s little brother inA Christmas Story, and I feel like I’ve walked into one of the movie’s daydream sequences. Is this for real? Christmas Village is adorable!
After we’d all put on a ridiculous amount of snow gear, the guys flew me into the sky and used their claws to rip through the veil that separates Earth and Hell. Then they ripped through it again to transport us to the most adorable place in the universe! Universes? Quantum realms?
I don’t really know because decathlon science facts can’t even fathom this shit. What I do know is my eyes are like teaspoons and someone’s pouring sugar right into them. This place is the sweetest thing I could ever imagine.
I can’t look around fast enough. The houses are all cutesy log cabins with red and green roofs. The streets are lined with giant candy cane streetlights. People ride reindeer through the snow-covered road like they’re horses. And yes, there are tons of jingle bells.
I even spot an adorable little green elf hat trudging through the snow!
“An elf!” I squeal and point.
The little hat turns back, and two cute long-lashed eyes peer out over a snowdrift. The elf pops up out of the snow, and I immediately realize two things. First of all, he’s wearing a diaper. Second of all, he’s got tiny white wings on his back.
Just like a Valentine’s cupid.
“Do Christmas and Valentine’s people both live here?” I ask curiously. “Is this someplace for all of the holidays?”
Zolroth grimaces and grabs my hand, blowing on it through my mittens and trying to warm my frigid fingers. “No. That unfortunately dressed individual is a cherub. Because the Christmas realm is run by angels.” He gives a little shudder that I don’t think has much to do with the arctic chill.
His eyes are full of disdain for that cherub, who turns and bellows, “Demons! Demons in Christmas Village!”
“Shit.” Zolroth grabs me protectively and shifts me behind him.
All of a sudden, the shop doors in the village slam shut. Magical domes of glitter appear over each building. And, from the candy cane streetlights, hidden speakers start to blast, “Oh, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!”
Immediately, all of my guys throw their hands up over their ears and groan as if in physical pain.
“No!” Akor cries. “It hurts. The music is so bad, it hurts!”
I panic, because I have no idea what the fuck to do. Lucy made it sound like demons lived here. So why the hell is this place full of cherubs and glitter domes and tacky Christmas music? What’s going on?
I grab at Zolroth’s arm and lean forward so I can ask, but my question is cut off by movement in the distance.
I watch as a sleigh comes racing down the hill through the village. Six reindeer gallop toward us at full speed, and I can see a figure standing in the sleigh, one foot propped up on the front ledge, reins taut in his hands. He yanks them, and the reindeer turn sharply in front of us so that the sleigh suddenly changes direction and we are sprayed with snow.
I sputter and swipe flakes from my eyes as the most badass Santa I’ve ever seen hops down. He’s got on his red suit, his hat tilted at a jaunty angle. He’s not the least bit fat like the stories say. No, this Santa is a bearded DILF. If I were into that kind of thing, I mean. But I’m not, despite the books in my Kindle library that shout the contrary.
It was an experimental phase, okay? Now shut up and focus on the fact that we’re here to save my brother.
“What are you doing inmy town?” Santa’s as gruff as an old cowboy.
Raz steps forward, but on instinct, I hold my hand out to stop him. Something tells me that just like in Heaven, my humanity might give us a little advantage here. “Excuse me, Mr. Claus—”
“Kringle.”
“Mr. Kringle, someone stole my brother and posed as my parents and killed them. And I was told that a guy named Cal could help me figure out who.”
Santa’s expression twists, first in pity, then in fury. “You’re Katrina Colt? Your brother’s Adam Colt? Been on the good list every single year? LikesPaw Patroland dinosaurs?”
I press a hand to my lips, and tears threaten to start as I nod.
“Do you know where Cal is?” Raz steps close and puts a hand on my shoulder.
Santa opens his mouth to answer, but then I hear a very loud, angry, “DAD! We agreed! That’s my sleigh now!”
I lean over and peer behind Santa to see five demons flying low down the street. The middle demon cradles a woman in his arms, a very pregnant woman in a festive green dress trimmed with white fur.
