Page 22 of Winter Reckoning
Nick’s breathing turned into snoring. His shoulder shimmered for a moment. My belief might have slowed his fade from existence, but it wasn’t enough. I needed a plan, something that would convince Nick that he mattered. He had given me a newfound sense of purpose. I needed to return the favor. He could nap, but there wouldn’t be any sleep for me.
I was wide awake, and now I wasn't planning my exit.
10
I woke an hour later.Nick remained asleep though he had all but kicked the blankets off the bed. It was hard not to admire the beefy man. My knees curled under his butt as my belly pressed into the curve of his back. I ignored my hardening cock and kissed the back of his neck.
I should have been racked with guilt for ignoring protocol. It was hard to feel anything but satisfaction after what happened. For the first time, I had needed to restrain my powers with a man. More than mind blowing sex with a being older than time, I had watched as his body solidified during our time together.
An idea had come to mind just before I drifted to sleep. Sitting in this apartment wouldn't work. If my belief in Nick could restore him, I needed to find more belief like it. He needed proof that the world still had space for him. I doubt he’d take me on my word, so I had to come up with a plan.
I shifted carefully. Nick stirred but didn't wake. Walking to the closet, I reached for a pair of jeans not torn apart by shards of ice. I froze, eyeing the costume on the floor. To pull this off, I’d need every tactical vantage if I was going to survive the horned man. I cringed at the thought of putting it on. It had been yearssince I had thought of myself as a hero. These days, I considered myself an officer, a cog in the wheel, anything but ahero.
It was more snug than I remember. The boots barely had tread, and the zipper up the middle needed coaxing to close. When I turned back, Nick was awake. Watching me with a smile, the first that reached his eyes.
"Get dressed," I said. "We're going out."
He didn't ask where as I tossed him a pair of jeans.
Minutes later, we were outside, climbing into the truck. Snow had blown in through the broken window. For anybody else, it would’ve been chilly. For a man wielding ice and a man who supposedly lived in the North Pole, no big deal.
The city was quiet in that pre-dawn way where everything felt suspended. Streetlights cast orange pools on fresh snow. A few early commuters shuffled toward bus stops. Shop owners unlocked their doors and turned on interior lights. It had been ages since I meandered through Vanguard at this hour.
“It’s beautiful,” Nick whispered.
I agreed.
His hand rested on his knee, fingers steady, tapping with a nervous energy. I caught the shimmer from the corner of my eye. Reaching over, I held his hand. Unlike before, it didn’t stop the fading. Whatever was happening was getting worse.
I drove to the city square, hoping my plan worked. It was a long shot, especially on Christmas Day, but it was all I had. Surrounded by historic buildings and lined with benches, the main plaza served as the heart of the city. In the summer, it filled with food carts and street performers. In winter, it transformed into a winter wonderland.
I parked on a side street and killed the engine. "Come on."
The inklings of a plan came together. There were so many factors at play. I missed villains I could freeze in a block of ice,deliver them to the cops, and be done. Who knew I’d miss the boring evil-doers?
The square opened before us. The city had strung lights through the trees that lined the perimeter. They glowed soft white, not enough to light the park. In the next hour, they’d fade against the morning sun. In the center, an ice rink had been set up weeks ago, a reason to keep kids busy while parents watched from the bench. No one was skating yet.
But the square wasn't empty.
Nick looked around, the confusion showing. It was a beautiful scene before Vanguard came to life. The pond suddenly lit up as the sun broke over the high-rises. We had survived until the next morning. Time wasn’t on our side. If the horned man found us too soon, my plan would be moot. If I could fast forward time another hour, and I think I could save Nick.
"Why are we here?" he asked quietly.
"Because—"
The sky darkened. Not clouds rolling in. Just light draining away like someone had dimmed the world. The temperature dropped twenty degrees. It couldn’t be any more ominous if they tried. Wind hit next. Sharp and cutting, drove snow sideways across the park. It carried the smell of burned wood and rotting pine. It only needed maniacal laughter to complete the cliche.
“He’s here,” Nick whispered.
I grabbed Nick’s hand, pulling him into the park. We moved past the water fountain and past the hot chocolate cart. I didn’t think we could outrun him, I just needed to buy time. One second I was holding Nick’s hand, and the next I was holding nothing but air. He was fading faster. I prayed this plan worked.
Black ash spread along the snow, tainting the pristine white. The geometric patterns formed, signaling the myth’s approach. Behind us, the darkness gathered until the horned man stepped out, ragged robes blowing in the wind. He still wore the twistedsmile as he followed, his cane dragging, leaving a trail of frost behind him.
His eyes found Nick first. Then me. His smile widened, with even more teeth.
“You can’t protect the myth.”
I didn’t think about it as I spun around, hands raised. I moved between Nick and Krampus, hands already gathering ice. The cold answered instantly, flooding up my arms in visible blue light. It came as a rush, my suit increasing my reach and storing more cold than I could on my own. I had forgotten the euphoric sensation.
