Page 103 of North Bound

‘I just wanted the bad guys to die.’

‘And that is why I have a clean outfit and you’re covered in blood. This is the side of Santa that would give kids nightmares.’

Damon grins widely when he sees Nick. ‘You’re appealing to my inner darkness, Nick.’

‘You’re all seriously messed up, you know that?’ He smiles as the newest member of their team walks through the doorway, covered in as much blood as he is. ‘All good?’

Rocco grins and nods. ‘I need a shower, but yeah. All good.’

The new Sandman had slipped into his role like he was born to do it, which could very well be the case. Who knows the way this contract shit works. The tall, sandy haired man was a natural, flying through his weapons and fighting training. Even Damon was impressed, which rarely happened.

Hopefully, he won’t follow the same way as his predecessor. ‘We ready to go?’

‘All set, Boss.’

One of the banshees behind him groans, so he spins around and severs the head, kicking it away from the body. ‘Get everyone outside. Make sure all the heads are removed. We don’t want them coming back to life. Or death. Or whatever they do.’

Damon falls into step beside him as they make their way through the building. ‘You doing your test run tonight?’

Nick nods, then wipes his face on the bottom of his t-shirt. Banshee blood stinks. ‘I always do. Why?’

Damon shrugs but doesn't say anything else.

‘Would you just say what you want to say, but don’t ruin my good mood.’

‘Scarlett.’

Nick was expecting that. If anything, he was expecting one of them to bring her up today. ‘What about her?’

Damon just looks at him.

‘You think I should stop by her place?’

‘Of course I do. We’ve left you alone for the year, hoping you’d get your head out of your ass and stop being a fucking martyr, but enough is enough.’

‘Hey! I'm not a fucking martyr.’

‘You’ve been moping around for the last eleven months. The only time any of us have seen you smile, is when you’re fighting. Which I appreciate, but the others are a little worried. Apparently, having a bloodthirsty Santa isn’t what they want. I, on the other hand, have no issue with that.’

‘I’m not bloodthirsty! What the fuck is wrong with everyone? I’m doing my job. We all are. My private life has nothing to do with that.’

Damon slams him against the wall, holding him in place. ‘You don’t have a private life, Nick.’

‘And you do?’

‘More than you do.’

That surprises him. Damon and Eve are the closest friends he has, but he barely knows anything about either of them. The team tend to split, doing their own thing, unless they have to fight. Damon having a private life wasn’t something that ever crossed his mind.

‘I’m not having a go. You’re a damn good leader. But you’re losing yourself in the job. And I don’t mean the Santa part. We exist to keep the balance. That’s what you keep telling us. We walk the line between good and evil. Do what is needed to maintain that.

‘The problem is, if you continue like this, you’ll be tipping it the other way. We don’t go looking for fights, Nick, but lately that’s all we’re doing. You’re existing to fight.’ Damon lets him go and takes a step back. ‘You can do whatever the fuck you want. All I’m saying is that, you’re more than what you are right now. Don’t lose yourself to your contract. It’s not a fight you want to face, believe me.’

Damon walks away, leaving him surrounded by the aftermath of their fight. Nick looks around him, bodies strewn along the corridor to either side of him. He wipes his face, tasting banshee blood on his tongue. The disgusting stuff is everywhere. He glances down at his sword, the blade covered in thick black blood.

Damon is right. He’s picking fights, going from one battle to the next, trying to distract himself.

Trying to take his mind off Scarlett.

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