Silent Night by J.E. Taylor

Author:J.E. Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JET-Fueled Fiction
Published: 2021-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

We continue delivering gifts as if it were just another normal Christmas Eve. But tonight has been anything but normal, as evidenced by my father’s nearly shredded and blood-stained suit and my torn jacket. Black leather doesn’t show blood the way his white fur does, and I stare at the stains as he settles into the seat next to me. My wound itches and I shift in the seat, stanching the overriding need to scratch at it.

“Who would want you dead?” I meet his gaze with my own.

He purses his lips, as if there is a long list to consider, and as he looks out at the reindeer, he sighs and snaps the reins.

It’s all a bit unnerving.

“Is there someone?” I press, because his reaction is not what I had expected.

“There could be a few. I got a little ornery with some of the elves the other day when they tried to bring up making my toy factory a union shop.”

I snort a laugh. “Union? Why do they want a union?”

“Fair wages, reasonable hours, ability to move up in the ranks. That’s what they spouted.” He sighs and wipes his face. “All the normal things a union shop wants to control. And I got the explicit feeling that the last demand was the most important. Even though there is no true upward movement among elves. Sure, they can go from toy making to management, but that’s as high as they can go. Unless they’re vying for my job, but that isn’t possible.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Union shop at the North Pole. What a farce.”

He glances over at me with a nod. “That was my reaction. And apparently it angered some of the boys.”

I am compelled to point out the obvious. “Anger and premeditated murder are two different beasts.”

Santa shrugs. “True. But I’d know who, along with the very reason why, if we were being attacked by an actual person. The naughty list would spell it out for me like a neon beacon.” He directs the reindeer toward a nearby neighborhood. “Elves and monsters are not on any of my lists.” He glances at me again. “And the only beings with enough magic at their disposal to control the monsters reside in or around the North Pole.”

“We need to figure out who’s behind all this.” I scan the horizon. My gaze sweeps back and forth restlessly and my shoulder throbs in time with my heart. “What about the Winter Warlock?”

Santa rolls his eyes. “It isn’t a witch or a warlock. They are on my list. I would know if it was one of their kind.”

“Yes, but the Winter Warlock was evil in the past.”

My father sighs. “He was never evil. He was just lonely, and while he did scare people, he never harmed a soul. Besides, he’s not the type who would put out a filthy contract on my life. If he wanted me dead, he wouldn’t leave it to anyone else to do the deed. He would do it himself.

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