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The faint chords of Silent Night plinked lightly on a piano could be heard under the atonal cacophony of cymbals, oboes, and flutes. Edwin stood in front of a collection of what Crystal had called “lava lamps” bound together with white Christmas lights in the vague shape of a fir tree. He watched as blobs of blue, green, and red glided around their gel capsules, separating into smaller spheres and then melting back together while the Christmas lights blinked a rapid pattern. He tilted his head and leaned closer as he followed the progression of one particular green globule as it bumped against the glass side and divided into three bubbles.
“Having fun, mate?” Charles’ amused voice spoke close to his ear.
“I find it strangely calming, despite the flashing lights.” Edwin answered without turning his head. “It’s very different from the lava lake that was in Hell.”
“Jesus, Edwin.” Crystal entered the periphery of his vision. “People can see and hear you right now. No Hell talk, please.”
Edwin turned to face her, clasping his hands behind his back. He raised an eyebrow as she downed the glass of champagne in her hand in one gulp. She had asked the two ghost boys to accompany her to her parents annual holiday party and had insisted on them wearing disguises that were teenagers so she didn’t cause a spectacle talking to herself or hanging out with an older couple. Since Charles had recently seen his reflection in Hell, he had taken the opportunity to fashion the disguises in their own appearances.
“I don’t know.” Charles gave Edwin’s shoulder a squeeze then let his fingers caress the smooth fabric of Edwin’s navy blue suit as he trailed his hand down the sleeve to his bicep. “Hell talk doesn’t seem too out of place at a Winter Bacchanal.” Charles gestured to the room at large with the glass of champagne he held to “blend in” as he declared when they had arrived. Edwin couldn’t help but let his admiring stare take in his best friend’s form. Charles looked very dashing in the burgundy suit with black lapels that matched Edwin’s. Both had a waistcoat, Charles’ with gold embroidery and Edwin’s silver and they wore matching purple bow ties. Charles completed his outfit with his usual gold chain and cross earring. Edwin looked up to meet Charles’ warm gaze. Charles smiled and then dropped his focus down to Edwin’s shoes before slowly scanning up his body to look into his eyes once again. Edwin pressed a hand to his bowtie and gulped air he didn’t need, sure that even though he couldn’t feel it, the cheeks of his disguise were red. Charles’ grin widened and he turned it toward Crystal’s frigid glare. He gave an exaggerated shiver. “Brrr, it’s cold in here.”
“Ghosts don’t feel cold.” Crystal and Edwin said at the same time, Edwin with an indulgent smile and Crystal a roll of her eyes. She reached out and swapped her empty glass for Charles’ full one as she glanced around the large ballroom. The red and green lights reflected off the white and silver silk tapestries draped around the room. A large table was filled with decadent desserts made of wax that were frozen in ice blocks. Mannequins dressed as Santa Claus and his elves were seated at the frozen feast in a parody of the last supper with their limbs chained to the table.
At the centre of everything were her parents, her father in an all white tuxedo and her mother in a shimmering silver gown. A note had been attached to Crystal’s invitation stating that the Surname-Von Hovercraft’s dress code was white and silver. Knowing that her parents primarily communicated through symbolism, Crystal very deliberately chose her gown. She was wearing a sleeveless navy blue halter dress that softened into a purple ombré at the waist and melted into burgundy at the skirt. The whole dress was shot through with silver and gold threads that glittered under the lights. Unfortunately, something got lost in the translation and her mother had just congratulated her on her throuple status when she saw her and the boys’ matching outfits. Another word she would leave for Charles to explain to Edwin later, if Charles even knew what it meant himself.
“Ladies and gentleman,” her mother announced as her father tapped a small spoon against his champagne glass. The music stopped and the crowd noise reduced to a murmur. “Thank you for joining our winter celebration! We have so many wonderful surprises in store tonight.”
A low rumbling sound vibrated through the room, increasing in volume until it drown out her mother’s words. The people in the crowd looked at each other with confused looks on their faces, but Edwin and Charles’ eyes were wide with panic. Charles clutched at Edwin’s hand as his gaze darted around the room for the nearest exit.
Crack! The floor heaved and buckled beneath Crystal’s feet. She teetered on heels and grabbed onto Charles and Edwin to steady herself. Glaring red light spiked from the crevices, bathing the room in an eerie glow.
“Edw..” Crystal heard Charles start to shout. Her stomach dropped as the ground disappeared. Edwin and Charles were snatched from her grasp. As she fell her ears were filled with the furious applause of her parents’ guests.
* * *
Charles locked his hand in Edwin’s in a death grip as Crystal’s hold on him disappeared. He windmilled his other arm around, searching for her. Wind whistled in his ears, until he landed with a soft jolt like they were in an invisible elevator had just stopped on their floor and not free falling from a hole in the ground. Charles scanned their surroundings, his eyes landing on Edwin and then Crystal. Edwin was clasping Crystal’s elbow to steady her. Neither of them had a hair out of place. They were standing at the bottom of a very long circular staircase. Charles squeezed Edwin’s hand tighter and muscles he didn’t usually feel twitched with the anticipation of breaking into a run. Edwin was as still as a statue, the only movement was his eyes as they darted back and forth.
“What happened? Where are we?” Crystal looked from Charles to Edwin. “This isn’t…”
“Edwin Payne.” The voice had them all whirling around to face the new threat. A tall woman with long dark hair entered from a doorway with an iron door that glowed red hot. She smiled, but only on one side of her face, the other side was charred flesh that revealed the gleaming bone of her skull. Her eyes were black pits, the pupils a flickering orange flame.
Edwin stiffened, his spine going impossibly straighter. He gave the demon a curt nod. “Mazikeen.”
“No.” Charles shook his head and shoved Edwin behind him. “We work for the Lost and Found Department. You can’t take Edwin. He never should have been here in the first place!” His fist clenched and he cursed himself for not having his bag of tricks or his cricket bat on hand. He should have ran at the first grumble from the earth, dragging Edwin and Crystal with him.
“We are aware of Edwin’s employment with the Lost and Found, they were very prompt with the paperwork. I brought you all here because we would like to hire the Dead Boy Detective Agency.”
A string Edwin hadn’t known was keeping him upright snapped and he sagged internally. His posture remained as straight as always, but he was back on familiar ground. They had a client. Edwin tugged on his lapels and stepped forward. “How can we help you?”
“Edwin!” Charles pulled him back beside him and Crystal. “What are you doing?” He hissed between his teeth.
“We are meeting with a client, Charles.” Edwin tilted his head in closer so that he could speak quieter. “And I think that it would behoove us to listen to the demon who is the right hand of Lucifer.”
“I agree with Edwin,” Crystal cut in before Charles could respond. “She’s not David or a doll spider, I think we should hear her out.”
Charles huffed a breath. “Fine.” He turned back to the demon and put on his professional smile. It stretched uncomfortably at the corners of his mouth. “What’s the problem, Ma’am?”
“Follow me.” Mazikeen went in the opposite direction of where Charles remembered was the way to the lobby with the souls stuck in limbo. She opened a door and disappeared into the darkness. Charles debated with himself on whether he should put himself between Edwin, Crystal, and the demon or stay in the back to watch their backs. Edwin ended his indecision by following the demon through the narrow door. Charles nudged Crystal to go next before entering the narrow passage himself. There was only enough room to walk single file. They followed Mazikeen down rough stone steps that spiralled them deeper into Hell. Torches staked into the earthen walls threw just enough light to see the stairs, but nothing that lay ahead.
“I’ve been this way before.” Edwin stopped abruptly and reached out to tentatively touch a deep gouge in the rough wall. “Many, many years ago.” His finger fit perfectly into the divot and he could feel the fingernail embedded in the soil. His fingernail. The burning grip on his ankle, the blood dripping from scrapes and gashes that formed with each bang of his head into the stone steps. He had reached out and clung to the wall to stall their ascent up the stairs. He had been in Hell for what seemed like forever and didn’t want to leave the devil he knew.
“Edwin?” Crystal stopped on the stair above him.
A hand reached toward him in his periphery and Edwin flinched violently away. “Don’t touch me.” He hissed, his lips barely moving. His foot caught the edge of the step and he stumbled down, his momentum stopped by a searing hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t touch him!” Charles’s voice echoed in the narrow stairwell. He wished he could squish himself around Crystal and snatch Edwin out of the demon’s grasp. The breath he didn’t realize he was holding heaved in a harsh sigh as Mazikeen withdrew her hand. “Edwin, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Charles.” The unfamiliar quaver in Edwin’s speech contradicted his words. He rested against the wall as he tried to regain his composure with a deep breath. “Thank you, Mazikeen. And, Crystal, I apologize for my reaction. I did not want you to inadvertently experience my memories. It would be best if you avoid contact with me for the duration of our stay here.”
“Okay, I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Crystal’s lips quivered as she formed them into a smile that she hoped was reassuring to Edwin. She crossed her arms, tucking her hands into her elbows to show that she wasn’t going to reach out again. Edwin was grinding his fists together and he wouldn’t raise his voice above a soft whisper. She could feel Charles tense at her back like a horse in the starting gate of a race. “You said that you were here before, do you know where we’re going?”
“The domain of Sa’al. The demon I was sacrificed to.” Edwin pushed himself off of the wall and turned sharply. He gestured politely at Mazikeen to continue to their destination.
Crystal turned to Charles with wide eyes and raised her brows in emphatic surprise. She mouthed an exaggerated “What the fuck!” Charles gave a quick shake of his head and nudged her to get going. Edwin was about to disappear further down the stairs and Charles did not want to lose sight of him here. Luckily, Crystal got the message and they rushed to catch up with Edwin and the demon.
Finally, they could see that the stairs ended at a large wooden door with heavy black iron hinges. Crystal shivered as they neared the door. “Maybe it’s a stereotype, but I thought hell was hot?” She rubbed her hands briskly up and down over the goosebumps forming on her arms.
Charles started to take off his suit jacket, but before he could, Edwin settled his over Crystal’s shoulders. “I’m perfectly fine with the cold. And, yes, you are right, Crystal, it is supposed to be hot. I suspect that is the reason why we are here.” Edwin turned back to Mazikeen.
Mazikeen tilted her head in a slight nod before pushing the door open to a blast of cold air. Snow crunched under their feet as they stepped out onto a frozen landscape. Black trees with twisted trunks lined a path and reached out with gnarled branches as if to snatch anyone who dared to walk near them. The branches were festooned with icy shards of frost like an armour made of glittering knives. For a moment, the background was superimposed with Edwin’s memory. The trees grasping at him, the rough bark tearing into his skin leaving wood chips in the wounds that burned like hot coals. Being dragged down that path of jagged glassy obsidian rocks toward the lake of rolling, red-hot lava. The scene snapped back to its frozen present. He could almost smell the pungent scent of iron as his blood sizzled and the heat scorched his nostrils. The echoes of his screams scratched at his throat.
Edwin could see the lake, the lava a large block of ice that reflected an orange glow from the distant mountain of fire that bled hot magma into valleys and eventually pooled into lakes much like the one that was frozen. This was the domain of Sa’al. Mazikeen stopped at the mouth of the tree-lined path.
“I’m so not dressed for this.” Crystal shuffled from foot to foot, picking one then the other up out of the snow.
“Charles, Magus Consuete, if you please.” Edwin held out his hand and Charles reflexively reached to dig around in his backpack before both of them realized that it wasn’t there. “Sorry, Crystal, but I am unable to perform a warming spell for you.”
“No matter, wouldn’t work anyway.” A high-pitched disgruntled voice informed them from the trees. “Can’t use a warming spell against my magic.” Spindly red covered legs dangled from the branch above their heads. They were attached to a creature in a red jumpsuit with a white collar and cuffs. It leaned over to glare at them. Equally gangly arms were crossed over its chest and its brows and mouth were pinched in a frown. The red hat perched on its head of fluffy brown hair was torn in a ragged edge like it had been gnawed off.
“That’s an Elf on the Shelf.” Crystal whispered, pointing up at it.
“That is a Winter Sprite.” Edwin corrected. He looked up at the creature. “Hello, I’m Edwin Payne and these are my colleagues, Charles Rowland and Crystal Palace, we are the Dead Boy Detective Agency.”
“Well, goody for you.” The sprite swung around until he was hanging upside down by his legs. “You better be here to get me out of this elfin place, because you aren’t gonna talk me outta freezing it!”
“And what brought you here, Mr…?” Edwin gestured at Crystal for his notebook and pen from his jacket pocket.
Crystal rolled her eyes, but handed them over. “Don’t think this means I’m going to be one of your minions. I wouldn’t want to usurp Charles.” She grinned at Charles and he shook his head at her with a smile on his face.
Edwin gave them both an admonishing look. He blew air to vibrate his lips, the sound and reverberation smoothing his nerves. “Now, your name if you please.”
“Kevin. The brats named the dog Mr. Jingle Jangles, so I’m Kevin. And I don’t know where they found it, but they got a book and decided to sacrifice me to Santa Claus for a PS5.” Kevin executed an impressive flip off of the branch and landed lightly in the snow in front of them.
“Children.” Edwin looked up in alarm. “Sa’al responded to a summoning from small children.” The image of Simon and his other tormentors disintegrating into ash in an explosive flare curdled in Edwin’s brain as it warped into the image of small children in their place.
“I saved the brats, that’s how he caught me. They’re all tucked in their beds dreamin’ of sugar plums.” Kevin stomped his little feet, kicking up the snow. “They didn’t even call him! They called Santa Claus! That’s why I’m freezing everything and I started with him.” Kevin rushed over and kicked at one of the trees that on closer inspection, wasn’t a tree, but Sa’al frozen with his arms outstretched and his jaw unhinged as if he was about swallow all of their souls.
“Oi, great work, Kevin!” Charles crouched down and offered the elf a high five. If only he had his cricket bat, he could smash that frozen demon-sicle to smithereens. He looked up at Mazikeen. “If you’re thinking we should be rescuing that git, forget about it.” Charles stepped closer to Edwin.
“Sa’al is not my concern. Kevin’s spell is spreading and will engulf all of Hell.”
“And we’re supposed to be worried about that.” Crystal cut in, crowding in on Edwin’s other side. She pulled his jacket closer around herself. “I don’t think Edwin owes Hell anything.”
“Any technical errors notwithstanding, Hell does serve a purpose, as you should be aware from your work. Where else should souls like Devlin’s reside?” Mazikeen met Edwin’s gaze.
“The frost of the Winter Sprite will unfurl far and near only to be stopped by Christmas cheer!” Kevin piped up. He was dangling from Sa’al’s frozen arm, swinging back and forth. “And getting me the fa-la-la outta here!”
Edwin’s eyebrows rose. “There is the matter of payment.”
“Kevin’s soul will be released, of course.”
“I believe something you would do regardless as Kevin would simply renew the curse if he is still present in Hell. We require further payment.” Edwin waited for Mazikeen’s nod before continuing. He felt Charles squeeze his shoulder and Crystal press in closer to his arm. “You will retrieve the demon known as David from Crystal’s mind and with a direct order from Lucifer, he will never contact her again either personally or through another demon, entity, or person.”
“Edwin!”
“What!”
Charles and Crystal yelled at the same time.
“Allow me to confer with my colleagues.” Edwin ushered Charles and Crystal a few feet away and they formed their usual pre-case huddle.
“Edwin, thank you for thinking about getting rid of David for me, but what about your soul? Ask them to release Hell’s claim on your soul.”
“Hey, this is a big job, it deserves a big payout, I say we ask for both,” Charles suggested.
“Hell won’t release the claim on my soul that easily and our deal with the Lost and Found Department is taking care of that for now. Our immediate concern is David and the damage he is doing to Crystal’s psyche. Your ancestors warned you that his presence would damage your tree, did they not?”
“Yes.” Crystal grimaced. In her last mind journey, the vibrant purple of her tree had dulled and the leaves were drooping. Her ancestors had again admonished her that David could not stay there forever.
“Then it’s settled.” Edwin straightened. “We’ll take the case with Hell taking care of David as payment.”
Charles pulled Edwin back down into the huddle. “It’s not like I don’t want a demonic restraining order to kick David out of Crystal’s life, but I’m not exactly happy that we aren’t pushing to get rid of Hell’s claim on you as well.” Charles sighed and shook his head. “So, what’s our game plan for breaking the curse? Dress some demons up in ugly sweaters, teach them some Christmas carols, and feed them hot chocolate?”
“I can’t believe this is my life, but I’m in.” Crystal shrugged. This time they all straighten out of the huddle. “Let’s go save Hell with the power of Christmas.”
As Edwin returned to Mazikeen and Kevin, Crystal tugged at Charles’ sleeve to get him to hang back. “I don’t care what Edwin says, when it comes time for payment, we’re going to demand that Hell release their claim on his soul.”
Charles nodded. “And if they don’t, we’ll just have to convince Kevin to curse them with frost again.”
* * *
After Mazikeen had transported them back to the office for a quick trip to gather supplies, they returned to Hell, Charles with his bag of tricks slung over his shoulder and filled with everything they thought might bring some Christmas cheer to the bleak landscape. Crystal had changed into a warm white cable knit sweater and purple snow pants dotted with snowflakes. The boys had left their jackets and waistcoats back at the office, leaving them in their dress shirts and the bowties that Charles had spelled with their disguises. Edwin had opted to keep his disguise on as it kept him from reverting to his nightclothes while in Hell and in solidarity Charles had decided to keep his on as well.
“Before we get started, Charles, I need that bag I gave you.” Crystal held out her hand in a very familiar gesture. Charles snorted, he really did have a type…of friend. He had a type of friend that he really liked. He dug around in the pocket universe until he found the large Christmas bag that Crystal asked him to bring and handed it over.
“Thank you.” She pulled out two wrapped Christmas presents and handed one to Edwin and one to Charles. “You’re getting these early because I think they will contribute to the cheer and help break the frost curse. Open them.”
Charles didn’t need to be told twice. He ripped into the present, throwing the wrapping paper and ribbon around at his feet. “Aces, Crystal! This is absolutely brills!” He dropped the box at his feet and held a knitted jumper up to his chest. It was red with a dark green cricket bat on a white background surrounded by lettering in green and red that declared “All I Want for Christmas is a New Cricket Bat!” Large sprigs of holly with bells decorated each corner of the background and little cricket batsmen swiped at snowflakes in a border across the chest, hem and cuffs. Charles pulled it over his head and stuffed his arms through the sleeves, throwing them out in a proud display. “What do you think, Edwin?”
“It’s lovely, Charles. It suits you.” Despite the garish design, the knitwear stretched pleasantly across Charles’ chest and his grin shone like the sun.
“Your turn, Edwin.” Crystal nodded at the package in his hand. She smiled at him with mirth sparkling her eyes. He could only imagine what was in store for him.
With much more decorum, Edwin unwrapped the present and placed the folded wrapping paper on the stump of a fallen tree. His lips twitched up in soft smile. “Thank you, Crystal.”
“What is it?” Charles craned his neck to try to see in the box.
Edwin placed the box on top of the wrapping paper and brought out the jumper. It was a dark green with Scooby Doo wearing a Santa hat and tangled in Christmas lights. “Get Your Jingle On” in red lettering looped above the titular dog. White snowflakes and candy canes dotted the sweater as white silhouettes of the cartoon characters ran around the hem and in bands around the biceps. The memory of Niko’s delighted giggle permeated the yarn and warmed Edwin down to his soul as he slipped the jumper over his head. He met Crystal’s gaze as he smoothed the fabric over his chest, his throat paralyzed with emotions he couldn’t express.
“She would have loved it.” Crystal bit her lip, her voice thick with unshed tears.
Still unable to find words, Edwin did the only thing he could think of, he stepped forward and clasped his arms around Crystal in a hug. It was not as comfortable or as natural as when he hugged Charles, but it was still nice. He gave her back a few pats as he felt her arms cling around his waist and squeeze.
“Wow.” Charles crouched down beside Kevin. “You see that. That there is a Christmas Miracle, innit. I think the curse should be broken.”
Kevin snorted. “It’s broken by Christmas Cheer not Miracles. And they ain’t cheerful at all.”
“Just give them a minute. We’ll have this place jingling and jollying in no time.” Charles patted Kevin’s shoulder and stood up.
“I couldn’t help but notice, Crystal, your lack of lurid knitwear.” Edwin raised a haughty eyebrow as he disengaged from the embrace.
“Of course you did, but there’s nothing you can do about it.” Crystal bounced on her toes and grinned. “And you hugged me. Voluntarily. Nothing you can do about that either.”
“Yes, you guys like each other.” Charles shook his head. He knelt down by his bag and started bringing out Christmas decorations. A Christmas tree, tinsel, garland, wreaths, and so many lights. Lights were Edwin’s favourite. “Now let’s get on with the decorating.” He pulled out a boombox and pressed play. The sound of jingling bells chimed as “Here Comes Santa Claus” filled the stillness.
Crystal grabbed some garland to line the pathway while Edwin took the lights to string along the trees. Charles had his own project in mind. “You’re gonna like this Kevin.” He led the elf over to Sa’al where he wrapped glittering silver tinsel around the frozen demon’s neck like a feather boa. Next he hung big red Christmas bells from one of the demon’s arms and on the other a big golden bow. He finished it off with a red rubber nose and reindeer antlers with red and green lights. The song on the boombox changed in fortuitous timing to Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.
“Haha! Sa’al, the red-nosed demon! Had a very shiny nose!” Kevin danced around in the snow, replacing the words that were playing from the stereo. Charles laughed and joined in on the song and dance.
“Looks like Charles found his soul-twin.” Crystal nodded toward the two figures frolicking in the snow. The curse should have been immediately broken by the sappy smile that spread across Edwin’s face at the sight of Charles. When she had first met Edwin, radiating love wasn’t something that she had thought he would be capable of, but he sure proved her wrong every day.
Kevin and Charles finished their rendition with a dramatic flop into the fluffy snow and started making snow angels. “Edwin! Crystal! Come make an angel!” Charles yelled. With a mutual roll of their eyes, Edwin and Crystal walked over. Crystal carefully lowered herself down into the cold snow and started waving her arms and legs to make the angel shape. Edwin went to stand over Charles, an indulgent smile gracing his face. He didn’t think that he would ever smile in this place, but then how could you not smile at Charles.
Charles quirked his lips, turning his sunny smile into a sly grin. His eyes glittered with mischief. “What’re you doing up there, mate?”
Edwin’s eyes widened as he felt Charles leg curl around his own and he shook his head in warning. Charles’ grin only got bigger. Edwin gasped as his legs were swept from under him and he tumbled into Charles’ waiting arms. Charles’ chest rumbled against Edwin’s as he laughed and rolled them over into the snow until Edwin was flat on his back. He could feel Charles’ weight pressing him into the wintery blanket. His pulse seemed to thrum through every vein in his body. Oh, this was Hell…and possibly Heaven.
The solid press of Charles’ form disappeared as he rolled off Edwin to lay at his side. The frozen visage of Sa’al loomed above Edwin. For a moment, the image of being in the same position on a hard table with the demon bent over him, sucking his soul flickered in Edwin’s mind, but under the blinking lights of the reindeer horns and the red bulbous nose, it refused to resolve into the terrifying memory he was all too familiar with. “Now, you can think of the git looking like this,” Charles’ warm breath tickled Edwin’s neck. He tilted his head away from the demon to meet Charles’ fond gaze. “And if that doll spider tries anything while we’re here, I’ll get Kevin to freeze him too while I hot glue jingle bells to every single doll head.”
“Thank you, Charles,” Edwin smiled.
“Any time, Eds.” Charles dropped his focus to Edwin’s mouth. He bit his lip. He really wanted to kiss him - had thought about kissing Edwin ever since he had confessed his feelings, but it wouldn’t be fair. Charles loved Edwin, but in love was something completely different. It was way too special for Charles to fuck up just because he liked kissing. Sand filled his mouth and the blood he hadn’t had in years roared in his ears as he watched Edwin’s lips part to show a flash of white teeth. Charles was going to spend an eternity with this man, whether in Heaven, Hell, on Earth.
A deluge of snow dumped down onto Charles and he sat up, shaking the snow off with a splutter. Kevin’s high pitched cackling giggle rang out. In his periphery he could see Edwin brushing snow out of his hair. He reached out to help, running his hand over Edwin’s shoulder to clean it off. “Oi! What was that!”
“Snowball fight, Lovebirds!” Crystal smirked. She chucked the ball of snow in her hand and it splatted against Charles’ chest. She ran off down the path, laughing.
“Oh, it’s on!” Charles jumped up and reached down to haul Edwin to his feet. “Come on, Edwin, let’s get these guys!” He scooped up a handful of snow and took off after Crystal. Edwin watched them, his lips downturned. He tried to ignore the squirm that still turned in his heart when Crystal caught Charles’ attention.
“Why aren’t you joining in? Don’t you know what snowball fights are?” Kevin asked from the tree branch he had obviously used to dump snow onto the ghosts.
“I’m familiar with snowball fights.” A memory that Edwin barely remembered existed flashed before him. Tumbling outside on a snowy Christmas morning, his older brother holding his and his younger sister’s hands as they laughed. His older brother winking at him before turning and throwing a snowball at their father. Edwin had held his breath, his eyes wide, and was surprised by the deep booming laugh that their father had let out. He shivered when his brother put a handful of snow in his hand. “Go on, Eddie, throw it at Father,” his brother had urged.
“Edwin! Help!” Charles’ cry startled Edwin out of his memory, but he recognized the laughter in his voice immediately. With a grin, he scooped up some snow and ran over to defend Charles’ honour.
“Hey!” Crystal turned to attack Edwin.
“Oh, no you don’t” Charles jumped up and wrapped his arms around Crystal’s waist. He heaved her up, but before he could drop down into the snowbank, Edwin pushed them both over into the snow. As she fell, Crystal reached out and grabbed Edwin’s arm, brining him down with them. After a few moments of shock, they all burst into laughter.
A shadow loomed over them and they looked up to see Mazikeen. She quirked one of her eyebrows. “I don’t know exactly how you are doing it, but it seems that it is working. The frost has stopped creeping into the rest of Hell. It has been confined to the domain of Sa’al now.”
“I was laughing in Hell.” Edwin said softly to himself, his voice tinged with awe.
“Lights, carols, angels, and snowball fun. More merry laughter and the frost is done!” Kevin swung from branch to branch and jumped down to land in the snowbank beside them. “And then you can get me the Holly Jolly outta here. My brats are gonna miss me and my Christmas mischief.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you home, Kevin.” Charles helped Crystal and Edwin up out of the snow. He rubbed his hand together. “So, what’s next on the Christmas cheer agenda?”
With the family snowball fight in mind, Edwin reached for other happy memories he might have. “On Christmas Day, my family and I would go ice skating.”
“Yes!” Crystal bounced on her toes. “My family and I went skating when we were in New York at Rockefeller Centre under the huge Christmas tree!”
“Well, that’s what we’re doing then!” Charles went to his bag and reached in to pull out a fake evergreen tree. “We just need to decorate.”
“Are you joining us, Mazikeen?” Edwin turned to the demon. He was as surprised by his offer and as the demon. But when she inclined her head with half of her lips upturned in a slight smile, he was glad that he had made it. Mazikeen was not a demon he had encountered while in Hell, but he had heard her name. There had been a time when he had hoped to meet her and plead his case for clemency. Charles threw him a concerned look when he and Mazikeen joined them at the tree, but Edwin just smiled and he saw the tense line of Charles’ shoulders relax.
Once the tree was festooned with lights, baubles, and tinsel, Charles added a star to the top. He gave a low whistle as they stepped back to admire their work. “It looks great! What do you think, Kev, proper cheery?”
“Just one more thing.” Edwin interrupted. “Charles, Spells and Incantations Volume 13, if you please?” Charles dug into his bag and handed the book to Edwin. Edwin flipped through the pages and muttered an incantation. The tree shivered as it was engulfed in a blue light. It started to grow until it was towering over all of them, it’s lights casting glitter across the snowy landscape.
“It’s beautiful.” Kevin’s mouth hung open in awe. He swayed in front of the tree, transfixed by the blinking lights. Edwin was tempted to join him, but Charles handed him a pair of skates. He distributed the skates out to everyone and then handed Edwin a second pair. Edwin performed the sister spell to the enlargement incantation and the skates shrunk into a perfect Kevin size. “For me?” Kevin’s eyes were round as he took the little skates.
“Of course, you can’t miss the fun, Kev.” Charles was struggling to tie his skates.
“Have you ever skated before, Charles?” Crystal eyed him with mistrust.
“No, but it can’t be hard, cannit?”
Edwin and Crystal exchanged an amused look over his head.”I’ll leave the keeping him upright to you, Edwin.” Crystal smirked. “Come on, Kevin! Mazikeen!” Crystal led the other two out onto the glistening black surface of the frozen lava lake. Channels of red and orange cracked through the obsidian ice like suspended bolts of lightening. Crystal glided over it and then whirled around in a spin. Kevin followed her out and raced around doing jumps. Mazikeen glided placidly around the outskirts.
“Our turn.” Charles grinned at Edwin. He stepped out onto the glassy surface and his feet slid out from under him. A strong hand wrapped around his elbow and kept him from falling onto his arse. He looked up at Edwin. “Thanks, mate.”
Edwin spun in front of him in one of his twirls that was even more graceful than usual on skates. He was a beautiful ballerina. He grasped both of Charles’ hands in a strong grip. “Look at me and slid your feet forward just a bit. We’ll go slow.” Edwin’s voice was a comforting rumble of encouragement. Charles looked up and met his reassuring green gaze. He cautiously moved his foot forward as Edwin glided backward. His knees shook, but he was able to remain upright.
“I feel like Bambi.”
“Yes, you should have remember that movie before declaring that skating would not be difficult.” Edwin grinned at him. Charles loved this. He still wasn’t exactly happy that they were in Hell, but he loved seeing Edwin happy. It was always his Christmas wish.
“Oi, I’ll be doing those twirly things before you know it!” He nodded in Crystal’s direction as she did a perfect camel spin, whirling around on one leg while her other leg extended parallel to her body. “Can you do that?”
“Crystal, can you come and assist Charles for a moment.” Edwin called out. Once she had skated over to them, Edwin exchanged his grip for hers. He gave both of them a little nod and then skated off toward the centre of the lake. He did a few spins, flinging his leg out. Then he did a little jump to transfer his weight from one leg to the other and spun.
Charles’ jaw dropped. A wave of warmth flooded his body and he shivered.
“Wow.” Crystal raised her eyebrows. “I should’ve known he would be good at spins.” She let go of one of Charles’ hands and closed his jaw for him as Edwin skated back toward them.
“I assume that was a sufficient display of skill?” Edwin was wearing his smug I-just-won-my tenth-round-of-Cluedo smirk.
“Yeah, that was brills. Aces. Just brills, aces.” Charles couldn’t stop nodding his head and he could feel that warmth turn to red hot heat across his cheeks and nose.
Crystal snorted at Charles’ heart eyes. They really were sickening. Niko would have loved it. And in the spirit of her wonderful, love-loving friend, she should do something about it. “Well, it looks like I’m going to have to practice if I want to impress the demons more than Edwin.” She quickly let go of Charles and shoved him toward Edwin,
Charles flailed forward with his arms pinwheeling. His his legs slid apart, stretching his thigh muscles. Like a hero swooping down into danger, Edwin glided forward and grabbed him around the waist. Charles grasped at Edwin’s shoulders. He tried bringing his legs back together to regain his balance, but they kept slipping and he leaned even more into Edwin. Suddenly, one of his skates slipped forward between Edwin’s legs and crashed against his foot. Edwin slipped. For a moment they were suspended in mid-air and then they fell unceremoniously down onto the ice in a heap of legs and arms like they had just lost a game of Twister.
Edwin was once again pinned underneath Charles. The frozen lava was weirdly warm against his back. Charles’ weight pressed down onto his chest and one of his legs was wedged between Edwin’s. Edwin gulped as he concentrated on every dark lash that framed Charles’ eyes, showcased by the expertly applied kohl. “Hi.” Charles’ soft voice vibrated against his chest and Edwin shivered.
“Hello,” he answered back like he was in a dream. This had to be a dream.
“Thanks for falling with me.” Charles’ lashes swept down as his gaze dropped and his cheeks ruddied with a blush.
“I wouldn’t fall with anyone else.” Edwin managed to croak out.
A loud crack cut through the tension building between them. A large yawning chasm opened in the middle of the lake. It glowed red and orange with heat. “The ice is melting!” Charles rolled off Edwin and scrambled to his knees. Edwin stood up like the graceful swan he was and hauled Charles to his feet beside him. He really was going to have to get Edwin to take self defence seriously, he was crazy strong. Charles concentrated on keeping himself upright as Edwin pulled him toward the edge. Crystal, Mazikeen, and Kevin had already made it off the ice.
A spurt of lava shot out from a crack and oozed its way toward them. The ice heaved and Edwin flung them both toward the beach. They landed as the ice disappeared and the heat from the now flowing lava filled lake melted the snow around them. “Geez, Kev, you could have given a warning.” Charles groused.
“Fruit-caking nutcrackers, what did you expect would happen? You’re the ones trying to break my curse!” Kevin struggled to get his skates off, so Crystal knelt down and helped him.
“Sorry, Kev.” Charles patted Kevin’s tiny shoulder with his finger. “So, did we do it? Time to get outta here?”
“The break of the frost is nigh, one last task to rectify. Remembrance of Christmases past you must testify.” Kevin crooned. “And I want cocoa!”
“Well, luckily I thought of that.” Charles reached into his bag and pulled out a thermos. “I thought Crystal might like some, but I’m sure she’ll share.”
“This is Hell, you and Edwin may partake as well.” Mazikeen informed him.
“Really.” Charles eyes rounded. He licked is lips as he eyed the thermos.
“Ok, I’ll be keeping that.” Crystal swiped the thermos from him. “Let’s find a place to sit.”
As they settled in the snow beside the frozen figure of Sa’al, Charles gasped. “I have biscuits!” He enthusiastically dug into his bag until he brought out a tin of shortbread with a triumphant cry. Crystal poured the hot chocolate into the cups that Charles also produced and he handed out the biscuits. “So, who’s first?”
Crystal shrugged. “I’ll have to think about it. Happy family Christmas wasn’t really my parents’ thing.”
Edwin and Charles exchanged looks. Edwin just had the brief snowball memory from earlier that he could recall about Christmas and he knew that Charles’ childhood wasn’t full of happy Christmases either.
“I will go first.” Mazikeen announced. The demon sipped at her chocolate and a smile curved the one half of her lips. “I spent some time with Lucifer on earth for a while. There was a girl and she was my friend.” They all stared at her as she took another sip. “She wanted ninja stars from Santa Claus, but her mother told her Santa Claus didn’t bring little girls ninja stars even if they were very good.”
“The mom’s right,” Kevin piped up. “Santa don’t bring brats hurt-things.”
“He may not, but I do.” Mazikeen raised her one eyebrow and tilted her head up with a little sniff of derision. She brought out a dagger. “She gave me this in return. My first and only Christmas present.”
“That’s a beautiful story, Mazikeen. Do you visit the little girl?” Edwin asked.
“No. As you are aware, Edwin Payne, Hell is no place for children…and a demon is no one’s friend.”
“I don’t think that would be the little girl’s perspective.” Edwin nodded at the demon. “I will go next.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t have many memories of Christmas from when I was human, but I know that it was my favourite holiday. My best Christmas was the first one I spent as a ghost.”
The treehouse had been abandoned years ago by the children who had constructed it. The planks had big gaps where you could see the snowflakes falling outside and some of it had blown in, leaving a skiff of snow along the walls. It was of little concern for the two ghosts who couldn’t feel any drafts or the cold. Edwin and Charles sat on the floor in the middle of the small structure and played tic-tac-toe and hangman in the dust. A battered radio played Christmas Carols.
“Oh, hey,” Charles dug into the pocket of his jacket and produced a package wrapped in crumpled newspaper tied with a piece of string. “I know it’s not much, but Happy Christmas, Edwin.”
“Charles.” Edwin took the package from his new friend. “I, uh, I didn’t think…I have no present for you.”
“It’s okay.” Charles shrugged. “You’ve done lots for me already. Open it.”
“Very well.” Edwin swallowed. He carefully tugged at the string and unwrapped the crinkled paper to reveal a fountain pen. It was mismatched. The barrel was a navy blue with silver accents and the cap burgundy with gold.
“I didn’t want to nick something for a present, so I rummaged around in the garbage behind that bookstore down the street until I found enough pieces to make it.”
“It’s wonderful, Charles, thank you.” Edwin offered Charles a small smile. “Happy Christmas, Charles.”
Charles beamed back at him.
“It was the best Christmas because I was with my best friend.” Edwin and Charles exchanged soft glances.
“All our Christmases are my favourite,” Charles declared. “But if I have to pick one, it would be the Christmas of ’94.”
Edwin closed his eyes, his mouth turning down and his eyebrows crunching with displeasure. “Not the puppy debacle.”
“Yes, the puppy debacle.” Charles grinned.
“What’s a puppy debacle?” Crystal looked between the boys. She vaguely remembered something about a puppy from when she first met the boys.
“The agency was still relatively new in supernatural circles, but we were gaining a reputation and getting busier, but things took a slump at Christmas,” Charles started the story, rubbing his hands together in glee.
The office was festooned with blinking Christmas lights - green, red, blue, and white. Charles had discovered Edwin’s fascination with lights early on in their friendship and so every Christmas he added a string to their ever-growing collection. They had wrapped up their last case the day before, just in time to enjoy Christmas Eve together. Tonight they would play Cluedo and whatever other game they fancied while listening to Christmas carols and then Edwin would read Charles Dickens to him. Tomorrow they would take a walk in the mostly deserted park.
As Charles was setting up the Cluedo board and Edwin was finishing up the case notes, a scratch and snuffle at the office door caught their attention. They exchanged glances before Charles got up and opened the door. A small ball of white fur bounced into the office.
“Arf!” The puppy did a little hop, banging his paws on the floor for emphasis. He cocked his head to the side, his black ear flopping over his head.
“Hi, there little fella.” Charles knelt down to pat the dog. “Edwin! He’s a ghost!”
“A ghost? Why is it here? It can’t stay.” Edwin was standing behind the desk like he was keeping a barrier between himself and the dog.
“Why not?” Charles had the pup in his lap and was rubbing his ears. “We can call him Max. I always wanted a dog.” The puppy licked Charles cheek. “He can be my Christmas present.” He looked up at Edwin with pleading eyes.
“I already have your Christmas present.” Edwin’s mouth was thin and he wouldn’t look at Max and was trying to avoid Charles’ puppy dog eyes as well, but Charles caught the furtive glances darted his way. Sometimes, Edwin’s kind heard needed a bit of encouragement.
“C’mon. Poor little fella, he’s too young to be dead.”
“Yes, it’s tragic. We should find out what brought it here.” Edwin grabbed his coat from the hook. “We’ll have to get some sardines and find a cat.”
“A cat?” Charles stood up with Max still cuddled in his arms.
“Yes, dogs can’t communicate with people, but they can communicate with cats.” He swept out of the office with a flourish.
It took a while, but eventually a dark grey cat agreed to speak with the puppy for the sardines. “He wants you to find his little girl. They died in a car accident and got separated.”
“She probably left with Death.” Edwin handed the cat the last sardine.
“He says she wouldn’t leave him. He would be her unfinished business.” The cat gulped down the fish. “Good luck with that one. Later, Losers.” With a flick of her tail, the cat darted into the darkness of the alley and disappeared.
Max barked and wiggled out of Charles’ arms. He ran into the alley after the cat. “Max!” Charles yelled and started after him.
“You get Max. I’ll start looking for information on the accident to find where it was. If she didn’t go with death, she will likely be looking for him there.” He heard Edwin yell. Charles waved without looking back to acknowledge that he had heard him.
It took a bit, but Charles was able to wrangle Max when he stopped to bark at a plastic shopping bag. He then mirrored back to the office to find a little girl sitting in the client’s chair. “Sir Fuzzy Wuzzy!” The little girl hopped off the chair and ran to Charles. Max struggled out his arms and jumped down to her. He barked and wiggled and licked her face.
“Charles, this is Amelia. She and Ma…Sir Fuzzy Wuzzy were in a car accident along with her parents on their way home from adopting him. He was her Christmas present.”
“Thank you for finding him!” Amelia beamed at him. “I looked all over!”
“Well, he’s a really smart dog. He hired us to find you.” Charles knelt down beside them and scratched Max’s ears. He looked at the girl with a mock seriousness. “But there is still the matter of the bill.”
“The bill?” The girl frowned.
“Yeah.” Charles winked at the girl and held out his arms. She placed Max in them. Charles stood and stepped over to Edwin. “Ok, Sir Fuzzy Wuzzy, time to pay up!”
The puppy excitedly leaned toward Edwin and licked his face. Edwin’s nose scrunched adorably and he recoiled. “Charles!”
Charles laughed and gave the puppy back to the girl. “When the nice lady in the blue light comes, you guys go with her and she’ll take you somewhere you can be together forever.”
“Thanks!” Amelia and Sir Fuzzy Wuzzy bounced out the door.
The smile slowly fell from Charles’ face. He really wanted a dog. Edwin’s hand fell on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Charles.”
“Yeah. It wouldn’t have worked anyway. Puppies are a lot of work and he would’ve never grown up.”
“I know it’s not a puppy, but here is your present. Happy Christmas, Charles.” Edwin handed him a gift wrapped in bright red paper and a gold ribbon.
“Happy Christmas, Edwin.”
“Sweet story, Charles, but why do you call it a debacle?” Crystal refilled her hot chocolate.
“Anytime you can’t keep a puppy is a debacle, Crystal.” Charles said as if it was obvious. “And Sir Fuzzy Wuzzy deserved eternal peace with Amelia.”
“I am sorry that we couldn’t keep him, Charles, Max was a much better name for a dog.” Edwin squeezed Charles’ shoulder.
“Yeah, but you don’t like dogs, so it wouldn’t have worked anyway.” Charles smiled sadly.
“I like dogs. I had a sheepdog like Max when I was a lad. Fergus. I had to leave him when I went to St. Hilarions.” Edwin stopped abruptly and then started to talk agin very softly.“There had been a demon, after Sa’al, who had liked to manifest Fergus and…”
“Hell isn’t a place for good memories. It twists them.” Mazikeen interrupted.
Charles slipped an arm around Edwin’s shoulders and pulled him up against him in a side hug. Sometimes he just wanted to bundle Edwin up and merge them together so that Charles could always keep him safe. “So, Crystal, looks like your turn.”
Crystal was pressed up against Edwin’s other side and Charles lips twitched in a smile when he noticed that she had clasped his free hand. “There was one Christmas when my parents and I were at the Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada. It’s a hotel made of ice. Our room had a sculpture of a Christmas tree with lights embedded in the ice. I was so excited because my parents had actually spent the whole day with me on Christmas Eve. We had gone to the ice slide and dog sledding, and walked around the Quebec City Christmas markets. I went to bed that night so excited for Christmas Day.” Crystal gave Edwin a smile when he squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry, it’s not as sad as Charles’ puppy debacle.”
Crystal was warm and cozy when she woke up and it took a few moments before she remembered it was Christmas morning. She went to throw back the blankets, when it came back to her that she wasn’t in a regular hotel, she was encased in a thermal sleeping bag. She sat up, still snuggled in the sleeping bag. The ice Christmas tree was glowing softly in the ambient blue light of the room. Brightly wrapped boxes surrounded the tree. Crystal bounced in her bed. She looked over to the other bed, but it was empty. They must have gone out to get them breakfast so they could eat while they opened their presents.
The cold of the room nipped at her nose and Crystal shivered. The presents under the sculpture called to her. It wouldn’t hurt to take a peek. Crystal wiggled her way out of the sleeping bag and quickly threw on her thick fluffy robe. She had worn purple wool socks and had a matching purple hat on her head to keep herself warm during the night. She padded over to the tree. On a big green box with a silver ribbon was a note. Her heart sank.
Of course her parents weren’t getting breakfast. They were gone. Something had come up and her nanny would be by later to take her to breakfast. They were sure she would enjoy her presents. Tears gathered in her eyes and one escaped and froze on her cheek. She dashed it away with a swipe of her hand. No use crying, it wasn’t going to change anything or make her parents suddenly appear. She might as well open her presents. They were sure to be expensive, like her presents always were when her parents were absent.
“Are you going to open it?” An accented voice demanded from behind her. Crystal whirled around to see a younger girl in an old fashioned dress and her hair in ringlets. A glowing blue squid attached to a leash hovered placidly beside her.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Emma and you?”
“Crystal. How did you know I could see you?”
“I saw you with your parents at the market yesterday. You smiled at Jacques, he died in the 1700s.” Emma sat daintily beside Crystal, spreading her skits over her folded legs. “I thought we could be friends.”
“I would like that.” Crystal smiled. She pulled at the ribbon on the present and opened the lid to the box. She brought out a carousel. The tiny wooden horses were painted in bright colours. Crystal wound it up and they bobbed up and down as the carousel music played.
“It’s beautiful!” Emma clapped.
“Its is.” The squid floated closer as it seemed to be entranced by the toy. “What’s your squid’s name?”
“We moved to England the next year and I was able to spend time with Emma more often then.” Crystal set her empty cup down on the ground.
“I didn’t think you had known Emma for that long. Thought you were new friends when she hired us to sort you out.” Charles picked the cup up and stowed it back in the bag of tricks. “What is that squid’s name?”
Before Crystal could answer, the remaining ice and snow melted away. Sa’al stretched from his frozen pose and roared. Edwin jumped in his seat and paled. Charles stood up and moved between Edwin and the demon, his new and improved cricket bat already in hand.
“Edwin Payne. You are back.” The demon’s mouth twisted in a toothy grin.
“Sa’al.” Mazikeen stood, bringing the demon’s attention to her.
“Mazikeen.” Sa’al bowed his head. “What brings you to my corner of Hell?”
“Me, you piece of reindeer droppings.” Kevin stomped his feet.
“You accepted the soul of the Winter Sprite as a sacrifice. Did you not get the memo from Lucifer?” Mazikeen raised an eyebrow.
“I thought it was only for human souls.” Sa’al shuffled his feet and shrugged.
“Really.” Mazikeen raised an eyebrow. “Well, let me clear it up then. Lucifer has decreed that Hell no longer accepts sacrifices. You are not to take sacrificed souls, no matter the entity.”
“Fine.” Sa’al handed Mazikeen a parchment. As it promptly burned up in flames, Sa’al turned to Edwin. “Edwin, it’s good to see you again. I heard you escaped, did you miss me? Who are your friends?” A black snake-like tongue flicked out and licked around his lips. Charles felt Edwin shudder and he clutched the cricket bat tighter.
“Sa’al, enough,”Mazikeen commanded. “Kevin, your soul is your own now, Hell has no claim.”
“Yay!” Kevin danced around.
“And now for your payment.” Mazikeen gestured to Crystal to come forward. Her hand was still clutched in Edwin’s so she dragged him with her and Charles brought up their back, his eyes never leaving Sa’al. Mazikeen put her hands to Crystal’s temples. Crystal gasped. She felt a harsh tug. In her mind, her tree shook and the ground rumbled as the earth split open. David sat up, but his cackle was cut off when he was pulled completely out of Crystal’s mind. David fell to the ground in front of them.
“What!” David sputtered as he picked himself up. “You made a big mistake Crystal.”
“David.” Mazikeen’s voice stopped him.
“Mazikeen.” David looked around. “I…I…”
“You are back where you belong and will no longer bother Crystal or her friends. Sa’al, show David around his new home.” Mazikeen gestured toward the agency and Kevin and led them back to the iron door.
“No, no!” David yelled after them. “Crystal! C’mon, Crystal! We had so much fun!”
Before the iron door slammed behind them, Edwin heard familiar words from Sa’al. “Sorry, Mazikeen said to show you around, so I gotta show you around. It’s not that bad though.”
* * *
It felt like he had stepped out of a very small crevice and out into a wide open space when Edwin left Hell once again. He felt light and floaty. He heaved a breath of relief and heard Charles and Crystal do the same. But they weren’t out in the open air, they were in the living room of house decorated for Christmas. Brightly wrapped gifts were piled under the tree with soft lights blinking serenely in the moonlight. “I’m home!” Kevin skipped over to the table and crunched the cookie and took a sip of the milk that had been left out for Santa. “Thanks for getting me outta there.”
“You’re welcome, Kevin, but we should take that book that the children used to call Sa’al so that it doesn’t happen again. Hell may have a moratorium on sacrifices at the moment, but we don’t know how long that will last.” Edwin focused back to business, shutting Hell up into a little box in his mind.
“You bet!” Kevin pranced out of the room and returned quickly with a large book that Edwin recognized immediately and a box wrapped in pink paper with a purple ribbon.
“Do you know where they got the book?” Edwin took it from the little elf.
“The boy brought it home from school with him.” Kevin shrugged. He danced over to Crystal and handed her the wrapped gift. “Merry Christmas!”
“Thank you, Kevin. Merry Christmas.” Crystal clutched the package to her chest. There was something about it that radiated love.
“St. Hilarions.” Charles nodded. “You might want to keep an eye on him, Kev. That place is not the best.”
“So, that’s the book.” Crystal hesitantly gestured to it. “The book that…”
“Yes, it’s the book.”
“Then it’s best we don’t lose it then.” Charles took it from Edwin and tossed it into the bag of tricks, willing it to disappear in the depths never to be seen again. As it usually did for Charles, the bag complied.
* * *
Snow fell softly outside the window of the office and the three detectives gathered around The Grinch edition of Cluedo on the floor. They were all just staring at the board, not making any moves to start the game. “I can’t believe I was in Hell. I skated on frozen lava.” Crystal shook her head.
“It was a lot better than last time I was there.” Charles nodded.
“I can’t believe that I actually laughed when I was in Hell.” Edwin rubbed at his forehead.
“Thank you, Edwin, for getting rid of David.” Crystal said softly. “I can already feel my tree getting stronger and that dark fog that was lingering in my mind is gone. I feel free.”
“You are welcome, Crystal.”
“I’m going to hug you now.” Crystal leapt across the board before Edwin could react and tackled him to the floor, squeezing him around the waist.
“Crystal!” Edwin screeched while Charles doubled over in laughter.
The ping of her phone, halted Crystal’s assault of Edwin and she drew back. She looked at the message on her phone. “It’s from my parents.”
“Are they worried that you disappeared in the middle of their party?” Charles tried to peer over her shoulder at the device.
“No,” Crystal snorted. “They’re congratulating me on the wonderful display I set up that went perfectly with their theme. They think it was performance art.” She set the phone down with a long, drawn out sigh. “They didn’t even say Merry Christmas.”
“I’m sorry Crystal.” Charles slung an arm around her shoulders in a hug and kissed her hair.
“Yes, it is very untoward of them.” Edwin eased himself beside her and patted her knee.
Crystal smiled at them. “It’s okay. I’ve wanted to be enough for them and for us to be a family all my life, but that’s never going to happen.”
Black smoke swirled in the office as Mazikeen appeared. Charles jumped up to put himself between the demon and Crystal and Edwin. He kept his body loose and put on a friendly smile. “Hey, Mazikeen. What brings you by? We took the book, so the kids couldn’t’ve sacrificed Kevin again.”
“No, I’m here on another matter.” Mazikeen looked to Edwin. “Lucifer decreed that Hell no longer accepts sacrificed souls, because a soul must deserve Hell to find torment there.” She held out a parchment that was old and tattered. It burst into flames and burned to ash that fell to the office floor. “You no longer belong to Hell, Edwin Payne.”
Edwin slowly stood up and approached Mazikeen. “I’m no longer destined for Hell.”
“Yes,” Mazikeen nodded. “If you ever decide to go with Death, you will go to your rightful paradise. You never belonged in Hell. Happy Christmas.” With a flourish of smoke, the demon disappeared.
“Edwin!” Crystal squealed and this time wrapped him in a hug without warning. Edwin put his arms around her to return it in a daze. He met Charles’ eyes over her shoulder. Charles smiled at him, but it seemed dimmer, almost sad.
“Charles.”
“You can go to your paradise now, Eds. No need to stick around here.” Charles swallowed back tears. He didn’t know what he was going to do without Edwin, but his mate deserved eternal happiness.
“Charles.” Edwin left Crystal’s arms and grabbed Charles in a strong hug. “This is my paradise. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Really.” Charles whispered into Edwin’s neck, nuzzling at the hairs at Edwin’s nape.
“You are stuck with me, I’m afraid.” Edwin answered. He slowly leaned back from Charles and gestured for Crystal to join them. She squeezed in beside them.
“Happy Christmas, guys.” She let herself sink into their embrace. The distant sound of Christmas bells pulled her from her contentment and her attention landed on the gift Kevin had handed her. “Oh, we have our present from Kevin to open.”
Crystal broke the hug and walked over to the desk. The present still exuded that warm feeling, like it was hugging her too. Under the boys’ curious gazes, she undid the ribbon and opened the box. She lifted out a snow globe. Inside the dancing, glittering snow was an igloo. Crystal felt a tug at her heart.
“There’s a note.” Edwin fished it out of the box. “Christmas is for family to be together, so I send you on this dangerous endeavour. To find your missing friend, follow your heart to the end. Happy Christmas!”
“It’s Niko.” Crystal held the globe up. “I can feel her.”
“Yes.” Edwin reached out and touched the globe. “She’s calling for us.”
“Then I guess we better get a move on.” Charles shouldered his bag. “I’m sure there’s one more miracle to be had - Christmas isn’t over yet.”
Edwin exchanged a smile with his friends as he put on his coat. They were going to get Niko back and it would be a very Happy Christmas indeed.