Elves, Bells & Mistletoe
By
Jennifer Metz
Incredible. Insane. Surreal.
Mandy stared at the black budget book sitting in front of her, analyzing and reanalyzing her sales figures from the course of the last twenty four hours. If her mathematics proved correct, she'd nearly tripled her profits, making more money in two days than she typically did in two months.
In complete bafflement, she raked her shaking hands through her hair, pulling it back into a makeshift ponytail. Seductive Secrets Boutique began as a pipe dream, but the tiny lingerie shop in the heart of Spellfire, Texas, looked like it may make a full recovery if the business continued to boom during the holiday season. Once women opened up their Christmas packages and discovered the quality garments she carried within her store walls, they would surely flock back by the dozens. She could picture it now. Bras and panties, negligees and bustiers flying off the shelves faster than she could possibly restock.
Her prices rivaled the biggest department stores and she carried a far cry more in variety. Women of all shapes and sizes felt welcome in her shop, which catered to the true inner beauty, and enhanced what nature generously or not so generously endowed these women with. The boutique offered free fittings and expertise service on a one on one basis, whereas the larger stores struggled to keep up with the volume of customers filing through the doors every hour.
Yes, Mandy definitely offered the women of Spellfire something more, and the confidence she had lost throughout the previous months of poor business began to flood back. She would prove her parents wrong, as well as all of the others who doubted her choice in careers. One look at this week's profit was enough to make even the biggest cynic swoon in disbelief.
A loud knock sounded at the front door of the boutique. She glanced down and her watch, noting the store didn't open for another hour. "Who in the world..." Mandy pushed away from her desk and walked toward the front of the store, quickly recognizing her best friend through the glass door. Immediately, she knew something was wrong as Katastrophe hopped from one foot to another, stopping every few seconds to peer in before continuing her ridiculous chicken dance.
Mandy turned to lock and pushed the door outward, motioning Kat to enter. "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Well, something like that. I don't have time to explain so come on." With a firm grasp, Kat wrapped her slender fingers around Mandy's wrist and dragged her out onto the sidewalk.
"Let go of me Kat! Have you completely lost your mind? I have to open up shop in an hour and with the way business is going, I don't want to be one second late." Mandy tried to pry her own fingers underneath Kat's but the girl's death grip proved too strong. She felt herself being dragged down the sidewalk and towards the center of town, to wherever or whatever Kat deemed so important. "At least tell me what in the world is going on."
"Elves ... on ... strike." The words came out in a labored huff as Kat continued to pummel forward.
"What!" Look Kat, I don't have time for this. I normally don't have a problem with your antics, but not when my business could be in jeopardy."
Her crazed friend stopped and spun around, letting go of Mandy's wrist and planting her hands firmly on her hips. Her left foot tapped with impatience while her glaring stare spoke in an increasingly angry volume. "Mandy, do you notice anything out of the ordinary today?"
"Spellfire is always out of the ordinary, and you are this town's biggest kook."
"I'm serious." Kat's nasal tone began to take on a most annoying whining affect. "The Christmas parade was scheduled for this morning, but do you see any floats? Any crowds of people?" Her arms gestured wildly about.
"The parade!" Mandy smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead and groaned. "I was supposed to go over to my parent's house this morning and help them finish up their float for the grocery store."
"Well sister, there isn't going to be a parade and there isn't going to be any Christmas either." Tears formed in the corner of Kat's eyes.
"Don't cry Kat. I certainly don't believe in elves, but if it means that much to you sweetie, I guess I can open a few minutes later than need be." Mandy wrapped the trembling girl in her arms and squeezed before backing away and taking hold of her hand. "Now show me whatever it is that is so important."
Mandy tried to sort the multitude of thoughts rushing through her head as she led her friend toward Town Square. Kat may be a lot of things, but a cry baby was not amongst them. Something awfully serious had her shaken up, but elves? Spellfire overflowed with paranormal activity, including vampires, mummies and witches, all beings long deemed myths by the modern world. Elves pushed the envelope too far, however, suggesting that Santa Claus did exist, and that thought proved downright hysterical. She tried to picture a fat man in a red suit flying across the sky with his eight tiny reindeer leading the way, but laughter continued to bubble to the surface and she quickly pushed the mental slide show to the side.
Kat wiped a trembling hand across her face, smearing away the last of her tears. "I know I shouldn't cry over something so ridiculous, but with having the baby and all, Christmas means that much more to me."
"Can you honestly say you still believe in Santa Claus?" Mandy tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. The poor girl had already been through enough, with her fiancee leaving as soon as he found out she was pregnant. He hadn't wanted kids, and consequently hadn't wanted Kat once she started carrying one.
"Well, I didn't, but then I saw the elves, and heard the nasty things spouting out of their wicked little mouths." Kat lowered her head and studied the cement before looking back up at Mandy. "You do believe me, don't you?"
"I don't know..." Mandy cut herself off as they rounded the corner. Town Square proved almost unrecognizable. Leagues of townspeople and tourists alike stood huddled in one solid mass, staring like statues at the small group of little men dressed in tacky green attire. "Well, I'll be damned."
Her hand traveled on its own accord to cover her gaping mouth. Never in her twenty-four years of existence had she seen anything so unbelievable. Holding station in front of Bell Tower, five elves held up little picket signs, proclaiming their strike from the North Pole. Five tiny voices rose in unison as they chanted, "Saint Nick is a prick!" Parents gathered up their children and scurried away from the scene before too much damage could be inflicted. Others stayed motionless, as if in shock. The adorable little elves, long depicted as docile, loving creatures had turned into vulgar, angry monsters.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mandy watched a policeman push his way through the throng of people and approach one of the elves.
"We want more pay! We want better housing! We want cookies and milk!" The elves proceeded to march in a circle, their cries continuing to grow louder and louder. "And until Santa meets our demands, we refuse to make toys. There will be no Christmas!"
Outraged shouts began to rise from the crowd. Grown men shoved their way towards the protesting elves, fists raised and ready to strike, while women stayed back and hollered obscenities. A full blown riot loomed in the very near future. Careful not to bump in to anyone, Mandy grabbed Kat's hand and pulled her back into safety.
"Oh! Excuse me..." She turned to see who she had backed into, and her train of thought went right out the window. Her gaze rested on a chest, a very muscular chest, which led up to the most gorgeous face she had ever seen. Dark chocolate eyes stared back at her, framed by thick, almost feminine lashes. Black locks cascaded down the sides of his face, coming to rest on his broad shoulders. His skin was the color of snow, pale, yet glowing radiantly. His nose, while perfect, had a slight crook that only complimented his firm cheekbones and jaw. "My apologies sir," she fumbled for words. "I didn't see you."
"No apologies necessary, miss?" He raised an eyebrow and extended his hand.
Mandy wiped her palm on her dress slacks and took the offered hand. "Mandy Stockholm, owner of Seductive Secrets Boutique. And you are?"
"Nickolas Claus, Miss Stockholm. It is a pleasure to meet you." He raised her hand to his mouth and placed a delicate kiss on each of her knuckles.
To no avail, she tried to squelch the excitement tingling in her belly. The crazed elves forgotten for the moment, Mandy focused on the delectable man standing before her. And then his name came screaming forward in her mind. "Did you say Nickolas Claus?"
"Yes, son of Saint Nick himself. My father sent me to form some sort of peace treaty with the elves, and I think I have my work cut out for me. Coincidentally, I was looking for you."
"For me? Why me?"
"You are the only one who can help me."
"I don't know where you deduced that idea Mr. Claus, but I can assure you, I have no experience dealing with disgruntled elves on strike."
"No, but you have something else I need." Nickolas wrapped an arm protectively around her waist and pulled her flush with his body. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Or better yet, something else I want."
Mandy felt her knees go slack and braced herself for a fall that never came. The day only continued to get weirder by the second, but in Nickolas' arms, she forgot all talk of elves and Christmas, of money and turning her business around. He turned her body into molten lava, igniting fires long burnt out and releasing pent up feelings better left buried. She didn't know much at that particular moment, but one thing she knew for sure--Nickolas Claus was nothing but trouble.
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