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Hunter speaks up. Cupid usually isn’t so quiet, but Nick going missing has thrown them all. ‘We fully understand how things work, Eve. What about his tracker? Is it malfunctioning?’
She takes the leather cuff out of her pocket and places it on the table. They each have a similar one, which is a constant irritation to Damon. But, he gets the importance of being able to track them, and so does Nick. As far as he knows, his friend has never taken his off. It hasn’t left his wrist in nearly four decades. ‘Where did you find that?’
‘In his room.’
‘But that doesn’t make sense,’ Jokul says.
‘I know,’ Eve says. ‘He hasn’t taken it off since he signed the contract.’
Damon drums his fingers on the table. Nick is solid. He doesn't do stuff like this. If one of the others pulled a vanishing act, fair enough. They may have to work as a team from time to time, but they’re used to working alone.
Without Nick to keep them in line, there wouldn’t be a team in the first place. He’s their leader for a reason. He’s genuinely decent, and you absolutely don’t mess with him.
‘What’s the plan, Eve?’ he asks, all joking aside. As ridiculous as it sounds, Nick is his best friend. Santa and the Boogeyman are best friends. And he will tear the fucking planet apart to find him. Which is probably why Eve called the whole team in, instead of just him. She knows how far he’s willing to go when someone gets on his not so nice side.
‘We need to find him. Without his wristband it’ll be tricky, I know, but his magic will be growing in strength over the next few days. I’m hoping one of you will be able to pick up on that and use it to find him, or even just narrow down the search area.
‘Myself and Kane will take out another sleigh with the reindeer. It will take us longer to cover ground as we won’t be able to travel as fast as Nick, but I’m hoping the reindeer may be able to find him. You’ll all be a faster option though.’ She shrugs and rubs her forehead. ‘I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go. This has never happened before.’
Cobh leans on the table, clasping his hands together. ‘We should be able to pick up on his magic as it grows, but he’s going to have to use it in order for us to find him. It’ll have to be something epic. We won’t get a lock on him otherwise.’
Eve nods. ‘Nick knows what to do. He’ll be ready.’
Damon peers over at Eve, and she eventually meets his eyes. ‘Don’t mean to be gloomy and all, but—’
Cobh laughs. ‘Yeah, the Boogeyman isn’t known for the whole doom and gloom shit.’
Damon bares his fangs at him. ‘You’re assuming Nick’s in a position to use his magic. His fucking sleigh exploded, Eve! He’s a tough bastard, but...’ He doesn’t finish his thought. He doesn’t need to.
Her attention drops to the table. She’s genuinely worried about him - just like he is. ‘We have to stay positive. Until we have definite proof otherwise, he’s alive. We have to believe that. The fact the workshop is still functioning is a good sign. I’m sure if anything serious had happened to him, it would have a knock on effect here.’
Damon hopes she’s right. Nick is the only friend he’s got. Apart from the whole monumental disaster losing Santa would bring, he’d miss the guy.
‘What about Krampus?’ Reve asks. ‘He’s been quiet since Nick took over the contract. Every other Santa has been approached, except him. It’s possible he got to Nick.’
Eve curses, mirroring the thoughts of everyone around the table. Krampus worked with Santa centuries ago, until it was decided by one of the Santas, that he was a little over the top. As in, sadistically so - even by Damon’s standards. He was banished and, up until Nick, had approached each Santa, asking for his place on the team to be reinstated.
Nick wouldn’t have allowed it. Damon is sure of that. He’s got a vicious streak when he needs to, but working with someone like Krampus wasn’t an option. ‘Have there been any sightings recently?’
Eve shakes her head. ‘Not a peep from what I know. I haven't heard his name since Nick first signed. I’m sure Nick would have told me if he’d been approached.’
‘Reve is right,’ Damon says. ‘We can’t rule him out.’
‘We need to shake things up, Damon,’ Reve says, leaning on the table. ‘Someone knows where he is. Apply pressure and someone will talk.’
Damon shakes his head. ‘No need for that yet.’
‘Come on, Damon! You’re the Boogeyman! Use that. Let all of us use what we are to track him down, however we can.’
A part of Damon would like nothing more, but that’s not the way they do things. It’s not Nick’s way and, until he hears otherwise, this team will stick by his rules. ‘You really think Nick would want that? If we spill any blood to find him, he’s going to be pissed with us.’
‘So we just politely ask around?’
‘Try to track him through his dreams.’
‘Oh so he’d be happy about that instead? Yeah right! He’ll kill me.’
‘If it helps to find him he’ll accept it. Do it!’
