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‘The Púca are here.’
‘But Nick isn’t here. Why are they back?’
‘Who the fuck knows how their minds work. All I know is that the place is surrounded. I’m going to wake you up but you need to stay quiet. Do you understand?’
She nods, then the next second she’s awake with Reve staring at her.
‘Go upstairs to your room. I'll try to knock them out, buy us some time.’ She moves towards the stairs, pausing as Reve’s eyes glow gold. He turns his hands in a circle in front of him, a spinning ball of sand appearing between his palms.
‘I said go upstairs. Now! And lock the door behind you. Don’t come out no matter what you hear.’
She turns away from him, racing up the stairs and locking the door behind her. She checks her window is locked, but instead of turning away, she pulls the curtains aside and looks out. There’s nothing out there. The last time the black horses surrounded the cottage. Reve said the same thing was happening now, so why can’t she see any of them?
Scarlett jumps when she hears shouts coming from downstairs. The Púca must have changed their tactics. This time they’re in the house and Reve is dealing with them alone. She backs away from the door as some of his sand blows through the gap. She doesn't know much about him, but she’s guessing if she breathes in his sand, she’ll go to sleep and that’s the last thing she needs with Púca in the house.
But more and more of it comes under the door, creating a swirling dust cloud she can’t hide from. She hears him shouting and more Púca screaming. The air is thick with Reve’s sand by now, but there’s too much of it. Her eyelids droop as some of his magic hits her. The last thing she sees before losing consciousness, is her door being broken off its hinges by a terrifying Púca.
Damon is all aboutgiving people bad feelings. Thrives on doing what he can to put them on edge. But the tables have turned in this instance. Now he’s the one with the really bad fucking feeling, and he doesn’t like it.
He’s been summoned to the workshop more times over the last few days than he has over the previous year. Either Nick is in trouble, or his woman is. There's no other reason to request his presence. As Nick should be unconscious by now, he’ll bet his woman has found herself in trouble. Just like he knew she would.
Damn Nick!
He should have kept her with him.
But as usual, he put being Santa, before being Nick. It’s what he does. Always has. He distances himself from anything that reminds him of his old life. Damon knows what happened to his family. He’d never had a wife or child, so has no idea what Nick went through, but he can imagine. His imagination is dark. It needs to be, if he’s to do his job right.
And that’s another thing that’s giving him a bad feeling. His job is losing its attraction. He loves being the Boogeyman... most of the time. He thrives on fear, on pain. But lately it’s a chore. It’s work.
He hasn’t told Nick about this. Doesn’t plan on telling him either. It’s probably just a phase he’s going through. A bump he needs to get over. And sooner rather than later.
He materialises in the meeting room, scaring the living hell out of Eve, which improves his mood greatly. She’s an entertaining woman. He shuts down that thought as soon as it surfaces. He can’t afford to find anyone entertaining. It goes against his job.
Eve thumps him on the chest, something that nearly has him breaking out in a smile. Nearly.
‘I wish you’d stop doing that! You can’t just pop up like that and scare people.’
Damon crosses his arms and peers down at her. ‘Did you honestly just hear what you said? I’m the fucking Boogeyman!’
She sneers at him. ‘Yes. I have heard, but thanks for reminding me. Anyway, we have a problem. I need you to come to the infirmary with me.’
He follows her down the corridor, then curses when he sees Reve sitting on one of the gurneys, blood pouring out of a wound on his head. ‘What the fuck happened to you?’
‘Púca. They attacked her house. Damon, they took Scarlett.’
‘Fuck!’
‘There’s more. I saw Krampus.’
‘You what? Are you sure?’
‘Like I’m not going to recognise that monstrous bastard! It was him, Damon. No doubt.’
Eve sits on the end of Reve’s bed and looks at Damon. ‘Do you think Krampus is controlling the Púca?’
He wouldn’t be surprised. Krampus is one powerful demon. Controlling such a large group of Púca would need a hell of a lot of power. Or incentive. The Púca don’t tend to attack in those numbers unless they have a serious reason. And Krampus could no doubt offer them something that would get their attention. ‘Okay. Back up. Who exactly did you see taking Scarlett? Krampus or the Púca?’
‘Krampus. I saw him taking her before I was knocked out.’ Reve passes Damon a piece of paper. ‘I found that on the ground outside the cottage. It’s got coordinates on it. I’m presuming it’s where Krampus wants to meet Nick.’
