Sleigh Spells Read online

  Officer Noelle released my hands with a wink. With caution, I lifted my left hand away and gasped at what I found. A perfect rose blossom of ice sat in my palm, its crystal petals sparkling.

  “How did you do that?” I whispered, cradling the precious creation with great care.

  The officer chuckled as she pulled her mittens on. “The magic was all yours. I just gave it a little nudge.”

  I shook my head in denial, but deep down, I wanted her words to be true more than anything else. “How?”

  Officer Noelle placed a kind hand on my shoulder. “First step is to accept where you are and figure out how to make the best of it. And then you have to fully accept who you are. Do that and you might have a chance to be surprised at what you can accomplish.” She opened the door, and a blast of frigid air burst inside.

  I shielded my eyes from the whirl of snow that followed. When I recovered and blinked, the kind officer was nowhere in sight. Her disappearance left me with more questions and very little time left to pull myself together and get to my new job.

  Chapter Two

  I stood in the middle of the bustling street, clutching the piece of paper with the address that Officer Noelle had given me. My awkward position forced a few people to have to walk around me, but my absolute shock kept me from caring too much.

  The timber of the storefront was painted a dark green, matching the color of the window frame upstairs. Above the door in bright red and gold letters was painted Yuletide Yummies. Tinny holiday music floated down from some unseen speakers above.

  Not exactly sure what type of yummies the store sold, I shuffled closer to the nearest display window and shielded my eyes to see inside. Every ounce of space was jam-packed full of holiday scenes built from baked goods. Gingerbread structures rose out of a field of shredded coconut snow, and it took me a second to recognize the loose interpretation of the center of Holiday Haven.

  Icing dripped off the scalloped rooftops mimicking icicles. Someone had taken a lot of time to pipe in all of the details to showcase every single store on the main street. Of course, Yuletide Yummies was the star of the entire display with its tiny windows lit up from the inside. I crouched down for further inspection and saw a minuscule version of the exact display in the window of the gingerbread replica.

  The door to the store opened, and a sweet scent filtered out onto the sidewalk.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered to myself. “Who goes to this much trouble?”

  A tinkling titter assaulted my ears, and a honeyed voice answered my question. “That would be me, Wren Warbler, owner of this store and baker extraordinaire!”

  I stopped gawking at the window and stood up straight to find a grinning woman at least an inch or two taller than me, smiling for all the world like I was her best friend. Her peppered hair was piled up into an elaborate bun on the back of her head. Curled tendrils fell around her face, but they seemed more deliberate than happenstance. A pristine apron hung around her neck and tied at her waist displayed an embroidered store logo but not one speck of flour. Odd for a baker.

  Despite my hesitance about my new place of employment, I forced a smile and introduced myself to my new boss. “Oh, I was just admiring the work that went into the display. I’m Aurora Hart, and I guess I’m your new employee.”

  The warm grin on the owner’s face melted. She grabbed me by my arm and dragged me to the corner of the block of storefronts. “Help comes through the back door, not the front. I’ll meet you there.” She pointed once for emphasis and turned away from me, her frown disappearing as she greeted other potential customers standing in front of her store windows.

  I chuckled ruefully to myself as I obeyed her edict. Throughout my life, I’d run into all different types of bosses at the numerous jobs I’d started—and lost. My relatively short time on probation in Holiday Haven continued that sad tradition. Both the supervisor at the wrapping factory and Lumi at the reindeer sanctuary had been incredible in their attempts to integrate me into their businesses without much drama. It had been my mistakes that had forced me to leave. If this Wren Warbler wanted to scare me straight on my very first day, she’d have to try a lot harder.

  Somehow, the owner got to the back of her store before I did. She stood in the doorframe, beckoning me to hurry inside by snapping her fingers. Glancing around the small parking lot at the back to make sure nobody else had seen my entry, she closed the door behind us. The earlier warmth she’d displayed when first we met was long gone.

  I stood inside a large kitchen at the center of a flurry of activity. Small elves that came up to my waist bustled around, and one of them carrying a large sack of flour bounced off the back of my legs. The bag dropped on the floor with a dull thud.

  Wren yanked on my arm to pull me aside. “You’ll need to make sure when you’re back here that you stay out of the way,” she warned me, glaring at the offending elf with disapproval. He mumbled an apology to both of us, picked up the sack, and scurried away.

  There were at least six others working at different stations around the kitchen. Some sprinkled ingredients into an industrial mixer. Another couple switched between rolling dough out on the marble counter and cutting out different patterns.

  “That’s Flake and Flippy at the mixer with Buttons being the clumsier one that ran into you,” the owner pointed at each one. “Pepper and Ginger are in charge of making more gingerbread cookies. Depending on the design cut out, we can turn those into pretty much anything.”

  I waited for her to introduce me to them but realized her lack of intentions. I cleared my throat. “I really like the new trend of ugly holiday sweaters,” I said, remembering the single treat I’d bought myself after last Christmas when I’d found one stale cookie on sale.

  Wren blinked at me. “What trend?”

  “You know, where the cookie is in the shape of a sweater and icing is used to make it look like all those heinous sweaters with bold designs like Christmas trees or reindeers,” I explained. When she still seemed perplexed, I kept pushing, filling the awkward silence. “People will have parties just so they can wear these sweaters. Not that I’ve been to one, but I heard about them.”

  One of the elves sitting on a stool at the counter busy with her decorating job giggled, and Wren shot her an unpleasant glance, sniffing in dismissal. “I don’t see why anyone would think any sweater with Christmas decorations it is ugly, but then again, it has been an age and a half since I’ve visited the outside world.”

  She ushered me through a different door and up a skinny staircase into a bare room with cubbyholes on the wall. “This is where you can put your belongings at the beginning of the day. Although considering your background, perhaps you shouldn’t be here,” she finished on a whisper, as if not saying the words out loud would be less offensive.

  It took great effort to maintain my cool. The last thing I needed was to get upset and either spark a fire or freeze one of her elves into an ice block. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I forced a smile on my face. “If you know my circumstances, then you should know the terms which I am bound by.”

  Wren’s lips pursed as she thought about it. “Still…perhaps I should limit your actions until I am certain whether this arrangement will work out.”

  I huffed a little. “I’ve worked a register before and am perfectly capable of serving customers.”

  Her eyes widened in horror. “Oh, no. You will definitely not be dealing with any of the money.” Once she heard her own knee-jerk reaction, she attempted to recover and placed a hand on my arm. “No offense.”

  I allowed her touch even though it didn’t feel particularly reassuring. “Well, I’ve never baked before, so not sure how much help I could be in the kitchen,” I admitted with a shrug.

  She actually cackled at my silly assumptions. “Oh, I would never trust you with my recipes.”

  I tilted my head. “Then I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what else there would be for me to do.”

  Light
footsteps on the stairs interrupted us. The same employee who’d laughed at my ugly Christmas sweater cookie explanation entered. She stood several inches taller than the others even though she only reached the height of my elbows.

  “Ms. Wren, I couldn’t help but overhear you. I have an idea,” she offered in a quiet voice.

  The owner sighed. “What’s that, Vale?”

  “Well, you wanted me to man the stall at the Christmas market for the afternoon. Why doesn’t…” she paused for me to give my name.

  “Aurora,” I said, pointing at my chest.

  She grinned at me. “Why doesn’t Aurora help me for today? It would be nice to have the help and the company.”

  Wren considered the idea, her eyes flitting back and forth from her employee to me. “I suppose,” she acquiesced with a frown. “But if you’re going to represent Yuletide Yummies, then you’ll need to wear something much more festive and a lot less…drab.” Her finger plucked the string of my dark hoodie underneath my black leather jacket.

  Not wanting to have to be assigned to yet another job, I quickly divested myself of my leather coat. Unzipping my favorite piece of clothing, I shrugged out of the hoodie as well. “No problem, although if we’re gonna be running around outside, I’ll need something to keep me warm.”

  Wren’s left eyebrow crooked up. “It should be easy for you to cast a heating charm to do the trick, but I might have something else for you.”

  The owner walked over to a closet and retrieved a large garment. She held the fabric up in front of me to check its size. “There. That should do it.”

  I stared at the monstrosity. “I can’t wear that,” I complained, frowning at the gingerbread man costume.

  The corner of Wren’s mouth crooked up in cruel amusement. “If you’re going to be representing us, then I want you to do it right. See our logo on the cookie’s apron?”

  “Oh, everybody will know who’s responsible for me wearing that,” I said, backing away from the costume. “Surely you have something else I can wear. A real apron perhaps?”

  “If you’re going down to our stall at the market, then this is what you have to wear,” Wren insisted, shaking the brown fabric at me. “Or you can go home and wait for another job opportunity, which might be hard for you to find once I let it leak that you were difficult to work with.”

  Vale widened her eyes in a plea for me to agree. Gritting my teeth, I gave in. “Fine. Give it here.”

  Wren’s mood lightened as she got her way. “Excellent. You may change in here and then help Vale load up the sled to take down to the market. Hand out samples of the Kringle Cakes, peppermint brownies, and…fruitcake.”

  The taller elf wrinkled her nose. “Oh, not the fruitcake.”

  Wren’s mouth curved into a disapproving scowl. “I will be entering it as the store’s bakery entry for the Seasonal Spirit Awards this year. It would be nice to get some support from the people prior to the voting.”

  To avoid whatever disagreement those two had, I encouraged them to leave so I could change. The costume zipped up over my existing outfit, and I immediately missed my hoodie. Avoiding the mirror by the door at all costs to keep from loathing myself, I stomped down the stairs and endured the snickers and giggles at my expense.

  “That’ll do for now,” the owner said, failing to suppress an expression of malicious glee. She handed me a handwritten list. “Here, I’ve written down some things I’d like you to say when you’re handing out the samples.”

  I took the paper from her and read her scribbled handwriting. “‘Your presents is requested at Yuletide Yummies. Yule be sorry if you miss out on the goodies from Yuletide Yummies. Treat yo’elf to Yuletide Yummies.’”

  The taller elf covered her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders shook from her giggles. It felt right to stick my tongue out at her, so I did like the brat that I was.

  Wren cleared her throat to stop our shenanigans. “Vale, make sure you stay with Aurora the whole time today, especially when she comes back to change. Do not let her out of your sight,” she warned, turning to gather her things.

  My anger got the best of me, and a little flame shot out of my fingers and scorched the floor. I stomped my boot again and again to make sure I didn’t catch the entire place on fire.

  The owner stopped in her tracks. “What was all that commotion?”

  “Nothing,” I insisted, pasting the fakest of fake smiles on my face.

  Instead of leaving right away, she narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing me. “Vale, I’ll be dropping off the order to Carol at the Holiday Haven Inn, so you won’t have to do that.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Wren,” the smaller girl said, keeping her eyes down.

  Just as she began to gather her things to leave, Wren paused. “And make sure those charity folks selling their sad little sugar cookies are nowhere near our stall at the market.”

  “But they’re selling them for a good cause,” Vale defended. “The reindeer sanctuary can use all the help we can give them.”

  I had really liked Lumi and what she did with the retired reindeer. It had broken my heart to have to quit because of my own stupid magic. “Perhaps we could donate some of the proceeds from today’s sales,” my mouth suggested before my brain caught up.

  Wren narrowed her eyes at me and took a step closer. “How dare you suggest taking money away from my business.”

  Vale slid in front of me. “You know, having others witness you donating generously might help sway their favoritism your way.”

  The bakery owner bit her red-lipsticked lower lip. “Maybe you’re right. Let’s make it…one percent of whatever we make from the market. I’ll make sure everyone knows who the money is from when I present the check to the charity.”

  “Yes, Ms. Wren,” her underling replied, moving to stand beside me.

  The owner grabbed her coat and purse off of the coat rack with such haughty force, she almost knocked it down. “I’ll be back in time for the Spirit committee meeting tonight. It would be highly advisable for you to be in attendance. Toodles,” she sang out.

  Vale observed my outfit for the first time, and she surveyed my torture. “I would tell you to change back, but the chances that one of her minions would tattle on you is too high. I don’t want to get you in trouble on your first day.”

  “Me neither,” I agreed, glad to find someone on my side for a change. “Better to endure a little humiliation.”

  I ignored the snickers from the other elves as I helped the friendlier one load up some containers with individually wrapped baked goods. We carried each large box outside the back door and hefted them onto the front of a sled with red metal runners gleaming underneath.

  “All that’s missing is a mess of dogs to drag it for us,” I said, breathing in the cool air. I kept my surprise at how warm the costume was to myself.

  Vale chuckled. “We don’t need any.” With a little flourish of her fingers, the sled slid forward on its own.

  “I’m still getting used to the different types of magic around here,” I said, walking beside the diminutive woman.

  Vale looked up at me. “I’m surprised a witch like you could be caught off guard.”

  “If you’re referring to my crooked past, then you might be sad to know that for the most part, I’ve never really been around a whole lot of magic,” I said, keeping my gaze on the ground. “I kinda fell through all kinds of systems of life, mortal or magic. I’m far from normal on either spectrum.”

  Without hesitation, Vale took my hand in hers and held it as we walked down the street. “I know all about being a bit of a misfit. Try being half elf and half witch when you live in a district of the North Pole. I’ve always felt a little out of place.”

  Most of the time, I shied away from touch, compassionate or otherwise. But something about the half elf’s genuine kindness broke through some of my barriers, and I took advantage of the comfort she offered. It even helped when others snickered at my costume as we ventured down the street tow
ards the stalls for the outdoor market.

  When we reached the market, I stopped walking and stared up at the towering tree erected at the far side. “Whoa,” I exclaimed.

  “I know,” Vale agreed. “I think it’s the biggest one we’ve had yet. Besides the usual basic trimmings, each citizen of the town places an ornament on the branches to give it a more personal touch.”

  “That sounds…like a nice tradition,” I finished, uncomfortable about my usual lack of Christmas spirit.

  She leaned into me a little. “Maybe you can hang an ornament of your own sometime.”

  I let out a quiet grunt, not wanting to scare her away with my past nor let myself get bogged down in it either. Breathing in the crisp air, I asked her to point me in the right direction. We wove our way down a row until we found a stall whose tent color matched the storefront of Yuletide Yummies with the same logo painted on it.

  Vale busied herself arranging the different baked goods on the table while I stacked the boxes behind the table to make it easy to find the items. I knocked over one of the containers, and it flipped open. A few of the wrapped goodies spilled out, and I rushed to put them back in until I noticed their difference.

  “Vale, what are these?” I asked, holding up a cellophane bag with a red-and-white ribbon tied at the top.

  “Oops, pretend you didn’t see those,” she said, rushing over and snatching the bag out of my hand. “Ms. Wren would be upset if she saw these mixed in with her baked goods, but I promised to bring them for a few people.”

  I examined the box of extras. “Did you make them or something?”

  Vale blushed. “Yes. I’ll admit, baking isn’t exactly my passion. Chocolate and candy are.” She untied the ribbon and offered me what lay inside. “Here, try one.”

  Although I didn’t prefer sweets, I refused to hurt her feelings. Taking one of the dark brown treats with dark pink stripes, I stuffed it in my mouth.