Magic & Mistletoe: 15 Paranormal Stories for the Holidays Page 16

  With the putrid breath of rotten flesh, he quietly hissed, “Simon didn’t say.”

  About the Author

  Rachel McClellan is an award winning and USA TODAY bestselling author. She lives in New Hampshire, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

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  Did you enjoy this short story? If so, check out The Devil’s Fool, book one in the wildly popular Devil Series. My Book

  Frost

  K.N. Lee

  Frost

  by K.N. Lee

  Copyright © 2016 by K.N. Lee

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Frost

  Night fell upon St. Stephen’s Green park in Dublin, Ireland, and a hush of quiet filled the air.

  Ella’s breaths escaped her mouth in a puff of vapor. She licked her lips. The taste of her sweet mango lip gloss reminded her of how hungry she was. Snow fell from the sky in steady sheets, covering everything in a thick layer of white. She took a sip of her hot chocolate and delighted in the way the thick liquid warmed her from the inside out. She sighed and snuggled into Jack’s side.

  Ella frowned to herself as she shivered. She wore two layers of clothing, a coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf, and was still freezing. She couldn’t understand how Jack could tolerate the cold with nothing but a thin jacket and scarf.

  “How long are we supposed to wait out here?” Ella’s eyes scanned the quiet park. The trees swayed with the cold wind. The stars above flickered around the pale moon. Jack always had a trick up his sleeve. Ella could only imagine what he had planned for them in the empty park.

  “Maybe another five minutes,” Jack said, and pulled her in closer.

  A soft kiss on the cheek brought a smile to her face.

  “Okay. It’s just a bit cold out here,” Ella said as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m a southern girl, you know.”

  Jack chuckled and wrapped her in his coat. “Surely it’s not that bad, love. We’re in Ireland, not Iceland. You mean to tell me they don’t have winters in Savannah?”

  Ella glanced up at him. A snowflake rested on her nose. She closed one eye and scrunched up her face as she looked at it. “Not like this. I’m sorry, darling. I’ve just never been a fan of the cold. A hot day on the beach is more my style.”

  “That’s unfortunate,” Jack said.

  A hint of disappointment in his voice made her pause. She kissed his cheek and dusted more snow off her knees. “I just hope that whatever you have planned happens quickly. I’m getting buried in snow.” Ella made a face. “I didn’t even know Ireland got so much snow!”

  Jack stood. He pulled her up to her feet. He winked at her. “It normally doesn’t, sweetheart.”

  Ella heard a howling as the wind picked up. She looked around, startled. “What is it, Jack?” Her voice came out cracked. She clutched his arm and held on, expecting to be carried away by the wind.

  Like a comet, a light in the distance shot toward them from the thick forest.

  “What is that?” She gripped Jack’s arm and pointed towards the light. The light grew brighter. “It’s getting closer!”

  “Calm down, my love. Everything is happening as it should.” Jack turned to face her.

  Hands on hips, Ella raised a brow. “What are you up to, Jack? I know you. You can be like a child, always with the tricks and surprises. Is this a prank? Who did you hire to scare the crap out of me?”

  He grinned. “Love. This is not a trick,” he said, and blew at his hands. They began to glow, and his body seemed to go translucent.

  Swallowing, Ella suppressed a cry. “Jack?”

  Ella covered her mouth. His blue eyes sparkled. She’d always loved his eyes. The day they met on her tour of Ireland exactly one year ago, she’d felt something almost magical whenever she looked into them.

  Now, she was afraid. There was something unnatural about his eyes. Unnatural but alluring. Like ice, the intense shade of his eyes seemed more white than blue.

  Shivering, Ella started to take a step away, but Jack took her hands in his. Ella froze as the wind wrapped around them.

  “Keep calm, love. I assure you. You are safe with me. Always.”

  Jack kissed the back of both of her hands and bent to his knees.

  Ella’s jaw dropped as she realized what was happening. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a glittering box.

  “Dear, God,” Ella muttered as her eyes widened with the realization of what was happening.

  A flicker of light swept through the park like a tiny firefly racing home. It hovered before them, and with an explosion of color, it ignited a barrier around them that resembled the inside of a snow globe. Ella spun around, stunned by the fact that they were now surrounded by people. All dressed in blue or white, the eerie new crowd clapped and nodded their approval.

  Ella’s heart thumped in her chest. She did not care that they were smiling. The silence frightened her. She could see them, but she could not hear anything coming from the crowd.

  Still, they cheered her on in silence.

  “Ella,” Jack began. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

  “Who are they?”

  “They are my family, friends, and subjects.”

  “Subjects?” Ella shook her head. “I don’t understand.” The thought of fleeing crossed her mind, but Jack’s grip on her hands kept her still.

  “Listen to me, my sweet. I’ve been searching for hundreds of years for the perfect woman. And then, I met you. I knew from the moment I saw you that you were meant to be my beloved queen. I knew that all of those years of waiting were worth it because I was just waiting for you to arrive on this Earth.”

  “Did you say hundreds of years?”

  Jack chuckled. He opened the box and the sound of a piccolo began to fill her ears.

  “Wow,” was all Ella could say as she beheld the large diamond set in a golden band.

  Jack took her hand into his, kissed her knuckles, and took her glove off.

  “I love you, Ella,” he whispered as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

  The ring was lighter than she expected. Somehow it seemed to warm her entire body, seemingly from the inside out. A wave of joy flooded Ella’s body and she found herself grinning. The cold of the air around them hit her teeth but she did not care.

  The joy was so euphoric that she almost lost herself in the sensation.

  Her mind raced. Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She had dreamed about being proposed to since she was a child, but she never imagined such an elaborate scene.

  Ella bit her lip and winced at the pain. She wasn’t dreaming. Something fantastical was happening and she didn’t know how to process it. All she could do was look around in awe, occasionally glancing back at Jack’s smiling face to reassure herself this was real.

  Jack’s family continued cheering in silence. They were shouting, smiling, and clapping, and still, Ella could hear nothing.

  Jack looked so happy and hopeful. “Will you, my love? Will you be my queen?”

  “Queen?” Ella croaked. Her eyes widened even more as the diamond on her left ring finger began to glow and tick like a clock. The ticking grew so loud that the sound of the piccolo was drowned out by it.

  Jack closed the ring box and the music abruptly stopped. He came to his feet, kissed her gently on the lips, and pulled her away at arm’s length. “Ye
s, Ella. I’m asking you not only to marry me but to be my queen.”

  Ella’s brows furrowed. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Queen of what?”

  Jack chuckled. “Your innocence and purity are what drew me to you.”

  Jack turned her toward the wall of wind that encircled them. The faces of his family began to swirl away and vanish. Their images were replaced by a castle made of ice. “Have you ever heard the name, Jack Frost?”

  She shot a look at him. “You’re not telling me you’re the Jack Frost?”

  He nodded and pointed to the ice castle. “That is my home, where I rule over winter. I need a queen, someone to help me with the task and to watch over the children of the world.”

  Ella covered her mouth with her hands. The glow of the ring drew her attention again. It continued to tick. “Why is the ring ticking?”

  Jack stroked her cheek. His smile faded. “It has a timer. You don’t have much longer to make your choice.”

  Ella paled. She hated decisions. She hated pressure. But, she knew she loved Jack.

  “Tell me, my love. Will you choose to go back to your life before me, where you’ll forget you ever met me, or, will you join me in my kingdom? Together we can change the colors of the leaves in autumn, create art and wonder for people to enjoy. We can spread winter snow and joy to the people of the world. Doesn’t that sound glorious?”

  Ella glanced at him. Her eyes examined his face. His white skin was perfect. His white hair was soft and flew around his face as the wind continued to sweep around them. Ella couldn’t help but smile. His happiness was infectious. Jack was as cheerful and happy as a little boy.

  She couldn’t remember seeing him that happy before. Not even she could make him as joyful as he was when he spoke of spreading winter and creating art with the seasons.

  Ella pulled her hand from his and took a step toward the vision of his castle. It was a grand sight. The beauty of its towers and gardens of blue and white flowers captivated her. She touched the image before her.

  She winced. The air stung her with its chill. Like water, it rippled. Ella yanked her hand back and put it in her pocket. She frowned at the vision. Its beauty somehow made her sad.

  “Will I be able to see my family?”

  Jack was silent.

  Ella glanced back at him and he shook his head. “That is a problem.” She couldn’t imagine a life without her mother, father, and two brothers. Then, she thought of being a queen.

  She smiled. She’d be able to live with Jack in happiness.

  In a cold ice castle, Ella thought. Her smile faded and she looked down at the ring. The ticking made her shudder. Her time was running out. She could feel it.

  Ella made her choice.

  She took the ring off and handed it to Jack. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the hurt in his face. The look of devastation morphed his features. She was almost too afraid to look at him any longer. She put her glove back on and looked down at her feet.

  “I’m sorry, Jack. I love you. But, I am afraid.”

  Once again, Jack fell to his knees but this time, he held his hands in prayer. His eyes were wide with hope. Tears froze on his cheeks. “But, Ella. What if I brought your family to my castle as well? There are many rooms. They’d be happy there. You’d be happy.”

  There was the slightest thud of snow as Ella knelt before him and took his hands in hers. She kissed his hands and used them to cup her face. She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his palms on her cheeks and his fresh, evergreen smell for the last time. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Would you do that, for me?”

  Jack wrapped her in his arms. “I’d do anything for you. I’d give you the world, vanquish any threat, love you for an eternity.”

  A thought came to Ella as she imagined life with Jack, with her family by her side.

  “Show me,” Ella said, her eyes locking with Jack’s.

  His brow lifted. “You want to see my world?”

  Nodding, Ella kissed his lips. The feel of his soft lips warmed her and her eyes fluttered closed.

  Jack rested his forehead against hers. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. I want to see. I want to know what I am getting myself into.”

  “You do realize that it is an entirely different world, parallel to yours?”

  “I do now,” she said with a laugh. “Show me.”

  With that, all went dark. All went silent. Jack held her hands and in an instant, their surroundings changed from the wintry park, to a clearing in the forest with a large frozen lake.

  Ella’s lips parted as the snow trickled from the sky.

  “Come,” Jack said, rubbing his chin. “There is much to show you.”

  From the Author

  Thanks for reading!

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  About the Author

  K.N. Lee is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 “Future Leaders of Charlotte” award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.

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  Druid Spirit

  Amy Hopkins

  Druid Spirit

  by Amy Hopkins

  Copyright © 2016

  Druid Spirit

  Finn O’Donaghue fumbled in his back pocket, almost letting the vibrating phone slip through numb fingers. Looking at the name on the screen, he smiled before putting it to his ear.

  “Hey, Beautiful.” He darted a look to either side before crossing the street and heading into the small supermarket on the corner. A warmth filled his heart, no less for having seen her only an hour earlier. It was just enough to offset the irritation that came with the obnoxious, blaring Christmas carols inside the store. Even Britain, the very home of winter solstice, had properly ruined it, he thought ruefully.

  “Finn? Have you seen Billie?” There was an edge to Sarah’s voice, a suppressed panic that raised the tiny hairs on the back of Finn’s neck. Without thinking, he slipped into Spirit vision and the auras of the humans in the supermarket blossomed, washing the shop with spots of swirling colour. Thin lines of Spirit connected each one, and ran in a million other directions, throbbing and shifting in a dazzling wave.

  As always, Sarah’s Spirit line was the first he truly noticed, the orange flare of her werewolf blood calling to him amongst the intertwined cords.

  “What’s happened?” Two nearby shoppers looked up at his terse words and he spun on his heel to head back outside. He reminded himself to be careful—humans weren’t likely to believe the truth about him, but it wouldn’t bode well if he outed himself here and word got back to the Druid Council.

  “I don’t know; he wouldn’t say. He just asked if you could go get him, I think he was too scared to call you himself. Finn, he sounded like he was in trouble.”

  “He’s probably goofing around. You know what he’s like.”

  Sarah snorted. “You don’t believe that any more than I do. I can tell.”

  Finn sighed. Sometimes, Sarah’s intimate knowledge of his moods worked against him. “I’ll go find him. I’ll call you when I do.”

  “Be careful, Druid.” The tenderness in her voice tugged at his heart. />
  After clicking the phone off and sliding it back into his pocket, Finn walked around the corner and parked himself on a bench, relaxing his shoulders as he stared out from half-lidded eyes. To a casual passerby, it would look like he was drowsing, bored or waiting for someone. He breathed slowly, concentrating on the feel of fresh air through his lungs and tuning out the soft hum of traffic from the nearby roads. A stillness impregnated his bones, washed through his muscles. His vision blurred even as the flowing Spirit lines came into sharp focus before him. He didn’t tug on them, not yet, instead sinking deeper into the trance. His limbs became heavy, and the soft sound of his breath faded away into the background as the world went dark.

  When he opened his eyes again, the world had changed. The colours of brick and pavement were muted, the solid buildings around him flattened into a simulation of the world he knew. To one side, his body sat, still upright and deep in concentration. Good, he thought grimly, glancing down at his insubstantial Spirit form. The Spirit didn’t care about the scenery. It waved around him, shown as puffy, swirling auras and a net of individual cords diving through each living creature as unique as the lifeforms themselves. It only took a moment to filter out those connected to the plants and lower life forms, then the humans and more sentient creatures, leaving only the Spirit lines belonging to creatures of magic. A second after that, he’d narrowed down to the lines that pulsed with the orange hues of wolf shifters.

  He reached his fingers past Sarah’s to a thinner, more tenuous line that was almost as familiar as hers. He tugged it, plucking it like a guitar string. Finn’s heart lurched as he felt the spike of fear on the other end. His corporeal form floated up, past the rooftops and power lines, Billie’s Spirit line dangling from his fingers. Once he had a good view, he lifted the line, squeezed it, watched a pulse of energy shoot down its length until it disappeared in a flash several blocks away. Satisfied he’d remember where it was, Finn floated down and slipped back into his body, this time opening eyes made of flesh and blood.