While You Were Creeping Page 4

  The door shut before I could reply.

  “I don’t like that guy,” Kye bluntly stated.

  “He’s not all bad.” Yeah right, why am I even defending him?

  “You don’t like him.”

  “I don’t?” Of course I didn’t.

  “Your spine goes ramrod straight, you clench your jaw, and your tone drops a chilling degree when he’s around. It happened earlier, and it happened just now.”

  “Maybe that’s how I act around everyone. You don’t know me.”

  “Ah, no.” His intense stare followed me back to my seat, making me highly aware, as if it touched on every part of my body, and I fought the urge to squirm. “You don’t act that way around me.”

  Now I did squirm. My chair was too uncomfortable, and my sweater was too warm. “You’ve known me for two seconds.”

  He rolled a broad, furred shoulder. “That wasn’t a denial.”

  I didn’t have to take this. “I think this meeting is over. Back to your prison. My students will be here any minute now.”

  “I’ll be back, Holly.”

  The static increased, and Kye disappeared.

  When the first student burst into my classroom, my pulse still hadn’t normalized. I didn’t know if Kye’s words were a threat or a promise, but I didn’t care...

  I just hoped he was telling the truth.

  SEVEN

  KYE

  What am I doing?

  This was my time for revenge. Stick it to the witches who put me in this prison and tortured me every year.

  A strong wind blew, kicking up flakes of snow, but I hardly noticed. I acclimated to this freezing desert long ago.

  Instead, I mostly focused on Holly’s voice as she went over lesson after lesson, instructing her students on the history of her planet.

  She claimed she wasn’t a witch but Dor Nye was exactly where the last two berchtas, who’d been in possession of my prison, had lived.

  What game was she playing? Did she think I’d fall for it?

  Tough luck for her. I knew the trickery of her kind.

  I had to stay vigilant. This witch was a little different, I could tell. The feigned ignorance aside, going through her storage room gave me some insight.

  That human, Principle Huckle, had been important to Holly. She still had a couple holo-disks with short vids tucked into a small box. I know because I snooped while I was locked in there last eve.

  It was different now. In the vids, she gazed at him like he hung the fucking moons. It was nauseating.

  I brushed aside the shard of me that wondered what it would be like to have someone look at me that way.

  Never going to happen.

  That wasn’t my future. Just this. This pointless existence. Maybe I deserved it.

  Anyway, I was surprised she hadn’t banished that guy to a pocket dimension like her kind was known to do if they were slighted.

  Made me wonder what he’d done to earn Holly’s frosty glare.

  “Kye?”

  Holly’s voice pulled me out of my head and I looked to the sky. She peered into my prison as if searching for me.

  “Yes?”

  “You can... come out if you want,” she hedged. “School’s over.”

  I held off for a moment, not wanting to seem as eager as I was. No idea what that was about, but I was damned ashamed to admit I was looking forward to physically being in the same room as Holly again.

  ****

  HOLLY

  The static in the air made my scalp tingle and stray fly-away hairs momentarily stand up before I smoothed them down.

  That was an altogether strange feeling.

  “Where are we?” Kye rumbled, sitting on the wide, cushy transport bench beside me. He was so big, his furry arm brushed against me and his bone-colored horns nearly kissed the ceiling. It was like the guy sucked up all the space in the vehicle.

  Is it too warm in here or just me?

  I reached forward, dragging my fingers against the operational screen to adjust the temperature.

  “My transport. I’ve gotta get to the Evergreen Queen’s meeting. Speaking of,” I side-eyed him, “we need to talk.”

  “Hmph,” he grunted. “Nothing good has ever happened when a female claims, ‘we need to talk’.”

  That made me purse my lips to hide a smirk. “You have a lot of experience with women saying that, huh?”

  He turned his eyes on me then. The pupil thinned horizontally, like a dash, so much different from a human. “I’ve enough. And what’s an Evergreen Queen?”

  “It’s a yearly Tinsel pageant.” I shrugged, for some reason feeling embarrassed that I used to love it so much. “Women compete in various themed categories and, by the end, a winner is chosen. The Evergreen Queen.”

  “What does that get you?”

  “A pretty crown, a sash, an everlasting bouquet, the town’s adoration—”

  He snorted, interrupting. “Sounds like an unfair deal.”

  “We also get a lifetime of free hot cocoa from the Reindeer Bowl Café. Which, honestly? Worth it. Just for that.”

  “We?” His chin dipped toward me and, in a fluid movement, he slid his arm along the back of the bench, taking up even more room. “You’re an Evergreen Queen?”

  “Yes.”

  He tossed back his head and laughed. Laughed! Roared with it. If I weren’t so irritated, I might admit that it was a warm sound that coated me like gooey marshmallow fluff and curled my toes inside my green boots.

  “Go screw yourself,” I grated, jabbing my elbow into his side. His surprised grunt was satisfying, and his laughter faded into quiet chuckles until he was silent again.

  A handful of uncomfortable seconds ticked by before I couldn’t take it anymore. “Ya know what? I’m going to prove it to you.”

  After a couple commands, the hover transport redirected, looping around the town square and back toward the Reindeer Bowl Café or, as most residents called it, The Bowl.

  I had enough time that I could still make it across town to the meeting after a quick stop. I could use a little something-something in my cocoa since I’d have to see Perry, but I needed all my wits about me.

  Raincheck on the boozy cocoa.

  “Come on. You’re gonna learn today!”

  I opened the shop’s door, the cozy café smelling of fluffy pastry, sticky sugar, and various sweet and savory beverages. Townsfolk and tourists alike—human and alien—were scattered around tables and comfortable armchairs, sipping and munching.

  It didn’t escape my notice that Kye drew a few curious stares. Krampus was pretty popular around Tinsel this time of year and Kye looked like a real one.

  “Hi Holly, welcome back!” Shira greeted when we got to the counter. I might’ve been a regular around here, but hey, can’t beat free. “Same as usual?”

  “Make it two, please.”

  Her inquisitive brown gaze floated over Kye before she nodded. “Comin’ right up.”

  For the past few years, I always came in here alone. It did feel a little weird to be here with someone.

  I side-eyed Kye for a stealthy glance. He was standing much too close. I made a mental note to ask him if he had any shirts. While I figured he was plenty warm with his full body pelt, his hairy chest was just bare for all to see.

  “Here ya go!” Shira slid a tray toward me, loaded with two giant mugs of their famous cocoa, tons of mini marshmallows, enough whipped giotoro cream to drown in, topped with shaved chocolate, caramel bits, and a peppermint stirring stick.

  “The hell is that...”

  “Uh huh,” I taunted, waggling my eyebrows as I took my mug. “Wait until you taste it.”

  We moved to stand at the bar by the windows at the front of the shop, his hooves clip-clopping against the floor.

  I’d learned long ago how to properly drink this beverage. It took skill to come away unscathed.

  Skill Kye didn’t have.

  He took his first sip...

  An
d came away with a huge, messy whipped cream mustache. He even had a little on the top of his flat nose.

  “Shit, that’s good!” He took another gulp, and I had no idea how he wasn’t burning his lips off.

  “I told you!” I grinned, eating all the whipped cream on mine before I took a sip. No mustache that way.

  I handed Kye a couple napkins and gestured to his face. “Should probably clean that up.”

  He tried. Failed.

  “I get it all?”

  “Here...” I grabbed more napkins and, before I could think about it, I reached up to dab at his nose. His pupils widened slightly, and my smile slowly faded.

  What was I doing? Dabbing cream off his nose like we knew each other. Like we were friends. Like he wasn’t a convict—for crimes of which I didn’t know yet—and I wasn’t about to ask him for a huge favor.

  “Holly?” A nasally voice I knew all too well snapped us out of our locked gazes. “I didn’t think I’d see you here!”

  I balled up the used napkin and turned, eyes landing on the person who offended every sense I had.

  “Perry,” I greeted, not even bothering to smile. We’d both know it was fake anyhow, and that was her gig, not mine. “Yep, I come to The Bowl, just like everyone else in this town.”

  “Always so funny.” She swatted a manicured hand through the air—the left one, I should add. The one with the big ol’ dark blue aerulian gemstone that George’s great, great grandmother had passed down. A gift from the tenth dynasty of planet Aeru’shek.

  Yeah, it’s a big deal in his family.

  At one point, everyone was sure I’d end up with it on my finger but alas...

  Perry’s blue eyes darted from me to Kye, who’d set down his mug and was silently standing by.

  “Who’s this?”

  ‘None of your kixwax’ my inner child wanted to scream.

  “This is Kye,” I started, rushing for some excuse as to why I was hanging out with anyone, but especially a furry, hooved, and horned alien. “M-my new Krampus!”

  So, it just came out.

  I’d been meaning to talk to him about that, but then the cocoa distracted us.

  Perry’s smile faltered on one side before she recovered. Always had to look perfect.

  “Oh! How nice! I thought for sure you’d take George up on his offer.”

  It gave me smug pleasure to rile Perry. There were few things in life I enjoyed more these past few years.

  “Nope. Had a few better prospects. Kye couldn’t be more perfect for the role. Right Kye?” I rolled my eyes toward him, hoping he got my silent message again.

  I was gonna owe this guy so much.

  Without skipping a beat, he rumbled, “Aye, I’ll have my bundle of branches to swat some naughty ass. Holly’s will be mighty red.”

  It didn’t register at first but—

  What?!

  I nervously chuckled, clenching the handle of my mug so hard I thought it might snap off in my palm while I hoped and prayed I didn’t accidentally chomp on my tongue.

  If he had feet, I’d covertly stomp on one right now.

  “Such a jokester,” I said, trying to recover. The mental image of Kye swatting my ass was something I shouldn’t think about.

  Not now. Not ever.

  Oh my god.

  Now I couldn’t get the image out of my head!

  “Hmm.” Perry squinted. “See you at the meeting. Don’t be late.”

  And then she turned on her expensively booted heel and walked away.

  I took a giant gulp of my cocoa to distract myself, even though it scalded my entire mouth. It was better than throwing the mug at the back of Perry’s head and messing up her perfectly bobbed honey brown locks.

  “She seems nice,” Kye commented, but his sarcasm was palpable. And comforting. See? I wasn’t the only one who thought she was a devil!

  “The nicest.”

  “Who is she?”

  I crunched into the peppermint stick, probably looking like the grumpiest person at The Bowl. “George’s fiancée and head of the Evergreen Queen committee.”

  Kye hummed, leaning on the counter and sipping more of his beverage. “Principle Huckle? What happened between you two?”

  He was so close now that his arm was rubbing against mine as we watched the tourists and residents happily walk past the café, shopping bags in hands and bundled up. I envied their cheer.

  “Nothing you probably haven’t heard before. Boy meets girl, girl falls head over heels blind in love, boy finds new girl, end of story.”

  “Perry’s the new girl?”

  “Yep.”

  Kye started swirling his peppermint through the droopy whipped cream in his mug. “Why do you stick around?”

  I asked myself that all the time and I always arrived back at the same answer. “My family’s here. Besides, the only school district hiring is hours away. I’d have to move. Anyway,” I sighed, and drained the last of my coco, “once my Evergreen Queen contract is up in a couple seasons, I don’t have to see Perry as much.”

  “As much?” His gaze was heavy. It made me uncomfortable... in a pleasant, I-haven’t-been-looked-at-that-way-in-a-long-time sort of way. Like he was trying to understand me. “Why would you ever have to see her again?”

  “About that...” I hedged, fiddling with the balled napkin in my hand. “Perry’s actually my cousin.”

  “Well, fuck.”

  “I know. I must’ve accrued some shitty karma in a past life.”

  “Karma?”

  “What goes around, comes around. Kinda like a checks and balance of life. You do bad shit, bad shit will come for you later on.”

  “Interesting...”

  “You know... you don’t talk like I expected. You curse and speak English. Most non-natives just use implanted translators.” He seemed less alien when I thought of it that way, despite his physical appearance saying completely otherwise.

  “You’re not the first human I’ve spent time with.”

  Hmm... The witches he spoke about, no doubt. Put a pin in that for later.

  Before I could overthink it, I blurted, “Wanna be my fake date to George and Perry’s wedding?”

  Kye chuckled, toasty and rumbly, but when I didn’t say ‘just kidding!’ he peered long and hard at me, laughter fading. “First, I’m Krampus, now I’m your fake date? This is too much, witch.”

  I scowled, his comment about spanking me with his branches resurfacing against my will. I shook it off. “I keep telling you, I’m not a witch. Besides, not to point out the obvious, but what else do you have going on?”

  Eyes narrowed, he stared out the window, giving me the silent treatment.

  Okay, so maybe that was rude, but I was kinda desperate at this point. The last thing I wanted to do was show up at George’s wedding stag.

  I’d already tried getting out of it, but family pressure was real. That and I didn’t want George thinking he’d won. That I’d stayed home to cry into my pint of mint chocolate chip while he was getting hitched to my least favorite cousin.

  No fucking way.

  “How about... we make a deal?”

  That drew his attention. He half turned, head dipping as if he wanted to hear this.

  “I’m listening, witch.”

  I had this sinking feeling in my gut that I was going to regret this.

  Big time.

  EIGHT

  KYE

  This was my chance to put some plans into motion. Namely, my freedom.

  It had been so long since I’d been able to do something because I wanted to. Not because a berchta allowed or requested it.

  Yet as Holly fiddled with her balled up napkin, all I could focus on was how red her lips were.

  Uncomfortable memories of the past resurfaced. I wouldn’t be so careless around another witch.

  Never again.

  That reminder forced me to pay attention to what Holly was saying and not what it would feel like to touch her freckled skin or twis
t her crimson curls around my fingers.

  “C’mon, we can talk on the way to the meeting.” She tossed her napkin and our mugs into a hovering collection receptacle that floated by. “If I’m late, I’ll never hear the end of Perry’s whining.”

  I decidedly didn’t care for this Perry.

  The transport was a bit small for my larger frame. Sitting beside Holly was damned close to cuddling, which raised conflicting emotions.

  Her hair smelled of fruity soap and the lingering scent of chocolate clung to her clothes, making it harder to dislike being near her.

  “I wanted to ask you about the Krampus thing before that kerfuffle at The Bowl. So, sorry about that, but you’d be helping me out if you did it.”

  Yes. Because I live to help witches who keep me imprisoned.

  My mood took a dive, and I rubbed my tongue against the roof of my mouth to get rid of the sour taste I suddenly had.

  Holly kept rambling. Was she nervous?

  Strange witch.

  “It’s just for a few hours. One night.” She held up a slim finger as the transport turned a corner, slowing to a stop for a crowded crosswalk of shoppers. “I’ll even pay you, if that’s what it’ll take.”

  “Pay me with what? Money?” I snorted a humorless laugh. “I have no use for money. I’m a prisoner, remember?”

  “Oh. Right. I guess you have a point there.”

  My mood curdled further. How easily she forgot I was bound to that crystal prison was a swift reminder that she and I were on two different planes of existence.

  “Well, it’s a deal I’m trying to make with you,” she moved on. “So, what’s something you want?”

  Freedom. It danced through my head and I nearly said it. But there were two things she was asking of me—to play this Krampus character and be her date—so why couldn’t I request two things from her?

  Besides all that, wouldn’t this be stooping to a new level in the eyes of other berchtas? Pretending to date her own prisoner?

  The thought was humorous, but it seemed off-theme for a berchta. They were prideful creatures.

  Holly was throwing me for loop after loop and the curious part of my nature wanted to know what game she played.