Sunday, December 14<\/p>\n
Molly glanced around the room, making sure everything was in order. The armchairs had been moved aside to make room for the large white chair, almost a throne, covered in ivy and red ribbons, that would very shortly be claimed by Santa himself. Schrodinger, Lily, Jack and Zoey were down in the tea room, finishing up their letters to the great man himself and chattering excitedly. Or at least, that\u2019s where they were supposed to be. Which is why Molly was surprised to turn around and see them all standing behind her, holding their letters in their hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d she said, frowning at their expressions. They ranged from outrage (on Lily and Zoey) to worry (on Schrodinger). \u201cDid someone say something to you? Were you being too loud?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Lily said defiantly. \u201cWe weren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what\u2019s wrong? Are you done with your letters?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Zoey said, shaking her head and making her purple bows on the ends of her braids dance with anger. \u201cBut there was a man that told us to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Caliban\u2019s servant is back,<\/em> Schrodinger said to Molly, cutting Zoey off. And he wants to see you. He wasn\u2019t polite about it this time.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDoes he, now?\u201d Anger blossomed up in Molly. \u201cI wonder why.\u201d<\/p>\n Because his master is angry?<\/em> Schrodinger guessed. I can\u2019t think Caliban is happy with us at this point.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t begun to see how unhappy I can make him,\u201d Molly snapped, then remembered the two little girls looking at her wonderingly. \u201cStay up here and finish up, guys. I\u2019ll take care of our unwanted guest.\u201d<\/p>\n She made sure that the four of them were set up at the table that was set up along one wall, and that they had everything they needed, before she went downstairs. If Caliban\u2019s servant couldn\u2019t be polite, then he could bloody well wait for her.<\/p>\n Finally, Molly took one last look around, then went down the stairs to the main floor. Caliban\u2019s man wasn\u2019t in the tea room; to her annoyance, he was lounging in her kitchen. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d she said abruptly.<\/p>\n \u201cMy master has a message for you,\u201d he said, standing up from the stool he\u2019d been sitting on, and setting down the tea ball he\u2019d been holding in one hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really care what your master wants,\u201d Molly informed him. \u201cYou are not allowed in this kitchen.\u201d She stepped to one side and pointed into the tea room. \u201cOut. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n He raised one eyebrow at her. \u201cAre you sure you want to do this? This message isn\u2019t for public consumption.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said out. Now.\u201d Molly glared at him. \u201cYou are not welcome in my kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat seems fairly clear,\u201d said a new voice, as Jack and Pavel stepped out from the pantry. \u201cI\u2019d leave now,\u201d the pirate added, as Jack scowled. \u201cMolly can get physical when she gets angry, and you\u2019re making her angry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what can a simple kitchen witch do to me?\u201d the servant scoffed.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you ever had scalding tea thrown at you?\u201d Jack asked. \u201cIt\u2019s not pleasant. Besides, if you make her angry, you make me angry, and I\u2019m perfectly fine with sending you back to your master in pieces.\u201d He looked over at Molly. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep the blood to a minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d appreciate it,\u201d she said. \u201cI hate cleaning it up.\u201d<\/p>\n The servant looked from one to the other, his bravado deflating like a punctured balloon. \u201cI will go,\u201d he said finally. \u201cBut after I give my master\u2019s message.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m listening,\u201d Molly said, crossing her arms over her chest. \u201cWhat does Caliban have to say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat you should have stayed out of this,\u201d the servant said. \u201cThat now that you have decided to defy my master, so you will pay for your disobedience.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDisobedience?\u201d Molly all but hissed the word, and her fingers curled around her elbows. \u201cDisobedience? What does he think I am, some prize dog that he can order around?\u201d She stalked over to the servant and said very softly, \u201cTell Caliban that if I see him in my Cove again, I\u2019ll make him wish he\u2019d never heard of me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and what army?\u201d scoffed the servant, but he shrank back from her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want to see her army,\u201d Pavel told him, and for once, there was no humor in the pirate\u2019s voice. \u201cTrust me. And neither does your master.\u201d<\/p>\n The servant ducked around Molly and scurried out. After a moment, she took the tea ball that he\u2019d been playing with and flung it viciously into the trash.<\/p>\n \u201cMolly? Is everything okay?\u201d DC stuck her head around the door frame, her hazel eyes wide. \u201cDid that guy actually come in here? I told him to wait in the tea room!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Molly assured her, forcing herself to calm down. It wasn\u2019t DC\u2019s fault, after all. \u201cHe won\u2019t be back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d DC nodded to Jack and Pavel, then went back out front, calling back, \u201cDon\u2019t forget that Santa will be here soon!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSanta is coming here today?\u201d Jack asked, blinking at the sudden change in subject. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s coming to collect the letters upstairs,\u201d Molly told him, going over to the stove and pouring herself a cup of tea water. Then she concentrated briefly, and smiled as the filled tea ball settled into the mug. She didn\u2019t use her powers like that very often, but she had too much energy right now, and it needed to go somewhere. Otherwise, she\u2019d be burning anything she tried to cook for the next day.<\/p>\n She turned and looked at the two. \u201cThank you for coming in when you did,\u201d she said, holding up the mug in a silent question. Both of them shook their heads. \u201cIt was fortuitous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was planned,\u201d Jack told her. \u201cI assume you know what Schrodinger brought us yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly nodded. The CrossCat had filled her and Drew in when they\u2019d come back to the bookstore, and Drew had had to hold her back from rushing off to wreak her own vengeance on the summer spirit. \u201cThank you for taking care of it,\u201d she said now. \u201cWhat would it have done?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInfluenced you,\u201d Jack said. \u201cSubtly, but he would have poisoned your mind, and made you his. Old Man Winter said he\u2019d tried the same with Jade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is how you knew how to destroy it?\u201d she guessed.<\/p>\n Jack shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ve seen him use it before. I was expecting it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you think that maybe you might have mentioned it to me, then?\u201d Molly heard the edge creep back into her voice. \u201cSo that I could be on the look out for it?\u201d<\/p>\n The fall spirit started to answer, then stopped. \u201cI didn\u2019t think of it,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI should have, though. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n The apology knocked the wind from her sails. \u201cYou are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Jack said, then looked slyly at her up through his downcast lashes. \u201cI\u2019ll deny it if you tell anyone, though.\u201d<\/p>\n That made her laugh, and chased away the last bit of her anger. \u201cI assumed so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to be careful now, though, Molly,\u201d Pavel said, coming over to her. \u201cCaliban doesn\u2019t take lightly to being stood up to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich means what?\u201d she asked warily.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich means we,\u201d and Pavel nodded at Jack, \u201cwould feel better if you\u2019d let us set some guards here and at the farm. Just to make sure Caliban doesn\u2019t try to\u2026\u201d He hesitated, and looked over at Jack.<\/p>\n \u201cCaliban might kidnap you or Schrodinger to force Jade to let him in to her lands,\u201d Jack said, and Molly blanched. \u201cWe won\u2019t let him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of guards?\u201d she asked, and one small part of her brain screamed that she was having to even think about it.<\/p>\n \u201cMe,\u201d Jack said. \u201cAnd some of Pavel\u2019s men, but mostly me.\u201d He looked determined. \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind. I just feel bad that I pulled you into this.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly looked at him, then at Pavel. \u201cDo you really think he\u2019d try that?\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel nodded. \u201cI\u2019m afraid so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I guess I have a guest,\u201d Molly said, sighing. \u201cWell, at least Schrodinger will be able to sleep again.\u201d She looked over at Jack. \u201cHe stayed up as late as he could last night, to make sure we were safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a loyal friend,\u201d Jack said. \u201cTonight, he will be able to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly just wondered if she could.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday, December 14 Molly glanced around the room, making sure everything was in order. The armchairs had been moved aside to make room for the large white chair, almost a throne, covered in ivy and red ribbons, that would very shortly be claimed by Santa himself. Schrodinger, Lily, Jack and Zoey were down in the …<\/p>\n