Molly\u2019s first thought was that her bed felt weird. Not cold, but the comforter wasn\u2019t hers, and while Schrodinger was sleeping in his normal spot at the end of the bed, Drew wasn\u2019t there. In fact, the narrow bed wouldn\u2019t have fit both of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then she remembered the night before, when Kris had found them on the side of the road and brought them back to Brynna and Paul\u2019s house, where they met Paul and Brynna just coming back in their own sleigh. The couple was delighted to see them and happily put everyone up in the house for the night. Nathan, Kiaya, and Drew had been informed, and then Corrine had called the police to let them know about the abandoned car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Molly looked out the window. It was still snowing, which meant all she could see was a curtain of lace obscuring everything. She shifted, and Schrodinger said sleepily, Is it still snowing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d Molly said. \u201cIt\u2019s doing exactly what Aunt Margie said. I wonder how long Paul and Brynna will have to put up with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not long. Drew will come and get us on the snowmobile, or we can get a ride home with Kris. Or Old Man Winter. <\/em>Schrodinger shifted into a tighter coil. Do I have to get up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d Molly said. \u201cBut I need to. I need tea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She found that Brynna had left her a bathrobe and slippers, and so dressed, went downstairs to investigate the kitchen. As she\u2019d suspected, both Brynna and Kris were already up, and there was a pot of hot water on the stove, waiting for tea. \u201cYou two are amazing,\u201d Molly said, accepting a mug and picking through the tea bags offered to her. \u201cThank goodness you came along when you did, Kris. That was a stroke of luck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHardly,\u201d the older woman said from her seat in front of the wood stove. Brynna had both a wood stove and a regular stove\/oven, but she preferred the wood stove in the winter. Molly couldn\u2019t really blame her. \u201cI got told you\u2019d need help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly\u2019s hand paused over the top of the mug at that. \u201cWho told you?\u201d she asked, turning to look at Kris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSHE did,\u201d Kris said, and tapped the side of her head. \u201cThe lady living in my head.\u201d Then she chuckled at Molly\u2019s look of confusion. \u201cGet your tea, and I\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She waited until both Molly and Brynna had settled back down next to the stove and then said, \u201cYou know about Eidolons, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d Molly said. \u201cApparently I\u2019m good at fighting them, although I\u2019m not sure how.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cProbably because you care,\u201d Kris said. \u201cAnyways, you know how they need a vessel, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, actually,\u201d Molly said. \u201cThe extent of my knowledge is that they exist, and somehow, kitchen witchery scares them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInteresting,\u201d Kris said. \u201cI wonder why\u2026\u201d Then she shook her head, cutting herself off. \u201cNever mind. Well, let me tell you a bit about Eidolons. They have to have at least one vessel in order to do much of anything. Eidolons are emotions made real, but unless they are incarnated into a living thing, mortal or immortal, they can\u2019t do much. Once they are incarnated, they can channel their energy through the vessel and actually start affecting the world around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInteresting,\u201d Molly said. \u201cHow do you know about them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy village was the home of an Eidolon,\u201d Kris said. \u201cWe grew up knowing that perhaps one of us would be chosen to be her vessel, once her current vessel had decided to retire. That happened when I was only 18, and I was chosen.\u201d She paused. \u201cIt was a grand ceremony, but rest assured, it did not make me special in a good way. When you serve an Eidolon, even a kind one like in our village, you give up everything that you thought you would do in your life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy?\u201d Brynna asked. \u201cThat was something I never understood. Especially for your Eidolon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEspecially for the Eidolon I serve,\u201d Kris said. \u201cIt has to do with the travel. It\u2019s hard to travel where you are needed if you have a family, or a job that isn\u2019t portable.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cCan you imagine having to drop everything if you have a babe in arms? Or a shop that needs to be watched?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut aren\u2019t you building a store here?\u201d Molly said. \u201cDoesn\u2019t that interfere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot this time,\u201d Kris said. \u201cThe reason I\u2019m here is because the village that I used to live in, that the Eidolon used to rest in, is gone. So we need a new home base, and the Snow Queen was kind enough to let us settle here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is the Eidolon you serve, if you don\u2019t mind my asking?\u201d Molly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kris\u2019 blue eyes twinkled. \u201cSure, and do you really have to ask, child? What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Molly\u2019s answer was drowned out by the thundering of feet coming down the stairs, and moments later, the kitchen was invaded by hungry children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s still snowing! Can we play in the snow after breakfast?\u201d Kaylee asked. \u201cI\u2019m hungry!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe still need to get to the library!\u201d her older sister reminded her. \u201cThen we can play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI doubt the library will be open today,\u201d Brynna said, glancing out the window. \u201cI think you might be lucky if there\u2019s anything going on outside today. Except for getting you guys home. But let\u2019s see what I have for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have a Molly,<\/em> Schrodinger said, yawning a bit. We\u2019re fine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Molly\u2019s first thought was that her bed felt weird. Not cold, but the comforter wasn\u2019t hers, and while Schrodinger was sleeping in his normal spot at the end of the bed, Drew wasn\u2019t there. In fact, the narrow bed wouldn\u2019t have fit both of them. Then she remembered the night before, when Kris had found …<\/p>\n