Page 5 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas
Cas hated the notion that this time of year would be sadfor some. After all, Christmas was when Cas had found the Berry family. But not everyone was as lucky as Cas. “I guess that’s true.”
“And it isn’t your job to cheer up everyone at Christmas.” Grady placed a large cloth over the crate and began packing another one.
Cas definitely wanted to protest that. As the self-proclaimed Christmas pixie, he felt it his job to spread the holiday spirit to those in need, including the grumpy orc.
But if they didn’t want the Christmas spirit being shoved down their throat, he should respect that. Even if he had to do so begrudgingly.
He stared at the Christmas tree, garlands hanging around the bakery, candles on the tables and windowsills, and the shiny baubles,
The baubles were old now. They’d been old when he’d seen them for the first time hanging in the bakery windows all those years ago. He’d been standing in the cold dark alley out back of the bakery, a lost, lonely orphan. He saw the glittering balls, so shiny and beautiful. They’d beckoned to him.
It had turned out to be the best day of his life. And every Christmas when he looked at the baubles, he was reminded of the day he’d found a family of hearth and kitchen witches who would become his forever family and give him his first true home.
Even after their parents had passed, he still remained a part of this family.
So why was the orc so sad? Did he have no one to celebrate the holiday with? No friends or family to sit with at night and eat, drink, and be merry? Cas imagined the orc on Christmas Day sitting at a table, alone in an empty room bare of decorations, a loaf of brick bread on the table. His chest constricted at the thought.
Or perhaps, the orc had thought he’d found someone tolove forever, someone to complete him and make him happy for the rest of his life. Then maybe he’d had that snatched away in the blink of an eye. And now all he was left with was pain, loss, and the knowledge he wasn’t enough for the incubus he loved.
Cas rubbed at his chest, blinking rapidly.
“Lacy, can you serve if anyone comes in?” Cas flew around to the back of the bakery. “I want to make some Christmas spiced jam to go with the scones for tomorrow.”
“Of course.” Lacy glanced at the front area. “It’s getting close to closing time. I doubt we’ll have many more customers.”
“And after closing, we need to head over to the Christmas markets to take over from the others,” Grady said, referring to their siblings who’d been running the stall. “It’s the first day of the Christmas markets. It could be busy tonight.”
“I’ll be finished before we need to go.” Cas flew to the cupboard and began to pull out ingredients whilst trying not to think of Xavi.
This is your favourite time of year. You love Christmas. Just because you’d planned to ask Xavi to bond with you on Christmas Day doesn’t mean you should let it ruin Christmas.
“You all right, Cas?” Grady asked.
Cas flashed him a smile. “Of course. It’s Christmas. What could possibly be wrong? Everything is perfect.”
Grady stared at him for several moments. Finally, he nodded and resumed packing.
“And I can’t wait to work at the Christmas markets tonight,” Cas gushed. “I love all the stalls, decorations, smells, and food. I know I’m working, but it doesn’t feel like it!”
A memory of a previous Christmas market flittered through his mind, Xavi holding his hand as they wove through the crowds, drinking hot chocolate. He remembered Xavi stopping at a stall and selecting a crystal snowflakependant hanging from a silver necklace. He’d bought it for Cas.
“It suits you,” Xavi had said. “It’s beautiful like you.”
The breath stuttered in Cas’s lungs. Would Xavi be at the Christmas markets this year? Tonight?
Cas’s hand tightened on the jar of ground cinnamon. He let out a breath. Surely Xavi would avoid the Christmas markets. He knew Cas worked there. He couldn’t be so cruel as to come.
Taking a deep breath, Cas continued to pull out the ingredients to make the jam. He loved making Christmas jam. Everyone always complimented how the spices reminded them of Christmas. Sometimes he even sold jars of it to the customers. They always sold out immediately.
Cas took a deep breath. This was what he needed to do, focus on enjoying Christmas and spreading Christmas cheer. He just wished he could stop thinking of Xavi.
CHAPTER 4
Graal walked down the dank hallway on the basement floor of the apartment building. A single lantern hung from the roof, casting a faint brownish glow.
“You don’t need proper lighting down here,” Fernos the vampire landlord had told Graal when he’d shown him to his room. “Orcs and all you cave-dwelling beasts don’t need that sort of thing.”
At the time, Graal had ducked his head and let the insult hit him. He’d been fourteen and living on the streets for weeks. A darkish room was better than nothing.
