Page 68 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
“Okay! Let’s do that.”
Leo considered. “We’ll start with an easy one. Maybe a children’s Christmas carol.”
Percival chuckled. “Well, hopefully I am capable of that.”
Leo took a breath and began to sing. “Bells are ringing, bells are ringing.”
Percival watched Leo’s lips, mouth moving slightly as he listened.
“Snow is falling, snow is falling.” Leo sang through the whole song. He stopped when he reached the end. “So what do you think?”
“You have a nice singing voice,” Percival said.
“Thanks. Ready to join in this time?”
Percival nodded.
Leo began the song again, “Bells are ringing, bells are ringing.” This time, Percival sang along softly, pausing when he didn’t remember the next word. They sang through the song. Then did it again.
Finally, Percival sang clearly, “Snow is falling, snow is falling.” His head bobbed from side to side along with the beat. “Kids are sleighing, kids are sleighing.”
The door opened. Snow burst in with the wind and scattered through the room. Then Kali trotted in, followed by Jasper.
Leo’s mouth fell open. “Jas!” He strode towards him. “What the fuck were you doing outside?” Leo had assumed Jasper was resting in bed. He’d planned to go in and give him his tea soon.
Jasper gave him a hard look. “I’m allowed to go outside, Leo.”
“Well… Yes. Of course you are.” Leo glanced at the window and the snow whisking past. “It’s just dark, and the weather is terrible.”
Jasper shrugged. “It’s fucking winter. It’s always dark. The weather is always terrible.”
Leo looked his twin over. “Where were you? Are you okay?”
“I was walking.” Jasper took off his coat and boots, not looking at Leo. “And I’m fine.”
Leo pressed his lips together. He wanted to ask where Jasper had been walking and for how long. But that would just anger his twin.
Leo looked at Percival, who glanced between the two of them with a frown.
Leo swallowed any other questions that would piss Jasper off. He took a breath. “Do you want to join us, Jas? We’re being Christmassy.”
“We’re decorating. We have hot chocolate and cookies.” Percival picked up the plate of cookies and offered them to Jasper. “I’m told that’s the tradition.”
Jasper gave Percival a smile. “Thanks, Percy.” He grabbed a cinnamon star cookie.
“And I’m teaching Percy carols. Oh!” Leo clapped his hands together. “We should teach Percival the krampus song together! Remember the Krampus Night song, Jas?” He looked at Percival. “It was mine and Jas’s favourite Christmas carol as boys. But I don’t think we’ve sung that in years!”
“Krampus Night?” Percival asked. “What’s that about?
“It’s about how you better be nice because on Krampus Night, the krampuses will come into town and punish the naughty. So you better be nice, Percy!” Leo wagged his finger at him.
Percival’s eyes widened. “Is Krampus Night real?”
“It is! Krampus Night takes place on the fifteenth, ten days before Christmas. So the day after tomorrow,” Leo explained. “No one goes out on Krampus Night. The Christmas markets will close early. And we all lock our doors. Then the krampuses, who live outside the city, enter the town.” Leo paused. “Although, I don’t think they actually distinguish between naughty and nice. I think they terrorise anyone they find outside.”
Percival’s mouth fell open.
“They won’t kill you. They’ll just chase you and hit you with switches.” Leo frowned. “Although, I didn’t even notice Krampus Night last year. It happened during the snowstorm,and we were all stuck inside. I wonder if the krampuses ran that night or couldn’t because of the snow.”
