Page 6 of How to Lose an Omega in Twelve Days
Once at the top of the cliff, I settled down and just basked in the still falling snow and the cool night breeze. I looked down at the resort and smiled. It was beautiful. I just had to get through the next couple of weeks and it would be mine.
Suddenly, as I looked down at the lights in the lodge, I felt more like the Grinch glaring down at Whoville. I sighed sadly.
“I can do this,” I told myself.
What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter Three
Theo
I got up the next morning, hoping it was all a bad dream. That Jake, or should I say Jack-Freaking-Frost, and I hadn’t destroyed the sleigh runway by accident. That Santa hadn’t almost expelled me from the program I had dreamed about my entire life.
And that I wasn’t about to miss out on Christmas in Santa’s Village to make up for it.
But I saw my suitcase in the living room of my little cabin and sighed. It was real.
I made my morning hot cocoa and sat down for one last breakfast in the North Pole. For now, I told myself. I’d be back.
I was halfway through my cinnamon roll when I realized there was a red and white striped envelope on my table.
Curious, and puzzled, I grabbed it and opened it. Inside was a plane ticket in my name for a flight to Vermont. There was also a brochure for a ski resort and a Christmas postcard, both for the same town. I flipped over the postcard.
Reservation #2512
Snowdon
S.C.
“What?” I murmured, reading it again.
Oh, of course. S.C. must have been Santa. Who else could have picked up a postcard from halfway around the world and left it inside my cabin in the middle of the night?
Apparently he had chosen where he wanted me to go. But what was Snowdon? I flipped through the brochure of the admittedly lovely looking resort, but didn’t see the word anywhere.
Well, no time to ponder it now. I’d have time on my flight.
I finished packing, made sure I had everything I needed for a couple of weeks among humans, and headed for the edge of town. The main runway for the sleigh was swarming with elves and yetis and shifters, all busy repairing it. But there were plenty of smaller runways. I chose a slightly private one; I didn’t feel like any goodbyes while feeling like I was being exiled.
After making sure my backpack was secure, I shifted. I shook and stretched a little, then pranced around to warm up. When I was ready, I double-checked my backpack, then lined up on the runway and started running.
As I picked up speed I gathered myself and leapt several yards. My hooves hit the ground and I galloped a few steps, then jumped again. Each jump lasted a little longer and took me farther and higher than the previous one. And then, the jolt from hitting the ground never came.
I started moving my legs like I was running, slower this time, almost lazily, and climbed higher into the air. I hadn’t gone far when the air in front of me shimmered. I kept going, pushing through the magical barrier that shielded the North Pole from the human world. I galloped along, high in the air, feeling free.
For a little while, I felt nothing but joy. I pranced and danced in the sky, riding the wind and letting the falling snow pelt me. But all too soon, I could see civilization. I landed before the humans could see me and then trotted through the woods until I came to the edge of a city. I shifted back into my human form and headed in. I walked a couple of blocks, then opened up my DriveMe app and called a car to take me to the airport.
I probablycouldhave flown there without a plane, but only Santa’s chosen reindeer were gifted the magic to go as fast as they could. Even getting from the North Pole down to the northernmost airport in the world had taken me quite a while. Going all the way south to the resort would have taken at least a couple of days.
And if I wanted to help someone find some Christmas cheer, I needed all the time I could get.
I landed, caught another ride to the resort, and stepped out of the car in front of a beautifully crafted lodge. It screamed Christmas. I walked inside, admiring the architecture and the pine swag and decorations… but my joy was short lived. How was I going to find someone who didn’t like Christmashere?
But, Santa had given me the ticket and the flyer. He must have known something I didn’t.
So, I headed up to the front desk and checked in. Key in hand, I headed up a rustic wooden staircase to the third floor. My room wasn’t huge, but it was cute and homey. It was tastefully decorated for Christmas as well. I let myself smile, just a little. Maybe Santa wasn’tthatmad at me, if he was helping me out like this.
I headed down to the large dining room for dinner. It was fairly crowded and it seemed like the only available seat was at a two-person table in a corner. I took it and people-watched while I ate, wondering how I was going to find someone who didn’t have any Christmas spirit. Everyone here looked merry and bright. Most of them were even wearing festive sweaters.
