Santa Trouble #4
They worked on a few drills, and Natasha felt stronger by the second. Aunt Calli made her practice getting out of holds and how to block hits. She also made sure to know a couple good places to kick someone if they tried to grab her.
Knees were a particular weak spot. She made a mental note to take Santa out at the knees if he got close enough.
Natasha already knew she wasn’t supposed to get close enough for someone to grab— that had been one of their first lessons.
She was supposed to run if she could. But sometimes, things happened.
“You’re distracted today,” Calli said.
“I’m sorry. I’ve got… stuff to think through. Plans. You know. Because of… later this month.”
“Ah,” Calli said. “Understood. That does require some thought. But don’t worry. It’ll be okay. Just do your best. Do you know what you’re getting for your dad?”
Getting for him? “Um, no?”
“Oh, that’s okay then.”
Getting something. Another clue. Did Santa have something they were supposed to take from him? Maybe that was how they won the challenge. Taking something from Santa and giving it to Daddy?
“Calli, are you allowed to tell me anything about Santa? You know, something mostly secret? I won’t tell.”
Calli made a really funny look and Natasha sighed. It had been a long shot, but worth it to try. If anyone would give her inside scoop, it would be Aunt Calli.
“I’m…uh… I don’t really… well…”
“It’s okay, Aunt Calli. I understand. There are rules about these things.”
Santa even had Calli flustered. It was another sign that they were dealing with one of the champions. Natasha only hoped he wasn’t as tough as Calli and the other hellhounds. She wasn’t sure they could beat them. But with all these clues, they had a chance.
Natasha pondered the clue Grandpa William had given her again.
“Bows of Holly,” Natasha murmured.
“What was that?” Calli asked.
“Bow. I’m confused about that word.”
“Like, take a bow?”
Natasha shrugged. “Does it mean anything else? Like deck meant two things?”
“Not that I know of. But it is one of those words that— well, I forget what it’s called. You can ask your Papa, but it’s a word that is spelled the same but you say it different sometimes. So bow like take a bow is spelled the same as a bow that you put in your hair.”
“Hair bow?”
“Yep.”
So they were supposed to punch the walls with hair bows that some girl named Holly wears in her hair? This clue wasn’t making any sense at all.
“Course, it’s also bow as in bow and arrow. Like I said, it’s one of those words that does a lot of things.”
Bow and arrow. Now that made sense.
“Aunt Calli, do you have a bow and arrow?”
“Sure. It’s not my weapon of choice, but I have one. It never hurts to be well versed in a lot of different weapons. You never know what you’ll have on hand to work with. Once you’re bigger, I’ll start expanding your arsenal too.”
“I think I need to practice with a bow, Aunt Calli. It’s important. And if you could let me borrow one—”
“Not gonna happen, kiddo. That’s a dangerous weapon. You can use it when I’m here to work with you.”
Natasha sighed. “I understand.”
“Don’t look so upset. In fact, I’ll see if I can find one that’s for kids so you can practice with it. Mine would be too tough for you to use anyway.”
“Thanks, Aunt Calli. I’m just— it’s a lot, you know?”
Calli patted her on the shoulder. “You worry too much, you know it? But I get it. I’m a worrier, too.
We do our best to keep our packs safe, but at the end of the day, we have to depend on our pack to work together.
That’s the important part, Tasha. Remember that, okay?
It’s not all up to you. You have an entire pack to keep you safe, and an entire pack of hellhounds on top of that.
And don’t get me started on Zaire and the magic stuff. ”
“Thanks, Aunt Calli. And thanks for coming over today to help me. I just… needed it.”
“Understood. I have to get going, though. I’m working at the bar tonight.”
Natasha waited until Calli opened her portal and stepped through before running back upstairs. She ran to Ben and Ollie’s room and tugged the notebook out from beneath Ben’s mattress before writing down all the words to her clue.
Henry came in just as she was finishing up. “Another one?”
“Yeah. From Grandpa William. This one’s tough, but Calli helped me figure some of it out. I just don’t know who Holly is.”
Henry read the clue and made a puzzled frown. “Does it have to be a who?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, remember Zaire had me reading that special book of magical plants?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, there’s a plant called holly in it. Let me go get the book and we’ll see what it says. We might have to get someone to help, though. I don’t know a lot of the words.”
Natasha grinned. “That’s why Grandpa William told me to come see him. He knew we’d figure it out and would need some help.”
Henry grinned back and ran to get the book. They knocked on Grandpa William’s door and waited for him to ask them in.
He paused his show and called them in. Natasha was pleased to see that he had his feet up and a hot compress against his back. She patted his arm gently. “Good job, Grandpa.”
He huffed and grabbed her hand. “Don’t know what I’d do without all this fussin’. Might forget to eat if you didn’t remind me.”
Natasha smiled. “Now you’re being silly. You never forget to eat.”
“What’s that big book you’ve got there, Henry?”
“Zaire has me practicing learning what trees look like, Grandpa. But we were curious about one called holly. Can you read to us about it?”
“Well it is the time of year for it, isn’t it?
Let’s see.” Grandpa flipped the pages and held up the book.
“This is it, here. Now, what does it say? How about that. It’s a protective thing, magically speaking.
I didn’t know that. I suppose I should have.
And it’s supposed to help you stay calm. Learn something new every day.”
Henry turned to Natasha, his eyes wide. He mouthed the word calm and she nodded. Their clues were connected. Calm and bright was somehow part of the deck the halls clue.
“Thanks, Grandpa. You’re the best.” Natasha pecked a kiss on his cheek before standing again. “Do you need something to drink or a snack?”
“Oh, go on now. I’m fine. Besides, your Papa’s already promised to bring me something in a few minutes once he finishes Ben’s lessons.”
Natasha and Henry dashed out the door and went to add their newest information to the plan. Things were really coming together. Natasha grinned and pulled Henry in for a hug. Santa’s the one who better watch out. Natasha fully intended to deck him if she got the chance.
Ollie knocked on Grandpa William’s door and waited for him to say “Come in.” It always took him a second because he had to use the remote to pause his show first. Ollie was supposed to practice his patience while he waited.
He didn’t really know what that meant, but he stood there anyway until Grandpa said it was okay.
Grandpa patted his leg once Ollie got close enough, so he climbed over the arm of the big recliner Grandpa liked to sit in and curled up on his lap.
He let out a tired sigh. He didn’t need a nap.
He didn’t. But maybe he could just sit with Grandpa for a little while so he didn’t have to worry about the plan.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothin’,” Ollie said before he yawned and settled his head against Grandpa’s shoulder. Grandpa always smelled good. Like Papa, but different.
“Thought we agreed no lyin’ around here,” Grandpa huffed.
Ollie sighed, and Grandpa wrapped his arm around Ollie’s back. “Not lyin’, Grandpa. We finished the plan. I’m just a little tired. But I don’t need a nap.”
“The plan?”
Ollie nodded. “Not supposed to talk about it. But you don’t have to worry. We’re good enough to be the alpha’s kids, and we’ll keep that Santa guy out of here.”
Grandpa’s arm tightened. “I think I’m missing something. Remember that I’m old and forget stuff. And I’m human. Can’t forget that bit. You wanna explain to your old Grandpa what’s going on?”
Ollie yawned. “There’s a guy who comes and makes sure kids are good or bad. We have to keep him out or we don’t get to be the alpha’s kids. Only the best kids get alphas for daddies. We’re the best kids, Grandpa. No need to worry.”
Grandpa made one of his weird noises, but Ollie ignored it. Papa said that sometimes when you got old your body made noises like that and it wasn’t polite to mention them.
“You talking about Santa Claus?” Grandpa asked.
Ollie nodded and rubbed his nose against Grandpa’s shirt. He wasn’t tired. He patted Grandpa’s chest and closed his eyes. “It’s okay, Grandpa. We made a really good plan.”
Ollie woke up when Grandpa’s show finished and he turned his television off. “Feel better?”
“I wasn’t tired,” Ollie protested.
“I know. Nothing wrong with closing your eyes for a minute to think. Grandpa does that all the time.”
Ollie rubbed his eyes.
“Grandpa has a mission for you.”
Ollie lifted his head. “A secret mission?”
“Not this time. We need to have a family meeting. Grandpa has some important news. Now you go on and tell your Papa that Grandpa needs everybody in the living room stat. Remember what stat means?”
“Right now!”
“That’s the ticket. We need Nana, Pop-Pop, and Grammy too.”
“I’m on it.” Ollie scrambled out of the chair and hurried for the door.
“Close that behind you. Grandpa has an important phone call to make.”
Ollie grabbed the handle and pulled the door closed quietly like Grandpa liked. He told Ollie there was no need to slam a door unless you had a point to make. And besides, what had that door ever done to him? Sometimes Grandpa said the weirdest stuff.