Page 36

“Don’t worry, Mommy! Mr. Lucifer put in a seat belt!” she hollers back.

I jerk my head back to look at her. She lifts the blanket from her lap and displays a tight black strap clasped across her lap. She smiles impishly up at me as if to say they thought of everything.

The flight to Lincoln Park doesn’t take long, which isn’t a surprise. Magic and all that. The list in my hand begins to vibrate and I gasp.

“That’s the signal!” Gurch wiggles in excitement and I wrap an arm around him to make sure he doesn’t wriggle right out of the sleigh.

“We’re close!” I tell Lucifer and carefully raise the list so he can see it. “The closer we get, the more it vibrates.”

“Hm.” Lucifer glances at me. “You’ll have to be my navigator. Whatever magic links the list to Santa does not apply to me.”

The list jerks in my hand. “To the right!”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Lucifer guides the sleigh to the right and levels out. When the list gives another jerk, I shout out a command.

Within seconds we’re floating above a tall apartment building, the architecture old and graceful. Street lights glow in the dark and light sprinkling of snow floats around us. Lucifer stands and grabs the sack from beside Mandy.

“Well, I suppose this is the place.” He hefts the sack over one shoulder and smiles.

Gurch leaves my lap and jumps to his master’s shoulder, patting his ear. “I do stockings.”

I look down to hide my smile. Are the devil's minions alway so cute and presumptuous?

The bright glint of gold flashes on the list and catches my attention. “Wait!”

“What is it?”

“There’s a D next to their names!” I stand up in my excitement and the sleigh rocks a little. I can’t help my squeal. Lucifer reaches out and steadies me.

“Does this mean they’re almost failing at something?” His voice is amused in my ear.

I push away gently and clear my throat. “No. I think it’s the opposite. Gurch, Fuchsia, and I think it means they are Descendants. Families from magical lines that still carry a little in their blood. Why else would Santa bother making the notation?” I don’t bother telling him Fuchsia put in a call to a friend in the North Pole. It was just to confirm what we’d already guessed.

“And what does that mean for me?” His expression sours and I have a feeling he knows exactly what it means.

“You need to encourage their belief.” I reach out and grab his hand. “Do something they can’t just shrug off. Rejuvenate their magic. Who knows? If everyone does this and keeps at it, it might even encourage their magic to grow. I’m certain it will at least help the children keep it alive longer.”

“You want me to pretend to be the miserable old elf?” Lucifer purses his full lips as if he’s tasting something nasty. Maybe candy canes.

I know I will never eat another one as long as I live. I’m traumatized.

“You don’t have to be Santa Claus, Mr. Lucifer! Be Satan Claus!” Mandy undoes her seat belt and leans forward eagerly. “Just do a little something they will alway remember.”

“I’m not sure I’m that creative, sweetheart.” He smiles down at my daughter.

Sweetheart? Did they become that close while working on the sleigh?

“Not creative? Your entire job is about creativity. How many levels of Hell have you created? How many ways have you devised to make souls pay off their debts?” I snort.

“Fine. Then let’s do this together.” He reaches out a hand and grasps Mandy’s.

“Wait! We can’t just go in there! We’re human! We need masks! And you too! What if we’re contaminated and you accidentally carry that into someone's home?” I touch his arm.

He looks like he wants to argue, instead he sighs and black masks appear, covering all of our mouths and noses. Even on Gurch, though I’m not sure how it’s staying in place since the little demon doesn’t have ears. “I assure you, my magic precludes any kind of disease, as does the jolly sick bastard’s. But if it makes you feel better than I shall comply.”

“It does,” I say. “And if we get caught, I don’t want them worrying either. This year’s been hard enough.”

“Very well then.” He turns his head to Mandy. “Don’t be scared.”