Page 11 of The Orc Who Hated Christmas

Reaching his room, he let himself in. He lit the lantern and placed the brick bread, links of sausages, block of cheese, and box of cookies onto the table.

After cleaning himself up, he sat at the table. He stared at the box of cookies. He lifted his hand and touched the ribbon, a pretty vibrant red. He’d seen other customers with packages with dainty red ribbon. But he’d never gotten any before. Ribbon wasn’t for brick bread.

However, today he’d bought cookies, and Cas had wrapped his box in this bright-red ribbon and tied it into a little bow at the top.

Graal swallowed. It didn’t mean anything, of course. That was what Cas used to wrap the small boxes in. It was just what he did for customers.

But Cas had seemed so happy when Graal asked for the sugar cookies. Pixie dust had sparkled around him. And around Graal too. As it had rained down around him, he couldn’t help but marvel to be included in the shining beauty that belonged to Cas.

He’d had an impulse to lick his lips and taste the dust. He wondered if it tasted sweet. It should taste sweet. That would suit Cas, the pretty pixie with a sweet tooth who made the world around him shine and glow.

Graal reached out and lifted the box. He placed it on the palm of his hand. He tugged the bow loose and grimaced at the sight of his thick, clumsy green fingers handling the ribbon. But it couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t change his hands.

He laid the ribbon out on the table. He ran his fingers along the silky strand. He’d keep this. A little bit of brightness in his otherwise drab world.

Graal turned his attention to the small box and opened it. He took several moments to admire the dainty cookies snuggled inside the box. He’d bought a couple, but Cas had gifted him the rest, like a Christmas gift.

Graal had never had a Christmas gift before.

Graal shook his head at himself. It wasn’t a Christmas gift. Cas had just been being nice, and Graal was being ridiculous, finding bigger meaning in Cas’s actions.

He reached into the box with two large fingers and picked out a cookie, so careful not to break it with his thick fingers. Dark-blue icing covered the circular cookie, with swirls of pale blue and little white dots on top.

Graal could never make something like this. He lacked the dexterity. Cas had been proud of his creation. And heshould be. He’d brought beauty into the world. And he’d shared a little of that beauty with Graal.

He pressed his lips together. The previous day, he’d been judgemental of the customer eating the pretty star cookie. He’d thought the cookie to be frivolous festive bullshit. But now all he could do was marvel at the lovely little cookie.

Graal stared for several moments. He didn’t get nice things like this. He didn’t get dainty cookies just like he didn’t get rooms above ground, tables decorated with candles, fresh washing water, Christmas presents, or a mother who actually loved him.

Those sorts of nice things had always been beyond Graal.

And now he was reluctant to bite into the cookie. Because then it would be gone from his world and this little bit of light would disappear forever.

But Cas had wanted Graal to try them. So he lifted the cookie to his lips and bit.

Bliss exploded on his tongue. Layers of flavours—sugar, spices, and butter—swirled over his taste-buds. He groaned and closed his eyes, savouring the delicate balance.

In his mind, he could almost see Cas smiling at him, his glowing aura, and the pixie dust floating in the air.

Graal took another bite. This was so much better than brick bread. So much better than anything he’d ever had in his life.

And in that moment, Graal let himself enjoy something nice. He popped the rest into his mouth and ate the cookie, thinking of the Christmas pixie.

Cas was the most beautiful man he’d ever seen. Of course, someone like Cas was only nice to Graal because he was a customer. And maybe because Cas was kind and caring and giving.

But in the darkness of his dank little room when he sat all alone, he let himself think of what it would be like for Cas tolook at Graal as someone more than a customer. He wondered what it would be like to be with someone like Cas, to talk to him, to hold his hand, to hear that bubbly laugh, and see that smile and know it was for him.

Graal swallowed the last of the cookie and let out a breath, savouring the lingering taste on his tongue.

A loud knock banged on the door. Startling, Graal sat up and wiped his hands on his trousers. He opened the door.

Loral stood on the other side. “Washing’s done.” The imp servant held out a sack containing Graal’s clothes.

Graal took the bag of clothes. “Are they properly cleaned?” Graal would bet money that the upstairs tenants always had properly laundered clothing.

“It’ll be good enough for you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Stinks down here. Needs to be aired.”

Graal’s hand tightened around the sack. “It’s not like I can air the room. There are no windows. And my water isn’t being changed daily.”