Book Eight: Chapter 18

A nearby elf stopped in their tracks and stared at Mike in horror.

“I’m kidding,” he said. “She won’t literally explode.”

Holly waved the elf on, then turned back to Mike. “That one is new,” she said. “Only a few months old.”

“You create them fully grown?” asked Sofia as they started toward the lounge.

The elf nodded. “We’re still replacing the lives lost from the previous Christmas. However, instead of just making all of them at once, we’ve been looking at how to create improved versions with a better sense of free will.”

“Why not copy you?” asked Mike. “You have free will.”

“Part of that is because I’m now in charge of this place.” Holly waved her hand around. “Technically, I rank above Santa now. There’s no telling how the magic may interpret something like that.”

“And the other part?” asked Sofia.

Holly giggled, then gave Mike a longing look. “Because I’m tainted,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Somebody filled me up with a little