Book Six: Chapter 67

“I wish you were still here,” the Arachne said, her eyes on the stars. “Or Mom. Or even Dad. I hate how alone I feel in a room full of people. I hate that a year ago, you and Dad were still here. Everything changed so fast, I feel like I’m a different person now. Almost like the old me died, and I’m all that remains.”

Yuki felt Mike tense up beside her, so she took his hand and squeezed it.

“Ah, here it is. The secret misery behind the holidays. Missing the ones we’ve lost.” Christmas Present’s eyes had turned black, and dark veins sprouted along her cheeks. “If joy were measurable, I wonder just how much of it you’ve robbed from this beautiful creature.”

“Eat my whole, fucking ass.” Mike spun to face the giant. “If I hadn’t come along, Leeds would have torn this entire place apart. Maybe Velvet would have survived, maybe not. This is the same shit Christmas Past tried, and it didn’t work.”

Christmas Present’s left eye twitched, and a heavy presence descended