Sunday Snippet: A Haunting Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Man. Whatever alignment the planets are in has been wrecking things in my house lately. After the washing machine saga, our coffeemaker took a crap. It's less than a year old. Seriously … not the norm. But the good news is a new washer and coffeemaker should arrive sometime this week barring any other global server outages.

Had a super busy work week. Finished the holiday manuscript and received a mystery and a romance for copy edit. Picked back up with a novella I've been working on with an author for a while now and enjoying getting back into the groove of the book. Also had an author reach out about a new twist on a previous project. Really fun week!

I didn't get a lot of screentime this week, but I watched a few shows. I'm in a weird place with viewing. I want to watch stuff, but my brain isn't settled on exactly what. Kind of want to binge something with a lot of seasons for a while to see if that will reset the needle.

I loved the episode of My Life Is Murder. Actually really twisty with an interesting outcome. Once again, Madison shined. I love that character.

Caught another Best in Paradise. This one featured the farewell to Martha, which ended up being so funny and sad at the same time. Excellent episode.

Watched another Death in Paradise with the introduction of the new DS. Not completely sure if I like her or not. Stay tuned.

Started an episode of Elementary but struggled to stay focused so I'll finish it up this week.

And that's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from A Haunting Yule, a Holiday Spirit short featuring a banshee and a goblin.

Here's the miniblurb:

Holiday spirit Thom Tinsel brings an unlikely duo together for Yule. Urika Uhl is a banshee holding on to a past she needs to let go. Ingo Ingalls is a goblin searching for his place in the netherworld. Thom's magick shows the couple their differences can help them build a strong future together.

And preview snippet…

Ingo waded through the throng of brawlers in the club, intent on breaking up the melee. "What is it about the holidays that make people stupid?" He stunned most of the participants in his path with a quick grip between their shoulder and neck and a muttered suggestion charm for them to head home.

He had the two who started the fight in his sight and had almost reached them when his counterpart Bart Nim sailed over a row of tables from the opposite end of the bar and placed both hands on the head of the biggest fae and twisted his neck, breaking it and slaying the demon.

Ingo grasped the other fighter and held him back. "Don't or you'll end meeting the same fate." Once Bart went in to kill mode bodies started dropping.

The lead bartender cleared the building and Ingo grabbed the dead demon by the feet. Bart got a hold of his arms, and they carried him out to the parking lot where he'd be picked up for last rites. Something no one wanted to do at the happiest time of the year.

Ingo waited until they got closer to the bar entrance before going off on Bart. "This is why everyone thinks we're only good for bashing heads."

Bart only grunted.

Ingo planted his feet, choking down the urge to punch the other goblin. "It's Yule. And now some family will always have the memory a goblin killed their relative. Can you not see that?"

Bart shrugged. "Ask someone who gives a shit. Lethal force is authorized if more than a dozen are tearing the place up." He started to walk away.

Ingo stepped into his path. "I had everyone cleared out. You waited until there were only two left before you acted." Like the duo represented some massive threat.

Bart sneered. "So I did. Nothing you can do about it now." He went back inside.

Ingo crossed the parking lot and went up the stairs to the owner's office to give him a report on the death and the way Bart escalated the situation by killing one of them.

After Manuel shrugged off Ingo's concern, he tried one more tactic. "We're headed down a dark path, Manny. We have very few allies and those only tolerate us. When we need something, no one is going to be there." Why did he have to explain this?

Manny gave a cursory nod. "Yeah, I hear you." He lifted his chin. "Why don't you deliver the news? You're more tactful than any of the others."

Ingo refused. "Nope. I'm not doing the death knock for you. In fact, I'm never doing them again. I'm not the asshole that keeps taking lives." He stormed out of the office and headed home.

By the time he walked the short distance to his residence, his anger threatened to boil over. He found a parchment envelope hovering by his door. Thinking it might be from his boss, he tore the missive open ready to rip it to shreds. But the gold foil lettering couldn't be from Manny. The guy wouldn't know nice stationery if it bit him on the ass.

Ingo unfolded the card.

The tidings of the season

Don't always bring cheer.

When mayhem seems to rule

The happiest time of the year.

Seek some peace and solitude

No matter the cost.

Take time away

Before all is lost.

The address for the Goodacre Bed and Breakfast followed the invitation along with instructions for the arrival time and dates.

Ingo huffed out a breath. "Hell, yes. This is perfect." He definitely needed a break, or he'd be knocking heads together.

Something he no longer wanted to do…

I love writing the Holiday Spirit shorts. Urika and Ingo are a bit of a challenge, but I'm so happy with how this story is playing out.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye Ritchey