Crown Of Thorns [ Michael Langdon ]

9 - noël - 9

{Chapter Nine - Noël}

~ I think I'm a little bit, little bit,
A little bit in love with you ~

- Little Bit

"Bed time, Elora."

The little girl groaned in protest, and drew her legs to her chest.

"I want to stay up!"

Cordelia set down her mug of hot chocolate and folded her arms.

"Santa won't come if you don't go to sleep."

"Okay." The girl whispered as the sound of rain got louder, making her yawn.

"Now, be quiet. The other girls are asleep."

Elora glanced at the Christmas tree one more time through droopy eyes, before taking Cordelia's hand.

✧

"Oh no!" Elora exclaimed, looking down at her phone.

"What is it?" Michael rubbed his hands together to warm them up.

"There's a storm coming. All flights are cancelled." Elora glanced at the bags Michael was helping her pile into her car.

"Oh. That sucks." Michael said quietly. Then, as if right on time, it started raining.

"Shit." She muttered, reaching into the boot and grabbing her bags. The rain only started getting heavier, and thunder boomed loudly overhead. Michael grabbed her suitcase, and they hurried into Elora's apartment.

Elora turned on the electric fireplace, and they sat in front of it crosslegged as she called Cordelia to tell her the bad news.

"Mom, there's a-"

"Storm. Yeah, I heard." Cordelia interrupted. "Sounds pretty bad. I want you to stay inside, okay?"

"Okay. All the flights are cancelled, so I can't come to visit."

"I know. But it'll be alright. You can fly out when the storm passes."

"Yeah... This will be my first Christmas without you."

"Aw honey, don't stress. I'll see you soon." Cordelia said.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

"Bye honey."

Elora shivered and wrapped her arms around her body. The rain pounded on the roof, and Elora was sure it was about to cave in. Then, the room lit up with the next lightning strike. With a crackle, all the lights in the apartment flickered off, including the electric fireplace.

"Great." Elora muttered. "The power's out." It was so dark outside even though it was midday, and it was hard to see anything.

"How many candles do you have?" Michael asked, standing up.

"A lot." Came her answer. They scoured the apartment for all of her candles, so they could have a source of light. Elora set them up strategically, and went to grab a lighter. Just as she was about to light the first one, flames protruded from every candle in the apartment at once.

She was sure she hadn't done it, so she turned to Michael, "Oh my God!" She exclaimed, grinning. "Did you just-"

"Yep." Michael said proudly, looking around at all the lit candles. "After you showed me, I practiced heaps."