Romancing Mrs. Claus

Chapter Eight

"Damn!" Nikolai shouted loud enough to make a group passing by jump and hurry away.

As fast as Quicksilver flew, it seemed impossible to catch up to Jack and Damaris and he just missed them again. While he was always impulsive, that idiot sprite nearly started a war enjoying the hospitality of the Queen of Atlantis only to run off with her great grandmother's prize thimble! Nikolai managed to keep Father Time's name out of it and smoothed relations with the gift of a snowflake amulet that allowed it to snow in her kingdom beneath the sea any time she wished. Were he not delayed, Nikolai would have met his wife in Pompeii and could have at least spoken to her and found out what the trouble was between them. 

Now they disappeared again and he had no idea where to search next. Checking the list of items Father Time gave him, it looked to Nikolai like they had all the items they needed. There were extra points for a bonus item that fell into the theme of the search and knowing Jack, they would definitely try to find such an item to ensure victory, but for the life of him Nikolai couldn't figure out where they would go or what that item would be. He decided to search for a few hours more before returning to Newgrange where the teams would converge the following night.

The sky was bright and clear and the area was bustling with people when Nikolai and Quicksilver touched down outside of Newgrange. He scanned the crowd as they entered the temple but could see no sign of Jack Frost or his wife. He joined the stream of people and soon found himself in a large auditorium with balconies packed with people reaching all the way to the high ceiling above. He made his way to the ground level where the teams were gathered and was astonished by the unusual makeup of contestants. One team was made up of several beautiful and voluptuous Yakshini sprites while the unlikely pairing of a Giant and Giantess with two gnomes formed another team. Ghostly shapeshifters banded together to form one team while two Jinn created still another team. 

Impossible as it seemed, Jack and Damaris were the least remarkable team in the competition. Nikolai spotted them in a corner, their heads together as they whispered and giggled to each other and the sight made his blood boil. Jack, as usual, looked suave and sophisticated in one of his fancy overpriced suits and Damaris looked absolutely stunning in a red satin gown with a form-fitting bodice.

Why did she never wear such a gown for me? he thought as he was gripped with envy. 

He made his way to the front slowly as the awards ceremony began. Each team had been delegated their own theme and had to find objects that best met that theme. The audience experienced an emotional roller coaster as each team presented their items along with explanations as to how they matched up specifically with their theme. At times even Nikolai became riveted enough by the proceedings to stop and watch.

Finally, Jack and Damaris stepped forward. With his usual showmanship and fanfare, Jack presented a vial of water from Shangri-La, a golden apple, an unusual little clay pot, and the thimble that caused Nikolai so much trouble.

"Our theme, if you haven't been able to tell, is lost and forgotten. Each of these items was picked up from civilizations long thought lost from the human world and forgotten entirely. My bonus item is ever-present in plain sight but often overlooked and forgotten as well. Like a child's toy, this item is abandoned and regains its allure only when someone else shows an interest. My friends, I give you the neglected wife!"

Jack stepped to one side and with a flourish, presented Damaris to the crowd. Nikolai's heart slammed against his chest as he watched her expression change from confusion to horror to anguish and humiliation before she fled from the room accompanied by laughter and cheers. Nikolai approached Jack as he turned from shaking hands with his admirers.

"Nikolai, it's a pleasure to..." Jack beamed at him but never got to finish the sentence for he was suddenly sprawled on the floor. His face was splattered with blood which ran from his nose onto his suit.