To Love A Nutcracker

Chapter 6

Charlotte felt a tear slip down her cheek as her godmother concluded the story.

"What a terribly sad tale." She said, gazing at the nutcracker. "Did they ever figure out how to change him back?"

"It took them many years to uncover the answer." Rosie replied. "This particular spell was incredibly powerful and difficult to break. With spells of that magnitude, it often takes a long time to discover the solution."

"How long did it take?"

"Eight years, to be exact."

"But they did find a way to reverse it?"

"Yes. The only way the nutcracker can be transformed back is—"

"I would appreciate it, Rosie, if you could refrain from filling Charlotte's head with your fanciful stories." Lucifer interjected, his tone firm. "She's far too old for such childish nonsense."

"Oh, Lucifer, must you always be such a sourpuss, even on Christmas?" Rosie replied with a playful sigh. "But since it's your household, I'll respect your wishes."

"Thank you." He said, his expression softening slightly.

With that, Lucifer moved into the next room, where a new song began to play. He extended his hand to his wife, inviting her to dance, while Husk did the same for Rosie. As Charlotte watched the adults gracefully waltz, a longing stirred within her. She imagined what it would be like to dance with a charming gentleman. Unfortunately, none of the boys her age had the courage to ask her, so she decided to create her own magic.

"Would you like to dance?" She asked the nutcracker, her eyes sparkling with imagination.

She made the wooden figure nod in response and rose onto her toes once more. With the nutcracker cradled in her arms, she let the melody sweep her away, ensuring each step harmonized with the notes while infusing her own flair. In those moments, dancing felt like liberation; it allowed her to express the deepest emotions of her heart without uttering a single word.

"Do you enjoy dancing too?" She inquired of the nutcracker as she executed a graceful plié. "I bet you do, and I'm sure you were a magnificent dancer—much better than I am."

Husk and Rosie paused to watch their goddaughter twirl. It was clear she needed improvement. Her confidence wavered, her precision and balance were lacking, and her natural clumsiness posed a significant challenge. Yet, on the bright side, she radiated passion, skillfully using her eyes and movements to convey her feelings. She moved with an ethereal grace that hinted at untapped potential. With the right guidance, she could blossom into a remarkable ballet dancer.

"I hope your arm isn't hurting too much." She said gently to the nutcracker. "The others shouldn't have treated you that way. But please, try not to hold it against them. I'm sure they didn't mean any real harm."

They observed how she interacted with the nutcracker—how tenderly she held him and the warmth in her gaze. In her eyes, the nutcracker was nothing short of beautiful.

"Husk." Rosie whispered into his ear, "I have an idea. It's a bit risky, but I'm confident it will work."

Just then, as Charlotte completed her fifth pirouette, she twirled right into the dessert table, sending dishes crashing to the floor and splattering food and punch everywhere, leaving frosty icing and jam in her hair and on her dress. Laughter erupted from the children, while the adults exchanged hushed remarks like:

"What a ridiculous child."

"Hard to believe that clumsy girl is the offspring of Lucifer and Lilith."