Loved By a Killer - A JTK Love Story

Christmas/ Hidden Demons

CHRISTMAS

PHOENIX'S POV

The weeks leading up to Christmas were both enjoyable and hectic. The mansion's size meant it took about 2 weeks until it was fully decorated. Slender told me aside that originally he only agreed to decorate for Christmas to please Sally, but as the years went by he started enjoying it more and more and actually quite looked forward to doing it...as long as he had help.
I couldn't save her, he told me. By the time I got to her it was too late. Only after days of research and repeated attempts did I finally manage to bring her back. Maybe that's why I feel so overprotective of her...and all of you. I wouldn't wish her fate on anyone and I will do anything to keep it from happening again. I tried to make her as happy as possible and the idea of family grew on me. You guys are like my kids. I was crying a little after that.
When I wasn't helping with the Christmas decorations, I was working. With Slender's permission, I had gotten a job as a cashier at a nearby thrift shop. I enjoyed it except for the fact that about twice a week I had complaining customers. One customer complained to me for 20 minutes and it took all my self control not to strangle him.
Everyone had a little tree in their room, that they could decorate however they wanted. Ben had little Majora's mask themed ornaments, LJ had little candies, Slender had helped Sally decorate her tree with so much pink you could barely tell there was a tree underneath. LJ had small plastic kidneys, Clocky and Toby shared a tree and decorated it with little hatchets and real ticking clocks. Jeff and mine was a mixture of knife ornaments, and traditional red and purple Christmas balls. I also had a string of colored lights around my mirror.
It being Christmas meant that I was blasting Trans-Siberian Orchestra at every opportunity. I had an accoustic guitar, so I could rarely play along, so I settled with playing air guitar. I was often embarrassed when my jamming sessions were interrupted by bouts of loud laughter.
Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. I was woken up by a long passionate kiss and 'morning, love," from Jeff.
"Hi, baby," I responded. When I looked at him I noticed that he was trembling. I looked at him curiously. "Um...are you okay?"
"It's Christmas!!" he shouted excitedly. I giggled; he was like a little kid. It was so cute.
"Merry Christmas, Jeff," I said, and he gave me a long hug.
"I love you so much, Phoenix," he said.
"I love you too," I responded. Just then, Sally barged in.
"Merry Christmas, sissy and Uncle Jeff!" she said, jumping up and down. Jeff laughed and scooped her up. "Hey, Sally-bear."
"Hi, sweetie," I said, kissing her head.
"Can we go downstairs, can we can we can we pleeeeeaaaaaase??" She was like a hyper little puppy.
"That depends. Is Slender ready yet?" I asked. I could hear the other residents of the mansion stirring, and Toby's excited stutter. Slender poked his head in, seeming to smile.
Merry Christmas, he said. Breakfast is ready. Then you may open your gifts.
Everyone ran full speed downstairs, gazing at the pile of presents underneath the magnificent tree. We sat down to a wonderful breakfast, which included fruit crêpes, muffins, porridge, coffee, hot chocolate, tea. When we were all full to bursting, Clocky and I helped Slender wash and put away the dishes, then we sat around the tree. My attention was caught by a bag that seemed to be moving and emitting faint mews.
Slender caught me looking and said, Ah yes, perhaps we better open that one first. He walked over and picked up the bag, then handed it to me. This is one of two gifts from Jeff. I looked at Jeff curiosity. He grinned. I reached into the bag and pulled out a tiny, pure black kitten with beautiful blue eyes.
"It's a boy," said Jeff. "Clocky helped pick him out, then I had to disguise myself to go and get him."
"How did that work?" I asked.
"He used my makeup to cover up his cuts," explained Clocky. Jeff turned away blushing. I looked at the kitten, who looked right back at me.
"I'm gonna call you Onyx," I said. In response, the kitten curled up on my lap and went to sleep, purring. Smile whimpered.
"Aww don't worry Smile, you'll always be my favorite." I said. I tossed him his present from me, a huge bone with a bow on it, which he knawed on happily, tail thumping.
A huge squeal of happiness came from beside me; Sally had just opened my present to her of new winter pjs, decorated with her favorite pony, Pinkie Pie. She ran up to me and hugged me from behind. "Thank you sissy, thank you!!" I kissed her head.
My next present was from Clocky. It was heavy and felt like books. I unwrapped it to find 7 pristine hardcover copies of Harry Potter, in their own collectors chest.
"Clocky...oh my god..." I was speechless. She handed me another box.
"That ties in with it."
I opened the other box to find a perfect replica of Hermione's Time Turner. I couldn't find words.
"Clocky...you didn't have to..." My words were lost as she hugged me.
"You're the best sister ever," I told her.
"Can I hold your kitty?" she asked me. I handed the still sleeping Onyx to her. He opened his eyes, looked around, then laid his head on Clocky's shoulder and went back to sleep.
"Pretty kitty, pretty kitty," she murmured, petting him. Sally went over and joined her, smiling widely.
There were only a few presents left. A gleaming blue electric guitar from Slendy, Doctor Who and Harry Potter posters from Toby, a Rainbow Dash plushie from Sally, and finally Jeff's last present.
He looked at me nervously, watching my reaction.
To my surprise, I unwrapped a jewelry box. I opened it to reveal a gold chain, with a gold dagger pendant. I gasped and put my hand over my mouth. "It's beautiful... Jeff...I love it... oh my God..." I started crying. He came over to me and gave me a long kiss, then fastened the chain around my neck.
We spent the rest of the day playing with our gifts. I sat on Jeff's lap tuning my electric guitar, and Clocky, Toby and Sally were on the couch playing with Onyx. Every now and then Sally would squeal with delight, and eventually Smile came over to investigate. He gave Onyx a sniff and licked him.
"Careful Smile, don't eat the kitty now," Jeff called over. Smile shook his head. I giggled, and Jeff gave me a squeeze.
Clocky eventually put Onyx on Smile's back to see how he would react. Smile carefully walked over to the fireplace and curled up on the rug, and he and Onyx took a nap.
"Wow," I said.
The day went fast. We all stayed out of Slender's way while he cooked, and then we all sat down to a mouthwatering turkey dinner.
While we were eating, Clocky called over to me. "Hey Phoenix!"
"Yeah?"
"I read through some of your Harry Potter books and they seem really fascinating."
"I was wondering how you found out about the Time Turner," I said. "I'm glad you seem to like them."
She seemed to be itching to ask something else. I took a wild guess and said, "You can have my old copies if you want."
"Are you serious??" I seemed to have hit the jackpot.
"Merry Christmas, Clocky."
"Yay!"
After we were all full to bursting with Turkey, we all laughed along with Elf. Then we gathered our stuff and went upstairs to get ready for bed. Onyx was mewling in my arms, and Smile followed closely behind. Jeff stared at me as I put on new footsie PJ's.
"You look so fucking cute," he told me. I turned red. I kissed Onyx's little head and he curled up on his new cat bed in the corner. Smile laid beside the bed and I cuddled Jeff, who put his arms around me. We were asleep within minutes.
A few hours later Jeff and I were woken by a high scream coming from Sally's room.
"What's wrong with Sally??" I said, panicking as we sprinted towards her. She was tossing and turning in bed.
"Help me! Uncle Johnny's after me! He's gonna get me! No, don't touch me! Leave me alone! No, no! Stop!"
Jeff shook her awake. She finally sat straight up, bawling.
"Uncle Jeff, help! Where is he? He's gonna hurt me again!"
"Sally bear..." he said, hugging her against his chest. I sat on her bed.
"Sally honey, look around. It was just a bad dream. You're safe. Uncle Johnny is not here," Jeff reassured her. I nodded.
"Sweetie, listen to me. Uncle Johnny can't hurt you anymore. He will never touch you again. I promise you." Anger was pulsing through me and my voice was a low growl. Sally still looked scared.
"Here baby girl, you can sleep with us tonight,"said Jeff, carrying her to our bed and tucking her in. We both kissed her goodnight, then crawled in beside her. I was still filled with rage about Uncle Johnny. I vowed silently that he would never hurt anyone else ever again.
"I'm gonna get that son of a bitch," I growled before going back to sleep, holding Sally tight.