Lucas examined the cookie in his hand. This would make a good distraction, he thought.

Chump, he took a crunchy bite, his eyes widening from the explosion of perfect sweetness in his mouth. "Mmm," he had another bite. Somehow it was even sweeter.

"Hey," Clyde said. "You won't have to get stronger on your own. We're here for you. I promise I'll do all I can to help you find them."

"Me too," Fiona affirmed.

This was the part where Lucas was supposed to say something heartfelt like 'Thanks, guys'. But all his senses were indulged in the taste of the tantalizing cookie.

"Mmm-hanks, guys-mmm."

A brief smirk played across Clyde's lips while Fiona shifted her focus back to her father. "If we're going to find his family, we'll need more time. Something sinister is going on between Gryla and Krampus. We intercepted their meeting yesterday and heard them plotting to freeze all of humanity by tomorrow night."

"Yeah," Clyde added. "They also said something about bringing you down your high horse."

Santa was unfazed. "Ah, yes, I saw you three marching across the Himalayas yesterday. But I was unable to see inside Grýla's cave. If what you're telling me is true-"

"Typical," Fiona hissed. "Still watching my every move like a control freak."

Santa boomed. "Someone has to keep an eye on you with all the immature decisions that you make."

Clyde pitched in. "Not sorry to break the family bonding, but there's an ice age approaching."

"As I was saying, if what you're saying is true then there's nothing to worry about. It's a bluff." Santa stated. "No one has that much power to bring about an ice age." After glancing at Lucas nibbling a cookie in pure delight, he corrected himself. "I mean no Force has that much power."

"You sure about that?" Fiona asked. "Because Krampus sounded pretty certain. And I don't mind seeing you get knocked off your high horse, but this is Krampus and Grýla we're talking about. So please consider remaining in the Claus Estate. At least until the night of Christmas Eve."

Santa furrowed his brows. "Are you implying that I miss the SAY Gathering?"

"That's exactly what I'm asking." Fiona retorted. "Forces are at their strongest in their Zones, basically omnipotent. Just stay here until it's time to do your only job for the entire year!"

"The Sacred Annual Yuletide Gathering is the biggest gathering of top Light Forces and I'm the Host. Do you know what would happen to my reputation if I passed on the event because of some threat?"

"You still live for your ego. We're telling you about a serious problem and your powers might be able to help us stop it."

"I'm always happy to help the Protectors of Balance, but I don't have time for you guys till after Christmas. The Light Forces are expecting me at the SAY Gathering tonight---and that's where I'm heading after this meeting. I'll be back by tomorrow night as usual to load up the gifts and deliver them across the globe."

"After all this time, you still won't listen to me!"

"No, Fiona. You're the one who couldn't stand listening to me." Santa rose from his couch, furious. "You couldn't stand us so much that the first time you saw that medallion, you wore it in a heartbeat! The problem was never with me."

Fiona shot up and stormed away. "And you wonder why I left!"

Lucas, who had finished his cookie, tried to go after her. "Fiona, w-"

"Magus verborum," Santa boomed and the boy froze. "I'd like to have a word with you."

Clyde balled his fists. "With all due respect, Santa, I think the plan of the Dark Forces should be treated more seriously, especially because Christmas is at stake. If they somehow manage to freeze the world over who will be left to receive your presents? You all will lose relevance in the physical realm."

Santa eyed him. "And tell me, hybrid, how exactly do you think Krampus and Grýla can freeze the entire human race before tomorrow night?"

Silence hung in the air before the Light Force continued. "I don't mean to tell you Protectors how to do your job but if you don't want to be reasonable and merry in my home, then maybe you should kindly see yourselves out."

Clyde was facially expressionless, but Lucas caught a glint of fury in his eyes.

"Tch," Clyde walked away disappearing around a corner.

Lucas attempted to follow suit when a snowman materialized in front of him, wearing a blazer made of snow. The cold stare sent shivers down his spine.

From over his shoulders, Santa breathed, his tone commanding. "Stay a while longer, won't you?"

Lucas heard Santa's steps retract to a sofa. Whipping around, he saw the Light Force sitting with hands clasped under his jaw and a look of disapproval in his eyes.

As Lucas proceeded to occupy an opposite couch, a lump formed in his throat. "Am I on the naughty list? Look, I can explain; I had no idea you existed before-"

"That's a misconception," Santa growled. "I don't keep lists. Who writes down billions of names on paper?"

"Oh, so if it's not the naughty list..."

"Do you know how powerful I am, magus verborum? I'm the Host of the Sacred Annual Yuletide Gathering. A meeting of top Light Forces during the Christmas season--my season. I've been around for millennia and I've witnessed all the Protectors of Balance that came before you."

Lucas shrank into his seat.

Santa's steely gaze remained fixed on the boy. "But this isn't about me. No, no, it's about my daughter."

"Fiona?"

"No shit. Listen, magus verborum, you're human, Fiona is not. She's a Demi-Force. She's a hundred and fourteen years old and she'll be alive long after you're gone. I've seen your interest over the years through the snow--and before you comment on my ethics-- know that I do not and will never approve of the kind of relationship you want to have with her. Not only is she out of your league, but also, she deserves a Demi-Force like herself to spend her life with. As a caring father, I'm currently making arrangements with other Light Forces. In the meantime, keep your relationship with my daughter strictly professional. Got it?"

"Got it," Lucas blurted with a high-pitched voice, giving two thumbs up for emphasis.

"Glad we could come to a jolly agreement." Santa beamed. Immediately, he began turning into a haphazard mass of snow. "Remember, I have my eyes on you."

In his new form, he swirled around Lucas before exiting the room.

Alone in the silence, his brain tried to process what just happened. Wow, so this is Santa Claus.

"Hello, dear," Mrs Claus strode into the room, a tray of glasses of milk in hand. "Hope you enjoyed the cookies? I apologize that the milk couldn't come sooner. The food forge was just lagging today."

"Did you say...food forge?"

She stopped in front of him, offering a glass of milk. Her eyes lit up in surprise. "You didn't know about food forges? I thought you Protectors had one at the Absconditum."

Lucas took the milk. "Two days ago, all this was a bunch of myths and legends I couldn't care much about. Now? Now, everyone's favourite Santa Claus just threatened me."

She chuckled. "Oh, he gets like that sometimes. Honestly, I believe Fiona is mature enough to make her own choices." Turning around, she added. "Perhaps you should go check on her."

"You're right," Lucas sprang to his feet. "Thanks for the refreshments, Mrs Claus."

"Anytime, dear." Lucas heard her say as he briskly walked into the elevator.

He pressed the top button and it began to ascend.

What the heck is a food forge anyway? He analyzed the cold glass of milk. Shrugging, he took a sip and his eyes widened in delight. It was so creamy, so tasty, unnaturally refreshing.

The glass was half empty when the elevator opened to reveal Fiona sitting at the far edge of the rooftop. Her long blue hair flowed to the gentle rhythm of the wind.

He looked at the milk, then at her.

"I'm fine, Mom," Fiona grumbled without looking back. "I don't need your advice."

Lucas hesitated. She thinks I'm Mrs Claus.

He considered backtracking into the elevator but quickly decided against it. Instead, he acted on impulse. Mimicking the voice of Mrs Claus, he responded. "Boy, I'm relieved. I wouldn't have known what advice to give you."

Fiona snickered and craned her head towards him. "Lucas? You did not just do that." Her laugh was mirthful, enchanting even that it made Lucas grin from ear to ear.

"Hey," he bridged the distance and sat beside her at the rooftop's edge, his dangling legs brushed hers for a moment. They locked eyes as he spoke. "Umm, so I learned a lot about your family today."

She peeled her gaze from his. "About that..."

"Does Clyde know? Does he know you're a Demi-Force? That you're Santa's daughter?"

"Yeah," she sighed, her tone mellow. "He knows. I wanted to tell you, but at the same time, I didn't. I kinda figured it'd be better if you just found out on your own."

"You're saying if we didn't have to come here and warn Santa about that threat, you would never have told me?"

Her gaze met his in the brief silence, the answer evident within.

"Why?" He asked. "I thought we're meant to trust each other. I thought the Protectors of Balance were meant to be a team."

"It's not that I don't trust you, I do." She sighed. "It's just...I'd rather be known as Fiona Snow, not Fiona Claus. If there was a way I could've told you I was a Demi-Force without telling you I'm Santa's daughter, I would've tried that."

"But you told Clyde."

"And I kinda regret it, because now all he sees is some icon of reverence, not a girl wanting to live her life as she pleases."

She pointed to a bunch of log cabins in the distance. "See those houses over there? They were built by the elves for my older siblings. Once you're a hundred and ninety years old, my father's idea of independence is to relocate you from his manor to a house within the range of his manor. None of my siblings have ever lived outside this Zone." She raised her knees and folded her arms over them. "The day I saw this medallion on my dresser was the best day of my life."

"It gave you freedom." Lucas thought out loud.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Freedom to be different, to be me."

"Are you really a hundred and fourteen like Santa said?"

She chuckled. "Does that scare you?"

He took in her angelic features. "It confuses me, to be honest."

"Demi-Forces aren't immortal like Forces, but they age ten times slower than humans. My younger siblings have been alive for forty years but they look and act like typical four-year-old humans."

"That means your hundred and fourteen years translates to a typical fourteen-year-old girl. Without the typical."

She grinned. "Now you're catching on. We tend to live for about a thousand years."

She noticed the expression of shock on his face. "Are you scared now?"

Lucas smirked. "I was just surprised. If anything, this makes you even more cooler in my books."

Her cheeks turned pink and before he knew it, she pulled him into a side hug, her head resting on his shoulder.

Lucas had never felt so happy. He wished for the moment not to end. But a certain threat crossed his mind, making him whisper. "You know, Santa's probably watching us."

She whispered back, her voice hinting that she was enjoying the moment. "I know, that's why after this I'll raise my middle finger to the sky."