Page 29 of A Raging Merry Christmas

“I’ll get my dad to beat him up,” Nashoba agreed, looking fierce.

“My father will kick his ass,” Hawk added.

“Whose ass? We don’t know who’s behind it, but if we burn their spy shit, we win,” I stated.

My dad was president. I knew how to lead my men. And I was the Legacies next president. These were my brothers to protect. And I had to look after the Princesses. Even Eddie, although I did not like her.

But only I could torture my sister, no one else. Eddie was my rival, or she thought she was. Soon enough, she would realise I was cleverer, faster, and better than her. Eddie didn’t have a patch on me. I was her future president, and Eddie would respect and bow down to me. She’d have to do as I said when I took the title. Eddie was just a silly girl, and Peyton was the same.

“Let’s find these spies and burn them!” I exclaimed, and everyone ran off.

EJ came with me as we began checking everywhere.

Lots of minutes passed before we all met back up, and we had loads of these nasty spies.

“What do we do?” EJ asked.

I grinned.

“Outside. To the fire pit,” I said, and we fled through the Hall, somehow avoiding all adults.

“Dump them in there,” EJ ordered everyone as I headed to the shed.

Dad thought I didn’t know the code, but I did. I typed it in and yanked the door open. I looked around for a can of gas, found one, and raced back outside.

The Legacies had made a huge pyramid of the spies, and even now, they kept twisting their heads. I poured gas all over them and frowned. That might not be enough. EJ and I fetched three more cans before we thought we had soaked them properly.

“Anyone got matches?” Scout asked.

“I do!” Timmy answered.

“Where’d you get them from?” I demanded.

“I snuck back into the kitchen and snatched them from the drawer Mrs Ames keeps them in,” Timmy replied.

“Good man,” I said, giving him a nod of approval like Dad does.

“Whatever you are going to do! Don’t!” a voice came from an elf, and we shrieked.

“That’s my dad’s voice!” Nashoba shrieked. “They have stolen his spirit. They’re evil like my grandpa’s stories!”

Nashoba grabbed the matches and flicked one.

“Everyone get back!” I roared as Nashoba threw the match onto the elves.

“Burn you bastards!” I screamed as we all moved backwards.

There was a loud whoosh, and a huge flame shot into the air. As we lay on our backs in the snow, we watched open-mouthed as flames leapt into the sky. Screams came from inside the Hall as the spies or spirit stealers began to burn.

“Boys!” Uncle Ace yelled, appearing first.

“Dad!” Nashoba screamed and raced for his father. He jumped at Uncle Ace, crying, as he hugged him tightly.

“Those bad elves stole your voice. They were trying to steal your spirit like Grandpa warned us. We’re burning them, Dad, and they won’t ever hurt you again,” Nashoba told Uncle Ace.

Uncle Ace looked shocked. “What are you talking about?”

I stood up, pulling myself up as more adults appeared. Calmly, I held up my hands.