Mother Knows Best

Gar settled in his spot on the roof of The Black Orb as snow cascaded gently around him. He remembered Millie’s scent, the touch of her hair and how effortlessly she leapt into the void. So much has changed since she left. The town, the store, frequent gossip of disappearances in town. An unsettled, unknown fear gripped Tutty’s Port. 

As the snow fell around the gargoyle, he looked up to the sky and called out in a loud voice.

“Mother, I need you! The Orb is not the way it used to be. Kira has done something to the people, the store. Toby.” His voice lowered, with a light crack. 

No response. Once again, the gargoyle lifted his winged arms to the heavens and cried out, “Goddess, we need you. Answer me, your child.”

The wind picked up and the snow began to circle. The whirlwind engulfed him. A soft voice murmured. “Patience. I am here, my son. Kira will have her day.” Gar remained for a time, his arms lifted to the heavens. The soothing sound filled his heart with peace.

***

The next day, a large man in red overalls, wearing a red cap with a white puff at the top, came into The Black Orb with a package. Spying the tall, Jamaican man behind the counter, he set the package in front of him.

“Ho…ermmm. Hi there, young fella,” he said with a chuckle. “I have a package for Mr. Gar. Are you he?” 

Diao responded, “Greetings Mon! What do I see before my eyes? Are you Kris Kringle, Mon?” Diao laughed hard for the first time in a long while. 

“I just wanted to drop this package off for Mr. Gar. He will know what to do with it.” The man tapped his nose, winked, and began to walk out of the store. Before he left, he turned and smiled radiantly. “I do believe I feel the warmth of this store returning. It’s been too cold for too long.”

Kira walked into the room carrying more dragon eye jewelry. “Diao, I would suggest we—” She stopped and looked at the man in the doorway. “In or out. I don’t pay to heat the outside.” Then she continued to the counter and set the jewelry down, dismissing the man as unimportant.

He loudly cleared his throat. “Don’t get too comfortable here Kira. Someone is about to light a fire under you, and the chill in this store will be dispelled.” He turned and let out a full-bellied, loud laugh as he left.

Kira slammed the jewelry on the counter. “Shifter, do something! Put this jewelry where it can be easily seen. It is my best work ever. Strong and hypnotic as it is beautiful.” She turned to leave. “Oh, and get rid of that—” she pointed to the box, “before I dump it in the trash.”

Diao stiffened as she left. “Woman, always with the orders, Mon. How I miss Millie.”

Annabelle walked down the stairs, hearing the conversation. “So do I, Diao. The Orb was such a joyous place when she was here.” She paused. “What’s in the box?”

Diao shrugged, “Special delivery for Gar. I do believe Santa just visited the store.” Annabelle laughed and walked over to the box to lift it behind the counter. “It sure is heavy. And… It’s  moving.” 

She set the box down quickly and opened it.

Diao chortled. “So much for the gift belonging to Gar.” Then Annabelle gasped and lifted a small black lab puppy out of the box. She hugged the pup tightly.

“Look, Diao!” she cried out, and then burst into tears as she kissed the pup’s head. “What should we name him? Oops. Her?” Annabelle had taken Toby’s disappearance hard. 

Diao looked in the box and pulled out a collar with a tag. “It appears her name is Nyx.” holding out the collar to Annabelle. She took it from him and affixed the collar around the pup’s neck. “Then Nyx it is.” 

Kira came up from her workshop with a plethora of dragon eye rings. “This will go perfect with—” She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing the black lab. “What is that?”

“Her name is Nyx,” Annabelle said. “She’s the newest member of the Black Orb family.” Nyx turned to look at Kira, and their eyes met. Something shifted in the room, and it wasn’t Diao. Power emanated from little Nyx. Her eyes changed from a beautiful amber hue to steel gray. Only Kira noticed this shift, and it unnerved her. 

Nyx held Kira’s gaze til she looked away. The gray eyes returned to amber. Annabelle looked at Kira. “Are you okay? You look a bit peaked.” Kira nodded but said nothing and moved swiftly to her workshop. 

Annabelle and Diao noticed the odd interchange but thought it was just Kira being, well, Kira. “That was weird,” Annabelle said, stroking Nyx’s head. She shrugged and returned her gaze to her new pal. “Let’s get her something to eat or drink. Is there anything in the box?”

“No, Mon. Just a wee bit of… You know.” Diao scrunched up his nose.

***

Several days later, Gar came down from the upper rooms and walked into the lobby of the Orb. Nyx ran to greet him. “Nyx, you are getting so big! Weren’t you just a pup a couple days ago?”

She wagged her tail and licked his hand. 

“Perhaps.” The  dulcet sound of her voice flooded Gar’s head. He flinched and backed away from Nyx. 

“What are you?” Gar queried.  The lab cocked her head and stared directly into Gar’s eyes.

Again her voice resounded in his head. “You called me. Et voila! I am here.”

Gar’s eyes widened. “Moth—” he began.

“Shushhhh. You’ll blow my surprise! And you wouldn’t want that. I can’t wait to see Kira’s reaction.” The lab had her tongue out as if laughing.

***

Santa was coming to The Black Orb the next day to hand out presents for the children of the town. Annabelle flitted around making sure that all was in order from punchbowl to cookies. Nyx trotted between Annabelle, Santa, and Diao’s perch.

The shifter — in raven form — was doing his best “Nevermore!” cries for the crowd. They applauded and laughed. Nyx walked past Diao and bumped into the perch with her tail. Diao cawed loudly and screeched, “Nevermore,” then muttered, “mangy mutt.” 

Suddenly his head was filled with a low chuckle and the word “Shifter.” He blinked. Was that Nyx? She looked back at him with a black lab smile. 

Meanwhile, Kira was in her workroom chamber making special Christmas dragon eye jewelry. One lucky recipient would win an entire set and become her Christmas dinner. She licked her lips with anticipation.

Slowly Kira became aware of someone in her space. Nyx had wandered down to see what Kira was doing. “What are you doing down here, dog? Go back to the party before you meet the same fate as your predecessor.” 

Nyx stared at Kira as her eyes changed from amber to grey. The dog began to laugh. Kira blinked heavily in disbelief as a mist rose from the lab and took the form of a lovely woman dressed in black. The lab rested beside her. 

“Well, isn’t this quaint, Kira,” she said looking about the workroom. “I understand you have been a bit of trouble lately. Dirty deeds in the dark by a nasty little piece of dragonflesh.”

Nyx wandered about the room touching and picking up items until she came to stand in front of Kira. “Did you think your behavior would go unnoticed?” 

Kira laughed, “What will you do to stop me puny shifter? I don’t fear you. I could eat you like I did the pesky dog Toby.” 

Nyx’s eyes narrowed. “So you admit to this wrongdoing?”

“Oh please,” Kira said. “Spare me your sanctimonious speeches. I have products to make and people to enthrall.” She laughed with a wicked grin.

The room began to make a thrumming sound. First the hum rose up low, growing out its volume. Kira jerked her head to see the pup stomping one foot while the woman tapped her toe impatiently. “What is that noise?” Kira asked, looking around the chamber. 

The woman stepped closer to Kira and whispered just above the thrumming sound: “I am the Goddess of Chaos, the mother of Thanatos. I am older and more powerful than Zeus. It would be wise to fear me, Kira.” A well manicured dark glossy nail lifted Kira’s chin to force her to look in the gray steel eyes.

“Meet my children. Gar, Thanatos. Appear!” The room shook as the chamber seemed to expand. There with Nyx and the black lab stood Gar and a dark cloaked figure. Kira blinked. “What the— Look, glad you could have this family reunion but I have work.” Kira whirled to step away.

Nyx looked at Gar. “Go ahead, talk to her before I take matters into my own hands.” Gar walked to Kira. “Look, here’s the offer. Remove the spell. Put all as it was when you first arrived at The Black Orb or Mother may boot you into another dimension. She may allow you to stay, if you abide by her terms.”

Kira chucked. “Neither you nor your old hag mother will stop my business.”

Gar spread out his arms with a distinctive shrug. Nyx clapped her hands together as a thunderous sound rocked the chamber and the store above. Kira changed instantly into a dragon and shrank. 

Nyx laughed. “You were warned, Kira.” The dragon continued shrinking until she reached only twelve inches in height. Then, suddenly a stuffed dragon stood in the same place where Kira stood moments before. Nyx picked up the stuffed toy and whispered into its ear, then handed the toy to Thanatos.

With a laugh he pushed the cowl down from his head. “Ho! Ho Ho! She does make a cute gift for a wee one. What did you tell her?”

Nyx walked over to the black lab and stroked the glossy fur. “I told her to be good or we would move to the next level of discipline. Klaus, can you bring that toy to a special child? One who needs confidence? I have a feeling Kira will be on her best behavior to try to get me to release her.” 

As she placed the cowl back on the head of Thanatos — Klaus — she smiled. “Just one more thing Klaus. I don’t ask this often, but would you go over the bridge and bring back Toby? I believe my namesake will need a playmate. Perhaps bring him back on Christmas Eve to the Orb. It will be a joyous reunion.”

With that, she kissed Gar and Thanatos on the cheek, then knelt to whisper into the black lab’s ear. “You will be my eyes and ears little Nyx. Serve me well.” 

With that, the Goddess disappeared from sight. Klaus looked at Gar and winked. “See you soon, brother.”

No one questioned Kira’s sudden departure from the Orb. It was peaceful, happy and Annabelle quickly completed decorating the store with all the decorations for Christmas just as the snow began to fall. 

Christmas Eve bustled its way through The Black Orb. People bought teas and baked goods as well as crystal jewelry and the occasional dragon eye pendant. For some reason, they were not as popular this year. It was a good day for sales and as they closed the store, Annabelle swore she heard jingle bells. 

On Christmas morning Annabelle, Diao, and Gar woke to find Nyx and Toby sleeping under the Christmas tree in the shop. With a squeal that even surprised Diao, Annabelle hugged and kissed both dogs. 

The Goddess Nyx was correct. The beautiful day rang out with great rejoicing. Mother always knows best.

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Need more Black Orb or holiday magic? Enjoy these delightful works from around the world, celebrating the beauty of the season — and a good mystic shop or two.

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• Of Bats and Ravens at the Black Orb – Halloween Fiction
• Man in the Shadows – Christmas Eve Fiction
• Chorus of the Waiting – Christmas Eve Speculative Fiction
• The Shop at the End of the Island – Speculative Flash Fiction
• Christmas Waltz – Christmas Poetry
• Weaving Lace – Christmas Poem
• Consider Mrs. Claus – Christmas Poem
• On Patrol – Christmas Poetry