A very Mary Sheikhy Christmas - novella - completed

Chapter Two

Six days before Christmas

Waking Zafeer felt much more human as he rolled over to stare into round yellow cat's eyes surrounded by a streaky grey ball of fur, wearing a Santa hat. He sat up and gathered the kitten, stroking and held against his bare chest. "She's got to you also," he whispered removing the cap to be hissed at. He replaced the cap to get a purr. What? He had stepped into Santa's hideaway or something. He placed down the kitten, which jumped down, hat tingling. He hadn't seen the bell. Probably hidden in the pompom on the end of the cap. Flopping back onto the pillow, he placed an arm across his eyes, the bedding barely covering his naked form. The fire burning downstairs, took the cold edge out of the air.

"Sorry I hope Sparky didn't disturb you."

He dropped his arm, finding her dressed in a long sleeved green velvet dress with white lace edging around the sleeves and hemline, carrying a tray. Reddish hair surrounded her angelic features and large yellow-green eyes that spilled from under the Santa hat. She hovered near the door. "I hope you were comfortable enough." Her eyes she kept down, not looking at him directly.

"Fine, thank you," he said to move, pulling the bedding around him. "Is it still snowing?" It was hard to tell with the heavy iced covered windows.

"Sorry, yes, even if not, the nearest town is too far to walk."

"You'd be surprised how far I can walk," he noted, even in a hostile desert. Still, she hovered near the door, not entering. "Just place it on the chair," he pointed towards the chair, near the door. She nodded, placing on the chair, scooped up her kitten and departed.

Shifting, he swung his legs around and over the bed, letting the bedding fall away, stood and went towards his bag, removing new underwear, pulled them on, then grabbed the sweatpants, she had given him yesterday that he pulled on though left the jumper off. He replaced it with a black top that pulled tight against his chest and bulging biceps, tugged down over his taut waistline.

He crossed over towards the tray, looking down at the plate of Christmas trees, snowmen, elves of pikelets, he guessed, removing the bite sizes shaped food and down in one go. Pikelets with drops of jam. He reached for his Santa's mug to sip from. Hell, he'd be lucky to make Christmas at this rate. He would be Christmas' out.

Although, he did enjoy the shaped pikelets, they barely touched the side, heading downstairs with the empty plate and tray tucked under his arm, stopping dead as the once sparely covered walls to be an overkill with decorations. Something didn't settle well on him. Something wasn't quite right, but couldn't put his finger on it. The walls now covered inch by inch of thick looped garlands with big bows in red, green and white at the top of each loop.

The six foot thick green Christmas tree was decorated from bottom to top with a glistering star on top. She had added more after he had gone to bed. More garlands were hung above the fireplace, stockings hung from the mantelpiece. Angels and candlesticks sat on top of the mantelpiece. He had entered a Christmas wonderland. Even the sofa had been redressed in bright patterned material and matching cushions. The fire crackling in the fireplace, the room warm, yet he shuddered.

There was defiantly something not right here, but still couldn't put his finger on it. "What, you were up all night?" He gasped as she entered the room, coming from the kitchen now wearing a bright coloured Poinsettia red, green with gold accents, red chiffon ruffle apron over her velvet dress. A tingling drew his eye towards the kitten climbing the tree, disappearing in and out. Soft music piped through the room of modern Christmas songs.

"No, of course not," she smiled. "If you want some more there is plenty in the kitchen."

"Actually to be honest, I was looking for something more substantial."