Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“Ah, we forgot for a moment how primitive your people are,” the soft voice sighed. “For us, your laws of physics are no more than suggestions. So of course, our science looks like magic to you, but we assure you there is nothing supernatural occurring. We are simply able to manipulate space and matter on a higher level.”
“It is like magic,” Kelli agreed, slipping her arms into the sleeves. The fur coat was the nicest thing she’d ever worn—she hoped she got to keep it after their night at the Christmas Village was over.
“Please feel free to explore and enjoy the experience we have crafted for you,” the soft voice murmured in her ear. “If you would be so kind as to speak your thoughts about the Christmas Village aloud, we will hear you and add your comments to our research.”
“So you’re going to be watching us while we walk around?” Klaus didn’t sound happy about the idea.
“From a distance,” the voice said. “But you will, of course, be given privacy in the cabin. Speaking of that, when you finish seeing the town, you only need to follow the lighted path to the one which has been prepared for you.”
“Thank you—thank you so much,” Kelli said, smiling politely. “We can’t wait to explore and see all the wonderful things you’ve made.”
“I can wait,” she heard Klaus grumble behind her, but she ignored him.
“We hope you have a wonderful experience,” the soft voice said to her. “And now we will withdraw to observe. Please don’t forget to voice your thoughts aloud so that we may improve the Christmas Village for future guests. We will not speak to you again.”
And then the gold shimmering in the air abruptly disappeared and Kelli got the feeling they were alone.
4
KLAUS
“Well that was fucking weird,” Klaus growled as they continued walking to the entrance of the village.
“I think…think it’s nice,” Kelli panted. She was taking two steps to keep up with every one of his strides. Klaus slowed down so she could keep up.
“Nice that they’re watching us every minute? Nice that they made a whole fucking village just to study us?” he demanded, lifting his eyebrows as he looked down at her. She was so tiny and her legs were so short. He wished he could pick her up and carry her…but then he acknowledged that he couldn’t do that. It might give her the wrong idea and make her think he wanted her.
But wouldn’t that be the right idea? whispered a little voice in his head. Klaus pushed it away.
“I think it’s nice that they went to the trouble of making a whole village based on a holiday they never even celebrated,” Kelli said stubbornly. “So come on—let’s explore it and stop looking a gift horse in the mouth.”
“What?” Klaus shook his head, honestly mystified. “What does that mean? Why would someone give me an equine and why would I look in its mouth? For that matter, why would it be a bath thing for me to look? If it’s my horse, I’ll look at whatever the fuck part of it I want.”
“Never mind.” Kelli laughed. “It’s just an Earth saying. It means you shouldn’t criticize something that someone gives you for free.”
Klaus still had no idea what in the world not criticizing free gifts had to do with equines, but Earth idioms and sayings were often confusing. Miranda used to try to explain them to him and she would always laugh when he got confused…
He pushed the thoughts of his late wife aside and hurried to follow Kelli. She had run ahead of him and was looking at a large sign posted at the gates of the village.
He still didn’t like the idea of invisible inter-dimensional beings watching and listening to them, but he supposed it couldn’t be helped. At least they had been promised privacy in the cabin they were staying in tonight.
Though really, Klaus didn’t see why they had to spend the night. Shouldn’t touring the ridiculous village be enough? Maybe he could get Kelli to agree to leave after they finished the tour. Just looking around the cabin and seeing the amenities should fulfill their obligations to the Questarions. They could form an opinion without staying all night—right?
Klaus certainly hoped so. He didn’t need to be cooped up in a cabin all night with Kelli and her sweet, feminine fragrance teasing him.
5
KELLI
“What’s this?” Klaus asked, coming up to stand beside her.
“I think it’s a map of the town—look.” Kelli pointed at the signboard which was posted at the entrance of the town. It had miniature pictures of every single shop and business with their names written under them.
“The Mistletoe Couples Massage Parlor,” Klaus read, frowning.
“Oh and look—The Gingerbread Bakery!” Kelli exclaimed. “And Mrs. Claus’s Café. Those look like fun. And Rudolph’s Hot Chocolate, too. And right in the center of the town is a lake—see? It says Frosty’s Ice Skating Pond.”