12/17/2007 2:07:00 PM The Stolen Heart of Christmas: Chapter 2
By Dave Beaty Comic Book Creator/Special to the Bugle
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is Part 2 in a four-part exclusive story written by local comic book creator Dave Beaty. Watch verdenews.com for the continuing chapters and illustrations through the coming weeks of this holiday season.)
He reached down and picked up the glowing red object.
As Karen and her mom watched, the strange looking man studied it.
"It's magnificent. I've never seen it this close before," he said with a sly smile. Remembering his audience, he glanced over at Karen and her mom.
"Forgive my rudeness. My name is Frost."
"As in Jack Frost?" said Mom.
"No. Simply Frost."
From behind her mother Karen asked, "What is it?"
The object began to levitate in Frost's hand.
"Ah, inquisitive I see. This little one has had many names throughout the ages. Enchanted ruby, scarlet crystal and red star are just some of its names. Most mortals simply call it the Heart of Christmas."
"The Heart of Christmas?" asked Mom. "What does that red glowing thing have to do with Christmas?"
"Red glowing thing. Now, that's a new one," said Frost with a condescending laugh. "Well, this enchanted bauble is a source of magic," said Frost. "Whomever wields this Heart can perform all manner of impossible tasks."
"And what does that have to do with Christmas?" asked Mom again.
"My aren't we the Empress, Miss ... ?"
"Officer Jane Miller."
"Well, officer Jane Miller, the Heart has been used by Santa Claus to enchant all manner of things that aid him in his yearly quest to bring joy to the world. That is, of course, if you believe in him. Except this year it will be different."
Frost angrily snatched the Heart out of the air. "Very different indeed."
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Karen's mom uttered under her breath. She aimed her gun at Frost. "Put the Heart down."
Frost boldly turned to face Karen's mom.
"Or you'll do what, exactly?"
With the Heart, still tightly gripped in his left hand, Frost pointed his long, icy finger at Karen and her mom. The wind howled and Karen and her mom begin to feel intense cold as his hand began to glow with crystal blue energy.
"Stay behind me Karen. Look, Frost, I have no idea what's really going on here but your motives don't appear to be good."
The glowing intensified and Jane Miller could feel ice freezing to her body. She became so numb from the cold that she could no longer feel her daughter desperately holding on to her.
"Stop what you're doing or I'll be forced to open fire."
"Fire! Fire is how they've always kept me from my destiny. But with the Heart I can do anything. So I don't have to be fearful of fire anymore. But you will learn to fear me. Learn to fear Frost!"
The wind wailed like a cyclone and snow and ice begin to build up around Karen and her mom until they are covered in ice.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have some pressing matters to attend to. And if our paths cross again you can address me as ... the Snow King."
The wind intensified as snow swirls formed a winter tornado around Frost. With a loud whoosh the tornado was gone, and so was Frost.
When Karen woke up she hoped all that happened was just a dream - a dream of snow and a magical heart. But as she looked around she realized it was anything but a dream. Everywhere she looked, she saw what could only be described as elves. At least they looked like the elves from her storybooks. They were much shorter than Karen and wearing green jackets with red collars, green pants, and red pointed shoes. All of the elves had white hair, long, sharp noses and crystal green eyes.
She sat up and looked around to see the inside of a room full of comfy furniture, lots of holly, garland, red and green everywhere. A grand fireplace and the most wondrous Christmas tree she had ever seen.
She felt warm and was covered by a large fluffy blanket.
Looking up, she saw her mom lying on a couch across from her.
"Mom!" Karen yelled as she jumped up and ran over to give her a hug.
"Baby, are you OK?"
"I'm good now, but where are we Mom?"
"I have no idea," she said.
There was a thunderous pounding on the only door in the room. Covered with decorative carvings, the door would have towered over her father, who was not a small man.
The elves scrambled to remove a large piece of timber that barred the door shut. The door swung open as snow and mighty frigid air blew into the room. The wind billowed with the sound of mocking laughter.
With a forceful slam a giant man shut the door behind him. The elves appeared tiny next to this hulking form covered in snow-speckled fur. They scrambled to secure the door again.
Karen couldn't help but laugh at the elves who were struggling to seal the door. This sight also amused the giant who let out a powerful and booming laugh. He removed his fur hat, gloves and coat, dropping them on two elves that were instantly covered.
His outer garments appeared to be alive as the elves scampered to the other side of the room. The giant man wore a red flannel shirt and suspenders. He had white hair and a white beard. Grabbing a stool, he lowered himself directly across from Karen and her mom.
"Hello," he said in a deep friendly voice. "Welcome to my home."
"Are you Santa Claus?" Karen asked.
The man's booming laughter again filled the room. The elves also started laughing and began to gather around the big man.
"No my child. I am not."
"You sure look like him," Jane said.
"You'll find many things in life can be deceiving," said the man.
"Then who are you?" Karen asked. "Are you a good person?"
"A good person? ... No. I'm what you'd call a good spirit; a reflection of humanity's heart. This is the season when I get to spread cheer and joy throughout the world - although things are a little unusual this year."
"What do you mean by unusual?" asked Jane.
The man got up and walked to a window.
"We're supposed to be warming the hearts of mankind, spreading cheer and joy, but we've been trapped in my home, imprisoned by the most ferocious winter storm I've ever experienced. I've made several attempts to find a path that leads to the mortal plain, but all have been blocked by walls of ice."
"Then how did you bring us here?" Jane asked.
"I found both of you before the storm had become this bad. Before the walls of ice had formed. I was looking for something that's been misplaced."
"The Heart of Christmas?" asked Karen.
"You know of the Heart? Have you seen it?"
"Yes," said Jane. "One of your kind, named Frost, took it."
"Frost is not one of my kind. He's not a spirit, he's a shadow."
"A shadow ... how can a person be a shadow?" asked Karen.
"In my realm there are spirits and shadows. Spirits exist to inspire humanity to do good and charitable acts. Shadows exist to sow discontent and evil acts. Both are allowed a season to roam on the mortal plain. Both exist to maintain the balance. Humans, like yourselves, must decide which will have dominion over your heart. But our season has been cut short by Frost. You must have a special connection to the Heart to have found it."
"I made a wish," said Karen.
"A very powerful wish for you to find the Heart," said the spirit.
"What did you wish for baby?" asked Jane.
"For Dad to come home and stay."
"That is my wish too," she said, embracing her daughter.
"With the Heart you can make that wish a reality," said the spirit. "Every so many centuries, the Heart will fall to earth for someone to find. The person who finds the Heart gets one wish. After the wish is granted it returns to the heavens. But I've never heard of a shadow possessing the Heart before. This endless winter must be the unfortunate outcome."
"Why would a shadow like Frost wish for endless winter?" Jane asked.
"A shadow exists to chill the hearts of mortals, but Frost cannot wish upon the Heart. Somehow he's influencing the Heart. With spirits trapped in this endless winter eventually all of humanity will turn cold and spirits will cease to exist."
"How do we stop Frost - how do we make things right?" Jane asked.
"The child still has one wish. She must hold the Heart in her hand and make the wish for it to take affect. If we could get the Heart away from Frost, Karen could wish things to return to normal. That would restore the balance," the spirit explained.
"But what about my dad?"
"His return would have to be brought about by normal means," said the spirit, "The small portion of magic the Heart has given you would be gone."
Looking intently into her daughter's eyes, Jane spoke softy. "Karen, we need you to wish things back to normal. Understand."
"Yes Mom. I understand."
"Boys," said the spirit speaking to the elves, "find these young women some proper attire. We leave for the realm of the shadows in the morning."
