Jake & The Gingerbread Wars (A Gryphon Chronicles Christmas Novella) (The Gryphon Chronicles) by E.G. Foley Page A

dough.” The elf let out a diabolical laugh. “ Finally , I get the chance to put people in a bad mood instead of spreading idiotic holiday cheer.”
    “So that’s why those sweets made us feel so awful!” Archie said.
    “Did you eat a lot of them? Ha, ha, ha! Most fun I ever had!” Humbug laughed harder. “Bringing the gingerbread displays to life, well, that was just my own little, magical holiday touch. How was I to know they’d start trying to kill each other as soon as they came to life? Ha, ha! What a shame! Probably because they were made by two people who can’t stand each other.”
    “Did you cause t he quarrel between Marie and Bob, too?” Jake demanded.
    “Hardly!” Humbug couldn’t resist snickering again. “But I did my best to help it along. Such fun! Old Turnip-Head is going to love having an ex-Christmas elf as his right-hand man, organizing things. The Clauses run a tight ship, I can tell you.
    “ They taught me excellent management skills—how to run a workshop, all of it. Those ghosts and ghouls have no idea what it’s like to really work for a living. All they have to do is hang around a cemetery groaning and moaning, clank a few chains.
    “ One night a year they have their duties, while Christmas takes months of preparation! It’s busy as a beehive at the North Pole from October through Twelfth Night. Well, once I’m on the Halloween staff, they’re going to find out what it’s like to run a proper holiday!
    “ Now, if you’re quite through interviewing me, you runts, I demand you release me from these ropes and let me get on with my life. You have no right to hold me here.”
    “S et you free, so you can go back to ruining people’s Christmases? I don’t think so,” Jake replied, folding his arms across his chest.
    “Hu llo,” Archie suddenly murmured, still poring over the enchanted library’s card catalogue. He glanced at Jake. “I think I’ve found something on our little friend here.”
    “Who you calling little?” Humbug challenged him.
    Archie ignored him, pulling a small white card out of the library drawer. He walked away, following the information on the card; it guided him to one of the lower bookshelves, where he searched until he found a large bound volume of newspapers several weeks old.
    The front cover was labeled “October.” He flipped open the collection of outdated newspapers, glancing once more at the card to find the page in question. “Here.”
    “What is it?” Jake asked.
    “A missing persons report. This is from a notice that appeared in the Clairvoyant . That’s the main newspaper that covers magical affairs.” Then Archie read aloud from the entry: “‘Santa Claus, a.k.a. Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Jolly Old St. Nick, etc. came in personally to file a report on one of his kitchen elves, called Humbug, who disappeared from his compound in the North Pole on October the tenth. Mrs. Claus is distraught for her little helper’s safety. Anyone with information on Humbug’s whereabouts should report to Beacon House.’”
    “ Well, well, how about that?” Jake smirked at the elf. “You might despise the Clauses, but they seem genuinely worried about you.”
    Humbug rolled his eyes. “Bloody do-gooders .”
    “ So, you just ran away, then? You quit your job without even letting them know? They were probably worried that you froze to death.”
    “ That’s not all,” Archie continued. “According to this, Santa’s offering a reward for Humbug’s safe return.”
    J ake looked over sharply. “What kind of reward?”
    Archie read from the paper: “One Christmas wish granted, courtesy of Santa.”
    “Is that so?” Jake’s eyes glazed over at the possibilities.
    Humbug looked at him in alarm.
    “I want that,” Jake murmured all of a sudden.
    Archie furrowed his brow . “Coz, you own a goldmine. What could you possibly need that you don’t already have the money to buy?”
    Jake stared at hi m for a long moment,