“Mr. Abra, I have some news that I think may interest you.” Jeden opened the door into his small house and the magician walked in. Jeden closed the door behind the two and Abra wiped his shoes on the welcome rug.

“Please Jeden,” Abra clapped the young man on the shoulders. The man’s bright smile was contagious and Jeden found himself grinning just a bit. “Call me Abra, we’re past such formalities.”

The man’s charisma was like a blanket and Jeden nodded. “Okay, so Abra I have some news that I think may interest you.” The young man led Abra to the living room where the two sat across from each other, between them sat a small table. A young girl came from the kitchen and placed down two mismatching coffee mugs between the two of them, steam rising from them and Abra could smell the milky cocoa. Jeden smiled, “Thank you-“

“Alaysia.” Abra finished for him and picking up the cup gracefully, took a sip from the chipped lip. “You brewed it fantastically.” He placed down the cup, using his pinkie as to let it land soundlessly back onto the table.

Jeden was frozen as he watched the man drink but quickly reclaimed his voice. “Th-Thank you Lacey.”

The small girl nodded shyly and as she made her way back to the kitchen Abra sighed happily. “What a charming young woman. I’m sure she’ll grow up to be a very beautiful someday.” The girl paused and then hastened back. Abra shifted his eyes back to Jeden, a soft smile still playing on his lips. “So Jeden what’s this news?”

Jeden tried to return the smile but failed as the more pressing matter gnawed at his mind. “How did you know her name?” Was a question he was afraid of asking, so shoving the problem aside he answered the man’s question. “There was a recent death that’s brought up quite a stir. A mother who was a drug addict died, leaving behind her two young daughters. Dealers are planning on using the two to make the money that she still owed them.”

“Hmm…” Abra picked up his cup again and stared at the hazel-colored liquid. “And you think this information would be interesting to me why?” He blew on it, creating a circle within the white foam that had formed on top.

“Well… I was thinking that you would want the girls.” Jeden picked up his own cup and took a sip, using the warmth and sugar to feel more comfortable as he let the creamy drink roll across his tongue.

“Hm? Do you have a picture?” Abra took a sip as the boy pulled one from his hoodie pocket. The man took a glance at the picture handed to him and the smile on his face widened. It was a picture of a woman pushing a little girl on a swing with another hugging her leg. “Twins… how lovely.” He folded up the picture and tucked it into his breast pocket. He continued drinking the cocoa and once finished, he placed the cup down as gracefully as he did last time. “Thank you for your information Jeden, it was indeed very interesting.” The man pulled an envelope out of his inside pocket and handed it to the young man who placed down his cup to take it. Within was a wad of cash. “Here’s for the information. Use it to buy Lacey, Tim-Tim, Miko, and what did you call him? Benny? Something nice.”

“Benjy… his nickname is Benjy.” Jeden’s voice was quiet as he flicked through the bills. “How do you know?”

“Benjy, what an adorable nickname, and I make it my business to know young Jeden. Now come on, the day is young. We best be on our way.” Abra stood up and straightened his suit. “You best tell young Alaysia that you’ll probably be late for dinner.” He offered his hand to help the young man up.

“Why am I coming with?” Jeden slipped the envelope into his pocket and he took Abra’s hand.

“Well I would love to see you in action my young lad. Now hurry and get your gear. We will need to hurry if we want to interrupt this deal.” Pulling a deck from his pocket, cards spilled out and formed into a top hat that he placed on his head. “And remember, this isn’t me offering.” His smile and eyes never changed but Jeden could feel the atmosphere in the room change. Like some type of dense fog had settled within the small space, crushing him and chilling him down to the bone.

“Of… of course Abra.” Jeden went ahead and left the house and Abra followed quickly behind, closing the door on his way out.

After collecting his equipment, the duo made their way to the warehouse district. Their targets were the ones that housed refrigerator units, as their objective was probably to harvest the girls’ organs. “There aren’t many.” Abra mused as he scanned the surroundings from the rooftop they were camping on. “I will take the ones in that half and you keep your eyes out on the other. Call me if you see the deal going down.” Abra gave Jeden a slight wave before teleporting off to another rooftop, disappearing into the distance.

Jeden settled down in his post and watched cars drive by, waiting to see any peel off the main road and into the side roads that spiders throughout the warehouse district. Most of the trucks that rumbled in were clean, and as time passed Jeden began to shiver. It wasn’t from the sensation of the wind blowing through, chilling from the coming of night. It was from the idea that he had told Abra bad information. The idea that he had failed the man made him shake to his very core, it terrified him. The setting sun gave way to a large white moon. The loss of the cloak of warm light and colors made him feel vulnerable, now subjected to the unmoving glare of the moon. Its white light not warm or welcoming as it sat alone in the ink black sky. He stared, captivated by every stream of light that ran down the road. He wanted one to turn, any of them. He didn’t want to be wrong, he didn’t want to disappoint. Just one, just one! He bit at his lip, gnawing as none of the lights turned into the lot. What has he done? What was he going to do? Time ticked on and the moon shifted across the sky, staring down, beating him into the ground as he struggled to keep his eyes open as he fervently whispered the same word. “Please.”

“Are you alright young Jeden?” Jeden’s eyes snapped open and he looked up, the moon was still in the sky. He scrambled to his feet and looked around to see Abra standing before him. “I’m sorry I left you to sleep here. I was quite busy.”

Busy… Busy waiting for a deal that never came. Jeden paled and bowed deeply. “I’m so sorry, I’ll double, no triple check next time!”

“Check what?” Abra’s look of confusion faded into one of bemusement. “Your information was spot on Jeden, I would like you to meet the two girls whose lives you just saved.” From behind Abra walked out identical twins. They both had brunette hair except one’s was only to her shoulders while the other reached the small of her back. “I haven’t decided on their names yet. What did your mother used to call you?” He knelt down between them and patted them on the head.

“Momma used to call use Failure #1 and #2.” The first replied.

“If she ever bothered to say that much.” The second finished.

“Oh those names don’t fit you precious darlings. How about Rose and Cheryll?” The names brought smiles to the girls’ faces and Abra smiled alongside them. “I’m glad you like those names.” He stood back up and took their hands.

Jeden sighed in relief and stumbled onto the ground. “I’m so glad…” He sobbed. “I was so afraid…” Abra had to help him onto his feet as he cried softly.

“Now now Jeden. Your information wasn’t wrong at all. I’m sorry you worried so much. Now let’s get you back home shall we?” Jeden nodded and the four set off; Jeden leading the way followed by Abra with the girls, Rose the one with short hair and Cheryll the one with long hair. They stopped by to buy groceries and made dinner at the Decem’s residency. There Abra got to meet the other three children and they got to meet Rose and Cheryll. As dinner drew to a conclusion and Abra with his two new daughters made their departure, he stopped Jeden at the door. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you Jeden.” He handed another envelope, thicker than the last one. As Jeden grabbed it, Abra pulled it to bring the boy in closer. “This is for the two children. Buy yourself something nice.” With those parting words he walked out with Rose and Cheryll in tow, the three waving their hands good bye.

Rose and Cheryll looked up at their savior. “So you’re our daddy now?” They asked.

Abra smiled down at them. “Yes I am, and you can call me Santa.”

“Like the one from Christmas?” Rose asked.

“But Jeden called you Abra.” Cheryll piped up.

“Well Jeden’s situation is a bit different so that’s why he calls me Abra.”

“So your real name is Santa?” Rose inquired.

“Yep, so it’s either Daddy, Father, or Santa alright?” He smiled and the two smiled along with him and nodded. He led them to the house that he had met Jeden in. “This’ll be your home now okay? I’ll show you two to your rooms now.” He led them by their hands and up the stairs. Letting go of Rose’s hand he opened a door and within was a pink bedroom with lace, dolls, and stuffed animals littered about. “This’ll be Rose’s room and-“ He began walking but paused as Cheryll tugged back. “is there something wrong little one?” Abra looked down to see Rose holding onto Cheryll’s hand and the two drew each other close together.

“We’d like to stay together.” They whispered then flinched, preparing for the worst.

Abra paused then smiled. “Of course you two would, how silly of me to break you two apart. Then you two best get the master’s bedroom, it’s bigger.” He led them to the room at the end of the hallway. Unlike the rooms he had prepared, this one was still set to his taste and so the walls were a creamy white and the floor was a mahogany brown as was the trim. A king-sized bed dominated most of the space, a small hallway around the bed that separated it from the cabinets. There was a walk-in closet still full of his suits and accessories and another door that led into a personal bathroom. “I’ll have it decorated as you two like tomorrow, but for now you two must be dreadfully tired. So off to sleep with the two of you.”

He led them through the process, having them collect their personal toiletry kits and pajamas from their rooms and bring them to the master bathroom. There they brushed their teeth and washed their faces. Abra had them take a bath and then he helped them dry, change clothes, and then groomed their hair. He tucked the two in and as he left to leave them alone he was stopped again. A small hand gripped onto his finger. “Can you read us a bedtime story?” Rose whispered.

Abra’s soft smile grew and he sat back down. “With pleasure.” With a twirl of his hand a book appeared, and he began to read. He had to place the book onto his lap so that he could turn the pages with his free hand as the other was still being held tightly by Cheryll. Soon her grip loosened and the twins drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Abra got up, putting a card where he stopped to save the progress. “And that’s where we’ll stop for now.” He gently kissed both of the girls on the head and walked out of the room.