Krampus: The Yule Lord (19 page)

Jesse walked out; the gas can in one hand, a sack of groceries in the other. He nodded her way, headed to the pump, and began filling the canister with gas. The kids left the store a moment later. The boy shook his can of soda, popped it open, and sprayed it at the girls. Both of them let out wild screams, scooped up handfuls of snow, and threw it at him. He ducked, slipped on the ice, fell, dropping his soda. All three of them laughed so hard Isabel thought they would need medical aid. And all at once Isabel wanted them to stop. She didn’t want to hear them, or see them. She clenched her hands into fists. Found she wanted to shut them up, wanted to tear their beautiful hair out of their heads, scratch their pretty faces, make them know what it is like to lose everything.

One of the girls tugged the boy to his feet. He slipped his hands around her waist, pulled her to him, and they embraced, kissed—a long kiss that only new love can share. Isabel put her fingers to her own lips, stared, hardly breathing. They piled back into the car and Isabel no longer wished them ill, no, only wished to join them, to climb into their car and go wherever it was that young boys and girls go these days to have fun. She tried to imagine what that would be like, to just have fun. She watched their taillights until they disappeared up the dark highway.

Jesse walked up to her. “Here. Can you take this?” He handed her a grocery sack and set the gas can down at her feet.

“I’ll be right back. Need to make a quick call.”

“Call? Wait. I don’t know if you should.”

“Isabel, I have to know if my little girl is okay. Just gonna call her grandmother. There’s no way one phone call is going to endanger Krampus. So you’re off the hook.”

She bit her lip. If something wasn’t obviously endangering Krampus or directly breaking one of his tenets, then her actions were her own.

“Isabel, I’m not asking. I’m going to make a phone call. I’ll be right back.”

“Yeah . . . okay.”

He started toward the phone, then turned. “Oh, here. I bought you a little something.” He pulled a plastic sack out of the grocery bag and handed it to her.

“What is it?”

“Why don’t you take a look and find out?”

She watched him go to the phone booth, then peered into the sack, found a pack of watermelon bubble gum, a giant chocolate almond bar, and something fuzzy. She tugged it out. It was a toboggan cap, black and white and so frizzy. She held it up and realized it was shaped like a panda bear’s head, complete with nose, ears, and big, droopy eyes. Two large fuzzy earflaps hung from each side. It was utterly ridiculous, but no one would ever, ever mistake it for a boy’s cap. There was something else in the sack. She pulled out a box, popped it open, inside she found a charm bracelet with an attached oversize pink, heart-shaped locket. She let out a small cry, covered her mouth. Apparently, Jesse had as bad a taste in jewelry as he did in women’s hats, but she couldn’t stop smiling. She tore it out of the box and slipped it on her wrist. Just some ticky-tacky, she knew that, but it was still glittery and oh-so-girly. Not the sort of thing a guy would buy a monster, and for that second she felt like a girl again. She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling. A tear ran down her cheek, then another. She tried to remember the last time anyone had given her a gift. It had been her Daniel, it had been the ring, some forty years ago. She wiped at her eyes. “Stop that,” she whispered. “Now’s not the time to go all weepy-eyed.”

Jesse hung up the phone and headed her way at a fast clip.

Isabel shoved her hood back and tugged on the toboggan, quickly tied the fuzzy earflaps beneath her chin. She hoped she looked as silly as she felt, couldn’t wait to see his face.

Jesse snatched up the gas can. “We gotta get back.” He headed up the gravel road without even looking her way, his face set and grim.

Isabel hesitated, confused, felt a sting of hurt.
What just happened?
She grabbed the groceries and sprinted to catch up with him.

“They’re after Abigail,” he said, his voice hard and tense.

Isabel didn’t know what to say.

“Linda’s mother asked me why Ash Boggs showed up at her place looking for Abi. That’s all the old witch would say, wouldn’t tell me a goddamn thing else. Just kept asking me what I’d done. You know what that means?”

Isabel shook her head.

“Means the General intends to make good on his threat, that’s what that means. Fuck,” his voice turned raw, cutting.
“Fuck!”

Jesse’s long legs ate up the road and Isabel had to jog to keep up.

“There’s just no telling what the General might do,” Jesse said, but it was more like he was talking to himself. “I gotta do something before it’s too damn late.”

I
SABEL WATCHED JESSE
empty the gas into his truck, then screw the cap back on and toss the canister into the camper. They found Vernon on the steps. He glanced at Isabel, his eyes going right to her cap. He let out a chuckle. “Why that is just adorable. I do hope you brought Makwa one.” Jesse started past. Vernon put out his arm. “Hold up. I wouldn’t go in there just now if I were you.”

“Why?” Isabel asked. “What happened?”

“Nothing. Old Tall and Ugly is just in one of his moods. That’s all.”

Jesse pushed Vernon’s arm aside and headed in. Isabel followed and they found Krampus sitting cross-legged in front of the stove, his eyes closed, his face deep in concentration, the sack before him, an assortment of arrows, gold, and bronze, all looking ancient, strewn about his feet. The Shawnee sat away from him, watching him, looking nervous. Wipi glanced over at them and gave a warning shake of the head.

“Now’s not a good time,” Isabel whispered.

Jesse ignored her, started forward.

Isabel grabbed his arm. “Wait.”

Jesse shrugged her off, kept walking. “Krampus.”

Krampus’s brow tightened, but he didn’t look up.

Jesse walked right up to the Yule Lord. “Krampus. We need to talk.”

Krampus still didn’t open his eyes, but raised a hand, shook it urgently. Isabel could see the rising frustration on the Yule Lord’s face, knew what that could mean. She rushed to Jesse, put a restraining hand on his chest. “Jesse,” she said in a low, harsh tone. “You gotta wait.”

Krampus inserted his arm deep into the sack, appeared to be searching. This went on for several minutes. Isabel could feel the tension rising in Jesse with each passing second.

“Krampus,” Jesse said, raising his voice. “It’s urgent.”

Krampus jerked his arm out, opened his eyes, stared at his empty hand, then let out a howl. “Damn Odin,” he hissed. “Damn the Valkyries. Where did they hide it?” He locked eyes on Jesse and growled. “You
dare
interrupt me?”

Jesse didn’t back down a step. “We need to go now. Get my daughter before it’s too—”

“It will wait,” Krampus said and waved him off. Isabel found herself surprised by his restraint, then saw his exhaustion.

“No,” Jesse pressed. “You don’t understand, the General will—”

“You are the one who does not understand. I must find Loki’s arrow. Without it there is no way to stop him. Baldr will kill us all.”

“Krampus, you have to—”

“No,”
Krampus cried, climbing to his feet, his tail snapping back and forth. “It is not your place to tell me what I must do!”

Isabel pulled Jesse back. “Stop it, Jesse.”

Jesse jabbed a finger at Krampus. “My little girl’s in trouble and I aim to do something about it. Tell you what, you just sit here, then. Me, I’m gonna go take care of this mess.” He yanked his arm free from Isabel and marched over to a cardboard box where the cash and guns sat.

Krampus’s face clenched into a knot, his nostrils flared, his breath came in short, hot bursts. Isabel knew what was next, watched helpless as his lips peeled back, revealing his long canines. His eyes flew open, red and glowing. She started to warn Jesse, but Krampus was on him in three quick strides. Jesse must’ve heard something for he started to turn; as he did, Krampus grabbed him, one hand around his neck, the other holding the front of his jacket. Krampus lifted Jesse off his feet and slammed him into the wall. The entire structure shook. “You will go nowhere ’less I give you leave.”

Jesse gasped, forced the words out. “Fuck you. I’m not one of your slaves.” Jesse grabbed Krampus’s wrist, tried to twist free. Krampus threw him to the floor.

“Hold him,” Krampus commanded and the Shawnee were on him, grabbing Jesse before he could get to his feet. Jesse flailed, landed a blow to the side of Makwa’s face, then they had him pinned.

Krampus stomped over, towering above Jesse, a low growl coming from deep in his throat. Isabel knew Jesse had gone too far, knew Krampus would bite Jesse, would turn him.

“My patience is at an end,” Krampus snapped. He squatted, grabbed Jesse’s arm, held it taut. “You leave me no choice.” He grinned, once again revealing his canines.

“No!”
Isabel shouted. “Krampus, stop it!”

Krampus ignored her, opened his mouth to bite Jesse.

Isabel rushed in, pushed herself between them.

Krampus looked as though he might beat her to death with his bare fist.

“You made an oath!”
Isabel cried.
“A blood oath!”

Krampus shoved her away, sending her tumbling across the floor into one of the pews. Isabel rolled back to her feet and cried out,
“Does the word of the Yule Lord mean nothing? Then how are you any different than Santa Claus?”

Krampus leapt to his feet, glaring at Isabel, and she could see he weighed her death, could see it burning in his eyes. He lifted his face upward, toward the rafters, let out a howl, gritted his teeth, and just stood there with his eyes shut, his chest heaving. Slowly, his breathing steadied. His shoulders slumped. “Isabel . . . my little lion. Your heart is bold and your words are true.” He set eyes on Jesse. “You . . . should you ever dare to challenge me again . . . I will kill you.” His words held absolute finality; he let out a long breath. “I will honor my oath. Those men will die, and die badly. But all in due time, for first there are more pressing matters.” He turned and staggered back to the stove, stared down at the velvet sack.

“Bind him,” Krampus said over his shoulder. “See to it he does not run off. I cannot risk him escaping. He is too unpredictable.”

Makwa yanked Jesse around, shoved him hard against the floor, and put a knee in his back. He gestured toward several curtain rods leaning in the corner. Wipi hopped up, slid out his knife and cut the cords loose from the rods. Isabel intercepted him on his way back. “Give me those.” She snatched the cords away from Wipi. Wipi looked at Makwa and shrugged. Isabel came over to Makwa. “Stop being such a brute. Now, get on off him.”

Makwa scowled, said something in Shawnee, which Isabel knew to be unflattering, but he got off.

“Put your wrists out.”

Jesse reluctantly did as he was told.

Isabel bound his wrists gently but securely. Jesse wouldn’t look at her, just glared at Krampus the whole time.

Krampus took a seat next to the sack. He picked up one of the arrows, studied it. “Where are you hiding?”

S
ANTA
C
LAUS STOOD
on the ledge and stared down at the wolves. The early-morning wind whipped his long beard. His breath steamed in the chill. One of the wolves looked up at him, then to her mate lying still on his side. She let out a whimper and pawed at her mate, but the mate didn’t move. She barked up at the white-bearded man. Santa’s face twitched but he did nothing but stare.

The man searched the sky, found no sign of the ravens, hadn’t heard them since yesterday morning. He knew what that must mean. The trail was cold; without the ravens Krampus could be anywhere, could be a thousand miles away. He was wasting his time here.

He heard a horn, far away, from the east. He turned toward it, pulled out his own horn, and blew. The sound echoed across the valley, a sound most mortal ears would miss, a sound that could carry halfway across the world.

A few minutes later he caught sight of a sleigh flying toward him over the far ridgeline. It was smaller than his Christmas sleigh, drawn by two goats, Tanngrisni and Tanngnost. The goats were true Yule goats, the last of their breed, last of his ties to another age.

“The past should stay in the past,” he growled.
So much had I managed to forget. Now, Krampus returns to resurrect old ghosts.
Santa looked heavenward.
Baldr is dead, by all the gods, and he needs to stay dead. Baldr paid for his misdeeds, his arrogance, his deceit, paid with his life, his soul . . . paid a hundred times over. How much is enough? When will I be allowed to forget?

The sleigh floated down and came to a skidding stop on the rough road. Two elves hopped out, both armed with sword and pistol, dressed in woodland gear: thick jackets, britches, cloaks, and boots. They scanned the hills with keen eyes as they strolled up to Santa Claus—the top of their heads only reaching as high as his belt. They peered down the ravine at the two wolves.

“Is Freki dead?” Tahl, the younger of the two elves, asked.

“No,” Santa replied. “But will be soon I am afraid.”

“Can we do anything?”

“Not for Freki. He is too large to carry in the sleigh.”

“ ’Tis a shame.”

“Yes,” Santa agreed, “and Geri will not leave his side. Not even in death. Their fates are one.”

They watched Geri pace round her mate. She licked his fur and again looked to the white-bearded man. She barked, then her bark turned into a whine.

“We can’t just leave them like this,” Tahl said. “There has to be something we can do.”

“It is sad, but they are of the past and like all the ancient ones, their time is done.” Santa turned, mounted the sleigh. The older elf followed, but the younger one stayed, watching the doomed creatures.

“Come, Tahl,” Santa Claus called. “Do not make this harder than it need be.”

The elf bit his lip, left the ledge and the wolves behind, ran and leapt into the sleigh. The older elf snapped the reins; the two goats bleated and leapt skyward, pulling the sleigh up over the trees. Tahl watched the wolves become smaller and smaller, until they were just two tiny specks alone in the forest.