I sighed. “Not much, honestly. Everything I know is the folklore version. But the stories say he either kills or protects children.”
Eve nodded slowly, the gears in her mind turning. “So, if this was Krampus, he didn’t pick Brody randomly. He knew.”
“Could be,” I said, glancing back at the camera. The images burned in my memory, each one more unsettling than the last. “If it’s him, it means Brody’s death wasn’t just some act of vengeance. It was a message.”
“A bloody, twisted, birch-branch-wrapped message,” Nishi added darkly.
The air in the room seemed heavier now, the tension thick enough to cut through. Krampus wasn’t just a scary bedtime story. He was real, dangerous, and—if we were right—he was already here. And the last thing any of us wanted was to find out what he had planned next.
I leaned back against the desk, the camera still glowing lightly with its disturbing content. “I should ask Carnell about this,” I said, mostly thinking out loud. “If it is Krampus, he’d know. I don’t think Krampus has been topside in a long time, but if anyone has intel, it’s my grandaddy.”
Before I could say more, Nishi froze mid-step, her eyes going glassy and distant, like she’d suddenly been unplugged from reality. Her entire body stiffened, her hand stillclutching the edge of the desk as though she’d been stopped mid-motion.
“Nishi?” I said, frowning, but Eve stepped in, her tone laced with mild exasperation.
“Relax. She’s getting a magical download.” She gestured vaguely, as if this was just another Tuesday.
I crossed my arms, watching as Nishi’s eyes flickered, her breath hitching slightly before she blinked back into focus. Her gaze snapped to mine, sharp and urgent. “It’s him,” she said without preamble. “Krampus. He uses fear to torment his victims, and it fits. He binds them and whips them with a ruten—a birch branch.”
“So, he killed Brody because he liked kids more than he should,” Eve said, her voice clipped, her disgust palpable.
“Seems like it,” Nishi agreed, her face darkening as she glanced at the camera on the desk.
I blew out a breath, trying to process the tangled web of justice and horror we’d just unraveled. “Well,” I said after a moment, my tone dry, “I’m not sure if I should apprehend Krampus or give him a medal.”
Eve snorted, her lips twitching in a reluctant smirk. “Good luck explaining that to the supernatural council. ‘Sorry for bringing him in, but have you considered an employee of the month?’”
Nishi shook her head, though a ghost of a smile flickered across her face. “Yeah, good luck with that.”
The door creaked open, and Aurora and Victor stepped back inside, brushing snow off their coats. The tension in their postures was noticeable, but Victor’s gaze was even harder to miss. He’d caught the tail end of our conversation, and he didn’t bother hiding it.
“Neither,” Victor said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.
I straightened, narrowing my eyes at him. “Why?”
“Because,” he said, crossing his arms, “Krampus doesn’t do shades of gray. To him, any infraction is a death sentence.”
The reality of his words hung in the air, and even Nishi’s usual smirk faltered. Aurora’s brow furrowed, her eyes locking onto Victor. “And how exactly do you know so much about Krampus?”
Victor’s expression didn’t waver, though his jaw tightened slightly. “I don’t know much,” he admitted, glancing at the camera on the desk as if it might offer more answers than he could. “What I do know is from old lore. He’s not a typical demon. He doesn’t crave chaos or destruction for its own sake. Krampus is methodical. He punishes those he deems guilty, and his punishments are extreme.”
“Extreme how?” Eve asked, crossing, her arms.
Victor tilted his head, his voice even but grim. “The birch branch, the bindings—those are his calling cards. But the fear… that’s the real weapon. He thrives on it. It’s not just about killing. It’s about making his victims suffer in every way possible.”
“Great,” Nishi muttered, crossing her arms. “So, he’s got a sadistic streak and a moral code. Sounds like a great combo.”
Aurora didn’t take her eyes off Victor. “If you don’t know much, how can you be sure he’s topside? Or that this is him?”
Victor’s gaze flicked toward the photos and then back to Aurora. “I’m not, but everything about this lines up with his M.O. The birch branches, the way Brody was bound, the sheer terror on his face. If this isn’t Krampus, it’s someone mimicking him perfectly.”
I let out a slow breath, processing everything. If Victor was right, then Krampus wasn’t just punishing the guilty. He was making a statement. And judging by the fear etched into Brody’s face, it wasn’t one anyone would want to ignore.
“Well,” I said, my voice dry, “this just keeps getting better.”
I nibbled my cheek as I stared at Victor. “Do you knowwhat his weakness is?” I asked, my voice steady but edged with urgency. If we were dealing with Krampus, we needed every advantage.
Victor shook his head, his expression grim. “No. I don’t.”
