I nodded, my eyes drifting back to the boy and his mother. She was holding him close now, the man with the first-aid kit working quickly to stop the bleeding. The scene was so painfully normal and human that it almost hurt to look at it. But Aurora was right.
“We can’t let our guard down,” I said finally, my voice steady. “Not even for a second.”
The others nodded, their expressions grim as we turned back toward the candle shop.
A short, piercing screech rang out, crackling and piercing, before the loudspeakers scattered across the village came to life. The village promoter’s cheerful, overly enthusiastic voice boomed through the air, cutting through the low murmur of the crowd at the ice rink.
“Ladies and gentlemen, just a friendly reminder—tonight’s tree lighting is in half an hour! Gather around the square for a show to remember!”
The words hung in the air like an ominous echo. I stopped in my tracks, glancing at the others as the crowdaround the rink began to disperse, their focus shifting toward the upcoming event.
“A show to remember,” I muttered under my breath, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth. “That’s exactly what Dagna wants.”
The others closed around me, forming a tight circle as we stood near the rink’s edge. Aurora crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the bustling village square as though Krampus might materialize out of the shadows at any moment. “What do you think his plan is?” she asked, her voice low.
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “If Dagna has anything to do with it, it’s going to be big,” I said. “The tree lighting brings the entire village together. Perfect opportunity for Krampus to create maximum chaos.”
“Could he be planning to go after the kids?” Tegan asked, her voice laced with worry. “It’s a family event. There’ll be a ton of them there.”
Salima’s jaw tightened, her hand brushing the pouch of potions on her belt. “If that’s the case, we need to figure out how to stop him before he gets anywhere near them.”
“He doesn’t need to target kids specifically,” I said, my voice grim. “Krampus punishes whoever he sees as guilty. Parents, vendors, and random people who happened to break a rule or two. And Dagna doesn’t need him to go after one specific group. She just craves the chaos. Fear. It’s all the same to her.”
Nishi frowned, her gaze fixed on the towering Christmas tree in the distance. “So what’s the play? Is he going to attack the lighting itself? Before? After?”
“Hard to say,” I admitted, clenching my fists at my sides. “But if he’s still under some kind of glamour, he could already be here, blending in. Waiting.”
“Great,” Liam muttered, his arms crossed as he surveyed the crowd. “So we’ve got half an hour to find a demondisguised as a normal person in a crowd full of normal people.”
I nodded, my heart pounding as I glanced back toward the square. “Exactly. And if we don’t figure it out before the tree lighting starts…” I trailed off, the reality of what I didn’t need to say settling over all of us.
Eve broke the silence, her voice measured. “Then we ensure he doesn’t finish whatever he’s planning.”
“Right,” I said firmly, meeting their gazes. “Let’s spread out and start watching. Look for anything—anyone—that seems off. We stop him before this turns into the kind of show Dagna’s hoping for.”
The others nodded, tenacity etched into their faces as we moved out. My stomach churned as I glanced at the tree looming in the distance, the star already reflecting the surrounding lights.
We spread out, our eyes scanning the bustling area in front of the massive Christmas tree. The air was crisp, the subtle smell of roasted chestnuts and spiced cider lingering as people laughed and chatted, utterly unaware of the danger lurking in their festive little bubble. The tree itself stood tall and proud, its branches adorned with garland, ornaments, and ribbons, but its lights were still off, waiting for the big reveal.
This wasn’t the first tree-lighting ceremony of the season. A few times throughout December, the ceremony was held for those who couldn’t make the first one. But tonight, the crowd seemed just as lively as if it were opening night. Families huddled together, children bundled up in thick coats and scarves, pointing excitedly at the decorations. Couples held hands, their smiles glowing brighter than the dim bulbs strung across the nearby lampposts.
The square was packed, but a few stragglers still wandered in and out of the shops lining the streets, someclutching shopping bags, others sipping on steaming cups of cocoa. A group of carolers stood off to one side, their harmonious voices blending into the hum of conversation, adding to the illusion of peace and joy that blanketed the village.
But I couldn’t enjoy any of it. My eyes darted from face to face, searching for any sign of Krampus. A man with a heavy coat and a hood pulled up over his head. A woman lingering at the edge of the crowd, looking too nervous, too twitchy. A child clutching their parent’s hand a little too tightly. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was here, blending into the crowd like Dagna had planned.
I turned my gaze back to the tree, its ornaments glinting faintly in the light of the lampposts. Most of the crowd had already gathered around it, eager for the ceremony to start. It wouldn’t be long now.
I shoved my hands into my coat pockets, my fingers brushing the hilt of one of my throwing stars as I moved through the crowd. The festive energy pressed around me, sharply contrasting with the tight knot in my chest.
Where are you? I thought, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the faces again. Krampus would thrive in this kind of setting—large, distracted, vulnerable. And if we didn’t find him before the lights came on, this cheerful holiday scene was about to turn into a nightmare.
CHAPTER 14
We circled the crowd like predators on the hunt, each of us scanning faces, movements, and anything that might give away the presence of a demon hiding in plain sight. The festive chatter and laughter felt like nails on a chalkboard grating against my already frayed nerves. Every time someone moved too quickly or glanced in our direction, my heart jumped, but each lead was nothing more than an innocent family or a bundled-up couple enjoying the night.
When it became clear we would be empty, we all regrouped near a small drink stand, the scent of spiced cider and hot cocoa filling the air. I crossed my arms to suppress my frustration as the others trickled in.
Eve was the last to join us, her face tight with frustration. “How the hell do we find him?” she asked, throwing her hands up, “When we can’t track him?”
