I looked back at the pens, the quiet night stretching out around us. The Christmas decorations lining the fences, twinkling lights, holly wreaths, and ribbons. They all felt out of place now, like they belonged to an entirely different world. But this was the moment we’d been chasing all night, and I wasn’t about to let him slip through our fingers again.
Eve and Salima worked quickly, their quiet murmurs blending into the stillness of the petting zoo as they cast thewards. The air around them seemed to shimmer faintly for a moment before settling, the magic invisible to anyone who wasn’t looking for it. They moved with precision, masking the enchantments as they worked, ensuring that even Krampus wouldn’t notice until it was too late.
When they finished, Eve nodded toward me, her expression calm but serious. “It’s ready,” she said softly. “You’re up.”
I took a deep breath, stepping past the velvet rope and into the roped-off petting zoo. The ground was damp beneath my boots, the light scent of hay and animals lingering in the cold air. The surrounding enclosures were quiet, the animals tucked safely into their small barns for the night. Even so, the stillness felt heavy and unnatural.
I wandered slowly through the viewing area, my eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The tension in my chest grew with every step, my fingers brushing against the hilt of my dagger at my side. For all the planning, wards, and bait, it felt like nothing was going to happen. The silence was suffocating, and doubt began to creep in.
“This isn’t going to work,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. My gaze fell on a nearby enclosure marked “Newborns.” One of the wooden rails had been knocked loose, leaning awkwardly against the fence. With a sigh, I moved toward it, crouching down to put it back in place.
Just as I reached for the rail, a small head popped through the bars, nuzzling against my hand. I froze for a moment, then looked down to see a tiny lamb staring up at me with wide, innocent eyes.
“Well, aren’t you brave,” I murmured, kneeling to pet its soft head. The lamb leaned into my hand, letting out a quiet bleat as I smiled. “You need to get back inside your hut, little one, before we find out if demons like lamb chops.”
I shooed it gently, and the lamb let out another smallbleat before trotting back into its small barn hut, its tiny tail wagging as it disappeared inside. I stood, watching it for a moment, then turned and moved toward the center of the viewing area, putting more distance between myself and the innocent animals.
The silence wrapped around me again, thicker now, as I stood in the middle of the petting zoo. My breath misted in the cold air as I scanned the darkness, waiting. But nothing happened. The longer I stood there, the more convinced I became that our plan had failed.
“He’s not coming,” I muttered, frustration curling in my chest. I turned, glancing at the enclosures before deciding to head back to the others. “We’ll regroup and head back to the tree light?—”
A low, guttural growl cut through the stillness, freezing me in place. My heart jumped as I turned sharply, my hand instinctively moving to my back to draw my saber.
Krampus stepped out of the shadows, his massive form towering over the fences as his glowing eyes locked onto me. His lips twisted into a cruel smile, and I tightened my grip on the hilt of my blade, my pulse hammering in my ears.
“Finally,” I muttered, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at the edges of my resolve. “Let’s end this.”
Krampus’ glowing eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his hooves crunching against the frost-covered ground. His gaze swept the area, and a low growl rumbled deep in his throat. “I feel the magic,” he snarled, his voice guttural. “You think you can trap me, little hunter?”
I tightened my grip on the hilt of my saber, a slow smirk spreading across my face despite the fear twisting in my chest. “Oh, I don’t think, big guy,” I said, my voice dripping with mockery. “I know. You’re headed to Scorchwood, one way or another.”
His nostrils flared, and his lips peeled back into a snarl, revealing serrated, jagged teeth. “You dare speak to me like that?” he growled, his voice vibrating through the air. “I will feast on your bones.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, waving my saber lightly. “You’ve got all the scary demon lines down. Too bad you’ll never get the chance. You’re done, Krampus.”
The taunt hit its mark. His rage erupted like a storm, and with a deafening roar, he lunged at me, his claws slashing through the air. I dodged, rolling to the side as his massive hand slammed into the ground where I’d just been standing. Dirt and frost exploded into the air, but I didn’t stop to catch my breath. I swung my saber, aiming for his side, and felt the blade connect, slicing through his flesh. He howled in pain, the sound distinct and furious, but it only seemed to fuel his rage.
He turned on me, and swiped with his claws again. I barely managed to block him with my saber, the force of the blow reverberating up my arm. My knees buckled slightly, but I gritted my teeth and held firm.
“You’re slow,” I said through clenched teeth, twisting the blade to push him back. “And predictable.”
“You’re arrogant,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “And weak.”
He swung again, and this time his claws caught my arm, tearing through my coat sleeve and leaving a shallow gash. The pain burned, but I pushed it aside, ducking under his next strike and slashing upward with my saber. The blade caught him across the chest, and dark blood splattered onto the ground.
The sound of footsteps pounding against the frozen earth made my heart jump. A moment later, the others appeared, rushing into the petting zoo. Aurora leaped over the low fences with ease, her wolfish speed carrying her toward us,while Nishi unsheathed her kris knife, her eyes blazing with determination.
Tegan drew her dagger and began to circle us. Liam extended his baton and circled in the opposite direction from Tegan. Salima and Eve stood near the perimeter, their hands glowing faintly with magic as they began reinforcing the wards.
“Keep him contained!” I yelled, sidestepping another one of Krampus’ wild swipes. “He can’t leave the boundaries!”
Aurora lunged at him, her claws flashing as she raked them across his back. Krampus roared, spinning to face her, but Nishi was already behind him, slashing at his legs with quick, precise strikes. He stumbled, his movements growing more frantic as he realized he was surrounded.
“You’ll regret this!” he bellowed, swinging wildly as he tried to break free of the circle we’d created around him. His claws connected with one of the fence posts, shattering it into splinters, but the wards held strong, keeping him contained.
I darted forward, slashing at his arm and dodging back before he could retaliate. Blood dripped from his wounds, steaming against the cold ground, but he wasn’t going down without a fight. The others pressed him harder, each attack chipping away at his strength, but his rage burned brighter with every blow.
“Stay focused!” I shouted, my breath coming in short bursts as I readied myself for another strike. “We end this here!”
