Kraved by Krampus (Yule Be Mine Monster)

22. Clara

Chapter twenty-two

Clara

T he snow crunches under my boots as I walk down Winterhaven’s main street, lost in thought about everything Mrs. Redmond revealed about my mother. A flash of white catches my eye.

“Noelle, darling!” Victoria’s pristine figure stands out against the rustic storefronts, her silver bob gleaming in the winter sun. “What a delightful coincidence.”

My stomach drops. How is she here? This is a magical town. “Victoria? I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Oh, a friend has a little vacation home nearby.” She waves her manicured hand dismissively. “I simply adore these quaint mountain villages. Perfect for clearing the mind and finding inspiration, don’t you agree?”

Something feels off about her explanation, but I can’t put my finger on what. The temperature seems to drop several degrees as she approaches.

“You look like you could use a warm drink.” Victoria loops her arm through mine. “I spotted the most charming café just down the street.”

Before I can protest, she’s steering me toward The Frost & Flame Cafe. I’m trying to process her casual demeanor. She saw Krampus in his full terrifying glory. Why isn’t she freaking out?

“I’ve been meaning to catch up with you about your next book.” Victoria’s heels click against the cobblestones. “After our last meeting was so... unexpectedly interrupted.”

My chest tightens at the memory of Krampus’s hurt expression. Don’t think about him now.

The café‘s warmth wraps around me like a blanket, but Victoria’s presence keeps me from fully relaxing. The comforting scent of cinnamon and fresh-baked goods does nothing to settle my nerves.

Hank looks up from behind the counter, his frost-tipped beard twitching as his gaze moves between us. His usual welcoming smile falters for just a moment.

“The usual for you, Noelle?” His deep voice carries across the empty café.

“Yes, please.”

“And for your... friend?” Hank’s hesitation is subtle, but I catch it. At least someone else senses something’s wrong.

Victoria perches herself on a leather armchair near the window. “Oh, just a plain green tea, thank you.” She smooths her pristine white skirt. “Nothing fancy.”

I sink into the chair across from her, clutching my bag close. How is she acting like nothing happened? Like she didn’t see an eight-foot-tall horned being materialize in my kitchen?

Hank brings our drinks over, setting mine down with extra care. His cork-soled boots make no sound on the hardwood floor, but I notice how he positions himself slightly between Victoria and me before stepping away.

“Now then,” Victoria takes a delicate sip of her tea, “about that contract—”

“Aren’t we going to talk about what happened?” The words burst out before I can stop them. “About what you saw?”

She blinks at me, her perfectly lined eyes showing no trace of concern. “Oh, that little... disruption? These things happen in publishing, darling. Creative differences can get quite heated.”

Creative differences? Is that what we’re calling it when ancient winter deities manifest in my kitchen?

Victoria leans forward, her silver jewelry catching the light. “You know, darling, I’ve been doing some research since our... encounter. The stories about this creature—”

“His name is Krampus.” The words come out sharper than intended.

“Yes, well.” She stirs her tea with precise movements. “The historical accounts are quite disturbing. Children beaten with branches, carried away in chains...” Her perfectly manicured nail traces the rim of her cup. “And now he’s somehow involved with your writing retreat?”

My stomach churns. But that’s not what I saw. He was gentle with those children, protective even. “Those are just old stories, Victoria. Folk tales get distorted over time.”

“Do they?” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve known you for years, Noelle. Built your career. This dark turn isn’t like you.” She reaches across and pats my hand. “I’m worried about his influence.”

Years of friendship, years of guidance... The doubt creeps in like frost on a window. I think about the children in the forest, how naturally they responded to him. But then there were those chains he summoned, the way the shadows bent to his will...

“The children at the Academy—”

“Academy?” Victoria’s eyebrows arch perfectly. “Is that what he’s calling it? A place where he keeps magical children isolated, under his control?”

“No, it’s not—” But what do I really know? I’ve only been here a few days. The memory of his terrifying form in the forest flashes through my mind. And the creature being dragged into the ground.

“Think about it, darling.” Victoria’s voice drops to a concerned whisper. “What do you actually know about him? About his true intentions?”

The worst part is, she’s right. I don’t know him, not really. Just the stories, the legends of a demon who punishes children. And yet... The way he looked at me. The gentleness in his touch. How he came for me in the forest...

“I saw how he handled that situation in your kitchen.” Victoria’s words slice through my thoughts. “Such violence, such darkness. Is that really the kind of energy you want around your work? Around you?”

My fingers trace the warm ceramic of my mug, remembering how his claws lengthened, how the shadows writhed at his command. But I also remember the way he listened to the children’s stories, how focused he was on making my fantasies come true...

“You’ve worked so hard to build your reputation as the Queen of Christmas Cheer.” Victoria’s tone drips with concern. “We wouldn’t want anything to... tarnish that image.”

I stare into my drink, watching the steam curl upward while Victoria’s words settle around me like a heavy snowfall. The café‘s warmth seems to retreat, leaving only a chill that has nothing to do with the weather.

“Light is order, structure, safety.” Victoria’s perfectly manicured nails tap against her cup. “The darkness? It corrupts everything it touches.”

But that’s not what I’ve seen. Images flash through my mind: Krampus carrying a tired child, his massive form somehow gentle. The way his eyes softened when he looked at me. The protective fury when he saved me from that creature in the forest.

“The Winter Court has maintained balance for centuries through proper channels, appropriate procedures.” Victoria smooths an invisible wrinkle from her frost-white blazer. “These dark entities? They’re chaos incarnate.”

My fingers trace the rim of my mug. The ceramic grows warmer under my touch, steam swirling in unusual patterns. Is that... me?

“Think about your readers, darling. Your brand.” Victoria leans forward, her voice honeyed with concern. “What would they think if they knew you were consorting with a demon?”

The word ‘demon’ strikes something in me. “He’s not—” I catch myself, lowering my voice. “You don’t know him.”

“Oh?” Her smile turns sharp. “And you do?”

Yes. No. Maybe. I think about the quiet moments in his library, the way he anticipated my favorite tea, how he trusted me with the magical children. The raw vulnerability in his eyes before he disappeared.

The lights in the café flicker. Victoria’s jewelry gleams with an unnatural brightness that makes my eyes hurt. Something’s not right here.

“I can protect you, Noelle.” Victoria reaches for my hand. “Sign the new contract. Let me guide you back to the light where you belong.”

The moment her fingers brush mine, a jolt of energy sparks between us. My tea cup rattles. The shadows in the corners of the café seem to deepen.

My powers. The realization hits me like a thunderbolt. They’re not just coming from being around Krampus or the children. They’re mine.

Victoria withdraws her hand, but not before I catch a glimpse of something ancient and cold in her eyes. “You feel it, don’t you? The darkness trying to take hold?”

But that’s not what I feel at all. What flows through me isn’t darkness or light—it’s something else entirely. Something that feels like midnight baking sessions and stories whispered under blankets. Like the first snow of winter and the warmth of coming home.

My mother’s voice echoes in my memory: “Sometimes the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows, my love.”

I look at Victoria again, really look at her. The pristine outfit. The too-perfect smile. The way she appeared in a magical town she shouldn’t be able to find.

“I need to go.” I push back from the table, nearly knocking over my tea. The liquid sloshes, forming strange patterns on the surface that seem to whisper warnings.

Victoria’s perfectly manicured hand reaches for me. “Noelle, darling, don’t be hasty—”

I step away from her touch. “I just remembered I have a deadline.” The lie feels clumsy on my tongue, but I keep moving. “Thank you for the tea.”

The temperature in the café plummets as I hurry toward the door. Ice crystals form on the windows, creating delicate fractals that seem to point toward the exit. Get out, get out, get out.

My fingers wrap around the door handle, and a spark of energy courses through me. The bell above chimes discordantly as I push through.

“We’ll finish our discussion soon!” Victoria’s voice follows me out, carrying an edge that makes my skin crawl.

I burst onto the snowy sidewalk, gulping in the crisp winter air. My heart pounds against my ribs as I speed-walk away from the café, not daring to look back. The sound of my boots crunching through fresh snow grounds me in reality.

What just happened in there? My thoughts whirl like snowflakes in a storm. The way Victoria appeared, her perfectly crafted words, that unnatural gleam in her jewelry... None of it adds up.

A gust of wind whips around me, carrying snowflakes that seem to dance with purpose. They swirl in front of my face, forming patterns that remind me of the protective symbols I’ve seen in Krampus’s books.

Krampus. My chest aches at the thought of him. I pushed him away, and now...

My pace quickens as I head toward the library. If anyone can help me make sense of this, it’s Mrs. Redmond. Something tells me she knows exactly what Victoria really is—and why she’s here.