Chapter 11

Liselotte

“You deserve this,” Chancellor Krampus says as he lowers his square-lensed glasses. “I’ve admired your work from afar, and I happily welcome you to Krampus Village. No one’s record is as impeccable as yours.”

“But?” I never dreamed of questioning or rushing him in my younger years, but I’ve grown into this place. The gothic architecture with sweeping eves and vaulted ceilings echo my rude outburst—even though my voice wasn’t above a whisper. The imposing structure of Krampus Industries is to frighten the elves and anyone else who dares to attack us. With spires that touch the sky and gargoyles perched between the windows, I always saw it as motivation to climb as high as I dared. Anything is possible for a Krampus who outworks her competition.

Today, my dreams will come true in this room a second time. The first was when I graduated from the academy and received my assigned territory. The territory that eventually contained Gerhard, the love of my life. Each day, I’m more certain that he was created for me, and I for him. When he enters this room, it will be like he walks into my soul. Everything I’ve ever wanted is represented by the pageantry, the formal protocols, and the rewards bestowed in this room.

“But I pictured you living your twilight years with Percival or Eugene. Is this human worthy of what you’ve accomplished these last one hundred years?” He shuffles my application with each word, the slap of the papers adding battle drums in my mind. I’ll defend my choice to my last breath.

“My accomplishments were to earn the choice of how I spend my twilight years,” I quip with my practiced, frosty delivery.

“Quick,” he replies with a laugh, degenerating into a coughing fit. “I always liked you because of your rapier wit. Christmas Town demands her Chancellor be quick on their hooves.”

“But?” The air slams from my lungs as the fist of servitude squeezes my heart. My cool demeanor melts from my face as my jaw drops with the weight of protests on my tongue.

“Liselotte, I amended your Krampus Village application—”

“What? Why? How? Is that legal? Can I appeal?”

“Hush now,” he says, lifting his palm to cut off the tirade boiling beneath my skin. His index claw is chipped—a sign of his advanced age. “You get your human, but I’m requesting you apprentice under the Vice Chancellor after your second Krampus is born. An heir and a spare, as they say…”

“Oh.” My copy of my application slides from my fingertips as they slacken with shock. Chancellor? Vice Chancellor? Me? The brush of papers on the floor brings me to my knees. At least if I faint, I won’t injure myself, since I’m crawling on the floor at the Chancellor’s desk. Is he sure I’m the right Krampus for the job? When I look up, he’s leaning over his desk to scrutinize my movements. His sharp eyes, nestled in shiny black fur, certainly haven’t aged. Will he rescind the offer now that he sees I can lose my decorum at the slightest compliment or hint of praise?

This is why I need Gerhard in my life. He showers me with praise—as a reward and a weapon. My life will finally be fulfilling. I worried my transition from workaholic to motherhood would break my spirit. But with the position of Chancellor on the horizon, my career isn’t finished. With time, I could have it all…with a male by my side who believes in me.

“I’m not asking. That’s not the way things are done, but I know this is what’s best for you, Liselotte. Hank will rise from Vice Chancellor to Chancellor, and you will follow in his footsteps.”

“Sir,” Sally says as she rushes through the door without knocking. Where’s the Vice Chancellor, or either male’s secretary, to keep people out? This is my moment! I must accept the non-offer he offered! “There’s no water in the fountain. Panic and rumors of the Oracle’s demise are spreading through the ritual chamber.”

Oh, for Santa’s sake…

A single glitch, and the public assumes the Oracle has forsaken us. As if one tiny offering each year is enough to keep our magic alive. It’s the work of hundreds of Krampuses every year at the scrying bowls, visiting Earth on Christmas Eve, and the little people—like Sally—who make it all possible. I bet the pipes are clogged with someone’s trash at the Sea of Faith. How many times have I seen a Krampus litter on the beach? As Sally drones on about public outcry, spirituality, and ill fortune, I scuttle around the floor like a bug, collecting my fallen papers. The Chancellor—to his credit—gives her his full attention without reacting.

I’d tell her to contact a plumber and kick her out…maybe that’s why he has the job and I’ll be an apprentice for a few decades. Apprentice…in the Chancellor’s Office…without slaving away in the Registrar’s Office. I dream of my days strolling the halls of this grand building as I pull myself up using the windowsill. Won’t this piss off Eugene—royally? He’s toiled at the Vice Chancellor’s side for years, and I leaped over him.

He lost the girl and the job—ha! He lost the job to the girl. Shouldn’t have been such a bully! I turn to the window to hide my smirk, so Sally and the Chancellor don’t think I’m laughing at her crisis—even if it is laughable.

“Boats,” slips through my lips as I take in the horror outside the window. I can’t digest the scene. Our worst nightmare sits on the beach of the Sea of Faith. “Boats! Boats! Boats!”

“Boats, Liselotte?” The Chancellor silences Sally with his palm. They turn toward me with agonizing slowness.

My lips move, but my thoughts jumble in my throat before they can be pushed out. I sway…or maybe the room sways. Panic squeezes my ribs. I can’t get enough air. My hooves clatter as my knees shake. I raise a trembling finger toward the window as if it’s what scares me.

“Boats,” I repeat because my lips and tongue can’t process more than one word.

“What boats,” Sally snaps, joining me at the window. She’s so close to me, her gasp pierces my ear. “Elves landed on the beach! There’s a half dozen boats. Chancellor, we’ve been invaded by the elves!”

And my Gerhard is alone…no, I left him with the males who tormented me throughout my childhood. Great… My wedding may never happen after all. Tears blur my vision as I whimper.

“They must have cut off the water supply. The fountain ran dry because the elves shut off the intake valves,” Sally says, as if anyone cares about her stupid grievance now. She shakes her hands at chest level as if flinging stress from her fingers.

“Come, Liselotte, we must secure the future of Christmas Town. We will run through the Vice Chancellor’s Office to collect him on the way to the vault.”

“Yes,” I say, nodding vigorously until I nauseate myself with swimming vision. “Percival and Isabella should be with him.”

“A breeding pair,” he murmurs as he stands behind his desk. He gathers his black robe at his waist so it hangs to his knees. “Good idea, a breeding pair to start over if necessary.”

Sally and I exchange a look of alarm. Breeding pair? Start over?

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I say as I rush to his side. I take The Chancellor’s elbow and lead him around the desk. Why does he lean so heavily on my side? Why isn’t he moving faster? I study his movements. He favors his right side. Gout grows in his left hoof. We aren’t getting anywhere soon.

I could portal us out of here…but what about Gerhard? Do I trust the peers who pushed me around every chance they got to protect him? Part of me believes he would be better off alone. He doesn’t know the realm, but he’s strong, clever, physically fit, and adaptable. If only he were here, but he’s not. I must choose. I was gifted the ability to portal at will because the Fates believed I could lead the Krampuses…and save them at this moment. Do I have it in me to choose saving the Chancellor over saving Gerhard?

“I can portal him out,” Sally volunteers.

“You?”

Bang! Bang! Gunfire rings through the door to the receptionist’s office. Screams and squeaky elf voices join the chorus.

“Yes, I’m one of the three they seek. I’m sorry, Liselotte, but I must leave you behind.” Sally pushes me to the ground, grabs the Chancellor’s elbow, and creates a glowing portal at our feet. The bright green clouds lead to another part of Christmas Island. The color would be blue if she traveled anywhere else. Her magic is as strong as mine. Why doesn’t she portal directly to Earth?

“Portal out, Liselotte,” The Chancellor commands. The portal’s edges go fuzzy as Sally’s focus is knocked off-kilter by his request before sharpening. She’s as surprised by my identity as I am by hers. I have a million questions, but my mind can’t process them.

“They’re here. They breached the city limits. The guards. The fence. The building.” Shock takes root as my world crumbles around me. The security of Krampus Industries’ defenses was a farce. I’m reeling as Sally jumps into her portal, dragging the Chancellor into the abyss.

“Chancellor, we demand your surrender of the three Krampuses who can portal at will in the name of Santa Claus, the true ruler of— Where the hell did he go? Is this not his office?” An elf with a blue hat, giant machine gun, and pointy teeth bursts into the room, firing orders, not bullets. The bell on the toe of his shoe rings as he taps his toe in annoyance. “I swear there’s more Krampuses packed into this building than sugar grains in a candy cane. Not one of them is worth a damn, either.”

I can’t portal out now. If I do, my life will be looking over my shoulder for elves…assuming I first survive this encounter with them. Nobody can know I’m one of the three…or that Percival and Sally make up the rest of the trio. If I am to survive, I must play cool. They will place me with the other Krampuses, who can tell me where to find Gerhard. Once I’m reunited with him, we will portal together. Easy peasy—find Gerhard, don’t get shot, and portal to Earth.

“The Chancellor isn’t here,” I say, clasping my hands at my waistline in a pose of serenity. “May I assist you?”

“We don’t deal with assistants, lady. We shoot them.” An elf with a green hat marches into my space and points the barrel of his gun at my nose. With one finger, I push it away from my nostrils. He grits the little daggers in his mouth, but I feign indifference. He’s just another bully—an armed bully—but not as big and scary as the ones from my childhood.

“That may be so, but I’m not an assistant. I’m Liselotte Krampus, the highest-ranking female in Christmas Town with the largest unassisted Earthly territory, and the newest member of Krampus Village. If you seek someone to receive your list of demands, in the absence of the Chancellor, I’m your best bet.”

“Don’t toy with us. Santa is on his way.”

“I won’t dream of it. Please lead me to where you’ve stashed the lesser Krampuses. Perhaps we can negotiate their releases—”

“We make terms of negotiations, not you!” Green Hat shoots his rifle at my feet. It takes every fiber of my being not to react. My reactions were numb, but the shock of the invasion wore off shortly before they burst inside the office.

“Let’s hear them,” I say, spreading my arms at waist height in a gesture of welcome. What’s that banging? Green Hat looks over his shoulder at the Chancellor’s wet bar while I lean to the left to check the atrium.

“Hear this, bitch!” Blue Hat hits me over the head, and I crumple to the floor. As the fog intensifies in my mind…so does that annoying banging.