Page 17 of I Saw Krampus Kissing Ms Claus

I roll my eyes and stand. “Fine, fine, I will do it!”

“I’m still coming with you.” Krampus follows me from my office.

I want to argue that I need space, that I need time to think about what last night meant. But I don’t want to see Jack. I certainly don’t want to talk to him alone. So I let Krampus follow me down to the stables to borrow a sleigh.

* * *

Jack Frost lives alone,just outside of Christmas Town. It’s a couple hours by sleigh to the lonely log cabin sitting in the center of a large frozen lake. During our ride, Krampus is uncharacteristically silent. I know if I speak, it will invariably bring up our activities from last night, so I don’t say anything either.

I land us on the ice, in what would be Jack’s front yard, except his cabin is surrounded by nothing but empty frozen tundra. For miles in every direction, there is nothing. No trees, no lights, no people. Only ice. The cheery lights of Christmas Town glitter in the distance, at the edge of his barren domain. I remember the view fondly from this perspective. It’s changed over time. Our home gets a bit bigger every year. The city gets larger, the lights brighter, and the job a little bit harder. There is more to do, more to plan, and more to oversee.

But the city is perpetually blanketed in fresh white snow and the twinkling lights are up all year long. You’d expect they would become less magical, not for me. I take the chance to soak it in with a deep breath before I knock on Jack Frost’s door.

“Come in, little Nikolette!” His voice calls from inside.

“How did you know it was me?” I ask stepping into his cabin.

“Who comes to see me besides my little Nikolette?” Jack greets me with a thick accent and a light graze of his hand across my arm as he leans down to press his lips to my cheek. “I knew you won’t be able to stay away.”

He’s taller than he is in my memories. Not as tall as Krampus. But I barely come up to his shoulder. He’s skinny with snow white hair and icy blue skin. His face is pretty. That’s what originally drew me to him. His symmetrical elvish features and pointed ears. The sight of him shoots me back to those nights I spent in this little one-room cabin. Everything is visible from the front door. The familiar stove he never cooked dinner on, the table that is barely big enough for one. His narrow bed still sits on a low raw wood frame. The sheets are in a tousled pile that looks like one we could have made. One pillow, in the middle of the mattress.

Then Krampus folds himself into the cabin behind me.

“Jack.” He nods easily.

“Krampus?” Jack’s gaze shoots between me and the demon. “Why have you come here?”

This may have been a bad idea. It’s been a long time since we spoke. I was so young last time I was here and so, so, much smaller. My dress feels tighter just walking into this room.

Krampus’s hand lands gently on my shoulder and I see Jack’s eye flick immediately to that motion.

“Nikki just wanted to ask you something,” Krampus smirks.

“Santa is missing some Christmas Cheer.” I say quickly. I want to step away from Krampus, but the warmth of his fingers is so comforting.

“What does this have to do with me?” Jack bristles.

“The silos are just at the edge of your lake.” I say, “We wondered if you’d seen something? Noticed anything strange.”

“I noticed nothing.” Jack says dismissively. “I do not look at your measly little silos.”

“Measly?” Krampus snorts a laugh.

“Nikolette knows I do not concern myself with her little Christmas frivolities.”

“You don’t?” Krampus claws tighten on my shoulder just a little. “Out here? Alone? You don’t get jealous of the village? With all its bustling noise and people just outside your reach?”

Jack shrugs. “It does not concern me. But, what of you, Krampus? Santa is your rival, yes? Perhaps you stole from him?”

“No.” Krampus says immediately.

I glance at him, his face is a scowl. But part of me has to wrestle with the idea he could be the culprit.

“Krampus and Santa are friends. He wouldn’t do that.” I am mostly trying to convince myself.

“Would he not?” Jack asks.

“He would not.” Krampus puffs out his chest, taking one step toward Jack.

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