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CHAPTER 6

Fighting for Krampus

NAOMI

Kilean’s angry expression shook Naomi like a bucket of cold water. She threw her blanket off and stood up quickly, running to his side.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“He’s here,” he growled.

All the worst scenarios passed through her mind. Was it one of his kind? Were they here to take him? Oh god… did they find out about her? Were they going to kill her?

Before Naomi could even ask, Kilean rushed outside.

“This is bad,” she whispered, nervous, flinching at the door slamming against the wall. “This is so bad.”

She couldn’t let him go off alone, he had been recently injured! But she also likely couldn’t fend for herself if the being outside was a demon. Quickly, she reached for her faithful hatchet and peeked outside to gauge the situation.

Kilean was standing a few feet from the entrance, still growling at whatever he sensed in the woods. Naomi was too scared to ask any more questions, so she stood and waited, her grip tightening on the hatchet as more seconds passed.

Finally, something moved from between the far trees.

A krampus—his fur all gray with stains of red—stalked slowly out of the woods, growling back at Kilean. He had a muscular but slim body, and despite the color of his fur, his face looked younger than Kilean’s.

Naomi’s eyes focused on the blood stains. Perhaps this was the demon that had attacked Kilean before she found him. Rage immediately took over her body. How dare he come back?

“I see you’ve found yourself a pet,” the krampus spat with a wicked grin, glancing at her.

Kilean’s growl deepened further, and Naomi felt its rumbling in her bones.

“I’ve beaten you once, I can do it again,” Kilean replied, taking a step forward.

The demon chuckled. “Does it count as beating me when I’m still here?”

He was still alive, yes, but didn’t look like he fully recovered yet like Kilean had. No one had helped him, apparently, and that made Naomi feel a bit better. Since Kilean was in better condition, he would probably do better in a fight. At least, Naomi hoped.

“You should have let yourself die,” Kilean spat.

“Why die when I can become something more?”

Kilean tensed, brows furrowing. He seemed lost in thought for a few moments before he asked, “Is that why you attacked me? You were looking for power?”

“Are you not tired of this life? Being nothing, always following orders.” The demon laughed maniacally, the sound sending shivers down Naomi’s spine. “There is a way to absorb others, you know? If I can get enough power, they won’t be able to control me anymore.”

“But why me?” Kilean asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone. “I’m not special, and I’ve never offended you.”

The demon’s face scrunched up in a disgusted grimace, and Naomi’s rage increased at the sight. Somehow, she knew what he was about to say.

“Because you’re an outcast. Always by yourself.”

Before Kilean could reply, the demon jumped at him, hands forward. The demon slashed his claws down on him, but Kilean dodged to the side, bringing his own claws down onto the other demon’s back.

The gray demon roared, shaking the air around them. In such a silent valley, every sound echoed, and it was terrifying.

“You always keep to yourself, not talking to anyone as if you think yourself royalty,” he spat. “You think you’re so superior, don’t you? Looking down on us from your self-made pedestal. But you’re really just pathetic.”

“I don’t understand,” Kilean replied, confusion clear in his tone.