Page 54 of The Krampus's First Christmas Gift

They’d made up. Still, it bothered Jasper that Kraghol did not think he could ever belong in the city. He looked at those he passed. Was Kraghol right? Would those in Anorra truly make it impossible for a krampus to live here?

As he walked up the stairs to the apartment, he heard Leo and Percy singing Christmas carols. But as he opened the door, Leo and Percy stopped singing.

When Leo spotted Jasper, he cried out, “Jas! What the fuck were you doing outside?”

Jasper’s hackles rose. Leo must have assumed Jasper was in his bedroom. But seriously, what was with this over-the-topreaction? What did Leo expect him to do all day? Just lie in bed, suffering and feeling sorry for himself?

“I’m allowed to go outside, Leo,” Jasper said, trying to control his temper. His twin had never used to treat him like he was a broken thing, unable to do anything or go anywhere.

“Well…yes. Of course you are.” Leo looked to the window. “It’s just dark, and the weather is terrible.”

Jasper shrugged. “It’s fucking winter. It’s always dark. The weather is always terrible.”

“Where were you?” Leo asked. “Are you okay?”

And what gave Leo the right to interrogate him like this? Why did Jasper getting sick mean that Leo could suddenly start treating him like he was a fucking child?

“I was walking.” Jasper removed his coat and boots. “And I’m fine.”

Thankfully his twin let it drop.

For some reason, it didn’t bother Jasper when Kraghol was overprotective. Maybe because Leo was always so over the top. Or perhaps it was the fact that Leo treated Jasper so differently from how he’d used to.

Percy offered him cookies, and he took a cinnamon star. Apparently the two of them had been getting into the Christmas spirit, which included decorating the apartment.

Jasper thought of Kraghol in his cave. He should bring more decorations. But what? Jasper wasn’t the most into Christmas crafts of his siblings. Maybe he could buy some stuff at the Christmas markets.

“We should teach Percival the krampus song together! Remember the Krampus Night song, Jas?” Leo said, pulling Jasper from his thoughts. “It was mine and Jas’s favourite Christmas carol as boys. But I don’t think we’ve sung that in years!”

“Krampus Night? What’s that about?” Percy asked.

“It’s about how you better be nice because on Krampus Night, the krampuses will come into town and punish the naughty. So you better be nice, Percy!” Leo wagged a finger at him.

And as Leo continued to explain, Jasper’s whole body tensed.

Leo laughed. “Remember how we used to dress up as krampuses and then hide in the house, bakery, or alley? We’d jump out and terrorise our siblings and start yelling the Krampus Night song. We even had switches. Then Mother and Father took those away.”

The cookie soured in Jasper’s mouth. He’d remembered their interest in krampuses as children. But he’d forgotten that they’d dressed up like them. How had he forgotten that?

They’d put together costumes using dark and dirty bits of fabric they’d found. Then they’d attacked their siblings, hitting them with the switches they’d made from branches they’d tied together. They’d growled and yelled and been horrible little shits. They’d thought it so funny.

What would Kraghol say if he knew we did that, if he knew I dressed up as a krampus and hit my siblings in order to terrorise them? Fuck.

“Jas?” Leo asked, voice concerned.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” Jasper suddenly felt like he might vomit. And this time, it had nothing to do with his illness. He and Kali walked to his room.

“I’ll bring in your tea in a bit,” Leo said.

“Thanks.” Jasper closed the door to his room.

No light lit his way, but he didn’t need any to remove his clothes and get into bed. He let out a breath as he lay down, replaying memories of how he’d dressed up as a krampus all those years ago. Even though he’d been just a child, guilt gnawed at him.

No wonder why Kraghol wouldn’t come into the city. No wonder why he thought he’d never be accepted in Anorra. To those here, krampuses were just horrid, scary monsters.

And Jasper was part of that. He was part of the reason Kraghol did not feel he could ever belong in the city.

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