A Krampus Country Christmas: Day 23

 

Chapter 23: The Final Trial

The world had become fire. Red Forest fire. Ancient, hallowed, burning without heat but carrying every judgment ever spoken in its glow. Symbols melted through the air like molten runes. Chains clanged from the trees. And somewhere above, the sky tore open in a fracture of crimson light. I stood in the center of it, claws dug deep into the glowing soil, body shaking with exhaustion. The Keeper towered in front of me, antlers blazing, eyes like twin suns of condemnation.

Behind me, pressed against my back, were Holly and Max. My heart beat not for duty. Not for fear. Not even for survival. For them.

The Keeper’s voice rolled through the clearing:

“KRAMPUS… YOU DEFY YOUR PURPOSE.”

I lifted my chin. “I shall forge a new one.”

“THE BOY IS MARKED FOR THE LIST.”

“He is marked,” I growled, “for greatness.”

A snarl tore through the woods. The Hunter emerged, larger now, with jagged horns and hooves crushing the forest floor beneath it. It moved like a shadow given hunger.

Max whimpered behind me. I felt Holly’s hand squeeze my arm — grounding me, anchoring me, saving me from myself. The Keeper thrust its gaze upon me:

“THIS IS YOUR FINAL TRIAL.”

My chains rattled violently, pulling against me. Magic that once obeyed me now writhed in rebellion.

“DEFY US,” the Keeper roared, “AND FACE EXILE.”

Exile.

Every demon’s worst fate. No Underrealm. No realm at all. No identity. No meaning. No place for my heart, my claws, my name. I would become a creature without purpose or world. I looked back at Holly. Her eyes were wide, wet, terrified — but certain.

We had shared one kiss. We had shared a dozen tiny moments. We had not shared a life — not yet.

But I knew, with absolute clarity: I would give up eternity for them.

For her.

I turned back to the Keeper.

“I choose them.”

The forest gasped — every tree, every ember, every ancient law vibrating with shock.

The Keeper roared:

“SO BE IT.”

And the final trial began.


The Hunter charged. I met it head-on. Claws against claws. Horn against horn. It slammed into me like a falling mountain. I hit the ground hard enough to crater the red-glowing soil. Pain rippled through my ribs, but I forced myself up. This was no longer duty. This was protection.

Holly screamed my name.

Max cried out, “Nick, get up!”

And something inside me — something ancient and buried — answered them.

I surged forward, grabbing the Hunter’s antlers in both hands, forcing its head down with a roar that tore the sky. The creature buckled, snarling, snapping, thrashing its massive frame.

“STAY BACK!” I shouted to them.

The Hunter lunged again — this time at Holly. Blood drained from my body. I leapt in a single, desperate burst of motion and slammed into the beast, driving it away from her with every ounce of strength I possessed. The ground shook. My chains broke free, flying from my waist like shards of metal lightning, wrapping around the Hunter’s limbs, restraining it.

Even the forest gasped.

The Keeper’s voice thundered:

“YOU BIND A CREATURE OF THE NIGHT WITH YOUR OWN CHAINS?”

“Yes!” I roared. “Because my chains serve ME now!”

Fire surged up through my claws, through my horns, through every crack in my being. I pulled.

The Hunter shrieked — a sound that fractured the air itself — and went still, pinned under my chains and my will. I staggered, panting, trembling. The Keeper stepped forward. Its shadow fell over me like the end of all things.

“YOU HAVE CHANGED THE NATURE OF YOUR BINDINGS,” it said. “YOU HAVE CHANGED YOURSELF.”

I lifted my head. “I choose love over law.”

“AND SO LOVE SHALL MARK YOU.”

The Keeper lowered its great, burning head until its antlers touched my horns. Fire exploded. I screamed. And then—

Nothing. Silence. Darkness.

I felt a small, trembling hand on my arm.

“Nick,” Max whispered. “Nick, please wake up.”

I blinked. The fire was gone. The Hunter was gone. The Red Forest was dimming around us — fading back into nothingness.

And the Keeper was kneeling.

“THE FINAL TRIAL IS COMPLETED.”

Holly knelt beside me, tears streaking her face. “Nick… are you… are you okay?”

I drew a ragged breath.

“I… think so.”

“YOU HAVE BROKEN NO LAW,” the Keeper said in a deep, resonant voice. “YOU HAVE MADE A NEW ONE.”

The forest began dissolving, turning into drifting red sparks.

“THE BOY SHALL NOT BE TAKEN. THE MORTAL SHALL NOT BE HARMED. A NEW ROLE SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE ONE WHO LOVES THEM.”

I frowned. “What role?”

The Keeper leaned close.

“GUARDIAN.”

The world shattered into light and when the glow faded, we were home. In Holly’s farmyard. Snow was falling lightly. The world was normal again. Max hugged me so tightly I thought he might crack a rib. Holly leaned against me, burying her face against my chest, whispering:

“Nick… you saved us.”

I wrapped my arms gently around them both.

“No,” I whispered. “You saved me.”





My new comedic sci-fi novel, Someone Else's Book Club, is available on my website or through Amazon! 

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