The Snowmaiden, A Bride for Krampus - Jeanette Lynn

Chapter 1

Beldivere Kane, Bels, adjusted his cap. The little bell on the end gave a soft jingle. The thin, sharp-eyed male found himself reaching up and tugging at a pointed ear tip. He wasn’t made for this kind of subterfuge, but he’d do anything for a friend. Alongside him, Dedson Hollie, Ded for short, squinted into the winter landscape. Hinter was lively this time of year. They’d have to wait until nightfall to try and make their move.

The Vinterlan veil was thin this close to The Night. Ded didn’t want to be here any more than Bels did, but Shnikel was taken by the sickness. It was Shnikel’s own fault, the Elf supposed. That’s what everyone else was saying... Yet nobody knew how the sickness came about exactly or why. There were myths, speculations, tales of warning, like so many other things, and Bels had his theories, his growing suspicions, but no one, as far as they were aware, truly knew—if someone did, they certainly weren’t talking.

The snap of a twig, an animal scurrying past, had the pair jumping in surprise. Earth and Hinterland were different yet so alike.

Ded cocked his head. The Elkfen Rendar’s ear perked up, twitching, flicking the side of one of the enormous antlers sprouting from his head. His larger form hovered close to the much shorter Elf’s.

“We should start looking,” Bels said with determination. “We’ve tarried enough this eve.”

“Yes...” Ded swallowed thickly. His belly began to churn like he’d eaten too many sweet things. He knew what they were doing was wrong. They’d be in so much trouble if the big guy found out, but if the old tale that candy cane crone of an Elf Dophabra had told Bels of was true and what the Elf had found in the archives held any weight, if they could save their dear friend, was it truly so wrong?

Yes. Ded’s gut twisted. “Bels... I don’t know if I can-”

“We must.” Bel’s voice was hard, resolute.

Bels was much better about these things than I, Ded thought. The Elkfen envied his calm demeanor in the face of what they were going to do.

“What other choice do we have? Shnikel is- Shnikel’s… Don’t make me say it.” Bel’s skin pebbled with gooseflesh as a shiver tickled its way up his spine. His pointed ears pricked to their very tips, the hairs along his nape standing on end.

“She must be full of humbug,” Ded said finally, speaking softly. His voice was resigned, weary, a hollow quality to it. “I can’t stomach the thought of a jolly soul… of a jolly soul…”

“I know.” Bels spoke oddly, in a way Ded had never heard his dear friend talk before, not in all their long lived years. Bel’s voice was hard and he seemed detached. Ded’s heart pricked to hear it.

The Elkfen’s heart lurched. What was becoming of them? What had felled them and brought them to this low? It was madness, pure and simple, but Ded and Bels were going to go through with this.

Not a dream, Ded had to keep telling himself. This was all very real. What they were about to do, whatever may come of this, there was no going back.

“As you said, my friend, let us not tarry,” Ded whispered, turning to his friend to close his eyes, adjusting the collar around his neck until the red leather was no longer protected from touching his skin by the thick, jolly turtle neck he was wearing.

Stepping back, nodding, Bels did the same with the bracelet on his wrist. “Of course you’re right,” the Elf whispered, though his voice quavered.

May the saints of Christmas’ spirit past forgive them. For they knew exactly the kind of treasonous acts they were about to commit, by holly, but nothing was to deter them.

Chapter 2

Two hands on the steering wheel, I turned my head just enough to shout over the sound of the heater blasting, voice aimed towards my phone where it sat on its holder, “The cabin? As in, the cabin-cabin?” Disbelief filled me.

“Yes,” he said quickly, his relief evident. “You remember, kiddo? I know it’s been a while, but we used to have fun there. You and your brother and- You used to love the cabin.”

Sure. When Mom was alive. That was a long time ago, when we were kids. Mom’s been gone for years now. If my memory served me right, the cabin he spoke of was barely big enough for our small family of four back then, Mom, Dad, my brother Beaumont,