Somehow, my grip was broken when someone or yanked the chain that held Howie and me. They pulled up Howie, lucky for me they managed to take half of my sleeves. I was on my knees. Covered my mouth in shock, my eyes were threatened by tears, and guilt consumed me for losing Howie. Aunt Linda wept endlessly. My sobbing paid no attention to Maxie extinguishing the fire on the Christmas tree and a few presents. Uncle Howard tried to grab him inside the fireplace but was too late. "Ouch!" He exclaimed, scrambling out of the fireplace seeing Howie's shoe. We lifted our heads when we heard Howie's screaming and some evil laughs.

Fear stroked into our souls as we could only listen. After a while, Jordan and Stevie were pouring streaks of tears on their cheeks for the loss of their baby brother. "I'm sorry, " I started, turning myself to them. "I couldn't hold on much longer, " I wiped from my eyes as tears fell. "No, it's my fault, " "Howard." "No, I fell asleep and they got our boy. It's all my fault." Uncle Howard admitted to his wife with the addition of sobs. "Nein (No), " Omi announced grimly, gaining our attention. Starting the fire again with ease before saying. " Das ist alles unsere Schuld. Er ist für sie gekommen. (This is all of our fault. He's come for her.)" Pointing at me. " Dann für uns alle. (Then for us all.)" She finished sitting down on the footrest.

The rest of my family looked in confusion while I couldn't help but shiver as Omi said those words. "Tom, what's she saying?" Aunt Linda broke the silence. "This is all of our fault? He's come for Eira, then for us all?" Dad translated for everyone as he and Maxie try to comfort Mom. "" Jordan growled with hatred. "Jordan, stop!" Her sister demands, clearly not in the mood for the blame game. "He? W-who's he?" Mom stutters eagerly.

Dad and I look at Mom then back to Omi. "Mom, what are you talking about?" "Please, listen," Omi requested us in . "English. I knew it." Auntie muttered to the girls. I shook my head at her, showing this was urgent. Omi never speaks English unless it was crucial. "I must tell you something, " she looked at me with sorrow in her eyes. "To all of you."

Omi prayed for the day won't come. The day where Krampus and his minions would return. The day he would strike her family for hatred and greed over the years. The day he could reclaim her eldest granddaughter that was in front of her, sitting cross-legged on the floor listening.

"It started with the wind." She began. "On a cold winter night, much like this. It was almost Christmas. But this Christmas was darker, less cheerful." "But I still believed in Santa, in magic, and miracles, and the hope that we could find joy again. But our village had given up on miracles and on each other." As if she were there, Eira could hear the arguments and struggles from the villagers, reminiscent of the people she had at her job. "And my family was no different. I tried to help them to believe again, but we were no longer the loving family I remembered." The whole family's hearts felt heavy as Omi continued. Reminding them how they acted towards each other.

"They too had given up. And for the first time, I didn't wish a miracle. I wished for them to go away. A wish I would come to regret. And that night, in the darkness of a howling blizzard, "

"I knew Saint Nicholas was not coming this year. Instead, it was a much darker, more ancient spirit. The shadow of Saint Nicholas. " Both Maxie and Eira looked at each with wide eyes then back to their grandmother. "And as he had for thousands of years, Krampus came not to reward, but to Not to give, " Eira trembled as heard the screams of people, the chains and knives, and the menacing laughter of the kidnapper. "He and his helpers. I could only listen as they dragged my family into the Underworld, knowing that I would be next. But Krampus didn't take me that night. He left me as a reminder of what happens when hope is lost when belief is forgotten, " "And the Christmas spirit " Both Omi and Eira said in unison.

Omi took out a little bell from her pocket that Krampus gave to her those years ago, she sobs remembering those horrid things from that night.

The Engel family were speechless, didn't know what to say. Eira came over to her grandmother, comforting the weeping woman through her pain. She glanced at the rusty trinket in Omi's hand, her eyes widened as the message was the exact words in the pendant that she wore.

"And here I thought I was the one losing it?" Howard muttered out not believing this nonsense. "Howard." Linda groaned to his disbelief. " You believe this senile horseshit?" "What are we supposed to believe?" Full attention was on Eira. "A snowstorm comes in without any warning, snowmen in our yard without a trace of a person, your truck bring tore to pieces, you getting attacked by something underneath the snow. And we're slowly being picked off one by one, that's enough evidence to support."

"Mom? What do you mean when you said, 'He's come for Eira.'?" Tom consulted his mother, never forgetting the said words. Omi cleaned the tears away with a finger. Looking at granddaughter's amulet, causing her son to follow her gaze. "Your father was a good man, clumsy but good." Tom glanced back at his mother. "The first I saw him he was a waiter, who would drop a dish or two and spill a drink that wasn't hot nor cold." She chuckles at the memories of him. "He would give me the most radiant jewels that his family had over the years, he would sing poetry that he couldn't sing. When I only needed was his heart and strong spirit." She frowned gloomily. Dorothy's tears running down her eyes. Although she wasn't one to cry over but this capture, glimpsing how her sister's lover abandoned her and their children to join the Army after all that she still loved him until death took them.

"I believe that he has come to reclaim you, Eira, as his love," Omi added, dragging everyone out of their train of thought. Eira spoke shakily. "R-reclaim? I met him before?" Omi nodded. "Krampus will stop at nothing until he gets what is his." Leaving the room in dead silence, until Howard snorted. "Evil Santa? Secret Admirer presents? Jesus H. Almighty! She'll be yammering about a rabid Easter Bunny becoming Eira's bridesmaid come spring." "" Tom yelled at his brother-in-law. Thinking that joke was sickening.

Howard groans as he gets up, using his shotgun and good leg for support. "You damn right it's enough. Whoever the hell is messing with us took my boy and your daughter, and we're sitting around listening to some twisted bedtime romance stories?" Linda tried to sit him down, but he waved off her hand. "Screw that, I'm getting Howie back." Limping through the door. His wife and daughters begged him to stop. Before he could touch the board, Tom grabbed his shoulders to pull him away from the barricaded door. But unfortunately, Howard pointed his gun at Tom to let go of him. Nearly losing his mind. Eira rushed from the fireplace to the doorway, standing in between the gun and her father. Although she showed no fear, her heart pounded in the chest. Feeling the auras of anger and panic. Some of it, not from her uncle nor family.

"I'm starting to like your daddy, kid. I am. But this is my choice." Howard spoke to his niece, admiring her bravery. "Howard, we've got 5 kids to protect, staying in here is our best bit." Tom stated holding her daughter before any harm came to her. "Howard. Baby, please don't do this. Listen, we can figure something else out, honey." Linda pleads to her shaking husband. "This is how I figure things out." Howard said, ripping off the board and swung open the door. Ignoring the pleads and shouts as he went to the cold.

Eira pulled away from her father's grip and chased after her uncle before he went too far and her father followed in pursuit. Howard shouted for his boy by name. Instead of a reply, they were greeted by a harsh frozen wind and more ominous snowmen. All three laid their eyes on one little snowman in particular. "" Howard croaked. Their attention was caught by motion behind the snowmen, something getting closer to them.

Out of fear Sarah pulled in Howard, her husband, and daughter in the house. Before Eira was completely inside, an elf, Stekkjarstaur, threw something into Eira's arms before the door was slapped closed. "" Sarah spoke gravely. "Guys, " All eyes were on Eira and what was her arms. A bouquet of flowers that specifically made for the Christmas season that had little flakes of snow and a note.

Tom came over to his daughter, took the card that was written in German. "'With the craftsmanship of my brothers and the floral care from my wife and sister brings you your second gifts. We are pleased to have you as our Master's queen. And pray for an eternal reign together. Your second in command, Stekkjarstaur.'" After a brief silence, they know this was no 'senile horseshit'. "Dad? What are we gonna do now?" Max asked. The only words that came out of his throat were- "We keep the fire hot and never leave Eira out of our sights."