With every step, I heard it get closer, my throat locking up, my muscles freezing.
A reflection caught in the mirror across from me, my look catching on the figure stopping in the doorway.
Urine leaked down my leg, a scream hiccupping up my throat.
The monster turned its head, its eyes finding mine in the glass. Terror reached into my body like a hand and tore my insides out, gutting me completely.
I heard a scream scrape the walls, knowing it was mine.
Everything went black.
“Little one…” A hiss growled in my ears as I tumbled into the darkness.
I could feel a disturbance in the darkness, in the nothing I was falling into.
“Dinah.” A deep, calming voice spoke my name. “Breathe, Dinah.”
I tried, but it was too much effort.
“You are okay now.” A pressure hit my chest, and a trickle of delicious air wheezed into my lungs.
“Your sister would never forgive me if I let you die from a Liquefied Snow Sink. Take deep breaths, Dinah.”
“Dinah,” he growled. “Breathe!”
I sucked in, my lids fluttering for a moment.
Beautiful amber eyes looked down at me, brighter than the stars overhead. His beautifully handsome face and dark skin were so familiar, so welcoming and calming; I wanted to bathe in it.
“My angel,” I muttered dreamily.
“Seems I’m constantly on duty with you Liddells.” He chuckled, the sound like warm bathwater. “Always getting into peril.”
My lids closed again, my body wanting to let go, feeling safe.
“No, Dinah. You need to move,” he demanded. “Wake up!”
Chapter 23
Air slammed into my lungs, my mouth opening with a forceful gasp, my lids popping open with a stuttering fear. Stars danced above my head as I lay there wheezing for air, wondering why I was lying on my back in the snow. Hadn’t I fallen into a hole? There was a lingering sensation that someone had been next to me, helped me, but I couldn’t really remember anything, and the more I tried, the more it slipped from me.
What was vivid in my mind was the monster from my nightmares—the chilling realization the creature wasn’t some childhood dream. It was real.
And I had let it free. It had been me.
Like a dam broke, memories of my time here, of that night, flooded in with utter clarity. I had built up a barrier from what I saw, the trauma shutting me down. Not only seeing the frightening beast, but the thought it had murdered my friend. I was the one who let it out, and it had killed Jack.
I had learned to cope with the ordeal by cutting it off, pretending this place never existed. The fear had been so traumatizing, so overwhelming, my brain blocked it out to protect myself. I spent the last twelve years brushing it off as the fantastical imagination of a child, getting rid of anything that reminded me of it—of what I knew to be true.
But Winterland was real.
Deep down, I had known it was, but logic and my barriers fought against it, wanting to doubt, pretending it was all in my head. It made things safe. Normal. I wasn’t some peculiar girl who could walk through her bedroom mirror into another realm, who played with make-believe characters.
The one who had freed a monster.
As if on cue, a low growl derived from the forest yards away from me, the sound coming from the blackness. Sucking in, I jolted up into a sitting position, my head whirling, my stomach swishing, still weak from the nettles. I blocked out the pain and fatigue, my heart slamming in my chest as I rose to my feet. My pulse thumped against my neck in a frenzy, echoing in my ears as I searched the darkness.
I could feel eyes on me.
Hunted.
Hysteria climbed up my throat at the memory of that night, of all the nightmares plaguing me. They all circled together, coming alive.
This wasn’t something I could wake from. My time was up. I owed retribution for my crimes.
A growl, sounding closer to me, twitched my muscles, wrapped around my neck, and sucked out all my oxygen. My feet inched back, and I wobbled on my weak legs, but adrenaline pumped through my veins with the instinct to live.
A twig snapped. My eyes shot to the woods.
A huge figure stood just inside the shadows. I could make out the outline of large curved horns, long, clawed hands, broad hairy shoulders, and glowing ice-colored eyes. Fear froze me, a guttural scream locking in my chest, too afraid to rise to the surface.
It was the same beast that had looked at me the night in the castle when I was seven. The one I tried to block from my mind, but it seeped in, tormenting and hunting me ever since.
Snarling, it took a step.
Impulse took over. I swung around, my legs and arms pumping as I took off, feeling like a gazelle trying to outrun a lion. Sprinting away, all I could hear was the panic bouncing at the back of my throat, driving my legs harder over the snow. I didn’t hear the monster, but I could feel its presence nipping at my heels, closing in. Crossing over an empty field, I entered another area of trees, zooming through with no other plan than to survive. To escape.
Straight out of a horror movie, I ran, my brain trying to come up with a plan. Normally I was good at plans, but terror eclipsed all my logic, only coming up with the need to hide.
My energy fumbled, the nettles’ poison still thick in my blood, tripping me up. Grabbing on to a tree to keep upright, I twisted my head to look behind me, searching frantically through the murky night. Nothing but darkness and shadows looked back.
Did I lose it?
A snarl throbbed at the air, sounding much too close.
A cry flew up my throat, my teeth biting it back until I heard my jaw crack. Slipping around the large tree, I pressed into the bark. The tree didn’t stir, staying asleep.
Heavy footsteps broke across the snow, a noise vibrating from the monster as it moved closer.
Crunch.
Crunch.
My chest heaved, and my lids slammed shut for a second, the terror making me want to sob uncontrollably. I dug my nails into my palms as it neared, knowing better than to run. It would catch me in a blink. Instead, I went still, my bones cracking as I pressed firmer into the tree, wanting to blend in with the trunk, into the shadows. My breath was captive in my lungs, my heart hitting my ribs so hard it felt like it was screaming my location.
The footsteps stopped, and I waited for my end. For clawed hands to tear into my throat.
But they didn’t.
Time ticked by, and still nothing happened.
A slight huff of air pushed from my nose, letting a little air back in. I didn’t move a muscle, but my eyes darted around, my ears trying to pick up any inkling of sound.
Silence. Not even the natural sounds of a forest could be heard as if they were also holding their breath, hoping to go unnoticed.
A full minute passed, my head turning to each side, getting a fuller view of the area.
Nothing.
I held in place. I had watched enough horror movies.
Another minute ticked by, my adrenaline waning as my system started to really feel the effects of the poisoned nettles. Quietly I pushed off the tree, moving slowly, my head darting around, not picking up on any movement or noise.
Inspecting the space behind me once again, my head turned, and I started to creep forward. My feet moved softly through the snow, on guard, ready for the creature to leap out. But nothing did. I blew out air and swung my head back around, prepared to full-on run out of here. My feet came to a halt, a garbled scream sticking in my throat, fright ripping me away from my body.
The monster stood in front of me, snarling, saliva dripping off long, pointed canine teeth, standing at least seven feet with enormous horns curling from its head. A monster’s face, but it had a man’s body, ripped and corded with strength, like it could tear into its victim with one clawed hand. Its skin was a grayish-blue color, covered in scars. Long, dirty white-gray hair covered its head and face, going down its
thick muscular legs.
It was beyond frightening—a nightmare come to life.
I had seen it briefly as a child, but the fear had been so deep I blocked it from my mind to stay sane. Seeing it now almost dropped me to the ground in hysteria.
It lifted its lip, displaying sharp teeth, vibration from its throat jolting my muscles as it stepped forward. Air sucked sharply into my nose. Fear and panic buried me in misery as I stood stock-still.
I had no place to run. No escape. Please let my death be quick.
Its massive build stopped in front of me, looming and consuming every inch of my space. It would take little effort for it to destroy me. To tear me in half and devour me.
Snorting, it leaned into me, smelling me, forcing a whimper to dance on my tongue. My eyes shut, terror overwhelmed me, my bones trembled. The creature’s heat knocked against my skin, its breath hitting my face. A claw scraped over my lips, grazing down my throat to my jugular, producing another whimper in my throat. My legs barely held me up as it moved in closer, my muscles locking down as it pressed its face into my hair.
Growling low, its nose dragged by my temple, inhaling deeply as its claws wrapped around my throat. The sensation of a pointed tongue licked at my pulse, my entire body jolting.
“Little one,” it rumbled in my ear, its hot breath gliding down my neck. “You’ve grown up.”
I trembled violently. Waiting.
“Dinah!” My name bellowed into the predawn sky from a distance, my lids flying open. “Dinah!”
Blaze.
The beast snarled, his teeth snapping, his hand clamping down harder on my neck as he pulled back. He growled in the direction of the voice.
“Dinah!” My name rang again through the air, moving closer. Through the darkness, my eyes picked up a flame of light. Five figures moved through the forest, searching for me.
Claws dug into my neck as he stepped back into me, fury curling his lips, his eyes glaring down at me.
Petrified beyond sense, I stared back at him boldly, not cowering away. I sensed something frightening but also familiar about his eyes. Something that made me want to challenge, to keep looking into them, push and shove into its soul.
Something I recognized.
His eyes went back and forth between mine, his shoulders rolling the more my glare didn’t relent. He huffed, shoving me back on my heels. His shoulder brushed mine as he moved around me, his nose dragging through my hair and across the back of my neck. I gasped at the sensation, the vibration of his growl against my spine sent shivers over my skin, the thrill of life and death heightening my emotions. My lashes pressed together as I took in a breathy inhale, my blood rushing with energy.
“Dinah!” Blaze hollered, the fire from the torch spread light farther as he moved closer, a few silhouettes coming into view. I knew I could call out, they were only a dozen yards away now, but I stood there watching them advance.
There was another rumble against the back of my neck. Heat stroked my skin, my pulse picking up, my chest lifting. My nerves lit up, making me aware of every inch of my body. Of time. Space.
Of him.
“Bro, what’s that?” A surfer type voice lazily rolled to me, coming from the shorter elf, Jingle.
“Dude, are you seeing sugarplums again?”
“No. Look there.” Jingle pointed in my direction.
I heard a low growl behind me, then nothing.
“Dinah?” Blaze paused, holding up his torch to see if he recognized who was there. Jingle, Jangle, Dor, and PB stood beside him. “Oh my Claus, Dinah!” he bellowed, running for me, the light flickering off the trees.
A sudden chill crept into my clothes, the feeling of heat being stripped from my bones. I whipped around, searching the space frantically.
Empty. He was gone. The forest was dark, silent—not a hint of him running away.
I exhaled, my muscles easing. I was okay. Safe. Though I couldn’t deny the strange sensation washing over me. Disappointment.
No, it’s relief, Dinah. That’s all it is.
“Dinah!” Blaze plowed into me, his arms wrapping around me. “Thank Santa you’re all right.” He kissed my head, tucking me in tighter into his warm physique. “I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine.” I let myself sag into his embrace, the smell of sea, sun, and salt wafting off him. I sighed at the familiarity and comfort of the scent. Every memory of my old friend was there, fuzzy from time, but I now recalled the countless times we played in the surf and snow.
“Shit. I went crazy when PB found me.” He kissed the top of my head again, then my temple, nuzzling into me. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything happened to you.” His lips grazed my cheek, moving down to my lips.
My body moved without thought, stepping away from him, making his brows furrow. “I’m okay.”
“You lived!” Dor bounced onto PB’s back as they came up, gesturing to me. “That’s good. Wasn’t too sure.”
“I’m so glad you aren’t sliced into little bits.” PB stopped in front of me. “I couldn’t live with seeing that. Oh, elf biscuits, I can’t handle blood. I would be so traumatized, and when I get upset, I eat, and I am trying so hard to watch my figure.”
“Way to not make this about yourself, PB.” Dor snorted, shaking his head. “You are truly gallant.”
“Thank you. Everyone tells me how selfless and giving I am. It’s a curse, really.”
Despite what just happened, a laugh emanated from my chest, my adrenaline crashing, making me punch drunk.
“We should get out of here.” Blaze glanced around nervously. “It’s not safe.”
“This place is a buzzkill, man.” Jangle peered around, his lids half-mast. “Bad vibes, bro.”
“Totally, bro,” Jingle, the shorter, brown-haired one replied, pulling a bag of cookies from his pocket. “Makes me so hungry.”
“Totally craving French fries in maple syrup.”
“Ah, man…totally.”
Dor groaned, rubbing his head. “You two idiots are totally making me crave mead, and a sledgehammer to my brain.”
“How about gooseberry tea with fresh mint and a sledgehammer?” PB asked.
“Just the sledgehammer, thanks,” Dor groaned.
“Come on, we need to leave this place.” Blaze twined his fingers with mine, pulling me with him, his gaze shifting around, bringing me back to the current situation.
“We need to talk.” I faltered as I walked, my head feeling heavy.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “But not here. Let’s go back to my house, where it’s warm and safe.” He curled his arm around my back, jerking away. “What the hell?” He searched my back, plucking something from my jacket. “Are these nettles? Were you attacked by the trees?”
“Yeah. Assholes,” I muttered.
“Cinnamon rum!” He blanched. “I’ve never seen someone get stuck this much and still function. Come on, you need someone to look at those.”
The group turned, heading back in the direction they came.
The awareness of eyes on me made me pause to peer deeper into the woods. I didn’t see the monster, but I knew it was there, watching me, almost like there were webs that connected and bound us from the moment I stepped into the dungeon so many years ago.
My heart still bounced from the terror, understanding how easily it could’ve taken my life. But it didn’t. It remembered me. I understood what happened now.
My friend didn’t die that night.
He became the beast, or the beast became him.
And not just any beast…
Frost had turned into one of the most feared legends of Christmas.
Krampus.
One of them was hunting me…and it wasn’t the beast.
Chapter 24
Krampus.
The name triggered my lungs to beat like wings, whirling my head into a frenzy. The European legend of a half-goat/half-demon, who, during the Christmas season, stole children who misbehaved and too
k them to his lair. The counter to Santa Claus. The tale you told kids to scare them into being good. A far more sinister threat than getting on the naughty list.
The block I had kept up tumbled to the ground, exposing the truth I had kept from myself for so long: What I had seen that night. What I had done. The reason I cut off this world and never looked back. The terror scarred my seven-year-old mind deeply, marking me forever. The night terrors followed me—images of the brothers kidnapping me, taking me back to Winterland, where the beast lay in wait to finish off what slipped through his claws.
As much as Alice and I loved holiday movies, it was the one area I would never venture into.
Christmas horror.
It terrified me to the point I remember crying uncontrollably when I saw a preview on TV for a movie about the beast. My nightmares were already full of the boogeyman. The fear almost debilitated me, and no one had any idea where it stemmed from.
Little did any of us know I had come face to face with the real thing. Had released it back into the world.
It was my fault.
“Th-the monster—” My mind and mouth struggled to work together, air only teasing my lungs, distorting my vision.
“Whoa.” Blaze grabbed me, stopping me from falling. “Dinah? Shit! You’re burning up.” His voice sounded far away. My eyes circled to the others, their faces contorting and twisting like a carnival funhouse. Except nothing was fun about this.
“I-I did it. It’s my fault,” I muttered, not sure what came out coherent, my muscles slumping.
“Dinah, hold on.” Blaze picked me up, cuddling me to his chest, but I floated from my body, no longer feeling or understanding anything. I felt like I was on fire, burning from the inside with no relief. His touch was making it worse. “Fight it, Dinah. The poison is seeping deeper into your bloodstream. I won’t lose you again.” Blaze’s tone twisted with worry. “We’re almost there.”
“Jingle, Jangle, go get Quin. Have her meet me at my hut. Go. Now,” he bellowed. “Dor, PB, head back to the fortress. Set up a trap. We need to capture it. Mother is going to be so mad if anything happens.”
Beauty In Her Madness (Winterland Tale Book 3) Page 23