by Viola Grace
Reluctantly, Leda opened her hand and slowly pulled it from Krampus’s hand. “I... I would do what I could to protect children over the holidays. With everything that I have at my disposal.” The last phrase was weird, but she meant it.
“That is a very particular thing to say, but I am glad that you have said it. Leda, walk with me. Krampus, we will return in a few minutes, but you do not need to hear this.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“Because what I have to say to her, concerns only her and her future.”
Titania extended her hand. “Walk with me, Leda.”
She glanced at Krampus. He was confused, but he nodded.
Leda stepped forward, and the queen wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
They slowly walked through the wall of branches and tangled leaves, dematerializing as they continued toward the rear of the gardens.
“Leda, it is so good to have you back again.”
“Thank you, Queen Titania, but I am only here for my nephew.”
“Indeed. What if I could provide you with some energies that would allow you to keep both your nephew and your sister safe, as well as countless women around the world?”
“I don’t know how that would work. I mean, I have a life, a house, and a job.”
“And yet, you left those things because you were needed. That is a calling that you did not ignore.”
Leda looked around, and suddenly, they were surrounded by images of Tony menacing and shaking Phoebe while Liam cowered in a corner. The Christmas tree was witness to it all.
“That hasn’t happened yet.”
“No, it will happen Christmas Eve. It will happen before Klaus’s magic has a chance to take hold. You can stop it.”
“How?”
The image of Tony was suddenly lifted in the air, and he was being carried off by a huge figure that definitely wasn’t Krampus. The figure was female and walked out of the house with the man, beating him with a cluster of branches before stuffing him into a sack.
“That could be you, Leda. Your blood carries traces of several goddesses of vengeance. It was what drew me to take you all those years ago.”
“She’s eleven feet tall!”
“When outside, yes. Just as Krampus is. He had to take on a monstrous visage for the changelings to be terrified, and the humans repulsed. For you and the type of man you will be punishing, there is nothing more terrifying than a woman they cannot terrorize.”
“But, when I release them, won’t they just start over again because they are terrified and aggressive?”
Titania smiled slightly. “The wounds that you inflict will remain with them. The slightest hint of aggression, and they will be crippled with the pain. Each lash you inflict on them will burn into their soul and keep them from acting out. It might give some of the women a chance to leave their partners and save their children. That is all it is. A chance but it is a gift that you can give.”
Leda stared at the image of the figure beating the hell out of Tony and then another man, and then another, stretching onward with changing clothing styles for the men but never for her. The woman was always in the same black silk gown and corset. It was burlesque gone wrong.
She swallowed. “How would the transformation occur? How would I even find the men?”
“You will know, as Krampus knows when the changelings have broken free. You will have a window to punish as many as you can find. At first, you will key to women and men with fey blood, punishing the adults who make Christmas a trauma. You will have from the fifth of December through to the holiday itself.”
Leda asked, “Why is this all around a Christian holiday?”
Titania smiled. “That is when they get together. That is when hope is reborn for the next year. If humans are to survive, they need a boost in the depths of winter. The pressure must be lifted from the downtrodden, and others must be kept in check.”
“I don’t think I can do that on my own.”
“You don’t have to do it for everyone. Just give one family relief during the holidays. Just lift their burden for that one night. Take the weight from their shoulders and the threat from the door. It is a gift that you can give one family at a time. Like many gifts, some will not appreciate it, but you can offer this opportunity one time to one family at a time.”
“You really want me to do this, don’t you?”
Titania shrugged. It was a strange movement from her. “Every now and then, there is a person born into a situation that cannot be substituted by anyone else. A destiny has wrapped around them from infancy, but they don’t know how to tap into it. I am offering you the chance to tap into that destiny. There will not be another chance. This is your moment, and I am here to help you seize it.”
Leda stared at the bubbles of images that floated around them. There were scenes from her past, scenes from her future. “Wait, what is that?”
Titania murmured, “Hmm?”
“That image. I am human again.” She was human and leaning up against the man she knew as Krampus.
“Ah. Of course, you are. You will only transform when needed. You will find life and love in your own way.” Titania chuckled. “You will be welcome here any time.”
Leda thought about what she was being asked to do. She wasn’t a violent person, but she felt rage when she thought about men like Tony with women like Phoebe. It was definitely not an isolated case, and if she could help, she wanted to. It was only for her lifetime, after all. How many abusers could that possibly be? She would be able to die knowing that she had made a difference.
“I will do it.”
Titania nodded. “I know you will, but I will ask you one more time—”
“Titania, leave her be.” The resonant voice of Oberon came to them as he walked through the trees and vines.
Oberon smiled at her. “Hello again, Leda. I knew you would turn out lovely.”
Leda bowed. “You also said I would be a pain in the ass.”
He grinned. “I speak the truth. Now, are you ready to get geared up.”
“Silk, leather, and iron?”
He grinned, “As only you can do it. Now, return to Krampus, take your nephew, and have our son return you to the home that Liam has grown up in. Krampus will take care of the rest.”
“And then we wait?” Leda frowned.
He handed her a circle of woven saplings. “Take this. When you need it, the power will come to you. You have contained it this long; this little bangle will let it out.”
Leda warily took the bracelet, and she slid it onto her wrist. The wood slid against her skin and settled in place, warming up in contact with her skin. “Thank you, King Oberon.”
“Do not thank me. It will be a burden that you must bear, but you will have company. Krampus will be there for you to speak with. He has dealt with his own version of this particular duty for over a thousand years. He can help you with the adjustment.”
Titania smiled. “Enough, my king. She is ready, and time in the human world is speeding on. She needs to return.”
“Of course.” King Oberon stepped forward and kissed Leda.
Her shock occurred on several levels, including the portion of her body that was filling with dark curls of fury. She shoved him back and wiped her mouth.
Oberon laughed and disappeared.
Titania sighed. “Apologies for my husband, but he was the final key to setting you free. My skills do not lend themselves to calling on the darkness.”
“Right. Of course. We need to get back.” Leda’s mind was suddenly filled with purpose. “Phoebe needs her son.”
Titania nodded. “Of course. Come with me, Leda.”
They walked back to where Krampus was pacing. He stared at her, and he asked, “What happened?”
“I saw a few things. I learned a few things. We need to go.”
Titania smiled. “Krampus, you have my blessing to return Liam to his mother and take Leda to he
r family.”
“Yes, Mother.” Krampus bowed. He offered his hand to Leda, and she took it.
Leda smiled and called to Liam. “Come on, Liam. We are going back to your mom.”
He stood up, hugged a few of his friends, and came running to her with an eagerness that made her smile. This was the boy she had spent long nights Skyping with. He took her free hand and smiled brightly up at her. “I miss my mom.”
“I know you do, sweetie. She misses you, too.”
They made their way back to the portal that had let them in.
“What did she say to you?” Krampus’s voice was low.
“She showed me the present, the future, and the far future. If it is true that she can’t lie, things are about to get very odd for a lot of people.”
“We will open the path straight to Liam’s home. I will go in and capture the changeling, I will bring him to Liam, and the missing time will transfer.”
“So, you are about to get furry.”
He nodded grimly. “I am. The changelings do not respond well to being asked anything in a polite manner.”
Liam was skipping beside them and smiling. He was just happy to be going home.
“How do I get my stuff?”
He chuckled. “I will bring it to you.”
“My car, too?”
“I can drive. I don’t spend all of my time between worlds.” He snorted.
She chuckled. “Sorry. This is weirder than I imagined. I thought you were furry all the time, growling and hissing as you beat the changelings.”
“That part is rather fun.”
“Where do they come from?”
He twisted his lips. “Not all of the fey like humans. A few thousand years ago, a faction began to try to get in position to cause havoc within the human settlements. The most disturbing method was to tamper with the children, but Titania and Oberon love children and would not have them hurt, so a pact was struck that any child transposed by a changeling would be brought to the fey.”
“That is really weird. What would they do with the children?”
“Raise them to be mages and wizards, healers and statesmen. The children always rejoin the human worlds, but the family they were born to would be destroyed by their absence.”
“Why do they want to destroy the humans?”
“They just want to cause them emotional trauma and wreck their societies. When you live as long as we do, you need to seek out other methods of amusement, and that is what it is for them.”
“Fucking bastards.”
Liam pulled on her hand. “Aunty, you are not supposed to say words like that in front of me.”
“Sorry, pumpkin.”
He smiled. “I knew the first one, anyway.”
Krampus chuckled. “He is a well-behaved lad.”
“He is. That is what tipped me off when Phoebe called me.”
When they got to the portal, Krampus’s hand tightened on hers, and she did the same with Liam. A few steps later they were in the back yard, and Leda kept Liam with her while Krampus released her hand and took a few steps away.
“I will be out with the changeling soon.”
Leda knelt next to Liam and held him. “He is going to go a bit scary, Liam. Just stay with me for a bit, and then, you can go inside to your mom.”
“Why do I have to wait?”
“Because there is an angry type of elf in there, and he has been pretending to be you. Krampus will get him out so that you can go home again.”
“Do we have to wait long?”
Leda looked up, and Krampus was up to his seven-foot height, furry with his horns high and hooves crushing into the snow. The sack was on one shoulder and the whip of sticks was in the other hand. He nodded to her and headed into the house.
They heard the thumping, the shouting, and the sound of something getting beaten. The back door flew open, and the beast emerged, dragging the sack on the ground, hitting it with the whip whenever the kicking got too intense.
He dragged the sack to them and knelt to open the top enough for the little Liam head to come out. The fey was losing control. Liam was now a dark purple with black hair and golden welts across its face.
“Give him your memories, changeling.”
He hissed at her.
Krampus struck him again, and he yowled but did not speak.
She leaned in and grabbed the creature by the hair while cradling Liam. “You will give him the memories he needs, or I will take you apart inch by inch. I will peel that purple skin from you and tie it back on your body, back to front. Do you understand me?”
The creature’s eyes widened. So did Krampus’s.
“I will give the memories.”
Liam turned and blinked. “He sort of looks like me. He’s the wrong colour, though.”
The changeling looked at Liam and swallowed. “Right. I had forgotten.”
A thin ribbon of something left the changeling and touched Liam’s head. Her nephew shook his head. “I didn’t do that!”
“You were sick, baby. Now, I am going to take you to see—”
“Liam!” Phoebe was in the open doorway, and she held her arms out. Her son ran into her embrace, and they hugged in a desperate moment.
Leda smiled at Krampus. “Well, I have to remain here for a bit. How many days until Christmas?”
His voice was deep and low with a growl to it. “Two. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.”
Leda nodded. “Good. I want to get this over with.”
Krampus’s eyes were gleaming with amusement. “It is only beginning.”
He stood and dragged the changeling through a portal.
Leda got to her feet and went to join her sister and Liam. “Hey, Phoebe.”
“You got him back. My boy, you got him back.” Phoebe was sobbing.
“I did.”
“What was that creature?”
“The specialist.”
“You made a deal with it?” Phoebe looked at her with worried eyes.
“No. Something much scarier. Now, let’s go inside. I will need to stay with you for a few days.”
Phoebe blinked. “Tony won’t like that.”
“He doesn’t have to. This is your home, you have rights. Hell, it isn’t even in his name.”
Phoebe was unsure.
“Look, sis. I lost my car, my outerwear, and my wallet while looking for Liam. Just invite me in, and I will get some sleep. I promise. You will barely know I am there.”
“Well, he isn’t home yet. I suppose it is fine.”
With that resounding invitation, Leda went in and enjoyed watching Phoebe spoiling her son and stroking his hair until it was nearly flattened back.
Leda enjoyed watching them, but she was relieved when she could get into bed and rest in their guest room. Things were going to kick off when Tony returned, and she felt that being rested was going to help her to not injure him. Whatever Oberon had woken up in her mind and body, it was angry.
Leda was braiding Phoebe’s hair like she used to when they were younger. Tony came in through the door, and Leda kept Phoebe from running to greet him.
“In the kitchen, Tony,” Phoebe called out, and her voice wobbled but Leda had practiced with her.
“What the hell do you think you are doing, Feebs?” Tony’s voice was tight and angry when he was speaking from down the hall. “You know how angry it makes me when you don’t greet me at the door.”
Leda was facing the hallway when he emerged. “Oh, hello, Tony. How angry does it make you?”
Phoebe was going cold with panic, but Leda kept her hand on her shoulder.
“Leda. Phoebe didn’t tell me you were here.”
Leda chuckled. “Oh, don’t be an idiot. She told you three times via text, you just threatened her if she didn’t get rid of me. That wasn’t very Christmassy of you.”
His hands flexed. He cleared his throat. “I would like to speak with my wife
, Leda.”
“Why? What are you going to say to her in private that I can’t hear?”
“I have just returned from a business trip. I have worked hard and am exhausted.”
Phoebe patted Leda’s hand. “It will be all right, Leda. I will call you if I need you.”
Leda left and sat in the living room, listening to the escalation until she heard the first contact.
Phoebe was sitting with a hand pressed to her cheek, and Tony was looming over her. It was enough.
Leda didn’t feel herself growing, but she grabbed the back of Tony’s neck and brought the whip made of sticks across his back.
“What the hell?”
“You are a bad man, and this is the time of year for your wickedness to be punished.” She brought the whip down on him over and over.
Phoebe was staring at her, and she asked, “Leda?”
“Sort of. Please excuse me. I will just take him outside and have a talk with him.”
She tossed Tony in the burlap sack that had come with the change in state.
She struck absently at the sack, and then, a doorway opened up in front of her. Understanding flooded her, and she cackled with glee.
“Well. It seems there is a purpose to this action, after all. There are some folk who are eager to have words with you.” In the doorway, she heard the chattering and hissing giggles that she now associated with the changelings.
She stepped through and saw a gathering of changelings who had been mimicking children at some point and got stuck.
The false Liam limped toward her. “You are the aunt.”
“I am. You are here already?”
“Krampus does not waste time. He is a busy fey.” False Liam grimaced. “Why are you here?”
“Well, you have all tasted humanity, and some of you might even feel protective toward the children and families you have been with.”
False Liam cocked his head. “Go on.”
“I would make you a deal. I want you to torture the human in this bag, not kill him, but make him feel the same pain that he doled out to his wife and the terror felt by his child. You torment them, and then, I will see if they have repented, and if they have, I will return them to their families, and the folk will be bathed in Klaus’s magic. It will be up to them to determine if the penance takes or not. The smart ones will break with the punished one, but that will not be up to me. This is my duty, to seek vengeance.”