Chapter 139

Luc pointed down the road. "Sometimes he lures children out by the sound of his sleigh bells. The kids think he's Santa and come running."

Now that was just unfair. "How very awful of him," I said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sure it won't take long for him to pick up your - " He vanished. As in, just like that. Gone, chain and all.

"Uh..." I looked around the icy street, my gaze catching on the frozen cars parked on the sides and thinking I'd found myself in an inappropriately timed game of hide-and-seek. "Where are you, Satan?"

Silence, except for creaking, icy branches above. I was very much alone. A deep growl reverberated up the street. Well, not totally alone. I gripped my god bone tight while I took my seraph knife from my thigh holster. The devil had said not to kill Krampus, but the devil wasn't here. I would do what was necessary so I wouldn't get chomped.

"Let's go, goat demon," I said.