The Christmas Devil's Bride (2nd Book Of The Krampus Series)

Frosty the Killer Snowman

Samantha held back the urge to scream when something grabbed her hand and led her to who knows what before a candle was lit and she found herself sitting beside Timothy who was shaken pretty badly.

Poor kid, maybe I can ask Krampus to spare him.

Samantha patted the boy in comfort while the adults ran to get the candles lit.

"What happened?"

A female cousin, Lauren, asked as she turned to her father who had a concerned look on his face "Maybe something short circuited" Harold shook his head.

"But that's impossible, I fixed and checked the circuits weeks ago"

"Maybe it got fried because of the too much decorations"

John added helpfully which only gave him a warning glare from his mother. From the corner of her eye, Samantha saw the shadows of the elves on the move.

The fun was about to start.

"Excuse me Samantha...can you help me in going to the bathroom. I hate going alone in the dark"

From behind her, she heard Jax mutter out "Scaredy Cat" behind her and shot him a glare thought it was pointless for it to be seen in the dark.

"Come on Tim, let's go"

Timothy dragged her to the second floor and into the bathroom and went inside while Samantha took her time waiting outside the door.

The howling winds from the window made her turn to the window in the staircase and her eyes went wide when she saw a moving snowman in the front yard of the house.

What...on Earth...?

"Done!"

Samantha jumped to see Timothy already out and grinning in her direction before frowning "Are you alright Miss Samantha? You look pale" Samantha gave him a weak grin of reassurance.

Before they went down., she made a mental note to be prepared to act when Krampus made the signal.

***

When the two went down, the entire family was already gathered in the living room sipping hot coca while listening to an old record player playing Christmas tunes.

"Do we really have to do this mom? Why can't we just all head to bed and sleep for the storm to pass"

John said in annoyance while Jax sent her an unnerving look, knowing a double meaning behind the words.

"John dear, it's Christmas"

His mother, Maggie, said with a small smile which only made the boy frown all the more.

"This Christmas turned out to be the worst of all"

The record player suddenly stopped playing a sweet melody. Gerald, Maggie's husband and brother of Harold, looked at the player "Is something wrong with this thing?" Harold shook her head.

"Nah, its just old"

The record player suddenly began playing a song most children would love to hear but now...it sounded more ominous than jolly.

Frosty the Snowman
Is a killer on the lose

"What the hell happened to the lyrics?!"

Helen gasped as she clutched Timothy closer to her.

With a sinister smile and a glinting knife
And his laughter filled with vile

Samantha had to admit, it almost made her skin crawl and remembered a time when she was young she had a knack for twisting joyful lyrics into rather...disturbing macabre songs.

Frosty The Killer Snowman
Made the children run and hide
And they were horrified when
Before they're eyes
He came out different that day

"Gerald shut that damn thing off!" Helen said when John and Penny, his sister, began to get uncomfortable with the song.

Gerald went into the kitchen and came back with a hammer before smashing the poor record player off as it continued to play.

Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over his snow of blood

Just then, a maniacal laugh resonated within the house and everybody screamed as they heard thumping in the front yard and Samantha had to remind herself not to freak completely out and regain her cool.

"Holy Macro...what was that?" Maggie gasped while the children and teens all huddled together. Samantha peered behind a curtain to only see the menacing coal eyes staring back at her.

Stifling a gasp, Samantha watched as the snowman made a dramatic bow with his bloody and ruined hat before be disappeared beneath the snow and into the rows of snowmen that symbolized each family member of this house.

The faces of the snowmen were looks of pure terror.

***

Krampus waited at the top of a house covered with snow as his grin ever widened so slightly in excitement. He heard movement behind him and didn't bother to turn.

"Es ist bereit, Meister"

Krampus let out a grin as he saw his Samantha inside through the curtains, looking around and trying to spot him or any of them.

"Lass die Jagd beginnen"

***

Translation:

Es ist bereit, Meister - It is ready master

Lass die Jagd beginnen - Let the hunt begin