Chapter 12
Without thinking, I lunged at Dagna, my blade slicing through the air with a precision born of instinct and rage. But instead of meeting flesh, the blade passed through her like she wasn’t even there.
My momentum carried me forward, and I stumbled slightly, whipping around to face her.
Or what was left of her? The form I had been so ready to destroy flickered, shimmering like heat rising off the asphalt.
It started to break apart, gradually disintegrating into wisps of shadowy light that dissolved into the air.
Dagna’s mocking laughter echoed around me as her form vanished entirely. “Oh, Faith,” her disembodied voice purred, “you’ll have to try harder than that.”
I clenched my jaw, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts as I stood there gripping my blade like it might still be of some use. “Coward,” I spat, scanning the empty space where she’d been. Her laughter lingered, faint and fading, before the night fell silent once more.
“Holy shit,” Liam said behind me, his voice low and incredulous. “What was that?”
I turned to him, my hands still trembling with adrenaline. “Magic,” I said flatly, my voice sharper than I intended. “That was an astral projection. A cheap trick to keep herself out of harm’s way while she watches us like a damn vulture.”
Liam stared at the spot where Dagna had been, his wide eyes reflecting both shock and something else—curiosity. “So… she wasn’t really here?”
“No,” I said, sliding my blade back into its sheath. “She was somewhere safe, probably laughing her ass off while we chased shadows.”
His gaze shifted to me, his brows furrowing. “She can just… do that? Spy on people like it’s nothing?”
“Welcome to the world of dark witches,” I muttered, glancing around the empty park, the pit in my stomach growing. “Tricks, traps, and enough ego to fill a stadium.”
Liam shook his head, his face pale. “That’s insane.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly, my voice tightening with frustration. “But it’s also what we’re dealing with. And if she’s using Krampus, there’s no telling what she’s got planned.”
I turned toward him, meeting his gaze. The fear was still there, but so was persistence. And I needed both of us to hold on to that if we could come out of this in one piece.
I yanked my phone from my pocket, my fingers shaking slightly as I scrolled for Eve’s number and hit call. My thumb hovered over the speaker button before pressing it, the phone ringing loudly in the stillness of the park.
She picked up on the second ring. “Faith? What’s going on?”
“Dagna,” I said, my voice clipped. “She sent Krampus. We just had a lovely little chat, but she was an astral projection. Is there a way to track her?”
There was a pause, followed by a frustrated sigh. “No,” Eve said, her voice tinged with annoyance, though not at me—at the limits of her magic. “Projections don’t leave traces. She could be anywhere.”
Liam frowned, crossing his arms as he looked at me. “We need to track her down. If we don’t stop her, this is just going to keep happening.”
I shook my head, my grip tightening on the phone as I locked eyes with him.
“The witch isn’t the priority right now.
We have to get to the Christmas Village.
” My voice softened, though the edge of urgency still lingered.
“I’ve learned not to waste time chasing my tail when it comes to Dagna.
She’s always two steps ahead. We can’t follow her if Krampus is attacking. He’s the immediate threat.”
Liam didn’t look thrilled, but he nodded reluctantly, his jaw tightening as he processed my words. I turned my attention back to the phone. “Eve, I need you to bring Nishi and the others to Mystic Falls. Meet us at the Christmas Village as soon as you can.”
“Understood,” Eve said, her voice even. “We’ll head out now. Stay safe, Faith.”
I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket, exhaling shakily as I glanced around the park. The quiet felt too heavy, too tense, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
Liam adjusted his jacket, his eyes narrowing with determination. “So, what’s the plan?”
I met his gaze, a flicker of pride warming my chest despite the storm we were walking into. “The plan,” I said firmly, “is to stop Krampus before Dagna gets the chaos she’s hoping for. Let’s move.”
And with that, we headed into the night, every step pulling us closer to whatever nightmare she had set in motion.
Liam and I sprinted back to the car, our breaths fogging in the freezing air as our boots crunched against the frost-covered ground.
The adrenaline hadn’t worn off—it was still pounding in my veins, pushing me forward as I unlocked the car with shaking hands.
Liam slid into the passenger seat without a word, his jaw set and his gaze focused straight ahead.
I didn’t waste time and took a one of Eve’s healing potions to speed recovery.
The tires squealed as I pulled out, the engine roaring as we raced through the dark streets toward the Christmas Village.
The lights of the town blurred past us, but neither of us said a word.
The air was thick with unspoken tension, but I couldn’t focus on that now. There was too much at stake.
When we arrived at the village, the others were just pulling in.
Eve’s car was parked beside mine, and Nishi, Aurora, Tegan, and Salima all stepped out, their faces tight and determined.
Eve had her satchel slung over her shoulder, the light clinking of potion bottles audible even over the distant hum of holiday music.
The cold hit me like a slap when I stepped out of the car, but I ignored it. Eve immediately began handing out small vials to everyone, her movements efficient and practiced. “Take these,” she said, her voice steady. “It’ll keep your energy up and sharpen your focus.”
Each of us downed the potion without hesitation, the familiar, distinct tang of magic burning briefly in my throat. Liam hesitated for only a second before following suit, his face unreadable as he tipped the vial back.
When the vials were empty, I stepped forward, my voice firm. “Liam knows everything,” I said, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “There will be no more memory potions.”
Eve froze for a fraction of a second before nodding, her lips pressing into a thin line. I could see the sadness in her eyes, and when I glanced at Nishi, Aurora, Tegan, and Salima, I saw it reflected there, too. They all knew what it meant. What Liam now carried with him.
Liam stood beside me, stoic and calm, but I could see the tension in his jaw and the tightness in his shoulders.
He was prioritizing the hunt, throwing himself into the mission the same way I always did.
But I knew him too well. Beneath the calm facade, he was hurting.
The magnitude of everything he’d learned and been through tonight was pressing down on him.
He was good at hiding it—another thing we had in common.
I stepped closer to him, my shoulder brushing his as I whispered, “You okay?”
He didn’t look at me, his gaze fixed on the village ahead. “I’m fine,” he said, his voice low and even.
But I knew the truth. He wasn’t fine. Neither of us was. But we’d deal with it—later. Right now, there was a demon to stop, and if there was one thing we both knew how to do, it was push everything aside for the hunt.
I glanced around the group, the cold air biting at my face as the holiday lights twinkled cheerfully, entirely at odds with the tension hanging between us.
My mind raced through Dagna’s words, her smug warning about the tree lighting ceremony.
She was playing with us, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t serious.
If she wanted chaos, the tree lighting would be the perfect stage for it.
“We need to divide and conquer,” I said, breaking the silence. “If Krampus is here, we can cover more ground faster if we split up.”
The others nodded, their expressions grim but focused. I turned to Liam and Salima. “You’re with me. We’ll take the northern side of the village—the main street and the shops near the square.”
Eve didn’t argue, though her gaze lingered on Liam, a flicker of concern in her eyes. “Fine,” she said, nodding toward the others. “Nishi, Aurora, Tegan, and I will take the southern side. The tree lot, the skating rink, and the residential streets.”
“Stay alert,” I said, meeting each of their gazes. “Dagna mentioned the tree lighting, which means she’s planning something big. If you see anything, don’t engage alone. Call for backup.”
With that, we split off into our groups.
Liam, Salima, and I moved quickly, heading toward the bustling main street where families strolled through the snow-dusted village, utterly unaware of the danger lurking nearby.
The scent of cinnamon and roasted chestnuts filled the air, blending with the faint sound of carolers singing in the distance.
It all felt so normal, so safe—if I hadn’t known better, I might’ve believed it.
We checked each shop carefully, moving methodically through the village. Liam was quiet, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, while Salima trailed close behind. I couldn’t shake the tension in my chest, the gnawing feeling that we were missing something.
Time dragged as we searched, moving from the glowing toy store to the small bookstore that smelled of pine.
Each time we came up empty, the frustration grew heavier.
The same holiday displays greeted us at every turn, twinkling lights, fake snow, and cheerful decorations, but no sign of Krampus or Dagna.
An hour later, we met the others at the nearby coffee shop. The warm, inviting scent of coffee and baked goods did little to ease the tension as we gathered around a table in the corner.
“Anything?” I asked, my voice clipped.
Eve shook her head, her expression tight. “Nothing. The tree lot was clear, and the rink was packed, but no sign of Krampus or anything unusual.”