Page 31 of Nice

"Don't you let Jimmy know. If he shows up on my doorstep, he's getting coal, Krampus take him."

The warm, fuzzy feelings vanish at her use of idiom. Cold settles deep into my gut. No matter how nice everything seems, there's still this underlying hostility towards Asmon. I have no idea why. From what I can see, he's not a bad person. Lonely and misunderstood. But that's not a crime. I try to keep my face neutral as the woman turns towards me with a warm grin.

"We don't get many mortals up here. This is indeed a treat. Won't you come in?"

She opens the door wider, showing off the food on the tables along with the cozy fireplace crackling. I want to. I want nothing more than to run into the woman and sob until my eyes can't cry anymore. But I can't. I want so desperately to be in the greeting card moment, but Asmon needs me more. The longer I'm here, the more I feel the need to be by his side.

Shaking my head, I give the woman a wan smile. "I really appreciate it, but I have to be heading back. If you can just point the way out of the city, that would be helpful."

Setting down her bowl of candy, she grips her apron in her hand. "Heading back where? You can't get to your land from here. You need a portal for that." She looks me up and down, her eyes narrowing for a moment. "You don't seem magical to me."

Shrugging, I let my hands flop helplessly to my side. "No, I don’t have any magic, but I need to leave. Just please point the way."

I don't want to tell her I'm going back to Asmon. What if she prevents me? What if she forces me to stay here? I can't take that chance.

"Really. I'm just going to pop out, look around, then head back in."

She frowns and shakes her head. "I have a feeling you got a lot of coal in your stocking growing up. But it's out of my hands. If you're hell bent on going, just follow this path until it forks, then head right. Be wary, my child. The Krampus roams those fields. Don't want to be caught unawares. Wait here." She ducks into the house and sounds of hurried rummaging reach my ears.

After a few minutes, she comes back, her hands full of stuff. "If you're sure about leaving, be smart about it." Setting down a lantern, she tosses a warm fur coat about my shoulders. Watching for any reaction, I pull it about and slide my arms through the holes. It engulfs me. The arms go out past my hands and the bottom hem brushes against my calves. Under the protection of the city, it's hot, stifling even, but I know I'll need it once I leave the city.

The woman sniffs as she looks me up and down. "Rusty always was large for an elf. But It will keep you warm. That's guaranteed."

In the twinkle of the lights, it looks like her eyes are misting up, but she quickly paws at them and straightens. Handing me the lantern, she flicks a switch on the side, demonstrating how to turn it on and off.

"This will last you two hours. No more, no less. Don't be gone that long."

I take the lantern in both hands and give her a shaky smile. "Thank you for helping me."

"I'm trying to keep you from being killed is all. I don't want that on my conscience."

With a soft harrumph, she shakes out her apron and heads inside the house. I turn and hurry down the steps and back onto the path. With any luck, I'll be back at Asmon's before too long. I keep looking about as I make my way towards the exit, still conflicted. How can something so beautiful be so horrible? I walk further, deep in thought. Finally, I see the arch from when Asmon brought me in.

Elated, I race forward, pausing as I get to the opening. Inside, the world is warm and comforting. Out there, the snow blows and the wind howls. Sticking my hand out, I feel the instant temperature drop. I don't have on the clothes I had earlier and a tendril of fear creeps into my heart. I look back into the city, spying Northport sitting above the Christmas world and shudder. Better to face what's out there than get caught by Kris again.

Firming my resolve, I wrap my arms about my body, burrowing deep into the coat, and force myself into the cold. Before stepping past the entrance, I flick on the lantern, feeling slightly better at the strong illumination. It didn't take two hours to get here, so there should be plenty of time to get to Asmon before the light dies out. Nodding, I bolster my will power and step over the barrier.

The snow nips at my exposed skin as the wind threatens to knock me over. Shivering, I duck my head and plow through, pressing onward into the snowicane. It takes substantial effort to walk without being pushed back. My entire body aches with the effort I'm expending. The areas not covered by the coat grow numb as the wind and snow chill me to my bones. The shoes do little to help keep my feet warm. I didn't realize how grateful I should have been to Asmon for carrying me most of the way.

Sighing, I make the decision to head back to the North Pole and wait it out. I turn to retrace my steps, thankful to have wind at my back. Looking up, I expect to see the twinkling lights of North Pole Proper, and instead, I'm greeted with a mass of swirling cold and snow. The only light is coming from the lantern. Though strong, it doesn't show me any paths, or anything helpful really. How did I get so lost?

Lifting it up high, I spot some large shadows. They creak and groan, swaying in the wind. Maybe the tree line will help buffer some of the storm? Hobbling over, I push and strain, my core shivering. By this point, what warmth the coat did provide starts to disappear, and my teeth chatter incessantly. The closer I get to the trees, the more I feel a sense of dread. My stomach twists in knots. My breath is short and shallow. Something is out there. I can feel it. It watches my every move.

Huddling closer to the trees, I swing my lantern about, trying to see what's out there with me. Off in the distance, a wolf howls, the storm throwing the sound around and distorting it. Moaning, I put my back up to a tree and shrink down into myself. I want to extinguish the lantern to make myself less of a target; but being out here in complete darkness freaks me out even more.

The howling stops and I breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe I'll be okay. I start to pull away from the tree when a wet snuffle sounds behind me. Panic grips me, rooting me to the spot. Not even chancing a breath, I remain like a statue. Maybe whatever it is won't hurt me. Maybe it's just one of the reindeer set to take me home. The growl that skitters up my spine tells me just how wrong I am.

Whimpering, I press back into the tree, trying to be as still as I can while still feeling about with my hand. The tree is smooth like glass and just as cold. What the hell kind of tree doesn't even have a way to climb it? The growling gets closer and closer. I'm torn between wanting to see and staying in blissful oblivion. My hand trembles as I lift the lantern up. Nothing in front or to the sides. Inching my neck around, I see it. The massive polar bear glares at me, its black, hardened eyes following my every move.

Before I can stop myself, a scream erupts from my throat. Adrenaline kicks me into high gear, and I fling my body to the side and start running. The bear's feet lope after me. Deep thuds and crunches race after me. The heavy ker-chunk imprinting itself on my brain. Tears flow from my eyes and freeze on my face. Frantic I plod through the snow, the thick mass weighing down every step. I can't die like this. I can't die like this. The mantra flows through my brain as I stumble about, never pausing. Hot fetid breath washes over the back of me as I stumble and fall, face-down into the snow.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block everything out. Memories fly through my brain at the speed of light. Choices I've made, things I've done. I sob as I crawl towards my discarded lantern. Even buried in the snow, it still gives off a comforting light. My fingers grasp the warm metal. Just something to hold onto. Will it hurt?

Chapter Eleven: Asmon

I pace about my cabin, my body thrumming with unspent energy. I'm through with pouting, through with moping. Caitlin is mine, damnit. Fredrick is right. If I want her, I should fight for her. Hell, half the reason Kris keeps taking things from me is because I allow it. No more! The beast inside me roars in agreement. At least we're on the same page now.

Stalking over to the door, I throw on my jacket and head out. The storm has picked up since I've been back home. Very out of character for this time of year. Frowning, I turn my collar up against the wind and head out. I don't care as much about the cold. I feel freer out here than I do anywhere else, but something doesn't feel right in the air. There's a chill that's not supposed to be there. My stomach flops about as I traverse the snowy plain. There's just something not right.