Twelfth Krampus Night by Matt Manochio Read Free Book Online Page A

calls. I suppose I could wait until next year, but some of the wretches do not deserve the luxury of time to commit more of their misdeeds. That’s why I’m here, now, with the mark in that castle.”
    â€œThat’s my mark,” Perchta said in a raised voice, and shook one of her knives at the monster. “I’ve distributed the coins I planned on giving today, and took care of one of the two brats who deserved it. One more to go—or two. I’ve yet to decide.”
    â€œNo. I’ve been eyeing this kid for months. And I’m not about to let some withered shrew screw it up.”
    â€œWithered? Shrew?” She let the insult linger and looked at her feet, appearing hurt. Then she sprang toward the monster, spinning like a cyclone, her two blades slashing deep gashes into the surprised creature’s belly. She landed and kicked the monster onto its back.
    The thing whipped its chain around Perchta’s right wrist and yanked. Bones cracked and she released the dagger, which twirled into the woods. She shrieked and doubled over in pain as the monster pushed itself off the ground and charged the woman.
    Perchta stooped and scurried under the horrendously smelling archway created by the monster’s wide stance and used her remaining knife to slash the monster’s Achilles tendons.
    It howled and fell to its knees just as the woman scooted from beneath it. She rammed her blade into the creature’s belly, but it was like skewering rock. She saw her two previous slice marks had begun to congeal and heal. She went to overhand stab the monster, but the thing countered by whipping the chain to divert the knife, and then smacked the woman back with its club.
    Perchta withdrew and held the blade tip toward her foe.
    â€œWhat are you?” she said. “How can you heal so quickly?”
    It strained to stand on one wobbly leg and then the next.
    â€œYou mean how can I heal just as quickly as your wrist?” It nodded at Perchta’s right hand, which otherwise looked straight and healthy, not twisted and broken.
    â€œI know that the people we hunt cannot comprehend what they’re up against once confronted,” she said. “So allow me to finally understand what that truly feels like.”
    â€œI feel pain, as you do,” it said. “But nobody’s come close to ever stopping or eluding me. And I guarantee you that will never happen. I hear like an owl and have a hawk’s vision. My eyesight will never fail me.”
    â€œVery well. I suppose we can fight in circles here while daylight wastes, or we can focus on what we both came here to do.” She tucked the blade into her belt and took a neutral stance.
    The thing responded by tossing its club and chain near its barrel on the roadside.
    â€œAnd how do we do that?”
    â€œSimple,” she said. “You’re up for a good fight, obviously. You enjoy competition. So here’s the fairest way to settle it. First one who grabs the mark gets to punish him. I’ve got an entire sackful of straw that’s destined for that kid’s stomach.”
    The thing tilted its head, ruminating over the proposition. “The master has given me freedom to do what I wish with the creeps. That is enough motivation for me to snag him first. What are the parameters?”
    â€œDo either of us look like we follow rules?” Perchta said.
    â€œI tend to think I adhere to a personal code of conduct and—”
    â€œListen, genius , if you think I’m going to let you just waltz into the castle, you’re insane. If I see you climbing a wall, you better expect me to throw something to stop you. You’ve got your chain over there. Do you think for a second I’d hesitate to use that against you?”
    The creature went to answer but—
    â€œNo!” she continued. “I fully expect you to whip that thing at me if you see I’m about to be on the