Krampus the ancient Ch. 2 new day

Ch.2 new day

Four years later

The snow fell heavy on Krampus’s heavy wool cloak as strutted through the deep snow. A nicely plump yak was flung over his shoulder. It was the night before the winter solstice and then he would be forced to replay his yearly routine.

Ahead loomed a large cave with teeth of stalagmites and stalactites. Its inside filled with seemingly infinite darkness.He smiled “home sweet home.”

The inside was musty and damp, the bats that lined the ceiling chattered nervously as Krampus walked under them. He continued down a tunnel that lead to several forks until he came to a poorly lit cavern.

At the back was a large oak door, he walked to it removing a black iron key from the folds of his cloak and inserting it in the lock. The door shuttered as he pushed it open. He stepped in to another dark tunnel he closed the door and waited till he was sure its large bolts and locks slid shut.

He sighed “home at last” he pulled of his cloak and threw it on to a statue of a gargoyle. He walked into the inner chamber that was unusually dark. He walked over to the fire pit filled with large logs, laid the yak to the side and grabbed the flint.

He scratched it on his claws sending sparks flying that quickly caught the large logs into a blaze. He sighed and looked around the cavern that held two beds. A table three chairs and a shelf with many treasures he had gathered through the years. Another tunnel lead off to a store room.

He looked towards the small bed that was empty, and the rest of the room was empty as well. He smiled “were are you little runt” he spun around looking, for Galvan.

Then he heard it above on the ledges that were higher up in the chamber. His grin widened, the giggling and shuffling. Backing up a little to make sure when he jumped he wouldn’t smack onto the ground. And there it was.

“ARGHHHH” Krampus felt the sudden wait of the small boy slam into his back. The boy, Galvan, clambered to keep from falling onto the ground, laughing as Krampus attempted to grab him.

Finally, he grabbed a foot and swung the boy in front of him struggling to keep the boy from falling. The boy laughed loudly as Krampus held him up in front of him. Krampus waited till he stopped struggling till he put the boy down.

“I almost had you didn’t I, right?” he said smiling as he crawled into a chair. “I’ve been planning since you left looking for the best place to get you.”

Krampus cackled as he lifted the yak onto the table, “you sure surprised me, could you hand me the knife, you need to learn to not laugh while sneaking up on someone especially someone with some of the best hearing around, thank you, but did you get your chores done.” He said with a questioning look.

Galvan nodded “yep I skinned those to yaks, I swept up, and organized the store room the best I could.” He picked up a needle and started threading a sting through it. “I was going to sew up all the holes on your cloak if you don’t mind.”

Krampus only nodded as he began to skin the yak. He was thinking about his departure the next night. What he would do for two months and his worry for Galvan. It had been four years and two months since the fateful night he decided to take Galvan with him planning to drop him off in a town near to his path, but he soon grew a liking to the young boy and had taken him under his wing.

Since then he had taught the boy skills of survival, he also taught him skills any other human would learn which proved to be quite a challenge. But it had worked out, and the boy had become a big help.

“Also the some of the hens got out somehow but I couldn’t find any holes and the door was closed but I got them all back in.” Krampus was snapped out of his thoughts and looked over. “Um good job now um let see you remember what the rules are while I’m gone right.”

He sighed “yes don’t climb up into the nest, don’t eat everything at once, don’t mess with anything on the shelf, and don’t leave unless I somehow run out of food or one of the magic items starts acting weird or talking.” He said a little annoyed having to once again go over these rules.

“And” said Krampus. Galvan sighed once more “if somebody would to happen upon the door do not open the door.” Krampus chuckled at the boy’s exasperated attitude.

“I know you hate all these rules, but you know that I have been made a villain and that this make people wish to destroy me if they find you who knows what they do” he said he picked up the hide he had just cut clean of and looked at it “this would be nice for a new layer on my cloak, the old thing may not have much time on it but I can make it last at least.”

Galvan sat up “but in all the time I’ve been living with you I not once have ever heard of anyone entering or even coming near the cave, and doubt anyone can find it.” Krampus only shook his head and flipped the yak over and continued to work.

They worked in silence besides them asking for items or Krampus giving Galvan more tasks. This was most nights in there humble little hole that served as their home. This would also be the case till the next night after Krampus returned with last of the supplies Galvan would need and the Krampus would depart on his yearly tradition.

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Galvan sat finishing up the job of sewing up Krampus’s cloak. Krampus entered holding one of the hens that they kept for eggs. It sat in his paw cooing as he stroked it gently “this little thing got out somehow and I can’t figure out how, the latch is on tight and there’s no holes.”

Galvan looked up at the hen “that’s one of the ones that got out last time just like I told you.” Krampus wrinkled his brow deep in though as he sat in his chair the hen picking at his fingers trying to get him to keep petting him.

“Done” Krampus snapped out of his little trance that Galvan commonly saw him enter, just thinking as Krampus had once told him when he was younger. He held up the finished cloak that he’d been working on since Krampus had left that afternoon.

“Thank you boy this will do nicely, did you get my bag all packed” he took the cloak and handed Galvan the hen, “yes every things there.” He patted the annoyed hen as Krampus slipped on his cloak. “thank you well then I will be off you remember the rules of course remember to keep up with your studies, chores and …” as he said this from the store room three more hen came walking out, “and figure out how they keep getting out, for Belo’s sake.”

He threw his cloak over his scared white back. Galvan stared at the many scars that littered his back. Each one a story, each one a battle, each one a death. A year ago he had gotten several new ones when a band of mercenary hired to kill him had attacked and failed. Some were still red from poison that had been added to the blades.

They had caused him great pain but had ended up healing. But now they were a constant pain one had opened back up a week ago, if wasn’t for Krampus miraculous ability to heal from such wounds so quickly he might not have survived.

He pulled the mysterious key that seemed vanish whenever it entered his cloak. They walked towards the door and Krampus inserted the black iron key into the lock, unlocking the door. They waited until all the bolts and bars that held the large door shut were unbolted and raised. The cold air from outside quickly rushed in causing Galvan to shiver, but it seem to rejuvenate Krampus make him stronger ready for the night.

The hen scrambled out into the dark cavern which they were rarely aloud to enter. Galvan scrambled to gather them back inside while Krampus looked at something in his hand. When Galvan had ushered the hen back inside he spoke.

“Galvan it has been four years since you stepped under my wing and you are the age of eight now at most, I believe its time you had this.” He took the item from his hand and handed it to Galvan. It was a smaller version of Krampus key and made of silver. It shined brightly in the dark.

“It will help you find your way home if you are ever forced to leave, it will glow brighter as it gets closer to the lock and will of course unlock the door.” Galvan stared in aww, he had never seen any other key to the door except for Krampus’s key. It was surprisingly heavy for such a small key, it had several strange markings on it.

“Thank you, were did it come from though besides your key I’ve never seen another for the door?” he looked at Krampus who was stroking his chin.

He sighed and finally spoke “I’m sorry boy there is so much I have yet to tell you about me and I will explain much of it upon my return please be patient.” He hugged the boy tight “I now must depart good bye.” With that he strode out the entrance of the cavern without making a word and melted into the darkness like ice.

Galvan sighed and pulled the door shut “good bye.” He then presided to usher the hen back into their pen.

He thought deeply trying his best to remember the night he has met Krampus but as it had been for many years he could remember little of the night. It was a blur he remembered only Krampus taking out the black key and opening the door to his home years ago.

Back then it had been a dark musty pit, which had been almost unlivable for a human child which Krampus at spent much time making it a cozy little home. He sighed and looked around, he grabbed two books from the collection under his bed and walked over to the wall were he began climbing up to a small hole in the sealing.

Once he reached the hole and climbed in, he rummaged around the pile of books looking for the matches. When he found them he lit one and walked towards a large crystal jutting from the wall he closed on eye and aimed. He then threw the match at crystal square on the tip and was instantly out.

Galvan waited several seconds before the crystal lit up in a brilliant glow. He had no clue how the crystal did it but whenever fire would touch it the crystal would absorb it and begin to glow. Galvan turned and walked over to a small pile of books and placed one of the books on it. He then sat down and began to read.

This for the next few months would be how Galvan would spend his time, reading book after book. The room was filled with books that Galvan had read, many he had not, each one a legend a story that Krampus had collected over the many years. They were of knights, monsters, continents, history, and gods. A few had Krampus in them, but when Galvan read something about Krampus it was always how he should be feared and what to do to avoid him coming to your home.

Galvan despised it, Krampus wasn’t a completely horrible, bloodthirsty monster by heart, it was his job. More of a curse given to him before his creation. Everyone hated him he didn’t get a choice whatever that meant.

He sat there under the dimming glow of the crystal, his mind drifting to other worlds. His eyes fluttered shut and he was asleep. Little did he know he was not alone in the shadow of the door way was silhouette of the little winged stone monster.

It chuckled “well, well Krampus my dear old friend its true your gone soft, well I can’t blame you sleep well little amigo we will meet very soon, very soon indeed.” The small creature slipped away into the dark chuckling to its self.

Ch.3 old friends in the night -Coming Soon- :p