Saving Santa (MxM)

27 Reinforcements

The four of us teleport to the far side of the NP. Behind us is the dark forest; ahead of us is the start of Main Candy Cane Lane. But I frown, for all I see are closed-up shops and dimly lit cottages lining the streets. No one is out celebrating the season. No decorations. No joy. It feels like a ghost town. I can immediately feel the pull of Krampus' power.

"Shit, Louie," I yelp as the cold shakes me.

"I know, this is all my fault," he replies.

"No, I meant why couldn't you drop us inside a warm drop point. It's freezing."

"Oh, sorry," he snaps his fingers, and warm fur cloaks wrap around Travis and me.

"Come on, let's head to the stables. It should be safe there. Many of the places Cal has held as sanctuary are no longer safe, but the bustle of the reindeer should camouflage our makeshift home base and keep us under the radar," Louie explains as he leads us east down Frosty Avenue.

As we trudge toward the long, barn-looking building, I can only imagine what Travis is thinking, but when I look at him, he just gives me a solid, reassuring smile.

"Okay. Out with it," I say the moment we settle in behind Comet's pen.

"This is all because of me–Krampus coming back. He used me. Months ago he disguised himself as a weary wanderer. He said he was on a mission with Otto when they separated in the dark of the woods."

"Otto?" Travis beats me to the question.

"The Easter Bunny," Elron says.

Louie brings our attention back, "He seemed in desperate need of a warm meal and some re-energizing rest. When I invited him in, he removed his hood and I noticed he looked familiar. He had used a masquerade spell to look like a weakened and needy Bjorn "

"Bjorn?" I ask faster than Travis this time.

Elron groans at our ignorance. "The Tooth Fairy."

Travis and I share a glance.

Louie continues, "I always had a crush on Bjorn, so I went right into desire fulfillment mode–"

"Ah, what now?" Travis interrupts.

I pat his arm and tell him I will explain later.

"So, I filled up his belly with hot soup and fresh bread, and he filled me up with his warm load. We fell asleep together on the kitchen floor. And he was gone when I woke up in the morning. Though sad he went his way, I didn't think much more of it until a few weeks later when I started blacking out for a few minutes almost every day."

"When he used you," I jump in.

Louie nods. "I would come to after Krampus controlled me. And have no idea what I had just done. I was like a little robot. Scoping out intel, getting secrets, and admitting him to off-limits places all over town."

"And then I accidentally tapped in," I say as the realization hits me. "After our fun in the sex room at HQ, I started seeing blips of Krampus."

"Yes, and I thank you for that. You sounded the alarm. One I wasn't able to do because of the charm I was under." Louie takes a deep breath. "Then Cal did something stupid. To get Krampus out of hiding, Cal had to give him power. He had to feed him sorrow. He had to let go of his happiness."

"He had to break it off with me. Two broken hearts. A feast for Krampus," I grasp it all. The truth. The mess we are in. The fact that Cal loves me.

"And it worked. But it was all for not. The monster got way too strong way too fast. In the battle, Cal told me to run. And I did. And I let him down." My elf friend drops his head.

I cross to him and pull him into a hug.

"Louie, you are Cal's right-hand man. He trusts you more than any other person in all of the NP. You had to escape to bring in the reinforcements."

He raises his face to mine and I give him a warm kiss on his lips.

"He needs you now. Stop the pity party. It's time to get our big guy back," I tell him.

This sparks redemption within him.

"So what's the plan?" I ask turning back to the crew.

"Well, that's the problem. Krampus has taken over HQ and Cal's cabin. He must have masked Cal's whereabouts because no summoning spell comes back successful. We have checked every nook and cranny in the whole village."

"And forest," Elron adds.

I smile and pat his periwinkle chest as a thank you.

"We have searched every place we know."

Like a lightning bolt, I know where he is.

"Places people know. Masking magic. Cal is closer than you think."

I have all three of my hunky teammates' attention.

"Krampus has to have him in the dungeon." I take Louie's hand in mine. "And only we can save him."