Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas.<br><br>As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man's malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him?<br><br>When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie's life is put in danger. And Jamie isn't sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he's merely a pawn in the Krampus's game.

Nicolas

Andy’s cry came again, and Jamie shoved away his fear and stepped into the hallway. Immediately, he was sucked into a vortex, feeling the walls contort around him as he rushed headlong toward the end of the passage. He braced, wondering if his body would break when he slammed into the solid wood. His stomach heaved as he came to a sudden stop, his pulse pounding in his ears. Head reeling, he reached blindly for the knob and flung the door open.


Jamie blinked. John’s desk was littered with papers, computer still on, but the den was empty of occupants. He stepped inside, and jumped when the door slammed shut behind him with enough force to shake the pictures on the walls. The sound echoed like a shot and Jamie covered his ears, hissing with pain.


“Enough!” he shouted. This was unreal. A nightmare! “I want to wake up,” he said with force, hoping to dispel the dream. The painful echo subsided, and he heard the sound of a child crying. A mournful, heartbroken mewling.


Chapter 35