Chapter 8

The North Pole air bit at my skin as we emerged from the swirling darkness of the Underworld into the biting cold of the mortal realm. The sudden shift was jarring, though my senses were sharp enough to adapt instantly. We stood in front of the famous Clause Castle, a sprawling structure of snow and ice, intricately designed and standing proud against the whiteness of the surrounding landscape. The castle was a fortress, but it was also a place of warmth, joy, and holiday cheer—an odd combination considering the often grueling nature of our mission.

Saint Nick, Santa Claus himself, was standing in front of the castle, bellowing orders to a group of bustling elves. His voice boomed with the force of a thousand ho-ho-hos, and I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of awe and annoyance.

"Make sure the sleigh is ready to go!" he shouted. "We need to deliver every single present before dawn! Time waits for no one, you know!" His tone was surprisingly serious as he directed the activity around him, yet his ever-present joviality slipped through, like a shadow over a roaring fire.

Next to him stood his magnificent red sleigh, gleaming in the moonlight. It looked like something out of a dream, a perfect piece of craftsmanship, carved from the wood of some ancient tree, perhaps one touched by magic itself. Its runners were sleek, and the red fabric shimmered in the light of the surrounding torches. The sleigh was pulled by several large, powerful reindeer, each one stunning in its own right. Their fur was the color of freshly fallen snow, and their antlers were adorned with glowing golden ornaments. But it wasn't just their appearance that was striking—it was the golden leashes that were tied to the reins, as though they were some kind of divine creatures who needed no earthly guidance.

I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. I wasn't the type to indulge in such grandiosity, but there was something undeniably magical about the entire scene. However, there was no time to linger on it. The task ahead loomed large, and I had already spent too much time worrying about distractions.

"Ah, Hades, you're finally here," Santa boomed, his hearty voice cutting through the cold night air. He turned toward me and raised an eyebrow. "And you've brought... them." He gestured vaguely to the others, his eyes taking in the trio of figures standing beside me: Thanatos, the god of death; Anne, the mortal who had somehow become embroiled in this madness; and Dionysus, who looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"Are these the Ghosts of Christmas?" Nick asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and skepticism.

I gave him a curt nod, stepping forward. "They are. These three are here to help. Now, what's going on?"

Santa didn't waste time with pleasantries. His hands came together, and with a flick of his fingers, a sudden hush fell over the room as he gathered all attention to him. The elves paused in their tasks, eyes trained on their leader. Santa's face darkened, the usual twinkle in his eye replaced by a cold determination.

"It's Krampus," Santa began, his voice low and serious, a far cry from his usual jolly tone. "He's been scheming in the shadows for years now, ever since the incident last year. I thought we had him under control, but apparently, that was just the beginning."

I straightened, sensing the gravity of the situation. "What is he planning now?"

Nick's gaze hardened as he spoke. "He's not just terrorizing children anymore. He's plotting to ruin Christmas for good. We think he's trying to tear down the spirit of the holiday itself, unraveling the magic that keeps Christmas alive. It's why I've been so frantic about the preparations. If he gets his way, Christmas—everything we know—will cease to exist."

The room fell silent. I could hear the crackling of the fire in the background, the wind howling faintly outside, but for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. The weight of Santa's words settled in like a heavy snowdrift.

Anne's voice cut through the stillness, filled with unbridled enthusiasm. "So, what do we do? How do we stop him?"

Santa chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "We're going to have to storm his lair, deep in the Black Forest—his hideout where he's been gathering his forces. But I can't do it alone, and I need all of you to help me. That's why you're here."

I glanced at Thanatos, who remained stoic, his expression as unreadable as ever. There was no excitement in his eyes, no eagerness to jump into action. Just an impenetrable calm.

Dionysus, as expected, had other ideas. "Wait, wait. Storm Krampus's lair? Are you kidding me? I should be at my pub, enjoying a nice drink, not... whatever this is." He threw his hands up in exasperation. "And I can't believe I'm hearing about Christmas like it's some grand event. It's just a bunch of lights and sweets. Nothing more."

Anne shot him an annoyed look, but I knew better than to engage in any arguments with Dionysus about the absurdities of the holiday.

"We have to do this," I said, my voice steady. "Krampus is no joke. If he's truly threatening Christmas, then we have to stop him, no matter how ridiculous the holiday might seem to some." My gaze flicked briefly to Dionysus, who just sighed dramatically.

"You know," Dionysus muttered, taking a swig from his flask, "I could be sipping wine and telling jokes, but no. Instead, I'm stuck here, freezing my ass off and listening to the same nonsense about Christmas cheer and happiness. It's all too much for me."

"I know you're unhappy with this, Dionysus," I replied, my tone flat. "But we don't have a choice. Krampus is far more dangerous than you think."

Anne, her excitement not yet dampened by the tension, leaned forward. "So, what's the plan?"

Santa's eyes gleamed as he clapped his hands together. "The first thing we're going to do is prepare ourselves. We're going to need weapons, and not just any weapons, but ones imbued with the Spirit of Christmas itself. I've been keeping a few things in reserve, just in case things went south."

He motioned for the elves to bring forward several crates. Inside them were glimmering, magical weapons—swords, axes, and spears, each etched with ancient runes and imbued with Christmas magic.

"These will help us fight Krampus's minions," Santa explained, "but we can't go into this battle unprepared. We need to harness the power of the Ghosts of Christmas."

"Let's see what you've got, then," I said, my eyes scanning the weapons.

At Santa's gesture, Thanatos, ever the silent one, stepped forward first. His hand reached out, and the air around him seemed to cool, thick with the power of death. In a flash, his hand was wrapped around a long, icy spear, its blade dark and sleek, swirling with ethereal energy. It felt like the chill of the grave itself. Thanatos's eyes glinted as he held it with an eerie calm.

"I shall serve as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come," he said, his voice low and distant. "I bring death, and where I walk, shadows follow."

Next, Anne stepped forward, her face alight with determination. "I'm ready. What do you have for me?"

Santa handed her a bow, finely crafted with threads of golden light running through it. The arrows were tipped with silver, and each one seemed to shimmer with the magic of the season. "This is the Bow of Holiday Wishes. It channels the hopes and desires of those who believe in Christmas. With it, you can fight with the power of joy itself."

Anne's eyes widened as she took the bow. "I love it! This will be perfect."

Dionysus, however, grumbled from the back. "And what about me? Are you going to hand me a bottle of wine to fight Krampus's minions with?"

Santa chuckled. "No, Dionysus. You'll have something a little more suited to your... needs."

A silver chalice appeared in Santa's hands, and he passed it to Dionysus. "This is the Goblet of Eternal Cheer. It never empties, and with each drink, your strength and vitality will be restored. It's not a weapon, per se, but it should help keep you at your best."

Dionysus smirked, immediately lifting the goblet to his lips. "Now this is something I can work with."

I took in the preparations, the weapons, the determination, and the magic flowing through the castle. There was no turning back now. Krampus was out there, lurking in the shadows, and we would need everything we had to stop him.

"Let's move out," I said, my voice steady. "It's time to take the fight to Krampus."