Curse of Christmas: A Collection of Paranormal Holiday Stories

by Thea Atkinson

  “I’m here because I believe they are in real peril. You know I wouldn’t show myself otherwise. At what age do you think the kids should be treated as potential threats? They are children, but they are feared for what they may become. You’re a good person, Gaby. I have no doubt you and Grayson will raise them to be a benefit to the side of good, but right now, we need to focus on keeping them out of Hell’s hands. If Krampus gets his claws on even one of the kids, he won’t kill them. He’ll take them back to Hell where they will be enthralled until they are a weapon for him to wield.”

  Whether I believed the Christmas demon was a danger or not, Sebastian did, and I trusted him with my children’s safety.

  I’d always known the day would come again when someone would make a play to either kidnap or eliminate them, but no matter when, I would never feel prepared. It didn’t matter. I’d be damned if I was going to let anyone touch a hair on my kids’ heads. I’d rip them apart with my bare hands before they even got close. If the demon thought coming after them as children would make them easier to get to, he’d made a major miscalculation.

  Sebastian stepped forward. He’d been maintaining his distance for most of our interaction, but for a moment he appeared to forget himself. His hand reached out, hovering in the space between us. Something passed over his face and with a pinched brow, he let his hand fall back to his side.

  There were reasons he kept himself hidden from me beyond the rules of being the children’s guardian. It was too hard. I cared for him, but he knew, when it came down to it, I’d always choose Grayson.

  “Go speak to your husband. Let him know the danger. I’ll be close by in case you need…” He hesitated, searching for the right phrase, “in case something happens.”

  I wanted to say something, anything, to ease the tension which had suddenly appeared, but as I opened my mouth to speak, Sebastian vanished from my presence.

  Staring out at the city around me, I admired the breathtaking view of the skyline from the roof top. With the lights glittering against darkened, snowy skies, it was difficult to believe anything menacing was coming. Yet, if Sebastian claimed Krampus was after the kids, then I believed him. Even if the notion seemed farfetched, he’d long ago earned my trust. Now I had to tell Grayson the anti-Claus was coming to town.

  Chapter 3

  I made my way downstairs to the floor that housed my family. I checked the door and found it unlocked. Grayson was home. As quietly as I could, I opened the door and stepped into our makeshift apartment. When we decided to move into the tower, my father, Damien, presented us with what could have been a full-size apartment with enough room for each child to have their own space. I had never mentioned that one of my worries about moving into the tower was having my kids separated from me. I’d seen other rooms in the tower, and none were like ours. They all had a luxury hotel feel. The doors from the hall would open into one large room where everything but the bathroom was housed. Our ‘room’ was a pleasant surprise and it made me wonder just how long my father had been planning to have my family stay in the tower.

  Slipping off my heels at the door, I padded across the hardwood floor. Opening myself up to the mating bond I shared with Grayson, I felt his pull drawing me down the hall. Lizzy’s door was ajar. Unsure why, I made my way to the frame and peered inside, a wide smile on my face as I spied on the scene within.

  Lizzy was cradled in Grayson’s arms, as he gently laid her in bed.

  When we were out, Lizzy tended to crawl into our bed to sleep. My mother, who typically watched the children for us, thought nothing of it and would even tuck Lizzy in as if it was her space.

  The moment Lizzy’s head touched the pillow, Grayson pressed his finger to his mouth hushing me. Perhaps he heard me approach, or like me he felt me through the bond. I struggled not to smirk as this powerful man tiptoed ridiculously out of our daughter’s room.

  He returned my smile as he closed her door. Without a moment’s pause, his arms wrapped around me. Our mouths collided hungrily, seeking out the other. He kissed me with the intensity we had shared at his office Christmas party. It held the promise of more.

  He led me backward to our room, allowing his hands to roam my body fueling my own lust. I knew I needed to tell him about Sebastian’s visit, but it was hard to think of anything else when his every touch sent tendrils of fire throughout me. We were a few feet from our door when he froze and then pulled back.

  “Gaby? Why do you smell like Sebastian?”

  Sebastian had always been a sore spot in our relationship. Grayson was aware of my feelings for the angel. He didn’t blame me for them. The situation surrounding their development had been entirely out of everyone’s control. Things were better since Sebastian regained his grace. Grayson came to terms with Sebastian’s visits surrounding our children’s births, but as I wasn’t pregnant nor had I recently given birth, Sebastian’s scent must have been a conundrum, to say the least.

  “We should take this to the bedroom,” I suggested, which might have sounded seductive if he didn’t smell another man on me. Our room was soundproof, and I didn’t want our kids to hear what I was about to say.

  “Then, we leave town like we planned,” Grayson offered. He’d taken the news better than I had, not getting hung up on the cheesy folklore surrounding the demon.

  I shook my head. “If we changed locations, there would still be a trail leading him to us. Even if we drove and paid in cash, what if there’s some other way to track us? If he could find us, it’s better if it’s here at the nest where we have an army to protect the kids.”

  “Gaby, the folklore has to stem from somewhere and what I remember about Krampus is he’s a stealthy SOB. He could be in the kids’ rooms before we even knew what was happening.”

  As the words passed his lips, my eyes went wide, and I rushed out the door. Charlie’s room was the first door on my right. I threw it open silently, finding my second oldest sleeping peacefully in his bed. Next, I was at Lizzy’s room and found nothing out of place. When I turned to head into Matt’s Grayson grabbed my shoulders.

  “They’re both fine,” he whispered placing a gentle kiss against my temple. “I checked and they’re asleep in their beds.”

  Part of me wanted to see for myself, not because I didn’t trust Grayson, I just wanted to lay my eyes on the kids for reassurance. He smirked, as if sensing my internal struggle. Quieter and gentler than I had been with the first two kids’ doors, Grayson led me first to Matt’s and then Ian’s room. Both boys were sleeping peacefully, just as he said. I exhaled the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

  I rubbed at an ache which had blossomed in my chest. A moment later, I felt a familiar draw beckoning me toward the living room. My brow furrowed. Grayson was standing by my side, so the sensation was confusing.

  “You know, your lack of faith is mildly insulting,” Sebastian’s voice trailed down the hall announcing his presence and explaining my need to rush into the living room.

  Grayson and I headed down the hall, turning the corner to see our kids’ guardian angel. He sat on the couch with his arms laid across the back as though he owned it. “I told you I would be nearby. If he were here, I’d have known.”

  “Sebastian,” Grayson reached out clasping hands with the angel. While I had seen Sebastian many times over the years, Grayson hadn’t seen the angel since he’d died. My husband had trusted me when I'd said I’d seen the former fallen angel, but it was nice to have confirmation I hadn’t, in fact, been hallucinating all these years.

  “Grayson,” Sebastian returned the manly hello with a nod. The men had arrived at a sort of begrudging truce when I’d been kidnapped by Micheal. The abduction had pressured the two of them to join forces in order to rescue me. I didn’t think either man had ever truly hated the other, but rather had detested my feelings for their rival. It was nice to see the truce still held.

  “Have you been eavesdropping?” I asked trying to add a hint of the motherly scolding I used on the b
oys.

  “Even I can't hear through your soundproofing.” He grinned in a way that had me wondering if he was really telling the truth. I didn’t dwell on it. It would only drive me crazy if I thought Sebastian was spying on me when I couldn’t see him.

  “What’s your plan?” Grayson demanded, going straight to the point. “Gaby says leaving isn't an option.”

  Sebastian shook his head. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It's not a good idea to take the kids anywhere away from the tower. They need to stay here 24/7 until the threat passes.”

  Grayson’s brow pinched and his mouth twitched. “You want to lock them down like they're prisoners?”

  Sebastian ignored Grayson’s obvious displeasure. “It’s their home and it’s only for a week.”

  “With Christmas coming up,” I added trying to defuse any possible tension. I was used to being a buffer between them and thanks to having three boys, my buffering skills had only improved. “The kids will be excited. I doubt they’ll even notice not leaving.”

  “You’re okay with this?” Grayson asked. The look of utter betrayal on his face stung. I did my best not to glance at Sebastian. I wasn’t intentionally trying to side with him. In fact, we hadn’t actually discussed a plan of action for the kids. We coincidentally agreed.

  A physical threat, I could handle. Point me in the direction, and let me attack. I’d been training for years to handle such a likelihood, but Krampus wouldn’t be attacking us head on. His plan was stealth. I didn’t know if the lore was true, but if his plan was to sneak into the Angelo Tower, home of the New York nest, to get to my kids? Well, he’d have to get past hundreds of vampires first. I liked the kids’ odds if they stayed put. If we left the tower, even to join in the Christmas festivities, the kids would become easier targets.

  “It's not a bad plan, Grayson.”

  “So, we just wait?”

  I opened my mouth, but it was Sebastian who answered. “We just wait.”

  Chapter 4

  By December 23rd, chaos ensued. Not in the expected form of demonic attack, but rather, the children’s restlessness grew to an unbearable level.

  Grayson sat across from me on the couch, struggling to hide the smug smile threatening to spread across his face. His objections to the plan made days ago had not been uttered since his initial complaint, but as the kids were now crawling the walls, I could see his struggle to contain the ‘I told you so,’ from spilling from his mouth.

  “I know!” I spat.

  His smirk cracked. “Did I say anything?”

  “You didn’t have to. You're sitting there all smug like.”

  “So, are you upset I was right or that I hadn’t stated it yet?”

  “You're just relishing this.”

  Grinning, Grayson slipped off the couch coming to sit beside me. He took my hands in his. “I relish nothing, my love, but as our children are about to destroy the tower, what do you suggest we do?”

  Leaning in, I buried my face in his shoulder and groaned. “I don’t know.” I’d done everything in my power to keep the kids occupied for the past several days. While Grayson hadn’t agreed with the plan, he'd been right there beside me attempting to keep the boys entertained. Lizzy was easiest. She was content having her two grandmas to play with. We’d not seen Sebastian since he dropped the bomb on us, but I knew he was near. Every so often I’d feel the tug in my blood leading me to him, but it would quickly vanish.

  “I want a hot chocolate from San Ambroeus!” Ian yelled.

  “I want to see the Christmas tree!” hollered Charlie.

  “Skate! Skate! Skate!” cried Mathew.

  I burrowed into Grayson deeper, feeling utterly defeated. The kids knew our Christmas traditions. We normally went earlier in the month. This close to the big day, it was a mad house. I had meant to take them, but with our planned trip to Colorado, I thought we’d do our traditions there.

  The door to our suite swung open. There was a brief moment of silence as the boys stared at my father, who held Lizzy on his back, before the screaming began once more.

  “Grandpa!” The boys yelled in unison before launching themselves at my father. I was grateful for his supernatural reflexes, otherwise having three boys plummet toward someone might cause them to lose their balance and drop my two-year-old, but my father stood firm.

  Damien didn’t look like a typical grandfather. He didn’t even look old enough to be a father actually. His raven hair was slightly shaggy, barely touching his ears. His white button-down shirt did nothing to help his pale complexion, but it was much better than the darker colors he typically preferred. He appeared completely out of place with four children clinging to him. He would fit in better standing on a stage with a rock band, surrounded by adoring fans cheering his name.

  “What is all this yelling?” His sapphire eyes narrowed at me. The unspoken question behind it was simple. What was I doing to upset his grandchildren?

  For the longest time, I always thought I looked like my mother, and I did for the most part, but there was no mistaking my relation to Damien. My eyes and hair matched his precisely.

  The boys reiterated their demands to grandpa, who peered up at me from under hooded eyes.

  “Boys, why don’t you take your sister to the room for a few minutes while I talk with your parents?”

  Hope flared in Ian’s eyes as he quickly took Lizzy’s hand and ushered his brothers down the hall.

  “Is Mommy in trouble?” Mathew whispered loudly. Even if we weren’t vampires, we’d have heard him.

  “Yep,” Ian replied back. “Grandpa is going to let her have it. If you’re quiet, you’ll be able to hear from my room”

  I rolled my eyes as Grayson stifled a chuckle at the boys’ conversation. The door to Ian’s room opened, but there was no corresponding click of its secure closing.

  “Shut it all the way, Ian,” I called out.

  “Damn it,” he mumbled.

  “What did you say!?!” I yelled, shoving off the couch to stand. The door quickly slammed shut.

  I turned back to my father who pinned me with his hard stare. “I’m not really in the mood for a lecture.” I let myself fall back against the couch, crossing my legs in the process, making a mental note to discuss with Ian his use of crude language. I had no doubt he’d heard it from any number of sources around the tower.

  “What about an observation?” He sat down in the couch across from me. “The boys are driving you and everyone else in the vicinity mad.”

  “It doesn't take a detective to figure that out.”

  “So, why are you not fixing it?”

  My brow furrowed because the answer to his question seemed blatantly obvious. Because I was out of options. “And how would you propose I fix it?” I asked, exasperation heavy in my voice. If my father had some idea I had not already visited, I was all ears.

  “Take them out of the tower to observe their Christmas traditions.”

  I groaned placing my head in my palms. For a moment, I thought he might have had a legitimate idea.

  “I agree with your father, Gaby,” Grayson stated, yanking me out of my pity-party.

  “What?” My head jerked in his direction, but the businesslike expression on his face told me he was completely earnest. “You can’t be serious! I know you’ve been against this plan from the start, but what you’re suggesting…”

  “What I’m suggesting is we are in a building filled with vampires. I know it is the benefit of keeping them locked up here, but what if we took a group with us? It doesn’t even have to be all vampires. I’m sure if you called Shawn, he could arrange some werewolves too.”

  The local werewolf pack worked as bodyguards and had done other jobs for us over the years. They would go out in the daylight hours, unlike the vampires at my parents’ disposal and their sense of smell was much keener than any vampire.

  “Your husband has a point, Gabriella. The children want to go. How many guards would make you feel comfort
able enough to take them to go get hot chocolate and go ice skating?”

  Was there a number?

  “Ten,” I stated with conviction, letting them know I would not be budged.

  “Ten?” My father’s brow rose stunned by such a number, but his voice sounded relieved. “I have to say, Gabriella, I thought you’d ask for more.”

  “She means each,” Grayson added. His gray eyes filled with humor as they settled on me.

  “Each?” Damien asked.

  I nodded.

  “Gabriella, forty guards…”

  “Thirty,” I cut in. “Lizzy is too little. Even with guards on her, she’ll be a handful and this outing is not the time to be distracted. Thirty guards, at least six werewolves, two for each child and you will go with us since you think it’s such a good idea to take the children out in the middle of this ordeal. I’ll even let you be counted as one of the guards. So, really twenty-nine.” I stood and my father did the same. His old school manners wouldn’t allow him to remain seated while a woman stood. “If anything happens to my children, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

  “There’s no need, my daughter. I’d hold myself responsible and do anything to return them home to you.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” I sighed, trying to resign myself to the idea that this was happening.

  “I’ll depart now and gather the guards as you requested. We’ll leave at sundown.”

  Chapter 5

  I stood alone by the side of the ice rink, watching the boys skate. Grayson was out on the ice, helping Matt, who was refusing to move for fear he’d slip. The vampire guards surrounded the ice rink, blending in with the humans who were enjoying the holiday merriment. The scents of sweat and chocolate were a pungent perfume drifting along the breeze. Laughter mixed with the occasional cough or sneeze made music to the rhythm of the skates scraping across the ice. The lights glared off the rink, forcing me to avert my gaze several times as I attempted to follow all three of my boys around as they skated. It was an impossible task, but I struggled to do it.