Book Six: Chapter 128

“Okay, Jack, Freya. I’m going to ask you one more question before we do anything else, and I need you both to be completely honest.” He picked up the mug of hot cocoa and took a sip, his throat suddenly dry. He flinched when he realized the cocoa had gone ice cold. Jack had sucked the heat right out of it. He set the mug down and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

“What on earth is the Krampus up to and how do we stop him?”

***

The long ductwork of the North Pole frustrated Kisa. It wasn’t just that they randomly shifted and often smelled of burnt hair, or even the fact that Mike’s presence would move nonsensically all around her.

It was the darkness. Some parts of the system were lit, but most weren’t. Kisa kept her flashlight off unless absolutely needed, meaning that most of her time was spent following blind behind Tink (who could see in the dark with her goggles). Cats could see very well at night, but that still required some form of ambient lig