Merry and Bright- A Very Krampus Christmas: A Seattle Coven Tale by Robert Herold
Fun Fact:
I collect Mexican lobby cards from classic horror movies.
Krampus is running amok in a small town dedicated to Christmas. Steven and Hu Metcalf are helping police investigate a series of abductions, but when their own son is taken, the stakes couldn’t be higher. “The must-read paranormal series of the year.” N. N. Light Book Heaven
Excerpt:
Unnoticed by his parents, Jason dropped Wolverine’s head while trying to rotate it to change the toy’s expression to a sneer—the better to face his foes. The head bounced twice on the wooden tabletop and fell to the floor beneath the table.
Jason wormed his way under the table. A sea of legs, hiking boots, and melting snow confronted him. Wolverine’s head wasn’t visible. Could it be beneath someone’s boot? If he couldn’t find it, he decided to knot as many bootlaces together as possible.
“Are you looking for this?” A man with shaggy black hair also crouched beneath the table. Jason hadn’t noticed him before. The man held up the toy head pinched between two long black fingernails—more like claws. The man smiled, revealing a mouthful of pointed yellow teeth. The end of a long tongue flicked out like a snake. “Here.” He held the toy head toward Jason, and the boy reached to take it.
About the Author:
Seattleite Robert Herold is the author of the award-winning Eidola Project novels, which follows a team of 19th-century ghost hunters who become engaged in deadly supernatural investigations, and the Seattle Coven Tales, about a grad student who becomes targeted for sacrifice by a modern coven of witches. In addition, Mr. Herold’s work has appeared in anthologies and on the Saturday Evening Post’s website. Several short stories will soon be appearing in Feral, a German horror comic magazine. Find out more at: https://robertheroldauthor.com
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Frightful by Alicia Dean
Fun Fact:
With Friday the 13th falling in December, I wanted to find something that could tie the holiday in with Christmas. I knew my story would be about an evil Santa, so when I ran across the legend of Lussi Longnight, I thought that would be perfect to work into Frightful. I had so much fun weaving it into my story. Below are some fun, frightful details.
“Lussi Longnight,” or Lussinatt, is a traditional Scandinavian belief surrounding the longest night of the year (December 13th), where evil spirits, including Lussi, were thought to roam, and people stayed indoors, celebrating and keeping lights on to ward off harm.
Lussi Longnight was believed to be a particularly dangerous night, with evil spirits and otherworldly beings roaming, including Lussi, a malevolent figure described as a witch, vette, or demon.
People were encouraged to stay indoors, eating, celebrating, and keeping the lights on to placate Lussi and her retinue.
Lussi was said to ensure that housework was completed on time for the Christmas celebration (Yule), and if tasks weren’t done, she would become furious and punish the household.
On this night, it was believed that animals could talk, and people made sure their barns and stables were clean, warm, and comfortable, and their animals were fed a special meal before Lussinatte began, hoping for a favorable report from the animals to Lussi.
While the original Lussi Longnight traditions are fading, the tradition of staying awake through the night, known as Lussevaka, has found a modern form through throwing parties until daybreak.
When an evil spirit possesses him on Friday the 13th, jolly Saint Nicholaus becomes a murderous psychopath. The citizens of Bligh, Wisconsin are looking forward to waking on Christmas morning to their gifts…but how many of them will make it through the night?
Excerpt:
He threw back his head and bellowed out a ho, ho, ho. “Well, Old Saint Nick has made some changes this year.” He bent into his bag and retrieved something large…an axe…its blade glinting in the light from the kitchen.
Annie screamed. “What are you…?”
Santa stalked forward, the axe held high above his head.
Annie was rooted to the spot for a few too many precious seconds. Then, her fear morphed into a need for survival and she backed away, then turned to run. But Santa was upon her in a flash. He swung the axe down, and it struck between her shoulder blades, the sharp edge tearing into flesh. Blood spurted, spraying Santa’s white beard and soaking her back.
Excruciating pain ripped through her. She stumbled a few more steps then fell to the ground.
Santa tugged the axe out with a wet, sickening sound, then brought it down again and again. Annie flipped to her back, crying out, trying to shield herself with her arms, but the axe cut her to pieces.
Corey whimpered in fear and turned to flee, running to the back door. Briefly, his mind went to his son, sleeping upstairs. A wave of guilt washed over him, but there was nothing he could do. If he tried to save his boy, Santa would kill them both. He comforted himself with the thought that Santa wouldn’t hurt a child. Jacob would be fine.
He had made it to the back door and was reaching for the knob when he heard Santa say behind him, “Ah, just as I suspected; you’re a dirty coward. No wonder you were on the naughty list.”
Corey cried and fumbled for the knob. He wrenched the door open and raced outside, stumbling through the snow. He wore nothing but a robe—not even shoes—but he didn’t care. He plunged into the snow and ran as quickly as he could. He had no idea if Santa had followed him outside. All his focus was on escape.
Terror shuddered through him when he felt something snatch the collar of his robe, and he was lifted from his feet as if he weighed nothing.
About the Author:
Alicia Dean is a true crime/horror enthusiast and a huge Elvis, MLB and NFL fan. She also loves reading, writing and watching movies and TV. Some of her favorite shows are Dexter, Justified, Friends, Seinfeld, Cheers and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Find her here: https://linktr.ee/AliciaDean1835
Author Alicia Dean 