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Nine Ladies Dancing Day

Charles and Marella stood on the platform waving as the southbound train departed for Empire City. Veronica watched them grow smaller and finally disappear in the distance.

“Your folks are really nice. I’m glad I managed not to set anybody off.”

“By anybody, you mean me.”

“Well, your mom is kind of prickly sometimes. Must be where you got it from.”

“If I had a snowball right now…”

“So, what does your dad do anyway? He looks like he could mine granite with his bare hands. I think he would make Captain Freedom think twice about upsetting him.”

Veronica laughed at him. “He’s an insurance adjuster.”

“Are you kidding me? Dominican Paul Bunyan has a desk job?”

“Yes, he’s been at it for years.”

“Do they give him a giant desk? The guy is huge!”

“Don’t make fun of my dad.”

“I’m not making fun of him. I’m just saying he’s probably bigger than Krampus. My goodness, those arms. He’s got biceps that look like volleyballs.”

“Well, it’s a good thing he likes you.”

“You can say that again.”

“So, are you really going to find a church to go to?”

“I will. I really will.” Bryce looked out at the passing scenery. “Not today. It will be pretty late til I get you home.”

“What time do we get back anyway?”

“We’re supposed to get to Pennswald just before Nine.”

“Ohh, and then another half hour to Sunnyvale.” Veronica moaned. “I hope Luz has something in the fridge.”

“Maybe she’s making progress on her magic lessons with Meirhe.”

“Gosh, I hope not. I like Meirhe but the whole bodyguard thing was kind of freaking me out.”

“Kind of nice being able to get across town in a second though.”

“I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up when we get there.”

“Here, you can curl up on me.”

“I like that.” She mumbled.

“Me too.”

She woke up as the train crossed back into the city. “It’s so dark.”

“We’ll have to switch trains in about a half hour. Did you sleep okay?”

“Not really. I was having weird dreams.”

“You seemed pretty restless. It will be better when you get back to Luz’s place.”

“I hope so. I just want to get back to my normal life.”

“Too much vacation?”

“No, it was nice but I don’t like having to run away.”

“Well, when somebody’s actively trying to kill you, that’s exactly what we need to do.”

“I’ll go anywhere with you.”

“Well, I hope I can find a nice church then.”

“What are you saying?”

“That I want to find a church for us to go to.”

“Oh, sure.”

“Why, what did you think I meant?”

“Nothing.” She said. “I’m not all the way awake yet.”

Their train arrived at Pennswald Station at 8:50 in the evening. They jumped on the ECTA train bound for Sunnyvale in Kanarsy. It was another twenty-five minutes on the rails until they reached their stop.

Veronica started getting an uneasy feeling as the train pulled into the station. Bryce picked up on her tension and started scanning their surroundings. It was hard to see much of anything on this dark winter’s night.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Well, it’s pretty cold but I have a bad feeling about all this.”

“I know, but the holidays are over, right?”

“I guess so. Maybe it’s just nerves.”

“Probably so.” Bryce continued scanning for threats. “What was your dad saying?”

“About what?”

“Something about Christmas being a season?”

“A liturgical season is how they break up the church year. They vary in length. Lent is 40 days but Christmas is only 12.”

“What?”

“You know, the Twelve Days of Christmas.”

“I thought that was the twelve days before Christmas.” Bryce said, looking around nervously.

“No, that’s marketing nonsense. The Twelve Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and go for twelve days. The next season is Epiphany when the Wise Men come. It’s on January Sixth.”

“So, this is the…”

Veronica counted it out on her fingers. “Bryce! It’s the Ninth Day of Christmas.”

He got in front of her and held his hands out to block anyone who might come at them. “It’s Nine Ladies Dancing Day. Krampus isn’t done yet. Watch out!” He pulled her aside as a huge red bag came whistling out of the dark. They heard a furious roar as an enormous creature sprung out of the dark and swung at them with a huge lead pipe painted like a candy cane.

“Whoa!” Bryce stood between Krampus and Veronica. “Go into the cafe! I’ll draw him away.”

“Bryce, he’s after me. He’s not going to follow you.”

The creature swung the pipe downward as Bryce and Veronica dashed out of his reach. It howled in fury and gave chase, brandishing the red and white pipe.

“This is nuts! Is he some kind of sixties comic book villain? What’s with the schtick?”

“I don’t know! Just don’t let him hit you!”

“Are you kidding me? That thing is even bigger than your dad!” He barely escaped another swing of the pipe. “I didn’t think anything was bigger than your dad!”

“Well, Daddy’s not here to help. We’re going to have to think of something because I can’t run all the way to my cousin’s house!”

Bryce suddenly stopped and turned to face the thing.

“That’s not what I had in mind!” Veronica said as she continued running down the street.

Krampus stopped short and drew itself up to its full height. Bryce stared into those burning red eyes. The thing roared furiously and swung downward with the pipe.

“Bryce! What are you doing?”

Bryce stepped out of the arc of the pipe. When the creature had reached the bottom extent of its swing, Bryce ran between its legs and grabbed the pipe. He wrapped his arms around it and sprung forward with all of his might. The creature was pulled off balance and flipped onto its back.