I Love Azathoth

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the quiet neighborhood, not a creature was stirring... except Jonah and Aza, standing outside his family's warmly lit house. Snow gently fell around them, blanketing the world in a peaceful hush as Christmas lights twinkled on nearby homes. Jonah glanced at Aza, who looked serene yet radiant, wearing a charming smile that only slightly betrayed her otherworldly nature.

"You ready for this?" Jonah asked, tightening his coat against the chill.

Aza giggled softly. "Of course, my dear. I'm looking forward to meeting the family you speak of so fondly."

Jonah took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The faint sounds of holiday music and laughter spilled out as the door opened to reveal his mother, her face lighting up at the sight of him.

"Jonah! You're here!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a warm hug. Jonah stiffened at first, awkwardly patting her back, but he couldn't help smiling.

Aza stood by, stifling a giggle at Jonah's obvious discomfort. His mom caught sight of her and froze, her eyes widening.

"Jonah..." she started, her voice growing curious. "Who's this lovely young lady?"

Jonah cleared his throat. "Mom, this is Aza. She's... my girlfriend."

His mom's jaw dropped for a second before sheer delight overtook her features. "My baby boy has a girlfriend? Oh, this is wonderful news!" she said, rushing back into the house.

"Everyone!" she called out excitedly. "Jonah has a girlfriend now!"

Jonah groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Here we go..."

Aza leaned close to him, her voice a teasing whisper. "You're adorable when you're embarrassed."

They stepped inside, the warmth and coziness of the home hitting them instantly. The house was decked out in holiday cheer: a tall, sparkling Christmas tree stood in the corner, adorned with ornaments and twinkling lights, and the scent of cinnamon and baked ham filled the air. Jonah's dad and brother greeted him with hearty slaps on the back, while his grandparents waved from the dining table, surrounded by dishes of holiday food.

The introductions began, and Jonah found himself cringing as his mom launched into proud stories of his childhood antics. Aza, however, seemed to enjoy every moment, smiling warmly and even adding playful comments when Jonah tried to defend himself.

Dinner was lively, with laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional carol hummed under someone's breath. Everything was going smoothly—until Jonah's grandfather leaned forward, fixing Aza with a curious gaze.

"So," he began, his voice booming. "Have you two... done it yet?"

Jonah choked on his drink, sputtering as his dad and brother did the same. His face turned beet red, and he gaped at his grandpa in horror.

"Marido!" Jonah's grandmother scolded, smacking him on the arm. "What kind of question is that? At the table, no less!"

Aza, however, simply smiled, unflustered. She placed a hand on Jonah's arm, grounding him. "You have a spirited family," she said, looking at him with genuine affection. "It's wonderful to see so much love and warmth."

Jonah's face softened as he met her gaze, his embarrassment melting away. Despite the chaos, he realized he wouldn't trade this for anything—not the warmth of home, not the love of his family, and certainly not the otherworldly woman who stood by his side.

After more lively conversations and a second helping of holiday treats, Jonah caught Aza's eye as she subtly gestured toward the stairs. He nodded, standing up and addressing his family.

"Me and Aza need to take care of something real quick. We'll be back in a bit," Jonah said, trying to sound casual.

His mom waved him off with a smile. "Don't take too long! We've got dessert and carols coming up!"

Jonah winced slightly at the thought of singing but forced a smile before heading upstairs with Aza. The house was quiet on the upper floor, the faint hum of Christmas music and chatter muffled below. As they reached the top of the stairs, the air shimmered slightly, and Yog appeared before them, looking noticeably tired.

"Hey, Jonah," she said with a sigh, brushing back a strand of her disheveled hair. "I figured out what you needed to know."

Jonah blinked at her. "Yog, you okay? You look like you just rolled out of bed, and your hair is—"

Before he could finish, there was a faint ripple in the air, and suddenly Yog stood before them again, her hair pristine and her usual bright smile in place.

"Hey, Jonah!" she chirped, her tone much more upbeat. "I figured out what you needed to know."

Jonah frowned, glancing at Aza. "Wait... what was that? She just—"

"What was what?" Yog interrupted, her cheerful demeanor faltering slightly before her eyes widened. "Oh no."

Aza chuckled knowingly. "Ahhh, so it's already happening."

Jonah looked between them, thoroughly confused. "What's happening? She came in all tired, glitched or something, and now she's all put together like it never happened?"

Yog looked embarrassed, shifting uncomfortably under Jonah's gaze, but Aza stepped in to explain.

"Well, my love, since you're my beloved, you've started gaining certain... perks. One of those is an immunity to Yog's little habit."

Jonah raised an eyebrow. "Her habit?"

Aza smiled. "Yog likes to use her power over time to redo interactions when she feels she's made a mistake. Normally, she erases those moments entirely. I've always been immune to it, so I can see through her 'redos.' However, you're starting to develop the same immunity because of your connection to me."

Jonah crossed his arms, giving Yog a pointed look. "So, you've just been rewinding every interaction to make yourself look better?"

Yog flushed a deep crimson, avoiding eye contact. "Your servants are all set up, and the plan will start when the power goes out!" she blurted, clearly eager to change the subject.

Before Jonah could press further, she vanished in a sudden pop.

He turned to Aza. "Was it something I said?"

Aza shook her head. "She knew this day would come, but it's happening earlier than she expected. Let her process it, and I'll talk to her later."

Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out, plunging the house into darkness. The faint glow of the battery powered holiday decorations outside cast eerie shadows into the room, and the temperature dropped ever so slightly.

Jonah straightened, his expression sharpening. "Looks like it's time. You'll stay with my family, right?"

Aza stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. "I'll stay and keep them safe. No one will suspect anything is happening, but..." She hesitated, her voice softening. "I do worry for you."

Jonah gave her a confident smile, the faintest glint of his growing mischievousness in his eyes. "Don't worry. I'm not so easy to beat anymore these days. And I've got my servants with me—more than enough to handle what's coming. I'll be fine, I promise."

She gazed at him for a moment longer before nodding. With a deep breath, Jonah turned toward the nearest window as he exited through it. 

Once outside, Jonah climbed to the roof of a neighboring house. Snowflakes fell steadily, glinting in the moonlight like tiny stars. Waiting for him were Infetsa, her dragon wings tucked against her back to shield her from the cold; Amala, her regal posture unbothered by the chill; Aftlha, her current spider-like form blending unnervingly well into the shadows; and the twins, Nctosa and Nctolhu, their long, serpentine tails coiled in anticipation.

Jonah pulled his scarf tighter, his breath fogging in the frosty air. He addressed his group with a mix of determination and the slight edge that had begun to emerge in his personality. "Alright, you all remember the plan?"

Infetsa's eyes gleamed as she gave a short nod, her fingers flexing. "Of course. Keep them far from your family."

Amala smiled softly, her queenly demeanor unshaken. "Quick and efficient, my king."

Aftlha clicked her teeth, her many eyes scanning the dark horizon. "They will not cross the line, Supreme One."

The twins leaned into each other, their glowing red eyes alight with mischief. "Oh, we remember," Nctosa purred. "Let's see how these so-called monsters hold up," Nctolhu added with a smirk.

Jonah gestured toward the edge of the neighborhood. "Alright then, let's move."

The group descended and trekked toward a wide, snow-blanketed plain just outside the residential area. The silence was broken only by the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet or tails. As they arrived, the snowfall thickened, the flakes whipping through the air with an unnatural intensity.

Jonah glanced upward as the stars disappeared behind an ominous black smog that churned and spread, consuming the sky. The temperature dropped sharply, and an oppressive presence weighed on the air.

From the swirling darkness, a massive figure emerged. Its attire was a horrific parody of Santa Claus—a tattered red coat and hat streaked with black soot. Long, curling horns jutted from its skull, framing a face filled with glowing, predatory eyes and a jagged grin that showcased rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Jonah stared at the creature, his lips curling into an unimpressed smirk. "So, this is the Krampus? Someone's clearly in the holiday spirit."

The monster raised a clawed hand, and from the black fog, three more figures materialized.

The first was a demented snowman—its coal-black eyes staring unblinkingly, its jagged mouth frozen into a malicious grin with razor-sharp icicles served as its teeth, this was Jack Frost. 

The second was a grotesque green creature, its fur matted and filthy. It wore a tattered red jacket and hat, with bulging yellow eyes and a grin that spoke of malice. Jonah's eyes narrowed.

"Is that supposed to be... the Grinch?" he asked, incredulous. "Looks like a bad B-movie version from a straight-to-DVD horror flick. Was this Nyarly's idea?"

The final figures were a swarm of tiny green monsters with oversized ears, sharp claws, and wicked smiles. They chittered and cackled as they emerged from the fog, each of them looking ready to cause as much chaos as possible, these were Gremlins. 

Jonah tilted his head, letting out a low whistle. "Let's recap: Evil Santa—classic choice. Murder snowman—sure, why not? Bargain-bin Grinch—definitely on theme. And Gremlins... because of the the movie I guess." He gave a short laugh. "Nyarly really went all out on the holiday lineup."

Infetsa stepped forward, her wings spreading wide as a burst of fire crackled in her throat. "Their theatrics are amusing, but we've got a job to do."

Amala unsheathed a gleaming blade from her side, her movements elegant and controlled. "Let us not disappoint, my king."

Aftlha's arms and claws moved, her green energy pulsing faintly. "They shall fall before your judgment, Supreme One."

The twins coiled and uncoiled their tails in unison, their red eyes glowing. "Oh, this is going to be fun," they said together, their voices a mix of anticipation and mischief.

The Grinch prowled toward Jonah, his crooked grin wide as ever. "So, you're the one stirring up trouble in my winter wonderland? Pathetic. I'm gonna wipe that holiday cheer off your face."

Jonah raised his fists, his eyes steady. "You can try, but this isn't Whoville, buddy."

The Grinch whipped a string of garlands from his bag, snapping it like a whip. Jonah dodged, the garland slicing through a snowbank with unnatural force. The Grinch hurled ornaments, each exploding on impact with a flash of light and a burst of sharp tinsel.

Jonah rushed him, weaving through the barrage. He threw a quick jab, catching the Grinch in the chest. "Looks like your bark is worse than your bite," Jonah quipped.

The Grinch snarled, pulling a large candy cane from his bag and swinging it like a bat. Jonah blocked with his forearm, the force staggering him. With a swift uppercut, Jonah sent the Grinch sprawling into the snow.

To his right, The Gremlins swarmed Amala and the twins, their manic laughter grating as they threw snowballs stuffed with rocks and shattered ornaments.

"Disgusting little vermin" Amala hissed, her blade cutting through a wave of them. She moved with elegance, her strikes precise and deadly. A Gremlin tried to leap onto her back, but she spun, her blade cleaving it in half midair.

Nctosa and Nctolhu slithered through the chaos, their tails smashing into the horde. Nctolhu grabbed a Gremlin with her tail and tossed it into the sky, where Nctosa snatched it mid-fall and slammed it into the ground.

The Gremlins attempted to regroup, building a crude barricade of ice and junk, but Amala destroyed it with a single powerful slash. "Futile," she declared, stepping over the wreckage as the twins finished off the stragglers.

Jack Frost moved ominously, his icy grin unchanging. "Come closer and feel the chill of my ****." He hurled a volley of jagged icicles at Infetsa, each sharp enough to pierce steel.

Infetsa took flight, breathing fire that melted the icicles before they could reach her. "You're not the only one who can play with the elements, Frosty."

Jack raised his arms, summoning a massive storm of ice and snow. The wind howled, and visibility dropped to nearly nothing. But Infetsa remained undeterred, her flames cutting through the blizzard. She dove, slamming into Jack with fiery claws that melted through his icy form. She growled, landing another blow that melted his body into sludge.

Meanwhile the Krampus growled, its chain whip snapping toward Aftlha. She dodged with unnatural grace.

"Your chains don't scare me, beast," Aftlha said, her eyes gleaming.

The Krampus roared and charged, swinging its claws wildly. Aftlha countered by leaping onto its back, her claws raking across its shoulders. She grabbed its horns, yanking its head back. 

The Krampus struggled, but Aftlha's claws tightened and with a final pull, she slammed the creature into the ground. "Stay down" she said, her claws poised for the killing blow as she pulled it's head off.

The battlefield lay eerily still, save for the steady breaths of Jonah and his servants as they stood over their fallen foes. However, their victory was short-lived. The disintegrating remains of their enemies morphed into black fog, reforming into their original shapes with unnatural speed.

Jonah wiped his brow and frowned. "Uh, girls? Killing them isn't sticking."

Amala stood straighter, her blade gleaming as she watched the black fog churn. "I think it's that smog in the air. It's sustaining them somehow."

Jonah turned to their adversaries, raising a hand to buy time. "You know, Christmas is supposed to be about togetherness, peace, and goodwill. Can't we just, I don't know, come together and—"

He dodges an incoming icicle as Jack Frost cut him off with a laugh, his jagged grin gleaming. "You're right! Let's all come together… and obliterate you!"

The enemies surged forward, ready to attack again, when a new voice rang out from above.

"I'm back!"

Tthia leaped in kicking up snow as she landed. "Tia and I found the source of that annoying fog. She's handling it as we speak!"

At her words, a distant explosion echoed through the night, lighting up the horizon for a brief moment. The thick black smog in the sky evaporated like ink in water, dissipating into the air.

The enemies froze, their movements faltering as they realized what had happened. The Grinch shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, so about all that—"

Before he could finish, Infetsa let loose a torrent of blue fire, Jonah hurled a massive orange fireball, and Aftlha unleashed a surge of green energy from tendrils that formed out of her back. The combined attack slammed into the enemies, incinerating them entirely. Their forms disintegrated into fine mist, which dissipated without reforming.

Jonah exhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders as he surveyed the now-empty battlefield. "Well, that's one problem down. But something tells me this isn't over. We've got to find out who made that machine."

As if on cue, Tia appeared, landing gracefully beside the group. Her black hair whipped in the wind. "Good timing! I traced the smog to its source—a moon-sized base orbiting Earth. That's where the real trouble is."

Jonah nodded, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Perfect. Aftlha, think you can get us there?"

Aftlha smiled, her limbs flexing as she stepped closer. "Of course, Supreme One." She wrapped Jonah in her arms, pressing him into her chest as a shimmering green aura enveloped her. The rest of the group gathered around, the light growing brighter as her teleportation powers activated.

[SCENE SHIFT]

The group arrived in the moon-sized base with a sense of urgency, stepping into a large, cavernous chamber that hummed with strange energy. At the far end of the room stood a figure dressed in a traditional Santa Claus outfit, though his presence radiated an ominous, eldritch aura. He was in the midst of inspecting a massive, snow globe device in the center of the room that hummed with dark energy. The figure turned slowly, his face breaking into a wide grin as he saw the group approach.

"Ah, you're right on time," he boomed, his voice deep and resonant. "Welcome to my new workshop." He spread his arms out in a grand gesture, as if showing off his domain.

Jonah squinted at the figure, trying to read him. "Let me guess. You're some other evil version of Santa Nyarly pulled in from another dimension?"

The figure chuckled darkly, the sound sending an eerie shiver down Jonah's spine. "On the contrary," he said with an air of self-assurance. "I am the Santa Claus of this world."

Jonah's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you're the Santa Claus?"

Tia's eyes lit up as realization struck her. "Oh, that's right. I remember now. He's the real deal. This Santa isn't some charlatan or cosmic trickster—he's a Great Old One. Centuries ago, he took on the mantle of Santa Claus for this world, and over time, he expanded his traditions to other worlds as well."

Jonah was stunned. "Wait, so Santa's an Eldritch god?" He turned to look at the others. "But why are you attacking my hometown with monsters, then?"

Tia sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Most Eldritch beings, like my Auntie mentioned before, don't think in the same terms of black and white morality that mortals do. It's more like... blue and orange morality." She paused as if trying to find the right words.

Jonah frowned. "Okay, I'm lost. You'll have to explain that to me later."

Tia shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "It's hard to explain. The point is, Santa here has always leaned more toward the morality mortals would understand. But recently, he's been aligning with a group called the Eldrititans by a lot of us." She looked around at the group. "They're a faction of younger, more rebellious Eldritch gods who want to overthrow the current order."

Infetsa spoke up. "I know of them, they call themselves the New Cosmic Order, a race of young and hot-headed next-generation Eldritch with the power to take humanoid forms with ease, fine control of their limits, and the lack the innate power to cause fear and insanity in mortals. To their preference, if we're being honest." 

Tia nodded. "Exactly. They believe the current Eldritch gods, like Azathoth and others, are neglecting their duties and treating reality like a plaything. They think some of us are too detached from mortal affairs. And they've rallied mortals and sympathetic (or opportunistic) Eldritch beings to their cause." She gave Jonah a small smile. "They want to change everything."

Jonah scratched his head. "So... they're like a bunch of teenagers rebelling against the system?" He shook his head. "I mean, I get it, but why Santa? Why are you part of this?"

Santa's voice cut in, commanding attention. "You mock me, boy. But my cause is righteous! You and your gods, even the mortals and Eldritch alike—have allowed the world to fester with sin. I am the one who decides who's naughty and who's nice. And you, all of you, are on my naughty list." He raised a hand, his expression darkening. "Thanks to the Crawling Chaos, I now have the tools to punish you all. You will pay for the way you treat reality, for how you allow this chaos to fester!"

He turned his gaze toward Jonah, locking eyes with him. "And you—before Aza even met you—you were a degenerate who would watch—"

Jonah cut him off with a massive fireball, blasting the Santa figure into a cloud of dust. "Yeah, let's not talk about that right now. I've worked on myself, okay?"

Infetsa tilted her head, looking at the smoldering pile of ashes. "Is that it, then? Did we win?"

But before anyone could answer, a light flickered in the air, and from it, Santa Claus reformed, but this time, he was no longer the jolly old man they'd seen before. His form had shifted, becoming something far more eldritch—more monstrous. His body was now covered in red, shifting flesh, his face was twisted into an expression of rage, and his eyes gleamed with otherworldly power. His suit had been replaced by an armor-like exoskeleton that seemed to pulse with dark energy.

Santa's deep, thunderous voice echoed across the room. "Foolish King! What you destroyed was merely a leftover shell of my Christmas Eve-olution! You will regret your actions against the mighty Claus!"

Before Jonah could react, Santa lashed out with a powerful gut punch, sending him crashing through the stone wall behind him. Jonah groaned, struggling to regain his bearings. Tia helped him up, her expression full of concern. "Holy night… he's gone Super Santa!"

Santa grinned menacingly. "And I'm a right grumpy old elf!"

The battle exploded into chaos. Santa's strength was overwhelming, and he fought with an intensity that surprised even Jonah and his servants. Aftlha lunged toward him, her claws slashing, but Santa blocked her, tossing her to the side. Infetsa, trying to use her firepower, shot a massive beam of blue flame directly at Santa, but he absorbed the attack, barely flinching.

The twins, Nctosa and Nctolhu, tried to coil around Santa, their tails wrapping around his limbs, but he broke free with a violent twist, sending them flying. "Silent Night—FIRE!" Santa bellowed, and a massive blast of energy erupted from his hands, sending Nctosa crashing into a nearby wall. Jonah acted quickly, using his telekinesis to absorb most of the impact for her.

Nctolhu slithered over to her sister, concern etched across her face. "Why didn't you move?"

Nctosa coughed, shaking her head. "It was the last thing he'd expect."

Amala darted in to strike from behind, her sword aimed for Santa's neck. "Not feeling the goodwill toward men you're supposed to represent?"

But before she could land a blow, Santa headbutted her with such force that she staggered backward, her vision spinning. Then he comboed both Amala and Infetsa, sending them crashing to the ground. 

Jonah watched in frustration, his mind racing. "Dang, they're getting pa rum pum pum pum pummeled over there. Okay, think, Jonah, think!" He finally had an idea. "Oh, duh."

Jonah jumped down into the fray, calling out to Santa, "Hey, Santa! I've got something you should know."

Santa turned to face him, his expression one of disdain. "What could you possibly say that will change your fate?"

Jonah proclaimed. "You see, Christmas isn't about presents."

With a flash of his hands, Jonah used his telekinesis to freeze the ground around Santa's feet, lowering the temperature to absolute zero. Santa's feet became encased in thick ice, slowing him down just enough for Jonah to get the upper hand.

Jonah continues. "Or the pretty lights, or the food. And it's definitely not about you!" Jonah begins focusing his Telekinesis as hard as he can to begin creating electricity that swirls in his hands. 

Santa snarled, his anger boiling over. "You'll regret this! I will crush your Christmas spirits and send this naughty world to oblivion!"

Just as Santa broke free and prepared to retaliate, Tthia appeared, tossing glowing chains wrapping around him and restraining him. "Not so fast, Claus."

Infetsa landed beside Jonah, her body glowing with intense heat. "Jonah's right. I've learned this human holiday is about the thoughts that bring us together."

Amala added. "It's about friends."

Tia stepped forward. "And family."

Aftlha's tendrils form her back writhed with power as she prepared to strike. "And now… it's about Killing Santa!"

Jonah nodded, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "That's the true meaning of Christmas!"

The group unleashed their combined attack. Jonah summoned a massive bolt of lightning from his hands, Infetsa launched a larger stream of blue fire from her mouth, and Aftlha fired a brilliant green beam from her tendrils. The three attacks collided with Santa's body, and despite his resistance, his form was overwhelmed by the sheer power of the combined strike.

Santa howled in pain as the beams disintegrated his body. The immense power shattered his form, leaving nothing but dust and smoke in his wake.

Jonah panted heavily, wiping his forehead. "Is he… actually dead?"

Aftlha's voice was calm. "No, my King. He's an Eldritch. He'll respawn eventually. But when he does, it will be up to you to decide his fate."

Jonah grinned, feeling a strange sense of relief. "Good. Let's make sure he's on the naughty list for the next few centuries."

He was about to suggest to his servants that they should leave and return to Jonah's neighborhood when he heard a faint sound—almost like the muffled cry of a child. Jonah furrowed his brow, puzzled, as the noise grew more distinct.

"Hang on," Jonah muttered. "What's that?"

He turned towards a door at the far end of the base. His telekinetic powers flared as he reached out, pulling the door open with a quiet creak. Inside the small, dimly lit room was a strange sight: a small girl with white hair and horns adorning her head, dressed in a tailored black suit. She was standing in the corner, her arms crossed, looking disgruntled. She looked up at Jonah with a mix of frustration and impatience as she noticed him approach.

Jonah raised an eyebrow, sensing the oddity of the situation. "Hey kid, you ok?"

The girl huffed and stomped over to Jonah, tugging at his hoodie with surprising strength for someone her size. "Finally!" she snapped. "I've been screaming for hours! I was supposed to kidnap human children today, but Santa got crazy and locked me up for some reason!" She glared up at him as though Jonah had personally failed her.

Jonah's lips twitched into a wry grin, the absurdity of the situation not lost on him. He could hazard a guess as to why Santa would have locked her up. "So... who are you, then?" he asked, trying to understand what was going on.

The girl tilted her head with a bored expression. "I'm Krampus! Who are you?"

Jonah's eyes widened slightly at the name. "Wait, didn't we already fight a Krampus?"

Tia walked over, overhearing the conversation. "Oh, no, not this one," she explained, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "The Krampus you fought earlier came from a different reality. But this one, this is the real Krampus—the one from your world. And she's not Eldritch like Santa. She's a demon, the kind from earth's hell." 

Jonah blinked in surprise, his mind racing. "So, this is the actual legendary Krampus of our world? Huh." He took a moment to absorb the information. Krampus—the infamous Christmas demon—was just a child in this world? He couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback by how different this version seemed compared to the terrifying stories.

Krampus, meanwhile, was still tugging on Jonah's shirt, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Take me home! Bring me back! Feed me! This place is lame!" She tugged at his hair impatiently, clearly not impressed with her current predicament.

Jonah muttered under his breath, "She's a bit of a brat..."

Despite her attitude, Jonah couldn't bring himself to just leave the poor girl there, so he scooped her up, cradling her in his arms. She continued to pull at his hair, but Jonah ignored it. "Okay, Aftlha, can you send us back to the neighborhood now?"

Aftlha nodded with a slight smile, her eyes flickering with her usual quiet confidence. "Of course, my King." She stepped forward and, with a soft shimmer of energy, teleported the group back to Jonah's neighborhood, safely landing them in the familiar street outside his house.

Jonah's heart eased as he stepped into the peaceful quiet of his neighborhood, the sounds of Christmas music drifting through the air. He looked around, spotting the lights on his family's house glowing warmly in the distance. He knew they'd been waiting for him, expecting him to return.

He began walking toward the front door, his steps slow and deliberate. The Christmas Eve festivities awaited him, but first, he needed to take care of this little problem—Krampus.

As he entered the house, he was greeted by the familiar scent of cinnamon, pine, and gingerbread. The warmth of the house was a sharp contrast to the cold air outside. The living room was full of his family, laughing and celebrating around the tree. He was just about to sneak off upstairs when Aza walked into the room.

"Ah, darling!" Aza smiled at Jonah as she approached, her voice full of warmth. "Nice to see it went well—" She froze, her eyes widening as she noticed Krampus tugging at Jonah's hair. "Who is this?"

Jonah let out a long sigh, rolling his eyes slightly. "Krampus, apparently. She was locked up by Santa, and it's a long story. She's a demon, though, not an Eldritch god like the others. Can we look into whether she has a boss or parent to send her back to?"

Aza raised an eyebrow, though she didn't seem surprised. "I'll get someone to look into it. For now, why don't you go back and celebrate with your parents? I'll have Shub watch over her. Shub is usually good with kids."

Jonah gave a tired nod, grateful that Aza always seemed to have everything under control. He waited for a moment until Shub arrived—Aza had called her in to deal with Krampus. When Shub finally appeared, she gave Jonah a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it," she said with a wink. "I've dealt with bratty kids before. This one'll be no problem."

Jonah chuckled and handed Krampus over to Shub, who carefully cradled the little demon. Krampus glared at Jonah one last time before settling into Shub's arms, grumbling something under her breath. 

"Alright," Jonah said, stretching his arms. "Thanks, Shub. See you in a bit."

Jonah turned to Aza, his mind still lingering on the events of the night. When Jonah stepped into the living room, he was immediately greeted by the sounds of laughter and cheer. His family, still basking in the holiday spirit, welcomed him back with open arms. They were surrounded by sparkling lights and the smell of roasted meats, with plates piled high with food and drinks. 

In the back of his mind, Jonah thought to himself with a quiet chuckle, Good thing Aftlha was there... she was the only one of us with the power to do the really big damage to Santa. 

(TO BE CONTINUED)