I sprinted forward, the seraph knife slicing through the air at my side as I pumped my arms and legs faster. "Krampus!"

He didn't slow. Didn't even turn.

I poured on more speed, my boots barely having time to sink into the snow.

Krampus raised an arm to swipe at the child.

Almost. There. A strangled cry ripped from my throat. I leaped with the seraph knife raised and arced the blade through the air. It whistled and cut through nothing but emptiness. ...