The MPS: Jingle Bells, Monsters Smell (Part 3)

And here we are, the next part! What'll happen to Logan and David? Read on to find out!

“Why is Logan locked in his bedroom,” Marina asked, walking into the kitchen and putting her bags on the table. I sighed. “Any more bags?” She nodded and I followed her outside.

“The victims, all of them have had the same tattoo. Apparently, they didn’t have it before the day they died. We figured out they were all Christmas lovers, but Logan…he got the tattoo.”

Marina almost dropped the bag in her hand. Then she took a breath, as if she thought she should’ve expected this to happen. “So you locked him in his bedroom?”

I shook my head. “He did it to himself. We don’t know if it’s contagious, and he doesn’t have any Christmas stuff in there as of now that could kill him. I tried to tell him that I’d need his help for this, but he wouldn’t listen. Said he refused to get me too, even though I’m not a Christmas lover.”

Marina gave me a knowing smile. “Sounds like him.” We continued to put the groceries away, but I noticed one bag that Marina hadn’t opened. I reached for it, but she slapped my hand away.

“What was that,” I asked, rubbing the now sore patch of skin.

She smiled almost evilly. “That bag is for Christmas. I’m not letting you see anything you’re not supposed to, understand?” I nodded, even though I really didn’t understand much of what she said.

“So, Logan,” I said, trying to get the conversation back to the point. Marina nodded grimly. “Well, do you know what the tattoo means,” she asked.

I shook my head. “No. I can show you if you like,” I said, handing her the napkin which Ava had drawn on. Marina took it and her eyes widened.

“I know this,” she said. “It was the symbol of an old toy shop. I’m pretty sure they renovated it after what happened.”

I sat forward. “What toy shop?”

She looked up at me. “Used to be called Andy’s Toy-box, before one of the bosses went crazy that is. They called him Toymaker, but his real name was Ian Covett.”

“Marina, is this guy still alive?”

She shrugged. “Most likely. He’s been in prison for years, and his name hasn’t been in any obituaries,” she stated. I stood up and grabbed my coat. Marina just smiled. “Did that help?”

I smiled back at her. “More than you could know Marina. Thank you.” She scoffed. “It’s my job,” she said. I guess that’s true. She had helped me and Logan in so many ways, and not just with detective work. I stopped walking at the doorway.

She had helped me so much. If it weren't for her Logan wouldn't have come to save me before that vampire got me. I'd probably be dead. She taught me how to trust, that her and Logan were my allies.

Marina furrowed her eyebrows, noticing I wasn't moving. “What?” I sighed. Hesitantly I turned around and hugged her. She seemed taken aback, but she didn’t move away, and eventually long arms wrapped around me.

After a few seconds, I felt awkward and let go. Marina looked at me quizzically. I stuttered. “I-I should go,” I said.

Marina nodded. “Of course. But not because of what you just did, you know that,” she said, the last part a statement instead of a question. I nodded cautiously. She smiled and waved me off.

“Go. We can’t have Logan getting killed by a Christmas cookie now can we?” I smiled back, and then I was out of the house.

The drive to the prison was almost as bad as when I was driving to face the demon Belphegor. Not because I was scared of that place, hell no. I used to work for the police force after all, before I couldn’t trust them anymore. Yet, at least last time I wasn’t alone. Now for all I knew Logan could be dying as I drove farther and farther away. It almost made me want to turn back, but Logan had no chance if I couldn’t solve this, and quick.

So all I really could do at the moment was drive.

---

“Thank you so much for this…Roberts,” I said to the prison guard. We had met before. Problem? I could not remember his first name. Last name: Roberts. First name…Denny? Lewis? Damn, my memories are already getting bad, and I'm not even that old. Logan would make so much fun of me right now.

That thought really didn’t help.

“No problem Locke,” Roberts said. “You only got 5 minutes though.” I nodded in understanding.

The Toymaker, or as Marina called him Ian Covett, was sitting in his cell. He was fairly attractive, and he looked like someone you could trust.

I guess that’s what made him a good serial killer.

As I drove, I listened to podcasts and news reports about him. This guy was the definition of bad news. He killed so many, and the worst part was he did it with toys. Bombs that looked like Lego's. Jack-in-the-boxes with scorpions instead of a pop-up inside. Any messed up thing you’ve thought of about toys, he thought of it first. And unlike a normal person’s intrusive thoughts, he did them with a smile on his face.

The same smile he wore now.

“Well, hello! I haven’t had a visitor in forever,” the man said in a sing-song voice. He leaned back and studied me. I almost felt like he was wondering what kind of tricks he could pull on me that I would fall for.

“Maybe because you’re a psychopath,” I said.

He shook his head. “No, I’m soulless. If your going to try and insult me, at least get it right.”

I took a step towards the man. “What are you talking about?”

He laughed. It almost made me flinch. “I really didn’t think you’d be that blind, David Locke,” he said.

I sighed. “And you know me. Great.”

Ian shrugged and came up to the bars, hands wrapping around them like he was wrapping them around someone’s throat. “Kinda hard not to. He’s been talking about you recently. I can still hear him sometimes. He thinks if anyone can stop him it’d be you. Apparently you got rid of Belphegor, and I know enough to know that’s a feat. Then again,” he said, looking me up and down. “I mean, I see the appeal, but I really can’t see you killing a demon. You look too…nice. Normal people always are. Too scared to take a life even when the person has hurt them time and time again. Like those parents of yours.”

I could tell he wanted a rise out of me. I wasn’t letting him get what he wanted.

“Tell me about this demon,” I said. If the guy wasn’t completely crazy and lying to me, this could give me the answer I'd been hoping for.

Who the Christmas killer was.

Ian noticed I wasn’t taking his words to heart. He frowned and sat on the ground. “I made a deal. He told me I’d be the best toymaker in the world, and all he needed was my soul.”

I sat down. “Your soul?” Ian nodded.

“Apparently human souls are like currency in hell. Different souls cost different amounts, but none of ‘em are cheap." He sighed. "I wasn’t thinking. Didn’t think he would take it right then and there. And here’s the thing. When you have no soul, what’s stopping you? People annoyed me, with their souls full of goodness, and yet those same souls had done terrible things. It was such a pain. So I got rid of them.”

“Seems a bit hypocritical coming from someone who killed 28 people.”

Ian shrugged. “When you don’t have a soul, call me back and tell me how much you don’t want to hurt someone,” he said. His face almost looked sad, if it was possible for him to feel that. “It’s addicting, you know. Hurting people. It’s the only thing that makes me feel anything anymore.”

I knew it was dangerous trusting him, that this man could kill me with a snap. But I also knew that right now he wasn’t lying. He had made a deal with a demon, and he was still paying for it.

I guess that’s karma for you.

“So you made this stupid deal with a demon so you could what, make good toys?”

Ian looked up at me. “Never said I was a genius.”

I nodded. That much was obvious. “The symbol of your toy shop. What is it,” I asked.

Ian looked confused. “The six blocks? They’re not my symbol, they’re the demons. Only felt fitting,” he explained. “Why?”

I didn’t see any harm in telling him. What would he do, he was locked up in the most secured ward in the prison, and what would he want to do anyway about it? Didn't effect him much, except maybe a migraine with the demon's voice in his head.

“Christmas lovers are being murdered. Every one of them had your store’s symbol on their arm. We think it could be your old demon friend.”

Ian squinted at me before smiling. “We? So you have a partner.” I cursed in my head.

Ian figured something out. “They’re next aren’t they? Your partner. What are they to you? Sibling? Lover?” He paused. “That’s it isn’t it? You’re lovers next! Damn, love is a terrible game isn’t it?”

I rolled my eyes. “Goodbye Ian.”

I began to walk away.

“What? Oh come on,” he yelled at me. I didn’t turn back.

“Wait! Fine it’s not your lover, I’m sorry okay? Come on!”

I almost felt bad. Then I thought of all the people whose lives they never got to live because of that one man, and the feeling went away.

“The demon’s name! You don’t know the demon’s name!”

He was right about that one. I turned around. “Tell me then.”

Ian shook his head. “Not unless you give me something in return.”

Making a deal with a serial killer who had all his screws loose was a terrible idea. But Logan was in danger. I wouldn’t lose him.

I wouldn’t lose him.

“Fine,” I said. “What’s the demon’s name?”

He smiled. “Tell me what you’d do for me first.”

I looked around, trying to think of something I could do. “I can…get your soul back.”

He laughed before realizing I was serious. “You gotta be joking. Getting my soul back? That’s impossible.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, well I thought all of this was impossible until I got framed for murder by a demon, who I then killed. So at this point, let’s just add another thing to the list of things that shouldn’t be real but are.”

Ian looked almost impressed, but it quickly faded. “Fine, it’s your funeral. Just don’t expect me to come, I’m a little…locked up.”

I nodded. “The demon’s name?”

“You really got a death wish huh?”

“The. Name.”

He muttered an answer.

“What was that?”

“Krampus! The demon’s name is Krampus.”

I looked at his face. He wasn’t lying.

“Thanks for the information,” I said. Then I left, Roberts leading me out.

I got into the car, and the thought racking around my brain was only one word.

Krampus.

And then 6 more words popped into my head.

I am going to kill him.

Let's add something funny and true (for me at least) after that kind of dark ending.

I know, not much Logan. But I thought diving deeper into David would be interesting, and I wanted to develop his relationship with Marina a little more. So, what do you think will happen next? Do you think David will be able to defeat the Christmas demon? Do you think Logan will survive? Next chapter may be a little different, since I might include the point of view of Logan and Marina as well. Do you think this should happen or not?

Here's the last two parts. One more to go!
Part 1: @gracepro/the-mps-sequel-to-accused
Part 2: @gracepro/the-mps-jingle-bells-monsters

And if you need to catch up, here's the first MPS story: Accused!
@gracepro/accused
@gracepro/accused-part-two
@gracepro/accused-part-two-e284bc46819b3 (part 3)
@gracepro/accused-part-4
@gracepro/accused-part-5