Page 50 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

"It's not." More sobs. "I don't even have any lines."

Mel sighs. "Honey, please. We talked about this. It's important to me."

"I wanted to be the Snow Princess," Sam wails through the door. "But Kristi Miller got to be the Snow Princess." The name drips with disdain. Kristi Miller. I file the name away for future reference. Should the need arise to inflict…disciplinary action.

"You'll have other chances, sweetie," Mel says.

"And then I wanted to be the Christmas Elf! But Mrs. Higgins said the Elf had to be a boy. So Jimmy Harrington got to be the Elf!" Another sob, choked with injustice. Jimmy Harrington. Added to the list.

I press my palm against the door. "Life's funny like that, kid. You think you know exactly what role you're meant to play, but the universe has other plans."

"What do you mean?" Sam's voice comes closer to the door.

"Well, back where I'm from, I had big plans. Thought I'd be ruling entire star systems by now." My claws trace one of the unicorn stickers. "Instead, here I am on this little mudball of a planet, talking to a door."

Mel's breath catches. Our eyes meet, and something electric passes between us.

"But you know what?" I continue, my voice softening. "Sometimes the part you didn't choose turns out better than the one you wanted. Look at me - I'm happier here playing protector than I ever was trying to be a conqueror."

The door creaks open a crack. One blue eye peers out.

"Really?"

"Really. And you know what else? Your mother's been looking forward to seeing her beautiful snowflake all week." I catch Mel's gaze again, letting her see the truth behind my words. "Sometimes being brave means doing something not for ourselves, but for the people we love."

"I just..." Sam's voice wavers. "What if I mess up?"

"Then you'll mess up spectacularly, and we'll all still love you just the same." I reach through the crack and tap her nose. "Now, what do you say we get that costume on and show everyone what Snowflake Number Four can do?"

The door swings open and my breath catches. Sam twirls in her shimmering costume, silver sparkles catching the light. The jumpsuit transforms her into a perfect crystalline snowflake,complete with delicate patterns that catch and reflect every beam of light.

Mel's hand flies to her mouth. Her eyes glisten with tears. "Oh, baby..."

I grab Mel's phone and start snapping pictures. Sam poses, throwing her arms wide, then spinning in circles until she gets dizzy. The camera captures every moment - mother and daughter hugging, Sam showing off her sparkly shoes, Mel adjusting the costume's shoulder strap.

My chest tightens watching them together. The way Mel smooths Sam's hair. How Sam beams up at her mother with complete trust and adoration. The gentle kiss Mel places on her daughter's forehead.

Something inside me shifts. These feelings... they're foreign, dangerous. I'm a warrior, a destroyer of worlds. I don't do... this. Whatever this warmth spreading through my chest is.

But as I watch them through the camera lens, the truth hits me like a plasma blast to the gut. I love them. Both of them. This tiny, fierce human and her equally fierce mother have somehow wormed their way past centuries of carefully constructed walls.

How? When? I've only known them for days. It makes no logical sense. Yet here I stand, taking family photos like some domesticated house pet, and my heart feels fuller than it has in three hundred years.

"Krampus! Take one with us!" Sam waves me over.

"The camera-" I start to protest.

"Has a timer function." Mel's eyes sparkle with amusement. "Get over here, you big blue furball."

I set the timer and rush to join them, wrapping one arm around Mel's waist while Sam bounces in front of us. The flash goes off, capturing this strange little family unit.

"Perfect shot." Mel checks her phone. "Now we better hurry."

The drive to the school sets my nerves on edge. Every shadow could hide a Grolgath assassin. My enhanced vision scans rooftops, alleyways, parked vehicles. But nothing threatens my... these humans tonight.

"Stop growling at that mailbox," Mel whispers. "You're making the other drivers nervous."

Sam skips ahead of us into the bustling elementary school, her costume twinkling under the fluorescent lights. A harried-looking teacher in a reindeer sweater shepherds her backstage with the other children.

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