Saving Santa (MxM)

33 Marley

"That's rich coming from you, Calvin!" Krampus lets out a bellowing laugh. He then turns to me. "Has he told you what he did to me? What I was created for? Huh? Tell me, human, did Santa Claus tell you how he and his family turned me into this monster?"

With all of the running and survival, my body hasn't had time to be cold in this North Pole weather, but Krampus's words make my whole body shiver.

"Krampus," Cal calls.

"Tell 'em, Calvin. Your father trained me like a hunting dog. He used me to identify naughty kids. To be the villain who delivered them coal on Christmas. He didn't let me enjoy the holiday. And to top it off, the hypocrite never put me on the nice list. He never put me on any list. I was just trapped in Christmas purgatory for decades."

"That was never me! I have always loved you." Judging by Cal's heartbroken facial expression, I can tell that Krampus's story is true. I can also tell that Cal is torn up about it.

Unforeseen by everyone, including me, I take Krampus's face in my hands. "I am so sorry. I am so sorry that you had to endure that."

Krampus pauses for a moment. His eyes go big and hazy. In the distance, I can see more street lights blink on. Reds and greens and whites. Krampus also notices as he regathers his power.

"Oh, you are good, human," Krampus says with a shake of his head. "Cal was right to seduce you and use you for your power."

I know he is just trying to get under my skin. Cause let's be truthful. Cal is kinda a terrible seducer. Hot then cold. Here then gone. The thought almost makes me laugh.

"Too bad I have to kill you," the monster says as his hands wrap around my neck.

I hear Cal shout his name again, but I have my own plan. As Krampus grips tighter, I pull the old picture of him and Cal from my pocket. I press it against his outstretched arms. I slap at it and shake it to get his attention.

Just as the edges of my vision dim, I feel the pressure around my throat release.

As soon as I can make words, I say through the scratchiness, "Then let me give you this Christmas present. A memory of love and friendship."

By this point, Krampus is holding me with one hand. In his other hand is the photo of him and little Cal. After a few moments of examining it, I see Krampus's red eyes flicker. The more he takes in the picture, the longer they go without their crimson aura.

"Jingle bells, jingle bells," I hear Louie sing through chattering teeth. The ice has melted from his head.

The sound seems to echo, and I hear the whisper of elf voices pick up the song back in the town square. "Jingle all the way..."

While Krampus is dazed, I gesture at Cal to throw the sphere. He gives a hard head shake. He knows what I do. There is no way he can use the capturing globe on Krampus and not get me stuck in the orb's prison also.

As my throw-the-damn-globe signal gets more aggressive, some of Krampus's attention comes back to me.

"Cal!" I give him one shout, knowing we are going to miss our opportunity.

Just as Krampus turns his attention to Cal and gives him a snarl, I feel it. It's like when you are in an airplane and you hit turbulence. Your stomach drops while your ears pop. 

Krampus and I are thrown from our feet, and when we right ourselves, we see that a glass barrier has imprisoned us. I know we are miniature size, for the snow our globe has landed in is well over our heads outside the bubble.

"You are done!" Krampus howls.

But before he makes any moves to end me, we are shadowed by the giant-sized Cal above us.