❄️ Princess Klaus ❄️

❄️ Meeting Krampus ❄️

❄️ Neiva ❄️

I woke up with a hell of a headache. ‘What had happened?’ I wasn't left long to wonder.

Oh! You're awake.

It was a male voice, all that was sweet and soft. It somehow felt like home, as it was warm and comforting. A bit... innocent, perhaps? Like a child's innocence. But this person was no child.

I painfully sat up — from what I could tell, I was on the floor, but the light blinded me and helped in no way my pain.

Hummm...? I somehow mumbled.

It's alright, it's going to be ok, the boy said, suddenly by my side, supporting me.

What... happened?

❄️ Aspen ❄️

The poor girl was so lost! For a moment, I wondered why my father had to be like this. So rude and crude and cruel and inconsiderate. From my opinion, this girl was lucky she was even alive, let alone barely harmed!

What happened? she was finally able to mumble, though very poorly.

Well... This was kind of awkward: what was I supposed to answer? ‘Yes, well my dad — Krampus — wanted to cut a deal with you, and you know, this time, he wanted to have the upper hand — yes, yes, my father — no, ew, no, not in that way! — well, I just mean — he created me to be the son he would never have, see? — so yeah, to go back to my story, he wants to manipulate you in letting him rule Christmas. ... Yes, my family name is Krampus. I'm Aspen Douglas Krampus. ... Yeah, sure, very funny.’ and so on? It somehow didn't feel right.

And who are you? she added, seeing my confused face.

Of course, next logical question. She probably figured that at least to that I could answer. She was sooo wrong. So, so wrong. It led me to the same dilemma: should I tell her? Or should I not? How would she even react to me being what came closer to Krampus' inheritent, anyway? Perhaps... Maybe she wouldn't mind? We could even be friends!

‘Your father just kidnapped her, you idiot,’ I had to remind myself. Right. Of course. ‘But what if I heal her... Help her out?’ I started wondering. ‘Then maybe she can help me as well? Save me from this place? Hell, we could run away together!’

Maybe.

Are you alright? she asked me, looking a bit... worried? Or was it suspicion that touched her beautiful, pale as snow, face?

No, absolutely not. What was wrong with me? I was created for this, for everything that wasn't. I was created to oppose her in every possible way. So why did she make me doubt so much? What was wrong? With me? With her? Did I corrupt her ideals as she corrupted mine? Was she even corruptible?

❄️ Neiva ❄️

The boy's story — that he wasn't free to leave more than I was at the moment — didn't seem entirely false. But that didn't mean he would try to leave, or help me in any way in doing so. Hell, as far as I knew he might as well sell me out to the devil himself for God knows what purpose.

As he was slowly palping my head to see how badly I was injured, a dark shadow entered the room. I had seen cold, in the North Pole. But this was different — it was accompanied by emptiness, despair.

YOU!! the creature yelled as it entered, and I couldn't help but retract away from it, as instinct made it only natural. It ran straight for the boy, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the door to throw him out before slamming the room shut and locked. And you — he added, coming for me, this time. You —