"Huh? What flower?" she mumbled while rubbing her face.

"You know, the poisonous one. You said it's in some cave?" The demon's tail swung as he rushed out each word.

Her face lit up then. "Oh! What about it?"

"I need it to knock ol' Santa Claus off his feet," Krampus said.

She froze, pointing a staggering finger at him. "You... you're willing to risk your life for us?"

"Well, sort of." He took a moment to observe his nails and licked his lips. "I also need to get some practice done. Can't kidnap children without a healthy breakfast." Eating his sins would be his pleasure.

"Oh, gross. But at least that's better than the royal ass we have now."

Krampus shook his head as he tut-tutted her careless words. "No, my dear. You flatter me too much." 

Her breath caught when her eyes landed on his bare stomach amongst his otherwise bushy body. It was wet with water and blood drops surrounding a gradually healing wound. "Who did this to you?"

"Saint Nicole," he answered while glaring at the ground. "He's quite intriguing when he's mad. Cut me with that little toy of his." The wound wasn't as bad by then, yet he still shivered when his sweat touched the cut.

"Nothing to fuss over, dear. I'm all patched up." He patted his stomach for emphasis, holding down his groan. "However, now that I've heard everything from the man himself, I can't let him live now can I?" Krampus knew he couldn't let the fool get away with this.

Vanilla smiled. "Your twisted sense of justice hasn't changed, either. Nevertheless, I swore that I would assist you despite my limitations. Therefore―" she paused to lift her tattered green hat up and take out a slip of paper, "―you have my gratitude. Here; I managed to sneak this in just for emergencies."

Krampus grabbed the crumpled paper and unfolded it. "This is..." he scrutinized it yet was unable to decypher the ancient elvish tongue. "What is this?"

"You don't remember? Our language, álfrmál?"

"Unfortunately, no." The language completely escaped him during his visit to the Antarctic.

"Oh, give it here then. I'll translate it." She beckoned with her hand until Krampus placed the paper in her palm.

"Let's see..." Her eyes were narrowed as she adjusted to reading in the dim light. "It says, 'head to the cave past the arctic ocean. There you will find the poisonous purple saxifrage.' That should be right past the grave―I-I mean junkyard."

"Ugh, I hate the water here. Too many old hags." Krampus cringed back while remembering his last experience with mermaids as a kid. "Even so, I will endure it. This should be easy."

Her voice shuddered when she whispered, "Thank you, Prince Krampus."

"No need to address me by that title; it was given to me by a mad man." Though he may be just as bad. "Just 'Krampus' will suffice. Although I say this, you're already well acquainted with my name, aren't you?" he teased, letting a smirk grace his features.

She bowed until her forehead met the ground. "M-My sincerest apologies! I hadn't realized―"

"No, it's fine. I'd rather that than be connected with the king in any form. As you can see, I've cut my bond with him off." The goat demon then jangled his fists and ankles to bring her attention to the broken chains.

A gasp bubbled from the petite elf's lips. "You know what that means, right?"

"Of course. Treason."

Vanilla bit her lip and glanced away. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize what you were risking when I asked for your help―I pushed our problems on you without thinking."

"All is well. I need to do this." He patted her head, ruffling her scarlet locks in the process. "This is the least I can do. Good job." Just remember that you're making a deal with the devil.

Vanilla was speechless as he stood up. She pulled her hat downwards, cheeks reddened.

Krampus' furrows creased at the sight. His fingers ached to tear apart these wretched bars, but knew doing anymore damage wouldn't be the best course of action. But when he looked towards the other cages trapping prisoners with their minds, he wondered just how long they'd been there.

In the distance, a child's cries cut through the murmurs and whispers of curiosity. Krampus gritted his teeth. Patience, once I get this flower it'll all be over.

Even so, he couldn't help but growl at the unfortunate state of the short creatures. "This cave is underneath the arctic ocean, correct?" he asked his companion.

"Mhm. Rather, you can only get there by swimming under. It's entrance is a tunnel. If you're lucky, a mermaid will guild you. If not... well you'll probably be there for awhile."

She then scratched her cheek with her index finger and sighed. "Normally I would force you not to go, but I can't with the way I am now. Plus, you probably wouldn't listen anyways."

"It's touching how well you know me."

After a sniffle, Vanilla grinned. "It's only been a few decades since you've come here. How could I not?"

"Hm, I'd always assumed elves were easily forgetful. I guess you're an exception." Krampus smiled down at her, tracing Vanilla's jaw with his fingernail in the process.

She swatted his hand away and scowled. "Your fingers smell like that lobster's chocolate doors." Her grip tightened on the iron bars until her knuckles were snow white.

"Oh, my apologies." Krampus wasn't sure why that angered her, but decided to apologize nonetheless. He stood on his hind legs and scratched his horns. "Anyways, I need to get going soon. Santa's going to need his milk and cookies, and I want to add some... love to them before then."

"All right. Be careful of those sea women. They're very clingy."

He nodded, then turned to the other prisoners. "I'm going to end this and set you all free. So don't let yourselves be controlled again!" he yelled, stomping his hoof onto the ground.

Yells and cries of fearful excitement cut through the silence that suffocated the room after he spoke. The elves were elated, screaming words of praise as they threw their battered hats into the air.

"How pitiful," Krampus muttered, his voice overshadowed by the elves' voices. He then peeked at Vanilla, waving goodbye before striding to the elevator. Mermaids and water nymphs, how fun.

The doors slid closed while he sighed. "Dammit," whispered the goat demon through gritted teeth. He couldn't believe what a bastard his former ally had become. Still, he had a feeling the old man's sins would taste delicious.

He observed his wrists that were still gripped by their golden constraints and chuckled. No more chains. That was easier than I thought it'd be. Ooh, and the look on that croon's face when I punched him was of the upmost satisfaction.

The elevator opened without a creak or croak. Krampus looked at the sugar crystal chandelier dangling above him before stroding down the hall.

My power's a bit low, he recalled, but I should be able to teleport there. Once he reached the door, he opened it and sighed. After cracking his knuckles, he lit a black fire with the clap of his hands.

He flicked the dark orbs into the snowy earth, creating a hole in front of him. The black hole's fiery ring crackled, yet never melted a snowflake.

Krampus bent forward to look inside before grimacing at the endless sea of darkness. The goat demon looked both ways before hopping down.

Through the tunnel he caught sight of creatures only the wicked could see. The beasts that dwelled in the interdimension were unnamed, only recognizable by their hideous forms. Krampus could only see their silhouettes in the darkness. For that, he was somewhat grateful.

He looked down to see a series of holes, each leading to a different area across the world. Where's the Atlantic Ocean? Krampus whipped his head, looking in every direction for any sign of his destination. He didn't want to wind up going down the wrong rabbit hole.

His coal eyes beamed at the candycane-striped sign that read 'Atlantic'. The goat demon dove towards it until the darkness faded away and his hooves touched the icy ground. The portal closed behind him after he snapped his fingers.

Krampus squinted to adjust to the sudden light that surrounded him. The crashing waves flooded him with a familiar pain at the memory of his time underneath its cold embrace. The song that called him over when he was a young one still haunted him. He frowned at the ocean. Krampus swore to never come back here and now look where he was. How ironic.

But he knew that he had to overcome his hesitation to save the town. Who else would, after all? All of those lazy ass elves were too weak to do it themselves. Well, except for Vanilla. She did her best.

He took a few paces back, inhaled deeply and dove in.