*Warning* There is some talk of torture in here but nothing horrible, but I also think horor movies are great to go to sleep to so don't ask me lol.
Krampus
"Dip them again," I said gravely.
"No! No pleaaaaaahhhhh," the boy yelled out. He was dipped into the pool of ink. Nicholas and Jessica had made me promise to not leave the castle, in case Constance came out. I think they were just afraid of the methods I would use to find her. Instead, I took extra care in taking out my frustration in giving my punishments. But today I took no joy in giving out punishments today, even as they fished the boy out and threw him at my feet.
As he threw up the ink and tried to crawl away, like a pitiful worm I didn't even crack a smile. I picked him up and threw him back in the ink, letting him drop to the bottom.
"Let him drown". The elves said nothing and bowed. I walked over to the sounds of flesh breaking and screams and made my way over to where a line of people waited trembling and some even soiling themselves, as they watched an elf whip a girls back with a cat o' nine tails, it didn't hold my interest long. Even watching a boy with long hair, that the elves had braided into pigtails screaming as the elves pulled them as hard as they could. You would think this isn't horrible, but when your feet are tied to a block on the wall while they pull it's not that comfortable.
None of this brought me joy, not when my bride was not by my side. I snapped my fingers, leaving the chamber and finding myself in Contance's room. I could still feel her presence, smell her scent as I looked around the room. The maids had straightened the room up and fixed the door I had broken down, I sat on the bed and let my hands smooth over the covers. If only I could reach her, in sheer desperation I reached out for her again and praying that somehow my search would be ed with me finding her.
I closed my eyes, concentrating on finding the bell around her neck. I pushed full force until I heard the ring. My eyes pop open when I hear it again, I could hear the bell, I had found Constance! Without a second thought I transported myself to where the bell rang strong, not getting out of the castle quick enough. When I opened my eyes again they widened and then narrowed when I saw where I was. It was the cherubs home and headquarters, why would Constance be here.
The guards at the door trembled at my arrival, but let me pass into their tee home. Had Constance been here the entire time? My arrival was becoming more known as I let my hooves slam into the ground, I could feel Constance's presence more with each step I took inside. How dare they keep her from me, they knew I had been searching for Constance and she had been here. I let a growl rumble in my throat and the few cherubs awake bowed, their feathers noticeably trembling. I was ready to reduce them to nothing but ash, how dare they let me stay worried and frantic. Then another thought popped in my horned head, what if they had taken her themselves?
"Master," a whispery voice said above me. Perchta cautiously made her way towards me, excusing the trembling citizens. "Master-"
"Tell me why I shouldn't reduce you and all your little flying demons to dust, revive you and continue to do so until I'm bored if your screams," I growled out. Perchta shook under my gaze and wet her lips.
"If there is anyone to punish my lord, please punish me," she begged. I scoffed, you give a demon cherub your trust and what does she do, betray me!
"Why did you keep her from me," I sneered.
"We had found her in the forest my king, alone and in just her nightgown," she said. "We brought her back her to warm her-"
"I did not ask for a story"!
"My lady told me not to"! I felt my anger stop rising and looked down at the cherub.
"What do you mean, why would she not want to return"? Perchta seemed a little hesitant about answering me, something that has never happened before in the time she's served me.
"My lady...has changed, physically and is afraid of how you may react," she said softly. "She doesn't realize that it is just her magic".
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, not understanding what Perchta was trying to get to.
"What would her appearance have to do with her leaving"? I had suspected that this may happen, there weren't many human's who were turned into immortals but always had a little change. It was no surprise that Constance's appearance may change a little, a new eye color, longer hair, the possibilities were endless.
"Well...she is afraid that you will reject her, like her parents".
I slowly felt the anger slipping from me and let a chuckle slip through my lips. So this is what this was all about, Jessica said that women didn't like their men to see them at their worse. Maybe this was one of those times for Constance. I felt a smile break its way through and waved my hand, dismissing the thought.
"Take me to her". Perchta flew up ready to guide me, but then hesitated and looked back at me with concern in her eyes. She must be worried about going against Constance and I was almost glad to see that she was worried about displeasing her lady. "I will tell her I ordered you to take me".
"Yes master". Without another word she guided me deeper into the tree, until we got to to large double sided door painted with holly leaves and berries. She slowly cracked the door open and peeked inside and looked back at me. "She's asleep my lord".
I nodded my head and placed my index finger to my lips, telling her to be silent as I brushed past her and made my way into the room. I looked back at her and gave her a look saying I wanted no disturbances, I did not know if Constance would make it easy for me to bring her back and I didn't need any little cherubs ruining everything. She nodded and bowed, before laying back down to the others, probably to tell them they weren't going to all die today. The room was very spacious with walls as black at the tree itself, there was a a fireplace lite across from a large nest. I quietly walked over to the nest and peeked inside, smiling at what I found.
Constance curled up in soft blankets made of feathers and dreaming away, she was safe! I quickly forgot that she was even asleep and wrapped my arms around her, holding her to me and kissing along the side of her face. I heard her mumble a bit in her sleep that I'm sure I was bringing her out of, but ignored her and let my lips travel to hers. I put all the fear and desperation that I had for the past few hours into the kiss, holding her so tight that I'm sure I left my fingerprints embedded into her skin. I could feel her stirring against me and opened and eye to see hers blinking open in surprise.
I separated us, but kept my arms around her and buried my head in her the base of her neck.
"Krampus...whoa,wait you can't be here," she yelped and was suddenly replaced with red dust in my arms. I growled in frustration and heard a gasp from behind me, I looked behind and Constance is standing behind me. She held the blanket to her as she watched the red dust flow around her. Her eyes flickered between her body and me. "Oh my God, what's happening to me"?
I reached out for her again, hurt when I saw her flinch and start to shy away.
"Wait, Constance please, you have no reason to be afraid," I said. "If you keep wanting to run away I don't know where you may transport yourself to".
"What's happening to me," she asked. I took a few steps closer, seeing that she didn't shy away this time.
"It is just the magic entering your body, I have to say I'm amazed that you can even use it," I said with a chuckle in my voice. "But I need I need you to stay calm, so nothing else happens".
She shook her head as tears poured down her face and held the blanket tighter to her.
"I didn't mean to leave, I was just scared," she whispered, catching me off guard. I had to swallow the frog in my throat and remind myself that this was all new for her and was still human. She didn't know any better.
"I know that it can be frightening, but I-"
"I'm a fucking freak, I look like a monster," she cried. My brow furrowed in confusion, what is she talking about?
"A monster, where is this coming from Constance," I asked, advancing her. Each step I took forward, she took a step back.
"I've...changed, a lot," she said, still avoiding me. I soon had her trapped against the wall, my body just a few steps apart so I wouldn't scare her. I looked at the blanket over her head and wondered if this 'change' was why she was wearing it like a protective shield. Had something happened? It didn't matter to me though, there's nothing that could make me change my feelings about Constance. I had to reassure her of that.
"Constance, I know that I should probably be the last person to speak on appearance, but nothing could ever change how I feel about you". I took careful steps towards her and closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around her, relieved when she didn't fight me. "You are my world and even if you were to grow horns out of your head-"
Constance suddenly let out a sob and let her fall head fall into my chest. I was so shocked by her reaction and wondered what I had said to make her so upset. "C-constance"?
"Well you just had to bang the hammer right on the head didn't you," she said through her tears. She reared her head back and snatched the blanket it off her head and glared at me. "Well why don't you prove it then"?
I was so shocked by her outburst, it actually took me a moment to realize what she was so upset about, until I finally figured it out. I could tell she was watching my reaction carefully, looking for disgust, hate but all I could feel was awe. The horns were not the only attention to Constance appearance, her skin had a golden hue to it, her hair was thicker and was even a bit beautiful creature standing in front of me is supposed to be my future wife. I had always thought Constance was beautiful but as I took in her whole appearance before me, I was enchanted.
"See I knew it, even you can't handle it," Constance said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
Constance
I was right. He said he loved me, but he was just staring at me like I was an attraction and not saying anything. I wanted to believe what Perchta said was true but it wasn't. I just wanted to run away again but I don't have the emotional strength to even run as the tears start up again.
"See I knew it, even you can't handle it," I said and tried to push him away, but Krampus wrapped his hands around mine and trapped them against his chest. I looked up, ready to let out all the hurt I was feeling but was caught off guard when I saw the look he was giving me. It was a mixture of adoration and sadness that was so intense that it stunned me to the core. He lowered his head to mine and captured my lips in a kiss. He held me tight to him as our lips moved over each other and let my hands out his grip to wrap his around my waist. He broke away and peered down at me through hooded eyes.
"Your beauty is the only thing I am not able to 'handle', how you can be so kind to me but so unkind to yourself," he whispered. He brought my hand to his lips and feathered kisses against the tips, making me blush. "How could you think that something as small-" I gave him a look, showing that horns growing out my head wasn't a small thing as he stated. "Insignificant, I meant insignificant would make me toss aside everything that we've been through. I would rather let the world, the universe, even the Heavens be swallowed, then not have you by my side".
"Horns, antena's, antlers it doesn't matter to me. I just want you to come home and be my wife".
He wanted me, he really wanted me. I didn't have to prove anything, my worth, my purpose. Not for something to gain, but just me.
"Then, you're ok with this, all this," I asked, pointing to my horns. He smiled at me and pressed his lips against mine again.
"I accept you as you accept me," he whispered. "I love you, Constance".
"I love you too," I whispered. I said it, my last wall broken down. His brow raised and he his smile got so wide that I could see the tips of his fangs. He brought me back into his arms and pressed his cheek against the top of my head and sighed. Everything was ok now, for the first time in a long time I could say I was ok.
"I have to admit, the horns do add an extra...appeal to your appearance," he said slyly as he looked over my form. Oh really? I'd give him something that would knock him off his rocker. I pulled myself out of his arms and watched as his expression turned into confusion and turned turned my back to him.
"You think that was the shocker you should see this," I said a wiggled my little black tail. "Krampus...Krampus...Krampus, please put your tongue back in your mouth".
Oh my lord I had to rewrite this chapter twice and hopefully it is up to the standards of you readers. Also, I don't remember is I actually showed the inspiration for Constance's horns, so if not here yous go .
