Constance
If I said that I was missed a little by everyone back at the castle, it would be an understatement. The maids told me I was never allowed out of their sight again, the teddy bears nearly drowned me in stuffing from all the hugs, the elves were nice enough to bring me gifts from their travels around the globe trying to find me and don't even get me started on Jessica. The lady nearly knocked me down in the snow when we got back to the castle, telling me to never scare her like that again and if I did she was going to take me across her lap.
They were all relieved and excited to hear that there was a wedding still going on and that we needed to start planning. Jessica had the energy of a cheerleader and snatched me away from Krampus and started chattering about all the things we needed to get done. First thing on the list, meeting the council and that's what I was getting ready for this morning. My maids were running around the room, making sure that I was perfect. I guess Krampus wasn't the only one not happy about this meeting with the council.
They had put me a long grey dress stitched with floral patterns, with a turtleneck and sleeves that cuffed around my fingers and a little hole for my tail. The dress was nicely fitted and hugged the right places, but still made me lady-like. They curled my hair and let it flow freely down my shoulders, the front twisted and pinned behind my horns. I was still getting use to the horns but the girls had been really good in making sure that I felt comfortable and showed me that they were in fact a part of me.
The maids finally placed a pair of pearl studs on my ears and gave me a pair of black leather boots with a slight wedge on them. We all turned when we heard a knock at the door and Jessica's head popped in.
"Oh my goodness you look gorgeous, no makeup," she asked once she saw my face was bare. I shook my head and got up from my chair.
"They're already going to judge me, why not make it easier for them," I said, making my maids giggle. Jessica sighed and walked over to me with her hands reached for mine. I let my hands slip through hers and looked into her eyes.
"Now don't you get all negative on me, you are going to be great and I made it to where our husbands weren't there so there would be less tension," she reminded me.
"He's not my husband yet Jessica," I said, even though the thought of getting to say it did get me a little giddy. She gave me a wink and nudges me with her shoulder.
"He might as well be, he looks at you like he wants to eat you up," she said. I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything, since it wasn't completely a lie. "So are you ready, they're already waiting for us".
"Do you mind if I take us there," I asked timidly. It had only been a few hours but once Krampus was able to get me away from Jessica he had taught me to transport myself wherever I wanted to go. He said that I just needed to think or have an idea of where I wanted to go and I would be able to get there. I wanted to get away from the castle and Perchta always made me feel safe, so it could explain how I ended up in her territory.
He had given me a few lessons and so far I had been able to get all around the castle and even made a quick trip to Peru, before coming back to my room. He said that as time passed on some of my magic would come naturally to me and some he may have to teach me.
"I would love for you to take us, you know Krampus has never let me travel with him," Jessica said. I looked over at my maids and they all nodded.
"We'll follow you, my lady," one said. I gave her a nervous smile and closed my eyes, thinking that I wanted to be where the council was and suddenly I heard the sound of air being sucked in and let back out. I opened my eyes and saw the red smoke slowly descend around Jessica and I.
"My word", I heard.
"What's going on," another voice said.
"Holly fruit cake, I want to do that again, can we go back like that too, oohh we're here," Jessica said as her attention turned next to us. As the smoke finally cleared I was able to see five...well it was a mixture of people and creatures sitting at a large table and they were all staring at me. "Well now, since we've seemed to have made our entrance. Everyone I would like you all to meet Constance, Krampus's bride".
Jessica took my hand and guided me towards the table and started introducing me to each person and creature.
"This is Cupid". A handsome man with large, white angel wings and pink hair style like Elvis. He had bright blue eyes and peachy skin. He had a pink quiver of golden arrows and was wearing a stylish pink suit. He said nothing but stared in awe as I greeted him.
"The Easter Bunny". He was a large baby blue rabbit dressed in green, plaid sunday suit and matching green fedora. He almost seemed as tall as Santa but I could really tell because he was sitting down. His pink nose twitched in my direction and green eyes traveled over me.
"The Tooth Fairy". A small woman in a purple hoodie dress and blue goggles on her head and had the cutest little blue wings on her back. Her skin was a tad lighter than her hoodie and she wore a large brown satchel around her with a big tooth printed on the front. She reached her hand out to me and gleefully shook my hand.
"Father Time". An old man, that looked more like a wizard then the holder of time stood from his chair and gave us a deep bow. He wore robes that seemed to turn from black to dark blue as he moved and it was decorated in golden swirls and patterns of the moon, sun and stars. What really got me was the large golden scythe that leaned against his chair and almost made a shadow over him.A little hand waved next to him from under the table and I looked underneath to see a baby, wearing a hat and diaper that matched his robes waving at me!
"He wanted to meet you as well, couldn't get him to stay home," Father Time said. I giggled and gave the baby a wave back,
"Sandman". From what I could see, even though it was pretty hard since he was laying the side of his face on the table, was a man with shaggy golden hair that seemed to move like sand, shiny golden skin and a matching pajama onesie. He made me jump as his head shot up and he gave me a quick 'how ya doin', before letting his head hit the table and started snoring again. I looked back at Jessica and she just sighed. "You'll have to excuse him, daytime doesn't agree with him".
I nodded my head and let her move me forward.
"And finally this is Mother Nature". A woman with dark brown skin, dark eyes and green hair, that looked like actually plants and flowers sat with a sour face. Her long, flowing gown looked like they were made from every flower ever made. Butterflies were flying around her head out of nowhere and it was like she had a halo of light around her. She was a very beautiful, but her mouth forming into a tighter line by the second, did not make her seem so motherly. Jessica noticed this as well and seemed very concerned. "Natura, what's wrong"?
"What's wrong is that you're wasting our time with this imposter," she snapped. The friendly smile I had immediately dropped and I cocked my head to the side, wondering if I had heard right.
"I beg your pardon," I asked.
"Natura whatever are you talking about," the Easter Bunny spoke up.
"Please Lapin, you all can not be believing that this beautiful, doe eyed girl could be...Krampus's bride," she said as if she had a bad taste mouth in her mouth. Oh, I'm not liking this at all.
"Why would Jessica and Nicholas lie to us," the Sandman said, before his head fell back to the table. I wonder if that hurt?
"Please you know that Nicholas has always been too soft on that beast," Natura went on. Did she just call my future husband a beast?
"Natura," The Tooth Fairy cried out. Natura rolled her eyes and waved her off.
"Ivory, we have all said the same thing at one point so hush," she said and turned back to me and Jessica. "So what did you do, get one of those little ugly elves Krampus has and turned them into this girl for a day, I admit you've done quite a job".
That's it! She's talked about my fiance, my elves and now me in one sitting, I wasn't going to take it anymore. I felt Jessica's grip tighten on my shoulders but I shrugged her off and walked right in front of the now shocked Mother Nature.
"Excuse me, but what crawled up your ass and died that makes you think you can be such a bitch," I asked. I heard a cup fall and shatter to the floor, a gasp and now the Sandman was sitting up with his eyes still closed. Natura looked me up and down, which I did not appreciate and raised a pointer finger to me.
"Excuse me-"
"You are not excused for coming to a meeting that you all forced me to come to, to inspect like a sheep and then insulting my fiance, myself and our elves. You most definitely are not," I said, feeling my tail swish back in forth in anger. I swear I saw Baby New Year climb up in Father Times lap to get a better view of the conversation.
"So you are the bride,' she asked, crossing her legs. I scoffed and rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.
"My name is Constance and yes I am the bride, so you better start remembering it," I snapped. From the corner of my eye I saw Cupid, holding his hands delicately to his chest as if he was going to faint. I swore I saw one of the Sandman's eyes open up, but not much. Natura giggled and leaned forward on the table.
"Listen, I guess Krampus didn't tell you how it works here, so I'll-"
"No, he told me that you guys were a bunch of stuck up assholes and I'm starting to see who the biggest ass is," I said. I heard tea being spat out in shock and another gasp, but I wasn't done. "How dare you call Krampus a beast, when you can't even control the ugly mess that comes out your mouth".
That made her mad, she turned her attention to Jessica behind me and pointed at me with an accusing finger.
"Who is this human to speak to me in such a way," she growled. I saw Lapin sink slowly into his chair and hold his ears with both hands. Jessica went to answer, but I wasn't in the mood to make Jessica play telephone right in front of me.
"I guess not only are you rude, you're deaf," I heard someone snigger and Natura's head snapped in the direction and ended it. "And I may be human but at least I was taught to treat people fairly until I can make a real judgement of them and I can tell you, thank goodness I'm not the one in charge of the Naughty or Nice list. Now I understand that you may not like what Krampus does, but it is the job he was given and he is doing a great job at it. Someone has to make sure the bad get punished, since you guys don't like to interfere with mortals".
"You'll have us fall in love with someone, sneak into our homes and never give us snow days and bad hair days, but God forbid you have to give us one on one time".
Natura slammed her hands down on the table and jumped out of her chair.
"I do not give bad hair days, I have to give humid days, it's my job," she cried, making a few at the table laugh. I heard Jessica try to hide a giggle behind me.
"Just like Krampus has his job, you judge him based off something he can't change and then you judge me because I love him enough to marry him and the world not getting swallowed by the underworld thing," I said and turned to Jessica. "I'm sorry Jessica, but I think it's time for me to go. I've had enough insults for one day and I left unnecessary fights to my parents, come on girls".
"But Constance, wait," she called out behind me. I lifted a finger in the air, a habit I picked up from my mom showing I was on my last good nerve. I wasn't going to take this from a bunch of wild animals and people looking things, when they couldn't accept Krampus.
I started walking out the room, my maids trailing behind me.
"My lady, you don't want to transport back to the castle," one asked behind me. I lifted the front of my dress a bit, making sure not to trip and I quickened my pace.
"Nope, I'm still human and I feel like having a very human walk to cool off," I said, not looking back.
Normal POV
Jessica's head snapped in Natura's direction and gave her the hardest glare she could muster. Natura reared back, shocked by the sweet ladies expression and placed a hand on her chest.
"Now why are you looking at me like that," she asked. She looked around and saw most of the table giving her the stink eye, not at all pleased with what they just saw. Lapin was the only one who was leaning against the table and watching Constance leave.
"Did anyone else notice that Lady Krampus has a cute little tail," he asked, offhandedly.
"Natura how could you say such horrible things, Constance already had a bad impression of you all and all you've done is confirm it," Jessica said.
"Me? What about her, she downright insulted me, I deserve more respect from a girl that's only been here for two days," Natura fought. Eros (Cupid) shook his head and tsked at the mother of all nature.
"You attacked her first or better yet, you attacked her future husband and she has every right to defend him," he pointed out. The others nodded in agreement.
"And why would you say all that within minutes of her being here, you're doing the same thing to her that you did to Krampus," Ivory pointed out. Natura rolled her eyes and sneered.
"Please, since when did you become an advocate for the demon," she asked. Father Time and Baby New Year shook their heads.
"We may not agree with what Krampus does but that young lady is right about one thing, Krampus did not choose his job and for that fact none of us did," he said and got up from his chair and took Baby New Years hand as he slide of his lap.
"Where are you going," Natura asked as they walked from behind the table. Father Time looked back at her, as if it was obvious.
"We are going to apologize and re introduce ourselves to , with the damage you've done It wouldn't surprise me if she hates us as much as Krampus does," he said. Lapin got up from his seat and straightened his suit.
"Kronos hold up, I'll come along with you," he said and walked from behind the table to everyone's shock.
"What are you going for Lapin," Morpheus (Sandman) asked, with and eye open now. Lapin shrugged.
"To do the same thing and also figure out how Krampus got a girl with a tail like that," he said slyly. Everyone gasped, while Eros rolled his eyes. "What, I'm still single and if I'm gonna get hitched one day I wanna know how to catch me a fox like that, she could chain me down everytime".
"Well then I'm coming too," Eros said. "I need to make sure that you don't try anything, you know how you bunnies are".
"Careful, I'll chew your ear off, literally," Lapin warned. Eros brushed him off and blew a kiss in his direction to taunt him.
"Well then I'm coming too," Ivory said and flew over. "She seems very nice and she has such a nice smile, I don't want her to think badly of us".
Everyone was shocked to see Morpheus get up from the table and tiredly rub his eyes, before opening them to show royal blue eyes with no pupils.
"Morpheus, are you alright," Jessica asked with concern. He looked over and smiled at her.
"I'm suddenly more interested in this Constance than sleeping at the moment," he said, making everyone smile. It was a rarity for him to be more interested in something else besides sleeping, during the day.
"Well then, I think we should follow her, post haste, she seems very fast," Father Time said and grabbed Baby New Year so they could make their way. The others followed, but Ivory turned around when she noticed that Jessica was still behind. They may need a mediator since she and Constance already seemed close.
"Are you coming Jessica," she asked. Jessica turned to her and nodded.
"Yes, I'll be there in a minute, you go ahead and I'll catch up," she said before turning back to the pouting Natura. Natura was not pleased, she could see where Constance may have been upset about the comments towards her personally, but to defend…..Krampus, it was ridiculous!
"Natura, how long are you going to make it your mission to just make Krampus miserable," she asked the lady of nature.
"Jessica I have no time to make his life miserable, unlike some people I work all year round," Natura snapped.
"That may be true, but you make it a point to attack him everytime you see him," Jessica pointed out. "You are the eldest of the council, you should know better".
"Yes I am the eldest, which means I am the wisest and I know that if it wasn't for your husband that beast would go on a rampage," Natura said. Jessica shook her head and frowned.
"Krampus and Kris are one whole, you can't have one without the other and maybe you need to start remembering that," Jessica said. "I'm glad someone finally stood up to you, the others are too afraid and I am not apart of the council but Krampus was chosen and created for his job just like the rest of you and even though you all make the world's children happy, there is obviously a few humans on Earth that don't agree with you about the good jobs you are doing".
"Jessica-"
"No Natura, Constance has been really hurt and had none of you to turn to, Krampus was the only one who protected her and brought her hope and now you've added even more reason for her not to like you. Now you can either come with me to redeem yourself or you can just go home Natura because I can't handle anymore of your degrading comments to my friends today, so good day".
With that, Jessica left Natura at the table alone and with her thoughts. As Natura sat in shook, watching all her friends leave she couldn't help but feel she like this Constance girl a bit. A ballsy little wife for Krampus...that was an idea.
Whooo that came out so easily. Just to let you guys know all the names for the council or immortals are actually just synonyms for them, if you didn't catch it. So far I think my favorite is Lapin and that's only because I can almost imagine him as a pimp bunny in a suit lol!