Vanilla frowned. "Huh? What flower?"

"You know, the flower! The one in the cave?" The demon's tail swung with impatience. "It has toxic fumes and nectar?"

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

He gave her a wicked smile and leaned down to her level. "I need it to knock ol' Santa Claus off his feet. Literally, might I add."

She froze, pointing a staggering finger at him with bulging eyes. "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 will be my pleasure.

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

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

Her breath caught when her eyes landed on his bare stomach amongst his otherwise bushy body. "Where'd you get the wound from?"

"Saint Nicole," he answered while a smirk stretched across his face. "He's quite intriguing when he's mad. Cut me with that little toy of his." The wound was long healed by then, yet he still shivered at the direct contact of the winter breeze against his skin.

"Nothing to fuss over, dear. I'm all patched up. However, now that I've seen what that imbecile is capable of... well, I can't let him live now can I?" I won't allow him to do as he pleases, he decided, tightening his fists.

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 before lifting her tattered green hat up and taking 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 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 I 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 on her head downwards to hide the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

When he looked towards the other cages that trapped the prisoners within 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?"

"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."

"Well, it's been a few millenniums since you've come here. How could I not?"

"Hm, it seems as though elves are 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. They remind me of when we failed miserably at attacking the palace and received his punishment." Her grip tightened on the iron bars until her small knuckles were white like snow.

"Oh, my bad." Krampus wasn't sure of what she meant, but decided to apologize nonetheless. He stood on his hind legs and scratched his horns. "But, I need to get going soon. Santa's going to need his milk and cookies soon, so I want to add some... love to it before then."

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

Oh trust me, I know. He nodded then turned to the other prisoners. "I'm going to end this monarchy and set you all free. So don't take this chance for granted and 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 muggy air.

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

The doors slid closed while he sighed. "Dammit," whispered the goat demon with gritted teeth. I can't believe that bastard. Still, I bet his sins'll 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 slid open gracefully 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 emitted crackles, yet never melted a snowflake.

Krampus bent forward to peek 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 that only the wicked could see. The beasts that dwelled in the interdimension were unnamed, only recognizable by their hideous forms. Krampus could see their silhouettes, since everything was shrouded in darkness. For that, he was somewhat grateful.

He looked down to see a series of holes where each led to a different area across the universe. Where's the Atlantic Ocean? Krampus frantically turned 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 siren's song that called him over when he was a young one still haunted him. He frowned at the ocean. Good thing I snapped out of it. I swore to never come back here and now look where I am. How ironic.

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

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