Layla stared in horror at Kael. His eyes burned with a wild, unnatural light, and his face twisted into a grin that sent a shiver down her spine. He looked demented. He looked like a madman.

“Kael, what is... what is this?” she asked, her voice trembling, breaking under the weight of her fear.

“This is... spectacular me!” he answered, spreading his arms wide as if he were presenting himself to the world.

“No. This is not you,” Layla whispered, tears pooling in her eyes, her voice cracking under the pressure of despair.

“This is me. This has always been what I was meant to be. For I am... Kael,” he declared, his grin widening, his voice heavy with finality.

Layla let out a shaky, sorrowful sigh, her heart breaking. The boy she once knew, the boy she cared for, was gone. She could see it in his eyes—there was no trace of the innocent soul he used to be.

“You can join me, you know,” Kael said, his tone softening, almost inviting. “We could rule and cause destruction just like you wanted.”

“No. Not like this. You're not in your right senses, Kael. Please, stop this!” Layla pleaded, her voice raw with emotion, her steps cautious as she edged away from him.

Kael turned his gaze away, disappointment flashing across his face. “Well, that's disappointing,” he said, his tone icy. “But if you're not with me... then you are against me. And that is a very wrong side to be on at this moment.” Golden, sparkling light began to swirl around his palms, crackling with ominous energy.

Layla’s breath hitched as her eyes darted to his hands. She stepped back, palms raised in a desperate attempt to calm him. “Let’s not do anything we’ll both regret,” she said, her voice trembling but steady enough to convey her plea.

“Trust me when I say I will regret nothing,” Kael said coldly, his face devoid of any warmth.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Layla said, her voice barely a whisper.

“But I wanna hurt you,” Kael replied softly, almost playfully.

The tension between them hung in the air, thick and suffocating, before Kael thrust his hands forward. A blast of golden light surged from his palms, slamming into Layla with a deafening roar and sending her crashing into the castle walls.

With a groan, she slid to the ground, pain radiating through her body. Before she could recover, Kael sent another blast of energy toward the wall, making it crumble on top of her.

Ignoring her pained cries, Kael made his way to the throne. He circled it slowly, running his fingers along its armrest as if savoring the moment. His eyes landed on a wall adorned with a complex snowflake inscription.

He placed his palms against the icy surface, his eyes closing as he concentrated. The room seemed to hum with power as energy built up around him. With a thunderous crack, the wall shattered, revealing a floating crystal resting on a pedestal.

Kael stretched out his hand, and the jewel flew into his grasp. The instant it touched his skin, his body shuddered, and a dark grin spread across his face as the power coursed through him.

He chuckled, a giddy sound that echoed through the chamber, and descended the steps from the throne. “It’s really been nice catching up with you, bestie!” Kael said, glancing at Layla, who winced in pain on the floor.

Before she could respond, an arrow whizzed past Kael, grazing his chin. His head snapped toward the source, his eyes narrowing in fury. The Ice Queen stood at the doorway, breathless, clutching a crossbow.

“I will put you down, you beast!” she shouted, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. She raised the crossbow again, but before she could fire, a long, slimy tongue shot out from the shadows, wrapping around the weapon and yanking it from her grasp.

A monstrous creature emerged, swallowing the crossbow whole and letting out a guttural growl.

“Mom, get out of here!” Layla cried weakly, panic flashing across her face.

Kael’s wicked grin widened. In a blink, he appeared behind the Ice Queen. His hands slid beneath her chin, his touch freezing. Slowly, her body crystallized, transforming into a glimmering statue of black ice.

“Mother!” Layla screamed, her voice raw with anguish.

Kael turned to face her, his expression dripping with cruelty. With a flick of his finger, the statue shattered into dust.

“No!” Layla let out a voiceless cry, her grief spilling into the air like a tidal wave.

Kael looked at her one last time, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Come on, monster... our work here is done.” He turned and strode toward the exit, his steps purposeful and triumphant.

He paused at the threshold, glancing over his shoulder at Layla, who lay broken and mourning. Her pain fueled his delight.

Kael cackled as he mounted his beast, its growl reverberating through the chamber. Stretching out his hands, he conjured a swirling portal. “Off to the next victims!” he said, his voice laced with wicked glee, before disappearing into the vortex, his laughter echoing long after he was gone.

Layla wailed. She felt helpless. She felt weak. She let out pained scream.... feeling nothing but anger and regret.

The Claus Manor:

There's a map spread out on the table. Santa and his family stare at the map under the lamp's light. Santa and Edward watch the map intently while Mrs. Claus nervously bites her nails.

“ Since I know for sure that Kael is going to reassemble his father's scepter; these are the places he'll be heading too,” Santa said. “ It shouldn't be so easy for him to acquire all these objects. The ice kingdom is formidable...and the other places are out of his reach,” he added.

“ What do you mean...out of his reach?," Edward asked.

Santa sighed. “ The remaining pieces are scattered in other cities like new York, Los Angeles, Atlanta..and the rest. And he can't go there unless he goes through the aurora borealis. And I hope he hasn't figured out how to do that yet"

“ So....how do we stop him?,” Edward asked.

“ The best thing to do is to strip him of his powers,” Santa said.

Mrs. Claus snaps out of her trance. “ But that'll kill him,” She said softly.

“ And that is...what we want,” Santa said.

Mrs. Claus shaked her head in disappointment. She knew he was scared...but she didn't think he'd be this scared. She walked to the window and stared into the wintery land... Santa's and Edward brutal planning drowning in her thoughts.

As she watched out the window, she saw a streak of light that seemed to be heading towards them. She squinted her eyes as she observed the light... trying to make sense of it. Then it hit her...that was Kael.

“ Um...I think we're all gonna die?,” She said. Santa and Edward rushed to the window and saw the streak of light.

They all rushed outside we're elves and reindeer's we're gathered. Kael landed with heavy thud. He stepped down from the monster. A smug, satisfied look on his face.

“ Come to turn yourself in?,” Santa asked with a serious expression.

“ No...I just came to show that I have the jewel of the ice,” he sucked his teeth. Santa's eyes widened in horror. “ And also...your lovely ice queen is no more"

Mrs. Claus covers her mouth in shock. Santa boiled in rage. His hands in a tight fist.

“ Get him!,” he yelled.

The elves charged toward Kael, their roars echoing through the frozen air. Kael chuckled darkly, his steps unsteady as he staggered forward, his gaze fixed on the approaching crowd.

He closed his eyes, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he summoned the power coursing through him. With a deep grunt, he raised his foot and slammed it into the ground.

The earth trembled beneath him, and golden-yellow cracks spread like lightning through the snow-covered ground, racing toward the oncoming elves. The light erupted beneath their feet, engulfing them in its brilliance.

In a horrifying instant, the once-graceful elves twisted and contorted, their bodies reshaping into grotesque, hulking trolls. Their elegant features vanished, replaced by snarling faces, sharp claws, and hunched forms that radiated pure malice.

Kael opened his eyes and smirked at his creations, their growls now echoing in loyalty to their new master.

Mrs. Claus let's out a shocked voiceless gasp as she staggers back. Santa watched in horror. Kael was getting stronger...and quickly too.

“ And now....my exit!," Kael spreads his arms.

The aurora borealis swirled violently as Kael telepathiclly opened a hole.

“ No!,” Santa yelled as he charged for him.

The wind blew violently as Kael, the monster and the trolls levitated up the floor. The violent breeze sent Santa back. Edward and Mrs. Claus clinging to him.

In a bright yellow light...they vanished. Kael was gone. Now...there was need for great panic.