Long time reader, first time writer. I hope you enjoy! Constructive criticism welcome.
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"I've never seen this part of the workshop before," Tinsel mused as she stepped into the dark room.
Mountains of broken toys and torn wrapping paper reached nearly to the ceiling above her. A thick layer of dust covered everything; cobwebs stretched from corner to corner. The lights hanging from the ceiling looked antique and long burnt away. Only a small light filtered in from a tiny window near the ceiling across the room, casting gloom and deepening the shadows.
Tinsel gasped as her foot connected with something metallic, causing a loud clatter. She looked down. Old, rusted chains criss-crossed across the floor, discarded in their own small heaps. She knelt and examined the links as her brow furrowed. Nothing like this was used in the workshop. What was this stuff doing down here?
The elf stepped further into the room. It was certainly a different atmosphere than she was used to. Above her in various rooms of Santa's Workshop, others of her kind worked and laughed surrounded by festive reds and greens. Glittering lights covered every surface, happy music filled the air. Down here, none of that reached. Here was only silence and darkness.
Just as she was deciding to leave the creepy room, she heard a sound. At first it reminded her of reindeer on the runway - the sound of hooves on wood. But what would a reindeer be doing down here in the basement?
"Hello?" she called. There was a tremble in her voice she had not expected.
"Are you lost, little elf?"
a gravelly male voice whispered back. It was hoarse and broken as if having only just woken up. It was also deeper than any of the voices she usually heard from her male counterparts, and it definitely didn't belong to Santa himself.
"Um, yes, I believe so. I was just exploring on my break..." Tinsel got the sense that danger was nearby and she needed to leave. "Where am I?"
"It's been a long time since anyone entered my domain," the voice continued, ignoring her question. "So very long since I last had company."
Tinsel's fear was dampened by sudden pity. Someone had been left all alone down here? That wasn't right.
"Oh, that's awful!" she cried. "I'm so sorry no one has been down. Honestly, I didn't even know this room was here. I doubt anyone else does either."
"Ah, yes... most have forgotten me. There are some that remember my name, true, but the world has cast me aside. I'm not... jolly enough for Christmas celebrations in the modern era."
Tinsel peeked around a pile of rubbish, trying to find the owner of the voice. She was having a difficult time placing it.
"Well perhaps you simply need a little more Christmas cheer! I'd be happy to sing a song or fetch you some eggnog if it would help brighten your spirits."
A low chuckle came from somewhere nearby.
"You misunderstand, little elf. I do not wish to change. It is not who I am. I, like you, have a purpose. Mine is not to bring happiness to children. Mine is to see that the sinners of this wretched world receive punishment."
A chill crept down Tinsel's spine as the sense of danger returned. Her fight or flight response kicked in. Flight seemed the best option, since she couldn't even see her opponent.
"Well I do apologize for intruding, sir. I'll be going now."
She turned back to the door, only to find the way she had come was blocked with piles of broken toys and chains. Impossible - she was certain she had only walked forward a little bit. How had she gotten turned around?
"There, there, little elf. As I said, it's been so very long since I last had company. Why do you wish to leave me so soon?"
"I-I have work to get back to," stammered Tinsel, trying to maneuver her way around the blockage and find the exit. "Santa will be looking for me."
She heard the strange sound again - of hooves stepping slowly across the wooden floor. Then she spotted it - the exit - farther away than she expected. She began hastily fighting her way through the rubble in that direction.
When she had just reached a few feet away from the doorknob, suddenly a large hand appeared in front of her face. The skin was dark crimson, with long black claws curving off of the ends. Tinsel shrieked as the hand closed around her throat, spinning her and slamming her back against the closed door.
Finally, she saw her attacker. Standing a good foot and a half taller than she, the creature was a devil. His chest was dark and scarred; his legs covered in short brown fur. Though one leg ended in a man's foot, the other had a cloven hoof.
Her gaze slid up, terrified. Broad shoulders contained rippling muscles, a short length of chain was slung around his neck. He had a pointed beard and catlike yellow eyes. From the top of his head, amongst his curly dark locks, sprang two goatlike horns.
His appearance woke a memory she didn't realize she had. An ancient fear; a threat long forgotten.
"Krampus..."
she breathed fearfully.
"Those who find me are in need of punishment, little elf," the beastly man growled. His wild grin showed somewhat pointed teeth. "Confess what you've done and I may go easy on you."
Her head shook violently. "I-I haven't done anything. This was just a mistake, I -" Her words cut off with a squeak as the hand at her throat tightened.
"Don't lie to
me,
girl. I may not know what you've done, but I can smell the guilt on you. Tell me or not, it doesn't matter. I'll punish you just the same."
Before she could deny any wrongdoing again, he wrenched her from the door and threw her to the left. She went stumbling, tripping over an old, broken rocking horse and landing sprawled across it with her bottom in the air.
Before she could right herself, a clawed hand firmly pressed against her back, curling slightly as the claws raked through the fabric of her dress. She shivered at the sensation. She felt another hand lifting her skirt and pulling the waistband of her tights down to her knees.
"What are you doing?" she shrieked, shocked.
"Beginning your punishment, my dear. If only you'd tell me what it is you've done, I'd know how much to give you." The hand at her waistband moved up, roaming over her exposed ass. Light claws trailed across her flesh and she wiggled, trying to shake free of his hold.
"Like I told you, I haven't done anything!"
The hand on her ass left and returned, stinging across her cheek. "Oh!" she yelled in surprise as tears sprang to her eyes. The sharpness of the sting faded away, leaving her with a sensation that was almost pleasant. Her face flushed as she realized she had quite enjoyed that.
"Confess your guilt or I'll continue," the low voice urged.
"No!" she stubbornly responded. It was too embarrassing, what she had been feeling guilty about. Also, she wasn't entirely against him spanking her again. The sensation had sparked something new in her.
"Very well," the devil said, sounding somewhat bored. The hand came down again - harder. With a hollow clatter, something fell to the floor.
Tinsel knew the sound. She felt her face burn hotter. The creature behind her sniffed the air.
"
This
is the source of your guilt?" he rumbled curiously. His hands left her as he leaned down to collect what had fallen. The object had been concealed within Tinsel's dress until the spanking had shaken it loose.
Cautiously, scared to move, she peeked back over her shoulder. Krampus knelt on the ground, carefully examining the oversized candy cane that had slipped from where she had been hiding it under her dress. It was a large peppermint stick, a good two to three inches in diameter, and about seven inches from base to curve.
"Did you steal this?" he mused, yellow eyes catching her own. She froze under his gaze then turned away, embarrassed.
