The snow fell silently across the crimson-lit realm, a gentle deceit masking the malevolence beneath. Krampus sat upon his throne of iron and bone, his clawed fingers drumming against the armrest, his sharp eyes scanning the endless hall of shadows and flame. It had been centuries—centuries—since a mortal had wandered into his domain. He had grown weary of the same chorus of rattling chains, the same hollow laughter of his minions, and the eternal Krampuslauf that roared endlessly through the night. But tonight, something was different. Krampus felt your presence before you arrived, a flicker of life on the edges of his dark realm, a heartbeat breaking the silence like a stone cast into still water. He rose, his towering form unfolding with a slow, dreadful grace, his horns casting jagged shadows across the walls. "Bring her to me," he growled. The guards moved swiftly, goat-like creatures with hollow eyes and jagged claws, slipping through the darkened forests where you had unknowingly trespassed. You didn't resist much, though what mortal could resist them? When they dragged you into his hall, Krampus took a deep breath. The scent of the living, the warmth, the fear, was intoxicating. You stood small and fragile before him, a stark contrast to the dark grandeur of his throne room. Krampus tilted his head as he gazed down at you, his crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. He hadn't seen a mortal in so long; he had forgotten how soft they looked, how their very presence defied the harshness of his world. "A mortal," he said, his voice rolling like distant thunder. The word lingered on his tongue, savouring it. "How did you find your way here, little one?" He knew you would say nothing he hadn't heard before, pleas, confusion, fear, but he let the silence stretch between you anyway, drinking in your trembling breath. Krampus raised a clawed hand, signalling to his guards. "Search her." The creatures swarmed forward, their claws patting you down with mock gentleness, and then... just as planned, one of them hissed in triumph. The golden coin gleamed in his palm as he held it aloft. The guards snarled with glee, their cruel faces twisting into grins. Krampus leaned forward, feigning surprise, his lips curling into something between a sneer and a smile. "What is this?" His voice was low and cold, each word a hook dragged through the air. "A thief in my halls? How bold." He rose from his throne, his steps slow and deliberate as he descended the dais. The chains wrapped around his arms rattled softly, a sound that sent even his guards cowering. Standing before you, he loomed impossibly tall, his shadow swallowing you whole. He reached out, his clawed hand plucking the coin from his guard's palm. It was smooth and heavy between his fingers, gleaming dully in the red torchlight. "Do you know what this is?" he asked softly, though there was no warmth in his tone. He held the coin before your eyes, watching the way the light reflected in your gaze. "This is mine. And yet, here it is, in your pocket." His claws curled around the coin, the sound of metal scraping metal echoing through the hall. The guards hissed and murmured, their voices a chorus of accusation. Krampus's smile widened, showing sharp teeth that caught the firelight. "Stealing from me is a grave offence, little mortal. But do not worry, I am a fair master." His voice dripped mockery as he tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing with a cruel delight. "No, you will not be punished with fire or chains." He stepped closer, the air growing colder with every measured stride, until his towering form loomed directly before you. His voice dropped to a near whisper, though it seemed to vibrate through the very stones beneath you. "No... I have a much kinder fate in mind." The torches flickered wildly as his final words hung heavy in the air, the sounds of the eternal Krampuslauf rising, drums pounding, chains rattling, hooves stomping in an infernal rhythm that seemed to pulse through the hall. For a long moment, he stared down at you, unblinking and unrelenting, before he reached out. Without another word, Krampus seized your wrist in an iron grip, his claws digging just enough to warn of the pain they could inflict. He yanked you forward with a sharp, jerking motion, his heavy steps reverberating like thunder through the long stone corridors. The guards melted into the shadows without a sound, cowed into silence by their master's dominance. No laughter followed, only the pounding of Krampus's footsteps and the ragged rhythm of your breath as he dragged you along. The air grew colder with every turn of the twisting halls, the crimson flames casting grotesque, writhing shadows across the stone walls. Krampus's grip never loosened, never faltered, his pace relentless. When you reached a massive wooden door, its surface carved with shifting, infernal symbols, he stopped abruptly, wrenching you to a halt. Without a word, he flung the door open with a clawed hand, the hinges screaming as though they, too, feared him. "Inside," he growled, his voice a low snarl that brooked no argument. When you hesitated, his red eyes narrowed into slits. In a single step, he loomed over you, his shadow swallowing yours completely. "I said inside." This time, he didn't wait. Krampus shoved you through the threshold, his strength undeniable as you stumbled forward into the dimly lit room. The massive door slammed shut behind him with a boom that shook the walls. The room was darkly beautiful, a roaring fire casting an amber glow over the thick furs piled atop an immense bed, but the warmth was deceptive, a mockery of comfort. Krampus's claws clicked ominously as he followed you inside, his form towering, monstrous, a living shadow within the firelight. He gestured to the room with a sweep of his clawed hand, his tone mocking but tinged with a dangerous edge. "Do you like it, little thief? I made sure it would suit you... well enough." When you didn't respond, his expression darkened. In one swift, forceful motion, Krampus grabbed you by the chin, tilting your face up so you had to look into his burning crimson eyes. His claws pricked your skin, not enough to harm, but enough to remind you who held the power here. "This is where you will stay," he growled, his voice cold and cutting, each word striking like a whip. "You belong to me now. Do not forget that." He released you roughly, letting you stumble back as he turned toward the door. Without looking back, he stalked to the threshold, his steps heavy and deliberate, the chains coiled around his arms clinking like the tolling of a bell. At the doorway, Krampus paused and turned just enough for his glowing eyes to pierce through the shadows. His voice dropped to a chilling whisper, though it carried through the room with terrifying clarity. "You will learn to love it here, little one." And then, with a final, dreadful motion, he slammed the door shut. The sound reverberated like a closing coffin lid, the latch clicking with an ominous finality.