The laughter continued as Amanda peered into the darkness, the hairs at the back of her neck standing in both anticipation and dread; whatever was in the darkness sounded dangerous but she was with Santa Claus and that counted for something.
"Come out of the shadows, you coward" Santa Claus said again, his sword still clasped tightly in his hand.
The laughter intensified before a sweet voice erupted from the shadows, low and inviting, daring and absolutely beautiful.
"Coward? Please, deviated being… you have no idea to whom you speak to"
"Then come on out so I can see you" Santa Claus challenged
Amanda watched, she could feel how important whoever it was in the shadows was, her breath hitched in her throat when a woman appeared, she glowed literally and had a crown of bones on her head. She looked like she had stepped out of an unfinished fairy tale horror and was now standing before them looking both lost and menacing.
"Who are you?" Santa Claus asked.
