Belphegor

"Sod, Mor? What's the matter? "

Santa's big, deep voice, a fatherly voice, inquired in a tactful tone. There was a pinch of surprise there, but very little.

"We... brought an Ashmedai. "

Mor answered, stuttered. Santa just raised his eyebrows. Then he looked at his companion sitting in front of him. I don't need to be told by anyone to recognize that figure as an Monsters race. His head was covered with green scales, and it looked like a serpent's head. I could see the Monster smirking, and the fangs emerging from his mouth made him even more sinister.

"You sent an Ashmedai?"

Santa asked, looking annoyed.

"Oops, I got caught."

Said the Monster, still with his grin. Mor threw an already conscious Ashmedai onto the gazebo's stair.

"What do you mean by sent an Ashmedai? We agreed to discuss this carefully."

"To speak well with you is to have long discussions, take hundreds of years, with all your super-wise considerations, or I can tell it will become so... slow." That monster tilted his head, "The kids in my world couldn't wait any longer. They've already missed several Christmas celebrations without any presents from Santa Claus."

"You know why I don't send gifts to your race. Hardly any good child of a monster there."

Santa caressed his gray beard. His voice has returned calm and wise.

"Well there you said it. Almost. It's not no one at all." The monster shrugged, "I thought you didn't impartial, Santa."

As an Ardeon I know that Santa Claus doesn't just give presents to children of the human race. Santa also sends gifts to children in the supernatural world. The children of vampires, werewolves, trolls, fairies, all the mythical creatures you can name. Even ghosts of children. Whoever and whatever they are, Santa will give presents as long as the kids make good. I'm glad I never served as an Ardeon for those creatures. I can't imagine how Ardeon would check to see if a ghost child is good or not. Do ghosts ever sleep? I don't think so.

"I commissioned an Ardeon for your race a long time ago, and your own people who have ruined it. You think I would sacrifice another Ardeon to fall for the same mistakes?"

"I--- my people, have never destroyed the mind of that Ardeon. You don't have any solid evidence. "

I can hear a jolt and I see Ashmedai waking up. His eyes widened wildly, then he leapt in fear at the sight of his master.

[Ardeon... failed... ]

The Ashmedai looked down, terrified to his master. The monster stood up, and I can see him now. He has no feet, the figure is a snake. He's a snake monster.

"It's okay. You brought him here for me."

And for the first time, the serpent monster looked at me. I held my breath for a moment. How could he recognize me? As an Ardeon I have no striking distinction with those around me. Or in this case, there was Martin next to me, who looked exactly like me. We look like human beings.

"Levent, right? "

Asked the serpent. I glanced at Santa Claus. Looks like Santa just spotted me as well.

"Yes." I answered, brief and very carefully. I don't want to give out any information that might endanger my life.

"The finest Ardeon of all the Ardeon. Never make mistakes. Complete the task on time." say the serpent.

Well, that's right till today. the predicate no longer applies when you mess it with your pets, I say to myself.

"You're investigating the Ardeon? "

I saw Santa's body moving forward in his seat as he speak. Santa is obviously very uncomfortable with that fact. The serpent monster looks at Santa, and I see the cunning in the monster's eyes when he catches the light.

"I just...." The monster stirs his fingers, his head moves round like a man thinking, "Gathering information." He said later. Not to forget his smirk being covered.

Santa Claus stood up, with swift movements, almost making his chair fall backward. Santa Claus has a very large body, and I'm sure the snake monster would die easily if Santa tried to strangle him, but Santa Claus is not a violent man. One thing that corresponds with the depiction of humans. What's not same is that this Santa Claus is a big man, but his stomach is not fat. And he didn't always wear that furry red clothes. In his house, he always wearing a black sweatshirt and pants, which makes his pale skin and the grayish-white hair stand out.

"No one has the right--" Santa comes near the snake monster, his voice is flat and deep, but I know his face is full of threats, "looking for anything about the Ardeon. "

"One of your Ardeon once made trouble in my world," the snake monster looked back at Santa with fierce eyes, "consider this one in return."

"Get the hell out of here! I will not send a single Ardeon to your world." Santa's about to pick up a bell on the table to call one of his Grohl when the Monster says something, "It's just a matter of time, until the whole world knows about The Circle. About the Ardeon."

"Are you threatening me?" Santa Claus widened his eyes, nearly squeezed the brass bell that was in his hand right now.

"Just a reminder." The serpent monster slithered down the stairs, and then with a tight squeeze he broke the chain that kept his pet on its leash. It turns out my estimation of how weak this monster is compared to Santa Claus is very wrong. Ashmedai then followed his master very obediently.

"You have until Christmas next year to decide. And I just want him."

My eyes and his eyes met as he passed me. To be honest, I'm feeling scared. Frightened. There's something beyond his super strength and his physical appearance that's much stronger. Far more powerful to destroy.

***