Reborn, by xangel

Reborn

by xangel

Disclaimer: Cory Raines isn't Mine (too bad), but the others are in the public domain or mine own.

Author's Notes: Written for Kindli's Elf Challenge, exclusively for NickZone

Rated: T

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Oh, shit!" Cory tried to duck, but it was too late. He felt the edge of the blade break the skin on his neck, followed by the slash of the sword across jugular, windpipe, and through the vertebrae.

His head toppled, completely cleaved from his body.

The composite memories of 746 years of living well coalesced into a flare of light and arcing shards of electricity, attacking his opponent only to be absorbed.

Then it was over.

Only it wasn't.

Cory woke up. It wasn't like his usual post-death wakings with the spasm as the heart re-started and a gasp as lungs remembered to expand. This was akin to waking from a restful sleep.

He stretched, remembering everything, though none of it seemed important anymore.

"Corwin?"

Cory sat up and looked around for the source of the voice. Better know who it was before he replied.

"Are you Corwin a'Green also known as Ramsey Corwin, Rainier, Brad Corin, and most recently Cory Raines?" The voice belonged to an officious-looking little man holding a clipboard who could have been a tax accountant or a prison clerk.

"Depends."

There was a heavy sigh. "Just answer the question. Or don't and that'll be my answer."

Cory grinned, and got to his feet. "Okay, I'll cop. It's me."

"Very good. This way please." The clerk turned around and stepped toward the left of what suddenly appeared to be two doorways.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

The clerk didn't pause and Cory scrambled to catch up with him, darting through the opening to catch up with the little jerk.

Halfway through, Cory felt a moment of total disorientation, as if up was all directions at once, then the floor settled back where it belonged, beneath his green slipper-clad feet.

Huh?

Cory looked around. It looked like a Christmas toy shop had exploded. There were toys everywhere!

"Welcome, Cory!" The deep voice held a rumble of laughter just beneath the surface, ready to break out at any moment.

Cory turned to face this new person. Then froze. He knew immortals were real, he'd been one. But THIS! This couldn't be real.

"It's perfectly okay, Cory. You're where you belong."

He twisted around quickly, looking for the doorway he'd entered by, but it had disappeared. There was an open door behind him, but it led into another room much like the one he was in.

He turned back. Yeah, this guy really did look like Santa Claus. Sounded like him too. Coke executives would get a hard on at the *thought* of casting him in their holiday commercials.

"I'm a thief. I don't belong here." Time for hard truths, since not even he could out-charm St. Nick.

Santa bent over to look Cory in the eye. "Yes, you do. You stole from the rich, and gave to the poor. You earned this place."

Cory took a step back, then looked down at his clothing. Green shoes with pointy toes, red tights - thank St. Stephen he'd always looked good in tights - and green jerkin. He was a bloody elf!

He looked up at the red-suited, bearded guy. Either this guy was a giant, or Cory was a *short* elf at that. What happened to all those tall graceful ones in the books?

"I'm an elf, you're Santa Claus, and this is where I ended up after I lost my head?"

"Precisely, young Cory. Or do you prefer Corwin?"

"Cory's fine."

He looked around. That looked like the new Xbox over on that shelf. Wonder if they had the new Area 51 game to go with it? This might not be too bad.

He looked back at Santa. "Do all Immortals end up here?" He didn't want to get surprised by certain of his old acquaintances.

"Only the good ones."

"What happens to the bad ones?" He'd heard enough stories from the Boy Scout about Kronos and the others to be curious.

"Just like you're *my* assistant, they become other beings' assistants."

Cory thought about it. "You mean like gods or demi-gods or something?"

Santa chuckled. Obviously he'd been working out since he did *not* shake like a bowl full of jelly. In fact he resembled a defensive back more than a sumo wrestler. "Or something. Not a place for you - you prefer your water hot from what I'm told, not your entire environment."

A metaphorical light bulb clicked on. "Oh."

"Precisely. Now come on, Cory. I need to introduce you to the others. And yes, part of your job will be to play with the newest toys, so you can stop thinking of stealing that Xbox. It's all yours now."

"Spoilsport," muttered Cory as he obediently followed his new boss.

THE END and THE BEGINNING

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★