The Heart Leads the Way
When Melissa first arrived at Santoff Claussen it was with a strange and ominous feeling of foreboding. While the other children she had traveled with admired the enormous trees surrounding the village, greeted the bear of whom they had heard so many wonderful stories and gaped at the beautiful Spirit of the forest, she remained at the back of the group, watching every sight and listening to every sound, always wary and vigilant.
"Completely paranoid, this one" she had heard the father huff on occasion.
The mother however was more understanding. "Give her a break. She's lost everything! Just imagine what the child has been through, it is only natural that she is afraid!"
The other children called her the scaredy cat or even the freak when they talked about her to each other, and sometimes also when they where talking to her, which didn't happen too often. The fact that she could not speak up made them nervous and they usually avoided her.
But Melissa was not scared, not even overly shy. She was merely cautious, easily startled and found it hard to trust people. And that really was understandable. She had lost her mother when a band of cossacks had raided and burned down the village where she had lived years ago. Her father had managed to save her and himself though and together they had traveled the wilds ever since. Stopping at every other settlement where the man would ask for work in exchange for new provisions. Occasionally they were even allowed to stay a night or two.
Not that one night nearly three months ago though. It was nothing unusual. People out here in the wilds of Siberia were typically skeptical toward strangers by nature. And the child had never been afraid to sleep out in the wilderness before.
She had had her father to protect her and she had always felt safe with him by her side. He had known how to survive out there. He had been a great hunter and tracker had always known where to go in order to find food, water and shelter. And then, just like that, he was gone. That one night had changed everything - one moment of carelessness - or call it plain bad luck or an awful twist of fate - had completely destroyed her young life and left her alone and stranded in a no man's land.
But then a stranger had shown up. He had heard her crying and saved her. He had taken her back to his family, who had been on their way to the fabled village of Santoff Claussen. They were good people who had taken her in, given her food and shelter but not much more. She had never told them where her parents were or why she had been sitting in a tree screaming and crying hysterically or why she was now no longer able to speak above a whisper. There was no Need for it. The father had seen enough that day to know what must have happened. Her silence and her oddness somehow isolated her from the Family but they still treated her kindly and they were sure, that once they reached the place, someone there would surely adopt the strange girl.
And now, after weeks and weeks of marching across the vast, dreary planes of the Siberian tundra and the occasional gloomy forest of pines and spruces, they had finally reached their destination. Melissa felt some sort of relief when they followed the spirit of the forest up to the gate in the high thorny hedges that surrounded Santoff Claussen.
The fact however, that they had already been expected struck the girl as rather ominous. But there was no doubt about it. The entire village seemed to have gathered in front of the surely largest tree she had ever laid eyes upon. But it was not only the sheer size that stunned her, it was the door that was embedded in it's bark.
What is this? Does someone actually live in there?
The question on her mind was quickly answered when a tall, lean, white-bearded man stepped out of the crowd to greet them with a most friendly smile. And even before the man introduced himself, Melissa and the other children knew already whom they were looking at. This had to be him! The word's greatest Wizard, the famous (or to some people infamous) Ombric Shalazar. But still, when he finally confirmed their suspicions they all gasped in unison.
They had really made it. They were actually here! They were standing before the greatest magical genius the world had ever seen. The village itself was rumored to be some sort of paradise for children, freethinkers and most of all: believers. This meaning people who believed that nothing was impossible. The one secluded spot in the world, where she should have felt save and welcome. But still, even here something seemed to be amiss. Melissa could not lay her finger on it, but she could smell it in the air, feel it in the ground beneath her feet and when she looked around at the friendly and excited faces of the villagers, she could see it in their eyes too.
There was something like a shadow of dread in all of them. Melissa could tell, that they had seen things too horrible for even them to fully understand. She knew what it felt like. She would always have that shadow in her eyes as well and she recognized it on sight. So even here, not everything was right with the world.
She watched the father and the mother walk up to the wizard, their children in tow. There were five of them. Three boys and two girls, who were the youngest. Marie and Anya also were twins. But that fact only showed more clearly how similar they all looked. The entire family. They were all golden-haired and blue-eyed, with the single exception of Andrej, the oldest son, whose hair was only just a hue darker.
Melissa stayed behind, watching them as they shook the wizards hand and introduced themselves before the mother curiously asked how they had known about them coming.
Ombric merely chuckled, which caused his impressive mustache to tremble and twirl in a way that almost made the girl smile.
He bid them all a hearty welcome and asked them to follow him inside. Inside... meaning that tree – where he would answer all their questions.
Melissa was not so sure how to feel about this. The tree sure looked big, but not that big! How were all of them supposed to fit inside? The bearded man seemed to have little doubt about it and then she shrugged.
Right... they say that nothing is impossible here.
She watched the family, as they followed their guide and still she hesitated until Ombric Shalazar suddenly turned around and looked right at her.
"Aren't you coming, dear? It is getting dark and it is warm and comfortable inside" he asked her invitingly and with a sparkle in his bespectacled eyes that even Melissa could not withstand. She took a deep breath and nodded before she hurried to keep up with the others.
She had almost caught up with them when she noticed something that made her stop again. The patch of ground before her feet looked strange, different, darker. Scarred. The girl was not even sure why the sight startled her as it did. But merely standing here was making her skin crawl. Was this perhaps the source of that dread she could see in everyone's eyes? What could possibly have happened here?
She took a step to the side and carefully walked around it. Then she broke into a run when she saw that the family was already filing through the door into the tree one by one. A cluster of village children stood close by. Most of them were looking up at their five new comrades in excitement, waving and smiling. A few of them however were looking over at the odd one out, the one that had fallen behind. Amongst them was a tall, gangly boy, who then exchanged a knowing glance with a younger girl, the only one in the group, before they watched the new kid approach the stairs in a hurry.
Melissa looked up and met their curious, friendly gazes. Somehow, despite feeling incredibly uncomfortable, she managed to smile back at them before she dashed up the stairs where the door was already closing. She reached it just in time, to slip in through the remaining gap before it closed gently behind her.
"Isn't this one a bit strange?" the young girl outside asked her friends who nodded in unison.
"Behaves like she doesn't belong" the tall boy said thoughtfully.
"And she doesn't look anything like the rest of the family" a small boy nodded.
"You're right" another, rather skinny boy agreed. "They all look a bit like tinsel angels, don't they? Except for that dark haired creature."
"Perhaps she really doesn't belong... at least with them" the tall boy mumbled and they all looked up at his thoughtful face.
"Did you see, how she tiptoed around that spot where..." the girl asked. She tried to sound brave but her voice was shaking slightly.
"Sure did, Sascha" one of the boys nodded and put his arm around her shoulder. "She's a knowing one, that girl. She could feel that something bad happened there. It was written all over her face."
"But how? She's never been here before..."
"I saw it too" a voice interrupted from somewhere behind them. They all looked around at another girl who was approaching them now. "Petter is right, she did feel or sense something. But I do wonder how she could tell."
"Maybe we should sneak inside and see what we can find out about those new people" the smallest boy suggested flashing an eager but also rather mischievous smile at his friends.
The girl, who had just joined the group smiled at him but shook her head. "That would be rude and you heard what Ombric said. He wants to talk to those people in private first. We will have plenty of time to talk to them later."
"And besides" the tall boy added. "It is getting kind of late. Shouldn't Bunnymund be back soon? I want to know how that tunnel is coming along."
"I can't wait to see that place" the younger girl squealed, bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet in pure excitement. "Katherine, can you tell us again what it looks like?"
The taller, auburn haired girl smiled but was not really in the mood for telling stories just now. "How about I tell you about it later, when those new kids can hear it too? I'm sure they will want to hear about it and our battle at the earth's core."
All of them nodded in agreement. It was good to have some new friends around to add to their numbers. They had won the day back then, but they didn't know for sure if the war was really over. Their enemy might soon have another hideous plan up his black sleeve and they were dreading the day it would be revealed.
But before any of them could say another word, their parents came up to them, reminding them of the time. Now normally there would have been quite a fight about coming inside and going to sleep but lately this every-evening-ritual had gradually ceased to exist.
It was not like the children of Santoff Claussen were suddenly eager to go to bed at night, not at all. But they found that they had better uses for their energy and romping around the forest at night didn't seem as safe now as it once used to be.
The small group of friends broke up and the children went home with their parents. Everyone except Katherine. She lived with Ombric but since the man was busy with those new folks just now, she climbed back up to her nest-like shelter high in the branches. Once she had made herself comfortable, she started to write down the recent events from the moment a hawk had arrived with news from the east and told them, that a group of people was heading for the village.
Her friend Nicholas St. North had been standing nearby when the bird had landed on Ombric's inviting arm, watching impatiently as he had not yet mastered the hawk's particular language, but he was improving greatly on many others. He had especially taken an immense liking to the tongue of the abominable snowmen, or Yeti as he preferred to call them.
"There's nothing abominable about them! They are the kindest creatures alive!" he would tell anyone who would listen and add with a chuckle "As long as you don't get on their bad side".
As soon as the news had spread, everyone got busy. With the help of Ombric's magic, a new cottage was soon ready for the new family to move in and as the time of their arrival drew nearer, the excitement mounted to joyful anticipation.
There would be five new children (hawks are not exactly gifted when it came to counting), new friends to play with and they couldn't wait to tell them all the wonderful, awful and amazing things that had happened lately. Or rather, they were looking forward to hear Katherine tell the stories.
They had even postponed a planned trip to the Lunar Lamadary, which they had all been looking forward too. Her friends had been so excited when she had first told them about the Lamas, the Yeti and most of all the Man in the Moon.
There is so much we will have to tell them ... will there even be enough time for everything?
The auburn haired girl looked up at the darkening sky and the first stars, her gray eyes searching for a familiar glimmer of light. But her dearest friend was making himself scarce these days. It made her wonder if she had done anything to offend or anger him.
I wish Nightlight was here... why is he suddenly acting like a stranger? Ever since we came back from the earth's core...
Her thoughts were interrupted when the ground began to tremble slightly and then suddenly a wide hole opened up in the middle of the village square.
Katherine smiled, not at least alarmed by the display and a moment later, she waved down at their latest friend and fellow Guardian.
"Good evening, Bunnymund!" she called down to him as he shook earth and pebbles out of his fur. Since he had become a full time tunneler in order to prepare passage for everyone to travel to the Lunar Lamadary, he had discarded his usual robes and even his egg-shaped spectacles. He had also become somewhat of a chocoholic in order to grow additional limbs and muscle to speed up his digging.
But even now, that he had shrunk back to a regular sized Pooka, he was still impressive to behold, tall and wiry as he was.
Katherine studied his appearance in appreciation as he looked up at her with a smile of is own.
"Good evening, child. Have the newbies arrived yet?" He was not really close with anyone here just yet. As old habits die hard, the Pooka still remained slightly distrustful when it came to humans, but this young one was certainly one he liked a lot. The girl had common sense and if a Himalayan snow goose accepted her as a substitute mother, there was no reason not to trust her whatsoever.
"They are inside. Ombric told us to stay clear for a while but I am sure you will be most welcome, dear Bunnymund."
E. Aster Bunnymund nodded and rummaged through the pouch on his belt until he found what he was looking for. He knew by now that Katherine had a weakness for toffees and he was always happy to see that dreamy expression on her face.
He flipped the brilliantly wrapped chocolate egg around in his paw before tossing it up into the air for the girl to catch. She laughed and snatched it right out of the air as it soared past her.
"Thank you so much!" she smiled and watched as he approached the stairs that led up to the door.
He was half way up, when the door suddenly opened from the inside and that dark haired young girl came stumbling out backwards. But even from her perch up in the branches, Katherine could tell that she looked fairly frightened.
When Melissa had entered the tree, she could not see the family anymore but she heard their voices and footsteps not far away. She heard the children's wondrous aaahhs and oooohhs but paid them little heed since her path was blocked by something that looked like a man.
A man made completely out of some shiny gold-like metal.
Not sure whether to be afraid or not all she did for a moment was stare at it in wide-eyed wonder.
"Good evening, child" the metal man said, sounding friendly enough. "What can I do for you?"
Do? For me? Why? Wait... it can speak! Oh dear... what is that thing?
As if the machine had read her thoughts, it introduced itself. "Please call me Djinni" it offered with a slight bow. "What might your name be?"
The girl swallowed hard but then straightened her back and squared her shoulders. Machine or not, it seemed friendly and had perfect manners too.
"Melissa" she whispered as steadily as she could.
"I am sorry, dear" the Djinni said with what almost looked like a frown. "I did not catch that. Could you say it again, please?"
She sighed privately but did her best to whisper as loud as she could. "Melissa, my name is Melissa"
The metal man still seemed confused. He was not used to have children speaking so quietly. He was not made to understand whispers, he needed to hear an actual voice to understand what she was saying.
"I am sorry. Could you please speak up, child? I can not understand you."
This was when Melissa realized that it was pointless. She could hear the voices of the other children moving further and further away. If she didn't want to get completely lost in search for them, she would have to get around this talking machine. Now!
She shrugged up at his shiny face and sidestepped him in an attempt to just pass him by. She had clearly not anticipated the Djinni's speed. Her foot had not even touched the ground yet, when the robot was right in front of her again.
"I must know who wishes to enter Big Root. Please, tell me your name first. Then I will happily guide you to Ombric and North and their guests."
The girl ran both hands trough her messy, dark brown hair and stared up at the Djinni's face while despair started to grow within her heart.
"I told you my name!" she hissed. "And I can't speak up. I can't! Don't you understand?"
For a few long moments the metal man only seemed to watch her but when she tried to slip past him again, he nimbly stepped into her way every time.
"I need to see my maker, child. My hearing sensors seem to be malfunctioning. Until then I can not let you enter."
Melissa could feel her eyes starting to burn. She started one last attempt to make the odd construct see reason. "But everyone is already inside!" she whispered hoarsely, unable to give her voice a sound. She pointed in the direction where she assumed the family had gone. But the Djinni shook his head.
Instead he stepped forward and reached for her, as if to grab her. The girl jumped backwards in alarm. She was not going to take any chances with this metal monster and she backed away and then made a dash for the door, her eyes never left the shining metal frame of her pursuer.
She ripped the door open and bolted without ever turning her back on the Djinni.
She could feel the wood of the stairs beneath her feet and slammed the door into the metal creatures face. Then she took a deep breath and turned around. And had she still been able to do so, she would have screamed.
E. Aster Bunnymund was ever so slightly startled at the child's horrified expression and he gingerly backed away from her to he bottom of the stairs to give her some space.
Then he offered her a reassuring smile and without further ado held out a beautifully wrapped chocolate egg to her.
"Care for a chocolate?" he offered and looked her up and down. "That's a lemon and raspberry filling for you. The lemons are grown in Mother Natures private gardens and the raspberries have the particularly subtle taste of those that grow on the very edge of the arctic circle for extra freshness. I'm sure it's just your thing!"
Melissa, who was still recovering from the fright the Djinni had given her was now completely shocked, and who could blame her? After all, one does not come face to face with a lagomorph of such size on a daily basis and the girl had never even heard of such a creature's existence. She had heard many stories of Santoff Claussen but nothing at all could have prepared her for this.
She backed away, stumbling up a step or two. She all but ignored the offering, still trying to wrap her mind around what she was seeing. But she could smell it. Right through the shiny wrapping, the smell of rich, dark chocolate mixed with the fresh scents of lemon and sweet berries. In spite of her fear, she found it really hard to resist the temptation.
The enormous rabbit was still holding it out for her. He even came a step closer and looked ever so slightly offended at her obvious fear and distrust.
"Don't be afraid" said a new voice, startling Melissa. She forced herself to look away from the furry creature before her and to the side.
Her deep blue eyes locked with a pair of bright gray ones and for a moment the two girls just stared at each other.
They were about the same age, equally tall with long hair. Katherine's was a bit fairer and quite wavy and her skin was slightly tanned from playing out of doors while Melissa was a bit paler, even though she had spent even more time out in the wilds. Her own hair was darker, not black though and she had braided it into a long pigtail. But it was messy now after traveling for weeks and some strands of it had come loose and were sticking sweatily to her face.
"There's nothing here to be scared of" Katherine assured the new girl with a friendly smile that really washed away most of her jumpiness.
However, she glanced back at the strange rabbit man with doubt in her eyes.
The auburn haired girl let out a short but infectious laugh. And the Pooka finally seemed to understand that he had really startled the new girl.
"I am sorry, child" he apologized. "Keep forgetting that it takes you humans a bit to get used to seeing a Pooka, right?"
Melissa wasn't quite how to respond. Should she respond at all? The giant rabbit creature looked rather remorseful but was still prompting her to take the candy. And she really wanted it, she didn't want to want it, but she could barely stop herself. The scent was almost hypnotic.
Instead however she looked up at him in confusion. "Wha... what's a ... Pooka?" she stammered almost inaudibly.
But since Bunnymund was graced with enormous ears and a very keen sense of hearing he understood her quite well. He managed a rare grin.
"You are looking at one" he said and bowed to her. "One of the oldest and most accomplished races in all the known or unknown universe, we were the first to invent the fine art of chocolate making and I dare say that I have managed to turn it into perfection."
"It is true" Katherine nodded. "You should try one! I promise, you won't regret it!"
"You sure?" Melissa whispered hesitantly but then simply shrugged and took the offered chocolate egg. She unwrapped it carefully, fully aware of the fact that both the girl and the strange rabbit man, or Pooka, were watching her expectantly.
God, his smells heavenly... don't think they'd try to poison me... wouldn't gain them anything, would it? Whatever...
She bit her lip a bit as she looked down at the plain, oval piece of chocolate in her palm before she finally made up her mind and put it into her mouth.
The first sensation was... cold. The chocolate was surprisingly cool, almost crisp but as it started to melt inside her mouth the flavors spread into something she could only describe as a frosty-sweet firework.
Bunnymund watched her eagerly, waiting for the sounds of pleasure that usually came with that dreamlike expression. But since her voice was ruined and out of order, all he heard was silence. Her face however showed him clearly enough that she was enjoying the treat tremendously.
"So? How do you like it?" the Pooka inquired with little patience but obvious excitement.
"This..." Melissa whispered with a smile "Was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted!"
She couldn't help but grin at the rabbit man's obvious joy that followed her silent praise. It made her face hurt. It had been far to long since she had laughed. But this chocolate was truly amazing. Melissa felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and while the fresh taste lingered, she felt as if she had not a care in the world.
"Glad you like it, kid" Bunnymund nodded, looking very pleased with himself.
"Thank you" the girl breathed. "You are very generous."
For a while now, Katherine had been wondering why the girl only whispered. First she had assumed, that she was merely shy and something inside had obviously frightened her. But now she seemed just fine, but still...
"Why are you not inside with your parents and siblings?" she asked curiously and Melissa's smile vanished instantly and made place for a rather unhappy frown.
"They are not my parents" she whispered blankly staring down at her feet as if she felt guilty of something. "They picked me up on the way... they brought me along and I am grateful for that. But when I wanted to go inside after them, I was stopped by some... I don't know what it was... some man out of metal."
"The Djinni?" Katherine wondered. "What happened?"
"He wouldn't let me pass, I think he was going to attack me..."
"Impossible" the gray-eyed girl gasped.
"He wouldn't, he couldn't... he can't hurt a child. North made him that way, didn't he?" the rabbit man huffed, but then scratched himself behind one ear. "He has nothing of her inside him yet."
Katherine nodded and glanced up at the door. "Why didn't he let you pass?"
Melissa ground her teeth audibly as her frustration returned with the memory of that strange and fearsome encounter. "He couldn't hear me... He wanted to know my name and I told him, or I tried to, but he couldn't understand me" she whispered. Her face was stony but they could both sense her frustration.
Bunnymund watched her silently for a moment and then nodded. "That reminds me, that I have not yet introduced myself. The name is E. Aster Bunnymund and my young friend here is called Katherine.
Both girls looked at each other, nodded and held out their hands for a quick shake. "I'm Melissa" the new girl said quietly and she could see that sparkle of curiosity in her new friends gray eyes, she knew what was coming.
"Please don't be mad at me for asking, but what is wrong with your voice?" the girl asked rather timidly. She could by now guess, that this was not a subject the girl was eager to talk about, but she wanted to know.
Melissa was not angry. She had expected that question to come up sooner or later.
"It's gone" she said flatly. "I broke it."
"Broke it?" the Pooka asked with a frown. "However did you manage to do that?"
The girl sighed and shrugged. "Let's say... I over – used it. But I really don't want to talk about it, if you don't mind."
Both of them nodded as if they understood but how could they? They had no idea! But at least they didn't ask any more questions. Instead the Bunnymund creature rubbed his furry paws together and looked up at the door.
"Come with me, child. I will take you to the others" he offered with an inviting gesture. "Just leave the tin-box to me. I'll get you to your friends right away."
Melissa wanted to object that those other kids were not her friends. They had merely accepted her company but friendship to her was something very different, not that she had much experience but she was pretty damn sure that friends would not call her a wuss and retarded behind her back. And she had overheard them often enough.
But then she looked over at that other girl, Katherine and thought that she might already be more of a friend than those kids would ever be.
"Go on. Bunnymund will get you there safely" Katherine advised her. "I'll see you later. The other children here can't wait to meet you and your friends. And we all have a lot to tell you. I bet Ombric is telling them a great deal right now. You'd better hurry, it's important that you hear what has been going on here lately."
Melissa nodded and managed another smile before she turned around and climbed up the stairs again. The Pooka followed her and even pushed past her to open the door and look inside. The girl looked around him but there was no metal man anywhere now.
"Come with me, Melissa. We will find the others down in the hall. I'm quite sure, the old wizard has already given them the tour of the place, but that means that you haven't missed to much of the important stuff."
She nodded silently and did as she was bidden but they encountered no one on their way. Melissa was amazed by the size of the place. It had looked like a really big tree from the outside but the interior didn't look like a tree at all. It looked more like a real home. They passed a few chambers but only one door was open and the inside looked like some kind of crazy Alchemist's laboratory.
She stared at it in wide-eyed wonder as they passed but then they reached a fragile looking spiraling staircase and they could hear voices. Bunnymund had already heard them a lot sooner but now Melissa could hear them too.
A man's voice was currently speaking. One that she knew well.
"... found her in a tree... screaming like a lunatic... pack of wolves below... fired my rifle a few times to chase them away... beneath the tree I found… "
"They talking about you?" the Pooka asked suddenly, his voice louder than the man's voice down below. He had noticed how the girl's face had turned pale. She simply nodded.
"Djinni, go and find her!" another voice suddenly ordered. "I don't care if you can't hear her! Get her, now!" The voice sounded slightly angry or agitated.
"Oh crap" Melissa hissed. She really didn't want another encounter with that loathsome metal creature.
"Don't worry" Bunnymund said and patted her gently on the shoulder. "That robot is not called a Djinni for no reason. North built him to protect the children of this village and grant their wishes. And you are a child of Santoff Claussen now."
His words did little to reassure her but she followed him down the stairs anyway and by the time, said robot approached them, they could already see the family sitting on cushioned chairs in a half circle below. That wizard, Ombric was there too and another much younger man was standing beside him.
"Child!" the djinni said in his odd melodious voice. "There you are! And master Bunnymund. It is always a pleasure..."
As Melissa backed away and hid herself behind the Pooka, Bunnymund glared at the metal-man with his green eyes stern and hard as a rock. "I heard what North ordered, Djinni. I will take her to them. You can go back on duty now."
"As you wish" the djinni chimed obediently and passed them as he went his way up the stairs to take his place near the door.
As soon as he was a few steps away the oversized Bunny smiled down at the girl. "There, see? Nothing to be afraid of."
"That was easy" Melissa agreed with a surprised nod and then allowed the Pooka to gently push her forward so that she was descending the remaining steps before him.
"Ah, Melissa!" the strange man, who had been standing next to the wizard greeted her with a wide smile as if they had known each other for years. He looked very young, maybe in his late teens or early twenties with sparkling blue eyes a fancy looking mustache and a bit of a beard. "There you are! What took you so long? We were all worried about you!"
Despite his friendliness, Melissa took a step back in surprise and looked up at the Pooka for reassurance.
"Duh" Bunnymund huffed. "That there would be Nicholas St. North. Ex-Cossack and now wannabe sorcerer, he still has a lot to learn though I dare say. Besides that, he's the typical human, always ready for a fight and always trying to save the world. And I must admit, he is pretty good with that sword when there is a battle at hand."
"A battle?" Melissa wondered. "There have been battles? Here? I thought this place was safe?"
"From what I've heard, it used to be" Bunnymund explained, completely ignoring North and the old wizard. "But things have changed. An evil has returned to this world and it seems to have taken a keen interest in this place. But never fear. We fought it and it is beaten for now. All we can do now is hope that it won't come back any time soon."
The girl nodded, not quite knowing what else to do or say in response. But she thought of that strange, scary scar outside in the ground.
And then, before she realized it, that young man in Cossack-garbs stood before her, his hand on her shoulder and he pulled her away from the Pooka and towards the family. There was a vacant chair waiting for her.
"You will hear all about it in a minute, dear. You missed the tour around Big Root, but I'm sure the other kids here will be glad to show you everything tomorrow."
Somewhere behind her, she could hear Andrej huff and one of the twins was yawning. It was late and Melissa was tired too but they would have to hear that story now anyway.
She did not look at them but kept her eyes trained on Nicholas St. North, who moved back to Ombric's side while Bunnymund remained by the stairs. She noticed that he was watching her and the family closely.
Then Ombric started talking, and even after a few words, Melissa could tell, that she was about to hear a really long story.
An ancient evil had awoken. An evil that brought bad dreams to children, an evil that was trying to usher in a new dark age on this world, whatever that meant. An evil that had attacked them, right here in this very village, who had nearly killed that man called North... twice - and who had taken all the children, except for Katherine hostage not long ago. An evil that would strike fear into the hearts of every human being.
They called that evil Pitch, the Nightmare King.
Melissa tried very hard to listen, but after weeks and weeks of walking she felt so incredibly comfortable in that soft chair and she was so tired. But still, she tried to listen. And she heard stories of unbelievable battles, of the djinni being possessed, of relics and stolen spells and spear wielding abominable snowmen, of fearlings and nightmare men who had been crushed and sent running by those creatures that North called Yeti's ("That's what they call themselves, and there is really nothing abominable about them! Just go and taste their cooking! No abominable creature could cook up such delicacies!")
Soon Melissa's head was swimming and she could hear the twins, Marie and Anya yawn in unison next to her. It was infectious and made her feel even more sleepy.
She shook her head a bit to remain awake and vigilant. She did not feel like letting her guard down, even though she felt quite safe here now. But there were so many strangers. She trusted the Pooka now but she had not yet made up her mind about the others. The wizard seemed kind enough but that Nicholas St. North guy was just a bit too cheerful for her taste. She kept her eyes on him the entire time, trying to figure out just who exactly he was.
He was energetic, enthusiastic and as she soon came to notice, quite full of himself. Or maybe it was just confidence. But finally she made up her mind, that he was alright.
She shook her head again to clear it and to hear the rest of the story.
They had fought that evil - that Pitch at the center of the earth, with the help of Bunnymund. The mention of the strange but actually nice rabbit man roused her attention and she listened with more interest. They had knowingly walked into a trap and the battle had been fierce and bloody. North had almost been killed but then Katherine and Nightlight had saved the day by flying right at the so called Nightmare King and showed him a picture of his daughter. And this harmless little thing had defeated him. He had vanished with a scream along with all his fearlings.
For a moment, Melissa was about to ask just who or what Nightlight was but her breath hitched in the back of her throat when she heard the rest.
"This … creature... has a daughter?" she whispered hoarsely into the sudden silence, hardly able to believe what she had just heard. She had asked her late father what seemed ages ago where babies came from, and he had explained it to her quite willingly but with a very red face. And now she wondered who could have possibly liked a fiend like this enough to have a child with him.
But then... perhaps it was just some kind of metaphor. Maybe …
"He did" Ombric answered her solemnly and Melissa was surprised that he had actually heard her. "A long time ago, he was a very different man until the loss of his family led to him being consumed by darkness."
Melissa was suddenly wide awake. It happened rarely enough that someone responded to her, especially when there were so many adults around.
The loss of his family?
She knew what that felt like... she had lost her mother years ago and now even her dear beloved father was gone, she didn't want to think about that day. Loss was something she was all too familiar with and she knew just how much it hurt. And despite all the terrible stories she had just heard, she felt a sudden pity for that evil creature. She wanted to know more.
"What happened?" she whispered but at he same time the mother asked if they would have a place to sleep tonight, drowning Melissa's question with her prominent voice.
The father threw in just how tired his children were and all five of them yawned to underline his statement.
"Since we knew you were coming, we have prepared a place for you. You may call it your own if you like it. But feel free to change it in any manner you prefer." Ombric nodded as he became aware or their weary faces.
"Djinni!" the wizard called and within less than a minute the metal man was back down with them.
"I would like you to show our new friends to their house but first..." he looked around, scanning his guests with a wry smile and then he gave a nod to Nicholas St. North, who grinned back at him.
"First, I need a little something from each of you. I will embed it into the djinni's chest to make sure that he can never harm you. He has been hijacked by Pitch once and we hope that it will never happen again, but just in case. Just a little something... a scrap of cloth, a lock of hair, a trinket that identifies you."
The family started to rummage through their pockets and giving things to Nicholas that they deemed worthwhile. Melissa was doing the same, but all she found inside her pockets was a used handkerchief and that last babytooth she had lost two days ago. She held both items in her hand when North came to her to collect something and she was wondering what to part with.
But when she saw the young man's expectant, bright blue eyes on her, she quickly decided to part with her tooth. It was of no use whatsoever anyway and she would miss the handkerchief more if she really needed to sneeze.
North simply nodded and took it and they all watched as he opened up the djinni's chest and put everything inside, mumbling some kind of spell as he did so. The djinni merely nodded and then stepped aside again, awaiting to take the new citizens of Santoff Claussen to their home.
The family rose and made ready to follow their artificial guide but when Melissa got to her feet to follow them, Ombric himself held her back.
"I am sorry, dear" he said. "We were a bit misinformed about the number of new children. The new home we set up is only made for a family of seven."
Melissa froze on the spot. What did that mean? They had known about the family coming here... but not about her? But of course... she didn't belong. She wasn't one of them. Where was she supposed to stay? What would happen to her now?
"For now, you will stay here in Big Root" the wizard offered kindly. "There's plenty of room here and in time you will find out that the whole village is your family, just like Katherine."
"Katherine?" she whispered, remembering the girl she had met outside.
"My foster daughter" Ombric said simply. "I have taken her in, after her parents died in a blizzard. Bad thing back then. Only the child somehow made it out alive. I think of her as my own now. In time, I might think of you the same way" he added with a smile that caused the girl to blush slightly.
"Now come. I will show you where you will be sleeping. " He offered her a hand, but somehow Melissa couldn't bring herself to take it. She was too old for this, and taking it would also mean getting attached – literally. She was just not ready yet for anything like this. Not with all those hideous memories of her dear father's demise constantly buzzing around inside her head like a swarm of wasps, always ready to sting. She saw it again and again every time she closed her eyes. It made her want to stay awake. Sleep was something she dreaded but she also knew that she needed it. And right now, she needed it badly.
The old wizard watched her out of the corner of his eye as she followed him to the end of the chamber and up a few stairs. He was not sure what she was thinking or feeling, but since the new family, or rather the father had told him about the strange child, he knew that it was probably better to keep his distance and not force her.
She had been through a lot and had seen things too terrible for her young mind to understand. She would need time to heal and to learn how to trust people again. He knew how to deal with this. And he knew too, that the other children here in Santoff Claussen as well as himself and North would be there for her. It had been a good thing those people had brought her here.
But they had made it perfectly clear, that they would not take her in or take care of her. They already had five children of their own and couldn't possibly look after another one, especially one so complicated. They obviously didn't like her much. Ombric remembered the comments of the little ones when they described her earlier.
"She's weird."
"She can't even talk right."
"She doesn't even play... all she does all day is stare into space."
"And she always keeps us awake at night..."
"... because she has bad dreams all the time."
"I am sorry for her" the mother had added. "But she makes our kids nervous. I'd appreciate it if someone else who has more time would adopt her."
For a moment there, he had been angry with those people but then had just shrugged it off. They were simply overburdened with the task. But they were here now and sooner or later, they would be a part of this place. Santoff Claussen would smooth their edges. The village had done the same with everyone who had come to live here. Sooner or later, they would learn that nothing was impossible and that the only limits that restrained them were those they set for themselves.
The girl too would sooner or later open up and become a happy child with lots of friends, he was sure of it. He would watch her, talk to her and find out what she liked. She was a child after all and he would find something that sparked her interest, something that made her ask questions... there were so many things he could show and teach her...
They had almost reached their destination when the wizard suddenly realized, that the girl had actually asked a question earlier. Something had indeed sparked her interest but when he recalled what she had wanted to know, he was not sure if this was something he wanted her to be interested in.
But she would hear the full story in detail soon enough, hopefully from Katherine.
And as if someone had read his mind, the auburn haired girl waved at him from the top of a wide spiraling staircase. She had probably climbed in through one of the windows while they had still been downstairs.
"Ombric! There you are! Hello Melissa! Are you going to stay here with us?" She sounded a bit surprised but also quite excited.
Melissa looked up and their eyes met for a moment and she felt a sudden wave of insecurity. She said nothing but merely nodded.
Ombric swallowed his initial surprise and smiled widely. "You have already met?"
"We have" Katherine nodded and grinned back down at them. "Bunnymund nearly gave her a heart attack earlier!"
At this Melissa managed a wry smile. "Never mind the heart attack. He gave the the best chocolate I could have ever dreamed up" she mumbled silently but Ombric had heard her. He let out a hearty laugh and actually clapped the girl on the shoulder.
"That sounds like our favorite Pooka. He's quite proud of his chocolate making skills. So don't you ever say anything bad about them!"
"Or about eggs! He would hold a grudge against you until the end of time!" Katherine laughed and Melissa made a mental note to always agree on everything the strange, lovable rabbit man said about chocolates or eggs. They climbed up the rest of the staircase while the dark haired girl curiously scanned her surroundings.
The room around them was almost circular with a few odd but natural bends and corners, but it was for sure much larger than the girth of that tree she had entered. Was this some kind of magic?
But she had seen nothing yet. When they reached the top of the ladder, Katherine was sitting on her bed, smiling but Melissa looked around her with barely concealed wonder. Everything inside this place was as alien to her as as another planet somewhere out in space. Strange contraptions were standing around everywhere or even hanging from the ceiling and she could not imagine what they might possibly be.
There were a few telescopes, those she knew. She had not seen one before but her father had described them to her and she looked at them with longing. But then there were lots of other things made of wood or strings or metal, with cog-wheels that were were either standing still, turning slowly or quickly or faster than the eye could see. A few of them gave off subtle ticking or clicking noises while others moved in perfect silence.
When she looked up, she could see a few tiny openings through which moonlight was flooding in and in the silvery glow she noticed birds nests, spider webs and a few tiny lights... fireflies, that hovered in the air. A lonely bat was dangling in a dark corner and watched her with her beady black eyes.
Melissa forced herself to look away from the curious creature. She was not afraid of bats. She privately thought that they had the most funny faces. They were so ugly that they were actually downright adorable again.
She scanned the room around her again, besides all the weird stuff there was also plenty of space, but everything looked magical to her. Most of all the bed the gray-eyed girl was sitting on. It looked like it had grown out of the wall which really was the wood of the tree they were in. It seemed like a branch had grown from it that formed a nest and the pillows and blankets in it looked invitingly soft and cozy.
"Well" Ombric said pleasantly. "I dare say, we will need another bed. How about right here?" he pointed to the space right next to Katherine's and as if the tree itself had read his mind or heard his words the wood came alive and a new bed grew out of the wall right before Melissa's startled eyes, complete with blankets, pillows and a bowl of steaming soup that hovered next to it in midair.
"You haven't had dinner yet!" the wizard said in surprise.
"No" Melissa admitted in a whisper. "We haven't had anything since breakfast."
How odd, I was just thinking how hungry I was for a bowl of Mother's chicken soup . And that stuff smells just like it... it smells like home!
"Please dear, sit and have your dinner. Big Root will see to everything you might require. I am sure Katherine will be happy to tell you all about the place, won't you?"
"I sure will!" the girl nodded and flashed a genuine smile at her new roommate. "You will love it here, Melissa. I promise. I will tell you everything you wish to know! But now eat your soup before it gets cold."
Melissa nodded and gingerly sat down on the bed and sniffed at the bowl. It really smelled as if her own dead mother had cooked it. But there was no spoon.
I need a spoon, she thought and instantly one materialized right beside the bowl.
"Wow" she breathed. "The tree does all this?"
"Big Root can do a lot of things. All you need to do is to believe in it. But it looks like, you've already figured that out" Katherine said with a nod of appreciation.
The wizard smiled at both of them and then said his goodnight to the two children. "Sleep tight girls. I'll see you in the morning."
As soon as they were alone, Katherine climbed out of her bed and came over to her new friend. She sat down again beside her on Melissa's newly grown bed and looked at her inquiringly.
"Why aren't you staying with your parents and siblings?" she asked.
Melissa almost choked on her soup. It even tasted just like the soup her mother used to make.
"They are not my family, they only took me in for a while and brought me here."
Katherine stared at her and her smile vanished. "Where are your parents?"
"They are dead" Melissa whispered nonchalantly. There was no reason to beat around the bush. They were gone and they would never come back. She was alone now and she would have to deal with that somehow but the girl's innocent question made her stomach feel like lead. Suddenly she wasn't hungry anymore.
"I am sorry" Katherine whispered just as silently as her. "I had no idea. What happened?"
Melissa cast a glance her way that was almost cold. She didn't mean it but she could not help it. It hurt so much. "I really don't want to talk about it. They are gone and that's that!"
"I am glad you are here, Melissa" the auburn haired girl said and placed a hand on her shoulder. The touch made her flinch slightly. She didn't want that girl to feel sorry for her. But before she could whisper anything else Katherine continued.
"My parents are dead too. I'd be alone if it wasn't for Ombric and North. Do you remember your parents?"
"My Mother was killed I guess two years ago and my Father just lately. Of course I remember them!" She sounded almost offended despite her lack of voice but then she bit her tongue. There was no need for her to get unfriendly. This girl was an orphan too. But Katherine only smiled.
"You are lucky then. I lost my parents when I was still really small, I could barely walk and I don't remember a thing about them. But I miss them anyway. I wish I knew what they had been like."
Melissa felt suddenly really bad for her. It must be tough not knowing where you came from. It had to be like not knowing who you really are. She felt like doing something nice for her, but she hadn't much to give.
"My mother used to make a soup just like this. It smells and tastes like home to me. But it's really too much. Do you want to help me eat it?" She offered and reached out to pick another spoon out of thin air with a smile.
I am getting the hang of this!
She held it out for Katherine to take and the girl laughed.
"Are you sure you want to share it?" she asked but took the spoon anyway, a little impressed by the new girls quick adaption to the customs of Big Root.
"Absolutely" Melissa assured her and pushed the bowl a bit to the side, so that they could both dip their spoons into it.
"It's delicious" Katherine admitted after tasting it. But then they merely exchanged smiles as they shared the rest of Melissa's dinner.
The auburn-haired girl knew why her new friend was doing this. After hearing that she had no memories of her parents, she wanted to share her own memories with her. It was a kind thing to do and Katherine truly appreciated it. She knew they would become great friends.
She wished Nightlight was here, so she could introduce them to each other. But there was still no sign of her dearest friend anywhere. He had been different ever since they had returned from the center of the Earth. Not instantly but during the last few weeks something had changed. Something had happened to her - to both of them down there. Something that she didn't understand.
Everything had been fine after their return – at first. But then from one day to the next, Nightlight had stopped his habit to watch over her as she slept. He would still stick around until she had fallen asleep, but even while she was dreaming, she could feel him leaving, or just moving a bit further away, as if the sight of her sleeping face disturbed him.
Katherine didn't know what was happening. Was it her fault? Had she done something wrong or said something bad?
"Katherine?" Melissa whispered and looked at her new friend with worry in her dark blue eyes.
The girl looked up and managed a smile. "Yes?"
"Is something wrong? You looked so sad a moment ago..."
Maybe we should talk about something more cheerful than our dead parents...
"It's nothing. I am just tired I guess." the gray-eyed girl sighed evasively. "Let's get some sleep" she suggested then and smiled again. "Tomorrow will be an exciting day. The other kids can't wait to meet you all and tell you everything about our adventures."
"Adventures?" Melissa breathed in disbelief.
"I'm sure Ombric must have told you about our battles against... the Nightmare King?" she wondered and Melissa nodded.
"He did. But I don't know if adventure is the right word for all of this. It sounded really dangerous! I mean, that man kidnapped all the children here and turned everyone else into toys! What kind of evil, ghoulish madman does something like that?"
Katherine looked at her with a somehow lopsided grin but at the same time, there was this strange sadness in her eyes again. The dark-haired girl studied her new friends face attentively.
"You sound as if you've met him before. That description is pretty accurate. Pitch is a madman, no doubt about it but... "
Melissa's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she took in those words, specially the last one.
"But?" she prompted silently.
Katherine shrugged. "He's gone. We defeated him there. My friend Nightlight has searched the entire planet for any signs of him, but there's nothing. It does look like he is gone for good."
"But you don't believe that!"
Katherine looked up and their eyes met. Neither of them needed to say another word about it.
Instead they got ready for bed. The empty soup-bow vanished into thin air and so did the spoons as both girls crept under their soft blankets.
"Katherine?" Melissa whispered about a minute after they had said their goodnights.
"Yes?" the girl answered and she could hear a smile in her voice, as if she had actually been waiting for her to say something.
"Will you tell me about that friend of yours? Nightlight sure is a strange name."
She could hear Katherine giggle softly but then she sighed. "Once you've met him, the name doesn't sound so strange anymore" she explained, but her voice was somehow tinted with sorrow. "He looks like a boy, perhaps a bit older than me. I'd say he's as old as Tall William. But he also looks like he is made out of light and mist. He's very brave too. He had once beaten Pitch and had kept him sealed up inside a cave for hundreds of years. A while ago he was set free by a moonbeam but as a most unwelcome side effect, Pitch had awoken again as well. And ever since that day, he has his mind set on us. He's after our dreams."
"And Santoff Claussen means A place for dreams... of course he would target this village..." Melissa pondered. She didn't know who Tall William was, but she didn't ask. She would find out soon enough.
"How do you know that?" Katherine gasped in surprise but the dark-haired girl shrugged under her blanket.
"Ombric mentioned it earlier" she explained simply.
"Oh..." was all the other girl said. And then there was a long silence.
Melissa lay awake and stared up at the dark ceiling quite sure that Katherine was already asleep. The fireflies were still dancing high above her and she could feel the bat looking at her. She could see it too as it shifted it's wings around it's small furry body. It's head was turning this way and that, but the girl could have sworn that it was looking at her. She really did like bats but this one was beginning to make her nervous.
"Will you stop staring at me like that?" she hissed under her breath. "Shouldn't you be out there hunting?"
"Who are you talking too?" Katherine asked and Melissa could hear her turn around in her bed.
She was a bit startled that she was still awake but then she just pointed up. "That bat up there. I can't help but feeling that... "
But as if the creature had heard them, it suddenly spread it's fragile wings and fluttered swiftly out of one of the holes. Just for one moment the two girls could see its outline against the starlight and then it was gone.
"Good riddance" Melissa sighed but Katherine was sitting up quickly.
"I've never seen a bat in here! I don't like them. They are scary!" she mumbled and sounded worried.
"I think they are cute. Have you ever seen one up close?" Melissa whispered with a grin at her new fiends obvious discomfort.
"No... and I don't want to! How can you think they are cute? They are nasty! And they could be agents of HIM!"
"Him?" Melissa frowned and then her eyes widened. "He can control animals?"
"He can possess them... like he did with our bear once. He can even turn himself into one. He once disguised himself as a spider and crawled into our Djinni and hijacked him then. And I think a bat would be just to his liking!"
"But you said that he was gone... defeated... and that there was no trace of him anywhere!" Melissa was getting nervous too. She had come here with those people to find a place where she would be safe. If this monster was on the move again then Santoff Claussen was the last place she wanted to be.
In the other bed, Katherine sighed deeply. "The fact that we can't find him, doesn't mean that he's gone forever. But maybe you are right. It was probably just a random bat that found this place inviting. There are plenty of them out in the woods. Aren't there any animals that you are afraid of?"
Melissa nodded. There were plenty. She had a distaste for spiders but she knew they couldn't harm her. She had been stung by a wasp when she had been younger and seeing one of those frightened her. But most of all she feared...
"Wolves" she whispered and couldn't help but shudder.
Katherine was still sitting up and could see her pale face. Those deep blue eyes, that always looked a bit too large for it were wide open and she could tell that Melissa was genuinely afraid.
"Don't be frightened, Melissa. There are no wolves here. They do come to the edge of the forest around Santoff Claussen but the oaks won't let them pass. You are perfectly safe here!"
The dark-haired girl sighed and nodded. Safe was a relative term, when some Nightmare King had his mind set on destroying this place. But at least there would be no wolves.
"Why are you afraid of them?" Katherine asked suddenly. "I know they can be dangerous. They are predators after all but they are actually pretty too. .. and they usually don't attack people unless the winters are really dire and they can't find anything else to hunt."
You have no idea...
"I really don't want to talk about it" she whispered and pulled her blanket up to her chin. She knew that she would have that nightmare again. She had it every night and she knew, it would always be there in the back of her mind, ready to return as soon as she closed her eyes. But she also knew that this was her mind trying to deal with what had happened. Perhaps one day she would get over it and get on with her life.
"Then let's get some sleep now" Katherine suggested. "Maybe you will tell me about it some day."
"Yes... maybe" Melissa sighed and nodded. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about it. Instead she thought about this place. It was far from what she had imagined. It was much better actually. Everything here - everything around her gave her hope that she would finally have a normal life. No more traveling the wilds, no more running and fighting for her life... at least not on a daily basis.
Her father had also had plans to come here but had not been sure where to find the place. He had wanted her to grow up amongst dreamers and scientists, wizards and discoverers. But she had also heard many bad tongues saying that the place was cursed and that Ombric was a madman, a heretic and an evil warlock.
Now that she had met the wizard, she knew that he was neither. He was kind and caring and absolutely incredible. He had created this place as a save haven for all the free minds out there. For people like her father, who had believed in the impossible. He would have loved it here, she thought and a smile crept over her face as she finally fell asleep.