Chapter 2

In Which I Do Not Eat a Tootsie Roll

"Matt? MATT!" Ashley was running up and down the street screaming for her little cousin while I flew higher, searching for a ten-year old in a cardboard robot costume. There were too many children around all of the sudden. The streets were full of strangers, masked people, unidentifiable threats. A chill went down my spine as I flew closer to the crowd, hovering just over their heads.

"Where did you go?.." I muttered to myself, looking from house to house. He had to be somewhere. Finally I caught a glance of peeling silver paint on old cardboard. Matt!

He was standing in front of an open door, holding out his pillowcase expectantly. A man smiled down at him, reaching out to drop a handful of tootsie rolls to drop in. As I watched, a tall dark figure with grey skin stepped up behind the man, his smile far more menacing. Matt's face turned pale and he screamed, tripping over himself to get away.

I couldn't stop staring at the person who had scared him. Pitch Black, the King of Nightmares. My heart skipped a beat, and not because I was scared. It hurt to look at him, I realized. I had missed him, his acerbic sense of humor and the way he had protected me even though he barely knew me. He had taken care of me when I was unconscious and seen me at my worst.

But he was scared of his feelings for me. There was no other explanation for it than that. My vision blurred and I looked away, blinking back tears. My mind barely even registered that Matt had run to Ashley and was clinging to her now. All I could focus on was a shadow that was creeping through the yard.

Before I could second-guess myself, I flew over and blocked his path, my pain turning to anger.

"What the hell was that? You're back to scaring children for no reason now? And my best friend's cousin of all people? What is your problem?!" I reached into the shadow, shoving at where I figured his shoulders would be. He materialized in front of me, frowning.

"My actions are not your concern, witch." I tried not to wince at the coldness in his voice.

"They are when you're targeting the people around me." He tried to step around me but I got in his way again.

"I was not the one targeting him. If you don't believe me…" He gestured to the ground where the candy had fallen. "Take a closer look." I scowled and knelt down, picking up a piece of candy. The wrapper was loose. It took a moment for that to click, but Pitch beat me to the punch.

"That man was a register sex offender and pedophile. The candy is drugged. He knew that Matt's mother would not be home tonight, but he would be." I frowned and kept looking at the candy, not wanting to look up at him again.

"You're just like the others. You automatically assume I'm doing something wrong, using fear as a weapon rather than a necessary protection." I could hear the disgust in his voice.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed, I just-" He was already gone. Shit.

Back at Ashley's apartment, I had convinced her to send an anonymous tip to the police about it and convince Matt's mother to let him spend the night there. We were locked up together in her room with Matt sleeping on the couch the next room over.

"So… Are you okay?"

"What? I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" Ashley gave me a you-know-what-I'm-talking-about look.

"Maybe nothing happened between you two, but we both know there was something major there. Seeing him can't have helped. So are you okay?"

"No, not really. It hurt a lot more than I expected. And he.." I swallowed, trying to get the words out without crying again, "He was so cold and distant. Even before, when he was under Envy's spell he didn't act like that."

"Well, he thinks you messed with his head. I think you should just break the spell on him and see what happens." I shook my head.

"It doesn't matter. I don't think he'll ever trust me again." Even if I hadn't messed up tonight he probably wouldn't…

Ashley gave me a hug and grabbed two fun-size candy bars out of a bowl next to her bed, handing one to me.

"It's nothing copious amounts of chocolate can't solve." I gave her a weak laugh and hugged her.

"Thanks, Ash."

It wasn't long before she was asleep too, and I slipped out the window, careful to close it behind me. I flew north, straight to the pole. The yeti were busy building toys, as always, and the elves were scampering around with plates of cookies or slapdash dolls. I snatched a snickerdoodle off a plate and sat down on a railing to watch the globe. It was a good place to sit and think without thinking too much. There was so much activity constantly happening. Toys were being designed, assembled, carefully handpainted, packed.

It wasn't long before Phil came up with a cup of hot chocolate to offer, most likely from North. He and I hadn't spoken much since what happened with Envy, but he let me come to the pole whenever I wanted and sent me as much food and drink as I needed. He didn't need to talk to me, and I appreciated his silent support.

Thankfully Jack Frost wasn't here tonight. I really wasn't in the mood for fun.

What would happen if I broke the spell? Would he want me again? Or has too much happened? After all, before he didn't want to care about me. I closed my eyes, focusing and shutting out the noise surrounding me. Even if he did want me, what then?

My mind wandered to a fantasy; Pitch and I, together. Would he be romantic or more intense? Somehow I couldn't imagine him holding my hand, except maybe… All of the sudden an image flashed through my mind of our fingers intertwined him on top of me, undressed…

My eyes flew open, and my face felt hot. I must have been blushing pretty hard. Woah. Where did that come from?.. I wasn't exactly a virgin, but it was still completely out of character for me to be overly passionate or physically aggressive. I looked around and then shook my head, embarrassed even though they couldn't possibly know my thoughts.

I need some more cookies. I hopped down from the railing and set off in search of chocolate chip.

A woman, scantily clad and almost impossibly voluptuous, stood next to an obese man. They were quite the odd couple. No doubt if people could see them they would have gotten some double takes. They were waiting for their brothers and siblings. As they waited, the man pulled a half-melted candy bar out of his pocket and unwrapped it. The woman rolled her eyes and snorted, but he ignored her, devouring it in less than three seconds.

Finally they were joined by four others, two men and two women. One of the women was dressed all in red, the other was dripping in precious metals and gemstones. One of the men carried himself well, chin high and wearing an expensive suit. The last man wore a stained sweatsuit.

The six of them spoke quietly amongst themselves, sharing the latest and most important information. They had found who they were looking for, and they were susceptible. They would take immediate action. "No", says the woman in jewels, "First we take everything she has." "No", replies both the man in the suit and the woman in red, "We've waited long enough." The man in the sweatsuit just shrugs and sits down next to his obese friend.

They continue to argue amongst themselves until the curvy woman speaks up, suggesting a compromise. She had seen something when she had tested her powers on the girl. Something that would give them power over her. "A quick death" she reasons, "Would give no satisfaction. We can take our time. Have a little fun with her first."

They all seem to find this agreeable, and begin to plan. Then they go their separate ways.

Uh, oh, ominous character meeting. Raise your hand if you already know who they are. If your hand isn't up right now, you probably still haven't read the first story. Why are you still reading this, go read that instead, I promise this will make a LOT more sense. s/9203834/1/Whispers-on-the-Wind