Jack didn't move away, but he glanced up at the vampire out of the corner of his eye. "Is this how you're going to be when I stay after I kill them?"

"That will depend. Do you hate being held by me? Is my touch repulsive to you?"

"Well...it's not as bad...as I thought it would be?" He shrugged slightly.

"No? That makes me happy, my favorite hunter." Pitch closed his eyes, taking another deep sniff of Jack's hair. Jack stood there, not entirely sure what he was supposed to do. "You could try holding me too. I will not bite."

Jack slowly brought his arms up to wrap loosely around the vampire, holding him awkwardly and fighting his every instinct to just throw Pitch off of him. "Is this...right?"

Pitch chuckled, running soft fingertips over the man's scalp. "Have you never held someone before?"

"Haven't had the time for it." Jack shook his head.

"Ah, yes. You have spent your whole life training and killing. I am surprised you still have a heart."

"I'm not entirely sure I do."

"On the contrary. You do have a heart, but you ignore it. Listen..." Pitch pulled back, covering Jack's ears. "Close your eyes. I promise, I will not do anything." After taking a deep calming breath, Jack slowly closed his eyes, his fists remaining clenched. "All you can hear is my voice...and a deep pounding sound. Hear the flow of your blood as it moves through your body. The river of red that gives you life."

He nodded, letting himself relax. If he wants to kill me, there's nothing I can do to stop him. I might as well see what the hell he's trying to get me to do...

"I am not going to kill you, Jack. Believe me, I have had plenty of chances, but I have let you live. Now...think only of darkness and the flow of that river. Feel its warmth as it fills your veins." Jack focused on the flow, imagining he could feel every little movement. "Follow that flow to your chest. Such strong pounding, giving force behind the flow. It is the warmest part in you, filled with that red river, desperate to escape and fly free inside you." Blue eyes rolled behind their eyelids. "Do not roll your eyes at me, Jack. Can you not feel that? So much power, locked away behind walls of your own making. You could be even greater than you are now, if only you would take down those walls."

Jack stepped back from him. "I lost the ability to do so eleven years ago."

"That is only an excuse you use. You have such power, but you refuse to use it. If you only took down one wall...you could kill those rogues with only a single look."

"The ability to love is not power. It is only weakness."

"It is only weakness if you allow it to be. Love may be the only thing that stands between you and the loss of your humanity."

"Well, as you've told me many times before...I'm more of a monster than you. I suppose that's true then."

"I should not have said those things." Pitch reached out, rubbing Jack's cheekbone with the pad of his thumb. "You are no monster. You have lived a life of hardship and sadness. I hope you might let me help you."

Jack didn't move a muscle, simply staring into the vampire's eyes, his jaw clenched tightly. "What has been said cannot be unsaid. You spoke only the truth."

"Why can it not be the truth of the past? No one says that that truth must be the eternal truth."

"My heart cannot be returned after so many years of it being shriveled up in my chest. Tonight I will kill those rogues and accomplish my life's goal. Then I will have nothing more to work for and you may hold and talk to me as much as you wish until the day that I die. That's just how my life was meant to go."

"You were meant to become a mass murderer of vampires until you became the vampire king's companion? You imagine that this was what you were meant to do?"

"I could never have imagined it. But if this is what fate has in store for me, then so be it."

"I think fate has a great deal in store for you, and I think it shall begin today." Pitch handed the sword to Jack, hilt first. "Open your heart, Jack. Create the destiny you were born to have."

Jack took his sword, the weight comfortable in his hand. "We'll see, I suppose."

"I suppose we will." Pitch cupped Jack's cheek again just as Sandy materialized next to him.

"Sir, the rogues are waiting in the throne room. They're furious at your treatment of them."

Pitch looked at Jack, golden eyes intense. "Fight, Jack. Gain your vengeance, but remember who you are. Let that fire burn, even as the life fades from the last rogue."

Jack nodded, feeling the rage starting to build inside him once more. This is finally going to happen. Eleven long years, and I will finally avenge your deaths. He quickly finished attaching all of his gear, slipping his two stakes into his boot and up one sleeve.

Pitch stepped up to his closet, pulling the cloak down. "I will be watching over your fight. It is customary." He slipped it on over his shoulders.

"I assumed as much." He nodded, following the two vampires from the room.

"They will have weapons, a decent supply since they are still considered heroes and as such deserve the respect of one. You will not be allowed to use these weapons, do you understand?"

Jack gave a short nod of his head. "Wouldn't want to use their weapons anyway. Why would a vampire use a weapon that could deal damage to himself as well? Mine are far more suited to the situation."

"And another thing..." Pitch pulled Jack short in front of the door. "...if you go down and the rogue calls your defeat...I will have no choice but to give him your life. Do you understand?"

"They won't get the chance."

"Do not give it to them. I would hate to have to watch them kill my favorite hunter." Pitch tangled his fingers in the white hair, running the long digits through the soft strands. "May I kiss you? For luck."

"If you so wish, your highness."

"Kozmotis."

The man cocked an eyebrow at him in confusion. "Gesundheit?"

"That's my name, hunter. Just once...say my name."

"Koz...motis?"

"Good boy." Pitch leaned forward, brushing his lips over Jack's. He straightened again, the air of the king returning to him. "You go first." Jack nodded, taking a quick breath before heading through the doorway.

The rogues stood caged in the room, snapping and snarling at the sight of the human man. "Look, boys. Seems our king has sent us an apology treat." One rogue licked his lips, stroking himself suggestively.

The white-haired man scowled at them. "You wish..." He took out his dagger and slowly dragged it across his right palm. The wound quickly healed but not before leaving behind a small stream of blood. Jack brought his hand up, giving the palm a seductive lick and watching the rogues get riled up further at the scent of blood. "None of you bastards are getting my body or my blood."

The rogues silenced, dropping down on one knee with a hand over their hearts. "Your Majesty."

Pitch stood by his throne, looking down at them all. "Do not rile them up, hunter. It makes them difficult to control."

"But it makes the hunt so much more interesting." He put away his dagger, wiping the last of the blood on his pants.

"You will show me respect, hunter." He twirled his fingers, shadows forcefully pulling Jack down onto a knee. "As long as you are here, I am your king."

Jack had to stop himself from growling at him. "Yes...your highness."

Pitch snapped his fingers, more shadows moving to unlock the cage door. "The battle will begin when I give the order. Is that understood by all?" The rogues bowed their heads. The lone human nodded as well, shoulders tensing as he readied himself to leap into action. "You are all charged with the murder of the Frost family. This is their heir. Kill him and the Frost line will be broken." The rogues cheered, snapping in Jack's direction.

"Death to the Frost monsters."

"We're the monsters? You left an innocent child alone. You even tried to kill me yourselves! I was defenseless!" He watched the rogues give slightly confused looks, all of them except for one. Blue eyes locked on him and memories of that face resurfaced from the deep recesses of his mind. "You will pay for what you've done to me."

"Watch your tongue, hunter." Pitch crooked a finger, a tendril of shadow slicing across the pale cheek. A drop of blood leaked out before the wound closed.

Jack merely closed his eyes for a second, not even wincing. "Yes, your highness. Forgive my indiscretion."

"You are forgiven. With what weapons will you be fighting with?"

"Only what I have on my person."

Pitch pulled a cord, a curtain on the side of the room lifting to reveal a large wall of assorted weapons. He gestured the rogues over to the assortment. "You may use any weapon on this wall as well as your natural ones. You, hunter, will be allowed only what you have now. The use of any of these weapons will mean death."

Jack nodded. "I'll need nothing more than what I have."

"Very well. Begin." Pitch lounged on his throne as the rogues attacked from all sides.

Before they could reach him, Jack sent a blast of ice shards in all directions, giving him enough time to leap out of the middle. He skidded to a stop, drawing his sword. As each rogue leapt at him, Jack dodged, thrust, and parried his sword expertly, enjoying their hisses of pain as the silver blade cut deeply into their flesh.

Suddenly, a sharp blade was thrust into Jack's back and stomach at the same time. The hunter was brought to his knees. Sharp claws pierced the man's chest, forcing him down to the ground. "These wounds won't heal, hunter. They're built to withstand the regeneration of flesh. I call his defeat, my king."

Pitch held up a hand, calling the end of the battle. "You have been defeated, hunter."

"Have I?" Jack slid another pellet of the many that he kept stored in his mouth, swallowing it. He felt himself heal just enough that he could move without too much trouble. "I'd rather be wounded than dead like you bastards." He quickly pulled out his stake, stabbing it into the vampire's heart in front of him at the same time he shoved his sword through the chest of the one behind him, distracting him long enough for him to turn and stab him through the heart with the stake as well. Jack quickly dodged away before the other three could attack him at once. "I call my lack of defeat, your highness."

"I acknowledge your call. You may continue." Pitch's eyes widened just as a hand pierced Jack's back, sharp claws grabbing on to the man's spine.

"Now what, hunter? I killed your father, simpering fool that he was. Do you know he begged for his life? Cried like a human fledgling. He was even willing to sacrifice his men for his own safety." The clawed fingers tightened, almost piercing the column of bone. "Move, and I'll snap it. You'll be dead long before your body will heal. I call his defeat, your highness."

Jack took a shaky breath, steadying himself as he felt the magic rising within him. "Why must you idiots always underestimate me simply because I'm human? I'm clearly smarter than you all." He listened with satisfaction as he felt the vampire's body freeze completely solid from the inside out, the hand inside him freezing as well. "I don't need to move to kill you." A razor sharp blade of ice flew threw air, decapitating the frozen vampire behind him. Jack swung his sword behind him to slice off the hand. He didn't bother removing it, knowing it would be better to keep it where it was, at least during the battle, so he didn't bleed out.

"I acknowledge your success in battle, hunter. You have defeated all of your opponents and have earned my undying respect." Pitch bowed his head, a hand over his heart. "Now...come to me."

The man shook his head, white hair, spotted with the red of blood. Now that everything was finished, and without the adrenaline pumping through his body, his wounds were starting to get the better of him. He collapsed down to one knee.

Pitch stood, bringing his wrist to his lips. He bit down, took a mouthful of his own blood, stepped close to the hunter, and tugged him against his body. His lips were soft against Jack's as he opened them, the blood flowing down the man's throat as the king kissed him.

Jack was too weak to resist against him. The last things he knew before passing out was the feeling of Pitch's lips and the vague sense of his pain going away. I did it, Dad...I avenged you and Mum...I did it...

The vampire caught the him as he collapsed in his arms. He ran long fingers through the white hair to cup the back of his head. "You are mine now, Jack Frost. Now and forever." He brought the man's head closer as he leaned down, sinking his fangs into the soft skin of Jack's neck. He drank and kept drinking until the heartbeat beneath him grew soft.

"It is time to awaken, my favorite hunter." Blue eyes reluctantly opened, the man giving a groan when his entire body ached. "I apologize for your pain. I drank a little too much from you, and my blood has yet to heal you completely."

"Why did you...drink from me?" He tried to sit up, letting out a gasp as pain shot through his entire upper body.

"Think of something. Something I could not possibly know." Jack sighed but nodded his head. He thought back to his days with his mother and father and the last time he'd seen his father that night he died. Pitch closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips. "You wanted to go so badly that night. You could not hit the apple yet, but you were so close. He still would not let you go, though."

The other man stared at him in shock. "How did you..."

"We are linked, you and I. I can hear your thoughts, feel your emotions, sense your very presence, no matter where you are in this world. You, my favorite hunter, have this same power."

"Get the hell out of my head!"

"Of course." Pitch pulled out, an empty feeling left behind in Jack's mind. "I will only use this link when I must. For now, there is no need."

"What...what does it mean that we're...linked?"

"It means as I have told you. Our emotions, thoughts and locations may be known so long as the link exists. It also keep the last bite I gave you fresh."

Jack looked down at his bare neck, tenderly touching the bite wound. "Why the hell would you link yourself with a vampire hunter? I can't stand what you are."

Pitch flinched but only barely. "Why would the vampire king wish to keep track of one of the most dangerous vampire hunters we have ever known? I have no idea."

The man looked down. "I see. Trying to put a leash on me so I don't get out of hand, huh?"

"I told you. I will only use this link if I must. As long as you keep my respect and trust, your thoughts, feelings and location are your own affair, not mine."

Jack rubbed his neck somewhat nervously. "Good." He pulled the blanket away from his body, revealing his heavily bandaged torso. "Damn. I guess they got me better than I planned."

"I warned you not to underestimate them. However, it makes little difference. Their bodies are now dust, scattered to the four winds." Pitch shrugged his robe off to reveal his naked body. "And I shall sleep." He lay in the bed, his body instantly freezing in the death-like stillness of sleep. His chest was bare, his heart exposed should the hunter choose to kill him.

"They underestimated me more." He looked over at the creature beside him. "You shouldn't leave yourself so open to anyone, you idiot. Especially me." Jack watched the vampire sleep, his facial features relaxed and peaceful. "You're unlike everything I've always known a vampire to be...Kozmotis." He gave a small smile at the way the name rolled off his tongue. "It sure looks like I'm going to be here for a long while. Perhaps I might give you monsters a chance to change my mind..." Jack settled down on the bed next to the vampire, quickly letting his exhaustion pull him back under again.

When the sun set, Pitch took a large breath of air as he woke. He looked down at his chest, smiling at the head of white hair lying peacefully on his skin. "How lovely my hunter looks." He moved his long fingers into the hair, gently massaging the scalp. Jack awoke to the feeling with a soft moan, shifting slightly under the sheets. "Well, now. What an interesting reaction. Does my little hunter like this?" Jack turned to give him a flat look before flopping back down with a huff. "You do, you fiery-tempered hunter. Interesting." Pitch moved his other hand to Jack's head, all ten fingers working the scalp.

The man quickly pulled away after a few seconds with a scowl. "I do not."

"I thought not. You do not like anything but hunting and killing." Pitch closed his eyes again, moving his hands behind his head.

"Exactly." Jack pulled the sheets over his head with a groan. "Why does my body still ache? Shouldn't your blood have kicked in by now?"

"You are fighting it. Even in your sleep, you were fighting it. Perhaps you just need more."

"How can I be fighting your blood? That's not even possible."

"You are very strong-willed. I told you, you have great power. Even enough to fight the blood of one of the oldest vampire in existence."

"I seriously doubt that. I know that I'm strong, but I'm not that strong."

"You can argue all you want, but the proof is before you. My blood is healing but slowly. Your blood is fighting it, so the healing process is taking longer."

"Well, it's not like I can control my own blood."

"Then accept it. Open yourself to me."

"You don't realize what you're asking of me, do you?"

"No. What am I asking of you, Jack?"

"The very first thing you learn in hunting is to never trust a vampire. It has been ingrained into my mind since day one!"

"And you do not trust me."

"What do you think? Two and twenty years of being told not to trust you is not going to just change overnight."

"Then I apologize for making the suggestion. You will heal in your own time."

Jack gritted his teeth, wiping a hand over his face when an odd wave of guilt washed through him. He relaxed back with a sigh. "Show me how."

Pitch opened his eyes, soft gold looking back at him. "Look me in the eye, Jack." The man turned his head, looking over at him with shining blue eyes. "Come down here." Pitch held his hand out. Jack took the hand, sliding down to him with a slight wince. "You are so beautiful, Jack. Like soft moonlight. Your hair is like the snow under a winter's moon." Long fingers ran softly through the white strands. Jack closed his eyes, forcing himself to relax and to lower his inner defences. Pitch brought Jack's face closer to his own. "I love you, Jack Frost. You are mine, forever." Pitch sliced his neck, pressing the man's lips to the cut. He moaned as he felt a soft sucking against his skin. "Good. Let it heal you."

Jack sucked and lapped at the wound, making sure not to think about the fact that he was drinking so much blood. He felt the pain in his chest completely disappear as the wounds knitted back together, leaving behind skin as perfect as if there had never been a wound to begin with.

Pitch smiled, rubbing Jack's back. "Feeling better?" The man nodded with a soft moan, still lapping at the trickles of blood. "E-enough, Jack. I may be an ancient, but that does not mean I don't need time to recover myself."

Jack's eyes snapped open, and he quickly pulled away, wiping his mouth with a blush. "Sorry...I don't know what came over me."

"Trust, my favorite hunter. Trust." Pitch caressed Jack's cheek as the cut on his neck healed.

"Trust makes me not want to stop drinking your blood? That's an odd trick."

"Perhaps." He leaned closer, licking the corner of Jack's mouth where a drop of blood was trickling down the pale skin. "You trusted me enough that you healed, did you not?"

"I...yes." He blushed again, unable to stop a shiver of pleasure at the feel of the vampire's tongue on his face.

"You are so beautiful, Jack. So strong, yet so soft." Pitch moved his mouth down, licking a line up the man's neck. Jack inhaled sharply, his fingernails starting to dig into his palm. "Relax, my hunter." Pitch pulled away, smiling up at him softly. "I have earned your trust at last. I will not throw it away as easily as that."

"Of course not." He rolled his eyes slightly.

"Are you hungry? I can have someone bring you a little something."

The man managed to nod his head. "Starving, actually."

"Will you eat with me, then? I find myself famished."

"You eat human food?"

"I can. It makes it easier to...relieve the fears of the mortals. I am not just some leech, Jack."

"Well, excuse me. I'm not usually around vampires when they're eating normal food, you know?"

"I'm sure. Perhaps I have earned your trust a little more now that you know I will not be lunging for you every time you bleed."

"We'll see." The words may have sounded harsh, but there was the tiniest of twinkles in the man's eye as he said them.

"Open your mouth, Jack." Pitch held a strawberry in front of the man's mouth, waving it temptingly in front of him.

Jack reluctantly opened his mouth, taking the berry between his lips. "You know I can feed myself just fine, right?"

"Would you prefer I leave? I can return later for the tray." Pitch stood, pulling his robe back on and covering his naked body.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that you don't have to hand feed me." He let out a small sigh of relief when the vampire covered his nudity. Though he would never admit it, Jack was thankful he still had a pillow over his lap, because it was hiding the hard-on he'd had for the past two hours.

"I am afraid I have an urge to feed you when I am near you. Is that not what humans do with the ones they care for?"

Jack shrugged, taking a bite of another strawberry. "You're asking the wrong human."

"And here I thought you knew everything about being human. You seemed so certain last I checked."

"I told you already that I'm clueless when it comes to relationships and affection."

"Then perhaps we can learn together." Pitch moved back to the bed, sitting in front of the younger man.

"Learn what? We're not in a relationship, are we? I'm still not gay."

"We are not, but perhaps we can both learn...affection. Only friendly affection."

"Perhaps..." Jack hid his light blush, taking a sip of water.

"Would you mind learning with me?" Pitch tilted Jack's chin up, smiling a little at the blush on the pale cheeks.

"I suppose not. It's not like I have much of anything else to do, after all."

"Are you bored, my little hunter?"

"I have done nothing but train physically for eleven years, and now I'm stuck in a castle where I can't go any further than this hallway." Jack collapsed back on the bed with a sigh. "My body is going through workout withdrawals."

"Train with me, then. I think I proved I can handle you."

"You're a king. Don't you have kingly duties to attend to or something?"

"Is that your way of refusing me?" Pitch quirked an eyebrow.

"I didn't say that."

"Then...are you accepting me?"

"That depends. Are you really willing to sit here and spar with me for hours?"

"I have thousands of years ahead of me. I think I can spare a few hours for the one I care for."

"True. When you say it like that, it doesn't make me feel so bad anymore." The man got off the bed and stood, pulling up his pants to hide his problem. Jack reached down and scooped up his sword.

"Jack...is there something you might want to take care of first?"

He shook his head. "Not at all."

"No?" Pitch stood, towering over the younger man. "It is quite obvious." He cupped the front of Jack's pants, another hand holding him firmly in place against him.

Jack inhaled sharply. "I'm fine."

"Why can you not admit it? I think you might like me a little more than you are revealing."

"Or it could just be that your blood is making me horny."

"You are quite the charmer, hunter."

"It's not like I've ever needed charm before. I saw no reason to work on my skills in it."

"I suppose not. Unless you charmed the rogues to death." Pitch laughed, the sound deep and rich, as he pulled away.

"If only. It would have saved me a lot of blood and sweat." Jack picked up his sword again.

"And it would have saved you from coming to me." Pitch turned away from the man, buckling his own sword around his waist.

"If I recall correctly, I didn't come to you. I was dragged here against my will." He unsheathed the weapon, giving it a few swings and throwing the vampire king a slight smirk.

"I recall. Still...if you had only charmed them, we would have never met."

"I'm not entirely sure if I should be happy or sad about that." Jack swung at the vampire, knowing that he would be able to block it in time.

Pitch blocked the blow with his own sword, swiping the blade away. "And why should you be sad about it? You do not like me. I would think you would be happy at the thought of never meeting me."

"Because without you I never would have been able to avenge my family." He swung again.

"That's more like it. It could not be because you might actually like me." Pitch flipped out of the way, disappearing in a wave of shadows.

"Cheater!" Jack took a steady stance, his hand gripping his sword tightly as he tried to focus on where the other would be coming from instead of focusing on the throbbing in his pants.

"You should always be prepared for everything." The rich voice rang out from all sides of the room, surrounding the younger man.

Jack took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the areas around him. Fortunately he'd long ago trained himself to fight blind. His magic touched on a figure near him. There! His eyes flew open, and he shot a shard of ice straight at the man to his right.

Pitch grunted, looking down at his stomach. "That...that hurts."

"You'll heal." He shrugged with a smug smile. "Besides it's your own fault for using magic in a sword fight."

Pitch pulled the ice from his stomach, covering the bleeding hole with his hand. "Unfortunately, a certain hunter has weakened me. I...this really hurts." He fell to his knees, clutching the spot.

Jack rolled his eyes, quickly slicing his own wrist and kneeling in front of him. "Drink."

"No." He pushed the wrist away.

"Drink, Kozmotis." He held it out to him still.

"Why? You do not like me. If I want to drink blood full of hatred, I can easily find someone else."

"I never said that. I don't like what you are, but I never said anything about you." Jack put the wound to his own mouth, sucking in a mouthful of blood. He quickly darted in close to crash his lips against the vampire's, forcing him to drink.

Pitch moaned, holding the man close. "Jack...you do not realize what your blood reveals."

"Then tell me."

"I will not tell. It is something that you must come to realize on your own." Pitch swallowed the blood, pushing the man from him once he felt the wound begin to heal.

"Kozmotis..." He couldn't help but feel heady from the kiss, the throbbing in his pants only increasing.

Golden eyes turned to look deeply into half-lidded blue. "Come to me, Jack. If you want to...come to me."

Jack let his sword fall to the ground. "Still not...gay." He quickly leaned in and pressed their lips together once more.

"Never said you were." Pitch opened his mouth, allowing Jack's tongue to plunder his own.

"God, your blood makes me so damn horny..." He kissed the vampire fiercely, nibbling on his lower lip.

"No...no." Pitch pushed the young hunter, covering the pink lips with his hand. "No, Jack." Jack looked up at him confused, holding back a small whimper at being denied. "I want you to come to me because you want to, not because of my blood. I do not want it to mean...nothing." The younger man groaned against the hand, giving him pleading eyes. "Do not you understand? In over three thousand years, I have never found one who tempts me like you do." Pitch moved his hand to caress a pale cheek. "I love you, Jack. I want something more than you can ever give."

Jack sighed, gently pulling away. "I guess...I'll go take care of my own problem then." He stood up and headed for the bathroom.

Pitch let him go, his own hands shaky as he ran one over his eyes. "I want you so bad, Jack. I want your body, but I also want your heart."

"I'm sorry I can't give you that, your highness."

"No. No, you cannot. I am a man and a vampire. You could never love me." He stood, leaving the room without another glance or word to the man.

"I could never love anyone..." Jack leaned heavily against the wall, sliding to the floor with a sigh.