Hope, Wonder and Nightmares, My What Fun! 4
If possible the woods grew darker and Pitch's eyes seemed to glow. A cool wind whipped through the trees. Bunny jumped and glared at Jack, certain that Jack had caused it. The boy seemed just as perplexed and spooked, and Pitch hadn't even started his story yet. The shade just sat there, his gold eyes boring into Jack's.
"I'm sure you heard of how I became the Nightmare King by now?" he asked Jack, his voice low and smooth like honey. When the boy nodded he continued. "Then let's move further back in time. Once, long ago, I was just like any other person. I was young and naive, I had hopes and dreams. I came from a family who lived and served in the Lunaroff Constellation's army. We were a powerful family who fought in the greatest battles against the Fearlings and Dream Pirates. My father and grandfather before him were generals and led the Lunaroff army. The Tsar provided well for us and my siblings and I were raised at the golden court and I became great friends with the young prince.
"But it was not a peaceful life. Raiders plagued all constellations and we were no exception." An image of children appeared above the flames then horrendous shadows creators swooping down on them. "The Fearlings and Dreams Pirates would attack anyone, regardless of age or status. They stole children right from their beds, kicking and screaming for their parents, some as young as new bone infants who had yet to have a nightmare. But sometimes they did far worse things that drove innocent people mad and made parents suspicious of their own children. Sometimes the Fearlings possessed a child, turned them dark and evil and left them behind. These were the greatest threats to the peaceful people. These children savaged the land, for no parent wants to murder their own child, no matter how evil or salvage they become. So unstopped, even one child could devastate an entire village. The smaller they were the more unlikely to be detected. They were so innocent, so sweet appearing they slipped through the night, entering one home after another, murdering entire families and burning down homes. No one was spared, especially their parents. And when or if the Fearlings ever released that child it was too late. Not only were they plagued with the horrors they had done but they were being hunted down by any survivors – and there was always at least one." An image of a small child, no more than three or four and twisted by Fearlings appeared. Dead bodies surrounded it. The Fearling suddenly separated from the child to float above as a mob of people descended upon the now innocent child. The wind howled through the trees sounding suspiciously like a child's high pitch scream.
Jack and North jumped and even Bunny shivered. While it had never happened to his village he had heard of it happening in others. It was a frightening thought.
"When I was no older than you, Jack, it happened to the Lunaroff Constellation. A young girl, sweet and beautiful, barely into her teens – the oldest child the Fearlings had possessed - became the next victim. She came from a humble family, a servant girl to the Tsar. The Fearlings intended to use her to destroy the royal family. If Lunaroff fell so would the others. So she slipped through the servant quarters and made her way through the palace. No one stopped her, it was not unusual to see the girl - she was as much a part of the royal family as I was. That night she murder the Tsar as he meditated in the garden, slit his throat with his own jeweled knife. The Fearlings left her there, covered in blood as guards raced to their Tsar. Her parents had also been slain by her hand. She was sentenced to death."
An image of a little girl appeared with guards aiming swords at her head. Jack's breath hitched as the flames danced around the sand images and wind cried out again. He pulled his knees to his chest and hugged them as he listened intently, completely enthralled by the story yet terrified to hear what horrors befell this girl.
"By she was saved by the queen, her son and a young squire who knew what the Fearlings were up to. The Fearlings were enraged. They attacked, intent on possessing the child once more. They lashed out, striking at all present. The Lunaroffs prevailed and pushed them back, but the Fearlings never forgot. They watched that girl, waited until she was vulnerable, even though it took years. Until one day that little girl was a woman with a husband and child of her own." Pitch paused there as if deep in thought as the images faded. The wind stilled, as if waiting patiently for the end of the tail. A moment later he was right back into the story as if nothing had happened. "They planned to take her child, the sweetest two year old the constellation had ever seen. They were defenseless or so it seemed. Her husband was a solider and supposed to be on duty but due to an injury he had been sent home early to recover. He was asleep when the attack happen, their precious child curled in his arms. The Fearlings swept in with the intent of taking the child from the soldier when the mother came in. She took up her husband's sword and fought them as best she could while they tried to make away with her sleeping family. They had dark plans for the child and a young solider was a bonus."
The images changed to show the girl, now grown, swinging a sword at a bunch of Fearlings as more picked up her husband and child and try to fly away with them.
"When she realized she could do nothing to stop them she pleaded and begged and offered herself in exchange. Despite what had happened with the Tsar she was still considered part of the royal court and could get close to the new Tsar. She promised do anything they wanted and offered her body and soul to them. The Fearlings had never had a willing host before and so they returned her family and took her instead. They filled her body, every last one of them. They twisted her mind, made her cruel and hateful but before her mind was completely consumed she locked them inside her then took her husband's sword and drove it through her heart, trapping them forever in its diamond tip and giving her life to save her family's."
Another haunting scream echoed through the trees.
"But as we all know, the Fearlings could never be stopped. They found another host," Pitch continued, gesturing to himself. "And should this form be destroyed there will always be another."
Jack gave a small laugh as if not frightened until out of nowhere someone or something grabbed him from behind. He gave a small scream and whirled around, a hand raised and snow ball in hand only to have a bunch of black sand disappear into the shadows. Pitch burst into laughter and even Bunny couldn't help but laugh at the child's almost girly scream. North gave a small smile as Jack huffed and sat back down, his arms folded across his narrow chest as he glared at Pitch.
"That wasn't funny," the boy snapped, freezing a strain of nightmare sand that kept poking at his foot, trying to scare him a little more.
Pitch chuckled, "Wasn't meant to be. And you have the most delightful scream, Jack."
The wind echoed his scream.
Jack frowned at his longtime friend. "Traitor," he mumbled which only made the others laugh more.
Bunny smiled at Jack. The kid wanted a ghost story and Pitch provided a rather vivid one that was completely true. Despite Pitch's grin and almost merry appearance at the fright he caused the boy there was something else in his eyes. A sorrow, as if the story cost him more than he was letting on. Bunny knew – he'd heard part of the story before. His father had warned him never to speak of it when he was very young. The woman who had died saving her family was Pitch's wife. He had been the injured soldier asleep with his infant daughter.
North must have come to the same conclusion. They exchanged a look, as if reading one another's minds. There were days like this they could see the man Pitch once was and how much his memories must hurt whenever he thought of the hell he had caused all due to the Fearlings that possessed him. For a long time Bunny had thought that Kosmotis Pitchiner had been completely destroyed when the Fearlings possessed him but then Pitch would suddenly do or say something that was so much like his former self that Bunny had to question it. If Kosmotis was still alive within Pitch could he be saved? Bunny pushed those thoughts away. It was a fleeting fancy.
"Sandy!" Jack suddenly yelled, jumping to his feet and waving to the golden man descending on a gold sand cloud.
Pitch actually smiled at the Sandman as well. He stood, dusting off his robes. "Time for little winter sprite to go to bed," he said, stepping away from the campfire.
North nodded in agreement. "Dah, you should go to bed, Jack. Tomorrow we'll take a nice hike up to that waterfall Bunny found."
"Come on, North," Jack objected. "I'm not some little kid and Sandy just got here."
He gave a small smile and nod to Sandy. "I know."
Jack's eyes widened and he tried to duck but Sandy's aim was perfect. He got a face full of dreamsand. Bunny caught him before he hit the ground and gave North a questioning look as he laid the boy on a sleeping bag.
"What's that about?" the Pooka asked confused.
"Best Sandy give him good dreams now before he has to leave again. To ensure no nightmares from ghost story," North explained, bringing a blanket to cover Jack with. He ran his fingers through Jack's snowy hair with a smile. "He pretends to be brave but he is still very young and such a story can bring fear to anyone."
Pitch laughed. "And to think, I'm on vacation. Sandy, you really should consider taking some time off. I can always cover for you."
Sandy's eyes grew wide for a moment, as if thinking the Boogeyman was being sincere. Then sand blew out his ears, realizing the trap being set and images flew above his head in quick succession.
"No need to get so angry," Pitch soothed but still had a grin. "It was only a suggestion."
North chuckled and slapped him on the back with enough force to almost knock Pitch off his feet. "The Nightmare King start bring sweet dreams to children will be the day Bunny admits Christmas is more important than Easter."
"Oh no, mate, don't you dare start that," Bunny growled, hopping up to him and poking him in the chest with a claw. "You're the one who wrangled us into these vacations so button up. And don't trying getting him to choose sides. You remembered what happened when you tried that with Frostbite. Boy chose Halloween and you know what, I don't blame him."
Pitch shrugged. "Halloween is good so a scare."
Bunny nodded then shook his head then seemed a little lost by Pitch agreeing with him. Why couldn't he think properly? Stupid damn memories. He needed some sleep. Tomorrow everything would be back to normal, or as normal as it could get with Pitch hanging out with them. Waving good night to the others he climbed into his sleeping back and snuggled down. He felt unbelievably tired and suddenly drained. Laughter echoed in the wind and he smiled. "Goodnight, Seraphina," he murmured. The wind ruffled his fur then swept away. He heard Pitch thank her and wish her a good night as well. Figures, he thought with a small laugh. Pitch had his daughter help with the "special effects" of the story. They made a good team. A really good team.