Amelia

At quarter past eight, my mind was drawn away from the peacefulness of sleep and I rolled over and found myself staring at Pitch Black's eyes. He twiddled with a golden strand of my hair, his eyes blazing with tenderness and affection.

"What are you doing here?"

"Sweet dreams?" he asked.

"I think I'm still in one," I murmured, reaching up to turn off the alarm clock. "Do you remember what I said about you watching me sleep?"

"Of course."

"I still think it's creepy."

Pitch leant forward a little and chuckled.

"Finally. Someone who knows how to have a little common sense."

"All the doors and windows were locked. How did you get inside?"

"My dear Amelia, you seem to be forgetting that I wield the power of shadows and darkness," he said, "And I can become them."

I smirked.

"That's still breaking and entering."

He feigned innocence.

"Nothing was broken."

"It's the law." A deep yawn worked its way out of my mouth. "I've gotta get going. My brother offered to home school Noah, so I said I'd drop him off."

Pitch leaned over and kissed me. Then he left.


Much later, Noah gave me a kiss goodbye and leapt out of the car, despite my offer of accompanying him to John's front door. After Jamie and Noah's school had been turned to ashes and the other schools in town were struggling to accommodate the temporary students, I found myself relying – not for the first time – on John's eagerness to help. Which was terrific because as a widow, it was difficult enough.

I was already driving into town and pulling into the nearest parking space I could find when a rush of ice shot in front of the car. Throwing my hands up, I shouted, "Seriously, Jack?"

"Sorry!" he replied, grinning moments after he saw me.

What followed next was a long gust of wind. It was quarter to eleven at that point and the day's fog was thickening, like the pages of a novel. Most of the sidewalk remained covered with snow (thanks to Jack and his powers). Definitely as magical as a ghost drifting around the earth.

But still: the longing.

It rose suddenly, emotion overcoming logic and filled me with a desperation that left me in a trance. And I knew someone was behind me even before the hand fell on my shoulder. I spun round and faced him.

"Gavin?"

He took a step forward, now invading my personal space.

"Where are you off to?"

Taking a step backwards, I replied, "I was on my way home."

Gavin let out a dry chuckle.

"Already? Let me get you a coffee."

I hesitated a moment and then said, "I'm not in the mood."

Even after making it clear I wasn't interested, footsteps advanced from a little way behind me.

"Come on, Amelia, it's just coffee."

"No, thank you."

His expression contorted.

"You're not being very nice to me."

"My son's school burnt down and all you're worried about is not getting your own way."

At first, I believed he was going to yell. Or hit me. But he reached into his pocket and before I even had time to react, he dropped something into my hands.

What the hell?

They were keys to my home. My stomach twisted into knots.

"Well, then," Gavin said. "I won't need these anymore."

He left me standing alone in the street, confused and afraid.


The girl who'd been at the school yesterday stood on the other side of the road. Her clothes were different, reflecting something majestic, from an earlier time. A long-sleeved dress fell at her feet and her long black hair fell past her shoulders. What was she doing here? Who was she?

The sky was heavy and oppressing as though matching the look in her eyes. A look someone had when glimpsing into a window of another person's soul. I let out a long breath, marched over and confronted her.

"Who are you and why are you following me?"

"My name is Emily Jane. Please, I do not wish to frighten you."

"Then why are you following me?" I repeated, almost automatically.

Emily glanced at me more closely and suggested, "Let's speak somewhere more private."

She waited for me to purchase a bottle of water and a sandwich, which surprisingly, I ate quicker than I'd thought as we wandered into the park. We spent the best part of our journey without saying a word, apart from my offer to buy her something from the takeaway café.

Her eyes fixed on a row of trees swaying near the fence, and then she glimpsed at something underneath them. Whatever she'd seen was probably a trick of the light because she responded by shaking her head in sorrow. Afterwards, she made a space for me on the nearest bench.

"Amelia."

The sound of my name rolling off her tongue came out as a murmur. The fact that she knew who I was terrified me. How in the world did she know who I was? Really? Was this a trick, a trap, a scam?

"I'm not saying you're not who you claim to be, but…"

"It's a lot to take in," Emily finished, sweeping her gaze around. "I think that you are wary of me, that's fine. I do not blame you for it. But try to trust me when I tell you this: I have known about you. For some time. Especially as I've been Mother Nature for so long."

"You're Mother Nature." My eyes lit up. "Really?"

Emily nodded. After failing to hide a grin, her expression grew serious.

"You're in danger."

I blinked and didn't say anything. None of that made sense. Part of me believed it was a mistake. Nonetheless, I accepted the facts.

"He's been lying to you," Emily continued.

"Who has?"

"Who do you think?"

I didn't answer. We remained looking at each other. After a few seconds, I told her what I'd wanted to ever since the conversation had started.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because he's just trying to protect you – and I still see good in him."

Emily gave me a sympathetic look and then seemed satisfied. When I started to walk away, she shot her hand out at my arm and held. I grabbed my hand and tried to pry her off but she was unnaturally strong.

"You're hurting me."

My mind rolled over crazy possibilities of how I'd let myself be drawn in further by the shadows. As Emily let go of my hand, a new feeling seared through me, making me whole: Courage. Ben always said I had the courage to do just about anything and he was right. Because now, thinking about him made me want to seek justice and end his killer. Which brought me back to Pitch. Did he know I was here, let alone the fact that I'd met Mother Nature?

"Be careful. Don't let anyone fool you," she warned. "Pitch was fooled once, a very long time ago. He believed I was in danger, because these horrible Dream Pirates tricked him into believing so. When he was guarding their prison, they used my wish for him to return against him. Because of what he became, I thought it better to stay away from him. If I were to have been found, he might have killed me and Captain Sandy. However, I told him I would not take sides whenever he fought the Guardians. After that I moved on. Yet it broke my heart when Sandy was killed. But the boy, Jamie, I have him to thank for Sandy's resurrection. You know, for a long time, I believed Pitch had forgotten me."

A twinge of sadness had crept into her voice. And something else: love.

"Why do you care about him so much?"

She faltered for a moment, but managed an answer.

"That doesn't matter right now."

I gripped her wrist.

"Tell me."

Her expression darkened. Thunder rolled overhead, threatening to submerge the park in a downpour of rain.

"If you do not find it in your heart to trust me at all, then I cannot help you. Nor do I wish to hinder you."

I nodded.

"Okay."

"A demon killed Ben because he made a deal with it."

Terror threatened to consume me.

"What deal?"

"I do not know, but I think it was something to do with your son."

Which I was now starting to remember.

Emily added, "The demon's managed to remain undetected. If we can tell the Guardians, then we can protect everyone. Not just the children. But we must hurry. If we don't, I fear there could be a greater loss on our hands."

"Why are you helping me?" I asked.

"We both fighting for the same cause… our families."

"Why can't you just tell me how you know Pitch?"

Emily chuckled.

"You're going to find out very soon."

As snowflakes descended from the sky, she faded within the heaviness of the clouds.

BOOF!

A snowball struck me in the back of the head. After originally planning to yell, a rush of mischief shot through me.

"Okay, Jack, I know that was you."

He flew into the middle of the park, carrying Jamie securely on his back. After putting Jamie down, he threw his hands up in mock surrender and laughed.

"Well, you got me."

Before either of us had a chance to react, Jamie threw a snowball at the back of Jack's head, knocking him back. As he spun round, Jamie and I pointed at each other. The mayhem persisted as I gathered snowballs into my arms. And when Jack struck me with one, I chuckled.

"Are you okay, Amelia?" Jamie asked.

"Never better."

A look of excitement appeared in Jack's eyes. His mouth twitched and I was pretty convinced he was fighting a smile. Then the sense of joy suddenly turned to anguish. Jack and Jamie looked at each other. In an attempt to engage me, Jack leapt down from the bench and moved his head to concentrate on me.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"There's something I need to tell both of you. Ben was killed by a demon. It cut the brakes on our car…" My eyes threatened tears …"And I think it attacked the school." The news hit Jack like a punch to the gut. With a disheartened expression, Jamie remained searching my face. "According to Mother Nature–"

"She's real?" Jamie asked.

I nodded. "According to her, Ben made a deal with the demon: something involving Noah."

Jack shot me a look.

"I think you know, don't you, Amelia?"

"My son," I started, but then my voice cracked. "My son had a tumour. When we found out, it was too late. Because my husband would have given anything for our child, he went as far as looking into supernatural cures. Except he was duped. Ben traded his soul, but for some reason, the demon took him sooner. We don't exactly know who the demon was. Which means it could be anyone."

Jamie watched me, worried. If Jack and I were unnerved by this, how unnerving must this be for a twelve-year-old boy? As if on cue, Jack placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder.

"Oh, Amelia, what have you done?"

"Ben started this," I said sincerely. "I didn't know he planning a demon deal."

"But you knew he was getting involved with the supernatural," Jamie reminded me.

"Besides, what if Pitch knows who the demon is, and what if he's playing you?" Jack paused. "Have you thought about that?"

I didn't need to be reminded that he'd done some bad things over the years, and he must have relished in them. But if it was true about him playing me, why had he been so worried about me running back into the fire to save Noah? And why would he bother to kiss me if he really didn't care? Although I knew the answer to that, still it made me wonder if the kiss truly meant something to him at all.

This whole situation was becoming one huge mess. Seconding that, it already was. If I had talked Ben out of it, if I had asked more questions about what he'd been plotting… people were in danger because of us. If Jamie or Sophie had been in Noah's position, wouldn't Mrs Bennett have done everything she could to keep her family safe?

Pitch was right. It was amazing what a parent did for their child.

Which brought me back to Emily. Whoever she was to him, her longing to reconcile would always remain. While I was thinking about everything, I was certain I had seen a strand of black hair whipping against her face. My eyes adjusted to the falling snowflakes and indeed, there she was.

"I have to go," I said to Jamie and Jack, "I'll see you soon."

It was almost noon. Again, Emily had wandered off. I took the short walk to the clearing and didn't see anything new in particular. The grass remained dusted with snow and…

"Boo!"

My hand punched something. It groaned, and when I got a better look at it my eyes widened.

"Pitch?"

He rubbed his face and said, "I should probably get used to that by now."

"I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

"Don't worry. You didn't knock out a tooth."

We looked at each other a moment later, and the glance passing between us was tender and loving; on Pitch's part the uneasy feeling of a man who had been forced to face long forgotten emotions buried in his past, on mine an understanding I recognised clear enough to define.

"The school was attacked by a demon," I said quickly. "The same one that killed Ben."

He placed a hand on my shoulder and replied, "Poor Jamie and Noah. That's awful."

And here he was again, on his stage, standing before me with his pale-grey face, glowing eyes and sensual lips.

"The worst thing is, the cops wouldn't believe a word of it. No one would."

I kept glimpsing at Pitch's fingers, those long, sensitive fingers tracing the curve of my arm. Breaking the trance, I asked, "Are you still here because I'm useful to you? Is that the only reason you're 'protecting' me? Because if it is, nothing gives you the right to use me. Understand?"

Pitch's throat swelled. His chest was heaving now then he started walking away. Every muscle in his back tensed all at once and when he turned around, he didn't look at me straight away. We locked eyes and I found myself unable to turn away.

"I don't think you understand what this is doing to me, do you?" he spat. "You know, for a grown woman, you spend an awful lot of time missing what's in front of you."

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe I care about you. Maybe I've grown to love you."

His words struck me like an arrow to the heart.

"That's impossible."

Pain and anger flared in his eyes. Straight away, Pitch embraced me, holding me against his chest. I leaned in for a kiss and he bent down to accept my offer. Pitch ran his hands over my face then into my hair. He leaned closer and brushed his face over my cheeks until his lips met mine. I opened my mouth a little and Pitch saw that as the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His hands lingered in and out of my hair. His skin was warm. It felt good. Exactly how the sunlight would feel. He looked at me, his eyes burning with pleasure and satisfaction. He pulled me into another kiss. This time, I kissed him back.

Something else rang true.

Emily wasn't lying.

"Come with me," he murmured.

The corners of my mouth twitched.

Going to Pitch's lair again, I didn't feel terrified at all. I felt excited. For the first time in a long time, I was starting to let someone else find a place in my heart. We stopped at the globe and heard the scuffling. My heart leapt into my throat the moment Onyx lunged at Pitch. This time, I got between them and raised my hands.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, girl, easy. That's it. Settle down." As she stopped, I commanded, "Now put him down. Come on." After she dropped him to the ground, I tickled her around the face and said, "Oh, you are such a good girl." The touch of her mane against my neck caused me to giggle. "Are you tired from chasing the bad man all over the place?" Onyx made neighing sounds in her throat. "Nobody appreciates you, do they? Do they?"

"Come on. She's a bad horse."

"Oh she's nothing but a big sweetheart. Isn't that right, Onyx?"

The corner of Pitch's mouth twitched.

"Hmm… it was interesting to see that dream of yours the other night."

My smile dropped.

"That was private."

He cackled.

"Not anymore."

Pitch started to back away, becoming one with the darkness and smiled as he disappeared. Silence fell upon the lair like a bed sheet and the globe of belief remained flickering away, lighting up any believing child. It took me a little while to figure that out, but from my basic Geography, those places on the globe were vastly populated areas. It reminded me of an exhibit in a museum.

I turned back to the passageway where Pitch had disappeared and left myself wondering for the thrill of it if he was hiding in plain sight. Even courageous justice seekers had imaginations! After bringing out my keys and switching on the mini flashlight, its small beam guided the way.

Something appeared to be gathering inside the impending darkness, hidden, yet heavy and intriguing. Words came to my mouth with a burning curiosity.

"What is this place?"

The words echoed down the shadowy passageway as a body would have fallen through ice, sinking further and further and leaving nothing but devastation. Or releasing creatures long kept at bay.

My fingers trailed along the ancient stone walls before I was greeted by an ancient set of doors, towering above the archway. Placing both hands on the knobs, it was surprising to find neither of them were locked. I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. It was time to go inside.

What I discovered there was a devastating sight. Thousands of books were scattered across the floor and most of the furniture was broken and overturned. Next, my attention was drawn in by a framed photograph laying in the corner, fading with age. I crouched down and held it. General Kozmotis Pitchiner, the caption read.

The man staring back at me had the same black hair and almost looked nothing like Pitch. Apart from the handsome face and eyes, not yet gold. His skin was a regularly healthy tone and he wore a uniform, the same one I had seen hanging in his wardrobe. Now I was afraid of whatever had changed him from that noble heroic man into a creature of the night. The answer to my questions laid right here, emanated by a slow passing tick, chiming when its hands reached the hour. And as I touched it, the broken room fell away around me.

Somewhere from within, I was pulled through time at an unnervingly fast pace. The world around me reversed ferociously, transforming into day and night. Faster than I had ever seen in my life. The moon remained and ever so quickly, I witnessed the explosion of a galleon and a battle, presumably the last. I didn't know what the battle was about, but it reversed so fast. My stomach churned and I found myself floating around in space. I was going fast through the remarkable sights and the stars, galaxies and constellations danced before my eyes. Then I understood that the explosion I was observing was the destruction of those peculiar new worlds. What I now saw was Pitch's army eliminating each place after the next. But I didn't understand. Why would someone want to destroy something so magnificent?

And as I continued my journey back through time, the universe again began filling with life. Wait a minute. Were those ships flying across the sky? Everything became more difficult to take in. The cities around me were so vast they were bigger than New York itself. It pained me to think Pitch had once snuffed out this light.

Less than two minutes later, I found myself at a much eerier place. It appeared to be a dungeon. Like Emily had said, this must have been where the Fearlings were imprisoned. I ducked behind the nearest pillar, unable to tear my gaze from Pitch, who remained at his post in front of the solitary door.

It was incredible to see the man I'd grown to love before his transformation. He looked every part the hero he'd once been. Strong. Brave. Noble. Even handsome in that ancient uniform. But his committed expression grew tired and burdened with sadness. From behind that door, hisses and whispers came from within. That's awful. Especially for Pitch who must have been vigil to it for many days and nights. Indeed, the burden seemed to press on him. He wore a tired expression and his fists were clenched. He pulled something out of his pocket and looked at it. The small locket hung around his neck and as he opened it, I could merely distinguish young Emily's face. His expression softened and his sadness faded a little. I knew that look. It was the same look Ben used to have when he thought about Noah.

Emily was Pitch's daughter!

How did I not figure this out before? As a mother, I sensed his longing to be reunited with his child. As Emily had explained, the Fearlings recognised it too. Their voices changed, and when I understood what they were saying the waterworks began.

"Please, Daddy," they mimicked, "Please, please, please open the door."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Pitch's eyes. He almost smiled, but recognised the trap. He set his lips in a tight line and he still looked devastated. The pleading began again.

"Daddy. I'm trapped in here with these shadows, and I'm scared. Please open the door. Help me, Daddy, please."

Again, Pitch glimpsed at the photo. Their cries grew more despairing. More entrancing. And Pitch appeared to be falling for their trap. His face contorted into a mask of fear. He went to open the door. The locket fell from his neck, the chain broken. An old wizard caught it in mid-air and both of us went to block Pitch from opening the door when Bunny suddenly appeared. Although they didn't seem to notice me, I found myself unable to move, to think, incapable even of turning away from the despondency confronting me.

The moment Bunny scolded the wizard, I knew right then Pitch's transformation was a fixed point in time. No amount of interfering was ever going to prevent it. Yet Bunny, apparently, was there to stop the wizard.

Once the wizard, Bunny and myself turned back to Pitch, shock and pain reflected in the fallen General's eyes – the desperation of a father doing everything he could to protect his child. The memory of running into Jamie and Noah's blazing school hit me so hard it brought tears to my eyes. Only a parent understood another parent's fear. I'd wanted to protect Noah, just as Pitch had wanted to protect Emily.

Unable to stop myself, I yelled "Don't!" and went to grab his arm. Pitch ran through me, like I were a ghost. I staggered back, speechless, as though the wind had been knocked out of me.

Pitch opened the door and the only thing that could be seen was a swarm of snake-like beings. Obviously, Emily wasn't in there. Before Pitch had a chance to scream her name, the shadows fell on him. In seconds they swarmed over, around, into him! I felt my stomach turn to ice. Pitch struggled, but his efforts were in vain. He succumbed to their evil and they warped him into a monster. He grew to ten times his original height, his face twisting into something nightmarish and inhuman. Pitch threw his head back and roared with the sinister laughter of every one of the Fearlings.

Hands grabbed me from behind. A scream lodged its way into my throat and the walls of the dungeons faded inside the past. And then I realised I was returning to the present.

"Now you know."

He shut his eyes, but it never stopped the tears from streaming down his cheeks.

"I'm so sorry…" I murmured, approaching him, taking in everything I had recently seen.

Pitch's expression darkened.

"That was private."

I shot him an apologetic glance and added, "It was stupid of me to go poking around, I get it. But you told me not to put my life in danger to rescue my son when you did the same for your own daughter."

"Because I wasn't given a choice," he seethed, "You were."

"You cared! That wasn't your fault. Besides, Emily's the one who told me about the demon."

"Of course she would."

I looked up at him and offered my hand.

"No more secrets."

Pitch shook it.

"You have my word."


The moment I stepped inside my house, I realised something was wrong. My entire living room was painted bright red…red on the walls…red on the ceiling…red on the floor from where there had been a struggle and red on me. Blood red. All over the floor.

Noah and John laid sprawled in the middle and I realised why I was trembling all over: John's head rested at an angle, his neck snapped.

The world moved on and left me behind. The realisation of how much I cared about John crashed down on me with a sickening thud. My brother was dead. Fear seized me, but I remained looking at him.

Out of nowhere, Gavin appeared beside Noah and John. Even after ten seconds, I was still reeling from the revelation that Gavin was the demon.

"You," I rasped, "You killed Ben."

Gavin said nothing, but took a step closer towards Noah. He picked him up, brought a knife down and held it against my child's throat.


O.O And so the plot thickens! I'm not so sure taking Pitch's word for it is exactly a good idea.