(Sadie's POV)

The look on Nightlight's face sent me on high alert. It said danger.

Nick and I exchanged a silent glance before gathering the younger children into a tight circle, Sophie and Holly in the middle. Jamie refused to stand with them. "I'm helping," he snapped stubbornly, standing next to me and Nick. I looked to Nick for support, but Nick just shrugged. I let it slide. Nightlight continued to look around for any signs of Fearlings, his spear held at the ready. Black sand circled us slowly on the floor. Sophie whimpered fearfully. I pushed Jamie behind me protectively, and he didn't object.

The sand rose up in front of me into a form with golden yellow eyes. I glared at him as his mouth widened into a cruel, toothy grin. "Don't even think about it, Pitch," Nightlight growled, his spear pointed right at him.

The King of Nightmares rolled his eyes. "Oh, go chase a moonbeam, boy," he replied boredly. Nightlight gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing at Pitch.

I noticed the boomerang before Pitch did. It flew right between me and him, and, naturally, everyone looked in the direction the boomerang had come from. "That was a warnin'," Bunny growled. Sophie and Holly were behind him. I could only wonder how they had managed to sneak away. The Guardians all stood defensively.

Katherine narrowed her eyes at Pitch, her dagger drawn. "I thought I sensed a dark presence."

"Well, well, well," Pitch chuckled. "The whole gang's here. Katherine, you haven't changed a bit." Katherine glared at him angrily. "Of course, sadly, the same can't be said for another. Isn't that right," He paused, smiling into the shadows, "Eclipse?"

A dark cackle that sent a shiver down my back rose from the shadows. A shadowy figure stepped out, his head down. The room seemed to darken as he stepped into it. My eyes widened at the horrifying sight of him. He looked extremely similar to Nightlight.

He was short and thin in stature, looking frail. He had silver-grey hair, slightly wavy but straightened at the same time. Where Nightlight had soft edges this figure had all spikes and points. Claw gauntlets covered his hands and trailed up his arms. A layered chest piece and a layered cuirass allowed protection but also movement. He wore spiked boots that went up to his thighs. The top three layers of metal had spikes on his legs. Four dark spikes were sunk in his shoulders, two on each shoulder. Dimly glowing, white blood slowly oozed from them. Each breath was heavily labored.

Katherine held back a shriek, her eyes wide. "No," she whispered sharply, shaking her head, her eyes never leaving the figure. "It-it can't be him… Nightlight?"

The figure looked up at her quickly. "Surprise!" he laughed creepily.

His face was a thousand times worse; it could've been a rather handsome face, but it was marred by darkness. His eyes are blacked out save for white irises that seemed to spin into the black holes of his pupils. His teeth were sharpened to points. His smile was the ghastly, ghoulish smile of a Fearling; his black eyes glittering with glee.

I backed away from him, my heart pounding. This was not just any ordinary Fearling. This was someone–or something–much worse. His head quickly swiveled in my direction at my movement. I froze. "Such a pretty light…" he purred. "So bright…Bright eyes, brighter heart, brightest light…" He licked his lips, a hungry look in his eyes.

Pitch patted his head. "Not now, Eclipse," he scolded.

The figure, Eclipse, seemed to pout. "But I'm starving, and it's so, bright" I thought I saw a little bit of drool escape his mouth.

I looked at the other Guardians, hoping for some help, but they seemed to be in as much shock as Katherine.

Finally, I looked at Nightlight. He appeared to be surveying Eclipse, taking him in. Nightlight's eyes were narrowed dangerously. Eclipse grinned hungrily at him.

Katherine trembled. "What-what did you do to him?!" she shrieked.

"Simple," Pitch replied, smiling. "He became corrupted."

"I'm not Nightlight anymore," Eclipse sang maliciously. "I am Eclipse now."

(Nightlight's POV)

Eclipse grinned at me. I glared back. "Nightlight," he laughed, "is dead."

I understood what Pitch was doing. He was making me out as dead and the only thing left was this Fearling version of me.

"I believe you know what I want," Pitch demanded. Sadie and I exchanged a glance. I could tell she was scared, but she was trying her best not to show it.

"An' why should you have her then, eh?" Bunny asked.

Pitch scowled. "Because if I don't get her peacefully, I will not hesitate to use force." Nick pushed Sadie behind him, glaring at Pitch. Jamie moved in front of her protectively as well.

Pitch's Nightmares suddenly flew at us and the battle was on.

Sandy grabbed one Nightmare with his whips and turned it into dreamsand, while Tooth sliced through the Nightmares with her wings. Bunny threw his boomerangs which sliced through several. The Pooka then grabbed Sophie and Holly and carried the two girls over to one of the worktops, placing them underneath. "Stay here, and don't move." They nodded before Bunny hurried away to join the other Guardians.

Eclipse grinned and flew at Sadie, who shrieked. I blocked him with my spear. "Hehehehe," he giggled. "I know you, light brat. I'm quite hungry. You have enough light to feed me for a while!" He removed the top-most spikes from his legs, which were handles to daggers, and grinned wickedly. He attempted to strike at me, but I parried with my spear and threw him back.

Jack noticed Sophie and Holly hiding under the worktop. "Sadie, Nick, get over there with Jamie! I'll cover you!"

Sadie nodded before grabbing Nick's hand and her brother and hurrying over. Jack covered them, freezing any Nightmare which went near them, and the ones he didn't get were picked off by me slashing and stabbing through them with my spear. When Sadie reached the worktop, she shoved Jamie underneath; she and Nick remained standing in an effort to protect them, and Jack and I stood in front of them with our weapons raised.

Pitch appeared not far off, glaring at us. "I've been waiting a long time to do this to you, Frost. You too, light brat; you both ruined everything for me."

With a battle cry, Jack flew through the air towards Pitch. But Pitch vanished, and it took Jack a few seconds to halt his attack before he glanced around for any signs of the shadowy figure.

Eclipse appeared again out of nowhere. Sadie shrunk back a bit fearfully.

"No light, all night.

Such a pretty glow.

With my might, I will fight.

Down she will go!" he cackled, taunting me. That was the tune of our lullaby. I saw red as I gritted my teeth, tightening my grip on my spear, and flew at him angrily. With a grin he vanished into dark smoke, leaving me wondering where he went.

Too late did we realize they were distractions to get us away from the kids–and when several Nightmares surrounded us, like they were doing with the other Guardians, we couldn't get back to them. My eyes widened. No, I can't fail. Not-not like last time. Not like with… I couldn't think of their name, but I remembered they'd been important. And I had let them down and could never be able to undo what had happened. A flash of a memory skipped across my eyes: a silver cloaked figure…a child's cry…then a flash of light…

(Sadie's POV)

Pitch appeared before us, and Nick and I stood in front of our siblings, attempting to protect them. "Don't you even dare," I hissed.

"Spirited girl, aren't you, Luna?" Pitch smirked. "So full of…light. Even more light than your brother." He chuckled.

I frowned, glaring. "It's Sadie."

He chuckled again, ignoring me. "Tell me, do you fear the Nightmares surrounding you?" The man gestured to the surrounding Nightmares, who were snorting in a threatening manner.

I looked at them, then back at Pitch. "Honestly, no; they don't scare me."

The smile on Pitch's face only grew wider. "Of course they don't, Luna. See, that's what makes you special out of all the others, Luna." The way he said "Luna", it sounded like more than just a name; it sounded like a threat.

My eyes narrowed. "Why do you keep calling me that? My name isn't Luna."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong. See, your whole life is just one big lie. If you knew the truth, you'd never look at your family the same way again, nor your little glowing friend."

What? I thought. "You don't know anything about me."

"No? I know your real family. I know why you were left on that doorstep fourteen years ago. I know where you learned that little lullaby you're so fond of! I know your brother; your real brother! And I know what happened to your birth parents and who killed them!"

I caught my breath. "You're lying," I insisted fiercely, but I sounded uncertain, even to myself.

"Am I?" he questioned.

Eclipse laughed and I shivered. "May I, master?"

"Yes. Remember not to overdo it," Pitch waved him off.

Eclipse licked his lips. "I'll enjoy darkening that incredibly bright light of yours!"

Jamie suddenly leapt up. "Don't touch my sister!" He barreled into Eclipse, knocking him off balance, but Eclipse was quick and caught his footing before he fell.

He then grabbed Jamie by the shirt and threw him away, before stalking towards him. "Hehehehe. I think I'll deal with you first."

My eyes widened, and I launched myself at Eclipse. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!"

"Sadie!" Nick cried, attempting to stop me.

That's when something unbelievable happened.

When I touched Eclipse's arm in an effort to shove him away from my brother, a blinding light flashed from my hands, and Eclipse screeched unnaturally. He bit my wrist with his sharp teeth, and I hit him back hard. He let go and I fell backwards, landing on my butt on the floor. I began taking in deep breaths to calm down, clutching my wrist where he bit me.

Eclipse towered over me, that sadistic grin still on his face as he licked his lips. "Delicious! Make more light!"

(Third POV)

Pitch turned to look at Sadie, who was panting for breath and staring up at Eclipse with frightened, uncertain eyes. Those eyes…he thought he had seen those eyes before…long ago…but younger… In his mind he heard the cry of a baby as the memory flashed across his eyes.

It's true…she is indeed the one I've been looking for…finally, after so long… Pitch grinned maliciously.

Jack and Nightlight were then suddenly between Eclipse and Sadie. Jack sent an icy blast in Pitch's direction as Nightlight tried to strike at Eclipse. The surrounding Nightmares turned into ice before exploding. Pitch shielded himself while Eclipse blocked the blow with his daggers. Both slunk back into the shadows, disappearing.

(Nightlight's POV)

Once I was certain the Boogeyman and Eclipse were gone, I turned my attention on Sadie and knelt down next to her. "Are you okay?" Then I saw her wrist and the blood on her hand. "Oh, no you're not." Nick, Holly, Jamie, and Sophie hurried over as well, along with the other Guardians.

She didn't move. All she did was stare uncertainly at the floor. "How did I do that?" she stammered. "There was this blinding flash of light…"

"Maybe it was the same thing I did when I turned his Nightmares into dreamsand," Jamie suggested.

Sadie didn't look convinced. "But not only that, after I hurt Eclipse, Pitch looked at me strangely… Almost…almost as if he, recognized me from somewhere before the incident when he tried to kidnap me." I saw a worried look on Bunny's face and wondered what this could possibly mean.

Nick helped her stand up. She was unsteady at first and staggered a bit. "Here," he insisted, draping her arm over his shoulders, "let me help."

She gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Nick," she trembled.

I felt a pang of jealousy. But why would I be jealous? He's only helping her…when I should be the one doing that. But, of course, no one can see me, so it would look awkward for her to stand up on her own and drape her arm over "thin air." Still didn't stop the jealous feeling from being a nuisance.

"Now let's get that bite cleaned up," Nick remarked worriedly. "Dad, can you get the first aid kit?" North went to go get it. Sandy, Tooth, Bunny, Katherine, Jack, the other kids, and I followed behind Nick as he led her to her room. Tooth, Sandy, and Bunny made the kids, Katherine, and Jack wait outside. I waited outside too, but I paced in front of the door.

(Sadie's POV)

Nick gently helped me sit on the bed and went to the door, where North handed him the first aid kit. He walked over to me and sat in a chair across from me. He took my wrist in one hand and held the other out to me. "Can I see your necklace?" he asked.

Instinctively, I touched it with my other hand protectively. "Why?"

He smiled reassuringly. "Trust me; I'm just going to use the dreamsand inside to treat that Fearling bite."

I fingered it for a minute, before reluctantly removing it and handing it to him. He unscrewed the top, and a little flurry of dreamsand floated out. He quickly closed it again and guided the dreamsand into the wound. It seeped in slowly.

My vision began to clear, and I didn't feel as dizzy anymore. I blinked, staring at my wrist. "Wow; that works fast."

Nick smirked at me before he took some gauze from the first aid kit and began to wrap my wrist. "It should," he commented. "Dreams can be a powerful medicine against fear, so dreamsand should work against a wound from a Fearling." He finished tying the gauze off. "There; all done."

I smiled. "Thank you, Nick."

He grinned. "No problem. Now, let's put that necklace back on." I reached to take it from him, but he shook his head. "I'll put it on you. It'll be easier than trying to do it yourself." He stood and walked behind me, crawling across the bed to sit behind me. He pushed my hair aside and put my necklace in the center before clasping it back on.

Then he did something that surprised me: he kissed me on my cheek.

I felt my cheeks flush. I turned around to face him. He was sitting there, his head turned away from me, but I could just barely see the pink blush on his own cheeks.

(Jack's POV)

"What's taking so long?" Nightlight mumbled. "She should have that bite fixed up now."

"I'll check," I whispered to him. I got an "OK" from Katherine to check, and I cracked the door open and peeked inside. What I saw made me stiffen and close the door slowly. I stood in front of the door so they couldn't try to go in. "They're gonna be a while."

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "How come?"

I shook my head. "Just, don't look. Just go on my word; you do not want to look in there."

Nightlight's eyes widened. "What's going on in there?" he asked dangerously.

"Just go back to whatever you were doing and give them privacy," I said tiredly, running a hand through my hair.

"Oh," Katherine said. "Oh!"

I think she got the wrong message. "It's not what you think!" I said hurriedly. "It's not that! It's defiantly not that!"

Katherine wiped her forehead tiredly. "I don't think I even want to know anymore."

"Well, then," Bunny said awkwardly. "I wonder how that could have escalated."

Katherine hit him on the arm. "Oh, shut it, Bunnymund!"

Sandy frowned and shook his finger at him. "What?" Bunny asked, sounding offended. Sandy motioned to the younger kids who I had forgotten were there. "Oh, right." If the Pooka could blush, he did.

"C'mon," Katherine said quickly, ushering the children away from the door. "Who wants to meet Kaliash?"

As Katherine led them to meet her goose and the others wandered off, Nightlight glared at me. "What. Is. Going. On. In. There?" I rubbed the back of my neck, not responding. "Jack, move," he growled. I shook my head quickly.

(Nightlight's POV)

Frowning, I pushed him aside and threw open the door of her room. I froze in the doorway. I couldn't breathe.

Sadie sat on the bed across from Nick. She was…she was…

"I tried to warn you," Jack apologized.

Sadie had her hand on the edge of Nick's chin, her eyes closed blissfully, her lips and his connected in a kiss.

My heart shattered. I felt… what? Angry? Jealous? Hurt? Betrayed? No, I realized.

I felt…lonely.

I slammed the door shut and stalked away from her room, a dull pain in my chest.

First off: I don't own Eclipse. He belongs to ask-the-spectral-boy on Tumblr.

Second, I hope he scared the pants of you guys. Cause if just reading about what he looks and acts like doesn't scare you, then you might not want to look at any pictures… *shudder* Yep I'm gonna see that creepy little bugger in my nightmares for a while…

Anyway, I can't wait to play around with him; he's the tension I mentioned last chapter.

A few sweet little Nick/Sadie scenes and Nightlight is so jealous.

Nightlight: I'm not jealous. Sadie can date whoever she wants.

Pft, yeah right, Nightlight.

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