A/N: Thank you again to my new favoriters and followers, and an immense THANK YOU SO MUCH to my last chapter's reviewers: Stille Contrast, LuluCalliope, Starcrier, ShiroKoneko82, and NightmareFlames. Once more I own nothing but my OCs and this plot. Read and enjoy!
Infuriating smile still on his lips, Pitch secured an arm around Emmy's slender shoulders as one of his shadows swallowed them and Trick, leaving me standing alone in the dark room. I muttered a curse and rushed over to the window. I wasn't scared that Pitch and Trick would hurt her—I was scared that she would go into a panic attack if left alone with them for too long. They weren't exactly the friendliest-looking people. My thumbs slipped a bit on the latches securing it. With a grunt I threw it open and ducked out, cursing again when I tried to catch it before it could crash against the sill and ended up getting my fingers jammed. Easing my throbbing fingers out of the window, I whipped my head around to try to see where they went, if it was nearby. I spotted them in front of the neighbor's house, one of Pitch's demon horses cantering towards them. I leapt down from the roof with a scowl, lightly landing on the sidewalk.
"Pitch, what the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked, my boots clicking an angry staccato beat as I stalked towards where Trick and Pitch stood with Emmy in the middle of the road. Trick was becoming better acquainted with Emmy, showing her his prized lantern and creating forms of flowers and animals from its flames; orchids, roses, elephants and tigers and, best of all, a little fire bunny. Her eyes were bright with wonder, though they flicked a glance at Pitch anxiously when she thought he wasn't looking.
Pitch raised an eyebrow as my inner glow brightened with my agitation, reaching out to stroke the neck of his mare as it shied away from my luminescence. "No need to get aggressive, Wisp. I'm trying to help you, remember?" He said with a light chuckle, tweaking the mare's ears and stroking its nose adoringly.
I felt my gaze soften, my blinding light dying down to the brightness of candlelight, and tried to get my stress under control. "I know, and I appreciate it so much. Really, I do. It's just," I sighed a little, watching her play with Trick as she warmed up to him, marveling at how he could inhale an entire king size Hershey's bar in one bite, "she's my little sister."
Pitch grinned, brushing some of my shimmering hair from my shoulder. "Don't worry so much! I promise, Emmy will believe in you before the night is through."
"How can you be so sure?"
I felt my face warm a bit as his hand slid down my arm to lightly squeeze my fingers. "Just trust me." He turned towards Emmy and Trick, leading the horse along with him. Emmy looked up from watching Trick consume mass quantities of sugar at the sound of Pitch's approach, her eyes widening at the sight of the mare. I stepped forward as the horse started to get antsy, snorting and stomping, but Pitch motioned for me to stay put. Trick came to stand beside me, leaving Emmy with Pitch and the hell-horse.
"Leave it to him, lass." Trick murmured, rubbing my shoulder in what was supposed to be a soothing manner, though I could feel the restrictive intent behind it. I chewed the inside of my cheek, my heartbeat a dull roar in my ears and eliminating any other sound. Pitch held out a hand to Emmy, which she tentatively took, and tugged her towards the horse. At his touch I saw her breathing become more erratic, and I knew that the fear he gave off in waves was getting to her. He lifted her up at the waist and put her on the mare, swinging up onto it behind her and taking off into the sky. I shoved Trick away roughly, feeling my heart drop to my stomach as Emmy's shriek finally registered. I threw myself into the air after them, Trick's voice nonsensical babble in my mind as he tried to keep up with me on his loaned steed.
I burst through the cloud barrier and screamed to a halt a few feet from Pitch. Emmy was turned halfway around and was clutching his midsection, his identity as her worst nightmare momentarily forgotten as she stared down at the clouds below her. Oh gods, if she had a panic attack up here and fell off the damned horse….
Pitch was talking low to her as if to calm her, though the smile on his face meant he was enjoying her fear. Damn Boogeyman. "Now now, Emmy. It's so nice up here, won't you look around? Look at all the stars!" At his urging she looked from the clouds to the scintillating heavens, not releasing her grip on his coat front.
"What are you playing at, Pitch?" My voice was low with warning, my eyes narrowed on him.
He ignored me. "Do you miss your sister?"
Emmy nodded, making my heart squeeze.
"That's silly, considering how she's right here, next to us." He chuckled, waving one hand at me. "You can't miss someone if they're here. Tell you what; your sister would never let you get hurt, right?" Emmy nodded that this was true, though her face showed her confusion on the matter. "Then she wouldn't let you fall back down to the ground."
What?
Emmy frowned up at him. "I don't understand."
Pitch shrugged. "You want proof that your sister is still here? That's the best proof there is."
"Pitch, you can't be serious!" I gasped, my heart thundering in my chest. "I can't catch her if she doesn't believe! She'll die!"
Trick popped back a caramel candy before speaking his piece. "Either way, this'll be good for the both of you."
"Trick!" I gasped, staring at him.
Emmy struggled to hold on to Pitch, looking absolutely terrified. "No, no! Please, stop!"
"Pitch, don't do this!"
Pitch leaned in to Emmy. "I suggest you start believing in her." With that he unclenched her hands from his coat and lightly dropped her from the horse, as if he was setting her on the ground instead of letting her plummet through the sky.
"EMMY!" I screamed, rocketing after her. Oh my god, I couldn't believe them! I thought they were going to help her, not murder her! The wind made my hair snap around me, stinging my cheeks and bringing tears to my eyes. I stretched my arms out to catch her as I got closer, her screams tearing at my heart. Come on Emmy. You can do it—just believe in me. Believe in me, believe in me, believe in me! I snatched at her flailing hands, snarling in frustration when I passed right through her but trying again repeatedly anyway. Maybe I could believe enough for both of us. Maybe if I was stubborn enough….
Damn it, Emmy, I can't do it all. I need you to believe in me.
Emmy was sobbing now as she fell, tumbling and spinning with her arms being tossed around. I could see the town coming into focus beneath us, and my efforts became more frantic. I tried grabbing for anything; her hand, her sleeve, her elbow, an ankle, anything.
Emmy gave a sorrowful hiccup. "M-m-mmm-m—," she stuttered.
My hands glowed bright with my hope. Come on, kiddo….
"Myraaaaaa," she wailed, clutching herself for comfort and squeezing her eyes shut. The air whooshed out of my lungs, and this time when I grabbed for her waist, I made contact.
With a victorious roar, I pulled her close to me, hugging her within an inch of her life as the air around us tightened like a net, slowing our descent and bringing us to a complete stop a few feet above the sidewalk. Emmy's eyes popped open when the impact never came, and the whites of her eyes were visible around her deep gray irises as she stared at me in complete shock. Her hair was a tangled halo around her head as she gazed up at me. "Myra?" she whispered.
"Hey there, babycakes." I chuckled, feeling on top of the world. "Did you miss me?"
Her eyes welled with more tears as she threw her arms around me, burying her face in my neck as she cried. Her hot tears sizzled as they slid down my back. I rubbed soothing circles on her back and waited for her to be done, resting my cheek on the top of her head.
"Yeah, I missed you too." I laughed, blinking hard as my vision started to get blurry. I planted a kiss on her forehead, cradling her in my arms briefly before setting her back on the ground softly, smoothing her wreck of messed-up hair from her face. Her small hand clutched at mine, squeezing my fingers so hard I thought she'd break them. With her other hand she scrubbed at her eyes, her breath hitching in her chest.
I turned at the sound of hooves clattering against the pavement. "Emmy sweetie, close your eyes and cover your ears." Motioning for her to stay put, I marched forward to where Trick and Pitch stood, there mounts nowhere to be seen.
"Way to go, foxfire." Trick grinned, holding out his arms. "See? We told you it'd be—!" He cut off with a yell as my fist connected with his cheek, snapping his head to the side. I caught the hem of Pitch's long coat under my boot as he attempted to retreat and gave him the same reward.
"You oblivious assholes!" I snarled, rubbing my throbbing knuckles, my skin ablaze with flames almost as long as my arm. "How could you do that?! She's eight years old!"
Trick rubbed his bruising jaw. "She's fine!"
"She could've died!"
"But she didn't." Pitch said, expression steely. "Do you really believe we would've done something so drastic if we weren't absolutely positive it would work? More to the point," he continued when I opened my mouth to retort, "she believes in you again. Isn't that a good thing? It worked, Wisp." He smiled, clasping his hands behind his back. "Really, you should be thanking us."
I worked my mouth, trying to think of something witty to respond with, before sighing in defeat, my flames dying out. With a sigh I threw my arms around the both of them, drawing them close for a hug. "Thank you both, thank you so much." I rested my head where their shoulders met, resisting the urge to break down and start crying like, well like Emmy. Which no one would want to see. EVER. I broke out of the embrace abruptly, glaring daggers at them. "But so help me, if either of you ever tries another stunt like that with her again, I'll—,"
Trick held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. "She's off-limits, got it. Don't worry about it." He ripped the tops off of several packages of Pixi-Stix with his teeth and poured them all down his throat.
"As long as that's understood, we'll be fine." I felt a tugging at my dress and turned to see Emmy hiding behind my legs, giving Trick the evil-eye. Pitch she would always be afraid of, but Trick had practically befriended her before letting her fall. He was definitely in the dog house with her. "Yes, kiddo?"
"You don't hang out with them, do you Myra?" she whispered, taking my hand.
I smiled at her, crouching down to her level. "Yeah, I kinda do. But they're really not usually that bad, for a bunch of weirdos. They were just trying to help me get you back, that's all."
She was still trying to melt Trick with her eyes alone. "Do you have any…better friends?"
I smiled at her, tapping her under her chin. "Hey, don't be rude, 'kay? They're not the best, but they are still my friends." I gave it a moment's hesitation. "I do have other friends, though, yeah."
Trick cleared his throat, kneeling down at Emmy's level. "Ah, about earlier, Emmy, I'm sorry." He held out a big bag of cherry Twizzlers for Emmy, making me smirk. Those were her favorite; she loved to unpeel them and braid the strands before devouring them. She must've told him they were her favorite while they'd been bonding. It was amusing to see the Trickster looking so contrite. She snatched the bag from him, clutching it to her chest. She didn't thank him or forgive him, but she did stop glaring at him, even managing one of her wonderful little smiles.
"Okay, kiddo, back to bed." I ordered, laughing when she clambered onto my back like a little monkey, her arms locked around my neck and cutting off my air a bit. "Be back in a minute." I called over my shoulder at the guys before hopping up to Emmy's window, sliding it open with my foot and ducking through. She giggled when I tugged her off and tossed her back onto her bed, tucking the covers back around her snugly.
Emmy gave a large yawn. "Do you have to go?"
"Yeah," I smiled, smoothing her bangs back from her eyes. "But I might have a surprise for you tomorrow—if you're good for Mom."
She snuggled down into her mountain of pillows. "I promise. Goodnight, Myra."
I kissed her temple. "Goodnight, Emmy." I whispered, backing out of the partially open window and shutting it softly behind me. The sky was starting to brighten as the morning came, illuminating the empty street. I blew some of my hair from my eyes and sighed, lifting my face to meet the breeze as it blew past. Damn them and their Houdini act, then. I'd just have a me-day.
The breeze strengthened into a full-blown wind, carrying me along with it up and over the house into the air. I closed my eyes, enjoying the weightless feeling, and spread my arms out to the side like I was floating in a pool instead of in midair. My hair brushed my cheeks and shoulders in gentle caresses that made me snicker, and I opened my eyes to see where I was—
I let out a shriek, dropping a few feet at the sight of Trick being so close, hanging like a trick-rider from the side of his eerily-quiet horse. "Oh my god, what is the matter with you people?!"
"Oh calm down," Trick laughed, righting himself on his mount. "I was just having a bit of fun."
"Jerk." I muttered, shoving my hair out of my face.
He smirked down at me. "You love it."
I shook my head at his antics. As if. "What're you doing here, anyway? I thought you and Pitch ditched me."
"Nah," he waved a hand dismissively. "I just had some business matters to attend to. He headed back to his lair ahead of us. Now, if my lady would care to join me…?" he asked with a wicked grin, patting the mare's back behind him.
I rolled my eyes at him but complied, looping my arms lightly around his midsection to steady myself before he took off. I let out a whoop; with how he handled the strange beast, it was like a roller-coaster. The rising sun glinted off of his brilliant orange locks, and I gripped him tighter as we shot towards what I recognized as one of Pitch's abyssal shadows. The darkness consumed us, and we emerged in the great cavernous space of Pitch's lair, right next to the globe statue. I hopped off of the horse before it came to a complete stop, smoothing out my skirts as I settled on the slightly uneven stone floor.
As soon as I was firmly on the ground, I felt fatigued, and I leaned against the illuminated metal structure for support as my eyes drifted shut, swaying a bit. Ugh, maybe I should've just gone back to North's place and crashed. Surely Pitch had a shadow that led there. I curled up inside of the globe, resting my forehead on my arms. Maybe I'd ask him…right after a nap….
A/N: End chapter 8. Please review—they help me write updates faster ^_^
