CHAPTER NINE

Starla wiped her head around, only to find dark smoke, building up in the room. But it didn't look like smoke, more like sand. Was Pitch here too? Starla couldn't think about that now. She knew Pitch. She knew how he wouldn't dare hurt her. After all. He is her father.

"Where the bloody hell is she?" Bunny said, whipping out his boomerang. His eyes narrowed, and focused on every inch of the room. Sandy looked ready, and better than ever. He was slowly building up his magical gold sand, to form two whips, which he held in each hand. North came back into action. He was still furious with Starla, -Hell, she would be furious at her self too- but North pulled it together, and pulled out his long sword. Both, of his long swords. Tooth and her fairies were ready to fight, but with it just being her, and no weapon at her side, Starla was wondering if she was really much help. Jack gripped his staff and was ready for a battle. Starla held the one object she had. That was lost for many days, but was still always by her side. Chasity's flute. The only weapon. But maybe one of the most powerful. After all, with the right song, and intent, she could make anyone, do anything.

"Starla, do you see her?" Jack said. He was gripping his staff so hard now, that the veins in his hand were popping out. It was very easy to see. For he had extremely pale skin. So pale, that the baby blue veins in a normal person's skin, looked navy blue on him. Well most of them at least.

"No. But I know she's here. I can feel it."

"Starla, I hope you know what you're going to do." Came a strong russian accent, that belonged to North. The sand was rising, and becoming s think, she couldn't see North, Bunny, or Tooth anymore. She only saw Jack, and the glow of Sandy and his golden sand.

"I don't" Starla mumbled to herself. She was looking curiously around the room, waiting to see a familiar face. Anger was building up in her. She was so mad, her mouth started to hurt. She had no idea why, but it just did. Then poking her tounge a little, were two fully grown fangs.

"Shit" Starla said to herself. Yeah, maybe Chasity was the new shadow keeper, but Starla knew all the tricks in the book. The only thing is, Starla isn't a vampire. And she doesn't know how to be one. Which lowered her confident of beating Chasity by half a point.

Starla kept an eye out. The ground started shaking again.

"Everyone remain calm!" North said. The sand was staring to clear up a bit, and Starla could see his face. Or at least the outline of it.

"Hey North, what do you suppose we do?" Bunny said. Also getting a few egg bombs out and ready for attack.

"Stay calm and put up a good fight." North looked at Starla, he let out a broad smile and nodded at her.

"We all will put up a good fight." He said. Starla smiled, knowing that she was fighting with them, not against them. Then the lights turned off. The smoke was clearing, but it was still pitch black. So it didn't really matter that much that the sand was clearing. Then, suddenly, the lights turned on, and right infrount of Starla's face was Chasity, but of course, in Starla's body.

"Starla Black, it's so nice to see you again. Just the other day, I was thinking about you. And you, and you, and you. . ." She continued pointing to all the guardians.

"I'm charmed. Chasity why are you here?" Starla said loosening her grip on the flute.

"I'm here because you didn't finish your task. So Pitch sent me here to finish it for you. Now, you can still do it. But if you don't want to," She trailed off coming closer to Starla, leaning in to whisper into her ear.

"I'll be glad to kill your sweetheart. The one you truly love, but doesn't love you back."

"I don't love him Chasity."

"Wrong." She gripped Starla's neck and whispered in her ear once more. "Listen, If you don't do it yourself, I'll kill him. And give him a nice, slow, painful death. Your choice."

Starla was extremely angry now. And it was all Chasity's fault. She had done it. She caused everyone's pain. It was her fault. But still a little bit of Starla's fault too. She did sign up for it in the first place. . .

"Hey, so what are you gonna do?" Bunny said. He looked pissed, and wanted to go take a nap or something.

"Kill you all." Black dust had risen above again, and now black horses were being formed. Starla panicked. She ran towards Chasity with her bare hands and started tackling her. She tried to pin her down, or stop her, but she was strong. Pitch trained her well. But Starla was better. She had to get Chasity out of the spell. Out of the curse that Pitch put her under. She just had to. Then when she thought it was their fight only, someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

She yanked her arm up, and hit the person right in the nose. More like punched. Her knuckle hurt, but she wasn't about to show mercy just yet. She turned around and saw Pitch.

"Jesus Pitch! I thought I had hit someone who really mattered! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Pitch sneered at her comment. He just shrugged it off. And beckoned for the fight to continue. With a slight nod from Pitch, Chasity punched Starla in the nose.

"Shit! Chasity what the hell? I wasn't going to punch you in the nose!" Her nose was now dripping blood. She cursed under her breath and Chasity took it easy, backing up a few steps.

"Any one wanna switch out with me? I need a break." Starla said sitting down at a table. She cared for her nose. "Was it pinch and tilt up, or pinch and tilt down?" She asked. Bunny groaned.

"So are we gonna fight or are we gonna play medical school for the rest of the day?" Starla could feel the room cool off. Like all the tense left the room. Pitch slowly approached me.

"Go away. You might carry diseases." Jack said sitting down next to Starla. He looked at Chasity, then his eyes glistened. He did love Chasity. He really did. And even though they were supposed to be in a battle, hating one another. Chasity somehow over looked that. And she ran to Starla's side.

"I think it was tilt up and pinch. Well at least that's what I used to do. I don't know if it's right or not."

There was a gleam in her eye. One that hasn't been there in so long. A kindly gleam. One she held safe just for friends. Which meant, they were friends once again, and nothing less. Or that's what Starla thought anyways.

"Thanks." Starla said plugging her nose. She tilted up, then Chasity's smile left. Jack was first to notice. And also first to notice Pitch was gone as well.

"Starla, where's Pitch?" Jack whispered in Starla's ear. She shrugged and stood up quickly, realizing the only guardian still o the look was Sandy. He was still wide-eyed and alert. She had to give that to him, he was a fighter.

. . .

Chasity snap out of it, this isn't you, keep fighting Pitch. You can do it.

Chasity now had to talk to herself. Her emotions were building up. She was done being Pitch's minion. She wanted to be with her friends, and Jack. Oh how she missed him. How she missed his cold touch, and his smile, that smile with perfect smooth lips. . .

You don't have time to day dream about him. Get out of Pitch's control. That's your number one priority right now Chas.

Chasity was right. Althoe she thought she was gong crazy, she was right. She can't be day dreaming about boys. She had a serious situation, like life and death situation. Literally.

Then a hollow, sullen voice popped in her head. But it didn't belong to anyone in the room. They weren't here, but still right next to her.

Chasity, do you really need them? They abandoned you. They left you. Your only friend now is me. I helped you. Look at you, you even look like you belong with me. Not them.

Maybe the voice was right. Chasity walked over to the opposaint side of the room. Little beads of sweat started to appear. She was panicking. The voice belonged to Pitch.

Pitch, what do you want? I've got you in here, I want to go. I don't want to work for you anymore.

Ahh, But you can't help it, Chasity. I control you. I choose what you do, and I know exactly what I want you to do.

Pitch no. . .

Kill Jack Frost. Now GO!

And with that, Chasity's eyes glowed red, not normal, but they appeared normal for a second or two, then they glowed red again. She ran up to Jack and started choking him. He struggled then got out of her grasp. Starla flew at her, trying to get her away from them. But it was no use. She was too powerful. Starla didn't know how powerful she was.

Chasity called up more, and more horses. They formed out of the shadows, and they all charged at the guardians. Sandy was whipping his wips like crazy. He looked like he could've been sweating. Tooth was in the corner poorly fighting off the horses. The baby teeth are fighting as well, but they really weren't anything compared to them.

Bunny was probably was next to Sandy on the, 'Who's the strongest fighter on the Guardians side'. He was throwing egg bombs like there was no tomorrow. And his boomerang was flying everywhere. Chasity had to duck a few times. Then there was North, who was swinging his sword everywhere. He almost cut Bunny's ear. He was handy with it, but at the moment he didn't show his skills.

Chasity was trying to fight off both Jack and Starla, they were both strong, but she was stronger. She whipped around them, trying to find a point to get jack. One good hit, and he would be down. Chasity got a black sand, bow and arrow. Pitch had tought her personally how to do it. And by personally, I mean he didn't teach Starla.

"How can you do that?" Starla asked.

"Pitch tought me. Its something new, even for you, am I right?" Chasity said.

"Yes." Starla took a few steps back, knowing what that thing could do.

Jack wasn't about to give up though. He made the black sand turn into frost, and he shot icicles from his staff. His face was turning pink, and beads of sweat were starting to drip down. He kept on fighting though. Chasity was startled. And she kept on backing up. She held her hands up to her face, blocking them from Jack's fires. Then they all stopped, and a door opened. She slowly lowered her hands and looked at everyone. The sand was all gone, and she looked down at her body. She had her own body again.

Chasity was finally Chasity, well almost. She looked and sounded like Chasity, but her mind was still resting in Pitch's hands. She looked around at everyone. They looked startled. But one face looked happy. One very ol, familiar face. That ran up and gave her a hug.

"I thought I'd lost you. Chasity I missed you."

The voice was slurred, either, the person was getting weak, or Chasity was blacking out. But it was neither. Chasity's feet tingled, and she felt giddy. But then Pitch took over once again. She had a headache. And wanted to rip who ever was on her off. But she couldn't No matter how much Pitch wanted her to.

"Chasity, I tried to come sooner, but I didn't know where you were. But then I forgot about you symbol. And I contacted you as soon as I could. I'm sorry."

Chasity started to grow stronger. And she pulled away and saw the face of someone she once loved. Or maybe still loved. A friendly face. An old friend, not a stranger. She felt safe with him. Yes him. The one true friend she had. The one who loved her before she got tied up with this mess.

And for a second, she forgot about Pitch. She forgot about the world. She was so happy right now. She started to cry. She was crying tears of joy. Because she was with someone she felt safe in their arms. And also because she wasn't under Pitch's spell anymore. She doesn't know how, but she one hundred percent knows, she finally was released from his spell. Maybe it was seeing her friend. Or switching back to her body. But she knew she wasn't with Pitch anymore. And to make it even more real, her flute was in her pocket. She didn't know how, but it was. And her fangs were back. Whiter, and sharper than ever. And she loved them.

"I missed you too." Chasity whispered into his ear. His black hair got into her eyes. She laughed. And hugged him even tighter.

"Chasity, do you remember me?" He sounded scared.

"Oh course, I do, Your my best friend."

He was. He was her best friend. She was hugging him. And her best friend was Vladimir Tod.