How could this happen? How could I have been so thick?! This is my fault! If I wasn't so stupid as to let go of Bunny's paw, thinking I was doing the right thing, Jack would be…Jack. Not this, this creature of darkness and malevolence. That was not my brother. That was a nightmare.
We had returned to the workshop. After Jack's transformation, the three dark creatures and their shadowy demons had disappeared with another childish mock of a wave from Grim. We had gone looking for them, looking around the world trying to find them but they were off the map. Their lights no longer existed on the globe. North had gone to his study alone. Bunny, Sandy and Tooth were together, worried as to North's actions, and me? I went over to the window at the top of the workshop, the one that overlooked the whole of the North Pole, the one Jack sat at after Sandy's death.
Tear were still rolling down my cheeks, staining them wet and leaving my eyes bloodshot. I just don't get it! Manny sent me back in time to test me for something. Pitch was there but made no effort to attack. Getting back to the Guardian world, Pitch had stolen the Book of oath, containing knowledge holding incredible power and recruited the Grim Reaper in his plans. We went to get the book back and they…changed Jack. What are they up to?! Did Manny see this coming? Is this the big thing he prophesized and needed my help with? What can I do?! I was the one who caused Jack to change!
I curled up on the window ledge, hands clawing at my hair and eyes screwed shut. The Book had to be the reason for them to do this to Jack, they had to have unlocked something causing Jack to become a shadow of the boy he once was. I have to know what was in that book…but when Pitch has it, how can I? North can't know and memorised everything in it.
Why did Manny choose me? What is Pitch and…come to think of it, what is the Grim Reapers name? Anyways, why did they steal the book and what are they planning? And lastly, how do we get Jack back? Well, the last thing I should be doing is sitting here and blaming myself! Ok, think Beth think.
Pitch has recruited Grim in his plans to, obviously, bring down the Guardians. That must mean Grim has some kind of grudge and Pitch has bargained with him. They stole the book, so there is an obvious answer in there to bring them down forever. They rely on belief, so he'll try to bring them down with that but it didn't work last time so he'll change his battle plan. They turned Jack…that can only mean that they want his power or they want to break up the team, their more powerful when their together.
Pitch could be…Jack could have been a test. He hated him the most for bringing him down. Grim helped Pitch to maybe test this transformation thing on him so he could do it to all of them. If the Guardians are evil, then the children will fear them! Pitch will feed on that fear! The children will stop believing in all the good the Guardians do so then they'll disappear and Pitch will take over! That has to be it, right?!
What about the Grim Reaper? What's actually in it for him? I mean, he's someone who kills people when it's their time and takes them to the afterlife, he doesn't get power from fear, he gets it from ever soul he reaps. Death is the oldest thing out there, you can't kill it, and you can't escape it. So why would he help Pitch defeat the Guardians? There has to be a story behind it. I should ask the Guardians on this one.
I wipe away the last of my tears and untangle my fingers from my hair. I stand off the ledge and make my way the where ever the Guardians were, might need help from the yetis. I walked to the yeti I recognised from the movie, Phil.
"Phil!" The fur ball turned to me and garbled something. I should also ask North to teach me Yeti, may come in handy. "I need you to take me to the Guardians; I need to ask them something very important." I asked. The yeti again said something but I had no idea. "Uuuuuuurrhhhhh…what?" I replied. The yeti seemed fed up and slumped its shoulders and rolled its eyes. It then gestured its hand to follow and began to walk. "Thanks Phil." I smiled.
We arrived just outside North's office where the others were, all but North who was at the other side of the door. I should get a map so I don't have to keep asking the yetis because Phil is one moody yeti. The others head cocked up at my arrival and Tooth flew over to me and tightly embraced me.
"Beth, we've been looking everywhere for you! We were so worried! Are you ok?" She asked, stroking my hair and cooing like a worried mother. I smiled back at her, grateful.
"I'm fine Tooth, thank you. I've just been thinking and I think I have a few answers, but I need to ask a few things to finish the puzzle. One, what is the Grim Reapers name? And Two, does he have a grudge against you for any reason?" I asked, looking at all the Guardians. Tooth still hadn't let go of me, I think she really just needs the company comfort for what's happened.
"He goes by many names but 'is original, the name he wa' given wa' Azrael Muerte." Bunny answered, he face serious and head hung. "He never chose sides, he just did his job, never got involved wi' anythin' cos he couldn't. He's death; he'd mess up the balance." He paused for a moment before he continued. "There wa' a disagreement, Manny and Azrael, about Jack." This is when my eyes widened.
"What do you mean? Jack doesn't even know Azrael up until now, right?" I asked, almost panicked.
"Exactly, ya already know that Jack died before he became Jack Frost." I nodded. "Well, Manny thought he deserved a second chance. Jack's the only one of us to die before he wa' chosen and Azrael didn't like it. He gets power from reaping souls when they die, nobody's escaped death and Azrael was furious 'bout Manny messing with his job. It isn't really us Azrael want's gone, it's Jack and Manny." Bunny stopped looking scared. Tooth and Sandy were looking decidedly uncomfortable too.
"That's why he's joined Pitch; they both get the same deal in the end!" The others just looked at me confused. "Don't you get it? Pitch wants you guys gone so he can spread fear; and Azrael wants Manny gone so he can reap the souls that should be reaped and stop more spirits being born, them both attacking Jack was their pay back on him! They want power!" When I finished talking theirs eyes widened, now they were getting the main idea of what they want. And why they were doing this.
"Beth, do you have any ideas as to what their plans are?" Tooth buzzed at me, hoping for the answer she wants.
"I have an idea but I need to talk to North as well. Is he still in his office?" I asked, Tooth face sunk and her eyes dropped to the floor.
"He hasn't come out since we got back. He was acting strange, not sad but, scared." Tooth answered.
"I gotta admit somethin' wasn't right. North is strong in situations like this. When he was walkin' to his office, I caught his facial expression; it was like he was in pain." Bunny added. Sandy then popped up from the ground waving his hands. He made sandy images of North clutching his arm to his stomach, before acting it out himself, holding one arm to his stomach with a pained expression. This made us frown, until I then released. Were any of us actually paying attention to North?
"Did North get hit?"