Hello guys! Thank you for the reviews. You keep me writing. Hope everyone is ready for their Thanksgiving break (I know I am) Anyway disclaimer all ROTG characters belong to William Joyce and Dreamworks. All other characters as well as the story and concepts within belong to me. :)
*****Time for Review Challenge!****
All right guys I do this with all my stories so here we go. If by Friday I get at least 15 reviews then I will post two chapters instead of just one. 20 reviews and my friend will draw a character 25 and they will draw two (my friend doesn't think it can be done lol prove them wrong) Good luck :)
Now without further ado here is the chapter enjoy.
(Burgess)
In the small town blinking stars above watched diligently over the inhabitants as they had for millennia. The heavenly bodies stood ready to alert their keeper should another creature of the shadows manage to make it past the runes and spells that had been set up around the town. In one home, nestled quaintly amongst several other homes, one spirit was also on patrol…just in case the shadows decided to attack again.
Silver eyes gleamed as Darkness made his rounds, he made sure his footsteps were light as he walked down the hall of the Bennett home. He paused at a white door painted with pink flowers, cautiously he cracked it open and peeked inside. A smile came to his face when he caught sight of the small girl curled up on the floor beside the bed, the child having rolled out in her sleep.
Floor boards creaked as Darkness slowly made his way to her, gently the spirit picked up the youngster. He paused when she moved, rousing from her dream "Hey Sophie…" he smiled at the sleepy green eyes now blinking at him.
"Darkess? Is it time to get up?" her blonde hair fell in her face as Sophie nestled into the spirit's arms.
Darkness smiled as he placed her back into her bed, "Not yet little bit, it's still nighttime." He gently pulled the pink comforter over her, "Now go back to sleep ok?"
Sophie yawned and turned over, "Ok Darkesss…" in moments she was again back in the realm of dreams.
Once he was sure that the girl had fallen back asleep Darkness turned and headed back into the hallway. He raised an eyebrow when he caught sight of Jack tiptoeing out of Jamie's room just up ahead, "Frost." He smirked when at his voice the winter teen nearly leapt out of his skin.
"Not funny Darkness."
Darkness chuckled as he walked towards the boy, "It's kind of funny." He crossed his arms, "What are you doing up Frost? I thought Pitch told you and Jamie to go to sleep."
"Jamie did…" Jack huffed and rolled his eyes, "But I can't sleep Darkness…too much going on for me too."
"I hear ya." Darkness nodded, he understood that the boy was still worried about his mother even though Rashana had assured all of them that she was fine.
"Plus I needed to talk to Jaeger for a moment."
Darkness's eyes narrowed, "That dirt bag? Why in the hell would you want to go talk to him?"
Blue eyes rolled, "Well we have to get him home..."
"Bah, I'll toss into the guy into the shadows and where he lands he lands." Darkness waved a hand in dismissal.
"You don't like him do you?"
Darkness snorted as he crossed his arms, "Whatever gave you that idea Frost?"
"Come on Darkness give him a chance." Jack's voice held a pleading note, "I know Jaeger has done things in his past but…I really don't think he had a choice."
"Fine Frost." Darkness inhaled at that, he knew what being controlled was like, "I'll not send him to the Between…yet. But if he so much as looks at you sideways…" Darkness turned and stormed off letting his threat hang in the air.
"Yes sir!"
Darkness pinched the bridge of his nose when the teen saluted and rushed to the hunter's room. Gods, after all this headache he needed a drink…maybe just maybe there was something he could whip up in the kitchen.
Upon reaching the room however Darkness let out a groan, "Oh gods…why are you here?" he glowered at the Nightmare King who was sitting at the table.
Pitch snorted, "My family lives here free loader, what about you?"
Silver eyes rolled, Darkness choosing to ignore him. Instead the spirit made a beeline for the fridge.
"Darkness…I actually need to talk to you."
"Shoot." The spirit didn't bother looking up from his task of searching for something to quell the ravenous biting he was feeling in his stomach.
Pitch inhaled slightly, "I know that my mother had faded Darkness, I felt her life slip away." He continued when he noticed the spirit freeze, "What did you do?"
Darkness glanced over the opened fridge door, "It was nothing Pitch…"
"Oh really?" the spirit snorted as he inhaled the steaming cup of coffee he had made for himself moments before Darkness had walked in, "So the fact that your energy is lower than when I rescued you from the Between is nothing?"
Silver eyes gleamed when he found a thing of leftover potato salad, "Look it was either give Rashana my life force or let her fade." He used his foot to shut the door of the fridge.
"Well…thank you." The Nightmare King glanced at Darkness as the man took a seat at the table.
Darkness waved a hand, "No need for that Pitch. Rashana has been kind to me so I was happy to help."
Pitch made a face as the spirit seemed to inhale the food in front of him, "Well just take it easy for the next few weeks…doing what you did has weakened you immensely."
"Aww you do care." Darkness smirked when the spirit flipped him off.
"Now let's try and figure out why that demon was here in Burgess anyway." Pitch couldn't help the anger in his voice.
"Ah that's an easy one." Darkness huffed, "He was looking for Sam."
Pitch narrowed his eyes, "Are you sure?"
"Every demon that belongs to Stitcher is looking for the boy Pitch."
"I had hoped that once she learned he was with me Stitcher would back off." Pitch exhaled sharply, "But it seems that she's still hunting him."
"Which puts everyone here in danger." Darkness held up his hands when Pitch started to speak, "Look I'm just saying Pitch that demons can sense Sam due to his aura so as long as he's here then…"
"Then they'll come here." Pitch shook his head at the thought of more demons coming to Burgess.
"So we need to figure something out, and quick." Darkness motioned to the window, "Before more of those winged idiots come and harm anyone else."
Pitch nodded, "I agree."
Both spirits began discussing several things that could be done, so engrossed in their conversations neither of them noticed the crimson eyes blinking away tears as their owner turned and fled from their hiding place in the doorway.
(With Jack)
Unaware of what was unfolding just downstairs Jack was busy talking to the man who had been recovering from his encounter with Tithus.
"And you're sure it doesn't hurt?" Jack's voice was low as he glanced at the gleaming mark that stood out against Jaeger's skin.
Jaeger nodded, "Yeah kid, it's not painful."
Jack sighed as he sat back in the chair he had pulled up, "Well that's a relief. I was worried that it was hurting you."
Green eyes glanced at the teen, "Why would you think that?"
The winter spirit shuffled in the chair, "Pitch has a mark like it on his chest from where Terror placed a curse…and it causes him pain…"
"Yeah I think that's different though kid." The hunter rubbed his chin, "Curse marks are meant to cause the receiver pain and agony. From what Nodens told me a Soul Pact will only hurt if the one that placed the mark wishes it too."
Blue eyes widened, "Oh wow, I didn't know that." Jack made a face, "Maybe I should have asked dad about the rules of this thing before he left…"
"Yeah that might be good idea kid." The hunter chuckled, "I'd hate to think that my life was in the hands of someone that had no idea what they were doing."
Jack rolled his eyes, he decided to move the conversation forward "So exactly how far is the Island of Song again?"
Jaeger smirked, "It's located smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic."
"Sheesh, couldn't you have found somewhere closer?"
"Not with all the people that want to kill me." Jaeger shrugged, "Hard as it may be to believe Jack, but I'm not exactly the most 'popular' of spirit's."
Jack faked shock, "Really? But Jaeger you chose such friendly career path."
"I know right?" the hunter grinned
"But seriously Jaeger can we use a Far Stone to get there?"
The hunter nodded, "Sure I don't see why not."
"Great then we'll leave in the morn…" the winter spirit stopped short when movement outside the small window caught his attention, "Hey…why's Sam outside?"
Jaeger sat up, "Sam Hein is here?" his face fell, "I owe that boy an apology…"
"Yeah, you do." Jack spoke as he hurried to the window, the room echoed with sound of him opening it "Hey Sam whatcha doing?" To his surprise the black haired teen bolted through the gap in the fence, disappearing into the street.
"Jack!" Jaeger watched in surprise and concern as the teen leapt out the window, he inhaled when a thud followed by Jack's yell of "Sam wait!" filled the night.
(Inside the Vault)
Pained screams of tortured souls rang through the heated halls, thousands of voices rose in volume each and every captive crying out for someone, anyone to release them from their hell. Their pleas however fell on deaf eyes, the demon's and imps roaming the halls not the least bit sympathetic to their plight.
"Now Kreager? I am in the middle of 'training' the new batch of spirits!" a frustrated yell left one such demon, the monsters large wings flaring outwards echoing his anger
The smaller demon cringed at the larger's yell, "Look Kazim I'm just relaying what I was told. Stitcher wants you in the throne room."
Kazim narrowed his eyes, "Fine." He brushed Kreager aside, not at all concerned that the force of his swipe sent the smaller demon careening into the far wall.
Stone shook as the four armed behemoth stormed out of the chamber and into the corridor. Kazim grumbled to himself as he made his way to the throne room where his master had summoned him. At the door the monster composed himself, then walked in.
"You wanted to see me Stitcher?" Kazim spoke as he went to one knee before the throne
The woman on the throne narrowed her eyes at the tone in the demon's voice, "Yes, I need you to go to Burgess and bring Sam back to me." She waved her hand, "Tolen assured me that he could handle the job but the idiot has yet to report back, so I can only conclude that the incompetent fool has gotten himself killed."
A confused expression came to Kazim's face, "Why are you sending me? Retrieval is the work of pawns…"
"Are you questioning me!"
Kazim cringed at the woman's shriek, "No Stitcher it's just that…well it is Tithus's job…"
"Well it is 'your' job now you imbecile!" Stitcher's voice echoed with rage as she stood to her feet.
Blood orbs narrowed, the demon not understanding what he had just been called however he did know that the woman's tone was one of condescending.
"Just go do as you're told Kazim." Stitcher inhaled sharply as she sat again upon her ill-gotten throne.
"Yes, of course." Kazim spoke through gritted teeth, the demon rose to his feet and walked from the throne room. The demon thinking of all the ways he'd make Sam suffer for his demotion to foot soldier.
(With Sam)
Heavy breaths sent clouds of mist into the night air as the teen's feet pounded the concrete of the town's empty sidewalks. Cold buildings listened impassively to his crying as he raced like a madman through town. Black hair bobbed with the motion of Sam's stride, his crimson eyes felt heavy in their sockets, not only from the pounding of blood behind them but also from the streams of tears pouring down his face.
"Have…to get…away…can't…anyone else…get hurt because…of me." Sam's words were broken and full of sadness. The poor teen felt as if his heart were going to burst, though he wasn't sure if it were from the running or the horrible sense of guilt that had welled up within him.
When he had walked downstairs to get a glass of water and had heard Darkness and Pitch talked he shouldn't have eves dropped. But then they started talking about how demons were after him, and that because of him they'd come back. It had hurt…but then again they had a point, as long as he was there everyone was in danger. So he had ran, ran to get away from the few people that had actually cared about him before he caused them to get hurt.
A low thud echoed as he fell back against one of the buildings walls, his lungs plea for a reprieve having won over his need to get away from the town. Sam ignored the scraping of the brick against his back as he sank down to the sidewalk, "I should have known..." Sam's voice broke with sobs. The boy buried his face into his knees as he pulled them up to his chest, "I'll never get away from her." His body shook as he cried, "Stitcher will always be looking for me…and as long as she is no one is safe with me around."
"Sam! Hey Sam where are you!"
Sam's head shot up when he heard Jack's voice drifting through the town, he had thought he had lost the teen after he called to him from the house. "He can't find me…Jack doesn't understand..." The boy whimpered as he got to his feet quickly.
Once again Burgess echoed with his fast paced stride, Sam determined to get away from his friend. He weaved in and out of alleys, centuries of avoiding others aiding him in putting distance between him and the winter spirit that was searching for him.
"Come on Sam please! We won't let Stitcher hurt you!"
"It's not me I'm worried about Jack." Sam sighed, his friend's voice was distant barely audible but it wasn't enough…the teen glanced ahead at the forest. He hurried to the trees, knowing that there was a Portal Stone located somewhere within it. If he could reach it, then Jack's family would be safe from his past and all the danger that came with it.
Sam quickly raced into the tree line, he weaved in and out of ancient sentinels with ease even with his fast pace. Sam ignored the cuts upon his cheeks as unavoidable limbs racked across his face as he careened under them at a break neck speed.
He had been running for gods knew how long when a feeling not unlike ice slithered up his spine. Sam braked instantly when a sulpherous stench wafted into his nose, he knew what that smell meant…cracking branches snapped his attention upwards. Sam felt his heart clenched when the sight of hundreds of winged imps met his gaze.
Sam tried to backpedal, however the teen wasn't quick enough
With glee every single imp leapt from their branches, sending leaves falling to the earth below.
A cry left Sam as they fell on top him, desperately the teen twisted and fought the creatures trying to restrain him.
Unfortunately for Sam he had never been a strong fighter…and within moments he found himself laying on his stomach his arms held firmly behind his back by several of the winged devils. He thrashed despite knowing that he wasn't getting free, ignoring the pain of the creature's claws digging into his flesh.
"Let me go!" Sam tried lifting his head, only to cry out when it was slammed back down to the earth and held there by several of the imps. He whimpered when the imps began chittering excitably to each other, their shrieks and squeals grating in his ear like a horrible crescendo.
"Aww but my Master is expecting you Sam. And you do not want to disappoint him."
Dread washed over Sam at the grating voice that filled his mind, the teen's head shot up despite the imp's attempt to keep it down. Crimson eyes widened when he caught sight of the blood stained spirit now walking towards him, Jack had described him in accurate horrid so Sam knew without having to be told who now stood before him. The teen shrank in on himself as he whispered the spirit's name as if just that would cause him pain "Famine…"
Cliff! Please review and let me know what your guys thought. I am really excited for what I have coming up }:) Till next time
And good luck with the challenge ;)