Hey guys thanks for all the reviews :) I have heard you pleas and I will issue another challenge, the challenge is 200 by 8pm tomorrow. If you dare to accept I will again post two chapters back to back like last time. I warn you that this chapter contains a torture scene, slight, but I wanted to warn you. Please enjoy
(With the Guardians)
"Follow Cazador!" the boy called as he raced quickly through the trees
"Slow down, Cazador." Tooth called as the other Guardians raced to keep up
"No can slow, it take time reach cave. May be too late." Cazador yelled as he continued running.
"Exactly how much farther is the cave mate?" Bunnymund asked as he ducked under a low branch.
"When sun sinks below top of tree line, we there."
"So about another hour?" North asked as he broke a branch with his hands as he raced through it.
"Why can't we just use a globe?" Tooth asked as she flitted between trees
"Cave protected like long ear's tunnels. Magic no can reach." Cazador said as he stopped for the others to catch their breaths
Images formed over Sandman's head
North smiled, "That is a great idea."
The others watched as a Sandy formed a vehicle out of sand, the little man jumped into the driver's seat. He motioned for the others to climb in.
"I think I prefer to…" Bunny winced as North grabbed him and placed him in the seat as he jumped in.
"Come on Cazador." Tooth smiled as she sat beside North.
"Cazador now can go full speed." the boy smiled as his body rippled as he transformed into a white pronghorn antelope. The nimble creature then took off in a burst of speed, weaving in between the trees.
"After him Sandy!" Patrick yelled with excitement
Sandman grinned as he revved the engine and raced after the disappearing Cazador
(With Jack)
Jack twisted his bound wrists absently, wincing as the chain dug into them. He had been drug by Muertes down the hall and shoved into an empty room. Shadows had immediately grabbed the end of the chain and pulled his now bound arms and wrists above his head as the end was attached to the ceiling. The winter spirit sighed as he let his head slump, his body hung helpless from the chains.
"Sorry I took so long." a voice purred
Jack's head snapped up at the voice as Death walked in, he glared at her.
"Oh, you have the most defiant look in your eyes." her laugh turned cold, "I wonder how long it will last."
Jack held back a cry as Death grabbed his face, red lines appearing on his skin "Do your worst bitch." he managed to say as she gripped his jaw
"This will be fun." Death snarled as she threw his face from her grasp as she turned
Jack swung slightly from the motion, wincing as the movement caused the chains to cut against his skin. He was caught off guard when a slender hand touched his chest, stopping his swinging; he glanced into Death's cold emerald eyes
She smirked at him, "This might sting a bit." a glint of silver flashed from her hand
Jack couldn't help the cry that came as the knife left a large cut across his chest. He could fill the blood trickling down. He bit back another as the blade continued to leave long lines on his chest and stomach. His head swam with pain as she twisted him around so that his back was to her. Again he clenched his teeth as the same hot pain followed the knife's path across his skin.
Death hummed as she continued, she stepped back from the trembling winter spirit, she smirked, "Much better. You needed a few scars; you can't be broken without them."
Jack's breathing was uneven as he struggled with the pain surging though his body.
Death smiled, "Now, let's see…" her eyes lit up, "Oh yes, how about I use a bit of irony."
Blue eyes widened as she pulled an old scythe from the shadows, he recognized it as the same scythe that Pitch had imbedded into Reaper's chest. He couldn't stop shuddering as the blade was pressed to his chest.
"How about I use brother's weapon for a bit?" she smiled at his whimper as she pressed the blade against his skin harder, a line of blood flowing from the shallow cut. The door swinging open caused her to turn quickly; she glared at Muertes, "What is it!"
The boy spoke between gasps, "Cazador lead others to cave they almost there."
Death's eyes flashed, "Call your pack Muertes, do not let them enter my realm." she smiled at Jack, "Seems our fun has to end a bit sooner than I had hoped."
Jack cried out as he fell to the floor as shadows unhooked the chain, he had to force down a whimper as pain filled him as the shadows forcibly pulled his arms behind his back.
"Take him to my throne room; the time has come for the seal to be broken." her laughter sent shivers down Jack's spine as he was dragged by the shadows out of the room
(With Pitch)
The Nightmare King strained against the chains that held him, blood seeped down into his eyes. He didn't seem to notice as he continued twisting his arms and wrists desperate to free himself. Ever since Muertes had taken Jack he had been trying to get loose, finally he slumped, his head falling to his chest. Golden eyes filled with sorrow, "I have failed him again." Pitch shuddered at what Death was probably doing to his brother. The sound of the lock turning caused his head to snap toward the door. His eyes filled with fear as Pain stepped through the doorway, tossing the key to the floor; where it immediately rippled and became a plain stone.
"I want answers Pitch." the man said as he grabbed Pitch's face
"I'll see what I can do." the King of Shadows swung sideways as Pain slammed his fist into his jaw
"Did you or didn't you kill my father?"
Pitch didn't answer as he caught his breath, "I did and I didn't." he grunted in pain as a fist slammed into his stomach.
"Don't play games with me!" Pain's voice was dripping with anger
"I did slam my scythe into his chest after he tried to kill Jack," he gasped as Pain grabbed his throat, "But Death took him back to her." he coughed as Pain released his grip
"What?"
"A spirit can only truly die if Moon takes pity on them or Death releases their soul." he rasped out, his voice hoarse from Pain almost crushing his windpipe.
"There is no credit in the words of a defeated man."
Pain turned to glare at Death who stood in the doorway, "Answer me, did you kill Reaper?"
"Oh Pain, why do you care? He wasn't even that great a father."
Pain's eyes fell, "But he was still my dad." he looked at her ,his eyes flashing, "Now tell me."
Death rolled her eyes, "Yes, I killed him." she smirked at Pain's expression, "What are you going to do about it? Hmmm, we wouldn't want anything to happen to your brother's souls now would we?"
"You wouldn't." his voice was low
"Try me." she smirked, "Now be a good boy and get Pitch down, he is needed in my throne room." her laugh chilled the air as she walked down the hall.
"Please Pain," Pitch rasped as the man pulled the chain from the ceiling, he fell to the ground, the impact rattling his broken ribs. He hissed as Pain grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. He struggled half heartedly as shadows wrenched his bleeding arms behind his back. He bit back a cry as they rewrapped the chains over his wound covered skin. Pitch hung his head as he was led by the shadows from the room, to Death's throne.
Pain watched as the King of Shadows was led bound and broken down the corridor, then turned and went to find his brothers.
(With the Guardians)
"There cave!" Cazador said as he transformed
The sand vehicle dissipated as the others climbed out.
"You no go no where."
The Guardians each held their weapons at the ready as Muertes appeared from the mouth of the cave.
Muertes was in his human form holding his hatchet in his skeleton hand. Muertes threw his head back and gave a bone chilling howl. Out of the ground rose the bones of wolves that quickly reassembled into the skeleton manifest of their once living selves. The two dozen undead wolves clamped their jaws open and shut mimicking a gnashing sound.
"You like trick Cazador?" Muertes smirked as he locked eyes with his now human form brother. Muertes completely ignored the guardians as he started walking forward towards his brother.
Cazador simply growled, "Let pass Muertes, or we kill again!" Cazador snapped at his brother.
"You no kill, already dead." Muertes smiled at his brother. "Will fight as two-legs, even battle." Muertes said as he ran forward his hatchet raised high.
"Fine with Cazador!" Cazador said as he drew a small wolf fang knife from his belt and rushed his brother.
Both brothers collided as the Guardians met the skeleton forms of the wolves and the battle commenced.
Muertes brought his hatchet down hard on Cazador who parried it with his knife and sank it deep in Muertes' side. Muertes growled as he turned with supernatural speed and smacked Cazador into a nearby tree. Cazador quickly regained his footing and readied for another attack. Muertes smiled as he rushed Cazador again.
Bunny turned to North "We have to help Caz mate!"
"No, this is his fight my friend, he must be settling this himself!" North said as he dispatched another wolf, who quickly began to reform.
"I hope your right about that." Tooth said as she too, scattered another wolf with her fairy-foo.
Sandy created a large sand tornado blowing all of the skeletons apart who without hesitation began to reform. Images of Jack and a skull and cross-bones flashing rapidly above his head.
"I know Sandy, but we are going nowhere with him in our way." North gestured to Muertes who was being given the what for by the much more nimble Cazador.
Cazador gave Muertes a swift kick to the chest forcing him down. He planted his foot firmly on his chest and pressed down. "Give up, you lose." Cazador said as he drew back his bow and aimed it at Muertes' skull.
Muertes looked at his skeleton hand then at Cazador's ankle. "Not yet, Brother." Muertes said as he grabbed Cazador's ankle and moved his head to the side dodging the loosed arrow.
Cazador paled as he fell to the ground writhing in the pain of death. "No fair…" Cazador whimpered as Muertes moved his grip to Cazador's neck.
Muertes smiled as he stood hunched over, his hand tightening its grip on his brother's throat. Muertes face filled with sick pleasure as he felt Cazador's life slip away from him. "Master be proud of Muertes when bring back!" Muertes said as Cazador's eyes began to glaze over.
Cazador looked up at the empty sky when suddenly he felt a surge of white hot energy seer through him. "Get up Cazador." A familiar voice said as Cazador obeyed.
Muertes' eye twitched as Cazador rose to his feet still in his "Death" grip. "Who gave power?" Muertes said panic in his unsteady voice.
"Night's Sun." Cazador said in the voice of every wild thing that had ever crept, or hunted upon the face of the world. Cazador pulled back his fist and socked Muertes' right between his fear filled eyes.
Muertes reared back as Cazador landed a smart kick to the stomach causing him to double over. Muertes was on his hands and knees wiping the blood from his mouth when he looked up only to have Cazador land a powerful knee to the face. Muertes went skidding across the ground, he lost the power to keep the wolves animated. The skeletons crumpled to the ground lifeless once more.
"Please Cazador we brothers?" Muertes questioned as Cazador stood over him. Muertes smiled as Cazador hesitated.
The Guardians watched in horror as Muertes rippled into the black wolf and lunged at the seemingly oblivious Cazador.
They were equally surprised when Cazador rippled into a large Silver gorilla and intercepted the wolf. He grabbed the wolf in both hands and began to squeeze. "You broke rules Brother." Cazador thought spoke to the squirming wolf in his grasp. Then he held him high above his head.
Muertes howled in terror as he was slammed into the ground with such force that almost every bone in his body snapped upon impact. Muertes tried to ripple back to his human form but did not have enough energy. He looked up at Cazador as his breathing became ragged. "I be back brother." Muertes thought spoke as he waited for the shadows to take him back to Death, but he waited in vain. Before he died Muertes realized what he was to his precious Master. Tears came to the wolf's eye as he died a broken tool.
Cazador rippled back to human form and closed the wolf's open eye. Cazador fought back tears as he stood and walked back to the other Guardians. He looked up at them not knowing what to expect. He was surprised when the fur faced man grabbed him in tight embrace and smiled at him.
"I did good?" Cazador asked the man who had tears in his own eyes.
"Yes Caz, you did good." North said as he turned to the others. "Now let us go, We have friends to save!" North said as he noticed a sand image of a clover and a question mark above Sandy's head. "Good question, where is Patrick?"
All the Guardians jumped as the air trembled with the impact of a solid stone door sealing the entrance of the cave
Please review and let me know what you thought. Your reviews are greatly appreciated :) Oh a HUGE shout out to my bro who wrote Cazador and Muertes's fight. Thanks Bro;) Anyway, I will be waiting to see if you guys can rise to the challenge. Until next time :)