Jack tossed and turned on his bed, his eyes wide open. He had been doing it ever since he retired to his bedroom at nine. He could hear the faint sound of the grandfather's clock outside chiming four times. Four o'clock in the morning and not a wink of sleep. He decided it was past time he stopped trying. He shuffled on his bed and sat up. His bare feet touched the cold marble floor underneath and he welcomed the chill. He turned his head toward the window and gazed at the night sky. Outside, not a speck of cloud covered the black expanse. The moon shone brightly like a crown jewel accentuated with millions specks of stars. It was a perfect night for flying, and it might be just what he needed to tone down his ample supply of nervousness and excitement.

He began donning his shirt and fastened his old cloak around him. With a staff in one hand, he pushed open the window gently and perched on the windowsill. Instantly, a sudden breeze buffeted him. It was as if the wind was a long lost puppy missing his master and inviting him to play. To entrust his entire being upon it and let it led him wherever it pleased. Well, Jack did just that.

He let go of his holding and slipped into the night. He surrendered to the wind and its whims and let it carry him where it might. His cloak flapped behind him like an awkward pair of wings. His unruly hair was swept and combed by invisible tendrils of fingers, the same one that caressed his cheeks. A true flight, unsupported by creatures or any mechanisms. Just him and the wind. How he had missed that freedom. He flew up to the sky, careful not to attract the attention of guardsmen stationed around the parapet. He kept to the poorly lit side of the town so if anyone chance upon glimpsing him, he would look like nothing more than a big bird flying gawkily about.

This used to be a habit of his. When he was troubled, he would fly as high as he could before asphyxiation took over him. He would look up and pretended the moon would talk to him. It was a poor replacement for a real talking companion, but he used to have no one to pour his heart to, to show his weakness. Not to his family who depended on him, not to Jamie and the rest who looked up to him. He didn't have anything to talk about right now, but the moon looked especially beautiful that night so an audience with her just for old time's sake seemed appropriate.

So he hovered before her, hypnotized by the bright white one-eyed maiden of the sky. Basking in her glow proved how free he was, yet if he looked down, he could almost see the chain that tethered him to the ground. A chain that linked him to the fate of being Scarrfaythe's unwilling subordinate. He used to despise it, now he regarded it with calm acceptance. He believed in what Elsa's men had planned out for him. He believed he would have his revenge yet. Having such a malicious thought in front of something so pure made a sense of guilt crept inside him. Abashed, he made his way back to the castle.

Whether of lack of precaution or a delusion conjured by the product of a sleepless night, Jack saw someone beckoning to him on a balcony in the castle. His heart skipped a beat and wished to ignore the person. He wondered if the person had truly seen him or he could still creep into the shadow and be mistaken as a bird or the likes. Upon closer inspection though, he could just make out the silhouette of Elsa. Sighing in relief, he swooped down and perched on her balcony railing.

"Good morning, Your Majesty." Jack smiled brightly. "Having trouble sleeping?"

"Quite the contrary. I had a pleasant one and just woke up." She returned the smile kindly. "I thought I was still dreaming when I saw a black humanoid shadow before the moon. You really can fly."

"At least now you know now I wasn't lying."

Elsa shrugged. "I never doubted you. Why are you out there in this peculiar hour?"

Dimly illuminated by the moonlight, Jack could just make out the thin nightdress she was wearing. It was made of satin, had long loose sleeves, and cut seductively low under the neck. The wind had made it stick to her figure, leaving little to the imagination. Her hair was let loose and rest just above her hips if not waving with the wind. If the moon was hypnotizing, well, Elsa was simply enchanting. It was highly distracting for Jack and he found himself scratching the back of his head and averting his gaze. "I find sleep an elusive mistress tonight. Always fleeting out of reach when I was about to catch it. So I sought the comfort of another mistress," Jack pointed straight to the moon, "although this one too is quite out of reach."

"Aww, Jack, if I hadn't known you any better, I'd say you're cheating on me." Elsa pouted playfully.

His mischievous side triggered, he couldn't help but respond in kind. "Oh? What makes you think I really don't have one in hiding?"

"Shall I repeat what you said just a few days ago? 'I can't do this! For the love I bear you, I cannot!' Now, I may have little experience about love, Sir Jack, but if that isn't a proclamation of someone madly in love, I don't know what is." Just to accentuate her point, she cocked her head and smirked.

"Ah, using my own words against me…" Jack bowed his head. "I admit defeat."

"Although I'm beginning to think you may actually have one…"

"Why so?"

"You are refusing to meet my gaze."

Jack found himself blushing slightly. "That, my dear queen, the fault lies in you. I can for the love of me look you in the eyes and keep my wits about me when… you're dressed like that."

Elsa took a little bit of time processing what he meant before it clicked and when it did, she flushed heavily. She crossed her arms in front of her, trying to hide what little she could. Jack couldn't bring himself to tell her that her feeble attempt only made her current state more…arousing. "I'm sorry. It's still so early in the morning and I'm being rather absent-minded."

"No need to apologize. I'm not complaining." Jack showed a wide toothy smirk.

Even though Jack couldn't see clearly, he could just imagine how crimson her face would be. "By the gods… How can you be so blatantly boorish?" she grumbled.

"Boorish would be denying something so perfect the compliment it deserves. Why, I'm just expressing my appreciation."

"Sometimes I can't believe half of the stuff coming from your mouth." Elsa shook her head and went to lean against the railing. It was a smart subtle movement to conceal her figure from Jack. Respecting her intention, Jack leapt down from the railing to stand beside her. That was when the sleepiness caught him and he almost toppled to the side if Elsa's hand didn't dart quickly and grabbed his forearm. His staff clattered to the floor while his now free hand holding onto the railing for balance.

"Jack!"

"Goodness me," Jack chuckled weakly, "can't believe I slipped."

"There's nothing here that could make you slip, Jack." Elsa frowned. "You're feeling light-headed, aren't you? You need to sleep!"

"Or this could be a ploy to make you hold me close like this." Jack smiled, but it was apparent he had to muster that smile.

"You're not fooling anyone… Let's get you to your room, alright?"

"No!" In his hazed state, he might have said it a little bit too strongly. That combined with him wrenching free from her surely didn't help. "Elsa, I can't. This could be my only chance to see my sister. If I oversleep and Scarrfaythe changes his mind…"

"You'd collapse anyway if I leave you alone." Elsa looked at him worriedly. "How about this, have what little sleep you're able to get in my room. I promise I'll wake you up comes morning."

"That is a very dangerous and tempting offer, Your Majesty." Jack somehow managed to give her a lopsided smirk. "I don't think it's wise to invite a man who clearly desires you into your bedchamber."

Elsa scoffed. "Please, the state you're in now, you can't pose any harm to me. And I know a bluff when I hear one." Elsa picked up his staff and guided him by the hand. Jack wasn't resisting but he wasn't cooperating either, hesitation clear in his expression. "Jack, I trust you with the safety of my kingdom, but you can't trust me to wake you up for your appointment?"

"Point well made," Jack resigned. "You won't go back on your words and let me sleep longer because of some sort of twisted conscience?"

"I'll douse you with water if you refuse to be roused."

Elsa helped the groggy Jack out of his cape and shirt, and tucked him in. His hand brushed the smooth material of her sleeves and he grinned to himself. He wondered how it would feel to run his hand along her back. He fought to push down the thought.

"Will you still be wearing that when I wake up?"

"Don't count on it."

Jack pouted. "Then at least lie next to me while I sleep."

"Sure," she answered easily. Jack's eyes widened in surprise and anticipation. "I'm kidding of course." She smirked coyly.

"That…is…just…cruel… My dream is crushed and I haven't gone to sleep yet."

"Dream better dreams next time, Sir Jackson. Sleep tight."

"How about one that involves you and me and this bed and…" Jack trailed off as sleep descended on him. The last thing he remembered before drifting to sleep was how the bed smelled so much like her and he loved it.

…

"Wake up, Jack." Elsa cooed. Her hand brushed his cheek tenderly. "I have a pitcher in my hand and I'm not afraid to use it."

Slowly, Jack's eyes fluttered open and he smiled at her. "I know you… You're that goddess Freya."

"I'm amazed you could flirt first thing in the morning."

"Not hard a task if it's you the first thing I see." Jack took her hand and kissed it. Jack sat up on the bed and rubbed his bleary eyes. Elsa was sitting at the bedside, already as proper as she could be. Hair tightly bound, nightdress gone and replaced with her normal clothing. Jack was a little bit disappointed. "What time is it?"

"Seven in the morning. You have two full hours of sleep. Is it enough?"

"It will do." It will have to. "Thank you, Elsa."

"Would you like to have breakfast first?"

Jack laughed. "What's this? Why is the Queen attending to a lowly peasant like me?"

"I'm attending to my worrisome lover who looks like he's about to collapse anytime. Can't a woman be concerned?"

"Of course you can. Come here." Jack pulled her close by the waist and kissed her full on the lips. She wreathed her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. He nibbled and tugged on her lips which she reciprocated in kind. They broke apart moments later. Jack licked his lips and smirked. "And I had my breakfast. Thank you."

"Are you sure you're satisfied with that?" She smiled coyly. Elsa could be bold at times, but oft times she didn't quite understand what she was implying.

"I have a bigger appetite, my queen," Jack reached for his staff and went to the balcony, "but that appetite better left unsated…for now." Jack winked teasingly.

"Rogue…" Elsa smiled sheepishly before following him.

Jack leapt gracefully and balanced himself on the railing. He turned around before reaching for her hand and planting a kiss on it. "I'll see you later."

"Jack, you do know I have this thing called 'the door'." She pointed back with her thumb.

"And what would your guards say if they see me coming out of your chamber. Although I don't mind it, I'm not sure you're ready for a scandalous rumor of our love affair."

Elsa nodded comprehendingly. Quoting him, she said. "Point well made. Remember to be careful, Jack. Tell me how it goes later."

"I will. On both accounts."

Jack jumped down and landed lightly on the balls of his feet. Under Elsa's balcony was the back garden and at this time of day, no one was around. His acrobatic was safely unwitnessed. He began his journey to the town square where Scarrfaythe (or one of his henchmen) would take him to his sister.

The town was quiet that morning, scant of passerby saved for a few guards on patrol. A typical morning of the week before New Year. Everyone decided they needed more holiday. In the town square, he was the only living thing. The air was still and silent with the glimpse of dawn showering the place with an eldritch glow. Jack shivered with an ill foreboding. He sat on a bench near the fountain and waited.

Jack only just realized Scarrfaythe never told him when he would meet him. He could mean in the morning or the afternoon. He could mean anytime of the day. Jack began to shuffle restlessly, craning his neck from time to time hoping for a sign. He contemplated going back to the castle and caught up with a little more sleep, but feared he would have missed Scarrfaythe. He leapt to his feet and began to pace nervously, jabbing the snow with the butt end of his staff as he did.

It was then a shadow emerge from the darkness. Jack tensed up and stopped his pacing. The figure that approached wasn't Scarrfaythe. It was a man, tall of stature with bulging eyes, protruding lips and a mop of dirty blond hair, as if a sculptor was trying to carve an insect but changed his mind midway. Jack recognized him to be one of John Silver's crew, but not anybody worth remembering.

"Jack Frost," the man spoke with a husky hissing voice that made his goosebumps prickled all over, "the name's Scroop. Your sister awaits." He smirked and bowed mockingly.

Jack gulped and followed him.

…

There were two harbors in Arendelle. One was located at the town, heavily guarded and used by visiting royalties, honest merchants and sailors alike. Another one located just beyond the first hill. This one was a tad bit shoddier, guarded by a flock of seagulls, manned by men who asked no question and visited by people didn't want to be questioned. Truthfully, it had been abandoned by the good citizens of Arendelle and had been claimed by less exemplary people.

It was nicknamed the Ghost Pier and it was there Scroop had taken Jack.

Jack couldn't help glancing around and scrutinizing everything. The Ghost Pier lived up to its name. A different sort of silence surrounded the place. A silent so thick and unnerving it could suffocate. Jack didn't, couldn't see anyone else except for Scroop in front of him. The houses along the streets were made of salvaged timbers. There was no light shimmering inside any of them, as if they were all abandoned. They weren't though, because Jack could feel the gaze of multitude pairs of eyes watching his movement from inside the buildings. It made his skin crawled and Jack couldn't wait to leave the place.

Along the docks, there were silhouette of different kinds of ships. One caught his eyes, a two master with a hull the color of dried blood. It was the Red Menace, the ship that had taken him to and back from the Southern Isles. The last he saw of her was when she had dropped anchor and dropped Jack off by the foot of the North Mountains with one of her small boats. Jack had wondered where Scarrfaythe had hidden her because he had never seen her at Arendelle's docks. Now he knew.

There were light and sign of activities above her deck, and a faint echo of someone bellowing orders. Jack squinted to see better but Scroop grabbed him by the forearm and moved him along. They stopped before a sailor's inn at the end of the town. Scroop shoved him inside and left him. Jack guessed he would be joining the rest of his crew on the Red Menace.

Inside the inn, Scarrfaythe was waiting for him. He stood up when Jack entered. He looked at him with the same haughty look he always wore and the same knowing smirk. Jack's fingers curled into a fist involuntarily. If Scarrfaythe noticed, he said nothing of it. Without preamble, he turned and walked toward the stairs. Jack knew it was his cue to follow so he did. They went to the last room in the second floor. Scarrfaythe procured a key and turned the lock. Jack found himself gulping.

Scarrfaythe pushed open the door and Jack felt as if his feet were nailed to the floor. There she was, sitting on a hammock. She had turned when she heard the sound of the door opening and now she was staring at him, eyes wide with surprise. Jack inspected her from head to toe, looking for any sign of bruising or scar, looking for a reason to lash out to Scarrfaythe, but save for her manacled hands and a set of ball and chain clasped to her ankle, there wasn't. She was hale and healthy. Scarrfaythe kept his promise.

"Are you coming in or should I just get on with my business?" Scarrfaythe spoke.

Jack stepped inside as if whipped, but he didn't immediately approach her. He stood frozen in place, wary and unsure. He racked his brain trying to come up with something to say but it wasn't cooperating. So much for his eloquence. And it wasn't as if he was trying to woe a girl. She was his own sister by the gods!

Katherine, on the other hand, proved–—as ever—to be the superior sibling. She stood up, smiling with eyes brimming with tears. "Jack…" she whispered. "Oh Jack, I would hug you but…" She rattled the manacle and scoffed a chuckle in between sobs.

That was enough to spur Jack into action. He closed the distance between in three swift steps, dropped his staff and enveloped her in his embrace. He stroked her hair as she buried her head on his chest and sobbed silently. "Hush now, kitty Kat," he whispered to her hair. "Everything's alright." Where he got the confidence to say that, Jack had no idea, but Jack was a notorious liar after all and it came as no surprise.

"I thought I'd never see you again…" Katherine mumbled.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily, dear sister." His voice was cracking as he struggled to keep his composure. "I'm your annoying big brother, aren't I? I'll always be there to pester you."

That elicited genuine giggles from her. She pushed away slightly and furrowed her brows in concern. "How are you? You're not hurt, are you?" She glared over his shoulders at Scarrfaythe who was sitting on a chair after closing the door and watched their encounter with a bored expression. "He said he wouldn't hurt you if I behave, but I learn not to trust the words of a man who could murder a helpless woman in cold blood."

Almost, just almost, the wretched memories of his training under Scarrfaythe resurfaced. With sheer willpower alone he held them in bay, not letting them overwhelmed him. "I'm fine." Another lie, "but I should be the one to ask you that."

"I'm as well as I could be. He seemed content in having me locked up for now. Whatever he told you to do, you must be doing it right." Katherine hugged herself as best as the manacles would allow. "What did he ask you to do? Why are we back in Arendelle?"

"I'm not sure I can say, Kat." I'm complicit in overthrowing a kingdom, his heart screamed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I can understand, I guess…"

"No, that's not it, Kat." Jack sighed. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess. I'm sorry that mom…"

Katherine frowned again. "Did you invite Scarrfaythe to our house that day?"

"What? No!"

"Did you told him to isolate me in a cell away from you?"

"No!"

"Then what are you sorry for? It's never your fault. If anything, the fault lies in him," she glared at Scarrfaythe again who still sat all poignant and dissolute as if they weren't talking about him at all, "but of course he feels no remorse since all he has for a heart is a rotten turnip pumping black ichor for lifeblood."

Jack would cackle at that if the insult wasn't directed to Scarrfaythe Black, a man who could torture his sister without even a hint of distraught. The insult itself meant nothing to Scarrfaythe, as shown by his lack of interest to their conversation. Even his fingernails got more attention than the siblings.

"Kat, I want you to be careful, alright? Mind your manners. Stay your tongue." Jack muttered under his breath.

"I'm not afraid of him." She said firmly.

"You maybe not, but I am deathly terrified thinking what he might…he could do to you. So please, if not for yourself, for me." Jack held both her shoulders and looked at her squarely. "Please?"

Kat huffed in defiance, but her lips mumbled, "Fine."

Jack was very proud of his sister. Even in her current predicament, she still had some fight left in her. She was still so very brave. He hugged her again. "I promise I'll get you out of this mess soon enough."

"Not too soon, I hope. The free food he gave me is still much better than your cooking." She grinned toothily when they broke apart.

"How could you…" Jack punished her by pinching her nose, but he grinned back anyway.

"Well, this is all very sweet," Scarrfaythe spoke at last, "but you'll have to end it now, Jack. We do have a voyage to catch." Jack reluctantly let her sister go and step back. Scarrfaythe grabbed her by the elbow and led her to the door.

Knowing he needed to know where Katherine would be locked up next to arrange for a rescue, Jack hastily asked, "Where are you going?"

Scarrfaythe stopped in his track and glanced back. "What was that?"

"I asked you where are you going." Jack repeated. "Why are you leaving? If I'm in, shouldn't I know what's going on?"

Jack couldn't have expected what would happen next. No one would. And it was the first time Jack learnt that a question could be an answered by a punch in the abdomen. Jack doubled over as a wave of nausea took over and air escaped him. He coughed and wheezed and perhaps—to his shame—drooled, so powerful the punch was. It didn't help that his lack of sleep began to resurge and added to his dizziness. He wondered how he didn't faint.

A second later there was a feminine scream. Katherine lunged at her brother's attacker only to be subdued the next moment. A single punch sent her collapsing to the ground.

"Kat…" Jack muttered weakly. He reflexively summoned his power and the palm of his hand began frosting the surface of the wooden floor underneath it.

"Go on." Scarrfaythe challenged with a foot pressed down his sister's throat. He looked down at him with cold eyes and humorless face. "I dare you." Jack curled his fingers into a fist, stopping the flow of his power and bowed his head in defeat. Scarrfaythe scoffed. "Thought so."

Scarrfaythe let Katherine go and squatted in front of Jack. He grabbed a fistful of his hair and tilted his head backward. Jack let out a grunt of pain, but otherwise didn't fight back. "You think you're 'in'? Does the dog presume to be the master now? You are nothing but a means to an end, a tool tempered to its best possible state. A tool doesn't ask question. A tool obliges. Never delude yourself again, Frost." Scarrfaythe released his hold of his hair unceremoniously. He then picked Katherine up and slung her over his shoulder like she weighted nothing even with the ball and chain. "You will stay here and you will wait for my return. Meanwhile, do as you did. Don't even think about following us. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal…" Jack muttered as tried to stand up shakily. He failed miserably and instead only manage to support himself on one knee. One of his hand still clutching his abdomen. His head was a mass of buzzing bees and his vision began to blur, because of nausea or light headedness, he couldn't tell. He knew he was teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

"Good." Scarrfaythe turned around and closed the door behind him, taking his sister with him. Taking Jack's chance of saving her.

Not able to feign strength anymore, Jack slumped to the ground and slipped into oblivion.

Hello everyone. Here I am again. Sorry for tardiness... It's been a weird month for me. I went traveling for three days, got amazingly terribly sick for more than a week (a fever of 38.4 degree Celsius in one of the days and days of deliriousness) then off traveling again for 11 days. Writing had been hard, I must confess, but I did it!

Anyone else pissed that Jack and Elsa didn't do the deed (If you know what I mean)? I know I did...and I'm the author (bangs head)

This chapter should be longer than this but I decided to split it into two. We're going to sneak a peek into one of Jack's memories when Scarrfaythe 'trained' him.

Anyway, short reply inbox here.

Guest04: And I'll be back again and again and again, if only I wasn't so weak and caught sickness every other week. (punches wall). Sorry for rant...

xXBloodJewelXx: let's cross our fingers and hope for the best, eh?