(Sorry guys for the really late update. Things have gotten pretty hectic around my house. With Christmas growing close, my job associates interrupting my writing/typing, and my friends and brother dragging me kicking and screaming from my laptop...ugh. I'm trying. I really am. The story is trying to come out and everyone and their grandmother is out to stop me from writing. I WILL NOT STOP! I WILL PROVE YOU CAN RIDE A ZOMBIE TO MORDOR! AND I WILL PROVE YOU DON'T NEED LITTLE SHORT PEOPLE WITH FURRY FEET TO DO IT! Lol. I'm passing up sleep time to post this chapter so you better appreciate it guys. I used a Lord of the Rings reference cause I am sleep deprived. I was watching Pewdiepie playing Haunted Investigations and he was playing a dead body and was trying to ride it around the building... check it out if you want a laugh and a few jump scares.)

How Do You Love Someone?

Chapter 21 - Abduction?!

Things had gone pretty well throughout the night. Fay had joined North in singing some Christmas songs with the big man being somewhat off key andFay trying to keep up with his accent. It was when North had stopped singing that Fay's voice echoed and the imps watching some nearby children gathered to her. It wasn't much of a song as she only kept the tune without North's lyrics. But it was sweet none the less.

It wasn't long til the long night was almost over, with only a handful of towns left. Fay had fallen asleep an hour or so ago and rested on the bench beside him and North had been silent for a while. He was getting tired from the 32 hour flight and hoisting gifts up and down chimneys. But they finished quickly anyway. It wasn't until they were heading back to the North Pole did things take a sharp turn. The sleigh jerked, as though they had hit something. But they were miles from the ground. What was there to hit?

Fay had given a squeal and rolled off the bench, startling Jack and North, who struggled to bring the reindeer under control. Something had them irritated and it wasn't long til they knew what.

Something dark and winged suddenly clawed its way up the back of the sleigh, the twisted creature extended a gnarled hand with 6 inch, pointed nails and snatched the back of Fay's hoodie. Before anyone could realize the beast was there, it yanked her from the seat and away from the boys. It was her sudden disappearance and scream that made the two turn for her. North couldn't fly so Jack was the first to bolt after them. He finally got a good look at the beast when he managed to freeze one of it's wings and it crashed into some woods below.

It was ugly.

The head was shaped like a horse's, it's neck and torso reminding him of a kangaroo with clawed muscular forearms. The hind legs jointed and were cloven like a bulky deer. Thick and whip-like, a tail lashed behind it, missing Fay's head from where she laid on the ground a foot or so back from it. She didn't appear to be conscious as the beast snuffled and released a piercing shriek. It was like nails on a chalkboard mixed with a human's strangled cry. It was a horrid sound. From above, North was heard as he tried to find a place to land.

The beast wasn't pleased about it's temporarily crippled wing and stamped the ground like an agitated horse. Without warning, it slammed it's side into a tree, the ice on it's wing shattering and it screeched again. Jack feared approaching the beast as it stomped around. It's sharp hooves were too close to Fay for a shot to be taken. Not from his current angle anyway. He had to distract it somehow until North got to them. Hopefully he didn't come from the wrong side.

The creature ignored Jack's show of creating frost on the nearby trees and ground to wrap those wicked claws around the back of Fay's neck and lift her from the ground. It didn't manage to get her two feet from the frozen earth when North's sword cleaved at it's tail. The thing twisted and threw Fay away from it. Apparently it wasn't as smart as it seemed as that opened it to attacks from both Jack and North.

"Fay!" Without putting up much a fight after Jack froze most of it, it went down easily. Fay was now awake and attempting to stand from she was thrown and stumbled until Jack caught her, pulling her close and placing his lips against her hair.

"Are you okay? I promise I won't let anything like that happen again." he muttered as North studied the slowly fading body of the beast. According to him, it was a Darkling. And a moderately strong one at that. Darkness must be getting restless. It was risky sending of these Devil type Darklings to fetch her. They were smart enough to take orders, but not enough to do much else. They also had a violent death streak that followed botched orders.

Meaning, Fay could have easily died when it grabbed her or was stomping about while standing over her. It was what put things in perspective for Jack as he studied the now faint bruising on her neck and a bloody rip in the side of her pants, a tree limb having done the damage to her calf.

Tooth tended to Fay's wound when they got back to the Workshop and Bunny threw a fit over missing the action. Sandman had drifted to sleep like North had while waiting for Fay to be released from Tooth's care. When she limped out, Jack picked her up, intending to not let her out of his grasp for the next 24 hours. Bunny attempted to stop him and Jack would have started a fight with him if Fay hadn't spoken up, petting Bunny's arm to soothe him.

"Bunnymund... Please. Not right now. Can we talk tomorrow. North and Sandy are sleeping, you Jack and Tooth must be exhausted. I know I am. Let's talk about this tomorrow when everyone is less grumpy." her soft and tired voice, punctuated by a yawn had both males calm down and agree.

When they reached her bedroom, Fay removed the torn pants and lay down wearing nothing but a blue sweatshirt to match his. Swallowing the growing need, Jack tossed his own sweatshirt to the foot of the bed besides her pants and climbed in after her. He paused from above her and nuzzled her neck and face. He wanted her. He wanted to make sure she was alright. But his need could wait wait til tomorrow. With an exhausted sigh, he dropped down next to her. Fay giggled and wrapped her arms around him. Calmly, Jack pinned her to his side and rested his chin on her hair.

"Thanks for saving me Jack. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't" Her sleepy voice whispered, her Irish accent now much more pronounced. She probably had to consciously keep it from her usual tone of speech.

"Don't thank me. I would do it again in a heartbeat." Jack hesitated. "You should let your accent out more often. It's pretty."Fay flushed and pressed her face to his shoulder at the compliment.

"Go- nigh- Jack" she whispered, the soft lilting tones of her home language making him smile.

"I won't let you go Fay."

You guys seemed to like the music list I put up and I have decided to put up the list of music I was listening to if I had any playing while I wrote the chapter. Everything is spelled properly so just copy and paste to youtube's search bar. If you can't find the right songs, PM me and I'll send you the right ones.

Breathe Carolina - Waiting

Breathe Carolina - Get Off Easy

Breathe Carolina - Sweat It Out

Rockleetist - Unfragment (English) This is the song Fay was singing along to. It's only on Youtube.

(Once Again, I ask you to please Review. For those with homework, I'm sorry but it is not a chore. If I don't get reviews then I don't update. That's how it's done. Thank you. Love you all.)