Chapter 26

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen or Rise of the Guardians, or any of the other shows mentioned in this story. Disney and DreamWorks own it.

A/N: Okay, so we didn't meet the number of reviews I requested (ONKY 2 short tho!), but the of the ones I got, there had to have been five that were so long I like to count them as two. I figure I need to stop when I'm ahead. In the end, I'm just glad that so many people are reading this! Also, I feel like I've been more than slightly demanding.

This is also one of the shorter ones. I promise that this is the last boring chapter. We will see action next, and lot's of it. Boy, there is a lot. I hope you enjoy.

Please, all the Mortal Instrument fangirls squeal due to my reference in the last chapter to it. "To love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be the one destroyed." *sighes* Yes, that wretched quote made an appearance. I couldn't resist, and hats off to the reviewer who got that.

Now, you may all squeal – and follow me – again because, wait for it…I am pretty positive my next story is going to be a Clace story. Eep, the possibilities are endless. Just a strong possibility. Keep a look out for it, but only after I finish with this one.

Jack felt totally raw. He could barely show his face to Elsa. The last time he'd wept had been too long ago to remember. He was a vampire. He remembered everything. Nobody ever saw him like that. They saw him terrorize the town. They saw him murderous rampages. They saw him grieve in a totally different way. It was the only way he'd ever grieved.

Now that he actually cried, he found that release as totally different. It was odd how good it had felt. Clearly, he wasn't elated to be crying, that was the problem. It just felt, if only for a fleeting moment, that his life and what happened to those around him mattered, that the guilt and grief wasn't all in his head.

Then there was Elsa. She had seen it all by now. She'd experienced first hand his rage, his moments of love, and his weakest moments. She took it all on her shoulders for an hour and the relief he felt had been mind changing. Everything was suddenly clear to him now. She wiped off the window that had slowly been accumulating such small amounts of dirt Jack hadn't noticed it was even dirty, but she had. There was only one thing that mattered.

Love. He had it all and wasn't near happy. His guilt didn't disappear in time or power. Though he had friends, Jack wasn't satisfied completely. What was life without love, anyhow, without family and people he counted as his and he as theirs?

"Bed's ready," Elsa startled him. She stood at the edge of hot spring, clothed in a thin nightdress that wasn't near warm enough for this weather, though he doubted she could feel it anymore. He blinked. Jack didn't even realize she had gotten out of the water. After they left their embrace, the two had sat and stared off the depths of the cliff behind them in comfortable silence, both in deep thought.

Jack nodded and stood, slowly climbing out of the water. Elsa walked away towards their makeshift campsite. "Damn, Elsa how did you dry off?" He found the air startlingly cold now that he was covered in water.

Elsa called over her shoulder with a small smile. "Your clothes." Jack snorted in response. Figured. He grabbed the clothes off the ground and ran it through his hair swiftly before moving on to other attachments that had a chance of falling off in the pre-winter air. He could feel her eyes on his body, licking up every inch of him. Jack was no modest guy and she had, basically, see him all before, but he couldn't help but feel this was wrong. He cleared his throat.

"You're doing it again," he whispered with a pointed smirk as he tugged on the one pair of clean shorts her brought.

"Doing what?" She feigned innocence.

"Staring." He finished and turned around. She folded her legs underneath herself with the top blanket covering her bottom half. Jack sat beside her, one leg bent with his elbow propped on it. Her eyes widened and she looked away, cursing slightly. He could hear the annoyance in her voice. "Hey, it will be fine. You will gain a lot more control as time passes."

He reached for her hand, resting his over hers lightly. She pulled a centimeter away but then thought back on it and stopped. Her eyes were downcast. "It hurt, waiting for you all to come to my room and find me away. I thought I'd burst into flames…" she murmured.

"You had reservations to begin with," he admitted. "It is better a start than any of us."

Elsa shook her head. He didn't miss the tear that rolled down her cheek. "I want to hate what I did so badly. In my head, I know killing is immoral and horrible, but…"

"In your heart, you still don't care," Jack nodded. "Because you didn't want this life. Because it was forced upon you, you feel you are entitled to a life of killing." Elsa's head snapped up, fear locked in her expression. Her blue eyes were brighter with the extra wetness that filled them. She agreed with a jerked bow.

"I feel the weight of their lives in my heart, but it's overridden," Elsa explained. "I hate myself in my mind, but not my soul."

Jack could tell she struggled with this. It meant more to her than just caring about the four men who died. He was slightly sickened by her words. Even he felt like a monster after his first murders, though it could have had something to do with the fact he felt particularly guilty for his son's death. He gave Elsa a once over. He could still see the old her in the blue orbs, but did that even matter? Her posture was tense and taught, ready to break into a fight like vampires were. Her hand was clenched, as if holding back anger. He glanced at his own free hand and recognized the reflection. She had blood still crusted in her hair from earlier in the day. Jack remembered her feral expression he saw in her when she fed on them.

"Elsa, you took somebody's life. I," Jack hesitated. He wasn't used to being a jerk to Elsa, but she needed it right now. "Lives aren't disposable. They belong to people with families. Each of those men had little girls at home awaiting their arrival. They all had wives, now windows, who are forced to raise a family on their own. They mattered to people, and you just took it away." Elsa stiffened, pulling her hand away. Her expression hardened in defense. Jack hated making her mad, but she couldn't feel this way. It was what created monsters. "We were cursed with the burden of stealing other's lives just so we can live. The human life is the purest form of eloquence God created. A human touching another's life could be sentenced to hell, but a foreign being touching a human's life surely reciprocates for much worse. Do not take that lightly or you'll find the old you disappearing quickly."

Her eyes narrowed, studying him. Breath hitching, she struggled to push out the words. "You think we're damned no matter what," she hissed with venom. "That it's all in the extent to which we're tortured."

He loathed blurring the lines between God and vampires. Who knew if he'd ever get the chance to die and meet the great being? The only thing he was sure of was that he was responsible for stealing more of his creations than any other before. If human takes human life was bad, superior takes human life was much worse. He was the bully in the scenario. "I do."

Elsa took a deep breath. "I think we're already in hell. What worse can God do than sentence us to forever on Earth? Each generation, humanity darkens, sin grows, and morals are lost. Earth is hell." Jack swallowed hard. Where had these thoughts come from? She hadn't been nearly this opinionated before. Somehow, he enjoyed seeing this side to her. He finally was able to see all of her. Before, he guessed. Now, he knew. Now her opinions scared him half to hell, but they weren't exactly alarming. They were unexpected, but they weren't morbid, just depressing.

Her glare lightened, "Death is something we cannot get, so we take it ourselves. We aren't entitled to shit." Jack paled. If she thought she was gracing them with peace-, "Don't look at me like that. Death is a luxury but not a gift." She finished with a sneer. "Now, I bid you good night."

Elsa lied with her back to him, thoroughly shutting off all communication. Jack took forever to move just to gather his thoughts. Was this Elsa good or bad? He couldn't help but be in awe of her. Her understanding seemed to have deepened by tenfold, going from the pool to the ocean in a second flat. He never thought about death like that – the reason behind it. They needed blood in his mind, but Elsa seemed to understand why their hearts craved it along with their stomachs.

And their hearts did crave it. Pitch was a prime example of how, if the heart was let loose with little bounds, it could darken even more. Though, Jack worried if his heart was previously darkened, but if so, then by what? The rest of them trained their heart not to be so morbid, not to relish in the kill. Despite the teachings, sometimes it was inevitable to stop a massacre from happening, especially if the vampire was too upset to really hold back.

"I used to believe death was a luxury," Jack whispered after he was near certain she was asleep. His hand lightly caressed her pale, soft cheek. "Then I met you."

Despite her morbid words, Jack still felt the tugging in his heart for the girl he loved. It ran deep. He wasn't sure this would tear them apart, not any more. Love ran deep, especially concerning Elsa.

. . .

Shira looked so down. Elsa sighed. She knew it was her fault. Admittedly, she had been a pompous ass to both her and Jack. "I'll join you the court tomorrow," she whispered as Jack headed for the throne. He nodded and continued on. Elsa had two people to talk to. She decided for the nicer meeting first, so she followed Shira to her and Bunnymund's room.

"I see you two haven't moved," Elsa noted in surprise. Shira turned around and crossed her arms.

"What do you want?" She glared hard. Elsa did deserve that she supposed. Taking two steps in, she closed the door behind her.

"I want to apologize," Elsa murmured, shrugging her shoulders. She couldn't meet the girl's gaze. "What I said was out of hand. I snapped at you in the heat of a moment. Something came over me and…" She trailed off, unsure what else to say. Looking up, she didn't see a change in Shira's hard expression.

"I only tried to look out for you – for the both of you," she explained, like she wanted to make Elsa guiltier. Shira threw a hand up, pointing towards the door. "Jack can do all he wants for you, Els, but you'll never get anyone to teach you more about being a vampire than me." Elsa frowned in puzzlement. Shira snorted with mirthless laughter. "I've been through it all. I went of murderous rampages, I let my lust get the best of me, I've killed and relished in it, but most importantly, I awoke as a totally new person."

"I'm not-,"

"Yes you are," Shira walked toward her and took both hands in hers. Her eyes looked softer, pitiful. "You are letting your emotions rule you. It's so damn easy to let them take charge, but you can't do it. Tooth let them. Now she's still so foreign to me. The killing phases her mind, but her heart pushes strong for it. She hates herself, if you didn't know it yet. She hates who she's become: what she craves. You can't become her, Elsa."

Elsa's breath caught. The similarity was close, too close. It made since. Tooth hated herself so she took it out on Elsa. Unless it's a massacre, she refuses to feed in front of anyone else. Elsa wondered if it was because she, too, enjoyed killing and murdering despite how innocent they were. She stumbled back in horror.

"I can't be Pitch," Elsa shook her head, eyes growing wide. "I can't be Tooth." Shira stepped forward again and gripped the sides of her shoulders, focusing her shaking body.

"I won't let that happen," Shira shook her head. "Let me help you."

Elsa nodded, still frozen in shock. Stumbling, she wrapped her arms around Shira. It felt reassuring to have somebody hold her. She never needed a friend more in her life. She was facing war in her body. Elsa was strong enough to do it, she was sure of it. She was also sure that without a friend, she couldn't be sure she'd stay good.

Pulling away, Elsa breathed deeply, terminating her previous plans. "What do I do? Act like the old me?" Elsa would admit there was a noticeable difference between the old and new. Crinkling her nose, she realized just how boring the old Elsa was, at least in her mind. It just didn't seem appealing in her mind now to go around socializing. Small talk wasn't just boring; it was insulting. Why talk on futile things such as the newest clothing materials or how the weather was when there were too many important things, like the fact the murderous vampires were growing or that she hasn't seen Thanatos in ages, to worry over?

Shira shook her head. "We must go around town and give to the community. Get to know the people and feel their pain, no matter how little or big they are. We need to pull some compassion out of your heart."

The idea didn't sound particularly exciting but it couldn't hurt her. There would just be so many humans, carrying blood. "What if I can't…hold back?"

Shira's face fell. "Right. We can do it tomorrow. First off, spend time in the throne room. Jack can watch over you while humans get very close, though don't test it too much."

Elsa took a deep breath and sighed deeply. "Thank you, and Shira?" The girl turned around. "I'm sorry, really."

Shira smiled tightly. "I know," she shrugged lightly. "If anything, this can be a great story years later."

Elsa laughed and bid her well before entering the throne room. Jack seemed surprised to see her. She briefly explained and sat down in her throne. Together, they brought in the testing subjects.

. . .

North didn't come straight to Elsa. In fact, he wanted to keep his presence from her for as long as possible. Instead, he snuck in on horseback where they wouldn't announce him. Then he hid out in Shira and Bunnymund's room, awaiting their arrivals. He was glad he did. Ever since Thanatos told him that Elsa was a vampire, he was unsure her stability. He didn't feel particularly guilty for listening in on her and Shira's heartfelt make up, mainly because Elsa didn't feel bad for killing four men.

It worried him. Elsa Arendelle would never have acted like that. Something had to have happened to her that Thanatos wasn't mentioning. Either way, she wasn't mentally prepared to hear his news, but he had to tell somebody. It wasn't a secret worth risking forgetting.

The door opened again and Bunnymund strolled in. North was about to pop out when Shira's grumbling voice followed. He knew what that meant; she was going to talk about her feelings. A lot. North would settle with listening to her, but not actually having to be part of the conversation. She was a bit melodramatic at times.

"I'm worried about her, Bunnymund," Shira sighed and plopped on the bed. Bunny leaned against the wall sharpening his knives with an amused grin. "Aren't you?"

He shrugged. "She's interesting now. She used to be constantly afraid. I'm glad she's not anymore."

Shira sat up and narrowed her eyes. "Really? Are you saying you find me boring because I don't enjoy a kill?"

Bunnymund let out a loud sigh. "Shira, despite what you believe, you and Elsa aren't too far apart. For all we know, her lack of guilt may not lead to a bigger, scarier picture. If that's the case, then she'll become somewhat like you I suppose."

"Like me?"

"You became a totally different woman," he spoke. "Elsa might, too. And at least I'll be there for her unlike I was for you."

"I didn't need you."

"Yes, you did. I needed you. We all needed each other. When you shot me down, I was wounded enough to give up on you. I figured you could massacre all the towns you wanted and be happy by yourself." Bunny snorted. The bed heaved as he fell on it.

North felt very uneasy about this situation. He could come out now and let them be angry. Or he could finally get updated on what was going around here and risk the terrible chance of having to hide while they got it on. He hesitantly decided to get updated.

"She also needs guidelines," Shira admonished. "Elsa will feel the guilt one day or another. I'd very much like it if she didn't have an entire village on her hands when she does."

"She'll be fine. She'll watch North, Jack, and us. She may turn out with an attitude and a hardened soul, but that is guaranteed with what we are," Bunnymund spoke softly. He grabbed Shira's hand and she reluctantly turned on her side, wrapping an arm around his waist.

"You can be a lot deeper than you used to be," Shira sighed happily. She was happy. Okay, North decided, now was a good time. He stood and saw their lips inching closer to one another's. He cleared his throat, avoiding their gazes as they gasped in shock and bolted upright. "North! What the hell?"

"Hello to you, too, Ms. Argue-With-Everyone." North sighed, stepping fully into the light. Bunny's jaw went slack, and then a sly grin plastered themselves on his lips. "Ah, and Mr. Sex-Now-Please."

"North, where the hell have you been?" he shot up and wrapped an arm around his companion's shoulders. "Sit, tell us all about your journey for Elsa. I'm sure it was intriguing."

"Bunnymund! He spied on us!" Shira shouted, still in place on the bed, arms crossed. Both men looked from her to each other and laughed. They fell on either side of Shira, fully squishing the girl in between.

"Alas, that is the exact reason I come to you now. In secret," he sighed after the laughter had died down. Shira and Bunny shared a worried glance but still encouraged him to continue. "Elsa's mission was, eventually, eventful." His emphasis on the word definitely had something to do with the long nights he spent running, chasing a goose in circles only to end up being beaten by magic.

"Well go on then," Shira sputtered, stepping out from between the men. They all stood in a hushed circle to keep their voices as low as possible, and they weren't kidding when they claimed to speak lower than the steps a mouse takes.

North took a deep breath. "Now don't go telling this to Elsa just yet. I'm not sure how clearly she's thinking, or how this will effect all of us…" North met Shira and Bunnymund's gazes slowly and cautiously, as if he were trying to build a damn of twigs and was about to finish his last piece, full and well knowing it would tip the balance and the floodwater would take him to his grave, "but Thanatos gave me his journal."

Shira and Bunny burst into a fit of laughter. They clutched their stomachs until they were heaved over. North felt his irritation growing. Time was the one thing on their side for the very small moment. It was all on the concept of when. When would they open that damned bookcase? When would they find the journal and, more importantly, read it? When would Fate's plan come to a much-needed finale?

"Well, not really handed it to me," North sighed in regret. "He told me how to get it."

"I'm sorry, mate, but what good is his journal?" Bunny tried to sober up, achieving only a slight chuckle within his question.

Pitch fumbled in his knapsack until his found the couple stray pages Thanatos had graciously handed him. There was no doubt in his mind these were very detailed, but North wasn't graced with the gift of reading, not when there was a magic shield at least. "Only Jack can read these. Big man said once he reads these, two very important things will happen, one being that we go in search of the rest of the journal. Elsa is to know where that rests. I have missing puzzle piece."

"What is it?" Shira frowned, looking over the pages in his hand. They weren't blank, but it looked like a bunch of childish gibberish. She could almost feel the magic residing between the lines of words.

"It is not a what, but a who," North admonished, looking more than a little guilty. "And her name is Anna."

A/N: Lemme feel the love (if it's there). Can it please be there?