Thank you to my reviewers and readers. I love hearing from you guys and seeing how you are liking the story. I wish there was a way I could respond to Guests because I want you guys to know I love your reviews as well ;)
Oh by the way Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone!
Patrick: "You sadistic person! Do you want me dead?"
Me: Not at all Patrick.
Patrick: "Could have fooled me…" (walks away grumbling)
Me: He's just upset because he has to hide today and hasn't left the house. But you guys enjoy your holiday and the next part of the story ;)
(With Mitch)
Mitch flexed his wrists, grinning as the rope gave a little. "Keep it up Sam, almost there."
The kitten of course didn't understand the intensity of the situation, he was simply concentrating on 'killing' the brown thing that was being waved in his face. A scared squeak escaped the kitten when the brown thing made a ripping sound.
"Way to go Sam!" Mitch twisted his wrists frantically against the now severely frayed rope. A loud snap made his heart jump.
The kitten cocked his head in confusion as the brown thing fell to the floor.
Mitch rubbed his sore wrists, grimacing at the rope burns on his skin. He laughed when Sam swatted at the rope again, "You can stop now bud I believe it's dead."
The kitten thought so too, with a smug chirp the feline padded around and got back into the boy's lap. The kitten glanced up at the boy in anticipation, "Mew?"
"All right, all right." Mitch chuckled, he began scratching the feline behind the ears. He grinned at the kitten's purr that started up like a motor.
Crimson eyes closed in content as the boy continued to scratch his ears
"Now…" Mitch closed his eyes trying again the transport, "Nope, they still have a rune up blocking transportation powers." He sighed, "Welp it was worth a shot."
An angry huff escaped the kitten when the boy paused in his petting.
Mitch startled when the kitten nudged his hand again, he grinned, "Sheesh you're an attention hog." The boy chuckled and resumed petting the feline, "Here we've been kidnapped, been locked in a room with no way out and all you care about is attention.
With a smug chirp the kitten closed his eyes again; the feline could careless where they were. It didn't matter to him as long as the boy pet him and he got something to eat.
"I hope Uncle Patrick's ok." Mitch's voice cracked slightly
"Mew?" crimson eyes glanced up at the boy, he really didn't understand the sadness he heard in the boy's whispered voice. He knew what the boy needed, cheering up.
Mitch startled when what felt sandpaper racked over his arm, "What the…" he grinned at the kitten now bathing him with its tiny pink tongue, "Gee, thanks Sam." Mitch chuckled at the felines attempt to cheer him up.
Crimson eyes gleamed with pride, of course it worked. Any kitten knows that the best cure for sadness is the comfort of your family. This boy was exactly that, family. However the men that smelled like earth were not.
After a few minutes Mitch sat up, an idea coming to him "You know…I bet I could use magic to get the lock undone." He smirked, "Since my hands are no longer bound."
"Mer…" the kitten protested as he was picked up and placed on the floor
"Shhh Sam." A determined look was on Mitch's face as he got quietly to his feet, "This may be our only chance to get out of here."
The kitten cocked his head the boy make his was over to the door, he watched as the boy took the round thing in his paw.
Mitch took a breath, then a bright flash appeared under his palm followed by the distinct click of the lock. Pale green eyes gleamed, "And that Sam, is why they haven't made a room I can't get out of. Much to my dad's dismay." He grabbed Sam up quickly, ignoring the kitten's protest, "Let's go Sam, but we need have to be quiet."
The door creaked slightly as it was pushed open but to Mitch it sounded like a loud explosion, he cringed waiting for his kidnappers to come running. When no one did he cautiously peeked out, an empty hall met his eye.
"I guess they're all in the main building Sam." Pale green eyes glanced both ways then he took off down the hall his feet making soft thuds as he ran.
(With Pitch)
"Terror?" Jack's eyes were wide with excitement, "Who's he?"
Pitch opened his mouth to respond, he stopped suddenly a grimace coming to his face "Hold that thought Jack. I'm about to yelled at."
Jack was confused, "Wha…"
"Pitch! What were you thinking!"
"It was the only…" Pitch cringed as Iris burst into the room, her emerald eyes blazing
Iris narrowed her eyes, golden wings rustling as they echoed her fury "Don't give me that Pitch! There had to have been something else you could have done aside from going into that god forsaken place."
Pitch offered her a smile, "Trust me Iris, if I could have avoided going I would have." His smile faded under her intense glare, "Come on Iris I was only there for a short time…"
"How long Pitch?" Iris quickly came over and began checking his injuries
"Ummmm I think…" he glanced away from her "a week..." He yelped when pain erupted in his shoulder as she hit him
"Damn it Pitch! You should have taken me with you! Terror could have killed you!" Iris glared at him
Jack glanced at Pitch, "But…how could you have been there a week?"
Iris spoke as she grabbed Pitch's arm and began examining it, "Because Jack, in the Between time does not flow as it does here. A second is equivalent to a minute, a minute an hour, and an hour a day."
"That's…weird." The winter spirit glanced at Pitch, "Why is it that everything about you is weird?"
Pitch chuckled, "If you think I'm weird you should have seen Terror…" he sweat dropped when Iris glared at him, "I mean…I avoided him at all costs."
"Liar." Iris placed her hand to his chest
"Pitch, what happened?" Blue eyes widened as a large burned circle of scar tissue appeared, one side seeming to be fresher than the other.
Pitch pushed Iris's hand from his chest, the mark disappearing as he did so, "Nothing Jack."
Jack started to retort when Iris placed her hand suddenly to Pitch's forehead, he watched as in seconds his brother's head fell to the side his breathing indicating that he was asleep. Blue eyes glanced at Iris, "What'd you do that for?"
"Your brother has not slept in seven days Jack." Iris spoke quietly as she positioned the Nightmare King's head on the pillow, Iris then started to the door she motioned for Jack to follow, "Now come, let him sleep he can finish his tale when he wakes."
Jack glanced at Pitch who was now snoring softly, he then followed Iris into the adjoining room. "So, what was that mark?" the winter spirit asked Iris as she pulled a chair up beside the bed that held the still unconscious Patrick
Iris sighed as she brushed Patrick's forehead, "That Jack, is a curse mark."
"A curse?" Jack's eyes widened, "What kind of curse?" the winter spirit leaned forward concerned for his brother now filling him
"Your brother was never meant to feel pain when he sensed fear." Iris spoke softly, "The mark is what caused him to."
The floor creaked as Jack pulled up another chair, "…what happened?"
"The first time Pitch fell into the Between the spirit that resides there caught him."
"Terror." The winter spirit couldn't help but shudder as he said the name
Iris nodded, "Yes, he is the only spirit to live within the Between. He is a malicious spirit that drains the soul from any that have the misfortune of finding themselves in his realm. Pitch had such a misfortune when he first discovered his ability to travel by shadow."
"Is that where he got the mark?"
"Yes, Terror feeds off fear Jack. So when Pitch came into his realm Terror caught him and burned a curse into his chest." Iris shook her head in sympathy, "Now every time your brother senses fear it caused him physical pain while giving Terror strength."
Jack cocked his head, "So…basically he's been using Pitch like a conductor all this time?"
"Yes, that is exactly what it is like." Iris nodded
"But…why did part of the mark look almost new?" the winter spirit fidgeted in his seat fearing the answer
Iris glanced at Patrick, "Because Jack, I believe your brother made a deal with Terror in exchange for the release of Patrick's soul."
"What kind of deal" Jack's voice was barely a whisper
Iris remained silent, instead she placed a cool rag on Patrick's forehead "Pitch can tell you when he wakes Jack." She smiled suddenly, "But in the meantime, Clara told me on my way in that you fought and captured two of the spirit's that attacked here."
Jack beamed with pride, "I did."
Iris smiled as the boy launched into his story.
(With Mitch)
Mitch was sure his heart was going to beat out of his chest, he had managed to make it the main area of the warehouse. He was now crouched behind a large wooden crate that time had forgotten, he could almost smell the centuries on the faded planks.
"Ok…Sam there's only one thing standing between us and freedom."
"Mew?"
Mitch nodded, "Yep, that guy." He glanced around the crate again, pale green eyes glaring at Galt who was walking around just feet in front of the door.
"If I could just get by him and out the door then I could transport back to the Resort." Mitch's mind was turning as he tried to think of something. He startled when Sam wriggled out of his grasp, "Hey! Get back here!" his voice was a loud whisper as he desperately grabbed at the kitten.
"Mert!" the feline easily avoided capture and raced across the concrete, crimson eyes focused on the small mouse happily nibbling on a crumb in the middle of the warehouse.
"What the hell!"
Mitch cringed at Galt's shout, he glanced around the crate his eyes widening in fear as the man stalked towards Sam who was oblivious to anything but the mouse he was currently trying to coax out from inside a crate.
"How did you get out?" Galt's voice was anything but happy
Crimson eyes widened at the man now coming towards him, the kitten filled with fear this man was mean. Not like his boy, the kitten turned and raced back to the weird tree thing his boy was hiding behind.
"Really Sam?" Mitch groaned as the obsidian fluff ball made a beeline for his hiding place, the angry earth spirit just steps behind him. "Oh well, guess now's a good a time as any…" Mitch took a breath steadying his nerves, he quickly placed his index finger and middle finger together so that they were touching. He steadied himself, making his fingers firm waiting for the moment.
"When I catch you I'm going to ski…"
Mitch didn't give Galt a chance to finish his sentence, as soon as the man rounded the corner of the crate with as much force as he could the Mitch slammed his fingers into the dent located where the man's left and right collarbone met.
A strangled sound escaped the earth spirit as his pharynx caved in, he stumbled backwards holding his throat, within thirty seconds he was unconscious as his brain was denied oxygen.
"Don't mess with my friend got it?"Mitch smirked at the man now laying on the ground "All right Sam let's get out of here."
"Mew?" the kitten tentively batted at the man on the ground, he startled when the boy picked him up.
Mitch stepped over Galt and took off towards the door, the boy was nearly in tears as his hand touched the handle to freedom. He strained against the heavy door, grinning as he managed to get it open "We ma…"
A loud crack echoed in the night air
Mitch's vision swam as pain erupted upside his head, then he crumpled to the ground his last conscious moment filled with a cruel laugh.
Cliff! Please review and let me know what you guys thought. *****Please do not try what Mitch did on anyone. That move could potentially kill someone.****** (You have been warned) Till next time.