I had let it start and now I couldn't stop. I was choking on the sobs I was trying to contain. I gave up. I turned away from Pitch.
Where are all these tears even coming from?
I swiped at my eyes but I couldn't staunch the flow. I heard Pitch behind me. I didn't want to turn around. He stopped walking towards me. At least I couldn't hear his steps anymore. I sniffled quietly and it felt like every emotion I'd experienced in the last couple days was flowing out of me.
It was fear, confusion, shame, and loss. I took a couple of deep breaths but it didn't work. Pitch heard me and took a couple steps around me, to get a look at my face. He kept a safe distance, standing a couple paces away, accessing the situation.
"Pitch," I found my voice sounded stronger than I expected. "I know you want- hic -your answer." I blushed.
Hiccups? really?
"But can you take me to my palace. I need something." I finished.
"Do you really think I'm that naïve, love? Running errands for Jack?" He spat the name and took a step closer. I furrowed my brow.
"No, what are you talking about?" I looked into Pitches eyes, hoping he couldn't see through my flimsy façade. I had never been a terribly good liar.
"What do you need then?" He said confrontationally. His voice was sharp, the flicker of barely contained excitement was gone.
Is he jealous? If he is he's terrible at hiding it.
I could feel his envy from where I stood. Then I had an idea. I tried to swallow back the lump in my throat and felt tears spring to the corners of my eyes ready to follow the tracks down my cheeks.
"I need a proper proposal. Somewhere beautiful." I let them go, tears raced down my cheeks, glinting in the candlelight.
Pitch looked shocked, genuinely taken aback. He took another step towards me, at a loss for words.
"I just thought of my balcony, because it's nearly sunset, and the mountains feel like home, and…" I let it trail off, instead letting my tears finish the thought. I could sense the tears made him uncomfortable. Frankly they made me uncomfortable but at the same time it felt like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I took a couple more steadying breaths.
Pitch took the last steps to close the distance between us and lifted my chin so his yellow eyes could meet my red rimmed ones. He was searching for some hint of deception. He seemed disappointed when he found none but his sinister, self-assured, smirk returned.
"Alright." He said. I wiped my eyes and smiled up at him, stifling the shiver of fear that ran up my spine. It was a small victory.
"May I freshen up? Take a bath?" I asked embarrassedly. He gestured to a door off the hall we were in, that hadn't been there before. I opened it up to find a sprawling bathroom filled with whatever I might need. I looked back over my shoulder at Pitch. "Thank you." He nodded. I didn't actually want to take a bath. I just needed to postpone this proposal.
"I'll bring you your dress in a bit." He said, gesturing to the door. I smiled graciously, hoping to get out from under his gaze before my true emotions could be read on my face. I closed the door and sat down against it. I exhaled everything and wiped a stray tear settled at the corner of my eye.
I found a robe and changed into it then ran the bath. As I waited for it to fill I looked through the various shampoo's a body washes choosing the ones with the least offensive smells. It felt strange to be bathing while Jack was just down the hall, imprisoned.
Thinking about it made my heart ache in my chest. The bath wasn't even a quarter of the way full. As I waited I thought about the conversation with Jack, savouring these moments without Pitch lurking about.
I wonder if he's waiting outside right now.
I tied my robe extra tightly and peeked out. He wasn't there. Then I had an idea, it was risky, but it was something.
I tiptoed out of the bathroom and ran to the end of the hall. I knelt down and examined the lock. I had never tried lock picking with ice before. I thought about the key Pitch had used and a translucent key formed in my hand. I brushed some stray frost off of it and tried it in the lock. I couldn't fit it all the way in. I tried again altering it slightly near the base. It went in but it wouldn't turn despite my effort to turn it both ways. In the end the handle snapped off. I played around with it altering the prongs and trying them in the lock.
On my sixth attempt I heard a click and the door swung in a little. I knew I was running low on time and the bath might be over flowing but I couldn't resist. I slipped inside. Jack was sitting against the far wall again. He looked confused when I entered, clothed only in a flimsy robe.
"What-" He began but I interrupted him.
"Pitch thinks I'm in the bath."
"How-"
"I picked the lock." I had another idea. I knelt beside him trying to keep myself covered. I imagined cooling water in my hand then quickly forced it onto the other chain on Jacks ankle.
"Quick, Break it." He smashed it against the ground. I started on the next one. "I convinced Pitch to take me to the palace." Jack winced. I wasn't sure if it was the 'convincing' or the pain of smashing his wrist into a wall. "You can hide in the bathroom, and listen for when we get back." He smashed the last one.
"You're brilliant." He said, beaming at me.
"Hurry." I whispered back and I pulled him over to the door. I peeked out. Pitch wasn't there.
"Go, quickly, now. I'll lock this." Jack hurried off to the door I pointed at. I shut the door of the prison quietly and clicked the lock.
I took off towards the bathroom door. Jack had shut it behind him. As my fingers reached the handle I heard another door close.
"What have we here?" I heard his voice echo across the hall. I turned and pulled my robe down a far as it would go and snugged the top a little tighter.
"I- I" I stuttered. Pitch raised an eyebrow. "I thought I heard you." He took a couple steps closer, looking into my eyes intently. He looked deadly but I held firm my innocence. "You brought the dress? I was just about to get in the bath so I thought I'd check before I got in." It rolled off of my tongue before I knew what I was saying.
"Yes, here." He handed me a large bag. I was hesitant to lift my arms away from my body, which felt very exposed under his gaze. He tugged gently at one of the ties. "Shame I couldn't have delivered it a couple minutes later." He smirked. I tried a smile.
"I have to turn the water off." I said lightly, trying to redirect the conversation. "I'll see you soon," He took a step back.
"I'll be waiting." He turned and walked back towards the door across the hall.
I opened the door enough to let my body in then closed it quickly. I dumped the dress over the changing screen, then looked around for Jack. I couldn't see him, then he poked his head out from behind the screen, a smirk plastered onto his face. I sighed, relieved.
"I can't believe that worked." I whispered.
"You're absolutely amazing." He whispered back and took a step towards me wrapping his arms around me carefully. I squeezed him back, I was exhilarated. The thin robe brought our bodies much closer than they'd ever been. His hard muscles were pressed up against me, I tried to ignore the blush that crept into my cheeks. I nuzzled into his shoulder and he winced. I pulled back and realized it was his bruised shoulder.
"I'm so sorry." I took a step back. He closed the gap and wrapped his arms around me once more. My body trembled in his cool embrace. My body was heating up with embarrassment and arousal, which only made his touch feel better. "I have to take a bath, you know." I said hoping to save face before he noticed the flush climbing my chest.
"I turned the water off for you." He smirked and I melted into his arms a little more.
"Thanks." He dropped his arms reluctantly. The fabric of the robe felt very thin when we were this close and my knees felt a little weak as I crossed the bathroom to the grand copper tub. I felt the water. It was warm not hot. It felt nice. "Did you?" I asked, glancing at Jack. He looked embarrassed.
"Uh, yeah." He stuttered. Then he began to pull the screen in front of the bath.
"Oh, good idea." I said, astonished I hadn't thought of it. He set the chair on the other side of the screen, facing away. There was a mirror directly across from the screen though so it hardly made a difference. I ducked behind the screen.
I stood there for a long moment, I didn't want to shed the last article of clothing I had. Finally I mustered up the courage and undid the sash. I pulled it off and threw it over the screen. The tension must have been palpable in the room. Jack made no sound as I got into the tub. The silence was making me uncomfortable.
"So…" I started, not sure where I was going with it. "How come you flew off?" I finished. I scrubbed my body with the floral scented soap. I quite like the smell of it. I kept my legs clamped tightly shut, I felt terribly exposed, despite the precautions. The water felt nice though. Jack said nothing for a while then he sighed.