I closed the door carefully, hiding him. I turned to face Pitch. I felt unsteady.
I can't do this.
I have to do this.
I separated everything I needed to do. Then I completed them, like crossing things out on a To Do List.
Relax shoulders.
Take a deep breath.
"Ready?" Pitch asked, appraising my body in the dress he chose. I could tell he liked it. He looked proud and held out his arm for me to take.
I nodded. He wore long dress robes, dark yet alluring. Unlike his facial features which made my stomach squirm in fear, wanting to get away from him. It took all my power to slip my arm through his instead of running back to the bathroom where Jack waited.
I wanted to run back into Jack's strong arms and pleasantly cool touch. I wanted to go back to the seconds our lips touched and my blood burned red-hot. I wanted my heart pounding wildly in my ears trying to force the molten fluid into every inch of my slim frame. I wanted to press against Jack, the cold relief to the throbbing heat pulsing through my body.
I snapped back to the present. My heart beat rapidly now, but out of fear. Something about Pitches eyes had that effect. The yellow orbs watched you like a predator, waiting for the opportune moment to devour you. It was unsettling.
I felt that shiver, like a cloud rolling in and blotting out the sun. We were back in the palace. The balcony looked out over the valley. I couldn't see Arendelle from here, just the sun hovering over the tops of the mountains. The baby blue sky was streaked with blush-like pinks and deep purples.
I let go of Pitch's arm, careful not to seem too eager. It felt good to take that half step away. I liked the distance from him. My mind was working a mile a minute. I went back to the check list.
Get the staff.
I didn't know where it was though. I was terrified that Pitch would take a knee any second.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked. Perhaps I could postpone the inevitable a little longer.
"Yes." He replied gazing at me, unabashed. I stood a little straighter, I put one hand out and ran it along the rail. Frost sprung up beneath my fingers.
"Nerves." I tried to explain.
"You made this palace, didn't you?" He asked, turning and appraising my handiwork.
"Yes," I replied, glancing up at the towers of ice. "You made your home as well." He looked at me as if he was surprised I had figured that out.
"I did." He agreed, pensively. "I'm sure Jack mentioned the engagement is not binding. It is merely a cultural practice. The marriage, on the other hand, is. If we wed we share immortality." He paused. I gazed at the setting sun waiting for him to continue. "The only way you could die would be by my own hand, and the act would kill me. And vice versa of course."
"Till death do us part." I murmured absentmindedly.
"Indeed." He agreed. "Two nights from now…" He let the sentence drift off. I glanced through the glass door of the balcony into my room. I could see the shaft peeking out from behind the chair. Pretending to look out at the mountains, I tried to encase it in ice within the floor.
Pitch returned his attention to me. I couldn't check to see if it had worked. Pitch took my left hand in his. My skin prickled at his touch.
I snuck a look at the staff. It was partially visible, half submerged. I mentally kicked myself and tried again while Pitch pulled the small box out of his pocket.
My heart was thumping in my chest uncomfortably and my stomach felt like it was filled with rocks.
Stop.
Everything. I wanted everything to stop.
I pulled it through the floor while Pitch got on one knee. The ice was clouded but I could see it moving. I inched it slowly, very slowly, while I gazed into Pitch's evil yellow eyes. He looked sincere, as sincere as I had ever seen him.
"Elsa, Queen of Arendelle," The sun peeked out from between two spiked peaks. It cast oranges, pinks, and purples out into the deepening blue like streamers. In the creeping shadows I moved the staff closer. It was almost within reach. "Will you marry me?" It felt like time stopped for a split second where my mind screamed 'NO' and jumping from the balcony seemed a preferable alternative.
"Yes." I felt my throat constrict. I wanted to take it back. I knew it wasn't binding. I knew I would rescue Jack and we'd escape but it hurt to say. It felt like a betrayal. Everything was wrong in that moment. He slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly. I felt faint. The black stone was like one more eye, watching me, willing me to reveal my true feelings, to finally drop the act.
Pitch stood up from his knee, one hand came up and his long fingers traced over my cheek. The other hand wrapped around my waist, shocked I stood there. I didn't understand what was happening until his lips met mine.
My eyes closed and a shiver ran up my spine. His fingers wove themselves into my hair. He took advantage of the shiver, masterfully pressing the advantage. My arms hung limp at my sides and I felt him pressing closer, taking what he wanted.
I pulled back a little and he let go. I took a shaky breath and stared at the ground, at the staff. I felt sick to my stomach. I breathed heavily, maybe that would be enough for Pitch, I couldn't smile.
Finally he offered his arm. I took it, it was repulsive. As I felt the shadow descended to take us back. I righted the staff with a crash of ice breaking, my hand grasped it like my life line. I felt Pitch hesitate in the darkness, confused by the sound but he pushed on, taking us back to his lair rapidly. The speed was dizzying.
We landed on hard stone and I moved away as quickly as I could. Pitch grabbed my arm though and wrenched me closer.
"Let go." Jack commanded from behind me and my fingers sprung open. The staff zipped out of my grasp and Pitch pulled me into him bringing a sharp metallic edge to my throat. I swallowed and felt the blade press into the flesh. His arm was wrapped around me, pressing my back to his body. My pulse raced and my eyes darted around searching for Jack.
"It's not a dream this time, Jack. This is very real." The knife pressed into my throat, I took quick shallow breaths trying to edge my throat away from it.
"Jack." I gasped. Pitch snarled at me and I closed my mouth. His arm was crushing my lungs and it felt like I couldn't get enough air. Pitch wrenched me around, keeping me in front of him and we faced Jack.
He held his staff in his hands, pointed at Pitch. A light wind picked up around his feet. It wound up his body. His clothes pressed tight against his taut muscles, and his white hair twisted in the breeze. I watched the bruise, which peeked out from his collar, shrink and his eyes looked colder than I'd ever seen them.
"I should have known." Pitch cursed himself. He ran the blade across my cheek, drawing a thin line that stung my skin. I squeezed my eyes shut and whimpered involuntarily. Jack made an animalistic sound in his throat. "You helped him, didn't you?" He snarled in my ear. The knife danced at my throat.
"Stop." Jack said in a forced calm.
"You think you're so clever, girl? I can feel you shaking." He pressed into me. All I could feel was his hard muscles behind me and the knife at my throat. "I can taste your fear." He hissed in my ear.
I couldn't stop the trembling but with my hands at my sides I could use my own powers. I made a shard of ice in my hand.
I don't want to die, not yet.
"Stop, Pitch!" Jack yelled across the room. He looked too afraid to move. Anything could set Pitch off. I looked into Jacks eyes then glanced down at my hand. He noticed the shard.
"No, Jack. I won't. I don't think I want her anymore." Jack looked dangerous. We could both sense where this was headed. "But if I can't have her-" I stabbed into his thigh which loosened his grip on my arms I brought my hand up to cover my throat. I hardened my palm with ice. The knife struck the ice ringing out across the room and Jack pushed Pitch back with a sudden gust of wind. He pulled me towards him and I froze Pitch's feet to the ground.
Jack's arm wrapped around my waist and I made a wall between us and Pitch as we faded into the dark. The last thing I heard was the twang of the knife sticking into the wall of ice.