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(At Latvia Resort)
"Greed has asked that only Pitch go in." a young forest nymph spoke quietly to the three spirits standing at her desk.
"Why! Mitch is my friend! I should…" Jack stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he glanced up at Pitch, "Please Pitch, I have…"
"Jack stay here." Pitch held up his hand when Jack started to protest, "Jack, this situation must be handled by adults."
Jack glared at his brother, "Pitch…" he stopped when the nymph cleared her throat
"Ummm Guardian sir, Greed actually had something he wanted you to do for him." She smiled, "He said it was important."
The winter spirit sighed, "Fine."
Pitch shook his head as his brother followed the nymph grumbling, "Ten bucks says he comes in anyway."
Iris chuckled, "Then he would be just like you wouldn't he."
"That's what I am afraid of." Pitch smiled at the thought, his smile faded however when he noticed Iris's face, "Don't worry Iris, as soon as we finish talking to them I will let you know something."
"Thank you Pitch." She forced a smile, "I will go back to Patrick. Heavens know that he will try to get out of the bed the moment he wakes up."
Pitch nodded, "That he would." He waited until the woman had started back toward the infirmary where his friend was still recovering. He then continued up the stairs to where a large iron door sat at the top. Pitch took a breath and opened the door.
The air creaked with the weight of the door as the Nightmare King pushed it, the first thing that caught his eye was Greed. The spirit was sitting behind his enormous antique mahogany desk, hands clasped together on the top, his sapphire eyes fixated on the far wall. Golden eyes caught sight of Desaray sitting at the desk as well, her own eyes fixed on the same thing Greed was looking at.
Golden eyes followed their line of vision, his heart tightened as he too saw what had the two spirit's undivided attention. The Nightmare King stared at the large monitor that hung down from the ceiling. The TV took up nearly the entire wall it was in front of, however Pitch really didn't notice its size. No, what caught his attention was the image on the screen.
Mitch sat bound tightly to a chair by multiple ropes that had been wrapped around his torso and his legs. A thick cloth gag had been pulled tightly between his teeth reducing his attempts to speak too barely audible muffles. His pale green eyes were rimmed with tears as he stared into the room. "Mmpch!" the boy's eyes widened as he turned his head and he caught sight of Pitch coming into the room
Pitch's heart clenched at the fear he could sense from the boy he considered a younger sibling. "Mitch, hey it'll be ok. We'll find you"
Mitch whimpered as his gaze turned to something screen, he twisted against the tight ropes that held him securely to the chair.
"Awww that's sweet."
Pitch glared at the man now walking into the frame, he wanted nothing more than to erase the smug smile from the spirit's face as he stood next to the bound teen.
The man grinned as he placed a hand on Mitch's head, "Don't worry, Mitch is having a blast hanging here with us." He chuckled when the boy yanked away from his hand.
"We are all here as you asked Lonato." Greed's voice was calm, despite the flicker of flames that jumped from his folded hands.
Lonato glanced around "Let's see…you, Desaray, and…oh how nice I haven't had a chance to meet Patrick's little demon pet." The man smirked, "It is an honor."
"Sorry I can't say the same about you." Pitch ground out his words as he made his way over to Desaray.
A laugh escaped Lonato, he then turned his attention back to Greed, "Now my men told me you, Desaray, and someone else were there…now who is missing?" he grinned, "Oh yes, where is your dear brother Patrick? My men told me that he was there too."
Greed took a breath, "Patrick is not going to be able to join us. He is…under the weather."
A cruel sneer came to Lonato's face, "I imagine so. A bullet to the head would do that to anyone."
Greed's sapphire eyes flashed with his unspoken fury "Will you just tell me what the hell it is that you want?"
The man on screen grabbed Mitch by the hair and yanked the boy's head back, sneering at his muffled yelp. "That should be obvious."
Greed clenched his fist tighter, "Lonato, touch him again…" the spirit's words trailed off but the threat was there.
A sneer came to Lonato's face, "Or what?"
Desaray turned her head when a loud crack echoed as the man slammed his fist into Mitch's face, she winced at her brother's muffled cry.
"Bastard, I will bury you." Greed's heart clenched at the blood now running from his son's busted lip.
Lonato mistook Greed's silence for defeat, "See, I hold all the cards here." He let go of Mitch, smirking when the boy let his head fall to his chest, "Now if you don't want to watch your brat suffer I suggest you do exactly as you are told." He sneered, "You nor anyone else are to leave the casino until I say you can. And don't think I won't know."
"Done, anything else you want?" Greed's voice was calm
Pitch was impressed at the level of calmness Greed was displaying, if it were Jack on the monitor he knew that he would be damning the guy before him in any and all languages.
Lonato smirked, "Everything. Your money, your status, your empire." He glanced at Mitch, "And in exchange you can have your little murderer back."
Sapphire eyes gleamed when Mitch whimpered and hung his head, "You know I do not think that Mitch."
A laugh escaped the man, "Really? You don't blame the one who stole your precious gem from you?" Lonato smiled, "I find that hard to believe Giovanni."
"Just tell me where to bring the money." Greed grit his teeth.
Lonato smirked, "As if I'm dumb enough to allow you to come."
The sound of the iron door opening caught everyone's attention.
"Damn it Jack." Pitch growled under his breath as his younger brother walked into the room. The Nightmare King did a double take, his brother was no longer in his normal attire. A blue and white vest had replaced his hoodie, instead of his brown twine covered pants he wore cackey jeans. Golden eyes raised at the tray the winter spirit was balancing haphazardly as he made his way over to Greed.
"Ummm…you…your drink?" Jack stuttered as he went to place the tray on the desk
A loud crash sounded as the teen's quivering hands dropped the tray spilling the entire contents all over Greed.
Pitch slapped his forehead when Lonato's laugh filled the room. He could see red dusting the winter spirit's face, obviously embarrassed. He started to speak when he noticed Greed motion with his hand, a look of confusion came to his face but he remained silent.
"And who is this butterfingered spirit?" Lonato was loving the fact that the teen was scrambling to dry Greed's expensive suit with a rag.
"Pay him no attention." Greed took a breath as he motioned for Jack to hand him the rag. He glanced at the monitor, "Now, if you are not going to let me come who will…"
"Him." Lonato pointed at Jack
Jack glanced around and pointed to his chest, "Me…me?" blue eyes widened, he backed towards the door, "Ummm, I'm just a waiter…"
"Which is why you will be perfect." Lonato slapped Mitch across the face, smiling at the boy's muffled cry, "Unless you want your bosses little brat to meet an early end."
Jack glanced at Greed, he took a breath "Ok…what do I have to do?"
Lonato smirked, "Nothing for the moment. I will send instructions within the hour."
The winter spirit turned to Greed the moment the screen went black, "I wasn't sure he would buy the act."
Greed smiled, "You were perfect Jack," he frowned, "Though did you have to spill the drink on me?"
The winter spirit sweat dropped, "I am sorry, Lillian thought it would make for a convincing act."
"Spiteful woman… well she was right…" Greed waved his hand, "So I'll overlook the fact you ruined a million dollar suit."
Pitch glared at Greed, "I however, will not overlook the fact that you just planted Jack straight in the line of fire!"
"Pitch, calm down." Desaray spoke quietly, noticing the vein in the man's forehead pulsing
"I won't calm down!" the Nightmare King was on his feet, "These men are dangerous! And this asshole wants to hand deliver my brother to them!"
Greed calmly listened as Pitch continued to rant, when he stopped Greed spoke "Look, your brother agreed to help Pitch. If I could I would not have involved him but there isn't any other option."
Pitch took a breath, "Well I am not going to let him go alone."
"You are going nowhere Pitch." Greed's eyes flashed, "The instructions are clear that no one is to leave this casino."
A grin came to Pitch's face, "Who said anything about me going?"
The other spirit's watched with curiosity as the Nightmare King placed his hand to a shadow on the desk.
(Elsewhere at the casino)
Piercing jade eyes gleamed from under a large black hood as a man walked calmly down the empty casino corridor. The man was almost six feet tall, his long decorative robe dragged across the carpet as he walked. Golden snakes encircled the fabric, standing out against the velvet satin in the lights of the hall. Yet his steps made almost no noise as he made his way to a large archway that could be seen down the hall.
"Stop sir, you are not allowed in this area."
Jade eyes turned upwards at the guard posted outside the door, "Oh, I was just wanting to look at the Egyptian room for a moment."
"Sorry sir, but the exhibits are closed at the moment." An ogre guard spoke quickly as the man the man tried to walk by him into the room he was guarding.
"Really?" a low dark voice echoed from beneath the hood
The guard gulped, there was something about the man's voice that sent shivers down his spine, "Sorry, but there has been a bit of a situation…"
"Oh yes, the little child has been taken. How silly of me to forget."
"Wait, how do you know about that?" the ogre's hand went to the handle of his mace, "No one has been told…"
With a flick of his wrist the man flipped back his hood revealing a young man in late twenties. Dark red hair glinted in the light, his jade eyes filled with cruelty, "I didn't have to be told, I'm the one that set it in motion."
A flash of silver was the last thing the guard saw, a sickening squelch filled the hall then the walls were painted crimson.
The plot thickens! Please review and let me know what you thought. Till next time. (and don't worry the next chapter will be a bit more…'interesting'" ];)