Hey guys thank you for all the reviews. Sorry for the late update…I broke my foot and have been in real pain for the last two weeks. I have another two before it gets better and I can get back on it. Hoping to be able to update next weekend as well. To make up for the late one I made this chapter really long. :) enjoy.
(With Darkness)
Cold stone walls pulsed with the flickering shadows produced by four torches that were imbedded into the corners of a small cell. Streams of cold water twined across the floor seemingly from nowhere, sending a rhythmic pattern over the cool stone floor. A sense of despair permeated every inch of the cell. It was a place no soul would want to be…unfortunately for Darkness the tiny cramped space was exactly where he now found himself.
The spirit had been alone in the dim lit space for an unknown time (being as there were no windows Darkness couldn't be sure of just how much time had passed), for ever how long it had been Darkness had spent it berating himself for being deceived…
"…I can't believe that I couldn't even tell the difference between Frost's fear and a damn shifter's!" Darkness mentally kicked himself for not following his instincts and confronting the teen when he had first noticed something off with the boy.
A sigh left the shade as he stretched himself across the cell floor, Darkness shifted against the tight rope that held his arms and legs, "Not only that how in the hell did I not notice the fact Frost was without that stupid staff of his."
"Shade spirit just not that bright."
Darkness's eyes went to the cell door, he glowered at Brate who was just outside the bars, "What do you want termite brain?"
A jagged snarl came to the Spriggan's face, "How many time Brate tell shade spirit not make fun of!" the creature snatched a key that was on the side wall and opened the cell "You not learn very well."
"Can't I ever just keep my mouth shut…" Darkness cringed when the creature stormed into the cell, he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from screaming when it yanked him upwards by his hair.
"Now behave, Queen is on her way."
Darkness winced as he was forced to sit up on his knees "I can't wait." Silver eyes glowered at the open cell, "If I could just get free of these ropes…" a million ways he could escape suddenly ran through Darkness's mind.
As if Brate could hear his thoughts Darkness felt the creature's gnarled branch like fingers on his shoulder.
"Shade spirit just behave and shade spirit no have go to Dark Chamber." Brate grinned, it obvious the creature wasn't exactly trying to offer him advice…just scare him.
Darkness shook free from the creature's grip; it would take more than some stupid named room to frighten him…he had been in the Vaults for god's sake. However, Darkness was a bit curious as to what the creature was talking about.
"So what is the 'Dark' Chamber anyway?" Darkness huffed as he twisted his arms against the rope.
"Oh it is a lovely room where I teach those in my kingdom who is charge…"
Darkness instantly stiffened at the cold, velvet voice that drifted through the cell, silver eyes narrowed at the woman now standing in the entrance.
She was tall, nearly five seven, her entire frame covered by a form fitting ruby dress that drifted down to the dirty stone floor. Long raven colored hair flowed between a pair of silk black feather wings that were fanned out from her shoulders, an innocent feature that was offset by the cruel smile that was on her face.
"Would you like a few lessons?" The woman chuckled at her own joke, she sighed when the shade just glared at her, "Oh do lighten up I am only kidding. I wouldn't waste my time training such a common spirit as yourself… You are here simply to make Toothiana cooperate.
Darkness raised an eyebrow, "How am I going to make Tooth cooperate?"
Jade eyes rolled in annoyance, "Come now, don't play dumb. My pixies saw you with her in the Hocia Forest on the day of the Matriarch meeting." She continued when a look of confusion came to the spirit's face, "Granted I never got to speak with you at the actual meeting since I was…engaged…in matriarch matters with the other Fairy leaders."
"I don't really remember that…." Darkness shrugged, the shade truly not having any memory of what the woman was talking about "Nor do I have any idea who you are…"
A flicker of emotion crossed the woman's face, "Toothiana…never mentioned me?"
Darkness grinned, he could have some fun with this "Oh yeah, Tooth mentioned all the other leaders…just about every day in fact." he shot her a smirk, "However she never mentioned you, guess Tooth didn't deem you all that important." Darkness grinned when a look of anger came to the woman's face, "Oh…did that hit a nerve?"
"Not at all." Instantly the woman composed herself, "However, this might." Thin pale fingers snapped together, the sound echoing in the cell.
A scream tore from Darkness when Brate's gnarled branchlike fingers suddenly jabbed into his shoulder. He screamed again when the creature retracted them, leaving five holes behind
"Bitch…" Darkness' hissed through clenched teeth as blood oozed from the punctures.
The woman however didn't seem to hear him as she simply twirled a strand of her hair, a look of contemplation now on her face "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Toothiana would keep you in the dark and not inform you of my existence. Most likely in fear that you would leave her for a 'proper' Fairy Queen."
"And who might that be?" Darkness's head snapped to the side when at his comment he was rewarded with a hand across his face.
The woman stepped back, checking her hand that had just struck the spirit "I do so hope that will be the last smart comment you make…I would hate to break a nail."
"That would be a shame." Darkness growled in his throat
A sneer came to her face, "I will choose to ignore that…" she flicked her hair, "Now since the little half breed never informed you of my magnificence I will." An air of self-importance radiated from her as the woman's wings fanned outwards, "I am Neela the Queen of Dark Fairies, rightful ruler of the Fairy Realm."
"Oh that clears things up so much better." Darkness rolled his eyes, "You're some two-bit fairy that's jealous of Tooth." The shade shifted slightly, the pressure of being on his knees coupled with the pain from his now bleeding shoulder getting to him.
Neela's eyes narrowed into slits, "Watch it spirit…the only reason I have not killed you is because I need you as my hostage."
Darkness winced when Neela lunged forward grabbing his hair and snatching his head upwards.
"However if you irritate me too much shade I have no problem sending you back to Toothiana in pieces."
"Again, I reiterate my earlier statement." Darkness glowered at the woman now forcing him to look up at her, "Why would Tooth care?" Darkness head fell slightly when Neela let go of his hair.
Neela stepped back, her jade eyes scrutinizing "You are her consort…so of course she will…"
Darkness couldn't help himself, the shade tossed his head back and began laughing "Oh you poor poor fool…you really think that Tooth and I…" Darkness couldn't finish his sentence, due to him doubling over in mirth.
"Silence!"
"Oh…I do…apologize…" Darkness could hardly speak due to the spirit now trying to catch his breath after his laughing fit, "It's…just that…for you to assume that Tooth and I are…" the shade couldn't even finish his sentence.
"So if you are not her consort… Neela ground her teeth, the dark fairy not liking this new turn of events in the slightest, "Then just who are you?"
"I'm nobody." Dark grinned, the spirit loving the ever growing look of anger that was spreading across the dark fairy's face, "In fact, I'd be surprised if anyone will even miss me."
Neela inhaled sharply, as if she were about to explode then just as quick her face instantly composed, "Oh well…if I can't obtain the crown by using you. Then I will just have to use the other one…"
Darkness stiffened at her statement, "What do you mean?"
The dark queen waved her hand in the air, "Oh I just had my slaves also target that winterling that was with you." Neela sneered, "I figured he'd fetch a good price on the slave circuit…but instead I guess I'll just have to use him as collateral to get Toothiana to hand over her title."
"What have you done with Frost!" Silver eyes gleamed with renewed hatred, "Where is he!" Darkness lunged forward, only to be yanked back by the Spriggan he had forgotten was behind him.
Neela simply clicked her tongue, "Well he 'should' have been brought here the same time as you…" the fairy darted her eyes to the Spriggan, "Is there a reason the brat's not here Brate?"
Darkness felt the creature shiver slightly
"Brate only brought shade spirit my Queen." The poor Spriggan was now sweating, "Told fake ones to bring winterling."
"You left that prized spirit to those two idiots!"
Darkness could feel the fear now pouring from the Spriggan at the fairy's shriek, the shade almost felt sorry for him…almost.
"Please Queen, let Brate go back…Brate will bring winterling…"
Frantic footsteps echoing in the hall interrupted the creature
"Will you stop wriggling so much!"
"Frost?" Darkness strained against his bindings when the winter spirit's voice echoed in the air.
"Come on Paro…he's got to be uncomfortable in there."
Darkness raised an eyebrow, that voice belonged to Sam …. However, the fear that always flowed from the shy teen was absent. The shade instantly knew that the two newcomers must be the shifters that Neela had sent.
At that revelation, Darkness reacted with nothing but hate filled glares when both Jack and Sam appeared in the entrance of the cell.
"Queen Neela!" both teen's squeaked in unison when they caught sight of the fairy queen.
The queen narrowed her eyes, "Why are you still standing?"
Both teens eyes widened in fear, they instantly dropped the large duffle bag they had been struggling with.
Darkness inhaled sharply at the amount of sheer terror that hit him as boy's went down to their knees so fast the cell echoed with the sound of their knees cracking against the stone floor.
"We…we…are so sorry! We didn't know you…would be here."
Darkness frowned when 'Sam' spoke, the shade could feel sheer terror inside the boy's voice. Though he knew the boy wasn't really Sam, Darkness couldn't help the tinge of sympathy that pricked his heart at the poor child's fear.
Neela however wasn't at all concerned about the teen's feelings, "What do you have there Paro?" she motioned with her hand for the boy to hand over the staff he held tightly.
Darkness was a bit confused when the boy hesitated, blue eyes glancing at the staff that still had bits of ice coating the worn bark. The shade's heart pricked with the sudden thought that maybe…just maybe the boy wasn't the fake Jack and somehow the winter spirit had managed to escape the shifters clutches and had snuck into the realm under ruse.
"It…it's the winter spirit's staff." The boy's voice was low, as if in reverence
"Well hand it to me." Neela frowned when instead of doing as she asked the teen's grip on the relic tightened, "I will not ask you again! Hand it to me!"
The boy's eyes closed as if in defeat, "Yes my Queen…I apologize…" he winced slightly as he held the staff to her, "Please be careful with it…the staff is very imp…"
"Why have you not returned to your true forms?" Neela's sharp voice cut the boy off as she snatched the staff from his outstretched hand, "You both know the rules, you are to never be in a mimesis form in my presence."
"Please…please can we just wait a bit longer?" the spirit that looked like Sam whimpered as the fairy queen scrutinized the relic
Neela's face filled with rage, "Are you disobeying a direct order from me Dist!" the fairy's wings extended outwards, "Has that little bout of freedom corrupted your training? Do I need to send you 'back' to your cell for a few months to relearn your lessons?"
The boy cowed down when Neela raised the staff as if to strike him
"Stop please!"
Darkness watched the teen that looked like Jack lift his head quickly, the shade felt as well as saw the fear in the boy's blue eyes. "These poor teens are no stranger too physical reprimands." Darkness felt his anger towards the two spirit's dissipate a bit more.
"Please my Queen, Dist means no disrespect…" Paro sputtered slightly when Neela's attention jerked to him "My brother is just tired…it is painful to change and Dist had two transformations today. First into the shade and then into his current form."
"Do I look like I care Paro!" Neela's cruel voice filled the air, "Now change this instant…both of you!"
Darkness watched both boy's lower their heads quickly
"Yes…my Queen." The teen's again spoke in unison
The shade shook his head at the sheer tone of despair in their voice, Darkness flinched in sympathy when both let out a whimper as their skin seemed to ripple. Silver eyes watched in amazement (and slight horror) as the teen's bodies began to contort and change.
The teen's backs arced upwards a sickening sound of bones popping and cracking joined the teen's whimpers of pain.
Darkness averted his eyes when wails of agony filled the air when a loud ripping sounded, the noise resembling paper being shredded. After a moment he chanced a glance back at the two, silver eyes widened at the true forms of the boy's.
The two spirit's that had replaced Jack and Sam looked to be about fifteen, with short cropped teal hair. Both teen's eyes were a sharp pink, reminding Darkness of a lowering sun in the afternoon. The shade's own eyes scanned over the tiny spikes that jutted along both of their arms from the bend of the elbow to their shoulders.
"They could almost be the same spirit…." Darkness mused at how both teens seemed to be in sync down to their breathing (which was rapid due to the pain the poor boy's had just been through) "However…there are a few things…"
Silver eyes scrutinized the teens features that made them different than the other.
The one that had been addressed as Paro held a slight gold color tone to his skin, two small wings that looked to made of thousands upon thousands of light purple feathers drooped down from the boy's bleeding back (the shade winced, knowing full well that was what had caused the ripping sound he had heard moments ago). It was obvious that he was the bolder of the two…if the gleaming emotion Darkness could see in the boy's multi colored eyes was any indication.
However, in contrast the other teen known as Dist, whose skin was slight paler and wings were snow white, was obviously more meek… the child was shaking and trembling so bad the stone beneath him clattered (and from the boy's fear washing over him, Darkness could tell the action wasn't from the pain of the transformation)
"There, much better." Neela's smug voice filled the air, the dark fairy not at all concerned by the horrid agony the two boys had just went through.
Darkness bit his lip when the woman callously dropped Jack's staff to the cell floor, the shade however didn't dare speak about just how important the relic was…it would only add to the things the cruel woman could use to torture the teen with. He flinched when Neela used her foot to kick it to the other side of the cell, the fairy deciding it wasn't of any value (much to his relief)
"Now before I send you back to your chamber…"
Darkness watched the teen's flinch when the dark queen fixed them with a stare
"…did you get the spirit I asked for?" jade eyes narrowed dangerously, "Because if you failed…"
"Yes my Queen!" Paro spoke quickly, the boy's wings bobbed as he struggled to his feet "We have the spirit you requested us to obtain." The spirit hurried to the large leather duffle that had been forgotten at the entrance the cell, "He is in here."
Darkness ground his teeth as the boy pulled the now wriggling satchel into the cell, praying to the gods it wasn't who he thought that was in there.
However, his prayers went unanswered when the bag was unzipped, and Jack's head popped up slightly.
The poor winter spirit looked like he had been in quite the scuffle, his hair messy and wet with sweat. Blue eyes blinked in confusion as Jack glanced around the cell, they widened when they met Darkness's "Darkness!"
"Let him go you hag!" Darkness glowered at Neela who was grinning at the poor winter spirit as if he were a prize she had won.
Neela ignored him, "Idoits get him out of that sack…" she smirked, "I want have a look at him."
Darkness watched, fuming with anger, as the two teens struggled to pull the winter spirit from the bag. "Careful you morons!" the shade cursed them when the boy's dropped the winter spirit to the cell floor with a loud thud, eliciting a cry from the teen. Darkness frowned when Jack didn't move, "Oh gods…is he hurt?" the spirit scanned Jack trying to find any injury. However, the only thing he could find was that the ropes were pulled a bit too tight around the teen's wrists and ankles the chords cutting into Jack's pale skin.
"Oh good you managed to restrain him nicely."
Darkness's attention was brought from Jack by Neela's cruel voice
"The ropes are nice and taunt."
Jack glared when Neela stepped to him, "Just who are you?"
Neela huffed, "Don't tell me that you don't know of me either…"
"Sorry."
Darkness cringed when Jack smirked slightly, the shade knowing he too was about to spout off some snide comment (gods he and Jack were more alike than he liked to admit)
"But I don't care to know about trash."
A cry left Jack when Neela used her foot to kick him onto his back, the teen grit his teeth when the woman's foot came hard down onto his chest.
"Watch it 'boy' I have no problem using a 'maimed' hostage." Neela lifted and brought her foot down with all her strength onto his chest.
Jack cried out, several pops occupied the action
"Leave him alone!" Darkness had to be yanked back by Brate, the shade now trying to get at the cruel queen that had almost broke the boy's ribs.
"Now you just wait here..." Neela ignored the shade as she chuckled at the winter spirit glowering up at her, "I have things I must attend to." The fairy stopped taunting the teen and turned her attention back to Paro and Dist, "Now while I go send a message to Toothiana I want the two of you to go inform Tylen that I have a shade he needs to pick up for the slave circuit…"
"Wait, you said if we brought these spirits to you then…." Paro's fist clenched slightly, "You would give us and our sister our freedom!"
Darkness watched Neela smile (an action that he had seen Morana do oh so many times before), the shade knew instantly that these poor misguided boys were about to get a lesson about the real world.
"Oh silly of me to forget..." Neela nudged Jack hard with her foot, she smirked when a curse left the boy, "In that case go to your chambers, in a moment I will come get you and you will receive what is coming to you."
Darkness watched the two boy's leave, both with looks of relief on their face. The shade genuinely felt sorry for them, since he knew Neela was planning on anything but giving them their freedom. He jumped when a snap filled the air.
"Brate come with me. Once I finish with these two…I need to make preparations to contact Toothiana about the winterling."
Silver eyes filled with anger when the dark queen stepped over Jack as if the boy were nothing.
"No be angry shade."
Darkness startled when the Spriggan shoved him forward, the spirit's body shook as he fell hard to the cell floor.
"You have company now."
Darkness waited until the cell door shut, and the two were out of sight before he let out a sigh. "Jack are you ok?" he glanced at the winter spirit. To his surprise there wasn't any fear at all in the boy's face, in fact the boy seemed downright smug.
"For a guy that's been kidnapped..." Jack grinned as he twisted himself so that he was laying on his stomach, "I have never been better."
"Frost I know you're trying to lighten the mood, but we're in a real bind here." Darkness grumbled as he let himself stretch out, "Sam is somewhere in this damn dungeon…probably scared out of his mind…and not a soul knows that we've been captured." A sigh left the shade, "So we can't exactly count on that overprotective nut of a brother you have coming to our rescue."
Frantic shuffling brought his attention to Jack, the boy was moving his wrists against the tight rope that bound them
Darkness exhaled, "Frost just give it a res…" he stopped mid-word when the ropes that had been holding the teen suddenly snapped in two, "What the hell!"
Jack quickly shook the ropes free from his hands, then sat up, "Who needs Pitch…" the boy flashed a grin "I got this covered."
"How…" Darkness just stared, trying to comprehend what just happened
"Release spell…." Jack pulled the small knife Sandy had gifted him from his hoodie pocket, "Had it set to activate when I struggled against the ropes…I was worried when that stupid woman kicked me it would activate." He smirked as the silver blade sliced through the rope binding his ankles easily, "Thankfully it didn't though."
Darkness watched as Jack got to his feet
"Oh gods it feels good to be free of those stupid ropes!" the teen grunted as he stretched his arms in the air
"But how…" Darkness ignored the boy's comment, the shade still trying to wrap his head around what was happening "Wouldn't the shifters have…"
"Changelings." Jack interrupted the spirit as he finished his stretching and started over to the shade
"Frost I don't care if they were shifters, changelings, or damn pixies!" Darkness ground his teeth as Jack knelt beside him, "I want to know what in the world is going on!" the shade winced slightly as the teen began sawing the rope that had was around his arms.
Jack grinned as he worked too free the shade, "Well it all started when I followed Sam to this exit tunnel to save you…and I kind of met myself…"
(Flashback Pov)
Writhing rhythms of drums and guitar rippled in the air, muffled words of the girl pouring her heart out barely audible in the small corridor that served as an exit from the stadium. However, for the winter spirit currently within the hall, he wasn't really interested in the concert anymore. He was focused on not being hit ironically…by himself.
"Just who are you!" Jack bent backward, the teen feeling the breeze from the fist that passed just inches from his nose
"Why can't you just hold still!" the second winter spirit growled, frustrated by the fact he couldn't seem to hit the teen.
Jack glowered at himself as he stepped back, "Hmmm I don't know…maybe it's because we're in a fight!" the teen spun sideways just avoiding Sam, the shy teen having launched himself forward in an attempt to tackle the winter spirit, "Which has been very weird mind…fighting myself and all."
The imposter teen smirked, "Kind of rattles the nerves doesn't it."
"Not really." Jack shrugged, the teen noticing in the corner of his eye Sam positioning behind him, "It just gives me a chance to see my awesome self without having a mirror." the teen turned suddenly and grabbed the spirit that had 'snuck' up behind him by the wrists.
Sam yelped when his 'sneak' attack was foiled, a cry left the boy as Jack flipped him over onto his back. A whimper filled the air as the winter spirit placed a foot on the boy's chest.
"However…you need to change faces." Jack glowered at the boy under his foot, "I don't appreciate having to fight my friend…even if you're just a fake."
Sam whimpered as he tried to struggle free, "Pl…please don't make me…"
Jack glowered at the boy, "I'm going to tell you again, change from Sam this instant!"
"Leave Dist alone!"
Jack danced sideways, just avoiding the rocketing punch that had been aimed at his face. The winter spirit pivoted on his heel, Jack placing his own fist into the fray.
A loud crack told Jack that he had been successful
"Sheesh you guys suck at this whole 'kidnaping' thing." Jack grinned at himself, who was now on hands and knees wiping blood from his nose, "Whoever you're working for should have given you more lessons."
"Oh Neela gave us plenty of 'lessons'…" blue eyes now rippling with green glared daggers at the winter teen, "Broken bones…" he wiped his nose, staring at the crimson on the back of his hand, "Bloody noses…weeks without nourishment…"
Jack felt his heart clench at the boy's words
The imposter continued, "Neela taught us well."
Jack flinched slightly when the boy turned now bright amber eyes on him
"And she made sure to let us know before we came that if we failed in obtaining you or the other one that we could look forward too many more 'lessons'."
"Look if you're in some kind of trouble I can help you." Jack pointed to the boy he now knew as Dist, who was shaking on the floor, "Both of you."
Amber eyes shifted to a bright yellow, "You're lying…"
Jack shook his head, "I swear dude, I'm not." He offered the boy a smile, "Just tell me what's going on and I promise I'll help." He motioned to Sam, "You and you're brother."
"I…" the boy glanced at Dist, then shook his head, "I can't chance it! I can't chance our freedom!" The teen suddenly lunged forward, his fist flying at Jack's face.
Jack had barely enough time to jump backward and avoid the boy's fist, the winter spirit danced to the side crouching as he faced the boy now helping the other to his feet, "Please, just talk to me!"
"Paro…maybe he can help us." Dist spoke quietly as his brother checked him over
The boy Jack now knew as Paro however shook his head
"No, Neela ordered us to bring him back to her…, If we don't then she'll kill Chicane!"" bright jade eyes shifted back to bright blue as the boy turned again to Jack, "Not to mention she won't give us our freedom."
Jack frowned at that, "Hey I don't know who you talking about but I can assure you from my experience that unless you got an oath then whoever it is most likely won't keep up their end of the deal." He continued when both boy's blinked at that, "I take it you didn't get them to make one huh?"
"It…it doesn't matter!" Paro screamed, the boy's fist shaking beside him, "Neela 'will' keep her word, she 'will' give us back our sister…"
Jack sighed at how the boy punctuated each word
"And she'll give us our freedom…" Paro looked up suddenly, white hair moving with the motion, "We just have to bring you back to her!"
Jack startled when the boy charged forward, out of instinct the teen brought his staff upwards.
A loud booming sound echoed in the small tunnel, ice instantly covering the walls and floors
Paro cried out when a wave of ice washed over him
The corridor echoed with a loud crack as the teen slammed into the back of the hall
"Brother!"
Jack flinched when Dist rushed to Paro who was slumped against the stone, out cold "Crap…didn't mean for that to happen."
"Please…please don't kill him…"
Jack was brought from his thought by the fear filled voice, his heart broke when he glanced at Dist the boy was cradling his unconscious siblings head to his chest.
"We'll leave you alone I swear."
"Look just tell me what is going on." Jack offered the boy a smile, "Please I truly want to help."
A look of hope came to the boy's face, "You…you mean it?"
Jack nodded, he sat cross-legged on the ground "I do." He laid his staff beside him, holding his hands upwards showing the boy he no longer held the weapon.
Dist pursed his lips, then he too sat on the cold hall floor "O…ok."
"Now how about we start with just what you guys are." Jack watched as the boy repositioned his brother's head in his lap, "Are you shifters?"
Dist shook his head, "No we're a race known as Changelings." He puffed out his chest, "When we take on an appearance it is complete, not like a shifter who only change their outside look. We Changelings change everything from the outside to the inside, even our bodies auras changes to meet that of those we change to."
Jack whistled at that, "Dang…no wonder I couldn't tell the difference." He glanced at Paro, "Soooo was it you or Paro that lured Sam away?"
"That…that was me. Please don't be mad!" The boy whimpered slightly, "Paro was busy helping Brate obtain the other one…and I couldn't handle both of you at the same time." He ducked his head, "I had to separate the two of you."
"Wait…other one?" Jack frowned, "Do you mean Darkness?"
Dist nodded slowly, "Yes..." he whimpered when anger flashed in the teen's eyes, "Please, Neela said she'd kill our sister if we didn't bring the shade to her…and she offered us our freedom if we brought you back too."
Jack watched tears run from the boy's now brown eyes, "Hey...don't cry."
"I…I'm sorry." The boy sniffed as he wiped his eyes, "It's just that…this was our chance to be free."
"What do you mean?" Jack cocked his head at the fear he could see dart into Dist's eyes
"In the Fairy Realm where we are from, we are slaves of the dark fairy queen Neela." The boy shook, "We are forced to serve her, both in the castle and in her schemes." Dist closed his eyes, "Neela came up with this one a few months ago…"
Jack listened as the boy told him about Neela's plan to kidnap them and use Darkness as bait for Tooth (why that would work was beyond Jack).
"We didn't want to do it…"
Jack was brought from his thought by the boy's sob
"Paro flat out refused…which earned him a broken arm." Dist whimpered as he glanced down at his brother, "After that Neela locked our sister Chicane away and told us if we didn't then she'd kill her!"
As Jack listened he couldn't help but feel bad for the two boys, on the one hand he knew he should be furious for these two spirits to have kidnapped Sam and Darkness…yet on the other hand now that he had was hearing their side of the story Jack knew that he couldn't be.
"...and then Neela added that if we succeeded in bringing you too she'd give us our freedom!" Dist lowered his head, "So we had to do it."
"Well don't worry ok." Jack grinned, "I'll save your sister and help all of you escape from this 'Neela' character."
"Just how are…you going to do that?"
Jack glanced at Paro who had just woken, "I have a plan…but first I need to be taken to my friends."
Paro winced as he sat up, the boy's hand going to his head "Most likely Brate dragged him to the dungeons."
"Then that's the first place we go." Jack smirked, "Now did you guys bring any ropes?"
Dist raised an eyebrow, "Ummm…yes."
Jack nodded, "Good now here's the plan…"
(End of flashback)
"I placed the spell on the ropes, had them tie me up and place me in the satchel." Jack grinned as the last rope that had been restraining Darkness snapped, "I figured it was the best way to sneak in…since if we got stopped by anyone they'd just think Paro and Dist had succeeded in capturing me.
Darkness grunted as he sat up, "Great plan Frost…now let's go find Sam and get the hell out of here."
Jack shook his head as he got to his feet, "Sorry Darkness…but I promised Paro and Dist that I'd help them. So I can't leave."
Silver eyes gleamed as Darkness watched the teen go to the cell bars, "Frost this isn't a game! Neela is a cruel soul and…."
"And that is why I have to keep my promise." Jack placed a hand to the key hole, "These Changelings are being tormented here Darkness."
"Curse your soft heart Frost." Darkness crossed his arms
Jack smirked as he concentrated on his power, "I know, it's a burden."
Darkness raised an eyebrow, a bit impressed, when ice spread from the teen's palm and seeped into the lock. "Is that something Pitch taught you?" the shade grinned when the lock exploded and the door swung open.
"Nope, that's something I learned on my own." Jack grinned as the two of them stepped into the corridor, "Now come on let's go find Sam and the Changelings so you can take Pitch out to that dinner."
"Wait…" Darkness paused, "What?"
Jack smirked as he kept walking, "Oh did Ruin not return that one?" the teen chuckled when the look of confusion remained on the shade's face, "We bet that the next one of us rescued by the other had to take Pitch out to dinner…and you added the delicious part about having to say I love you to him."
Darkness groaned as they continued deeper into the dungeon, "Oh gods…is it too late to go back to the cell and rot?"
Please review and let me know what you guys thought. I love hearing from you and seeing how you are liking the story. Again sorry for the late update, if my foot isn't too bad I'll have the next one up next weekend ;) Till next time.
