Hey guys sorry for the late update…things on my end have been crazy! Not going into too much detail but one thing I really need from yall is prayers and good thoughts. Most of my family have tested positive for Covid in the last two days and some of them are really sick. We are afraid my grandmother may have been exposed too so there's that fear as well. Not sure if I'll get to update at the end of the month so I made this chapter a bit longer. Enjoy :)

(With Pitch)

Blackness surrounded the Nightmare King, however he wasn't concerned, since he managed to escape into the shadows that would lead him back to Burgess.

What did concern him was the feeling of hands pulling him forward.

Pitch wasn't about to play a pointless game of tug of war, so instead he had stopped fighting against the pull, forming his scythe as he was yanked forwards.

"Try and take me Terror!" Pitch's baritone voice rang in the cold air as he erupted from the shadows. Pitch didn't bother to size up his situation, instead the Nightmare King swung his scythe with every ounce of strength he had.

"Pitch!"

At the shout Pitch's muscles froze, his scythe quivered in midair as the shade's arms shook with the force he had to use to stop the forward momentum of his attack.

Golden eyes widened in shock as Pitch realized two things: One he was no longer within the Between and instead was on a sidewalk in Burgess, and two, his blade was now against his youngest brother's neck.

"Oh gods! Jamie!" Pitch let go of the handle, the scythe dissipating into tiny wisps as he instantly went to his knees and gathered Jamie close to him "I am so sorry!" the shade's chest tightened at the line of crimson now flowing down the boy's neck from where the edge of the blade had made contact.

"I'm fine Pitch." Jamie grinned, trying to help calm his brother, "It's just a scratch."

"I almost…" Pitch's voice was full of agony as he gently traced the crescent shaped wound, "I could have killed you!"

"But you didn't." Jamie spoke quickly as he moved away from the distraught spirit, "You stopped just in time."

Pitch's eyes filled with fear, "But what if I hadn't…"

"Then I'd have to go as the headless horseman next Halloween." Jamie stopped when a look of distress came over the shade's face, "Pitch, come on its ok."

"No. It's not." Pitch growled as he placed his palm against the thin cut "I should have assessed where I was before attacking."

"You were really worked up when we pulled you out." Jamie flinched slightly as rough sand spread over his skin, "What was going on?"

"I was being cha…" Pitch stopped mid word, something Jamie having said coming to the forefront, "Wait, what do you mean by 'we'?"

It was then that Pitch was suddenly aware of the fear radiating just a few feet away, he turned slowly eyes focusing on the gaping group of children staring at him. He wasn't surprised by their fear of him since each one had been present during his fight against the Guardians "Jamie…maybe I should leave. We can discuss this at ho…"

"Not a chance."

Pitch sweat dropped when the girl (Cupcake, he believed was her name) stormed over to him.

She crossed her arms, glaring, "We helped Jamie pull you out of the shadows too."

Pitch was caught off guard by the girl's boldness

"So, you can't leave us in the dark." Cupcake pointed to his foot, "We want to know why there's a skeleton arm attached to your ankle."

Pitch absently kicked the appendage away, now he knew why he hadn't recognized the fact that Jamie and the others had also grabbed him. His focus had been on the malevolent intent of the skeleton that had been dragged into the shadows with him. A slight smirk came to the shade's face, the poor creature must have been pulled apart by the other's grabbing hold of it in hopes of dragging him back into the Between.

"Yeah!" Caleb nodded, "We want to hear why Jamie went all crazy."

He was pulled from his thoughts by the boy's shout.

"Me too!" Claude spoke up quickly, backing his twin, "Jamie was all like 'Ahhh I gotta save him!' then he ran off like a ma…"

Pitch glanced at Jamie ignoring the boy's rambling, "What are they going on about?"

"Well, you see…I kind of…" Jamie rubbed the back of his neck, "had this overwhelming urge to save you."

Golden eyes raised; Pitch could tell that Jamie was hiding something however before the spirit could ask what though Cupcake snorted.

"Urge? That's putting it nicely." Cupcake grinned, "Jamie literally dropped everything in his hands and ran like a mad man to this street." She smirked, "I thought he'd lost his mind."

"That is until we saw him reach into the bench's shadow and pull your hand out." Piper spoke up in Jamie's defense.

"Yeah, but Jamie wasn't strong enough," Caleb interrupted, wanting to add to the tale,

"and almost got pulled in after you."

"But we grabbed Jamie before that happened." Monty's voice was low as he moved his foot around the sidewalk, the boy obviously shy about speaking.

"That's right." Cupcake beamed with pride as she made a show of her muscles, "If it wasn't for us Jamie'd been yanked into the shadows."

Pitch was impressed, and grateful, that his brother's friends had come to his aide "I must say children that was quite the feat you all did." He smiled slightly when at his words the children's fear started to lessen, "If not for you, both me and Jamie most likely would have been killed."

Jamie's eyes widened, "Killed? By skeletons?"

Pitch raised an eyebrow, there was something off about the way his brother had asked the question. It was more like he was trying to confirm something rather than figure it out.

However, he would address the truth with Jamie once they returned to the house.

"I'll tell you." Pitch rose to his feet, smirking slightly at the prick of fear that edged back into the kids before him now that he was at full height, "But I will speak as we walk. I need to get back to the house to retrieve Jack."

"Oh, Jack's not at the house."

"What!" Pitch felt his heart drop, what trouble had the teen gotten into now "I thought I told him not to go running off!"

Jamie quickly waved his hands, "No no no, it's not like that Pitch." he grinned, "Jack just came with me to play at the park."

"Then, where is he?" Pitch crossed his arms, not at all amused if the winter spirit was hiding somewhere in ambush with a bunch of snowballs.

"Back at the park." Jamie continued when Pitch simply stared at him "He stayed behind while we came into town to get desserts."

"Yeah, we got him a lava cake."

Pitch glanced at the taller girl (Piper he recalled) who was shyly holding out a small bag, "A lava cake?" one of his rare smiles tugged at his lips, "I am sure Jack will get a kick out of eating that."

"That's what we thought too." Jamie grinned as Pitch started walking

"Ok guys can we not talk about the cake?" Claude's face was full of anticipation, "I want to know what's strong enough to try and kill the Boogieman!"

Pitch chuckled slightly at the girl's enthusiasm "Well to be honest there aren't many things out there that can since I am technically an immortal due to me dying before becoming a spirit." Pitch glanced back at the group, "However just as with anything there are exceptions. Case in point being Terror."

That got all of their attentions, especially Jamie's.

"So you were right…Pitch was fighting Terror…" Jamie's voice was low, the boy obviously thinking they couldn't hear him.

Pitch frowned when he noticed what was said, now he was definitely going to speak with his brother

Thankfully, Jamie's friends were there to offer the perfect distraction.

"Wait who's Terror? Is that a person?" Cupcake's face filled with excitement, "Is he some kind of monster?"

"Oh yeah! He steals souls and forces them to do his bidding." Jamie spoke before Pitch could respond.

Monty's eyes widened, "He, he isn't com, coming here….is he?"

Jamie shook his head, "Not a chance. Terror lives in the Between, a Realm that borders the one we live in." the boy continued excited, "According my book Terror was banished there almost a millennia ago, he can't exist outside of the Between in his current state so the guy roams around collecting souls that stray in there in hopes that he will gain enough power to get back to the Mortal Realm." The boy's eyes gleamed, "The book didn't give much more detail than that, but it sounded pretty cool."

Pitch couldn't help but chuckle at his brother's enthusiasm, trust Jamie to think a homicidal manic was cool.

"As cool as Terror sounds, I wouldn't suggest getting his autograph." Pitch waved a hand, "That guy has a bit of a vendetta against our family Jamie, since it was our father that sealed him away in the Between to start with."

Caleb's eyes widened, "Mr. Bennett did? But why?"

"I don't know why." Pitch shrugged, "I really haven't had time to ask our father." He smirked slightly as they turned the corner and started down another sidewalk, "And Terror wasn't exactly in a 'conversational' mood just now if the horde of skeletons he sent after me was any indication."

The group gasped, "Skeletons!"

"That's right, skeletons." Pitch grinned at the fear/curiosity that drifted to him from the kids,

"I bet you beat every one of them, didn't you?" Monty spoke up from the back of the group.

Pitch sweat dropped at the amount of awe in the boy's voice, before he could correct him though Cupcake spoke up.

"Of course, he was beating them Monty. Why do you think that skeleton hand was all that was left of the thing?" The girl smirked, "He's the Nightmare King, no dumb skeleton would ever stand a chance."

Surprise washed over Pitch as the other kids added their own affirmations that he indeed could destroy a skeleton, with one pinky (per Callum). He wasn't exactly used to being seen as anything more than an evil being that needed to be destroyed or locked away. So, the idea these kids viewed him as some kind of hero was a bit shocking.

"Wait, so you didn't need help?"

Pitch was brought from his thoughts by Jamie's question, it pained him to see the look of distress on the boy's face. So as much as he would have liked to fuel the children's adulation of him there was no sense in lying, especially if it would cause his brother heartache.

"No, Jamie I very much needed your help." Pitch glanced both ways before he stepped from the curbside to the street, "I can handle a few skeletons here and there but not over a thousand baring down on me at once, especially not with a psychotic spirit baying for my blood behind them."

"Good, I thought I'd messed up." Jamie seemed relieved as they crossed the street into the playground area, "I was afraid I'd made the wrong choice."

Pitch raised an eyebrow at that, he started to ask just what Jamie meant by that when they passed the play area and came to an empty clearing. Golden eyes glowered at the vacant area, "Where is Jack?"

"You think he's hiding?" Jamie glanced hopefully at Pitch.

The Nightmare King surveyed the clearing, noting the piles of snow that were still quite prevalent. However, though the snow was plainly obvious, there was no sign of the winter spirit that had created it, "No, he's not here anymore." Pitch motioned to several piles that had begun to melt, "If Jack were still in this area the snow wouldn't be melting at all."

"Maybe Jack went ho…"

"No, he didn't." Pitch exhaled, cutting Jamie off "I am certain that idiot went looking for Sam." The shade ground his teeth, "I explicitly told him not to go after that Kiln, it was too dangerous."

Jamie startled when Pitch stormed towards the forest that edged the clearing, "Pitch wait! We'll come too!" he stopped instantly when Pitch whirled around, almost on his heel.

"You will do no such thing Jamie." Pitch's voice held an edge to it, "I will not have you trapsing around with a dangerous spirit on the prowl."

"That's not fair!" Jamie narrowed his eyes, "I can help look for Jack just as much as you can! He's my brother too!"

Pitch exhaled, why did everyone in his family have no sense of self-preservation? Well, he could only deal with one wayward brother at a time. He sent a silent thought to the Hellfire that lived within his very veins.

"Does his Prince need Rage?"

"Yes, take Jamie home." Pitch motioned his hand towards his brother.

"Rage can do that."

A spike of fear hit into the shade as a wave of sand erupted from his palm, "This is for your own good." Pitch thought as he recognized Jamie's fear.

"Pitch!" Jamie yelped as he tried to avoid the wave of sand, but it was of no use "I'm telling mo…" his outcry was covered up as the sand encased around him.

Jamie's friends watched as the sand ball sprouted tendrils and lifted itself up like a spider. They jumped when a tendril of sand reached out and snatched the small bag from Piper before the whole thing stomped towards the cul da sac where the Bennet's lived.

"Now children." Pitch glanced at the gaping group, "You should all probably head home, the sun is nearly gone, and there are dangers that lurk in the darkness."

They all simply nodded, not one of them wanting to argue with the Nightmare King and risk being carted away like Jamie.

Pitch listened half heartily to their farewells, his attention fully on the forest, "Ok Jack, let's just hope that you haven't gotten into any trouble." Was his thought as he entered into the tree line.

(Unknown)

While in Burgess Pitch was worried about the trouble that could have befallen Jack, he was unaware that trouble had already found Darkness.

Just minutes after the shade had left to return to Burgess Darkness had been attacked by thorn covered vines. These tendrils had overwhelmed the younger spirit, binding then encasing him within a cocoon of thorns. Once they had secured their target the vines had dragged Darkness through the forest outside of Tooth's Palace to a transport stone.

Once the rune had been activated the cocoon was transported to an island that lay hidden amongst the vastness of the ocean.

It was here in this new environment that Darkness now found himself, though to be fair the poor shade had no idea where he was due to the thick casing around him that offered no escape. Not that Darkness was really trying to get out of, since there wasn't a way for him to get free.

Not only was the cocoon about three inches thick but Darkness was bound so tight he could move nothing but his eyes. Then almost as an added bit of cruelty the vines had also wound their way so tight between his teeth Darkness could only make the barest of whimpers.

Though at the moment Darkness wasn't really worried about calling for help, since the shade had other things on his mind.

"Where is this thing taking me?" Darkness strained to make out the shapes he could see outlined by the light outside his prison, "Those look like trees. Am I back in that weird place Pitch travels through?" He strained to try and make out more of what was around him, though it was to no aval.

After a moment Darkness let his body go lax, the spirit simply allowing the creeping vines to drag him along the ground. The shade was done fighting, he had fought against them for what felt like an eternity, only to be no closer to getting free and only have cuts and puncture wounds to show for all his effort.

Not only that but Darkness could tell that he was nowhere near the Palace anymore, if the sudden increase of heat around him was any indication. It had happened just a few moments after a bright light had erupted around him (even trapped within the cocoon of vines the light had been intense so much so that Darkness had to shut his eyes against it).

Now Darkness was certain that the vines had somehow transported him somewhere else, he wasn't sure if plants could travel like Pitch but in this crazy world he was coming to know, it seemed like anything was possible.

Darkness startled when suddenly his forward momentum halted and his vine prison settled, he perked when footsteps sounded.

Silver eyes widened with relief when the outline of a figure loomed over the cocoon, "Pmmtch?" Darkness ignored the pain of speaking as he called out in hopes that it was the Nightmare King that had found him.

Instead of his muffled question being answered something slammed against the top of the cocoon, causing several bits of vine to break around him.

Darkness filled with hope at the thought that it was the older shade coming to his rescue.

That hope was dashed within seconds.

"Sheesh did boss have to use so many vines?"

"That's not Pitch." Darkness went still at the unfamiliar voice, he shuddered with fear this time when another force struck the vines.

"Well considering its Darkness in there do you blame him?" another voice held a sneer, "But don't worry, he also sent us the means to deal with the guy should we have to."

"Hear that in there? You better not think about giving is any trouble or else."

Darkness cried out when something slammed against the side of the cocoon, causing the thorns to bury themselves deeper into his flesh. He had little time to think about the fresh blood now running down his left arm since just moments after the blow the vines fell to the sides as if they were a shell that had been cracked in two.

Silver eyes blinked rapidly as Darkness tried to get his eyes used to the light now assaulting his vision. Once it cleared, Darkness could see that he was laying on his stomach surrounded by trees.

The sound of leaves moving was all the warning Darkness had before pain erupted in his side as something slammed into him, a muffled cry escaped as the force sent him rolling onto his back. Darkness moved his head so that he could see what had attacked him, once he saw what had the shade wished that he was back inside the cocoon of vines.

Standing over him, sneering with cruel delight were two hulking creatures that he had never seen before (or if he had Darkness couldn't recall).

Both were humanoid in shape, though that is where the similarity ended.

Their skin was a sickly green, covered in bumps and riddled with scars of all shapes and sizes. Oversized teeth jutted from the sides of the creature's mouths, as if there wasn't enough room for all of them within.

Darkness wriggled against the tight vines that remained around his arms and legs, every instinct within him screaming that he should not be helpless before these beings.

His attempts for freedom didn't go unnoticed, in fact it seemed to delight the creatures.

"That's right, squirm." One of the creature's sneered down at him, "It's best to try and escape now before we get you back to Castle Decry where no soul escapes."

The other creature grinned "Unless it's at the end of the boss's sword."

Darkness couldn't help the muffled whimper that escaped him at that statement.

The shade's fear seemed to delight the two creatures.

"Don't worry though, I doubt you'll be receiving the luxury of a quick death anytime soon Darkness." A dark chuckle escaped the first that had spoken, "Boss has been looking for you for quite a while after what you did, so I imagine he'll keep you locked away in the dungeons for 'quite' a long time."

Darkness scrunched down at that, what had he done that was so awful that someone would want to lock him away? (he wasn't sure what a dungeon was but the sound of the word set every alarm bell off within him.)

"Enough taunting Wareg." The second creature rolled his eyes, "Get him on his feet."

Wareg (as Darkness now knew his name was) scowled, "Why?"

"Because I don't feel like dragging him all the way across Isle Abhor in this blistering heat."

"Come on Kurag, that's dumb…"

"Then you drag him back to the castle." Kurag (who seemed to be the older of the two) snarled as he motioned to a trail that led through the underbrush.

"Fine." Wareg huffed as he glowered down at the shade, "But what if he tries to run?"

Darkness whimpered at the cruel sneer that curled the creature's lip.

"If he does..." Kurag spoke as he stepped beside the other.

Confusion came over Darkness when the creature pulled a long black stick from a holster that was on his side.

"He'll get this." Without warning the creature thrust the stick forwards

"Mmmmpppppp!" Darkness screamed when at the stick's touch crackling sparks dancing from the end of it all over his body. He thrashed wildly trying in vain to get away from the agony now coursing through him. Streams of blood began running down his arms and legs as the thorns buried themselves deeper into his skin at the frantic movement.

Kurag sneered as he moved the stick away "Have I made my point?"

Darkness didn't answer, the poor shade trying desperately to regain his senses. The spirit's body twitched involuntarily, his nerves jumping and writhing even though the stick was no longer touching him.

"Have I!"

"Mmmmss!" Darkness quickly responded when the creature moved as if to use the device again.

A cruel smirk came to Kurag's face at the shade's muffled compliance, "See? I told you asking boss to let us bring the Foudre was a good idea."

A whimper escaped Darkness when the creature turned his gaze back on him.

"Now he knows what'll happen should he try to run." Kurag sneered, loving the look of fear within the spirit's face, "We won't have to worry about that happening, now will we?"

Darkness shook his head quickly despite the fact the thorns from the gag buried deeper within his skin at the movement.

"See?" Kurag's laugh bounced in the air, "He's not an idiot." The creature waved a hand, "Now hurry and cut the vines so we can get back to the castle."

"Fine." Wareg huffed, "But if something happens, you're explaining it to the boss."

Darkness's eyes widened when the creature reached over his shoulder and pulled a long weapon from his back, the shade didn't know what it was called but the silver end of the long wooden handle seemed deadly.

Wareg grinned as he positioned himself over the bound spirit, "Don't move kay? Wouldn't want my ax to 'accidently' hit you."

Darkness shut his eyes as the creature raised the ax in the air, he braced himself as it fell.

Instead of pain as he had expected Darkness was surprised when the tightness around his legs disappeared as the vines snapped loudly.

Darkness had little time to enjoy the freedom though.

A muffled yelp escaped as he was suddenly yanked upwards by his arm, Darkness swayed slightly as he struggled to gain his footing.

"Stop fooling around!"

Stars erupted behind his eyes when something slammed against the side of his head causing him to stagger sideways. Darkness managed to stumble to a nearby tree where he used the trunk to help steady himself.

"All right…"

Darkness glanced at the creatures, a shiver going through him at the smirks on their face.

"Start walking." Wareg motioned with his ax at a well-worn path.

Darkness hung his head; he had no choice but to do as they said. He couldn't fight them, hell he didn't even know if he could fight. Not to mention he was still bound and gagged plus they had that horrible stick thing.

"Please Pitch…. please come find me." Darkness sent a silent prayer that the Nightmare King would rescue him, then he started down the trail to wherever his captors were taking him.

(In the forest outside of Burgess)

While Darkness was walking towards a nightmare, in the forest of Burgess Jack was awakening from his.

A gasp escaped Jack as he shot up to a sitting position, the winter spirit grasped his throat with both hands. To his surprise there was no blood, and no wounds other than a slight burn (which seemed to already be healing).

"I don't…I don't understand." Jack was utterly confused, he remembered very distinctly the gaping jaws and ivory teeth tearing into his throat.

The winter spirit glanced around, his gaze falling on the frozen flames that still resided within the makeshift pit his uncle had made.

At the thought of Haruto Jack quickly got to his feet, snatching his staff from the ground as he did so, "Where is he?" Jack thought as he looked around for the spirit. Blue eyes narrowed when he caught sight of him.

Haruto lay sprawled on the ground beside the frozen flames, a trickle of blood steadily running from his nose. The man's face was scrunched in an expression of agony, his eyes clenched tight as if he were afraid of opening them.

Jack stood for a moment, debating within himself about what he should do.

However, before he could make up his mind a groan escaped Haruto, indicating that the spirit was also waking up.

Jack tensed as his uncle sat up, he held his staff ready as the man placed a hand to his temple.

"That…That was unpleasant." Haruto's voice shook as he stumbled to his feet, "I hate recalling that particular event." The man's eyes gleamed with emotion, "As always I apologize Estrala."

For a moment his uncle stood in silence, obviously awaiting the response of the spirit that Jack now knew lived within him.

A smile tugged at Haruto's lips, "Thank you, that means a lot to me."

Jack stiffened when the smile evaporating into a scowl.

"As for you nephew, if you ever try that little trick again, I swear I'll forgo everything and skin you alive!"

"I don't even know what you're talking about!" Jack glared at the spirit, "What trick?!"

Haruto stood for moment, as if caught off guard, "You really don't know what you did do you?"

Jack snorted, "That's what I've been trying to tell you."

A quiet settled around them, then the sound of laughter exploded in the air sending several birds that had been near screaming into the air.

"You…you never cease…" Haruto's voice cracked with every word as the spirit was caught in waves of mirth, "One of the greatest….most difficult things…to do and he…he doesn't even know he's done it!"

Jack narrowed his eyes, not at all amused by his uncle who had now doubled over, completely in the grips of laughter, "Hey, this isn't funny."

"No it isn't."

Jack had but a second to register that his uncle had moved, then he was flying backwards, a cry escaped him as his body slammed into a tree. The winter spirt slumped against the bark for a second, then he scrambled to his feet.

However, that one second was all Haruto needed.

"Ack!" a strangled gasp left Jack's lips when a strong hand wrapped around his neck, instinct drove him to grip Haruto's arm in an attempt to aleve the pressure now being placed on his throat. A whimper escaped the teen at the pain the ancient spirit's touch caused as it aggravated the burn that was there.

Haruto however wasn't concerned at all about the winter spirit's pain, the spirit's jovial attitude having given way to anger.

"Performing a Eromym Bond without permission is never a joke." Haruto growled as he tightened his grip, "And if you ever try that again on me." A snarl escaped the spirit as he lifted his nephew a bit higher, keeping the boy pinned against the bark while barley letting his feet touch the ground, "I swear by my Sol that I will break every bone in your body! Have I made myself clear?!"

"O..ok!" Jack managed to squeak out the word as he desperately fought to keep his feet on the ground, "I don't…ev…know how…I did..in first place!" the teen's voice broke as he struggled to speak past his uncle's grip.

"I see."

Jack inhaled sharply when the pressure loosened around his neck, he glanced at Haruto surprised to see that the man was no longer looking at him and was instead staring into the tree line.

"Interesting….I have not seen this in any of the paths." Haruto spoke to the empty line of trees, "But I suppose this might be a result of this." The spirit moved his left arm outwards, allowing the dying rays of the sun to glint off the jagged ice that was still impelled through his palm, "I am finding not knowing quite fun."

Jack managed to turn his head, trying to see what Haruto was talking about. He was convinced the man was just crazy when nothing but trees met his gaze.

"Oh, don't be so afraid." Haruto continued, his grin widening, "Isn't this what you've trained for? Come on out and take down the monsters that haunt your dreams."

To Jack's astonishment a figure emerged from behind one of the large oaks.

They were human in shape, covered from head to toe in camouflage uniform. Across their chest a sash of various bullets glinted in the fading light, in their hands a large gun was trembling as they pointed the barrel at them.

Jack couldn't tell if the person was male or female due to the thick helmet and shield that covered the person's eye. However, what he could tell was that they were scared to death, and he didn't blame them the aura coming from his uncle had shifted from powerful to flat out menacing.

"There we go."

A yelp escaped Jack when he suddenly dropped to the ground, the teen rubbed his neck as he watched Haruto turn his attention from him to the newcomer.

"Now could you be a good little human and remove those shades of yours so we can find out if you die here or do I kill you somewhere else."

At Haruto's words the person leveled the gun at him

"In the name of K.A.M. I order you to surrender or face the consequences." a distorted voice echoed from within the helmet, a device obviously being used to disguise who was underneath it.

Haruto found the threat amusing.

"Really? You must have some spunk to speak to me like that." A chuckle escaped the spirit, "Maybe I shouldn't look at your future…I kind of don't want to kill you now."

No one registered the movement, one moment Haruto had been standing just a inches away from Jack the next he had the stranger pinned on the ground his foot placed firmly on their chest.

"Nah, I can't help my curiosity."

Jack stared in disbelief when Haruto, despite the stranger's curses and struggling, snatched the helmet off and tossed it to the side. Not that the action itself was so shocking, no the fact that the act revealed a young girl about fourteen was what caused the teen's surprise.

Sheer terror was reflected in her bright emerald eyes, though Jack wasn't sure if it was because of Haruto or if it was due to the fact her identity had been revealed.

"You…you bastard!" the girl began struggling anew, the shock of being revealed finally over, "How dare you!" she didn't care that leaves and sticks were getting tangled in her black hair as she struggled to get from beneath the spirit's foot, "I'll kill you!"

Haruto for his part didn't seem at all fazed by her threat, "Now let's take a look at what lays ahead for you." His golden eyes glazed over as the spirit began his walk down the paths of fate.

"Get off me!" the girl yelled as she tried to push the spirit's foot off her, though even being in a trance it seemed Haruto was still too strong for her to even budge him.

Jack quickly got to his feet when he saw his uncle stiffen, the winter spirit had seen Pitch's body do that all too many times when the shade was getting angry.

It turned out that he was right.

"How…dare…they!" Haruto's voice oozed venom, "I thought what I saw through his eyes was bad." The man's attention snapped to the girl, "How could you stand there and let them torment him like that! How could you bare witness to such cruelty and sleep at night!"

Jack watched as the girl trembled at the sheer fury in the spirit's words, movement from her hand caught the teen's eyes, "Haruto look ou…"

A loud boom shook the air, the girl managing to get her gun up and fired before Jack's warning could be of use.

For a moment no one moved, then an eerie cackle filled the air.

Jack felt every hair on his neck stand up at the sound, that feeling of unease continued when he realized that sound was coming Haruto. The winter spirit stared in shock at the gaping hole that was now in the man's shoulder, "Haruto…"

The spirit waved his hand at the winter spirit, sending a spray of blood in the air with the movement "That…that actually hurt a bit." Haruto grinned broadly, showing his teeth "But unfortunately, even with my friend's power infused within the bullets…they really don't do much to me."

"Oh wow…" Jack's eyes widened as orange flames erupted from the wound, the tendrils licking and flaring all over that side ofHaruto's body. Within seconds the entire wound was healed, leaving behind unblemished skin.

"Now 'your' attack may have failed." Haruto sneered as a silver blade slide into being from his palm, "But mine wont."

"Haruto!" Jack rushed forward just as the spirit thrust the sword downwards, "Wait!"

A low whimper escaped the girl when the blade stopped just inches from her heart.

Haruto rolled his head to face the winter spirit, "Why?"

"Just leave her alone." Jack glanced at the girl, now staring at him with wide eyes "She's not a threat to you."

"Really?" Haruto snorted, "So the fact she just blasted a hole through me wasn't a threat?"

"You're still standing, aren't you?" Jack motioned upwards at the sliver of sun barely visible above the horizon, "Plus didn't you say we had to leave before the path closed?"

Haruto stood still as if mulling over what to do.

Jack let out a sigh of relief when the spirit stepped back from the downed girl, he quickly moved forward to help her up.

"Don't touch me monster."

"Sheesh, you're welcome." Jack held up his hands as the girl scrambled to her feet and took off into the forest.

Haruto snorted as she disappeared, "You know, you should have let me kill her. Would save you a lot of heart ache in the future."

Jack glowered at his uncle "You don't kill someone just to make life easier on yourself."

"Ok if not for you then how about for the family hmmm?" Haruto smirked as he drew closer to the teen, "I mean you may not regret letting her live, but he certainly will."

"Who?" Jack was confused when Haruto stepped just inches from him and stopped.

Haruto grinned and made a sweeping motion with his hand towards the trail they had come down, "Why him of course."

Jack turned to look where the spirit was pointing, "Pitch!" he started forward when he saw the Nightmare King running towards them.

"Just in time, say goodbye Jack."

The winter spirit registered the change in the air around him just as Pitch reached him, "I'm sorry…" was all Jack had time to get out before flames leapt up between him and the Nightmare King.

"Jack!"

Blue eyes closed at the agony he could hear in his brother's voice, he had little time to think about that though as the flames seemed to collapse in on him. Jack braced himself as brilliant light and heat took over his senses.

Cliff! Please review and let me know what you guys thought of the chapter. I am excited for what is coming next and what I have planned ];) I do really appreciate the reviews guys, it makes me happy to hear from you, to see how you are liking the story so far. Until next time :)