Hey! Sorry it's been so long. This is just a bit of a filler chapter but I hope you enjoy it:)

Chapter 9

I spun around in shock. No, it couldn't be him. But once I glanced up at the floor above me, my fear became reality. Death stood there leaning against the banister with a big grin on his face.

"No," I muttered as I slowly began backing up, my staff clenched in my right hand, "How did you get in?"

He let out a small laugh before replying, "Death hides in the shadows easily my dear." I felt a shiver travel down my spine as I stared up at his sick smile. His red eyes bore into mine and I felt fear begin to set in.

I backed up a few more feet until I felt a sudden strong arm push me back. Jack had pushed me behind him and the other Guardians had joined him by his side. Jack glanced back at me for a moment before raising his staff up at Death.

"How did you find us?" Jack asked. Death didn't seem threatened at all by Jack or the powerful beings at his side. Instead he created a dagger out of his shadows and twirled it between his fingers as he responded.

"Pitch helped me a bit there...honestly it really wasn't that hard." He chuckled to himself and then began to gaze at me once again.

"You have no business being here!" North bellowed as he lifted one sword up to point up at him, "Tell us what you want."

"Oh! You'd like me to tell you know? But that could spoil the fun."

"Tell us what you want or we will kill you." I was surprised Jack would say such a thing. But Death didn't seem to care.

"You actually think you could defeat me?" He suddenly laughed like it was the funniest idea ever, "That is adorable now tell me Jack Frost how you plan on doing that?" Jack remained silent as Death kept fiddling with the dagger in his hand.

"Tell us what you want." Bunny growled.

"Well I do have a proposition for you." Death said as the knife vanished in a few strands of black mist.

"We are willing to hear it." North said keeping his voice strong. Jack backed up a bit and glanced back at me. I tried not to let my fear show and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Okay!" Death exclaimed clapping his hands together, "So here's the deal. I was in Burgruss finding my love but your stupid Guardian there," He said pointing at Jack, "Got in the way! So I've just come to retrieve what's mine." I stood in shock, was he serious.

"You mean-" Jack began as he turned back around to look at my pale face.

"Do I need to spell it out for you!" Death yelled making the Guardians raise there weapons a bit higher, "Give me Sara. Give her to me."

"We would never do that!" Tooth yelled. She looked so angry I thought she was going to fly at him right then and there.

"If you don't," Death began glancing at all of them, "There will be war. Between the dark and the light. And I seriously doubt you'd like that." Just by looking at him I knew he was serious. .I couldn't let a war break out over something so small...

"We refus-" Jack began until I pushed past him.

"I'll do it!" I yelled pushing past Jack and walking a few feet in front of them.

"Sara?" He questioned as I continued to walk forward. I stopped and looked up at Death, keeping my voice strong.

"If I go with you, you promise not to hurt anybody? No war?" He smiled down at me and suddenly disappeared in shadow. I drew in a quick breath when he suddenly appeared right in front of me.

"You have my word pet." He said as he gently stroked my face. His touch left me as cold as ice and I had to force myself to not flinch back.

"No!" I heard Jack scream. Suddenly an icicle flew past my head and sunk into Death's shoulder. I turned around in shock and saw Jack running towards me. He grabbed my arms and threw me back. I landed on my back and slid a few feet across the wood floor.

Jack kept his staff raised as Death grimaced in pain, his left hand pressed against his shoulder as blood began seeping through his black shirt. He sneered at Jack then let out a small laugh.

"War it is." Then he was gone. I struggled to get up since I still had Jack's large hoodie on. Jack ran back toward me and helped me up.

"Are you okay?" He asked gripping my arm lightly. His voice was soft but I jerked my arm away. And glared at him.

"What did you just do?" His eyes suddenly grew tougher and his expression quickly changed from one of concern, to one of anger.

"I just saved you from having to go with that...that asshole!" He said angrily pointing and flaring his arms.

"You just started a war! I yelled up at him. We were so close I could feel his breath graze my head as he began to yell a retort back.

"Enough!" North yelled causing us to split apart. He then looked at me softly. "Sara, he was right to do what he did. There is no way we would have let you go with him." The Guardians nodded there heads in agreement and I suddenly felt guilty.

"But I could've stopped-"

"It doesn't matter," North said interrupting me, "We are a team." Tooth flew over to me and gently put a hand on my back. She smiled at me as my eyes widened in realization.

"Is it true? Am I really a Guardian?" I asked.

"Apparently." Bunny said shortly. He was standing next to North and glared at Jack as he continued, "Frostbite forgot to tell you." I looked up at North and he nodded confirming what Bunny said .

"You just forgot?" I said walking towards Jack, shrugging Tooth away in the process. I glared up at him and was suddenly tempted to stab in the chest.

"Manny told us," North said trying to ease my anger, "That's why we were looking for you."

"Manny is...?" Sandy poked me and pointed up toward the skylight. I looked up and saw the moon shining down from above.

"He talks to you?" I asked looking at North. He just shrugged nonchalantly.

"Yes."

"He never answers me." I said as I stared up at the silver orb in the sky. Was this him answering me? Am I here to be a Guardian? Why me?

"Anyway," North said as he walked over toward me and put a hand on my shoulder, "We should get some rest. You can stay with me, we have plenty of room." I gazed up at him and gave a small smile.

"Thank you." I muttered. All the Guardians began leaving after small glances to one another, like a secret code.

"Okay," North said returning to his jolly self, "Jack will show you to your room. I will be in my office preparing if you need anything." Jack glared at me, still angry at me as he walked past me toward the stairs.

"Preparing for what?" I asked before following behind Jack.

"War." North replied before abruptly turning and walking away.

I followed Jack up to a room that was next to his. He opened the door and I glanced inside. His was set up just like Jack's, but with no ice or decoration.

"Here."He said gruffly, he began to walk away before I grabbed his hand.

"Jack," He turned around and looked down at me. His icy eyes made my heart flutter, and his soft hand against mine made me blush a bit. "Thank you."

He squeezed my hand tighter before walking away and going into his room. The butterflies in my stomach remained even as I laid down my head to sleep that night.