Explanation for this chapter-how Pitch works.

In Friend or Foe Pitch became so weak after the end of ROTG he shouldn't have popped up again for another thousand years. Reasons to why this didn't happen I will not say here, it's actually a MASSIVE spoiler for Friend or Foe, so go read it first!
Although, how I make it fit? It kinda happened the same way, except Don't Fear the Reaper, for Pitch, was a legitimate plan and a way to test how strong he was, whether or not he could take on the Guardians like that. The answer was no of course, so he waited another six years or so before trying again.

We got more reports of Nightmares, but thankfully no more Descendants of Pitch. So far New Jersey was the only one to be affected.

Most of the Nightmare attacks occurred around the Burgess area. The re-enforcements stayed to help them keep an eye on things, but we were getting odd reports. Figures had been spotted fighting the Nightmares, but once the Nightmares had been dealt with, they disappeared into the night. None of us knew what to make of it.

After hunkering down in my chair for some sleep, I got one of my more frequent nightmares.

Nightmares themselves showed up, charging and snorting through a wildfire. Where was the wildfire?

Burgess of course.

In my dream the woods near Burgess was on fire, and I was stuck in the middle of it. Blistered and burnt corpses of people I knew were dead appeared, their mouths moving. I couldn't hear them over the flames and the whinnies of the Nightmares, but I could guess.

"Your fault." They mouthed. "It's all your fault."

I curled up, trying to block it all out, but it wouldn't work.

"Leave me alone!"

My eyes shot open and I scanned the room. Everything was okay, nothing was on fire, there were no Nightmares, and no corpses after revenge.

"Jackie?"

My eyes zeroed in on Harry, who was leaning around his laptop, concerned. I lifted my head off the table, where I must have fallen forward.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, fine." I assured, waving my hand. Taboo snorted and I gave her glare.

Across the table Alexander was barking orders to a Branch, and I gave Lily a quizzical look.

"Nightmare's and Descendants of Pitch are attacking various Branches in Australia." She explained in a Welsh accent.

I felt my face pale slightly. "Descendants of Pitch?"

"Yes." Confirmed Claire as she tapped away at her laptop. "I've got a few in Europe."

I nodded, feeling my stomach sink. The Descendants of Pitch were attacking in several places at once. That could only mean Pitch was back.

It didn't make sense, last time was enough to see him off for another 1000 years. Surely that could only happen with the Direct Bloodline Rule, but his Descendants weren't close enough genetically for that to work.

I pulled out the communication device and called North.

North's face looked paler than normal, and for moment I forgot why I was calling.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." He waved away my concern worryingly wearily. "How about you?"

"Fine, I've got some news though."

"Oh?"

"The Descendants of Pitch are acting in a co-ordinated manner across several continents. That only happens if Pitch is leading them."

North nodded gravely, as if the news didn't surprise him.

"We know, he's been using the Direct Bloodline Rule."

Harry shot me a confused look. I'm guessing he hadn't got to that file yet.

"How? His Descendants aren't close enough genetically anymore."

North took a deep breath, as though he didn't want to say.

"...We believe that he conceived a child nineteen years ago. Before he was defeated."

I blinked in surprise. "The little... Wow." There were no words for my surprise and sudden nausea, although Taboo's sudden gagging noises summed it up nicely. "So he's drawing power from some poor kid."

"It is, possible that his child is allied with him." Said North, almost reluctantly.

"Possible, yes." I mused. "But unless he or she is allied with the other Descendants of Pitch or is obviously allied with Pitch then there's no way of really knowing."

"I suppose not..." North seemed to be deep in thought.

"Anything you want to say?" I asked, worried by the usually larger than life man's quietness.

"Hmmm? No, that's it."

I wasn't convinced, but I decided to let the matter drop. "Okay then, Jackie out."

As soon as I dropped the call Harry was asking me a question.

"What is the Direct Bloodline Rule?"

I tapped the table, trying to remember the full description from the file.

"It's when an immortal can draw power from someone who is of a direct relation to them, usually there's a telepathic link between them. In this case Pitch appears to have, sired a child and is drawing power from them."

Harry's face summed up my thought exactly. That was sick.

Alexander leaned into the middle of the table, having finished what he needed to.

"Look, unless we actually come across this child, we should leave this to the Guardians. We have no idea if this child is a Descendant or not, so it's not our business."

Lily and Harry looked like they wanted to argue, but for once I agreed with Alexander.

"Yeah, Immortals deal with immortals and Descendants deal with Descendants. That's the general rule. While this child is not immortal, it is still immortal business."

One look at Claire showed that she agreed with me, Lily and Harry were already outvoted.

"In other news." Added Claire. "More and more Branches are being attacked. I'm considering sending out an order for at least one member of each Branch member to be awake and in armour. What do you think?"

Alexander nodded. "A good idea, we've already had some casualties."

"What kind of casualties?" I asked, the New Jersey Branch had only mentioned bruises and a few cuts, nothing serious.

"A couple are unconscious, a few with concussion. Nothing serious so far." Alexander tapped the table nervously.

"In that case." Said Lily, "I think we should send out that alert."

Harry nodded. "Agreed."

"Yeah, let's get the alert out." I said, and in unison we all went to our various methods of communication to send out the message.