Jack flies in through an open window, does a mid-air back flip, and lands on his toes. His cheeks are flushed, his blue eyes bright.
Bunnymund notices that his smile shows no hint of mischief or malice.
"Where have you been?" Bunny asks, twirling his boomerang in his paw.
Jack freezes, caught.
"Out and about," he replies. He feign casualty, but he can't wipe the grin from his face.
"Not even a note to let us know? When did you leave? What time? Jack-" Bunny steps toward the Spirit of Winter threateningly.
Toothiana darts forward, grabbing Jack in a tight embrace.
"Thank goodness you're safe," she whispers.
"Okay, what's going on?" Jack demands.
Sandy, rubbing at his eyes, steps behind Bunnymund and North is quick at his heels. He is clad in a long-sleeved black shirt and pajama pants with tiny reindeer printed on the fabric.
"We have been searching for hours, Jack. Did you see-?" North begins, but Tooth speaks in Jack's ear.
"I'm sorry, Jack. So sorry," she breathes, her voice broken.
"Hey," Jack soothes awkwardly. Bunnymund wraps his arm around Tooth's petite waist and pulls her to his broad chest.
"It's okay, love. We'll find her," Bunny murmurs.
Ice locks around Jack's heart.
"Her?"
"She's gone, Jack," Tooth says tearfully. "Pitch took Cassandra."
Cassandra opens her heavy eyelids. The dimmest light is available, not enough to fully reveal where she is. She stretches out on the packed dirt of the floor. Her head is foggy and she aches like she's slept for twelve hours. The girl stumbles to her feet and feels along the walls. They are made of dirt as well, cold and damp under her touch.
She should be terrified. More than anything, she's excited. A chance to escape, to fight Pitch on her own, to prove herself- she couldn't ask for a better opportunity. A tremor shakes her muscles. Her socked feet are silent on the ground. However, heavy boots thud nearby. Cassandra's hand catches on a large rock embedded in the wall. It comes away with a little muscle and she tucks her arm into her cape to conceal her prize.
"Oh, don't fret, little one, I'm not going to harm you." His voice comes from every direction, eerie and soothing. It isn't something to trust, though.
"You tried to kill me, Pitch. It's a wonder why I don't believe you," Cassandra growls. Light finally appears at the end of the tunnel and she rushes for it.
"You tried to kill me, Pitch. It's a wonder why I don't believe you," Cassandra growls. Light finally appears at the end of the tunnel and she rushes for it.
It's a cave beneath the earth. Above, a small hole acts as a skylight letting in snow. Brass cages hang above. They seem heavy and Cassandra wonders what they are for. The walls are decorated by obsidian torches, lit with an orange fire. The focal center of the space contains a globe, the same size as North's. This one isn't entirely circular, however. Empty space symbolizes the oceans and water routes. The continents are black, the lights flickering like fireflies.
The sound of a horse neighing makes her whirl around.
Pitch pets the black beast on the snout, the picture of calm. He's in control, in his element. She is powerless.
Cassandra glances at the sky where the moon should be. From what she's gathered from the Guardians, the Man in the Moon is a bit of a puppet master.
"Pitch," she spits, moving into a defensive crouch.
"Bravo, you finally learned my name," he grins, revealing his crooked teeth.
The human remains silent as Pitch stalks forward.
"Why am I here?" That seems to be her punch line to every party, and she's sick of it. The uncertainty, the confusion she has felt over the past week fuels her anger. "Why didn't you just kill me and get it over with?"
"I don't want you dead," Pitch sighs like this is the most obvious thing in the world. "I have been watching you for many, many years. You are destined to be something much greater…something more than the Guardians can see."
He pauses, approaching the globe and pressing a bony index finger to one of the lights. It goes out. Horror locks in Cassandra's chest. The Nightmare begins to pace anxiously.
"Like Jack Frost," he spits the name, "you are a Spirit of the Winter Season. The Solstice." Pitch moves closer to her with a silent step. "We belong together."
"Whoa, hold up." She holds a hand in front of his face. "I'm going to stop you right there and begin my objections. I'm human, and I belong anywhere but with you."
"That is where you are wrong." Pitch crosses his arms and leans causally back. A dark shape materializes behind him, taking the form of a skeletal horse. It is crafted of black sand, very similar to Sandy's magic. Its eyes glow like hellish fire.
"Your father told me himself. Just before he died, actually," Pitch chuckles to himself, as if enjoying a private joke.
This gives her pause. "You knew my father?"
He leans close, his rotten breath making her cringe.
"Why do you think he's dead?" Pitch breaths, his words measured.
Cassandra's heart drops and the wind rushes from her lungs. Her father had died of a heart attack when she was six. No one ever knew why, considering he was in excellent health. Apart from dropping dead.
"You…" she growls, gripping the rock still nestled in her hand.
"It's very easy, really," Pitch promises. "A bad dream that seems so real. He wouldn't tell me where you were, how powerful you are. He knew you were figuring out your gifts and protected you with his life."
Cassandra can't move. She can barely breathe.
"Fear is a deadly thing, Cassandra. Want to see?"
The horse stomps forward with a flick of Pitch's head. It presses its cold nose to her face and reality bends. Pitch grins as he works his magic.
Frigid fingers trace Cassandra's face, tapping her nose playfully. She's in her bedroom at home and curled up in her own bed. Jack Frost lays beside her, his shoulder bare in the moonlight.
"I have to go," he whispers reluctantly.
She nuzzles closer to him, tangling her fingers in his silky, colorless hair.
"Five more minutes," she murmurs childishly.
Jack laughs and kisses her forehead. "I have to go take care of things. I'll see you tomorrow night, though."
Suddenly, his cold mouth is on hers, moving languidly. She kisses back, gripping onto his neck. The skin beneath her touch raises in goose-bumps.
"Tomorrow?" Cassandra calls as he stands precariously on the ledge of her window, yanking his blue sweater over his head.
He turns to her, his blue eyes vivid in the night. "Tomorrow."
But he doesn't return. Every winter night, she sees herself pace before the open window, gazing at the sky for a sign of the Winter Spirit. She grows taller, her body turning into that of a woman. Then, older. Her fragile skin creases and her steps labor. Her hair falls in gray tendrils around her anxious face.
"I love you, Jack," Cassandra whispers, pressing her aged hand to the window pane. The glass is cold, but there is no sign of her Jack anywhere.
He's forgotten her. That night, now so long ago, that she had last seen him comes back like a broken picture. She had loved him, and still does. She had believed in forever. That they would be together. It made less sense now. He is immortal, and she is a silly little human who believes in the unbelievable.
Now Cassandra is alone.
She gasps, jerking away from the horse. Pitch looks grimly on.
"You're terrified of not being with him," Pitch muses. "How interesting."
He circles the brunette and she fights tears. Her body shakes from the nightmare image she just experienced.
"I'll never leave you alone, Cassandra." Her body crawls when he says her name.
Jack drops through the broken child's bed and into Pitch's hole. He grips his staff in his hand, landing silently on the tip of Pitch's globe. Cassandra looks distinctly shaken but unharmed.
"Neither will I," he says, standing to his full height, towering above Pitch from his stance on the globe. His blue eyes are furious as he points his staff at Pitch. "Step away from her."
"Jack Frost come to the rescue," Pitch sneers. "How precious."
He turns to face Cassandra, his golden eyes almost kind. "Remember my words, Miss Risk. You know who you are and where you belong."
Cassandra, covered in dirt, takes a few steps away from Pitch. She glances up at Jack, then back at the Nightmare King.
"I'm going to leave now," she says softly. She moves her cape aside to reveal her rock. It drops to the floor with a thump. "You aren't going to put up a fight."
"No. But I will come after you," Pitch grins. "One day I will collect."
"And I'll be ready," Jack declares.
Cassandra takes a flying leap, boosting her foot on the base of the globe. Jack catches her in his arms and waves down at Pitch.
"Chao, baby," Jack laughs, teasing.
Cassandra wraps her arms around the Winter Spirit but can't bring herself to his level of humor.
She whispers in his ear, "Take me back."
Jack breaks through the bed again and the two soar away from Pitch's lair.
Pitch pats Onyx on the snout. "Never fear. Now she knows. She will come in due time."
I know this was a bit anti-climatic...but a battle will come eventually, don't worry! And due to classes starting up again i wont be able to update as much as i used to. I'm sorry in advance for that...but i promise i will update