Guess what. You're not going to like this chapter. At all. Mwahahaa. I'm a bitch. That's all.

Sea biscuit: I saw what you did and I cringed.

Dex Zabeth: That's true, I never thought of that. XD Just imagine her lol.

Cheshire cat: She doesn't that's for sure. But you know Zoe. She'll take all the blame herself.

Panda-Chan8: Yeah they'll die. I'm evil. Sorry. You might need tissues for this one.

Soaringphoenix86: I'm not going to say a lot. I love your review, as usual. XD I'm just going to say that I think I've finally written a chapter that's going to break you.

DevineGuardianAngel: You're half an elephant. The question is... back half or front?

Tanairy Cornelio: I didn't feel good about the deer and elves but it had to be done.

I would just like to say that without all of you who review and read I would have never got this far. This isn't the last chapter, don't worry but I feel that I don't tell you all enough. My thanks. It's because of all of you that I write.

Chapter 10 – Broken.

Jack glances between North and Zoe; North looked like he was about to snap. Zoe had barely heard the Russian, horror plastered on her face as she focused on the blood. 'Get out,' North repeated quietly. Zoe's eyes finally met his.

'What?' She said confused. The pain in her face was obvious. Jack frowned, what had happened was beyond words; But to take it out on Zoe?

'North, you need to calm down,' Jack said holding out a hand. There was a noise from upstairs. They all turned. Zoe raised her scythe, defensively. The sound continued, but it was no danger. Sandy was coming down the stairs with Bunny's arm draped over his shoulders. The rabbit was pale and his pain was painted over his features. Tooth gasped and flew over to him, taking his other arm across her shoulders and taking most of his weight. With mutual agreement from the Sandman, he put his fellow Guardian into a deep sleep. They carried him gently to North's study. Jack breathed a little easier. Zoe on the other hand, still had her scythe raised. North was about to say more when Tooth and Sandy reappeared.

'Sandy says that Bunny was on the floor upstairs. Surrounded by some black stuff, almost like that pollen in the Warren.' Tooth explained, 'there are survivors locked in his room. Goddess knows how he managed to fight at all,' she sighed, shaking her head. 'He doesn't seem any more harmed than he already was.' At the word ''survivors'' North almost fell over, but he held himself upright. It wasn't long until they heard the bells and thundering, heavy footsteps of a few elves and yetis, as they walked down the stairs. North smiled weakly as he saw them. They all looked around, tears filling their eyes. One of the yetis patted North on the shoulder, before with help from a fellow, they bent down and picked up Phil's body. North watched as they carried him from the room, until he could see them no more. Once they were out of sight he crossed the room swiftly and sharply. He slipped a little on the blood, but it did nothing to lessen his haste. He grabbed Zoe by the throat, she was taken unaware, but kept her cool, simply placing her own hand on his to stop him choking her. Jack shouted and instantly went to intervene but Sandy held him back. Sandy believed that no matter how much North was in pain, he wouldn't hurt her. Jack struggled but Tooth joined in. Zoe didn't fight back, she simply waited calmly for North to let her go. Jack could see her restraint. She wasn't one for physical contact anyway. It was easy to feel the rage that poured from her. It echoed in her eyes.

'This is your fault,' North said his voice breaking. Jack continued to talk to North, trying to get him to calm down. He even motioned to Sandy to do something, but the other Guardian simply watched. North needed to get this out his system, otherwise he might do something stupid, like hunt Zoe down afterwards. Zoe nor North were paying Jack any heed. She simply stared at the Russian, her green eyes piercing through his.

'Let me go,' she said, her voice devoid of any emotion. She wasn't using her powers, if she did North would have no choice but to obey her. She still held her scythe in her hand, she merely turned it a little so that the blade reflected the blood from the floor, turning the metal an dirty red. It was a warning. She did not take being threatened lightly. By anyone. North looked like he was about to do something other than put her down when a shadow crossed over them. He dropped her and watched as the dark shapes spread from the blood, they all ran up the side of the globe and met at the pole. Zoe rubbed her throat and ignored Jack who almost appeared at her side. There was a chilling laugh.

'Oh hee, ha, hee,' Pitch said in mock laughter, the shadows billowing at the peak and forming the shape of him. But he was slightly transparent. Zoe scowled. Jack shot a blast at him, it went straight through the apparition. North roared at Pitch and tried to climb the globe. Tooth and Sandy barely held him back. 'Oh would you look at this,' Pitch said raising his hand to his lips. 'Look at the mess,' he gasped.

'You.' Zoe stated.

'Me,' he said turning around and giving her a bow. 'Oh, it is delightful seeing the pain on the man's face. It's so sweet, like a rare wine,' he laughed. He kissed his lips in the Italian way. 'Simply beautiful,' he sighed.

'Why are you here?' Zoe held up her scythe. The fury rolled off her in waves. Jack edged closer to her still, North being held in place by a couple of yetis, as well as Tooth and Sandy.

'Trouble in paradise of course,' he chuckled. 'Looks like you're in a little trouble yourself Daya.'

'You know nothing,' she said.

'I think you'll find that I actually know more than you think.' Pitch laughs. 'With all this spare time, I've even managed to come up with a little ditty,' he smiled. 'Tell me what you think.' He gave a little bow, and began to speak, his apparition disappeared and his voice echoed from the shadows. It had a nursery rhyme quality to it, very sing song.

''One in a necklace,

Protected by dreams.''

Sandy shuddered as the shadow crossed over him. His necklace lifted from the folds of his clothing. Zoe frowned, but Sandy snatched the pendant back and held it tightly. Pitch laughed, the profile of his face crossing the far wall. It began to sink closer to Jack.

''Another in a staff,

It's icy hold gleams.''

Jack lifted his staff from the oncoming shadow and scowled, the shadow ran over his trainers instead, a breeze ruffling his hair. Zoe snapped. 'Enough Pitch. You've made your point,' she spat. Pitch ignored her, the apparition appearing behind them, they all spun around and watched as he hovered above the beam where North's blade was stuck.

''It's kin set in a sword,

A duty for a friend.''

Pitch said this line sarcastically. Zoe growled, her feathers ruffling. North strode across the room and snatched the blade from the wood. Pitch disappeared again. He materialised on the globe, sitting cross legged as if he was addressing children.

''To keep them all from evil,

The Reaper's duty, must not end.''

He laughed as he pointed to himself, then to Zoe.

''What about the other three?

Where on this world can they be?''

He laughed and stayed on top of the globe. He crossed his arms behind his back and when he brought them forward he was holding one of Tooth's longer, brighter feathers. She gasped and looked at her plumage where a feather was indeed missing. He held it up for them to see.

''One carried by feather,

So many hearts combined.''

The feather in his fingers splits and frays, the individual strands falling to the surface of the globe. As they fell they became black sand, trickling off the orb. Zoe ground her teeth, he was purposely winding them up. She felt a rage that she didn't know existed. He was taunting her. Look, I know where they all are. There is nothing you can do... it was like waving a red flag to a bull.

''Another, held by no tether,

In the earth left to roam free.''

He had no silly trick or idea to show the reference of this one, he simply tapped the globe he sat upon. He got to his feet suddenly. Holding out his hand, a shadow version of Zoe appeared. She danced into his arms. Zoe felt Jack stiffen beside her, she wanted to show him some sign of affection, but she couldn't risk it. She had to act as if this was just bothering her, not the deep, guilty slicing that she felt in her heart. Pitch spun dark Zoe around and dipped her, holding her around the waist.

''It's kin kept by the Reaper herself,

She trusted the others to her friends.''

He held her up with one hand, her long hair trailing across the globe. He looked at them all smugly. The dark Zoe gasped and vanished. As did he. He appeared by Zoe, in front of Jack, so when she turned to face him, Jack was ignored. This time Pitch solidified. Zoe could see that it was still an illusion and there was no point attacking it. She held her scythe to the side, away from the shadows. Pitch leaned forward and touched her cheek with a finger. Zoe didn't flinch or move back, she stood her ground, the promise of death in her eyes.

''To keep the stones from herself,

The Reaper's duty will never end.''

Pitch trailed his finger down her cheek and over her bottom lip. He cupped her face, when he next spoke, there was no humour or anything that could be mistaken for happiness, or his previous glee from taunting.

''She trusted the Guardians with this curse.

But, it is yet to be seen if it's for better or worse.

Will the Reaper's heart be torn?

When she is forced to choose between

being loved, or forlorn?

Pitch leaned forward, his lips almost touching hers before Jack almost threw himself through the illusion, he grabbed Zoe and pulled her away from him. Pitch laughed and vanished. Zoe gently pulled herself from Jack who was breathing heavily and looked pretty angry. They all looked to the globe where the shadows began to assemble. 'I admit,' he smiles, 'the rhyme is a little off, but I feel that my point is made.' North spun his sword in his hand. 'What's the matter North?' Pitch asked. He looked at the blood that covered the large man. 'Oh, right. I am so sorry about that,' he tried to be sincere but he ended up laughing at the end. 'Well,' he says with a smile. 'This has been fun,' he says with a wink at Zoe who glared back at him. 'Alas, I have to go,' he smiled. With those last words, he vanished.

'Bastard,' Zoe hissed turning on her foot. Jack went to take her arm but she moved out the way swiftly.

'Angel,' Jack said, but North beat him to it. He grabbed Zoe again, this time by the arm and halted her.

'Your fault!' North shouted, holding his sword high. Zoe turned her head to look at him. 'This!' He gestured with his blade. 'Your fault,' he said, his eyes red with tears. Zoe held up a finger and his weapon froze in the air. His muscles strained as he tried to move, but he was held in place. Zoe removed her arm from his grip.

'Yes,' she said softly. 'My fault,' she whispered. The rage in North's eyes dimmed a little. Zoe moved her fingers again and his arm fell free of her power. Jack watched her as she looked around, the more she looked around and nodded, the more pale her hair looked. She walked past North and took his sword, there was a flash of light around the stone and it fell into her palm. She flicked her scythe's hilt upwards and with a small burst of her power the gem of fire was reset into her weapon. North fell limp, Tooth flew over and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Zoe looked at Sandy who frowned and shook his head. He grabbed a hold of his necklace and shook his head more. Zoe walked toward him. 'Please... Friend, I must.' She said softly, holding out her hand. Sandy scowled and shook his head. Zoe went to grab him but he vanished in a puff of gold sand. The Reaper swore and looked around, but the dream caster was gone. The shadows seemed to darken with his absence.

'Angel,' Jack said, Zoe stiffened.

'No Jack,' she replied. 'No. This time. I'm alone, no more pain.' She said quietly. Jack shook his head.

'Angel... you can't be serious,' he said. She smiled weakly at him.

'Yes, I am.' She said a tear rolling down her cheek. Jack held her by her shoulders trying to look at her face, but she kept twisting away. He even resorted to holding her chin, but she pulled away, even slapping his hand from her face. 'No Jack!' She said harshly. The tears fell thick and fast. Jack backed away shocked. The shadows came closer, touching Jack's staff and Zoe's scythe. 'I'm leaving,' she states. She doesn't give any of them a chance to stop her and she leaves out the nearest window. But Jack doesn't let her go that easily. He follows her and throws himself into the breeze.

…

He loses her for a while but manages to catch up. She was halted by a few familiar faces. She didn't look happy, her mouth set in a thin line. It was as he thought, she was trying to find Sandy. She clearly wanted to take the stone from him. They were standing in the middle of a glade, Zoe flanked by the two men. He drifted closer.

'-were worried,' Ashley said looking at Rosie who was nodding.

'I do not want help,' Zoe said frowning.

'There is a difference between needing and wanting, Reaper,' Lucas said bending down to her ear. His blade was still sheathed across his back. Zoe stormed forward pushing past the two women.

'Do not lecture me!' She spat twirling her scythe.

'Please listen to them Zoe!' Rosie asked moving to Lucas. Ashley dragged Seth closer to the Reaper. The men looked a little awkward. Clearly they were a little uneasy being close to her. Jack dropped onto a branch, he wanted time with Zoe alone. It wouldn't help to have other people around. He simply watched, unaware of the shadow that clung to him.

'Why the hell should I listen to anything they have to say?' She replies crossing her arms and frowning. Lucas' normally serene and calm face falls. He steps forward drawing his blade and swinging it toward her. She instantly raises the length of her scythe to block the blow. She pushed him back and returned with a strike of her own, her blade striking the earth as he rolls to the side, dodging her. Deep, electric blue emanates from the man, his green eyes had become a swirling black. Rosie grabs his arms as he raises his sword to retaliate. It's almost as if she drains him of power. His eyes settle and the blue slowly disappears. Seth walks forward, in between them. 'What the fuck was that about?!' Zoe demanded, glaring at Lucas. The spirit looked gentle again, simply looking calmly into Rosie's eyes. His blade never left his hand though. Jack had leapt to the balls of his toes and was about to intervene when Rosie got there first.

'Lucas is the spirit of Chaos,' Seth explained. 'He has learnt to control his temper... most of the time. But you mustn't rile him. Once he loses control, it's... problematic,' he says with an apologetic smile. 'Unless Rosie is around,' he says softly. Zoe looked confused and glanced over to where Lucas was cupping Rosie's cheek, she was whispering to him. 'She's the only person I've ever met that can do that,' Seth says with a faint smile.

'He is dangerous,' Zoe says, she couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealously at the couple. Seth shrugged.

'Aren't we all?' He said. Ashley walked over to them and leant on Seth's shoulder. 'Like Ashley and Rosie, Lucas and I are linked. We're not brothers though. It took me damn near four hundred years to calm him down after we became spirits.' Zoe watched as Lucas kissed Rosie softly, her heart aching. She blinked back tears. The blade that he held in one hand glowed briefly before he sheathed it across his back. Seth laughed, 'yet that woman can do it in minutes.' He chuckled.

'So what are you?' Zoe asked rudely. She didn't want their life stories. Ashley frowned a little at her tone but touched Seth's arm lightly nodding. Lucas walked away from Rosie, hovering by her shoulder. Ashley nodded at her sister's husband. Who bowed in reply, the difference between his calm façade and his ''chaos,'' was almost polar opposites.

'Justice,' Seth says looking at Ashley.

'Justice?' Zoe repeats, 'you're fucking with me right?' She rolled her eyes. 'Justice and Chaos? That's completely, that's just... it doesn't make sense.'

'I didn't say it would,' Seth said shrugging. 'It doesn't need to make sense. All I know is that he keeps me balanced and I do the same for him.'

Zoe sighed. 'I don't need, or want your help,' she said bitterly. She wouldn't be the cause for any more deaths. She went to turn away, Seth huffed and looked at Ashley who wrapped her arm around his waist. Lucas placed a hand on Rosie's shoulder smiling a little as she looked up at him. Zoe opened her wings and went to take off when Jack landed in front of her. She stumbled back. Rosie and Ashley looked shocked. 'What are you doing here Jack?' Zoe asked. She was sure that she had lost him over the mountains.

'I'm here for you Angel,' he said softly reaching out to touch her. Zoe stepped farther from him.

'No!' Zoe almost screamed at him. 'I-I don't n-need you!' But this time Jack wasn't taking no for an answer. He grabbed her, crushing her mouth under his own. Pouring all the desperate want for her into his kiss. She buckled under his grip and he held her around the waist. Her perfume was almost suffocating, but he inhaled heavily, savouring the smell. He felt her heart pound in her chest against his. The kiss was long and heavy, but Zoe cut it short pulling away from him, she dropped the scythe, using the back of her hands to wipe away her tears. She looked broken, when Jack placed his staff against a tree and went to embrace her she moved away further still. He was right, almost all of her hair was pale white and her wings were half dark.

'An-' he began, his words halted as the shadow that clung to his staff swamped over his body, he gasped and fell to his knees. Zoe looked at him, her eyes wide. The shadow faded as she watched but his body bucked and thrashed as if he was being constricted.

'J-Jack?' She said falteringly. He coughed, blood splattering to the bracken. Zoe screamed and ran to his side, she held him up, looking for whatever was hurting him. She could feel her tears fall swiftly. The fear in her heart was like a heated dagger, pierced straight through her chest. She scrabbled at his clothing, trying to keep him upright. His body tensed and she heard his tendons click with the strain. She looked at the others who simply watched in confusion. Lucas shook his head at Seth who looked conflicted, there was nothing they could do. 'No... no... no...' She stuttered. 'Jack look at me,' she said tilting his head to hers. He coughed, the blood running from the corner of his mouth. His body's spasms had calmed, his fingers twitched and shook. Zoe had pulled him onto her lap, 'Jack... please,' she begged. He lifted his hand and stoked her cheek smearing his blood over her skin. 'You can't...' She sobbed leaning into his hand. 'I need you,' she whispered. He chuckled and coughed.

'M-My... Angel,' he replied, his hand falling from her face. Zoe looked at him in disbelief as his head slumped to the side. She felt his heart slow under her hand. Her eyes darted over his still features.

'J-Jack?' She repeated. She heard a slight cry. Rosie and Ashley had tears streaming down their faces. Rosie buried in Lucas' chest. Seth held Ashley gently, but Zoe paid them no attention. Her hands shaking, she touched his throat, there was no pulse. Her lip stuttered as she spoke soundless words. 'B-But... I...' She began to speak. Her mind couldn't comprehend what just happened, then like a flood wave it crashed over her. She pulled him close to her and screamed into his chest, the high pitch made the others jump. But she kept screaming, not pausing for breath. She cried uncontrollably, rocking back and forth as she clutched his clothing, cradling his head in her arms. She howled and pulled at his hair, her pain filled her whole body, she was shaking. The cruellest moment was when she realised that she couldn't sense his soul, she hiccuped, paused in her mourning. Her fingers touched his cheek, he was cold, but not in the way that she was used to. Her mind flashed back to the moment she saw the shadow.

Pitch.

She sat back on her heels and placed Jack in front of her, she brushed the hair out of his eyes. She leant over and placed a light kiss on his still lips. Her tears fell onto his skin, causing the dried blood to begin running again. Her sadness was turning. Instead of being bitter and painful, it was becoming raw and hot. The anger swamped her body, her breath came faster and faster. Ashley looked at Seth and stepped forward.

'Zoe?' She said softly.

The Reaper stood up, she was beginning to glow, Seth gave Lucas a worried look. Zoe opened up her wings, they watched as the white feathers darkened rapidly, soon they were ebony. Her hair was washed with white, she turned and Ashley backed away, her once green eyes were now blood red. Jack's own blood streaked across her almost porcelain skin. She clapped her hands spreading them wide. Her scythe appeared between them, it's blade deepened to black.

'She is gone,' Lucas says quietly, he wasn't talking about physical being. He was talking about her mind. They watch as Zoe rises slowly beating her wings, she takes one last look at Jack, her face hardening. She ignores the others as she banks in the air. 'Dark times are coming my love,' he says brushing Rosie's hair from her eyes. 'The Nightmare King has played a dangerous game. He has essentially broken the Reaper's soul.' Lucas said with regret. They looked over to where Jack was lying. Seth tilted his head. There was something in the grass, a light flashing. He crossed over and picked it up.

'It's a phone,' he says with confusion. He unlocks the device and read the screen.

Confirm deletion?

Yes/No.

Seth clicked ''No.'' It was a video clip. He pressed play. After a few seconds he paused it. 'We need to get to the other Guardians,' he said slowly. Lucas looked at the phone and nodded. He bent down and picked Jack up, Ashley took his staff. They carefully made their way to North's workshop.

…

I hear screaming.

My mind.

Filled with pain.

Mine.

Sophie's.

Jamie's.

He took Jack from me.

He will never know my pain...

I will just have to do my best.

I am the balance.

I demand balance.

My thoughts are over run by the sound of my pain. Nails running down a blackboard. My throat so hoarse it bleeds. I feel as if my heart has been torn from my chest and shown to me.

He took my Jack.

My Jack Frost.

My one love.

My soul.

Well. Yeah. I await your screaming reviews. Just bear in mind that this isn't the last chapter. There's a fair few left yet. Please review with whatever your thoughts are. I eagerly sit at my laptop waiting. Oh, also apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes.