Chapter 13: Flying High In The Sky
Jack, Bunnymund and Tooth all assembled in North's study. Mandy was still in there. He had chosen a spot in the back of the room, in one of the corners that faced North's desk. North was still sitting behind his desk. His fingers were entwined and he was leaning back in his chair. He had a patient like look about him. They weren't alone. Sandy had drifted into the room and was hovering around North's desk.
"Ah, excellent," North clapped his hands together which made a loud noise that made everyone jump. "Everyone is here. Righto, let's get started. As well all know, there is a war between our kind, the Werewolves, and the Vampires. This war has gone far enough and Manny and I feel like it is time that it comes to an end."
"Here, here," muttered Tooth.
North beamed at her. "Righto, so you guys are all probably wondering how we are going to do this, no?" he looked around the group and he could see some faces that were nodding to his question. "So, the answer is simple. Most Vampires, I believe, with some help will come to a peace agreement. Their side has lost many numbers and they won't want that to continue."
"Our side has lost numbers too," Bunnymund interjected.
"I was just about to say that," North waggled his finger at Bunnymund.
"You said 'most'," Tooth said.
"Ah yes," North sighed. "Not every Vampire will be willing to come to a peace agreement. This is because of Pitch Black. He has poisoned the minds of the Vampires against us and thus poisoned the minds of Werewolves against Vampires. He has a small group of Vampires that are dedicated to his course and these Vampires help other Vampires 'see the truth' as they put it. Pitch Black must be stopped. Agreed?" there were a murmuring of agreement among The Guardians. "Excellent!" North looked happy about this. "Based on our knowledge, Pitch Black has a castle in France. We go there to search for him. Is everyone packed? We leave at first light!"
"Yes," came the muttering of The Guardians.
"Great!" North said again. "Okay, we have a couple of hours before we leave, so everyone get yourselves prepared."
They all left the room at the same time leaving Manny and North in there alone. As soon as they started to amble out, Manny headed straight to North's desk. He lowered his head and North leaned in. They started to talk in a low whisper.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Tooth had caught up to Bunnymund and Jack. She promptly ignored Bunnymund which gave him a saddened expression. Tooth would stubbornly be mad at Bunnymund for a while before she finally gave in and forgive him. She could never stay mad at Bunnymund for too long. However, there was something different this time. Bunnymund really had overstepped a line. Jack wondered if he could ever recover from that.
"I dunno," Jack replied. "Maybe something to do with the mission?"
"Hmm, maybe," Tooth shrugged.
Tooth then bounded off to her room leaving Jack and Bunnymund alone. Jack just shrugged at Bunnymund when he gave him a lost expression. Jack then walked to his room and collapsed on his bed. He sighed up at the ceiling. Soon they would be in France. Maybe he will see Elsa again? Getting into Pitch's stronghold wouldn't be easy. He just wished there was a way for him to communicate with Elsa, to tell her that he was coming. His old friend Jamie Bennett – who was now living with his family in DC when he moved because of work – would tell him to use a cell phone.
Jamie Bennett, now there was a guy who he hadn't thought about for a while. Jack had met him only about a couple of decades ago. Jamie wasn't a Werewolf or a Vampire. He was just a human who had a lot of interested in the supernatural. He was a guy who believed in ghosts, aliens, fairies and the strange and mysterious. Jack had met him studying for a project he was doing on Werewolves when he was five years ago. He had been in the library just looking up books and he had asked Jack to reach a book that he couldn't reach. Jack had noticed that it was a book about Werewolves and Jamie had told him that it was for a project he was doing on animals. According to Jamie, the rest of the class was doing their projects on things like lions but Jamie wanted to do something different which Jack approved of. Jack had given a few pointers for his project (which ended up giving him an A for the project which Jack loved to bask in) and Jamie had thanked him. Jamie's mother had seen them working (she volunteered at the library) and had thanked Jack herself. It didn't take them too long to become really good friends.
The following year, Jamie had worked out that Jack was a Werewolf. Jack didn't know how he had found out but Jamie had researching Werewolves that entire time. Although Jack had the strangest feeling that Jamie may have witnessed one of his transformations. Jack had transformed into a Werewolf in a forest that was near Jamie's house. Jamie had told his sister, Sophie Bennett and together they pretty much became obsessed with the whole situation. Jack had admitted it and they became very close. Over the years, Jack had become Jamie's tutor, baby sitter and friend.
However, now Jamie is twenty five years old and married. He lived with this woman called Emma Stevenson. They had met when Jamie was at university. Jamie had kept Jack a secret from Emma as it would be strange to explain their relationship to her but she soon figured it out as she was quite smart and she accepted it despite her being weirded out by it all. They married after a few years later and they couldn't be happier.
Thinking about Jamie's and Emma's relationship reminded Jack of Elsa and the problem he was having. The only problem was is that he didn't know Elsa's number nor knew if she even had one. He didn't know what she would be like in this technology era. So how could he get into contact with her? Well, it looks like he may just have to wait to see her. Jack decided, instead, to try a few French verbs. Jack knew a little bit of French. He had spent a year in France after he just joined The Guardians they were doing quite a bit of travelling. Jack tried to do a few simple French verbs but he couldn't get the pronunciation correct. He guessed that he was a little rusty after all these years. Jack let out a little chuckle. Maybe he would get a little better when he arrives in France.
It seemed only a few minutes later but North was yelling around the den saying that it was time to go. Jack checked his watch and was shocked to see that hours had gone by. Jack quickly gathered his stuff and headed out of his room. He and the other Guardians scrambled into North's car which was one of those big Jeeps, coloured a dark green colour. Tooth, Sandy, Bunnymund and Jack joined North in the car. Manny was staying behind.
"All good?" North asked them and when they nodded, he started the engine of the car. It burst into life and Jack could feel the car vibrating due to the engine.
North drove the car to the airport. When they got there, they hadn't booked a flight, so they had to wait around for a while. That didn't include having to wait in line to get a flight. The flight that would have been optimal was leaving in an hour but it was fully booked. North had let out a groan, you could tell that he wanted to be in France as soon as possible. The next flight wasn't leaving for seven hours. They booked those tickets and waited around in the airport.
It wasn't fun. With Tooth and Bunnymund not really talking to each other, really caused some tension in the air. North had bought a newspaper and was reading that. Jack ended up sitting with him as he didn't want to be dragged into anything with Tooth and Bunnymund. They were sitting on a bunch of seats and they were sitting on opposite sides. Bunnymund would try and edge closer but Tooth just ignored him. It was part of her stubbornly ignoring him. Jack hoped that it would go away at some point. Sandy had gone off to explore the airport.
Jack just stared out into the airport. He just focused on the people that were moving around the airport. Jack could see some people racing to catch a flight. One guy raced off when he named was said over the intercom. Jack did whatever he could do keep himself from being bored. He hadn't really bought much with him, so he ended up buying some these from some local stores such as books, cards and travel scramble – although no one was really enthusiastic about playing that with him. Although Tooth and Jack played a few rounds of Gin and to Jack's delight, allowed Bunnymund to join in for a few rounds of Scum. Jack was just glad that he wasn't going to die of boredom in this hotel.
Eventually North checked his watch and told everyone to gather everything and head off to the gate. They all lined up at the gate, ready to check in when they were called. Since they had booked their flight so late, they were all split up. There were only two people sitting together and North had casually handed these two tickets to Tooth and Bunnymund. They had only realised that they were sitting together when they compared their tickets when they were standing by their seats. It was difficult to swap seats by that stage as everyone had taken their seats and they didn't want cause a fuss.
Jack, who was only a few seats behind them, could only laugh. Jack was sitting next to a woman who was constantly writing things down on a notebook. Jack saw that she was writing down facts about something in French. Jack could translate what she was writing from his rough knowledge of French. Jack could tell from her writing that she was a journalist. Next to her, sitting at the aisle was a man that seemed overly excited about something. He was dressed in a business suit and looked like he was going on business somewhere, well until he looked further. He, like the woman next to him, both were speaking French to each other. The way they were speaking to each that they obviously know each other well. It wasn't until the woman held his hand and gave him a small kiss that he realised they were probably married. They were wearing matching wedding bands after all.
"Are you guys going back home?" he asked in rough French.
"Qui," the woman said and then smiled at him. She could tell that his French wasn't very good. She switched to English and spoke in a very heavily accented voice. "We are going back to see our children. We 'ave been away for nearly two weeks now on 'oliday in America."
"Sounds fun," Jack smiled.
"First time going to Paris?" she said the word 'Paris' in a very French like manner and flourished her fingers.
"Non," Jack said trying to sound French. "I used to live in that area a while back but now going back to visit a friend."
"Ah, I see," she said.
The rest of the flight was relatively easy. Jack learnt a lot about the French couple lives. They lived in Paris with two sons; Louie and Pierre. The husband works in business in the States so he flies back and forwards. Jack eventually fell asleep midway through the flight. Jack slept for several hours and woke up with a blanket over him. He hadn't had one when he woke up. He guessed that the people next to him were decent enough to do that. He could see Tooth and Bunnymund sleeping in their seats. Jack let out a small chuckle when he saw Tooth's head resting on Bunnymund's shoulder. Jack had seen them talking from time to time during the flight before and had enjoyed it. He had even heard Tooth laughing at something that Bunnymund had said which made Jack's heart soar. Maybe they were finally making up. Jack certainty hoped so.
They landed a couple of hours later. Jack followed the French couple off the plane as soon as he gathered his bag. He joined North, Tooth, Bunnymund and Sandy as they hopped off the plane. Jack noticed that Tooth and Bunnymund were a bit more civil with each other. Jack wondered if it was the plane ride or they had reached an understanding with each other. Jack just hoped that this was the beginning of their relationship coming back on track.
North led them outside after he had talked to the rental company about hiring a car for a while. The car was big and it was suitable for carrying all of them and their luggage in the massive boot. Jack and the others ambled into.
"Onwards," North said. He pulled out what looked like a piece of paper and programmed some numbers into a GPS system. "Off we go!"
Elsa was left in her room feeling very confused at what had just happened between her and Anton. One minute he was brandishing a photo of Jack and the next, he was smiling at her and seemed to accept that she was dating a Werewolf. Elsa was quite perplexed on what was going on. Did Anton just say that he was fine with it all? Elsa just stood in her room for several minutes thinking about the meaning of this. Elsa just collapsed on her bed as she tried to take this all in.
Elsa didn't realise how much time had passed until her clock chimed four o'clock in the afternoon. Elsa guessed she should get some rest before she had to get up. Elsa's eyes closed. Barely, what felt like a minute later, she heard someone knocking on her door. A second later she heard Ragnar's voice.
"Elsa," he said. "Come on, it's time to get up! Pitch is demanding everyone there."
Elsa looked at her clock and was amazed to see how much time had passed.
"Okay," she called back. "Be there in a minute."
Elsa quickly got up and she rubbed her eyes. It didn't feel like she had a proper sleep but she didn't feel too tired. She got dressed and as she did she found her photos. Elsa slotted her picture of Jack, the one that Anton took out, back into the collection of photos. She sighed as she did. She clutched the photos closed to her once beating heart. So many memories were in these photos and Anton had drudged up some of those memories. The past seemed to be coming back more and more recently. It started when she ran into Jack again. That moment changed her life and she knew it would continue to change her life. She didn't think it was a coincidence that the day she ran into Jack was the day that all her past memories that she had wanted to be kept buried, had resurfaced. Elsa placed the photos back into her jacket pocket and threw that over her t-shirt.
Elsa headed out the door and found that Ragnar had waited for her. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah," Elsa nodded.
Together they headed down the corridor and back down the main staircase. Elsa knew that Pitch would want to have everyone present for breakfast. He was that kind of guy. Elsa and Ragnar headed through the doors to the Great Hall. Everyone else was already there. Pitch was seated at the head of the table with Doctor Frasier sitting to his left. Anton was sitting diagonally to Doctor Frasier which left a space between him and Pitch.
"Ah," Pitch clapped his hands. "At last. Elsa you sit next to me." He nodded to the empty seat to his right.
Elsa felt a strange feeling in her stomach. She wondered if this was simply a nice gesture or if he was trying to continue what he had tried to start with her a couple of nights ago. The seat to the right is after all, the seat of honour. Doctor Frasier usually sat in it as he was one of Pitch's closest friends and allies but now it looked like Pitch is shifting his attention and favour onto someone else. Doctor Frasier simply grinned at Elsa as she took her seat. It didn't seem as if Doctor Frasier minded Elsa taking his spot.
Ragnar sat down next to Doctor Frasier and opposite Anton. Elsa was seated next to Anton, herself. She kept sending him side glances to which he simply smiled in return. Maybe Anton enjoyed making Elsa confused and acting all mysterious. Pitch grinned widely at Elsa when she had sat down. Elsa had forced a grin in return.
"So Elsa," he said. "Did you have a good night sleep?"
Obviously he was trying to pull her into a conversation with him. Elsa decided to just go with the flow. She really wanted to have a conversation with Anton but she wanted to have a private conversation with him and she couldn't really have one while people like Pitch and Doctor Frasier were listening in.
"Okay, I guess," Elsa replied as some food and another blood cocktail was placed in front of her. She didn't realise just how thirsty she was when she saw the blood cocktail. She made sure not to gulp it down all at once but instead, she sipped it politely.
Pitch launched into a conversation that was mainly about him and his ventures in the Vampire-Werewolf war. Elsa pretended to be interested in the conversation making sure she said things like 'yeah' and 'of course' as the conversation continued. She was more interested in her fork than what Pitch was saying. More than half of what he was saying was going over her head. It was simply a boost to try and impress her. It reminded her of her talking to Jack. When they had gone out on their first date, Elsa had been the one to talk through the night as Jack had kept asking her things about her and always spun the conversation onto her. Jack had been interested in her. Pitch was just interested in himself.
After breakfast, Pitch insisted on giving Elsa a tour of the castle himself. Elsa couldn't think of a decent excuse so she accepted. She had hoped to corner Anton after breakfast to talk to him but it looked like she may have to wait for that. Elsa followed Pitch around his castle accompanied by Doctor Frasier, Ragnar and Anton. He kept jabbering on about his castle but Elsa was actually interested in the history of the castle. It was built in a time way before hers and she had always been interested in history. She had been taught history in her private lessons when she was growing up.
"Interesting," Elsa said after Pitch told her a story of how a certain painting came into his possession. Apparently it had been smuggled out Russia during the 12th century.
"Isn't it?" Pitch beamed at her.
Elsa nodded. "I do love a good history lesson."
"Ah, then I can give you many," Pitch grinned.
"I am getting tired now," Elsa said. They had been walking around pretty much all day with a small break for lunch. "Maybe it is time to rest?"
"Agreed," Pitch nodded. "We shall pick this up tomorrow but for now, let us rest."
Pitch led them into a lounge like room where Elsa quickly grabbed Anton by the shoulder before they went in. She had been waiting for this opportunity. She desperately needed to talk to him.
"So what's up?" he asked her when she led him towards the staircase.
"You know what's up," Elsa said. "You broke into my room, found my picture of Jack and now you're acting cool about me having a romantic relationship with a Werewolf?"
"What you do is your business," Anton shrugged. "It's not up to me to judge. If you're happy then I'm good. He seems to mean a lot to you and so I leave it alone. Besides, I have never been too thrilled about the hatred between Vampires and Werewolves. I mean we are practically in the same boat here. Together we could work together to discover where we came from and for what purpose."
"I see," Elsa said, "and I agree. Jack and I have decided that the war needs to end."
"I approve with that," Anton said. "I have never been too fussed with the war. I fight it as Doctor Frasier is my boss and Pitch is the leader of my kind and do what I'm told but to tell the truth, I am sick of it."
"So am I," Elsa sighed. "If only there was way we could stop it all."
"Do you have such a way?" Anton asked.
Elsa bit her lip. "Maybe. Jack and I are working on it."
"Hopefully you will come up with an answer."
"I hope so –"
"Doctor Frasier," Anton quickly interrupted and whispered to Elsa.
They both drew quiet as Doctor Frasier walked by. They smiled at him and he smiled back. He then headed up the stairs and out of sight. Elsa breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't think that he had heard anything.
It was quite late for Pitch but he was working on several things. Today he felt like was a good step in his quest for a relationship with Elsa. They seemed to have connected today which was certainly a good thing. Pitch leaned back in his chair and fiddled with his pen. He was sitting in his private office and was behind his desk. There was then a knock at the door. Pitch told whoever it was to come in. Pitch got a surprise when Doctor Frasier walked in. He had thought he had gone to bed long ago but he guessed not.
"Doctor Frasier," Pitch said. "I am glad that you are here, sit down." Doctor Frasier nodded and took a seat in the chair opposite Pitch. "What do you think about this," Pitch said. "I'm thinking about making Elsa captain of my guards. I was thinking about announcing it at the council meet tomorrow."
"She is a good fighter," Doctor Frasier shrugged. "She sure is suited for the job."
"That way she can stay here and maybe something will start up between us," Pitch shrugged too. "I don't know what will happen but I have high hopes."
Pitch smiled at Doctor Frasier. Doctor Frasier half heartily smiled back which made Pitch wonder what was going on.
"There is something you should know," Doctor Frasier said.
His concerned voice made Pitch fully alerted. Pitch wondered what Doctor Frasier could have to tell her. There could be a number of things that he had to tell him. It could be practically be about anything. Maybe it had something to do with Elsa. Did Doctor Frasier not approve of him wanting a relationship with Elsa? Well if he did, then that was going to be a sticky point between them. Pitch was determined to do what he could to get Elsa to fall for him. Elsa did have a knack for making people fall for her wherever she went. It was just one of her many perks. When Pitch had first met her many years ago, he had fallen for her right then and there. He did know that Doctor Frasier had once fallen for Elsa but that was many years ago and he wasn't completely sure that crush was over yet. Maybe that is the reason why Doctor Frasier may not approve of Pitch wanting a relationship with Elsa. Maybe he was hoping for one with her himself. Well if he was, maybe it would be a race to see who Elsa would pick.
"Yes?" Pitch asked Doctor Frasier.
He really wanted to know what Doctor Frasier was thinking in that head of his. It sounded quite serious and craved his attention.
"Elsa is having a romantic relationship with a Werewolf known as Jack Frost."
A/N: Oh no. Pitch knows. Doctor Frasier now knows. What is going to happen next? Is Elsa in danger? Well it sounds like she has an ally in Anton but will that be enough? I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter. Please review =)
Reviews:
heartfulyumi: Writing more as asked. Hopefully it will just keep getting good.
lollipop3056: I agree with you on Bunny! Tooth does indeed have a point. Maybe Jack will see Elsa again. It sure looked like Pitch bother Elsa again in this chapter but something is telling me that he won't be after this. Yeah, it is intense, probably only going to continue like that. Thanks so much!
Calmdownmari: Glad you have been obsessing with the story, I do hope that continues. On updating, I do try and update as soon as I can. I try to do daily updates but that is tough due to uni work.
Frostbite Productions: Hmm, no Jelsa since you have mentioned someone else as Jack's love interest?
fireninjafox: Yeah =)
Guest: Hmm, what is your 'what' on may I ask?
Kat-IlluminatedPurity: It seems like you are on the mark about Anton. He looks like he is going to keep her secret for her and he has similar aims to her. He may end up being an important ally to her. Yeah, Bunnymund will need all the luck in the world to make up with Tooth (although they did seem like they were slipping back into their normal habits in this chapter, but does that mean Tooth has forgiven Bunnymund? Time will tell. Wow, glad to see that you are jumping for joy. I'm happy that my story is something you have been enjoying. Putting out more as asked.