8. The Wrath of Summer
July 13
Death Valley
Lady Midday lay spread out on the ground, eyes fixed on the sun. Everything was progressing as planned. Rolling over, Midday nearly purred as the harsh rays began eating away at the lingering winter chill. She loved the desert and the bunker located thirty feet under her was her pride and joy. Despite not using electricity (she'd given up on trying decades ago), her home was a feat of engineering. Thick stone walls, a magic infused security system, and a system of mirrors and magnifying glass decorations that sent the first floor's temperature to broiling levels. It was the perfect place for her. Sadly, it wasn't the sort of place she could bring guests to.
Standing up, Midday stretched, enjoying the crack as she arched her back, before taking to the sky as the sun orb. This technique was pretty recent and even Mother had been surprised at her success, not knowing her Second in Command would be able to shapeshift. Roaring through the air, she soon arrived at her destination: North Brother Island. Resuming humanoid form three hundred feet above land and lowering herself slowly (Mother wouldn't want her to kill the local bird populations), Midday landed with a soft thump on the green grass. Looking at her companions, she gave a smile that was all teeth.
"You all know why we're here."
HSHSHSHS
North Pole
The Guardians stood in shock, unable to process their youngest's words. "You," North started, "will not fight Lady Midday?" When Jack and Sandy had announced a meeting, the others had thought that it was to finalize plans. But instead the two had suggested finding some magic mirror to help her. It just didn't add up. "No." North raised his voice, cutting off Jack mid-sentence, "we have orders. Manny says we must stop her."
Jack felt himself getting angry, the internal voices increasing in volume. "So what?!" He snapped, relishing the stunned looks, "MiM doesn't know her! You all knew her at some point, you know this isn't natural! We just-
"Just nothing, Frostbite!" Bunny had finally recovered his voice. "YOU are the one who doesn't get it! She's nuts, alright?! Whatever she was, it's gone. You think you're the first to argue on her half, mate? You aren't. Try to get close and she'll kill you, or isn't this clear enough?" He gestured to the singed fur on his torso and the burned flesh under it, still nowhere near healed. Bunny was furious. How dare Jack side with the enemy! Midday was Mother Nature's, a she-devil with no concept of mercy and he wanted them to betray the Man in the Moon for her!?
Jack backed up as the Guardian of Hope advanced but refused to give in. "Look, I know she hurt you, but-
"ENOUGH!" North's shout cut through the air, making him flinch. "We are Guardians, Jack. It is our duty to protect the children from Midday. I'm sorry but we will not be going on wild chase for her sake." Jack stood as the others, apart from Sandy, left the room. Turning to a small shadow hiding under the table, he spoke, "Deal."
HSHSHSHS
The trio stood facing each other, a sense of awkwardness permeating the air. Midday resisted the urge to set something on fire, knowing it wouldn't help her case. Despite the fact that they were Mother's most trusted advisors, the seasonal spirits were rarely able to work together, their natures clashing on principle. To be honest, Midday knew it was probably more her than anything; they could sense her instability, feel the summer blaze scraping against their own magics. But they weren't exactly normal either.
May Flowers fidgeted under her stare. The spring spirit was normally a very bubbly, outgoing person, her stubborn optimism contrasting nicely with April's morbidity. Even before Pitch, Lady Midday seriously doubted they would've gotten along. If anything, it may have been worse if the other felt confident enough to argue with her. Despite that, she could respect May's work ethic. Every year after April Showers woke her from her winter hibernation, the strawberry blonde would be zipping across the planet, pulling out all the stops to bring life to the land. It had been something she had done from the beginning, since Mother had created her and Harvester from scratch. She had never been human, her light green skin and pointed ears attesting to the fact.
The Harvester, spirit of autumn, was…different. He creeped May out worse than she did, which was pretty funny since the tall male was WAY less likely to harm her if she got mouthy. Midday privately thought that he was very attractive in his own way. Very artistic, his skin fully patterned with autumn leaves, a swirl of colors that reminded her of a bonfire. Long black hair fell past his shoulders, matching his dark eyes. While modern costume makeup might be able to copy the effects, it sure couldn't recreate the silky black crow wings Mother had given him. That, matched with wicked black claws and pearly fangs, was enough to terrify May and attract her, though she had gotten over the interest after realizing how incompatible they were. While she was firey and passionate, he was cool and distant, rarely speaking and never seeking the company of others. They only really saw each other in the space between their seasons, where the chill had begun to creep in but the heat was still putting up a fight.
Midday felt a surge of anger as an image of a white haired boy with icy eyes danced through her mind. Meeting the winter spirit had put her in a foul mood, especially since he WOULD. NOT. GET. OUT. OF. HER. HEAD! He had been the second seasonal spirit, but he wasn't here, wasn't one of them. She remembered first hearing about Jack Frost, the grave insult of the Man in the Moon daring to create a seasonal, taking the winter chill away, meaning that their court would always be incomplete. Magic, despite common misconceptions, was limited. In creating a winter spirit, the Man had robbed her of her future partner. Summer and winter were the most powerful seasons, opposites in every way, but still a pair. May Flowers and the Harvester were her allies, but the winter spirit, the one that Mother had planned to create, would have been her other half. Jack Frost's rebirth had been a defiance of the natural order, an act of war against her mistress. Midday grit her teeth, feeling her blood literally beginning to boil.
The others had agreed to give aid. Soon, Jack Frost and all other unnatural spirits would no longer be a problem. Mother would once again posses the winter magics and she would be complete. Taking once more to the sky, Lady Midday headed towards her next destination. Time to rally the troops.
Note: What do you think of the last few chapters? I can't help feeling quality has slipped a bit. Still, I like the idea of the four seasonal spirits and Midday's issue/fascination with Jack.