Disclaimer: Disclaimed
Spoiler: Spoiled
Dear Elyon, please check below for your reply.
Chapter 8: (Jack's P.O.V.)
I awoke with the moonlight on my face. I looked around, fumbling for my staff. Where was she? Where was that woman? The nefarious Spirit, where was she? Was she hiding in the forest again?
I gazed all around the pond before I regained my bearings. Right, she already left. It went from daybreak to sunset. I fainted from the fatigue due to the lost battle. Damn it! I slammed my staff onto the ice, cracking a large crevice in it. I lost to that revolting mess of a woman! I crumpled up in fetus position. The flashbacks were coming back to me. The fake murders and deaths I committed in my head. Images she forced upon me. Would that be considered as assault in mortal terms? Or would it be psychological trauma to the psychologists and psychiatrists? If I were human I would be probably be insane by now but no. I am a Guardian and I will protect the children from her.
I gritted my teeth and looked up to the moon.
"Man in the Moon, I promise you that I will defend the children of the world from that she-devil. I swear on it by my title as Guardian, I will guard the children!"
I paid one last glance at the moon before I let the wind pick up and carry me to North's toy factory. It was time to share to the Guardians the signal of war as soon as possible.
| 0.0 |
I let the wind blow me straight into the window of North's office. I had hit the frozen glass with a noisy thud alerting him of my presence. I grabbed my face and massaged it. Never launch yourself around North's castle as tempting as it is. Windows hurt!
As expecting of my luck, it isn't North that came first to me. It was his Yetis, his toy making soldiers that came rushing towards me armed with, what did you guess? Toy hammers and plastic pirate swords. They were down below looking for the perpetrator. They raised their arms way past their furry heads just like the old times when I tried breaking into the fortress of toys. Good times!
My face broke into a smile as I swirled around the workers. They made grunting noises disappointed that they couldn't get me. All is fun and games until they put you in a sack I say.
"Jack! What are you doing here?" North's voice boomed from below.
My face fell as the severity of the situation fell in again. The call of war has been sent by a powerful force. She was probably stronger than Pitch, her anger and loath for us being reservoirs for her negative powers. She is the embodiment of violence and destruction and she had this sense of madness attached to her. There was no telling what she could do to us or the children. Madness is endless, violence is sadistic behaviour from her and destruction could mean the end to all.
North grabbed my shoulder roughly and pushed me into his toy factory. His jolly personality vanished under his serious Guardian mask. You could still see the glint of wonder in his eyes if you looked hard enough. He directed me to his gigantic globe with the panel in front. He grabbed both shoulders now and turned me around gently.
"Jack… what happened to you child?"
I regarded North as a fatherly figure. He always had this gentle touch when we were alone. He helped and led me onto the path of Guardianship and I appreciated that immensely. I thought back to the matryoshka doll he made me, that could be considered one of the nicest things done for me in my new life other than being believed in. I knew that I could trust him and that's what I was going to do.
"The world needs the Guardians again. A new threat has appeared, North" I said gravely.
I hated being serious but I knew that this was one of the times to be. Seriousness simply wasn't in my nature. Who ever saw anyone mix serious and fun and still be cool? No one.
"Then I'll alert the othe-" North began to say before I stopped him.
"May I? I've always wanted to pull the trigger thingy."
My eyes lit up at the thought of the trigger. How many chances do you get to create the Aurora Borealis in your lifetime? Hopefully not many but I wouldn't pass up this chance for the world!
North gestured towards the machine and I slowly advanced. Imagine the song "We Are the Champions" in slow motion while I walked towards the device. I placed my hand gently on the trigger as if it would shatter at my frigid hands. My leisure pace conflicted with my quick acts. I pulled, twisted and pushed all in seconds. Glee shot through my core from the knowledge of what I was doing. I set the Northern Lights up!
The next few minutes were blurred motions. Toothiana came bursting into the area, Bunnymund shot from the ground and Sandy came from the skylight. All gathered because of me. I know this wasn't the moment but I felt so powerful to have been able to call together this band of childhood heroes. I wonder if North ever felt that way?
"Whaddayou want now Jack? I thought we were supposed to keep to our posts." Snarled Bunnymund.
Seriously, I might've liked him better in his little bunny form rather than his 6 foot tall hare form. Too bad we will be all needed at our fullest of strengths.
"Jack? What's wrong?" asked Toothiana sweetly.
I can always count on Tooth to bring the sugar while Bunny brings the salt. Take the sugar and the salt, that's what I heard parents say to their adolescent children from neighbouring towns of Jamie's.
Sandy was his usual self being who I can always count on. He was patient unlike the others until patience wasn't needed anymore.
"You are all gathered here today for me" my voice cracked a little. The memories came back to me at an alarming rate before my eyes. "…to tell you about a new threat."
Tooth gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. My sentiments matched hers, I thought the danger had passed.
"Turns out Pitch had a girlfriend. Shocking, I know. She came to me this morning to tell me to tell you guys that she is coming for us. I've seen her powers, she makes Pitch look like Alvin. Seriously."
I noticed that the group chuckled or at least smiled at my remark about the woman. Might as well through in some sugar with the salt. Plus, who would have expected it? Not me.
"Who is she Jack?" asked Toothiana worriedly. She took the brunt of the attacks for her children's memories were stolen first as well as her fairies, kidnapped right under our noses.
I forced the name out grudgingly. It wasn't like me saying Melanie's name. This name was like acid running up my throat. Surges of hateful feelings wanted to burst out along with other attacks thrown to her. I gripped my staff harder to restrain myself. Do not lash out. Do not become the hallucinations of that woman. Simply don't, Jack!
From the looks of my fellow friends, they had no idea who she was. I believed she kept herself quite hidden for none of us to have known her. Not even North, the oldest Guardian of us all.
"What do ya mean by "seen her powers"?" asked Bunnymund in his Aussie accent.
I couldn't spill the whole story yet. Not now, not so soon. So I gave them a shortened slightly sugared up version of the battle, "We were fighting. She channeled her powers with chants. You don't want to get to close to her, she'll show you her tricks she learned from her boyfriend. I got beat up because of that."
Bunny smiled. Of course he'd smile, I would smile to despite myself if he told me he got beat up. Hey, we have a love-hate relationship!
Sandy started popping up pictures to see if I was alright. I smiled gently and patted his head and nodded. I had to lie, so they wouldn't worry. We have enough on our plate to direct our energies too.
"She is the spirit of violence and destruction. She came to deliver her call of war. We took down Pitch so she wants to take us down."
I shuddered at the thought of her taking us down like how she took my down today. None of them are going to experience the same thing if I have anything to do with it. None.
Tooth almost fell out of the air when I mentioned the threat. Bunny stood straighter knowing the danger at hand. North stood straighter and had his hands on his twin swords. Classic Sandy was ready to use his fists to talk some sense into that spirit.
"A new danger on the rise? Well, by our oath, the children come first." Started North taking the leadership role as easily as slipping on his coat. "Protect the children team! Do not forget to keep an eye on our future dreaming child either. Be wary and do not, absolutely do not underestimate Valleria, she seems to be much more than what Jack is making her out to be."
North uttered her name and I trembled out of fear and anger. He also called me out on keeping bits and pieces of the story to myself. I wouldn't say though and he knew it. I steeled my eyes towards his and we had a moment. I would keep my story to myself so long as I paid close attention to Melanie and the kids. North wouldn't pry it out of me if I kept my end of our unspoken minute bargain.
"Let's shake on it!" said Tooth happily.
She was trying to get rid of her fear by reverting back to her cheerful slightly air headed self again. She stuck out her feathery arm, Sandy smiled a toothy smile and stuck his short arm out, North stuck his out and Bunny extended his furry limb out.
Lastly I placed my hand in the pile and Tooth yelled gleefully, "Guardians!"
We all broke at the same time with whoops and cheers with sand fireworks by Sandman.
Everyone started to leave, either by flight or underground. I glanced at North and smiled gratefully to him. It was time to return to being my center, Fun.
"I'll come back later maybe and play around! Hope the Yetis know how to play pirates!" I cheered.
I swept myself away before I could hear North's response. I didn't want to hear his fatherly advice today. Not now. All I wanted to do was get a good night's sleep after all the commotion; but not before a little visit to my girl.
I landed on her window ledge and gently knocked on the glass. It swung open quietly. Melanie really needed to learn how to lock her windows! I spread apart her drapes and found her sleeping body buried in the center of her bed.
She looked at peace… or so I thought. As I approached with the windows now locked and the drapes pushed back I saw her pained expression. Unlike the night before, she looked as if she got caught with me in bed with her by her dad. Her eyebrows furrowed deeply together, her mouth wide open moving. She was sleep talking murmuring my name.
"Jack… No, Jack! Come back… Jack, stay! JACK!"
She screamed my name out. Her eyes burst open in horror; she was panting and sweating heavily. Her eyes searched the room trying to grab a grasp on reality. When her gaze landed on me, she was astounded. She scrambled to her feet on her bed and lunged towards me. Her arms came around my neck, her legs entwining my body. I felt hot water fall on my shoulder, it took me a few moments to realize she was sobbing. Her cries raked through her body. She buried her head in my shoulder trying to muffle the sounds of her weeping probably for her dad.
I wrapped my left arm around her small body and used my right to stroke her hair. "Hey, what's wrong…?"
She shook her head violently crashing her it towards my neck. She gripped my body even harder, a sure sign of refusal. Karma I suppose?
I walked towards her bed and sat down with her still attached to me. She was practically sitting on my lap as I sat. I continued to stroke her hair and coax her into telling me about her dream.
"You said my name, Melanie. You even screamed it. You have to tell me what you were dreaming about."
Melanie chuckled bitterly and replied, "You have no idea how dirty that sounds Jack."
I could feel faint heat penetrating my cold exterior. Did teens in this generation really think about everything in the sick-minded way?
"Hmph, take it as you will. But I want to know what you dreamt about. Let me help you, Mel." I stared straight into her beautiful eyes.
Her visage started to soften as she inched away to be next to me instead of on me. She took a shaky breath before she started her tale of terrors.
Melanie said it always started and ended the same. We were at an ice pond. Either she or I would die. We would drown, die in an avalanche, played hide and seek in the forest and a tree falls on either of us crushing the person under. The earth would just split and swallow us up. Always when one was dying the other would left him or her behind. Or when one was on the risk of dying, they would ignore all warnings. The last dream she had was me simply being picked up by the wind. I lost control of the gale and was blown away, straight into a tree branch. Apparently, I was going so fast that the branch went into me as quick as the second hand turning on a clock. Melanie could barely keep the fear out of her voice, it broke several times and she had to take many deep breaths before continuing.
As Melanie was talking, I realized that this was what I went through this morning. Which meant that woman must have visited Melanie in her sleep! I felt my rage bubbling up again, now not only for the kids, Guardians and I but this time, it was personal. She made a direct attack to this girl who I was going to make mine and by hurting her, she hurt me… again.
I gripped my hands so hard that what was pale was now pure white. Melanie in her tear-stained glory still placed me before her. She set her hands on top of mine and massaged them to loosen my grip. Slowly I relaxed my grip due to her rubbing but that didn't stop my disdain for that woman.
I grabbed Melanie in an embrace and whispered to her ear, "I won't let this happen again. I won't ever let it happen. You are important to me. I would never let you die and I can't die. You won't lose me Melanie."
I nuzzled my face into her warm neck and relished in the heat. I tightened my grip on her and she returned it with equal strength.
"You won't lose me either Jack." She whispered back.
I released her and stood up. Melanie's arms drooped and she had a bewildered expression on her face.
"Go to sleep, Mel. Don't you have school tomorrow?" I told Melanie.
"Only if you sleep with me." She said while she covered her beet red face.
I smirked and motioned for her to be in bed first. Once she got comfortable while making sure she left room for me, I climbed in right next to her. I really should get a change of clothes with the things I do!
"I'll make you cold again." I teased. My half-smile was up, hoping she'd fall and sleep,
"It's fine! We have blankets don't we?"
Melanie moved right into me again and it still felt perfect. It felt like heaven to have her right next to me all innocently. Although, she really should be more guarded about sharing a bed with a boy, despite the innate knowledge of knowing that I would never hurt a single hair on this girl.
I looked down and she was already asleep. Docile breathing alerted me of no bad dreams. I snaked one arm around her torso and held her until I drifted off to sleep.
I'll make sure to get out of her hair before she wakes but for now, I'll pretend that I'm hers and she's mine.
Dear Elyon,
Thank you for your review! And oh wow, so you have 4 names? That is actually très cool. Here's a little secret, my first name is Melanie! Easiest name for me to use since it's, well, it's my name. Shh! ;)
From an amateur writer to a reviewer,
violetwingsxoxo
