Night Shade
Disclaimer: I only own the plot and the OC. I have never been to Europe, so if my description is off, feel free to correct me!
Chapter Six
Jack hopped down from the windowsill, leaving behind a crisp, white note on North's desk. He felt a twinge of guilt for leaving the Guardians at such a crucial time, but he really did need a break. Besides, he was annoyed with Tooth. How could she turn against someone who was now one of them? Then again, Bunny did the same to him when Jack had first been called to defeat Pitch.
Nyx was waiting for him on the cliff, clutching her dagger. "Ready to have some fun, Frost?" She asked with a smirk. Jack scoffed.
"I'm the Guardian of Fun, Emo!" He laughed as she hissed, swinging at him with her dagger. He leapt into the air, and Nyx chased him, gaining speed.
Jack noticed a tree in front of him and tried to slow down, but Nyx plowed into him, both of them falling to the ground. He blushed a fiery red when he realized their position, and scrambled off the girl. She smirked inwardly at his discomfort.
"Come on, Frost. Time to meet the other Night Spirits." Nyx said impatiently. Jack grinned and picked up his staff, both of them taking to the skies again.
"So, tell me about these Night Spirits." Jack said casually, curiosity lacing his voice.
"The Night Spirits are what humans know as Fey, or Faeries. Some are harmless, some are deadly. We are going to meet the Wraiths first. Wraiths were once my sisters, until I was Changed. All Wraiths are female; they never die, so there's a set number of them. They enjoy feeding on handsome young men, and seduce them. One young man can sustain them for a decade. Don't look so repulsed," Nyx chided. "They do what is necessary to survive. Anyway, they live in France sometimes, because apparently there are a lot of handsome boys there." She rolled her eyes. Jack was starting to get worried.
"They wouldn't eat me, right?" Jack asked.
Nyx laughed. "Do you fancy yourself a handsome boy?" She teased, shoving him lightly. He laughed too.
Jack noticed the Eiffel Tower from the corner of his eye, and turned to look at it fully. "Whoa." He said, astonished. The Eiffel Tower was lit up beautifully, the lights a warm, gold shade. It took his breath away.
Nyx pulled Jack away, reluctantly. But they really did have to get moving. She wanted him to see all the other options before the Guardians snatched him back.
The two spirits arrived at a fancy nightclub, and the bouncer waved them in, winking at Nyx, who smiled at him in return. Jack was surprised. "He can see us?"
"Of course. He is a Faery." Nyx replied distractedly, waving at a girl who was standing off to the side of the dance floor. The Nyx-lookalike walked over to them confidently.
"Nyx!" The girl greeted warmly. She had dark green eyes. "I thought you were coming back later this month!"
"There's been a change of plans, Kiera." Nyx and Kiera exchanged significant glances that Jack did not understand.
"Hi." He said to Kiera.
"Who's this, Nyx? A snack, perhaps?" Kiera questioned.
"Kiera, this is Jack. Jack, this is Kiera, eldest of the Wraiths." Nyx introduced.
Kiera licked her lips, and Jack tensed slightly. "He looks delicious, Nyx. But do you dance?" The last part seemed to be directed at Jack, who shrugged.
"Can't say I've tried it before."
Kiera gasped, genuinely shocked. "Where have you been the past century?"
"With them." Nyx answered darkly. They shared another glance.
"Well, Jackie boy, you better come with us." Kiera said in a mock-serious voice, dragging him to a cluster of girls in black. Ignoring his protests, Kiera shoved him in the middle of the loose circle. "Girls, this is Jack. He doesn't know how to dance. What would be a good starter song?"
"Perhaps it would be a better idea to introduce everyone first." Nyx said dryly. Kiera pouted, but consented.
A girl with rounder features and striking blue eyes only a shade darker than Jack's introduced herself first. "I'm Leilah."
Two girls, slightly taller than Leilah with panther-green eyes said in unison: "Tzila and Tzili, at your service." The only difference between them was their dress. Tzila had on a blood red dress that fell to her ankles, and Tzili had a short black dress that shimmered in the disco lights.
The next, a lithe teen with hazel eyes and red streaks in her hair introduced herself as Adrienne.
"Lena." Piped up a girl with stunning eyes that seemed to change colors with the lights.
Another set of twins were called Tamanna and Tamas. They had identical dark red eyes, and Tamanna wore dark ribbons in her hair.
Letha was the second eldest, with silvery hair instead of black. Selena had black hair streaked with white, and was once MiM's lover, she boasted, much to Jack's shock.
One girl had shining purple eyes, and was called Duvessa. The youngest girl was called Lilith, and she had an electric blue eye. The other was a warm shade of gold. "Pleased to meet you all," Jack said honestly. The girls all seemed to be around 14 to 18 years old, which was about his age. He felt natural around them, knowing that they were also forever teens. Kiera returned, having just requested a song called Under Your Spell. She claimed that it was a good starter song, but Jack really didn't want to dance and make of fool of himself.
The song started, and Kiera led him to the dance floor. She began moving to the beat, and he started tapping his foot. In the middle of the song, a slower beat started, and the Wraiths pushed Nyx onto the dance floor, laughing. She made a face at them, and took Jack's hands. His heart skipped a beat at having her in such close proximity, and when she put his hands around his neck, he almost had a heart attack. Even though the song wasn't meant to be a slow song, Nyx didn't think it weird. She placed Jack's hands on her waist, and they swayed to the music, Jack blushing fiercely. Slowly, he began to loosen up, and when the beat picked up again, he grew bolder, twirling her. Nyx pulled away, and shook her hips. Jack followed her lead, and soon she was collapsing in a fit of laughter. Tenderness struck Jack as the song ended, and he helped her up. Nyx kissed his cheek lightly, and Jack immediately started stammering. Smirking, Nyx tossed her hair back and sat down on a nearby chair.
What just happened? Jack wondered.
However, their tranquility did not last long. A nasty-looking Fey stalked in, staring at the twelve Wraiths and Nyx. "Wraiths. Nyx." He said shortly.
"Derrick. What do you want?" Nyx's tone was hostile.
Sneering, Derrick pointed at Jack. "The Unseelie Court has Seen what he will bring. They are asking for his immediate exile from the Fey world."
Nyx scowled. "He is not bound to the Fey. He is under no obligation to obey the Courts."
"He is in Fey territory." Derrick retorted.
"Have you not heard about the notice sent out by the Seelie Court? This club is neutral territory now. Anyhow, the spirit is under my protection. Tell the Unseelie Court, and stay out of our business."
"The Unseelie Court will not be pleased." Derrick warned.
Nyx scoffed. "What can they do to me? Besides, the Court Seers are fallible. It may not come to pass." Derrick snorted, but left. All was quiet for another moment, then the music started up again.
Jack was confused. "What was that about?"
Kiera hesitated, looking to her sisters. They nodded encouragingly. "The Unseelie Court has Seers, and sometimes they See into the future, usually near future. Mostly skirmishes. They wanted your brain washed and you would be back with the Guardians, without any knowledge of the Fey. It's not exactly painful, but you might lose a couple of other memories. It usually ends up with that person either dead or outcasted."
Shaken, Jack reminded himself to thank Nyx later. "Why did she say I'm under her protection?"
"Nyx is starting to have a soft spot for you, I reckon," Said Duvessa knowledgably. A chorus of 'Ai's rose up around her. "The lass also really dislikes Derrick, after he tried to kiss Tamas. He left with teeth missing." The Irish girl reminisced with a grin.
"Oh." A small bit of disappointment snaked its way through Jack's thoughts, and he brushed it away quickly.
"Ah, don' worry, Frosty. It'll happen." Letha laughed as Jack spluttered.
No one noticed topaz eyes glare from a dark corner of the room.
No one but Nyx.