Night Shade

Disclaimer: I only own the plot and the OC. So sorry for the delay!

Chapter Seven

Nyx glided over to where Pitch waited. "Uncle." She greeted pleasantly. It was always a delight to see her mentor and father figure, but she was confused as to why he was here again. Usually he only visited once a year. Must be Frosty, she mused.

"Nyx." He replied cordially, pulling out a chair for her to sit. As they both ordered drinks, Pitch said nonchalantly: "I do hope you haven't forgotten your place in my mission, my dear niece."

Her jaw dropped. "That's why you're here? Please, Uncle, don't insult me. He won't know what hit him!"

His jaw clenched. "You two looked chummy earlier." He defended.

Nyx laughed, and Pitch almost shivered. It was exactly like his. "If I managed to fool you, Uncle, he ought to be head over heels in love with me by now. Of course, a subtle Attraction Potion didn't hurt." She smirked, taking a sip of her white Russian.

He smirked right back at her, tinged with pride. "That's my girl."

They discussed her sisters, the Guardians, and the plan some more, and Pitch even offered to set her up with some of his fey allies. He's in a really good mood tonight, Nyx thought. She didn't complain, however. Her uncle deserved to have some happiness, if not bundles of it. He'd had a hard life, after all. Just before he was chosen by Manny, he had gotten married to a beautiful woman, who was the envy of all the other women in the land. But with his newfound immortality and duties, he began to look slightly different, and he was never there in the mornings, always delivering dreams to children who believed. His wife, Adriana, began to suspect he was having an affair, and the marriage ended explosively. Both of them were hot-headed, and both were stubborn. Pitch regretted ever accepting the Moon's 'gift'. (Back then, Manny had asked.)

Before the divorce, Pitch had been delivering nightmares and good dreams, but he turned bitter, bitter at Manny and all the children. He began to dish out nightmares, even to undeserving little souls, and so the Dark Ages began.

Nyx wasn't proud of her Uncle's past, but she knew that most people would have done the same. Who was she to judge? Besides, Pitch had never shown her that side, and was always like the father she always wanted.

She jolted back into reality when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Swiveling in her seat, she saw Jack, who was trying hard to keep his blush under control. "Hey," he said to her awkwardly.

Time to lay on the charm. "Hey." She smiled at him.

Blushing furiously now, Jack asked: "Who was that?" He pointed at Pitch's retreating back.

Knowing that Pitch must have cast a glamour, she replied: "Oh, just an old friend. I haven't seen him in decades, and I saw him in the club! I'm so happy I caught him, he's going on a trip to the Carribean Islands for vacation."

Jack smiled back. "I'm glad you got to see him again. So, uh, I was kinda thirsty, and I didn't really trust the girls to not get me drunk. Could you help me?" He asked shyly.

Nyx laughed. "Of course, Jack. I wouldn't trust Duvessa either." They walked over to the bar. "Raymond!" She called, waving the bartender over. "A white Russian for me and a mint julep for my friend. Easy on the alcohol, he's a lightweight." A round of laughter rang from around the bar.

"I can hold my alcohol!" He burst out, flustered and desperate to prove himself to the fey.

Nyx smiled at him, making sure to seem only a little bit condescending. "Have you ever had alcohol before, Jack?"

He flushed even redder. "No, except for North's vodka, which was nasty." Another round of laughter burst forth, and a handsome fey with pointed ears took a seat next to Jack.

The fey put out a hand. "I'm Andre, pleased to meet you."

"Don't shake it, Jack." Nyx warned. "He's an Incubi." Jack withdrew his hand, and instead smiled at Andre.

"I'm Jack. Nice to meet you."

Andre pouted at Nyx. "Do you have to ruin my fun?"

She smirked back at him. "Jerk. You know non-fey are fragile. The Succubi are alright, or go flirt with Duvessa. I know she's sweet on you." Nyx winked at him, and the Incubi blushed, excusing himself.

"What was that about?" Jack asked, confused. He took a sip of the mint julep, which the bartender had dutifully made alcohol-free.

Nyx rolled her eyes. "Incubi like Andre are addictive to mortals, as well as once-mortals like you, Jack. Through touch, the mortals hang on to Incubi and wilt if the Incubi leave. Succubi are the same, only female. Once-mortals fare slightly better. After Andre was done with you, you would've at least been able to remain mobile. The mortals can't even move much, they're practically dead."

Jack shuddered. "Thanks for the heads-up."

Nyx finished her glass in one gulp. The bartender, Raymond, started mixing her another. "Can I have the mint julep with alcohol this time?" Jack asked Raymond.

"Sure thing, Jack." Raymond returned a few moments later with the drink. It was slightly darker than his previous one, most likely due to the alcohol. He sipped it, and found it to his tastes.

Andre returned, this time with Duvessa. "Jackie!" Andre slapped him on the back. "I'd like to challenge you to a drinking game!"

Jack coughed, and smiled weakly at Andre. "Sure."

Nyx jumped in too. "Someone starts the game, in this case Andre, and says something that he has done. If you have never done it before, you have to drink a shot of whisky. If you have, you don't drink. It goes in a circle until someone falls over."

Jack nodded, going over the rules again in his mind. "Got it."

Raymond placed a tray in front of the four of them. It was full of shot glasses with whisky. Andre began. "I have…"

30 minutes later…

Nyx was on her 5th round of whisky, Duvessa on her 6th, and Jack on his 15th. Andre hadn't even taken a sip of the whisky.

It was Jack's turn. "I have ruined Easter!" He said happily. To his surprise, only Duvessa did not drink. "How?" Jack's words were starting to slur.

She smirked. "We had a fling once. Remind me to never again go out with an Autralian Rabbit."

Andre slammed his glass down. "Finally I get to drink!" He exclaimed.

Five drinks later…

Nyx was smirking. Even with all the alcohol in her, she was still perfectly sober. Duvessa was tipsy, Jack was definitely drunk, and Andre had barely drunk. They had stopped the game four drinks ago, ending on Andre's turn.

Suddenly, Jack got up from his stool. Swaying a bit, Andre tried to steady him, but Jack pushed his hand away. "I can stand." He slurred. He fell onto one knee in front of Nyx. "Nyx, I…" Before he could finish his sentence, Jack fell asleep, right on top of Nyx's shoes. Surprised, Nyx bent to help him up.

"Duvessa, Andre, I'd love to stay but I gotta get this guy back to his little place. See ya soon!" Disappointed frowns appeared on her sisters' faces, but they understood.

Yanking a snow globe she had stolen from North out of her cloak, she shook it. "North Pole, 7 miles east of Santa." The portal opened, and she dragged Jack through.

I'm back! By the way, the guilt chapter is next. You'll understand why Pitch was so happy, and we better hope Nyx has something for Jack's hangover!

Ametheyst Rose