VeryBerry96: Yay, glad you think so! :) Pfft, ya. Sophie makes an epicly awesome ninja, am I right? XD Oh gosh, I would be the same as Sophie though! Everybody wants to ride in Santa's sleigh! :P
THORina2245: Ha, thanks. Ya, I know right? :P
Black-Death-646: Yes, right now I am dealing with a lack of sleep which isn't good considering 1) School tomorrow 2) Irish test. -_- Whoo, go me. :L Ya, Sophie is such an awesome ninja she can make anything seem easy. :D Ya, Jack needs to be more optimistic. Thank you so much for yet another lovely, thoughtful review. It means a lot to me, so thank you... :)
Somefromearth: Wha-? It is? Oh god. I've been saying it wrong all these years... How embarrassing for me. :P I DO! THAT'S WHY THESE CHAPTERS ARE LAME! DX Ha, I love the word 'feels'. Although... Sometimes it does sound inappropriate. But of course, it comes from Tumblr... So, not so shocking, is it? XD Aw, you should. You'll suffer from constant feels if you do. Especially in the Heroes of Olympus series. :( OH, I listen to All Time Low, Paramore, MCR, Sleeping with Sirens, 30 Seconds to Mars... All 'emo' stuff I guess as people have constantly told me. Although, I am quite an OPTIMISTIC, out going person. I just like that genre of music. (Punk/rock/metal...) I'm open to all genres though. Like, I like (and I mean REALLY like- love) Justin Bieber... :) I also like the Beatles... Sorry, blabbering on! :P
ILOVETHISSTORY: So glad you do. :')
Guest: Glad I've got your interest anyway. :)
Guest 3: Oh yes, the others shall be mentioned quite more often. :) Ha, I am a loser. I've even got a picture hanging on my wall saying: I'm such a fucking loser... :P XD Aw, I love Sandy. He's awesome. :)
Kaci12: I am not going to deny it. I AM AN AWESOME PERSON (she says sarcastically). XD :) No, my friends are awesome though. :P They're all hipsters. XD :) So glad you love the story. :) Well, I do my homework not as often as one should, but... ya. We do. XD
Elizabeth: Ya, explained in this chapter. Oh my gosh! That would be bloody hilarious! :') I might just do something like that... Maybe. We'll have to see if everybody is... nope. Not saying any more. :P *Dies of laughter*. Lol, that would so be funny. Pfft, Sophie is well capable in handling Jack... :) XD
Cougar Rolypoly Bug: I love Percy Jackson. :) :') Ha, thank you. :)
Elizabeth: All shall be revealed in the next few chapters. :)
Dreamsandcaster 2: Ohhhh... Okay. :) Thank you. I HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN TIME! :D
Thanks for the reviews guys! :)
I could see from the corner of my eye that Jack was smirking as we made our way from North's to Burgess. I wondered what was going on in his brain that made him smirk at a moment like this. I, on the other hand, was very, very nervous and frightened. What awaited me when I returned home? I doubted that it would be very nice whatever it was. Either way I was in danger.
Jack smirking finally got the better of my curiosity, and I had to find out what it was that was making him smirk as we flew towards danger, every second getting closer and closer. "What are you smiling about?" I asked him.
"You," he replied. "Your life is in danger and you only think about riding on the bloody sleigh." He gave out a light chuckle. I smiled a little. It was a little typical of me to do that. He clenched his jaw, and frowned a little. Oh great. I already knew that whatever he was going to say next wasn't going to make me happy. "Speaking of danger," he began, "personally, I don't think we should put you in any more danger."
"Meaning?"
"I'm dropping you off somewhere before Burgess," he replied. I opened my mouth to protest. What? Does he think I'm some sort of child? I. Am. Not. I am seventeen years old; I'm classified as a young adult now. Literally an adult (a very immature one at that).
"Jack!" I moaned feeling irritated with him.
"No, just don't even," he scolded me. I stopped in surprise. Wow, somebody was starting to sound awfully like my father and brother- not in a good way. "Your life is at risk. Taking you to Burgess would be idiotic of me. We'll save your parents and brother if any danger seems to be about. You can trust me."
I didn't reply. I felt really mad at him. How could he just drop me off somewhere else when my family could be in danger because of me? Hm... At this moment I felt cruel, but I had to go. Nobody was going to stop me, not even Jack. He was way too serious when it came to fights- man, he needed to chill. Okay, yes, I do get that it's a big fight possibly, but he DID need to relax a little.
"If you don't let me go... I'll never talk to you again!" I threatened. I really hoped this would work. I don't think I was bluffing when I said it either.
He actually slowed down in surprise. Bet he never thought that would escape my mouth. Well, I really did need to go, whether he liked it or not.
"And if I let you go, you might die- I think I'll be fine with you not talking to me as long as you're safe," he said quietly. Oh man, he's good.
"Jackson Frost," I said angrily, purposely using his full name. His eyes widened a little in amusement and shock. "I swear to... No. I swear on the man on the moon that I will kill you when this is over. Stop treating me like I'm some kid. I need to make sure my family is safe. Is that so hard for you to understand?"
I knew, without actually intending to, I had touched a nerve for him. I could see different emotions flicker onto his pale face. He did understand what I had meant about keeping family safe. Is it not how he had died? He died making sure his sister stayed alive. He understood quite clearly what it meant. I hoped it would make him see sense.
He didn't respond for a couple of miles, and when he did the response seemed cold. Fine," he replied, looking defeated and sad. "You can go. But, you're being stupid."
"I know..." I muttered in his ear.
... ... … … … …
Arriving in a sleeping Burgess was more nerve wrecking than anything. Darkness was everywhere, which meant that Evil could also be anywhere. The thought of that was like a blow upon the head. It made my shoulders slump and my body feel heavy. My house was close. All the lights were off, but that made me feel sicker.
Mans where was North and the others? They hadn't arrived yet. Great, just Jack and I here without any back up if anything was to happen. I don't think anything could be as bad.
The second Jacks feet touched the solid ground; I jumped off and ran to my house. He quickly followed me. The only thing luminating the darkness were the street lamps. My heart felt heavy in my chest as I reached the front door to my house. Of course, the door was locked but I knew where the spare was. I quickly unlocked it, feeling a little hopeless and desperate. Who knows what Evil could have done? His name was Evil for a reason.
I walked in and was greeted by silence. The silence was eerie and cold, but the coldness could of just been radiating off of Jack. Who knows? Maybe it was a bit of both. I crept along my house. There was no sign of life in the kitchen, the sitting room... But finally, after warily opening the door, I found them.
The lay in bed together, but something seemed unnatural about the way they slept.
They lay straight, shoulder to shoulder. I could see from the rise and fall of their chests that they were alive, but at the same time, they didn't seem it. They seemed frozen as they were. My stomach twisted. Could they be paralysed? I hoped it was unlikely, but to be honest, anything was possible- especially if it was a cruel, evil possibility.
Jack was behind me, looking at me cautiously for a moment, before looking at my parents lying there. They were fine. But still, the unnaturalness of their body posture made me nervous. Even while sleeping it didn't seem likely that anyone would lie that still. I know that I turned in my sleep, as did anyone.
"They'll be fine," Jack reassured me softly. "Come on, Soph, I don't think it's smart to stay here any longer."
"Since when have you become logical?" I say sarcastically.
"Oh ha-ha," he replied, rolling his eyes and shoving me playfully with his shoulder. Although, he is taller than me so he does have to crouch a little in order to do so. This moment right here made me believe that maybe things would be all right. Oh, what was that quote again? "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."This stuff makes you realise that maybe a book quote is the truest thing ever to be told to you in your entire life.
Evil was the dark, but Jack was the light. My light.
We made our way out of the house and into the deserted street. Just as we did, North landed down right in front of us. Once it stopped, Mund was out of the sleigh faster than a bullet. He really hated the sleigh. I think he was afraid of heights, but I wasn't sure. Mund likes to make it seem as though he isn't afraid of anything. I knew he was a big old softie though. That's the problem with the guardians: they act like they're braver than they are, and only because they have to. Sometimes I feel sorry for them. I don't think I'd be able to handle all the situations they do.
"What took you guys? That sleigh is faster than me," Jack said, as North got out of the sleigh, followed by a stumbling Tooth. Sandy looked as he did usually. He had a grim smile on his face. I was guessing that he'd rather just send dreams out rather than be here fighting a guy we presume to be here. What if Evil wasn't here? No. He had to be here. He was looking for me. Me. Why me? I wasn't that important.
"We bumped into an old... friend," Tooth muttered weakly. Friend? Who was this old friend of theirs? Jack looked as confused as I did.
"Friend?" Mund scoffed. "She now hates us. Lucky for us she always stays neutral during battles otherwise we'd be sliced."
"Who?" Jack and I both asked at the same time.
"Oh, Seraphina," North told us. Seraphina? Who was she? I've never heard of her before. Jack simply pursed his lips together. He knew her, I could tell that clearly, and he understood why she hated them.
"Uh, who's that?" I asked them as the lingered silence drew on. I hated silences between us.
Sandy made a leaf over his head, but I still didn't understand what he was talking about. I smiled at his effort out of gratefulness. I was always happy with Sandy. Even though he couldn't talk, he was the kindest (and I am not going to say Jack is because I like him) of all the guardians. He is so selfless, and I wish I was like him. The other guardians could be selfish, and at times that included Jack, but Sandy? Nah, not Sandy.
Jack noticed my still bewildered gaze at them all. "Seraphina is Mother Nature," he told me.
"Well, okay then," I replied, a little surprised that Mother Nature actually existed. "Why does she hate you guys then?"
"Uh... Her father is Pitch. She doesn't like that we des-"
"Oh," I say interrupting him. He didn't have to explain any further. I could understand why she hated them, but Pitch was a bad guy, so I still sided with them.
That's when I hear whispers. Whispers clouding up my mind. I look to the others in fright, but they seem to not be able to hear what I can. Why can't they hear? Ugh, this was just like after I had that dream and I heard the chants in my mind. But I passed out after that. How valiant of me, right? Death they whispered. One whisper led to the other until I wanted to scream in frustration! Why was I the only one who seemed to be the only one able to hear them? It seemed like a cruel joke. I had a feeling that he was close if I could hear this.
"Sophie, what's wrong?" North asked, noticing my frustrated expression. All of the guardians turned to me at once. Was I pulling faces trying to block the whispers out? I hoped not.
"Whispers," I said my voice barely audible through the whispers.
"Whispers?" Jack asks concerned. "What whispers?"
Soon. Death. Agh! WOULD THEY LEAVE MY MIND ALONE? Soon? Whose death? Who am I kidding? I know whose death they speak of. Mine.
"They're coming," I tell them. But what was coming? What were we about to face? Fear ran through my body. I could hear my heart beating like drums. My palms sweated and I wiped them off my jumper. Time for me to be brave.
Jack slipped his hand in mine. The guardians looked away, pretending they didn't see. "We'll be okay." I can hear the doubt in his voice. "I'll keep you safe, no matter what. I promise." And for some reason, I don't think he's just talking about here, right now. I think he means for my whole life. I feel warm inside. He lets my hand go, and turns away. I'm glad he does so, because I feel my eyes begin to sting. It could be to do with what he said and how much it meant to me, or to do with the fact that the whispers were getting louder and pierced my head.
At that moment, I feel a hand grab me from behind. I gasp out, clawing at the hand with my nails. I hope that whatever holds me can feel pain. I see more of them. The melt out of the shadows as Evil had done. The hand loosens its grip on me and I pull away as we are surrounded. I edge closer to the guardians, keeping my guard up. I am aware that Tooth is weak; I know she's struggling just to stand up. I'm no longer aware of my beating heart, only the numbness of my body as I press against someone. One of the guardians, I am sure. I feel the coolness of soft skin, brushing against my finger.
"What now?" I whisper to Jack.
I see his hand clench tightly around his staff. "I say... attack? Sophie, I'll kill one and you grab one of their swords and hit whatever you can."
Take its sword? If I bend down to pick it up, surely I'd be killed in seconds. I felt adrenaline course its way through my body. If I die, I guess it's not the worst thing that could happen right now. These- what were they now? I knew these guys had been skeletons. I never realised how fast their flesh could grow though. Parts of them still revealed bone, but mostly they had skin. Did they even have hearts? Obviously not. If they were here to try and destroy us, how could I even question if they do or don't?
"Well, this night is going to be... productive," I say grimly, looking at the sword in the skeleton/zombies hand.
"Ya, you bet it is," North said, raising his sword higher.
And at once, all together, the guardians charged into the crowd of the enemy.
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