Sorry for the long update. I got myself busy in my summer job. I tried my best for the next update. Thanks for following this story. Please Review...

- Frost-Prime1340 (my new pen name)

Chapter 9

Natalie POV

I opened my eyes. All I see is darkness. It takes time to adjust my eyes in the darkness. After that, I saw myself lying in a cold metal floor which is the cage. I still am wearing my dress from the dance. I tried to stand but I couldn't. I realized that I was tied by the black sand.

What the? I tried to struggle but it won't bugle.

"Natalie, you're awake." I heard Pitch said. I tried to get up to see him. He flies himself up to the cage using his black sand. He opened the door and went inside. I moved back away from him. "Don't be scared, my dear." He moved closer.

"What did you do to Abegail's parents?" I asked him. He smirked.

"Don't worry. They're asleep peacefully." He pointed at the next cage and I saw them unconscious.

"Let them go." I told him.

"Oh, I will after you become mine, my dark phoenix." He chuckled.

"I won't be your and I'll never become a dark phoenix." I told him angrily. I heard him chuckled.

"We'll see about that." He said and leaves the cage.

Jack POV

At the North Pole

I paced around the globe room. I'm so frustrated at myself. I let Natalie be taken by Pitch.

"We need to save her." I told to the guardians.

"We will but we need North. Rest for a while we wait for him." Layla said. It's been a few hours since Natalie is kidnapped by Pitch. The guardians were tired from the fight. North arrived. "What happened?" he asked.

"Pitch got Natalie." Jack told him. North was shocked.

"We only have less than 20 hours to find her and save her." Layla said.

"Everyone to the sleigh." North told us.

"Wait. We don't have a plan yet and we have no idea where Pitch is keeping Natalie." Tooth said.

"In his lair of course." I told her.

"No. she's not there. She's at my home." Layla said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Pitch will do anything for her to become a phoenix. For her to become a phoenix, she must be inside the phoenix's territory. There's a temple where the sunlight is pure. One hit of that light, the chosen one will become the new phoenix and guardian of rebirth." Layla explained.

"That's for the red phoenix. How about dark phoenix, mate?" Bunny asked.

"Same process that her heart is full of pain and suffering like losing her loved ones." Layla answered seriously.

"So Pitch will targeted Mrs. Carter next. She's the only living loved one of Natalie." I implied.

"Or you." Layla added.

"What?! Why me?" I answered.

"Well, last night she blushed when you said she's beautiful. I concluded that she liked you."

Layla said. I felt my blood rushing in my cheeks.

"Let's go alright." I told them.

"Just be careful, Jack." Layla said worried.

"Layla, is there a way to stop the dark phoenix, just in case?" North asked.

"Aside for killing, I have no idea." Layla answered.

"Then we have to hurry so we can stop Pitch for turning her into a dark phoenix." I interrupted.

Pitch POV

One hour later

I flew again to Natalie's cage using my black sand. I opened the door and went inside.

"We're going somewhere, my dear." I told her.

"And where is that?" Natalie asked still tied with my black sand.

"To your palace, of course. In a few hours, you will be the next phoenix." I answered cheerily. She glared at me.

"Don't look like that to me." I told her and then grabbed her. We merged ourselves in the shadow and arrived to our destination.

Please review if you want some additional scene. Like I said before, I'll try my best for the next chapter.

Thanks for your understanding.

- Frost-Prime1340