Chapter 21
The three male spirits, Erebos, and Grace flew back to the Dawson house, where the girl would be kept under guard.
Grace was in a state of confusion; she did not want to believe what Mora said about Pitch, but she wanted to know the truth.
"Grace, are you all right?" Pitch asked, "She did not hurt you did she?"
"Pitch, did you really kill Sandy?" she replied.
The Sand Man looked at the two, but didn't say anything. Pitch decided to come clean, "Yes, it's true."
"And what about the other things Mora told me about? Did you really do all that?" Grace asked, again.
Pitch nodded and Grace turned away from him.
When they arrived at her place, Grace did not wait for Pitch to help her down. Instead, she jumped off and ran inside, locking the front door.
Erebos nudged at Pitch and he went up to the girl's room, where Grace sat on her bed with Canaletto and Constable. She turned her face away from him and Pitch went down on his knees.
"Grace, I know you believe that I am good, but it never occurred to me that someone like you would believe that until I met you. Ever since the Dark Ages, every child believed that I was evil because I spread fear and despair.
"For a long time, I wanted to be believed in, but I also wanted to be admired. However, I wanted the other guardians to feel what I felt and that's why I rebelled against them and my master," Pitch explained and continued.
"Now, I realize that if one child believes and admires me, than it will be enough, but when you told your friends that I am good, I never felt so believed in before."
Grace had listened to him the entire time and wanted to hear more.
"If you want to stop believing in me, that will be fine, but just to let you know, I will always care about you and I will keep on protecting you from the night terrors. However, I hope that you can forgive me for being such an idiot," Pitch said and finished talking.
Grace then took his hand and says, "I forgive you, but you have to promise me something. No more holding back the truth and never lie to me."
Pitch nodded and says, "I cross my heart and hope to be snuffed out of existence."
Grace giggled, but then yawned and laid down on her bed. Pitch placed a blanket over her and the two cats curled up beside their mistress.
He waited for the golden sand to appear above her head and when it did, the sand took the form of two people dancing.
Pitch looked around the room, hoping no one would notice in what he was about to do. He leaned in and kissed Grace's cheek. "One more thing," he whispered, "I will always love you."
Pitch left the room and returned outside, where Erebos, Jack, and Sandy were waiting. "I want to thank you for helping Grace," he said.
Jack and Sandy nodded and sand appeared atop Sandy's head. It formed a dove with an olive branch and Pitch knew that was the sign of peace, but it also stood for forgiveness.
"You forgive me?" he said and Sandy nodded. "Thank you," Pitch added.
Jack stretched out his hand and Pitch shook it, "I forgive you, too," Jack said.
The winter spirit rode away with the wind and the Sand Man floated away on a golden cloud. Pitch got on Erebos and the Pegasus flew above the house and Pitch released a small black cloud of nightmares. Instead of looking for bad children, Pitch had them guard the Dawson house against Mora's night terrors.