Chapter 25
Warning: This chapter has a death scene.
Pitch and Erebos arrived in North's domain and the boogeyman went inside the workshop. The yetis were hard at work preparing for Christmas later that year. Pitch located the jolly man in his private room, where North had been talking to Jack Frost.
"Oh good, you're here, too," Pitch said upon entering.
"Pitch, what are you doing here?" North asked.
"I did something real stupid," the boogeyman answered and explained in what had happened in Grace's apartment. However, he did not tell them of his feelings for Grace, as North knew the law.
A guardian cannot love a mortal, otherwise they will be snuffed out of existence. Pitch feared this, but he believed that the other guardians would not accept his love for Grace.
"I say, you go back and apologize," Jack said.
"But what if she doesn't accept?" Pitch asked. Jack and North began to think and the jolly man chuckles.
"You know, I say we go along with you, just offer you some support," North replies.
"I like that idea," Pitch said and they returned outside, where Erebos was waiting. Some yetis had been petting the black steed and they had brought out North's sleigh.
"Why is my heart pounding so much?" Pitch asked.
"You're not nervous of a girl are you?" Jack questioned, but Pitch shook his head.
"Now Pitch, if Grace does not accept your apology, come back later and try, again. She just needs some time to think," North said and Pitch nods.
The guardians were about to head out, when Pitch stopped and turned Erebos around. "I just need some time to calm down a bit, I'll be back," he said and he took Erebos and they went away.
"Pitch is acting a little strange, don't you think?" Jack asked North, but he just shrugged.
Then, one of the yetis shrieked and the two guardians turned to see a black sand horse night terror. Someone got off its back, it was Mora!
"Jack Frost! North! I'm glad I found you," the goddess exclaimed.
"You!" Jack shouted, angrily.
"Now, now, I come alone, and in peace," Mora said, but suddenly, Jack threw ice-balls at her and North pulled out his swords.
"You have no idea how much we like to beat the living day-lights out of you!" Jack shouted and used his staff to form a sheet of ice under Mora's feet. She slipped and she cries out, "Please! Please! Don't hurt me!"
"What do you want, Mora?" North asked and said something in Russian.
"I just want to talk to you. I have some disturbing news about Pitch," Mora said.
"All you're going to say is lies," Jack replied and his staff was inches away from her face.
"Just wait, look at this," the goddess said and held up the drawing.
"What is this?" Jack asked, taking the drawing.
"Is that Grace's drawing?" North replied and took it.
"What do you think?" Mora asked them. The two looked it over; there was no doubt in their minds that the drawing had been created by Grace.
"What is Pitch doing?" Jack asked, again.
"Look more closely," Mora replied and they noticed Grace's faintly drawn hands around Pitch's neck. It was as if they were sharing a loving embrace.
"Now, you may think that this is a cruel joke, but I discovered it and I thought you should know what is going on between Pitch and Grace," Mora said to them.
"Oh, so they are in love?" Jack asked, "What's wrong with that?"
"It is very wrong for a guardian to love a mortal. The Man in the Moon had made that the law a long time before he chose you, Jack Frost," Mora explained and continues, "If the big boss found out that Pitch and Grace love each other, he will destroy Pitch and eventually, Grace will forget about him."
"You don't know that could happen," Jack replied, bitterly.
"And if it does?" Mora asked.
Jack and North were confused in what they should do. They did not want Pitch to die at the hands of their master as Pitch was doing a wonderful job with Halloween and controlling his nightmares.
"I know it's very tough, but everyone has to make the toughest of decisions, including the guardians. I don't want anything to happen to Pitch. So, can I trust you in talking some sense into him?" Mora asked.
Jack and North nodded and Mora got back on her black sand horse. "I'll give you some time alone," she said and turned her horse around. When she was far enough away, Mora placed a sleeve over her mouth and grimly smiled.
Jack and North looked at each other, they knew what they had to do and Jack hid Grace's drawing in his hoodie pocket
Pitch and Erebos came back. "Now, I'm feeling more confident," the boogeyman said and checked Erebos' saddle.
"Pitch, we need to talk," Jack said to him.
"Can it wait until later? I really want to apologize to Grace," Pitch replied.
"Who cares about the apology? Maybe Grace will forgive you, eventually," Jack said, again.
"Jack, I would rather exchange words than wait for forgiveness," Pitch replied and Jack took a deep breath.
"Well, I'm trying to say that maybe you should not apologize to Grace," the winter spirit said.
"Uh, may I speak to Jack Frost? The real Jack Frost?" Pitch said in a joking matter.
"Jack, let me speak," North cut in and he says, "What he is trying to say, Pitch is that you can't see Grace anymore."
"What? Why would you...?" Pitch trailed off when he spotted something in Jack's pocket and he took it. He stared at Grace's drawing and a wave of confusion and anger filled his senses. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.
"Pitch, we're going to be straight with you. We just talked with Mora-" "What?! Mora?!" Pitch cut Jack off, "You talked to her behind my back?!"
"Pitch, listen, you don't understand," Jack replied, but Pitch threw a snowball at him.
"No, I understand plenty, you traitors!" the boogeyman shouted. "And I don't need your help! I can do this myself!" he added and was about to get on Erebos.
"No, you can't!" Jack said and he and North grabbed Pitch and pulled him away from the Pegasus.
"Listen, the big boss will kill you if he found out that you are in love with Grace," Jack told Pitch.
"You're lying!" the boogeyman shouted and struggled to get free.
North said something to the yetis and they held down Pitch. "Let me go!" he shouted.
"I'm sorry Pitch, but this is for your own good," North replied and had some of the other yetis hold Erebos' reigns.
"Wait, wait, what are you doing?" Pitch asked, his concern grew.
Then, North took out his swords and prepared himself to strike the Pegasus.
"No! No! NO!" Pitch cried out, but it was too late. North dug one sword into Erebos' shoulder and the steed fell to the ground, blood stained the snow, and Erebos wailed in agony.
"North, stop it! Leave him alone!" Pitch screamed as North continued to stab the Pegasus until Erebos did not move any longer.
Pitch began to sob and he came to the dead Pegasus' side and tears fell from the boogeyman's eyes. He turns to look at North and says, "They say it's easy to break a man's heart. You just shattered mine."
North and Jack did not say a word and they watched as Pitch ran off toward the ice caves.
The two guardians covered Erebos' corpse with North's coat and they went back into the workshop.
*From the author: I know, I know, I'm horrible! I could not think of anything else for the story. However, I'll give you some advice: Believe as hard as you can that Erebos will come back to life.