"There you are!"
Elsie's eyes fluttered open at the sound of someone's voice. Lifting her head from her book pillow, Jack was leaning over the back of the sofa looking amused.
"What time is it?" She yawned.
He chuckled. "Probably around ten-ish, we all thought you slept in and when we saw you weren't in your room we got worried.
She sat up on the sofa yawning again and stretching. "Sorry, I came here last night and I guess I fell asleep." And glanced around to see that Pitch was gone, probably to his own room she figured.
"I figured as much." Jack said with a laugh. "You always could smell a library a mile away."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Come on, lets go show everybody your fine. Bunny kinda freaked out when he saw you were missing. He's nearly torn the place apart. Watch out El he might actually like you." Jack helped the sleepy girl to her feet and led her to the lobby.
Bunny stood standing there, impatiently tapping his foot repeatedly. Seeing the two coming he called down the hall to the others and hopped over. "Oi where have you been?"
The others entered the room. Sandy and North looking relieved to see her safe.
Tooth crossed her arms and suddenly found the floor interesting, a rather sour look on her face.
"Sorry I fell asleep in the library."
"Long as your okay." North nodded. "We're having breakfast now and after a meeting. Care to join?"
She nodded. "Yeah I'll meet you guys there, I just gotta run to my room real quick."
They nodded.
"I'll save you some gingerbread." Jack called as he headed with the others to the kitchen.
"Thanks." She called back heading for her room.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Elsie entered her room and headed straight for the bathroom, waving to Jingle on he way. Elsie took a quick five minute shower, made even quicker by the cold water. She dressed quickly, brushed out her hair and darted down to the kitchen where Jack and Sandy were the only ones left, not counting the staff. As Jack promised five slices of freshly baked gingerbread sat aside on a plate. She thanked him again and ate her breakfast before joining the two on their way to the globe room.
North met them just outside. "Good your here. I have asked John to be here but I am having trouble convincing Pitch. Elsie would you feel comfortable asking him, he seems to hate you the least."
She nodded and when Jack opened his mouth to interject she gave him a look. He raised his hands in surrender and she trotted off.
Three rhythmic raps upon the door was all it took to get his attention.
He raised his trademark eyebrow in question.
"We're having a meeting about Morticia and North wants everybody there."
He quirked his brow. "And so he sent you to come to bug me?"
A cheeky smile was her only answer.
He sighed over dramatically. "I suppose neither of you are going to quite until I come?"
"Nope."
With a roll of his eyes he nodded and closed the door behind him. The two walked side by side through the workshop to the globe room, where the rest had gathered. John Smith glared at them from his spot by the globe but was kept silent by the presence of North.
Elsie went to lean against the wall next to Jack, Pitch chose a shadowed corner closer to Elsie but farther away from everybody else.
North cleared his throat and took center room. "Now we all know why we're here. Morticia, the spirit of death, has been attacking other spirits and has already claimed at least two lives. Manny ordered us to find and recruit a couple of others," He motioned to Elsie and Pitch. "to help us. Last night I managed to get in contact with Halloweve and Ground Hog. They have not been attacked and have now gone into hiding. What we need to do now is find out why Morticia has suddenly turned against us and try to stop her." Pausing he moved over to the controls. The globe's rotation ceased, North America facing them, four red dots and a black dot appeared on it's surface. "She's sent her...creatures to attack Patrick here, Cupid here, Pitch's lair and John's home here. We know she resides in the Dunwich swamp here." The larger black dot had two smaller red dots on either side, forming a rather curved line.
Sandy pointed and made a connect the dots image over his head.
Tooth hovered closer. "Sandy's right, there's a pattern. It looks like she's attacking everyone around the edges of the continent, like she's circling them in. Then she'll go after the one's on the inside."
Bunny hopped over to the console. "Then we'll have to stop her before then."
"And how do you purpose we do that hmm? She's probably the strongest spirit there is." John said joining North and Bunny at the counsel.
Tooth flew down. "Maybe we can get the other neutrals to help. Surely they've noticed that the balance is off."
Bunny snorted. "They're not going to do anything. They all talk about balance but when it comes time for action they're all cowards."
"Bunny!" North scolded. "They only engage in special circumstances because their powers are so great and it would only make things worse."
The groups arguing became louder and louder. Continuing their shouting at one and another Elsie and Sandy glanced at each other and shrugged, unsure of who's idea they were supposed to be following.
A loud tumbling sound followed by a crash interrupted their argument, and they looked to the door as a paint splattered yeti barged in, shouting in yetinease. He began to rant using his hands to further explain.
"What! Now?" North asked exasperated. The Yeti nodded and the large Russian man pinched the bridge of his nose.
"North?" Tooth asked in concern.
"The elves knocked over an entire table of toys down a flight of stairs and have set fire on one of the lower levels. I need to take care of this, Jack would mind lending hand?"
"No problem."
"Oi wait for me." Bunny followed the two out.
The room fell into silence, except for Tooth who sighed and sat on the railing, the stress from the past few days catching up with her.
"Hey," Elsie turned to Pitch. "why do you think Morticia's gone off her top? Has she done anything like this before?"
He shook his head. "No. Though most find her distinct brand of powers...off putting she's always spoken in favor of peace."
Elsie bit her knuckle deep in thought. "So this kind of behavior is unheard of for her."
He nodded.
"Do you think she sees the spirits are upsetting the balance?"
"Doubtful. Most spirits try to uphold balance. Only the guardian's constant intervention and my rise and fall from power have been most influential, but it doesn't explain why she'd be attacking the others."
She bit her knuckles again.
"Well just look at that, master and minion reunited. Plotting another scheme for world conquest that's doomed to fail." Came John Smith's taunting voice.
Elsie glared at him from her spot at the wall.
"Just ignore him Elsie. Unfortunately there is no ready cure for ignorance."
Smith scowled. "See that? They're working together. Not surprising, the fallen lord of shadows and the harlet."
She balled her fists and tried to keep her cool.
Sandy floated up to his face and started signing angrily at him.
"Stay out of this Sand Man, this doesn't concern you." He shoved the small man over to where Tooth was.
He tried to advance on Smith but Tooth held him back. "Just let them settle this, you might make it worse."
Sandy gritted his teeth but stayed put.
Pitch on the other hand was livid, though he kept a calm visage. "I wouldn't be talking if I were you John, where exactly did that land come from that your settlement was built on?"
Smith's face reddened. "Well at least I made something of myself. Your nothing but a dark wretch who spent his life living in the shadow of another. You should have stayed in that prison where you belonged you worthless twat!"
There was an echoing 'smack' as Elsie stepped forward and slapped Smith across the face, leaving a red hand print.
"Why don't you just shut up and leave us alone or else!"
Smith's face turned purple with rage. "Who do you think you are?" His voice sounding calm but his face was livid. "How dare you lay a hand on me you filth!" He advanced a step, Elsie retreated one.
"I'm warning you, back off or I won't hold back!"
He didn't listen and continued to advance.
Pitch manifested a sand scythe ready to step in.
"You lecherous whore! God how the daughter denigrates the mother! You will rot in hell for eternity you mongrel bitch!"
Raising her hand a wave of shadow shot out from the darkness behind her.
Falling to the ground Smith managed to dodge her attack.
The wave of shadow sliced through the railing, Sandy and Tooth just barely dodging, and smashed into the globe. A shower of sparks rained down as the globe grinded to a halt with an ear shattering screech.
All eyes were on Elsie, who could only stare at the destruction she had caused in fear. What had she done?
Smith picked himself up. "You see!" He pointed at the globe. A large tear in the metal reached Antarctica to Alaska, the surrounding metal stained black. "Do you see now! The light reveals the truth in all things. A wolf in sheep's clothing!" He pointed hatefully at her. "I had thought you merely wandered from God's path, oh how wrong we were. Fooled! Deceived by the devil's whore herself!"
Elsie couldn't think. Her heart was racing. What had she done? Everyone was staring at her, judging her. What had she done? She had nearly killed them, nearly killed Sandy and Tooth. What had she done? And that man was spitting his hateful words that like shrapnel tore her heart. Hot tears stung her eyes. No, they wouldn't see her cry. Even if they hated her she would not cry in front of them.
"You don't belong here witch! Leave before your villainous taint infects us all!"
She was frozen in fear, held by the eyes of the others.
"I said go!" Smith made a grab for his musket. That was all it took for Elsie.
She turned and bolted down a corridor faster than she thought she could. Her tears rushing down her face in streams. Through the shop, past the kitchen and down countless flights of stairs until she reached the dear pen.
Chirin lifted his head from his nap and seeing his master in obvious distress stood.
Elsie buried her face in his warm fur and sobbed for a few moments. Chirin nuzzled her hair and nipped at her shirt trying to comfort her. She knew he was the only one who truly understood her. She dried her eyes on her sleeve and conjured a cloak. Gently taking hold of his collar she led him to a wooden door labeled 'выход' in bold red letters. She didn't speak Russian but knew well enough that big red letters on a door usually meant exit.
"Come on. We don't belong here." Climbing onto his back, Chirin lept into the freezing arctic wind. He was all to happy to leave the place behind and return to his true home. He galloped through three feet of snow, down the mountain side and into the distance.