Alright! Finally I'm not posting this at two in the morning and I'm back on my regular posting schedule. It's about darn time.

I think we can all agree Sadie is the little sister we wish we had. I think I'm starting to wish she had a bigger part in the story.

Oh wait...eheheheh! Mustn't spoil anything for my dear readers. ;)

Chapter 3

When Sadie left for school, I made my appearance once more in the front room, making sure Alice knew I was there. I had to confront her, maybe even express an apology for intruding onto a fear of hers that was kept private from most of the world. I knew how it felt having someone pry into your private life without an invitation. Many people did that to me before, and I should have known not to do so.

Sadie's older sister was gone by the time I grew impatient of waiting. I should have remembered that she worked at the bookstore on certain days, but then again, I didn't know this broken family until a week ago.

I ended up meandering through the small town's shadows, keen on finding Alice in order to at least talk to her...okay, a part of me wanted to annoy her with my presence. I happened to find it amusing, even if others do not, but it still is at least one of my favorite hobbies to do as an immortal besides scare people out of 'haunted' houses, take strolls in the woods and create more nightmares.

Now that I thought more about my private life, I've never really had a drink of whiskey in a while. I used to revel in that burning taste when I was a much younger spirit.

The cobblestone streets broke off into paved roads at random moments, mostly for vehicle intersections, and this old fashioned type of town still had streetlights out of a picture book. My guess was that this was a vacation hot spot, judging from the bustle of tourist groups and off distance ships and ferries heading into port. From my little adventure, I gathered this was an island of the coast of a state, probably on the east coast of America. I spotted a lot of sailing ships, sportboats and big yachts off on the piers, which almost had at least one seafood restaurant or trinket shop connected to the boardwalk. The town had only one fire department, containing only one firetruck and two ambulance cars. This town didn't seem well prepared for emergencies, at least in my opinion. Even Burgess was better equipped for emergencies than here, and that place can't even be found on a map!

I ended up finding the bookstore alright, which was practically squashed between a coffee shop and a supermarket that towered above every other quaint shop like a sore thumb. It was quite amusing to see such a difference. Knowing I couldn't use the door, I melted into the alleyway and found myself secretly hidden in the back of the bookstore, where the banned books lay. I couldn't help but skim some of the bindings as I walked by the shelves. These looked like books that were banned from schools. I used to enjoy delving into a good novel back when I had more time on my hands...well, besides now. I just haven't found the time or moment to really give myself a good read.

"Excuse me, where can I find books on agriculture? I need some for a project." a boy's voice came, and when I looked in the direction to see who asked it, I saw that Alice was the one receiving the question.

The little boy looked no older than twelve, but quite short for his age. He had a chubbiness to him that made him look like an oversized baby, and the big green eyes finished that whole appearance off well. Sadie's older sister smiled kindly and pointed to her left, "Keep going straight and you'll find yourself in the Non-Fiction section. Everything is in alphabetical order, okay sweetie?"

"Thank you!" the boy grinned at her and ran off into the aisle she pointed down, his little black wallet almost slipping out of his grasp.

"Well, you seem to enjoy this job." I drawled, and I couldn't help but chuckle at how quickly Alice jumped at the sound of my voice.

She just stared at me with those brown irises of hers, unsure how to register my presence. She finally realized that the Boogieman was following her and she glowered at me.

"Get over here!" she whispered hoarsely, grabbing me by the hand and yanking me into the Poetry and Prose section.

"Ooh, quite a romantic setting, sweetheart."

….For the love of Constellations, was that me?! Was that me who just said that?! Gods above, it was! Why would I let something like that slip out without me double thinking before saying it? I usually had a good control over what I said. Now I'm overly concerned on where that came from. Better keep that shit inside instead of foolishly blurting it out like I just did. Brilliant, Pitch, truly brilliant.

"Yeah, this section isn't really updated that recently. Two thirds of it are still from the Romantic Era." she said, dusting her hands off after straightening a pile of Victorian poetry collections that were on sale.

I stared at her. Wow. You're dumb.

So I can control that but not what I said before? I think I was going insane. And I knew it was all her fault, the bloody woman.

"Don't get me distracted." Alice shook her head furiously, "What are you doing here?!" she hissed quietly, not wanting to look like she was talking to herself.

I shrugged, and then grinned at her, "You fascinate me. Anything I find fascinating I follow until I know every little detail."

"So you're stalking me, then?" she folded her arms, which was quite an attractive pose on her. I couldn't disagree with the thought myself. What? It was merely a truthful statement. Nothing more.

"I prefer observing. I haven't communicated with humans in twenty years, so why wouldn't I? You would do the same, I'm sure." I gave her a sly look.

She thought for a second before rolling her eyes, "Okay, you have a valid point. Is Sadie still in school?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes, "When would Sadie ever skip school? Honestly, you need to relax about her. You're as uptight as-" I noticed her glare, and then held up my hands defensively, "nevermind."

"I'd like to correct you. Sadie skipped school before because some kids in her class bullied her and she thinks because that's happening to her she has a valid reason not to go to school." Alice said sadly, looking at her brown working shoes as if muck was on them.

"I'll take care of them." I evilly grinned, and to my pleasure, she allowed a quick laugh before looking up at me with a teasing smirk.

"If you're able to then you can stay at our place. I assume you have nowhere else to call a home, right?" she said, and she knew very well what the answer was. Something at that moment told me she was a clever young girl...but I dove deeper into that field later in that time I came to know Sadie and her sister.

"I used to have a lair, but that...is a different matter." I said dumbly, not able to tear my vision away from her eyes.

That time, Alice really did laugh. It was loud at first, and then she slammed her hand over her mouth, wide eyes and all. I couldn't help but smile myself. She finished off with a final giggle before asking, "Lair? Oh God, Pitch, what are you, an evil sorcerer?"

"Something like that." I shrugged, and she laughed again, but quieter.

"Lemme finish my shift and then we can talk later, okay?" Alice touched my arm to reassure me, "Can you wait at home for Sadie?"

"As you wish." I bowed, and with a final farewell, I returned back to their little house.

It would have been nice if Alice told me how long school lasted, and I had to boredly wait for another four hours. Four hours of silence, four hours of just waiting around.

Halfway through the waiting-and midway through taking a nap-I saw specks of golden sand at the corner of my sleepy vision. Quickly, I opened my eyes to see Sandman giving me a curious look with his folded arms across his chest. Yes, that was his accusing glare. I no longer felt intimidated by that. And no longer was I surprised by his sudden appearances like I used to be.

"What a coincidence seeing you here, Sandbag." I mumbled, digging my head deeper into the armrest of the sofa.

He rolled his eyes and glared at me as if to say, You're the one to talk. What are you doing here?

"I'm waiting for Sadie. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be spreading dreams?" I hissed, glaring at him.

Shouldn't I be asking the same to you?! Sandy grit his teeth.

"I thought the whole Nightmare thing was of the past, Sandbag. Give it a rest." I gave him a look that clearly meant, 'Don't cross me.'

Just because it happened twenty years ago doesn't mean the Guardians forgot about it. I only told Sadie that so she wouldn't feel worried. You still owe us. Sandy folded his arms again, tiny tendrils of smoke clouds erupting from his ears.

"I don't owe you anything. You got your victory, you saw my pain, and you got to wallop me pretty well," I looked up at him, "Nice left hook, by the way."

Sandy shrugged, as if admitting I had a fair point. But then he resumed to glaring at me and said in his dreamsand language, Why are you here?

"I have nowhere to go, little man. But I came across these two and they kept me. Besides," I closed my eyes and dug my chin into my chest as if to drift back into sleep, "the older one fascinates me."

I heard some sort of jingling sound, and when I looked up I noticed immediately that Sandy was laughing. It wasn't just a polite laugh. He was rolling in the air and holding his stomach as if he was dying of laughter. How rude!

I jolted up and shoved at his side, and his laughter subsided a tiny bit to give me an accusing look for both touching him and calling Alice 'fascinating.' She was! What, did I say something wrong? It was an honest expression! There was nothing more to it.

Ooh, so this is more than just finding people to give specific nightmares. This is a whole new level of curiosity I never saw in you, Pitch! It's hilarious! Sandy giggled, I would have thought you were out for revenge on the Bennett siblings still.

"How can I when you all protect them? Besides, they don't believe in me. Sadie does, and she isn't afraid of me." I said, a tiny bit insulted he found my situation amusing to the highest degree.

Sandy stopped and raised a brow, and not in a questioning manner. Then how come her sister can see you too? Was it Sadie who helped her see you?

"In a sense, yes. It's strange...no adult has really believed in me before. Has anyone for you?" I asked, and was surprised that Sandy sighed and shook his head.

If someone did, I'd be much stronger than I am now. Belief from adults has a magical quality that can't be easily coaxed out of. It has to come from within. I'm quite surprised you were able to be given such a gift.

I thought about it for a while, and then asked Sandy quietly, "Magical quality?"

Sandy nodded, and sat crossed legged in the air, If an adult believes in a spirit-even just one- there's a magical quality about it. It isn't power like you would think, it's more about unlocking the self. Mostly because the adult unlocks their inner child to believe in you once more, and that is something that can't be easily attained. If an adult believes in you, you can recall vagrant memories of your past and be more physical in the mortal world. They give the spirit the opportunity to form a bond, and that spirit can….well, you get the main picture.

I slowly nodded, "But in a way, it doesn't make me powerful?"

In a sense, it does, but not in the way you think it does. It doesn't make you the top notch spirit like you tried making yourself before, he cast a glare in my direction before continuing, it just makes your inner self stronger. So more memories, more knowledge of the person you once were, and a better chance at creating a Devout Bond.

"Devout Bond?" I asked, and Sandy sighed.

For someone so old, I would have thought you knew what they were. You know how Jamie Bennett and Jack have a special connection? They have a Devout Bond. Sometimes it could be caused by family relations, meaning that the child-or in your case the adult-is somehow related to you, but distantly. Even with just a drop of familial blood left, it's strong enough to make a pact between spirit and mortal. Sometimes, the Devout Bond is formed from something both you and the mortal are trying to find within the self or are lacking. There's another one, but I don't think you would want to know that.

"Let me guess, a romantically inclined Devout Bond? That's ridiculous." I rolled my eyes. Psh. It's predictable like it came out of a fairytale book.

Afraid so. Cupid is the main cause of that. They call it Cupid's Curse. Before Earth came to what it is now, Cupid fell in love with many mortal women and was the catalyst of many mortals being born with unfathomable power. Mortals called them witches and warlocks. In order to cease that from occurring again, Cupid signed away his immortality to one of his children, and his heir had to lock away his heart in a hidden pocket within the Earth's core from loving any mortal. We never had to deal with that option of a Devout Bond since, but it isn't like it cannot happen once more. It's still a possibility.

I didn't know how to respond to that. I only dumbly nodded and looked at my feet, wearing the same old robe and pants I've always worn. I wonder if Alice would be a Devout Bond catalyst if it did happen. Maybe it already has and I just don't know it yet.

The only reason I'm telling you this is because I heard you call Sadie's older sister 'fascinating.' Sandy grinned cheekily, I haven't heard you call anyone that besides your late wife when you were mortal.

"Shut up." I muttered, a sudden pang of guilt struck at my core. It isn't like I forgot every single memory. I just had dashes left that I could faintly remember, but not very well. The most part that I could recall was that I was married, had a daughter, served the house of the Lunanoffs, and the nightmares took over my body and made me decimate everything in my path. It sounds like a lot, but I don't have any...well, I don't have any recollection of any good memories to balance out the bad I've done in my immortal life.

I noticed Sandy snapping his fingers to get my attention, and I looked up. He sighed before signing, Tell you what. If you're able to make Sadie's older sister believe in the Guardians and not just yourself, I'll consider talking the Guardians into forgiving you. We're still recovering from the Nightmare War like you are. Consider it a redemption key.

I thought about it for a while before asking, "How will I inform you when she does?"

Sandy must have known I would ask that, for he pulled out a crystal that was smooth to the touch, like a moonstone. It was a cloudy white, big enough to fit in the center of my palm.

This will send a beacon to us when Alice believes in us. It'll glow a bright red. Be careful, because it has a high chance of heating up to a burning degree. Once we see the signal, we'll send a sign that you're redeemed after a debate. Got it?

I nodded, turning the cold stone over and over in my hands. Even if I held it between my hands tightly, it remained cold. Not even body heat could warm it up the slightest.

We'll never forget what you did to us, Pitch, Sandy said with a stony face, we never will. But if you're capable...we could find some way of forgiving you. We can't stay angry with you for the rest of eternity. It isn't how life works.

I couldn't help but chuckle and look up at him with a grin, "Eternity isn't really a lifestyle either, little man."

That made Sandy grin, before saluting a good bye. Tell Sadie I said hello and that I left her a present in her room. You have a good one.

"The same to you." I curtly nodded, and with that, he was gone.

After two more hours of contemplating if I really should follow through what Sandy said, the door flew open to reveal a bouncing Sadie that happily ran into the front room with Alice in tow, lovingly watching her sister to make sure she didn't trip over her own footing.

"Pitch! Hi!" Sadie exclaimed, running over and opening her arms for a hug.

I gave a small smile as she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me, before jumping up onto the couch and turning her attention to the little stone in my hand.

"What's that?" she asked, "Is it a rock?"

"Not just any rock," I said, showing her the smoothness of the stone, "it's a magical beacon. Sandman gave it to me while you two were out."

"Sandman?" Alice asked, dropping her satchel onto the table, "The guy that brings dreams?"

I nodded, and for some reason I couldn't look at her directly in the face like I did so bravely at the bookstore. I still tried smiling, but it felt...tiny. Like it was a challenge to do so under her watch.

"He doesn't really exist, does he?" Alice gave me a look that thought I was kidding, but I shook my head after a moment's thought.

"He really does," and I grinned at her, knowing what she was thinking, "And no, he isn't a replica of what I look like. You'd be surprised. Would you like to tell your sister what Sandman looks like, Sadie?" I asked her, and she beamed brightly. I could tell she was excited that she was given the opportunity to talk about her best friend.

"He's really short and chubby, and he's completely golden!" Sadie held up her hand to compare her height to Sandy's, which wasn't very much.

Alice smiled and shook her head, "His whole body? Skin and all?"

"Hun, Sandy's literally made out of sand. I kid you not." I rolled my eyes, and she laughed in response.

I didn't notice her blush at the name I gave her until Sadie pointed it out. Quite loudly. And with a pointing finger. "OOOH! YOU'RE BLUSHING! BUST-ED!"

"Shut up, Sadie!" snapped Alice, "It's a natural reflex!"

"Like sneezing?" Sadie raised a brow.

I couldn't help but howl with laughter at that. It was adorable and funny in it's own way. How could I not laugh? Even Alice was laughing out loud, and Sadie looked unamused that she was the cause of it all.