To the girl’s credit, she hesitated only a few moments before she darted out of their hiding place and down the stone passageway. Twilight was right behind her, racing out of the dark, dingy hallway and into the bright sunlight. The light was painful and the librarian grabbed Hikaru’s hand as both of them stumbled forward, blind for a few minutes.
They raced into the trees, tripping over the roots of the huge oak trees that surrounded the lake as they heard a bellowing, pained roar. Twilight turned back in time to see the scaly monstrosity had left the tunnel system, only for the sunshine to cause it to stagger back.
“M...Miss Twilight?” Hikaru’s voice trembled as she asked, “What is that?”
Twilight could not speak to tell her but she nudged the girl and pretended to shoot the monster before tugging on the girl’s arm and leading her deeper into the undergrowth.
Hikaru giggled nervously as they ran. Twilight could not be certain they were heading for the village but at this point she just wanted to be away from the former King of Fear and his plans. The forest was darker than normal, the midday sun refusing, for some reason to pierce through the leafy foliage above their heads. The girls trembled with the cold that seemed prevalent within the deep shadows that made every tree look like a threatening spectre and made every small sound put them on edge.
The lack of fae folk in the area made her nervous. There had never been a time that there had not been at least one of Clara’s folk darting through the trees. They had almost always been willing to guide her through the forest. Without their help she was just as blind in this forest as anyone else would be. Worse was that she was pretty sure that they were going around in a circle.
The trees looked too similar for it to be a coincidence but Twilight made sure not to let Hikaru in on her worries. The child was frightened enough as it was. She did not want to make it any worse. Her fear was finally confirmed when they passed the same tree with the same piece of graffiti for the third time.
“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Hikaru looked up at her, her bottom lip trembling, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
The librarian bent down to the girl’s height and hugged her tightly, silently cursing herself when she felt her trembling in her arms and heard Hikaru sobbing, her top swiftly becoming drenched in the girl’s tears. She tightened her grip, not squeezing hard enough to crush, but enough to reassure.
When Hikaru tried to pull away, Twilight let her go, ruffling her hair and smiling. The smile she got in return was tired and watery and she wished there was more she could do. She couldn’t tell the girl to call for Clara or the others, nor could she do so herself. She was half convinced that he had converted part of the woods into a horror movie spectacular with his powers, making it part of his lair.
She was still half hoping that if Bones’s territory was his world and he could do anything within it, then when they escaped and returned to the normal world her voice would return with them. However she had to get Hikaru out of here for that and the girl was tired enough that she was stumbling every other step.
She braced herself as she tapped the girl on the shoulder, gesturing for her to climb on her back. Pain coursed through her as the sleepy child clambered up and settled in a piggy back. Twilight was glad that she could not make any sound as she stood up and let out a silent moan. Her stab wound pulled, her ribs hurt and she staggered slightly until she adjusted to the extra weight.
Hikaru clung on tightly as she started walking, choking the librarian slightly, making her move her head into a more comfortable position. She went in a straight line from the graffiti tree, heading what she hoped was south. Before they had gone too far, they heard a bellowing roar and the pounding of footsteps racing towards them.
Twilight ran, stumbling and tripping as she carried the girl, fleeing from the heavy rumbling of something charging towards them. Hikaru screamed in her ear as the thing, a heavy, boar like monster erupted from the bushes in front of them and charged.
Twilight tried to get out of the way, managing to mostly avoid the huge, muscular beast, getting away with only a slight graze to her stomach. She dropped Hikaru and shoved her towards a tree. The girl did not need any more encouraging and did her best to climb up the nearest tree to escape.
The librarian, however, did not get a chance to do the same. The beast was on her in a heartbeat and she threw up her arms to protect herself, closing her eyes as she did so, convinced it was all over as the creature drew its head back and attempted to gore her with its huge horns.
Then she was pulled out of the way by a cold, bony hand and she heard the boar slam into the tree, causing it to come crashing down. She turned to look, ignoring her saviour for a moment as she checked that Hikaru was still in her tree safely and not tangled up in the fallen branches.
She got a glimpse of the girl in a tree two over from the one the boar was in before she was turned to face her rescuer. Bones was glaring at her, furious and he backhanded her so hard she crashed to the ground. “You thought you’d get away that easily?” He demanded as he flicked a finger at the boar and it melted into the shadows, “Where is the girl?”
Twilight just smirked at him defiantly. Even if she could have told him, she would not have done.
“I know she hasn’t gotten away.” Bones growled down at her as the librarian slowly picked herself up. “So where is she?” She shrugged, hoping that Hikaru would stay hidden in her tree. The former King of Fear dragged her to her feet by her throat and pinned her against the tree. “No matter.” He hissed, “My beasts will find her and drag her back, you can’t protect her from me...”
“Bones!” Twilight relaxed despite her predicament as Jack’s voice echoed through the woods and she saw the winter sprite who looked rather pissed off as he stalked into sight. The winds swirled around him, snowflakes riding the ice cold breeze as he glowered at the former King of the Dark Podium, “Let her go.”
“Frost.” Bones hissed, wheeling around to face him, forcing Twilight to stand between him and the pissed off winter sprite. “You’re early to the party.”
“I’m not joking Bones.” Jack snapped, worrying his mortal friend. She could hear the edge in his voice, hear the ice cold winds whistling through the trees and swirling around them. “Let her go. Now. You’ve done far too much damage already.”
“Allow me, Frost.” Twilight’s eyes widened as she felt the cold and sharp aura of winter fold around a hotter, almost hellish heat and the smell of brimstone. The speaker was someone she had not heard before but the wide smirk that the former King of Fear gained at the sound of their voice warned Twilight that it would not end well for her if she was not careful. “He’s my subject and you’re just a baby sprite.”
She heard Jack let out an irritated huff at that but felt the cold recede. Not completely but enough to allow the speaker to function without the cold bothering him.
“Now.” The speaker growled, “I would suggest that you let that mortal go, Bones. And the child in the tree.” Twilight winced when the first bogeyman glanced up and saw Hikaru, “You would not believe how much of a mess you have caused. I understand the need to feed far too well, but kidnapping a Havenkeeper during Handover?”
A figure walked into Twilight’s view, a tall, broad, dark, stony skinned male figure, with a shock of deep red hair and amber eyes with a rather too amused expression on his features as he ran his eyes over Bones’ hostage, “Well, I figure that it’s for one of two reasons. First of all I thought you were trying to disrupt Handover, which will never work. Winter doesn’t require Frost to triumph over Autumn after all and April despises your ‘guest.’”
The heat of the figure’s aura was overwhelming and Twilight struggled to escape both Bones’ grip and the intense heat that felt easily hotter than the midday sun at the height of Summer, sweat beginning to pour off of her as the man, whose regalia marked him as the King of Fear continued talking.
“And then I thought of a second reason you’d go out of your way to pick the one village protected by not only the ‘Winter Storm’ but the one Havenkeeper who took after the Hunters in her linage and it’s not just because of the abundance of children, is it?”
Bones looked annoyed that his plan had been sussed out. Twilight let out a silent whimper as his grip tightened, his claws slicing into her neck, the pain causing a spike in the swirling cold behind her.
“You should let her go before I continue.” The demon, Choronzon, the King of Fear who had kicked Bones off of the throne, suggested. “If you cause the Wrath, I will not be able to protect you from him and you will have ruined your plan.”
“Fine.” Bones hissed as he released the librarian and shoving her backwards hard enough to cause her to stumble. Her immortal friend darted forward, catching her and helping her get her feet under her again as he demanded, “Why are you even here? I hadn’t called for you.”
“Sam Hain told me about what you were up to.” The new King snorted as Hikaru climbed down the tree and darted to Twilight’s side, hiding behind her as the two Lords of Fear circled each other. “The Autumn King has a weakness for our portion of the Dark Compass, what with our best holiday being in his season. He was rather annoyed that you had taken his second favourite Havenkeeper from her home. Insisted I came down here and got her home.”
“Are you alright, Twi?” Jack worried at her, looking her over and seeing the cuts and bruises and ripped clothes. The three of them were ignored by the two Fear mongers as Twilight tried to respond, only to give Bones a frustrated glare when she still could not say anything. Jack followed the glower and his expression darkened. “Bones! What in the name of Gaia did you do to her?”
“Nothing that wasn’t an improvement.” The First Bogeyman’s statement infuriated Jack. “She talks far too much and she would not cower properly.”
Jack glanced at his friend. His anger was tempered a bit when he found that she was poking her tongue out at the decrepit monstrosity of a former King and Hikaru was copying her.
“She doesn’t appear to be cowering now.” Choronzon pointed out. “You should probably fix her before he turns you into an ice sculpture.”
“And if I refuse?” Bones snorted, “If I prefer her muted? You’re Crystal Podium, boy.” He smirked at Jack, “You’re supposed to uphold the balance, not partake in petty revenge for something I’ve done to a mere mortal.”
Jack growled. Technically Bones was right. His hands were tied. Crystal Compass members had a strict code of conduct. He was not allowed to just attack Dark Compass members. As long as the mortals were not ‘harmed’ outside of what could happen when an Immortal was following their legends the Dark Compass members were allowed to get away with anything.
Technically stealing away Twilight’s voice was not against the rules as they were set down. Even if it sucked for his friend.
Jack’s hands balled into fists as Bones smirked at him, well aware that he was untouchable. Ice racing across the floor as his powers and his anger looked for an outlet.
“I would suggest that you take them home, Frost.” Choronzon seemed amused too, only spiking Jack’s temper further. Twilight shivered against the cold winds, hugging Hikaru tightly, trying to keep the girl warm. When the girl whimpered, the icy temperatures worse for her than the dark, damp cage room, Jack tried to rein his powers in. “I’ll make sure the Havenkeeper’s not bothered again.”
“And the girl?” Jack demanded as Twilight shielded Hikaru from the two Lords of Fear, using her own body to do so.
“She’s lunch.” Bones snapped, “My rightful lunch.” The former King snarled when Twilight shook her head, refusing to let him anywhere near the girl. “You can’t stop me. You’re nothing compared to us. A sheep amongst wolves.” Twilight scowled back at him, still shielding Hikaru as he stalked across the clearing.
“She can’t but I can.” Jack planted himself in the way.
“You’re not here most of the year, Frost. You’re not even supposed to be north of the equator right now. You’re breaking so many rules, I don’t know where to begin.” Bones pointed out, his tone smug and victorious, “I can have your little friend for dinner any time I wish.”
Twilight had had enough. She barged past Jack, leaving Hikaru watching, stunned, as she shoved the former King of Fear back, obviously ranting something at him but none of them could hear it as she pushed him further and further away.
Finally Bones snapped, shoving her back hard enough that she tripped over a root on the floor and landed hard on the ground. The Fear monger was on her in a heartbeat, launching himself with almost feral grace, the vial with Twilight’s voice in going flying from Bones’s torn pocket as he leapt and tore into her with his clawlike fingers.
The glass shattered on impact with the stones that lined the ground and the librarian’s agonised screams sounded for only a few seconds at most before Bones was blasted away by a concentrated burst of snow and ice, colliding into a tree at high speed.
The demon who had replaced Bones watched with amusement as Jack stalked forward, the full strength of the Winter Storms unleashed through him, sending the forest deep into midwinter. Snow and ice whirled around the immortal who controlled them, putting down a layer inches thick as he gestured and the former King of Fear went tumbling along the ground, blown sideways by the wild winds.
“Frost.” Choronzon called, flinching as the sharp, ice cold gaze of the furious and uncontrollable Winter sprite turned on him, “I can take the girls home while you finish here. The girl can’t take this cold and your friend needs help.”
“Hurt them and you’re next.” Jack warned, his voice almost lost in the winds howling around him, somehow making them more threatening than if they had come across clearly.
“I understand.” The King of Fear nodded, putting his hands up, “There won’t be another mark on either of them.”
“I’d ask you to swear on your honour, but you Dark Podium curs don’t have any.” Jack snorted, turning back to his target. “Take them and go.”
“J...Jack...” Twilight called out weakly as Hikaru darted to her side. Everything hurt and her chest was so torn apart that breathing caused such pain that she almost did not want to.
“It’s okay Twi. You’ll be fine.” Her friend promised as he watched Bones cower before him, trying to decide how best to get justice for the injury he had caused Twilight and knowing that until the Wrath was spent, he could not even touch her. “I’ll be with you soon.”
“B...but...” The librarian did not get to finish her sentence as Choronzon came into view, his heat making her whimper as he looked her over, torn between approval of Bones’ work and disgust. There were much better ways, after all, of harming a mortal. Ones that left no mark and did not leave the Wrath of the Seasons chasing after you.
“Come on, little one.” The demon told the terrified child, not stupid enough to refuse to do exactly as he had offered when the Wrath of Winter was active in the area. He tried to take the child’s hand only for the little girl to recoil violently, “I need to take you and the Havenkeeper somewhere safe.”
“Twilight, her name is Twilight.” The child told him, frightened of him, the crazed creature of ice and snow and the monster who had held her prisoner for goodness only knew how long and had hurt the village’s protector so badly.
“Hi...karu.” Twilight gasped out, her breathing shallow and forced, “Ta...take his...hand. He wont...hurt us...”
“I can’t, sweetheart.” Choronzon confirmed as he scooped up the librarian into his arms and , “Frost would have my head on a spike and he’s one of the Good Guys. Now come on, you need to look after Miss Twilight for Jack, okay? He can’t do it until he’s got rid of all that snow.” The child looked between Jack and the demon, then nodded and took his hand. “Now, hold on tight.”
Twilight closed her eyes against the maelstrom of heat and darkness as Choronzon carried her, only for the demon to shake her as they emerged on the edge of the woods that led to the forest, where Kuma was waiting. “Don’t fall asleep, Havenkeeper.”
The nekomata stalked towards him in her giant form, realised that Hikaru was with him and froze up.
“Hey kid?” Choronzon asked Hikaru, pointing to the feline who was watching, confused. “That’s your cat.”
“That’s Kuma?” Hikaru’s eyes grew wide, “But she’s huge!”
“Only because...she’s worried about...” Twilight trailed off, beginning to fall asleep again only to get shaken awake.
“You’ll be safe with her, sweetheart.” The demon reassured the child as a passerby noticed the group and raced in their direction, shouting to the others nearby. Kuma reverted to her tiny, domestic form and Choronzon set Twilight on her feet before vanishing.
The librarian had just enough time to register the fact that they were swiftly surrounded and someone was yelling about the fact she was bleeding everywhere before as she collapsed into a heap, unconscious.
