Rise of a Guardian: Chapter thirteen

~Tax of Breath~

Within a few minutes Emma found herself sitting in a rather large room next to Jack. He was locked in a conversation with Santa, or ‘North’, sitting crossed legged on a tall stool, and she sat on a smaller stool on his left side. Since he was dong all the talking and she didn’t really have any clue what to do, she just looked around the room. Well, half of it was a room. The other half was more like a cave, carved into the ice mountain.

Candles sat in notches on the icy walls, making the chamber seem like it was glowing. A large window sat at the back of the room, but all that was visible was the white snowstorm. Clear toys sat where scattered about randomly: Fire-trucks, cranes, cars, planes, and many other different playthings she didn’t know the names of.

There was something about the room she couldn’t quite put her finger on though. She felt so cozy next to the fire, and so safe even though the window showed the turmoil going on outside. It was magical, almost wondrous. But she hadn’t ever been in a real house before, so that must be it.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Jack poked her in the arm.  She turned to him and raised her eyebrows and said, ” What?”

Jack answered, “Have you been listening?”  He was covered in scrapes and bruises, and his hair was sopping wet.

“Not really…” She responded sheepishly.

Jack shrugged. “That’s all right. North just asked you if you are okay.”

She looked up at the large man who, surprisingly, had concern in his wide eyes.  She nodded. “I guess so. Well, I’m fine now.”

But these words did not ease the large man, or Jack. But she knew why, she must look a like a wreak if she looked anything like Jack. She looked across the room and saw a large mirror and practically gasped. Her face was covered in scrapes, and her arms where covered in scratches and blood. It must have been from the icy snow, and the nightmare sand inside of it hadn’t helped.  Jack had more coverage with his sweatshirt, but her flimsy dress was anything but good protection. There where dark bags under her eyes as well and her dress was frozen stiff from when she fell in the water. Her hair was wet and covered in snow. She looked like a mess.

“Well,” She said as she wiped some blood off her cheek,” I think I’m okay…”

“Ve can get you cleaned up in a minute.” North said, his tone very serious. ”But I ave some questions for you miss Snow.”

At these words she tensed up and you could almost see the mental barrier she put up. “Questions?” She whispered.

North nodded. “Just a few.”

“Um, okay.” She replied.

“Vell,” He sighed, “ave you ever seen Pitch before? Ave you ever talked to him?”

Her eyebrows knit in confusion and she looked at Jack. “Pitch?”

He nodded. “They guy who has the black sand and the NightMares, he wears a black cloak, and is evil and crazy. And he gives you bad dreams. Ring a bell?”

“Oh,” She said as her eyes widened as the pieces all clicked together. “Pitch is his name?” She asked.

They nodded at her. Jack added, “Yeah, Pitch Black. The ‘Bogeyman.’ Have you ever spoken to him?” They where on the edge of there seats, waiting for her answer.

“Not really.”  She said. The two sank in relief. “But,” She added, “He has talked to me I guess.”

“What?” Jack said, nearly falling off of his stool.

North’s eyes widened. “What does he say to you?” He voice was deadly low.

She grabbed onto her necklace and her protective barriers went up again. She became very interested in her feet and whispered, “I…. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jack gave North a worried look and mouthed, “Oh crap.”

“Snow,” North said to her softly, “You do not have to tell us everything. Ve just want to know if Pitch has said anything… about you going to his side.”

She looked up, relief in her eyes, but she was still on guard. “No.” She answered simply.

“Promise?” Jack questioned with worry in his voice.

She looked up at him and said, “Promise.”

“Vell, okay. Zat is a good sign.” North said, his usual smile back. “But I ave one more question, Jack says that the moon doesn’t speak to you.”

She frowned. “He did once. He told me my name, but then he never spoke to me again.”

“Do you have any memories of your past life?” North questioned.

“What?” She said confusion apparent in her bright blue eyes.

Jack chuckled. “I guess that’s a no. Well, we had better go and find your teeth then. Tooth will know who you where, maybe.”

But this didn’t help her uncertainty, it just added to it.  So Jack explained how teeth hold memories from childhood, and how Tooth was the tooth fairy.

North added, “ But ve vill need to know when you died, it will be easier to find your teeth if we know when you lived.”

But Snow’s face just remained blank, so Jack jumped in, “You know? When you woke up and the moon told you your name?”

“Oh.” She said. “Um…I’m not sure”

Jack scratched his head. “Well, Where did you wake up? Because I found your scarf in the water of that lake last year; so did you wake up there? Or did something else happen there?”

“I think.... I woke up there...” She said. “I can’t remember. It feels so long ago. Its all so fuzzy.”

Jack looked at North and frowned. If she only died 1 year ago, then why couldn’t she remember waking up, and where? It didn’t make any sense. But he had a feeling they where not going to get much more out of her.

“Vell, aright then.” North said as he stood up. “Ve had better get you both cleaned up, and get you some new clothes.” He gestured to a yeti to come over to him. “Please take Snow to the infirmary, and get another yeti to find her different outfit.”

Snow looked down at her dress. It was a dainty outfit, a short ruffled skirt and a top with loose straps that fell to her arms. It was covered in rips and blood, and one of the strap sleeves was completely ripped off.

The yeti grunted what sounded like a, ‘yes sir!’ and began walking out the door. Snow looked at Jack with a worried expression on her face but Jack smiled back reassuringly.

“I’ll be there in a sec okay?” He said to her. She nodded and reluctantly followed the large creature out of the room, and the door slammed shut.

North walked over to his window with his arms folded, watching the violent storm. He just stood there for a moment thinking, and then he sighed. “I am vorried about her Jack.”

“But, why?” Jack responded as he walked to the man.

“Oh, Jack. Vere do I begin?” He said as he flopped down into a chair and put his head in his hands.

After a moment he broke the silence again. “Jack, you have seen her powers, no?”

Jack nodded.

“How powerful vould you say she is?” North continued.

“Um, I don’t know.” Jack shrugged, “Pretty powerful I guess. About as powerful as me.” Then his eyes widened with realization. She was as powerful as him. That was something scary, if Pitch got her the two of them would be unbeatable.

“You see?” North said. “She is in grave danger, and she puts all of us in danger as vell. Can you imagine if Pitch got a hold of her? Her powers and his powers combined would be disastrous. And I have a feeling she has already been infected by nightmare sand, and by her behavior I can tell she is suffering from nightmares as well. Pitch has known about her for a long time. He must be messing with her mind, she seemed so scared and she couldn’t remember when she woke up. Or, she just doesn’t want to tell us.”

“So… What do we do?” Jack asked.

“Well,” North said sadly, “I honestly do not know, I’m very busy, and Christmas is in 34 days! But,” His voice was dangerously low; “You mustn’t ever let her out of your sight again. Not ever Jack!”

Jack backed up his hands in the air, “Hey, I promise!”

“No more slip ups like today!” He barked. “You are very lucky she is alive and not completely consumed by Pitch right now. She is on the brink of letting the fear over-rule her system. You must always be with her!”

“Okay North, okay!” He said shocked by the man's urgency. “ I will watch her like a hawk I promise!”

North sighed and opened up the door. “Alright.” He said gesturing for him to go.

Jack didn’t need to be told twice. He shot out the door, straight to the infirmary.

     ~~~~~~~

When Jack reached the infirmary he found that Snow was almost done taken care of. Her hair was dry and combed and half of it was put up. The scrapes on her face and arms where cleaned and some had large wraps on them. She had a large wrap around her stomach though.

Her ripped dress had been exchanged for some jean short-shorts and a blue tank top. She had a see through strapless top on over it all that was so long it almost went past her short-shorts. But she still wore the cloth strings around her calves, her necklace, no shoes, and the shirt had been covered in a frosty pattern like her dress.

North was used to older kids asking for cool clothes and shoes and whatnot, so he had a large compartment where they manufactured clothing.

When Snow saw Jack her face lit up and she looked relieved. One of the yetis was still bandaging her left arm, so Jack flew over to her.

“Hey, you okay?” He said to her as he eyed her many bandages. She must have taken a pretty bad beating.

“I’m fine Jack.” Was her simple answer, but she wasn’t fine. As the Yeti wrapped her sprained wrist her face was contorted in pain, but she was trying to hide it with a smile.

Before Jack could say anything else he was swept away by a large yeti into a different room. “Hey!” He yelled, but he was no match for the large creature. The room smelled like medication and cough syrup, and he realized it was the shower room. But it wasn’t just a regular shower; it was a weird antibiotic shower. He had had it once before when he got all scraped up chasing a nightmare a few months ago, and it wasn’t fun. It stung like crazy, and it smelled foul.

He groaned in protest but the yeti just showed a towel and a set of clothes into his hands and before Jack could object any further he was gone.

About 10 minutes later Jack came out in a brand new sweatshirt and set of capris, his body completely washed of all the blood and nightmare sand.  But he still smelled like cherry flavored cough syrup.

Snow was done getting patched up and was waiting for him by the exit suspended in the air. Then Jack saw why, there where about a dozen elves underneath her, just watching the new visitor.

Jack groaned and ran over her. “Get out of here guys! You’re freaking her out!” He yelled as he poked them with his staff.  “Shoo! Disperse! Adios!”

But they didn’t move, still mesmerized at their house guest. Jack lost his patience. “I will freeze you!” He yelled.

At these words they screamed and began running in all different directions. Snow laughed as they scurried away, tripping over their own feet in the escape. Jack just rolled his eyes at the annoying little pests.

“So,” Snow said as she landed next to Jack her eyes bright in excitement despite her injuries, “What should we do now?”

“I’m not sure.” He said scratching his head. “There are so many choices. We could freeze some elves and have an elf bowling competition, or go and set something on fire in the kitchens, or go and ride some blimps around the workshop-“

“Um, how about a tour first?” She cut in.

“Oh,” Jack said smiling. “I guess that works too.”