Although summer was still at its warmest, a strange chill soon crept into the air. There was trouble in the clouds. I could feel it deep within myself, and a pit soon began to grow in my stomach. Something was wrong, and while everything else in my life seemed so much better than before, there was still one problem lingering on my mind. I knew that this was sure to be the source of the anxiety spreading through my gut as the days wore on. The event I was dreading most soon came to pass, though it was inevitable.

It was a blazingly warm weekend afternoon, one that I had taken full advantage of by walking Artemis along my street. Above us, a crystal clear, cloudless sky of soft blue. A seemingly perfect summer day. When I came home from the walk, I bent down to pet Aphrodite as she lay on her side in a patch of sunlight streaming in through the living room window. Her flank rose and fell slowly and her purr increased in volume. To my surprise, Obsidian had curled close to the feline, resting his head on her shoulder like a kitten would do to its mother. Artemis approached the pair and flopped down beside them on the carpet, rolling onto her back and wagging her tail. I smiled and scratched her tummy, sitting on the floor beside the three animals and enjoying the quiet. My mother was out of town yet again, so I had the house to myself. I didn't mind it though. The peace was soothing to my jumbled nerves.

At least, this was the case for a short time. The change in the atmosphere came slowly at first. The once sunny sky was besieged by dark and menacing shelves of clouds, hues of byzantium and mauve and smoky gray enveloping the glow of the sun and causing it to disappear. The entire room filled with a flash of blinding white light as electricity from the air struck the ground nearby, and the house shook as though there was an earthquake occurring when thunder rolled threateningly overhead. All three animals scattered and hid under the furniture. I could feel myself trembling as I moved to the couch, staring across the room to look out the window. Hard raindrops and small pieces of hail pounded against the glass, growing and ebbing in ferocity. I hated storms like this, they unnerved me more than pretty much anything.

A hand on my shoulder made me help in surprise and momentary fear. "Jesus!" I exclaimed, turning in my seat. It was only Pitch. I furrowed my brow, not expecting him until later in the afternoon. My frown deepened as I took in his grim expression. His eyes were full of fear. There was only one thing he was afraid of. Or should I say, a group of things. The Guardians. "Anara! It is time. It's Frost and the others. We need to leave, now!" He rambled, looking as frightened as Aphrodite with her tail and fur bushed out and wide eyes. If he had been a feline, he would look much the same.

I realized that I needed to step up this time. Pitch had been brave for me before, I could do the same for him. "Pitch, we knew this would happen! There is no point in running, they will find us anywhere. We need to take a stand. You have changed, you are not the monster they think you are. Let us show them! We should speak to them, make them understand." I argued. Pitch stared at me skeptically. "Trust me, please. This is the right thing to do." I added, stepping closer to him. Another crashing sound outside startled me, and I clutched onto the Boogeyman tightly. He sighed and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You are right, my nightflower. As always. Very well, let us face our fate together." He murmured, half to me and half to himself. I squeezed his hand tightly in reassurance and with a final breath, we sunk through the shadows on the floor.

The familiar trip through Pitch's realm was actually comforting for a mere moment. But as my feet came to solid earth once more, the wind shrieked against my ears and the rain instantly soaked through my tank top and shorts. My hair whipped wildly around me and I fought to even see my hand in front of my face through the torrential downpour. I tugged on Pitch. "Where are we?" I asked, shivering from the chilled raindrops. "We are in the forest, near my lair. If we need to escape, that's where I'm taking us. I can guard it from them if I need to." He responded. I nodded, still struggling to identify my surroundings.

Suddenly, another flash of light, this one blue, streamed over the treetops. An icy globe began to form around us, the circumference of the area being about fifty yards in total, with Pitch and I in the very center of the circle. I swallowed as five shapes appeared around us while the rain cleared, revealing my childhood heroes in all their dazzling glory. Nicholas St. North, or as we would call him, Santa, was directly across from Pitch, his muscular build intimidating in itself, let alone the massive swords hanging from his hands. He had a long white beard and furry red coat, just like the tales said, but this one looked more Russian in style. He was flanked by a yeti on either side. The Easter Bunny was standing to the left of North, looking as though he was ready to pounce Pitch then and there. The Easter Bunny was just as Jamie described him, gray-blue fur smooth like silk, but his stature was even comparable to my lover's. A boomerang was ready to be thrown from his paws, and his ears twitched in annoyance. Two large Easter egg shaped stone creatures also accompanied the pooka.

To his left was Toothania, the Tooth Fairy. Her gleaming rainbow colored feathers shimmered, wet from the rain that had been pouring moments prior, while five sets of narrow fairy wings, like those of a mosquito, fluttered nervously. Her magenta eyes showed deep concern and confusion, and she tilted her head from side to side like a hummingbird. On her other side, a small figure made of glowing golden sand stood silently, and with a jolt I realized that this must be the Sandman. He glared at Pitch, their previous quarrel clearly still fresh in his mind. I couldn't say I blamed him though. Pitch had done some truly terrible things. I just hoped they could see through their animosity to discover that he had changed. Jack gazed at me guiltily, and I gave him a weak smile to tell him it was okay and I understood that he needed to tell the others.

The fear that Pitch had in his eyes only moments prior was now hidden by a sheer curtain of humorism and bravado. "Hello...old friends..." He greeted the Guardians politely. As if on cue, a crack of thunder boomed overhead, causing me to shiver even more than I had been from the cold. Pitch noticed and pulled me into his chest so that he could wrap his robe around me as well. Bunny twitched his whiskers impatiently. "We are not your friends, mate," He growled, narrowing his eyes at my boyfriend. I felt Pitch tense up behind me, and his protective grip on my hand tightened. "Very well then... Ladies and gentleman, this is Anara Rose. Anara, these are the Guardians...Now that introductions are over, can we help you with something?" The Nightmare King spoke sarcastically. North nodded calmly, "Yes. We would like to speak with you both. Let the girl go, Pitch." My eyes widened in realization. They must think I am under some kind of spell.

Pitch looked baffled. "Let her go? What do you think I have done to her? Do you truly think I would imprison Anara? Hold her to me against her will?" Tooth spoke up then, "That's what you did to my fairies, Pitch, remember? I knew your motive then. But I don't understand it now..." She muttered thoughtfully. Pitch sneered, "For all the wisdom you all preach, you are all quite dense." The Guardians glanced between one another. "Didn't you learn not to mess with us or the children the last time we drove you back to your hole?" Bunny interjected. "It seems we need to do it again..." He added. I decided I needed to say something, after all, none of this would've happened if I had kept my mouth shut. "Umm, hello...may I say something?" I lifted my hand to get everyone's attention.

North nodded once, seemingly surprised that I was going to speak. "First of all, it's great to finally meet you all. Jack and Pitch have each told me a lot about you. I know you are here because Jack told you that Pitch and I are involved romantically. That is true, neither one of us will deny it. Pitch and I are deeply in love, and have been for quite a while. He is an amazing man and if you give him a chance, he can show you that he has changed. I am not under any kind of spell. I know everything there is to know about Pitch Black, and he knows everything about me. I don't agree with what happened the last time you all had a confrontation, but Pitch has assured me it won't happen again. Please, if you let us be, you won't even know we exist..." My speech seemed to be a bit moving for Sandy and Tooth, whose eyes glistened with mist, and North, who cleared his throat.

The giant man sighed, staring at me wearily. "That all sounds very nice...but forgive us if we do not trust the Boogeyman. He has proven himself to be as slippery as a snake many times over." North explained. I frowned but nodded in understanding.

Pitch spoke this time, adding to my previous statements. "We go back centuries, the lot of us. An endless battle for dominance and belief. For this young woman, I would give all of it up. I wish only to live in peace, with Anara by my side. I do not wish to cause trouble. I will continue to do my job as the Man in the Moon permits, but I will not challenge you unless you harm the woman I love." He replied. My mouth fell open. I couldn't believe what he just said. He would give everything he had worked for, a task he had been attempting for centuries, to be with me.

Jack stepped forward then. "That sounds great when you say it Pitch. But Anara is a mortal, and she is a child. Do you realize how flawed this relationship is? You both will only suffer in the long run. And I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy..." The frost Guardian pointed out. "I am not a child, Jack!" I groaned loudly. "Pitch and I weren't even courting until well after I turned eighteen. I'm an adult who can date whoever I deem fit." I retorted. "But you are still mortal. One day...you will die...and Pitch will be alone again..." Tooth whispered gently. "These are matters we have already discussed..." Pitch hissed. He was slowly losing his patience. I knew that he was growing tired of providing explanations to questions that were hardly needed at this point, questions raised to instill doubt. I knew the Guardians only wanted what was best for me, but trying to find excuses as to why our relationship was so bad was not the way to convince me. Especially given the fact that the reasons were feeble at best.

Before I knew it, the debate amongst the group had slowly escalated into a full argument, with Pitch snarkily replying to scathing comments from Bunny and inquiry from North. Meanwhile, I briefly moved away from Pitch to continue to banter with Jack about why my relationship was something everyone felt they had a say in, even though it was purely between Pitch and I. Jack mumbled that it was a risk, but when I asked who it was a risk to since we would not be hurting anyone, he wouldn't answer. Tooth and Sandy stayed silent, nervous expressions prevalent on their faces as they watched the ordeal.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Pitch growing more infuriated. He was pacing back and forth, his eyes full of irritation. "THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I NEED NOT DEFEND MY ACTIONS TO YOU, WHISKERS!" He shouted, accent almost disappearing from the sheer anger in his voice. His hand flew outward, a rush of black sand erupting from beneath him and hurling toward Bunny. The pooka's boomerang flew through the air, slicing through the sand and hitting Pitch in the stomach. He fell down, the breath knocked out of him. I gasped, speechless. I had no idea what to do. When the Nightmare King got to his feet, his cold stare was enough to kill. A scythe made of sand materialized in his hand. No. This needs to end before anyone gets hurt! I heard the sound of ice crackling, glancing around to see Jack forming some large shards made of ice, quickly sending them flying toward Pitch. Fearful for my lover's safety, I pelted back to Pitch.

The next events seemed to happen in slow motion as I watched the shards shooting toward us. Simultaneously, Jack registered my position with a horrified expression on his face, unable to do anything but watch. Pitch had not seemed to notice the incoming ice until it was mere feet from us, his eyes wide in alarm. I wasn't thinking. The only thing that mattered was keeping the man I loved alive. Without stopping I forcefully pushed the Boogeyman away from me, out of the line of fire.

It took me a few moments to register a throbbing pain in the center of my chest. I looked down to see one of the ice shards protruding from my body, the crystal coated in a sickening shade of red. There was a ringing in my ears but I still heard everyone gasp and saw Pitch's terrified expression as I staggered a few steps and fell down to the grass. Within seconds, everything went black.

When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by the Guardians. Cold pain seeped through my veins, as if my blood was freezing inside of my body. The ice shard had pierced the center of my chest, shattering bone and surely snagging some organs. I shivered in pain, listening to the silence that had encompassed us. The Guardians all gazed at me in utter shock at the accident, and I saw Jack hovering nearby with a look of pure terror written on his face. Pitch had pulled me into his arms with an uncharacteristic gentleness. "No! Anara!" He whimpered, staring at me with eyes full of fear once again. His nightmares formed from the remaining sand and approached us on either side, but Pitch waved them away. My body trembled from the icy cold numbness affecting me. Blood dripped around the frozen shard impaling me, coating my skin in a crimson sheen. Pitch's golden silver gaze searched my own for any sign of hope. But there was none. We both knew this was it. I was dying. Nothing could save me now. And it was ironic, considering how we were just discussing the fact that I would leave this Earth well before Pitch. It seemed that would happen sooner than any of us expected.

My breath started to come in gasps, my lungs heaving with the effort of bringing in oxygen. "Pitch," I whispered. His fingers hovered over the shard, as if contemplating on touching it. "No. This can't be. There has to be something we can do. I can save you. I know I can..." He rambled. "Pitch," I tried again to get him to meet my eyes but he was so concentrated on racking his brain that he didn't hear me. My time was running out though. "Pitch!" I raised my voice. He closed his mouth and looked down at me worriedly. "Why would you risk your life for me like that?" He mumbled sadly. "Because I love you, you daft man..." I reached up and clutched his cloak tightly between my fingertips. "I can't hold on much longer..." I told him. "You're going to be okay, my pretty nightflower." He began. "Don't lie to me Pitch. You and I both know you're wrong this time..." I winced. "But-" "No. Listen...I just wanted to say...thank you...for everything...you were always there...for me...even when you didn't know that you were...Nothing will ever describe...how I feel for you...I love you...so much...never forget that..." I whispered, involuntarily trembling.

Pitch pulled me closer, trying to share his body heat with me, though it would do no good. "No. Not again. I'm not going through this again...I am not losing you too!" He muttered angrily. I grimaced, remembering the story of his wife and daughter. "I'm sorry...for this pain...but I...am not sorry...for loving you..." I managed through little gasps of air. Pitch cupped my cheek and pressed his forehead to mine. "Nor am I. I love you too, darling." He murmured, running his fingers through my hair. "Good...now I just...have one...request..." I continued, feeling myself growing weaker by the moment. "Anything my love, anything you wish." He answered. "Kiss...me...one...last...time..." Pitch's jaw fell in surprise, but he complied with my request. Carefully, he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me softly, pouring out every shred of emotion I had ever experienced from him. I kissed him back lovingly, doing my best to say goodbye to the man who held my heart. We broke apart a moment later, and with a sad smile, I felt my eyes grow heavy and everything around me faded for a final time, Pitch's face being the very last thing that I saw before my senses dimmed entirely.