Hogsmead Village

The long laugh Pitch gave was twisting, haunting.

He vanished in the shadows, using a quite a bit of his power as he reappeared at the entrance of the dead-end allyway.

"Oh, you hide them well... but there's one that's fresh, and easy... oh, it's quite my favourite, too..."

Another cackle.

"Helm's death.... you remember that, oh yes.... you were afraid.... but oh the terror he knew...! As each and every curse hit him, as he realized your precious auror would not help him.."

My composure quivers for a fraction of a second before I state, "My anger outweighed my fear."

"Oh but you were very, very afraid.... do not admit you weren't..."

A smirk, Pitch stalked forward, shoulders back in a commanding pose.
"Did the shadows seem thick? I was there... I fed from your fear. But perhaps you need another idea..?"

He paused, thoughtfully, forming figures of Artemis and Artisan out of nightmare sand in his palm.

"Losing your brothers, perhaps? You love family... deep down, you're quite attached.."

Remember the old code and your training, Steven.

"Lose is a natural part of life. It is senseless to fear it." I proclaim with more conviction than I had.

Though strength was in Crest's tone, Pitch could sense he was unwinding.
He had to force himself to be brave.

He crushed the figures in his fingers.

The man then turned to the crying child nearby, walking and grabbing a fistful of her hair, hoisting her to her feet.
"And the innocents? They cannot handle it like you have. For example... this girl has a brother.... a big brother, who's strong, protective, caring... much like yourself. And if she were to die? It is his greatest fear.."

I watch the imagine, trying to hide my revolt behind a mask of indifference. Only one thing could make me bend to his views.

Sam Nuel, only she could make my heart tremble if I lost her.

(( thank you ))


Lastly, Pitch gave a large, twisting, unhuman grin.
He dropped the child and again lurked in the shadows. His golden eyes were fiery with malice and sick enjoyment.

"And the Nuel girl.... Samantha, correct? Ah, yes.... if she were to die or abandon you...now that, that is your greatest fear.."

This at last springs my eyes open in an amount of dread to unnerve me but not enough to stop rational thought, "She's never going to do either!"

Pitch gave a pleased grin, turning his head away quietly from Crest.

"You never know, Strayer.... think on it... just for tonight... and you'll find my powers very much alive in you."

I shove my fears to the back of my mind and regain my composure, I turn my back to him and begin walking away.

But then I stop and look over my shoulder at him and point my wand at him, "Lumos Solem."

There is no words for the anger and pain that shot through Pitch as a blinding light met his eyes.
Sensitive and angry, he leaned away, holding up his hands to shield himself, giving a cry of anger as he tried to step into familiar, comforting darkness.
Oh, what he'd give to be able to hide under a bed right now!

"Odd how the king of fear, isn't free of it himself?"

(( Sorry to vanish again, but it's really late. Goodnight. :~: ))

A twinge of anger, yet remorse filled Pitch's emotions.
A flash of a memory. Nothing much, but just knowing he had lost seemed to swoop through his mind.

Yet he hadn't lost to this boy. It had been to something else, something he had stood against for so very long...

"Do not mock me!" He snapped, "No one is without their fears! Not even I!"

"But do you have the bravery to push past it?"

OOC night!

Anger was flooding through Pitch like never before.
Darkness licked at the light, desiring to push it back. Though he was still too weak to blot it out entirely, he lowered his arms, leaned into the blinding light.

"The Boogeyman can control his own fears...!"

I take several confident strides toward him, without so much as a syllable leaving my throat, not a barren echo or a mute noise.

Pitch stood there for a few moments, grimacing, before shuddering and giving a small, guttural growl, wincing away from the light, pressing against the ally's dead end, clawing at the corner of the wall to try and find a shadow to sneak off into.

"Stay away from my family and loved ones and I'll turn this off." This was not a debate, it was an order, no different from what a general would give hs troops.

Pitch was about to reply. About to give in, to slink back to the shadows.

But with his back curved, spine sticking out noticably, clawing at the wall, the tone is what stopped him.
He turned his head to look fully at Crest.
No grimace. No wince. No blink.

Just a stare.

He knew that tone.
And he would not take it.

"How dare you..."

I look up at him and just wait for him to continue.

An outburst worthy of a general himself shot from Pitch's lips.
He did not know what compelled him.
What he said even seemed to shoot past what he knew, as if he knew not what he said.

"Stand down, soldier! A general does not take orders from a boy..! Never!"

"You patronize me." I look into his orbs he called eyes.

"You dare speak to General Kozmotis Pitchiner in such a way?"

Pitch's eyes had gone blank, and he pulled himself up to his full height, lips pulled in a snarl.
Indeed, now he looked like a General. The great hero he had once been.

Yet angry, dark, different.

"Your world is innocent, free of the darkness of the stars beyond..."

Was this some sort of past life of his?

I continue to quietly observe, taking more note of what he was saying and doing.

And then an idea hits me, "What are your orders general?"

Pitch looked, momentarily, taken aback.
His steely, fear-inducing gaze remained blank, innocent, different.

He pointed out, motioned to the girl.

"Take her somewhere safe, comfort her. Shed light upon her room, let her know she'll be all right."


(( might vanish for bed. :~: ))