Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Church of Bones	By : LuciferDragon Category: +M through R > Rise of the Guardians Views: 1334 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Rise of the Guardians world, and I make no profit at all from this fiction. All in good fun.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
14.
I hadn't realized how large the campus really was until we split up and I wandered the sidewalks alone. The sun wouldn't completely set for another hour, but it still gave me a chance to look around for anything out of the ordinary. And it allowed me to listen to the wandering students discuss their plans for later. Not everyone was going to a party it would seem, and many were still cautious to be out after dark after what had happened. Especially not after their news stations had linked a trail of bodies from Frankford to Burgess, passing through the university on the way. I couldn't blame them.
I was able to hear of one party, the most common to be talked about by passing students as they left a common eating area. A fraternity was celebrating their midterms being over, not that they needed an excuse to party.
"Lots of chicks, right?"
"No doubt. Tommy's been gathering them up for a week now."
"A costume party was a boss idea though. Two in one month."
"Yeah, that's right. Halloween will be even sicker though."
If there is a Halloween… I thought bitterly as I watched two young men exit the building, one of them picking at a cupcake he had taken.
The one without the cupcake adjusted his pack. "So what if something weird happens again? Like a few weeks back?"
"Not much we can do about it," the other answered, peeling the wrapper off. "Besides, there hasn't been a report of anything over here since that kid died. Seems the crazy ass moved on to Burgess."
I decided to follow them to see what else they had to say. I also had no idea how to get anywhere on the campus.
"It's just weird," the first one said. "They can't find any evidence leading to a killer, yet the guy is leaving the axes behind. Nothing is showing up."
"Maybe it's the Boogeyman," the one with the cupcake said mockingly.
"As if. You know he only steals kids from their homes if they don't behave."
If only you knew the half of what he can do. I shivered, remembering our brief encounter a few hours ago.
"So says the stories." Cupcake Kid shrugged. "Anyway, whatever killed that kid moved on. We've had nothing since."
"Doesn't mean it won't happen again."
"Even if it does, the guy wouldn't bother the party. Too many witnesses, man."
"I suppose so. Let's get this shit dropped off and get ready."
I had to get to that party. It was the best lead I had. I made myself invisible and dropped from the tree I had been hanging out in. If I was to get in to the party, I'd have to blend in as best as I could. Knowing kids, they'd all be drunk, aided by all sorts of alcohol. I couldn't blend in that way. As I've said, my systems don't all work, and so alcohol would be useless. However, there were other ways…
I pulled a flask out of my shorts, one I carried just in case I needed to gather an emergency dose. I blew in the ear of Cupcake Kid, and he dropped his wrapper in surprise. "Did you feel that breeze?"
"What breeze? Trees are still, man. Have you been pregaming without me?"
Before he could answer I did it again, this time touching his arm lightly. "Bro, quit it. You're messing with me, aren't you?"
"The fuck are you smoking? I'm not doing anything."
I switched to the other boy as he was adjusting his pack. He looked around, but otherwise didn't react. I tapped in to the miniscule waves of fear they were feeling. "Marcus…"
Marcus looked to Cupcake kid. "Louis, you say something?"
"No, why?"
Marcus pulled his jacket tighter and I almost giggled in delight as the waves rose. "Something's up."
"Told you."
The waves rose again as I put on my most pathetic sounding voice. "Marcus… Louis… help me."
Their pace began to quicken. "I don't like this," Louis muttered. "Let's get out of here."
Marcus stopped short and turned around, looking for me. "This has to be some sort of prank. Someone's trying to be funny."
"You think being dead is funny? Why don't you give it a try?" I materialized in front of them, a wicked smile on my face.
The boys' faces went from mild nerves to full on panic. Their jaws moved as if they were trying to form words, but their cords just wouldn't work.
I chuckled and opened my flask. "That's right boys. Being dead is so funny." I coaxed the waves into a corporeal form, filling the flask with a potent batch of purplish liquid. They stood stock still the whole time, eyes widening at the sight of the liquid forming from apparently thin air. Once it was full I closed the top and pocketed it. "Would it be too much trouble to ask where the party is?"
They still seemed to have trouble forming words. Louis managed to squeak out "Chestnut" before all speech left him.
I rolled my eyes. Their use had run out. "Boo." They suddenly screamed and scrambled over each other, darting in the opposite direction. I searched a nearby map, looking for where the fraternities were. I managed to find them, and figured out a way to get there. Still didn't mean I was any less lost. I couldn't imagine how the freshman did it. They had the added pressure to finding their classes and making it there on time five days a week. Six if they were unlucky and had classes Saturday.
Truth be told, as I traveled the sidewalks of the campus, I was fascinated by the goals the students had, as well as all the things they were interested in. They slaved away for at least four more years on top of their twelve just to get a piece of paper saying they received proper training in a certain field. It was a time where they were finding out who they were, where they belonged in the world. Nothing ever changes with that. Everyone on that campus striving to get that paper wanted the same thing. To find their place.
It took awhile, but I managed to find the fraternity houses. The sun had set long ago, and kids were already filing in to one house decked out in Halloween decorations. I smiled. They had an impressive house, one of the best decorated I had seen yet. They must have dumped a lot of money into just the decorations themselves. I heard music start up from inside and the guests already there shouted in joy.
"This would be where I'd find you."
I jumped and turned around, coming face to face with Pitch. "Damn it Oogie, you know I hate that!"
"Which makes it all the more fun." He nodded out to the house from my vantage point in some bushes. "I heard a 'wicked awesome' party was happening tonight. Thought that would be the best place to look for the necromancer again. Seems you shared my thoughts."
"Seems we all did," another voice said off to the side. I looked to see Jack and the others approaching.
"We're in luck," I said, pointing through the bushes. "Costume party. If anyone sees you, you can pretend to be in costume."
Tooth gave a sad smile. "Unfortunately, we're not ones that can be seen by young adults. Most stop believing in us in their early teens."
"Some still believe in me though," Jack said, stepping forward. "I'll help you inside."
I repressed an urge to grin. Jack had been cheating for the past ten years. With the help of his snowflakes, he had been visiting kids all over the world, spreading his belief. I couldn't blame him. Going three hundred years unseen and unheard…. I glanced at Pitch briefly. I could understand both of their desperations. I nodded. "I think we'll blend in." I looked to the others. "The rest of you, take to the campus. We've got this house covered."
North nodded while Sandy ushered the others back towards the campus. "Be careful."
"Of course." The three of us emerged from the bushes, gauging the reaction of the guests. We could in fact be seen, but we were assumed to be more college students. It felt good to be thought of as young as them. Even Pitch blended in better than I would have first thought. Some frat boy actually thrust a red cup into his hand as soon as we got through the door.
He merely looked at it with a curled lip as the boy walked away. "Why would they assume I would want this?"
"Welcome to college, Old Man," I said with a roll of my eyes. "Any excuse to chug a beer is an excellent one."
"We are trying to blend in," Jack said with a shrug and a grin.
"Is that a challenge, Frost?"
"Just an observation," the winter spirit said, his hands held up in defense, though the grin remained. "Though I don't think I've ever seen the great and powerful Boogeyman intoxicated."
Pitch arched a brow. "I thought we were working?"
"We are," I said. "Working on blending in and finding the necromancer. So drink that beer or hand it over."
"As if you can digest it." Regardless he did as asked, grimacing. "This is awful."
"What, did you expect good ale at a college party?" I pulled my flask out, knowing it would just seem like I had brought my own alcohol. In a way, it wasn't far off from the truth.
Jack didn't fail to notice. "I thought you were dead with no working digestion."
"I am. Doesn't mean I can't use something else." When sure no one was looking I coaxed the liquid shadows out of the top of the flask just a peek before letting it slide back inside. I took a quick swig and instantly felt the telltale tingles as the liquid ran through me. "Always better fresh."
Jack rolled his eyes. "You were supposed to be gathering information, not scaring kids."
"I was the first one here, wasn't I? They gave me information, I took a bit of their fear. Even tradeoff."
"And their reward was what?"
I frowned. "I don't know." I shrugged. "Regardless, I got my information, and I got fear in a flask. I see no disadvantages here."
"Hana, these kids have enough to be scared about lately. They don't need anything else to set them off."
I narrowed my eyes. "Since when are you the Moral Police? I didn't harm a hair on their heads. I even let one of them finish their cupcake before scaring them." I shoved his chest, pushing him out of the way. "Gather information on your own, Frost," I snarled over my shoulder. Not much bothered me as much as when someone reprimanded me for doing what I had to do to survive. Not that I found it a chore, I really did enjoy seeing their terrified faces. But why was it so wrong for me to do so any other day than Halloween?
"Well hello Foxy Lady."
I froze as a hand landed on my shoulder and I turned around to see a frat boy dressed as a pirate, with a loose puffy shirt. Sexy Pirate. Wonderful. I had to blend in. "Me?"
He looked around. "Well, yeah, you. And seeing you from the front…" He let out a wolf whistle and I was immediately flattered. "I see we did only get the best looking girls. Can I get you a drink?"
I smiled and tilted my flask. "Already got one, thanks."
"Your accent is interesting. Are you foreign?"
"Ah, I've spent quite a bit of time in Italy, actually." I turned around again. "I should be getting back to the party."
The boy stood in front of me. "What's the hurry? I'd love to know how you got your eyes to glow like that. One of those new contact sets?"
"Um, yeah. Exactly that."
"What are you supposed to be anyway?"
"The Spirit of Halloween."
He nodded a few times. "Haven't heard that one before." He leaned against the fireplace. "I'm a pirate. The notorious Blackbeard, in his younger days."
I arched a brow, taking in the sight. "You do realize Blackbeard went mental due to syphilis eating at his brain, and he was only successful due to the fact his crew never dared to defy his crazy orders?" I smiled at the boy's blank stare. "I see you didn't know that. Shame. You should do research on the things you dress up as."
He merely grinned. "I see there's brains as well as beauty. What is your name?"
Before I could answer, a stronger hand sat on my shoulder. "None of your business, boy."
Leave it to Pitch to come to the rescue every time. "And who are you?" the boy said with a bit of fearful defiance. "Her boyfriend?"
"Actually, yes." He disappeared from behind me and ended up behind the boy, who immediately looked scared out of his wits. Especially when a shadow tendril held up a clear tube filled with six white pills and Pitch's hands gripped his arms behind his back. "There are easier ways to get girls than drugging them. Is that what you planned to use tonight?" He shifted his grip to force the boy to look to me. "Were you going to use it on her?" The boy didn't move for a moment, and no one seemed to even notice anything going on in this corner. "Answer me, or I'll shove this whole vial down your throat." Another tendril wrapped around his throat. "Were you planning on using these on my woman?"
The boy's eyes squeezed shut and he nodded.
"Such a shame." He lowered his voice, leaning right into the boy's ear. "The Boogeyman knows where you sleep, Richard. Don't make me have to torture you in your sleep." He released the boy, who immediately stumbled away, sending a fearful glance back our way.
"You sure do know how to blend in." I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I could have handled myself, but thank you, Oogie."
He threw the vial in the fire and the flames flared up as the glass melted. "I know you could have. You shouldn't have to when I'm around though."
"My valiant dark knight." I took a few pulls from the flask before offering it to him. "If we have to stay here for awhile gathering information, might as well make it fun."
He took the flask without complaint. "Cheers then." He knocked it back and I couldn't help but watch his Adam's apple bob with each pull. I cleared my throat and looked away as he handed it back. "I suppose we should split up again and see what we can find out. Maybe someone else has seen this hooded kid."
I nodded. "Meet me out on the side of the house at midnight. Gives us four hours to gather information."
"What about Frost?"
I felt a snap of anger and knew my eyes had flashed in result. "Jack is on his own."
His wicked grin returned. "I'll see you at midnight then." As I watched him disappear in the growing crowd, I could have sworn I saw a flash of yellow eyes from underneath a passing hood. Before I could get a fix on the eyes, they vanished in the crowd. I shook my head, passing it off as the liquid fear messing with my head already. I did feel different. More loose, more carefree. I shrugged and sipped my flask while I asked students questions for the next four hours.
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Church of Bones