Protecting Genie

Chapter 23

Pitch's POV

After losing my dear Genie, I had gone into seclusion for what seemed like years; not even bothering to do my job. It must have been glorious for all humans to have nothing but pleasant fairy tale dreams for years. Nobody had to worry about the Boogeyman.

The Sandman also must have had a field day not having to fight against me.

No doubt the rest of the Immortals enjoyed this time of silence also; well, except when it was Hal and Liam's holidays. They seemed to triple the amount of mischief, making up for my absence.

Despite my order for them not to follow me after everything, they did so anyway. In a way, I am grateful to them; but I will never tell them those words out loud.

They didn't need to hear it anyway; they knew already how much their friendship meant to me.

But there was one person I would forever be grateful for; and for this one person, I would scream it at the top of my lungs for the world and for her to hear. My special friend.

*Flashback*

"Not a bad place you got here Pitch. Could use a few spider webs and such, liven it up a little." I'm not sure how but Hal and Liam were able to locate my new hideaway. I guess since they are use to hiding things, such as spiders and pots of gold, they'd be really good at findings things also.

Well, it would have happened eventually, I've been gone for about 5 years now. They must have been worried about me.

I had decided to live in the outskirts of Japan. The reason for this was simple; it was the one place that Genie always dreamed of visiting.

In the personal library I made for her, she had somehow found a book about Japan. That night, she was bored but unable to sleep. I held her in my arms that night as she showed me the pictures in that book, talking sadly about how she'd never be able to visit all the landmarks now or eat all the amazing food.

Mentally, I made a promise that once the Guardians were out of my way for good, I would take her there myself. It would be our first trip together as a couple, as King and Queen. But it all had to be ruined.

Now she was not with me.

This was apparently my way of mourning, being around the stuff that Genie loved. It would make more sense to be away from it but I couldn't bring myself to move.

"You're wrong Hal, maybe a splash of gold. I wouldn't mind letting you have a few pieces, my friend."

Unlike my previous hideout that I had created as a labyrinth, this one was fairly simple. As a matter of fact, it was exactly like my old lair. One giant room with nothing special. A few hanging cages here and there, my giant globe filled to the brim with lights of all children who 'believed' in their stupid fairy tales, and my throne right in the middle of it all.

Nothing else seemed important. There was no need for me to have a giant room with a giant bed; there was no one there to keep it warm for me or wait for me after a long day. There were no arms to hold me.

I was all alone.

While Hal and Liam continued to talk about 'decorating' and sorts, I just sat up on my throne, one of my elbows was placed on an armrest, my head resting on my hand. As much as I treasured this rare friendship, it was not wanted at the moment.

"Do you two have to be so loud?" I mumbled, my free hand going up to massage my temple, I found feel a headache forming.

"Maybe you should listen to them. This place can use a bit of color." The voice came from behind me. The sound of it caused my headache to disappear right away, the hairs on the back of my neck and on my arms stood straight up.