Crystal Winters

Chapter Three

One week later, Crystal was once again lying in a snowbank near the lake. Her eyes were open this time, and she was staring into the overcast skies like they could give her all the answers in life.

For the past week she had been testing everything to do with what she was and why no one could see her. Her results always came up inconclusive. She had no idea what she was-she could be a ghost, a demon, some sort of specter, and she still was drawing up blank on what sprite meant. And it seemed like no matter what, no one could see her. She had tried old people, young people, adults, old folks, healthy people, average people, couch-potato people. She even went to the S. Burgess Hospital, but no one could see her. They all walked through her (which still hurt A LOT) or didn't acknowledge her in any way shape or form.

She yelled up at the sky, and in her frustration haphazard spikes of ice began to form around her.

She turned around and studied them, touching the tips and running her hands over the spine of them. She didn't feel the cold, she noted for the millionth time.

A thoughtful smile crossed her face, and an only-a-little mischievous look sparked into her eyes. If her tests with people weren't getting her anywhere, she might as well test her powers.

If there was one thing that her week spent in Burgess(As the town's rusty old sign had proudly displayed) had taught her, it was that having powers was not ordinary.

Her powers were sort of... out of control. Frost, and sometimes ice, just appeared wherever she stepped, and the temperature of the air seemed to drop at least ten degrees around wherever she was. But if she could control those powers...

Crystal spent the next half-hour practicing with her powers. Frost was easier to make than ice, but ice was easier to control. Flying was easy if she called on the wind to help her, and so far, her powers didn't expand to other wintery things, such as snow.

Also, it seemed that using her powers too much tired her out. That was why she was now sitting on the icy surface of the lake, weak lines of frost going out around her. She closed her eyes and sat, with the wind whistling around her, while she slowly regained her energy.

POV CHANGE

Jack's POV

Jack laughed as the wind carried him through a window left open for him and jumped down to the floor. He froze a nearby elf, said hello to Phil (who was cleaning a book case next to the window) and walked to sit down at the large mahogany table with five seats around it. He plopped down on the padded chair, waving vaguely with his staff at the other Guardians.

"Hey guys." He said lazily, before taking a sip of the cooled drink that a yeti had slipped in front of him.

"Frostbite." Bunny grumbled. "Late 'gain, are ya? Wha', we only have these little gatherings once a month, ev'ry month. Little ankle biters keep you 'way again, eh mate?"

"You know it, Kangaroo."

"EH! I'm not a kangaroo, mate!"

"Sure look like one, 'r-"

North cut in "While I'm sure arguing is fun, tis also pointless, no? Let's get down to tacks of brass!"

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Alright! Tooth, your report?"

The other guardians all gave their reports one by one, until they turned to Jack.

Jack shifted, just a little uncomfortable. "Winter's going fine. So is the whole" He made finger quotes "Spreading joy to kids thing. Although there was this one kid-" He cut himself off abruptly, going stiff before relaxing again, but there was just a flicker of panic in his eyes now.

"Someone's at my lake." He said, voice just a bit off. "I've got to go."

The other guardians glanced at each other, shooting worried looks. Sandy flashed signs at Jack worriedly.

*Would you like help? * the golden man asked through his pictographs.

"Nah, it'll be fine. See you guys in a week!"

He flew out through the window before the guardians could protest.