Bloody Ice

Still a Child

Vlad’s P.o.V.

The Big Four, Jack had called them as he explained them each to me, trying to prepare me. North, he said, was the big, jolly Russian that I knew as ‘Santa’. Apparently, North had mentioned something about me being on the nice list, so hopefully he’d be the easiest to win over. Bunnymund, the one who’d caught us while I was feeding, was the giant bunny. I thought he was a kangaroo or something of that nature but you learn something new everyday. He clearly didn’t like or trust me. The reaction I’d expected from Jack. Then, there was Sandy, the sandman. A mute little fellow that was the most mellow and caring of the four. I wasn’t sure about him, but I hoped he’d be on our side. Lastly, was Tooth. The petite fairy, as Jack explained it, was the tooth fairy. I couldn’t resist making a crack about my baby fangs, which earned me a playful swat and hair full of frost. 

“They’re here…” I said hesitantly as the door opened, each of the figures entering the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, holding Jack’s hand tightly to hide the nervous shaking. 

“Bunny, what all about? Vlad should be resting.” North scolded the Easter Bunny. I swallowed and closed my eyes, afraid to see their reactions to what Bunny was about to say.

“Vlad is a vampire! He was feeding on Frost like a parasite.” He accused harshly and I flinched at his wording. Jack squeezed my hand reassuringly, but I kept my eyes shut tight, afraid, sad. 

“Bunny! That’s rude!” Tooth exclaimed suddenly and my brow furrows confusion. “Besides, at least Sandy and I know. I collect teeth after all and Sandy has to tailor dreams specifically to the person, species and all.” She added and my eyes shot open. I looked at the Fairy and Sandman before looking to Jack. He shrugged lightly. 

“What?! You knew and still saved his parasitic life?!” Bunny cried, gesturing at me as if I were the filth if the earth. 

“Bunny, he is a child, on Nice list. Of course we’d save him just like we would any other child.” North said, poking the oversized furball in the chest. Sandy had his hands on his hips, nodding his head whilst tapping his foot silently at the bunny. The giant bunny’s ears laid back against his head as the other spirits ganged up on him, scolding. 

“But-” He started and Jack cut him off.

“No buts. You heard them! Vlad is just like any other person and I love him! Bunny, you’re...you’re just jealous!” He shouted and stormed from the room, leaving me alone on the edge of the bed with the spirits and the angry bunny. I swallowed as Bunny looked shocked by the accusation then turns to glare at me, only to be hoisted out of the room by the giant furry creatures that Jack had told me were Yetis. It had all become a little too much for my frazzled mind to take right then and I felt my conscious slipping away again as I fell back on the bed into darkness. 

********

Jack’s P.o.V.

I paced outside the workshop, angrily creating snow drifts and ice statues that I often just smashed again shortly after. Damn, him, Bunny. I’d always known he’s had a crush on me, but I didn’t feel the same way for him. Why did he have to make things hard for Vlad. Young, innocent Vlad getting caught in the crossfire of my problems. He really was just a child and I was far from it. Sure I was a child once. But I’d been a spirit for centuries. I hardly qualified as one any longer. I was the one that was wrong. I was tainting him, taking away his innocence and childhood. I threw another ice sculpture into existence and kicked it hard so it smashed and tumbled to pieces. I had to let him go before he got further hurt because of me, because of my actions. I was supposed to bring joy and delight, not pain and pleasure. I had to stop this, before I didn’t have the strength to let him go. 

I stomped back into the workshop, knowing I was still covered in snow and fragments of shattered ice. I approached Bunny where he sat sulking at the large table in the main hall. He looked up at me, expression angry at first, but one look at my own expression had his turning to one of confusion. 

“Take Vlad home for me. Tell him that I said I’m sorry, but it’s over. They’re right. He’s just a child. Take him home.” I said before heading to my room and shutting the door, freezing it shut tight as I felt my heart break, no, shatter. It was ground to nothing but dust. I felt truly happy with Vlad, but I couldn’t be selfish. Not at the risk of himself.