North Pole City Tales: Complete Series Page 12

  “What is it?” Tim asked softly.

  “Jack isn’t feared for who he is, rather what’s inside him. I’ve known Jack all my life. When he was a boy, he was sweet and playful, full of wonder and mischief. His father raised him to be a good soldier, strong, and fearless, but it was his mother, the Frost Queen, who taught him gentleness, mercy, and love. When the Frost War broke out, we were in the middle of our studies at Claus College.”

  “What happened?” Tim asked quietly, lying down beside Rudy, Noel snuggling up to Tim behind him, an arm wrapped tightly around him.

  Rudy could remember the day clearly. The day everything changed. “The war claimed the Frost Queen as its first casualty.”

  Tim gasped. “That’s terrible.”

  “I was there when it happened. Quite frankly, I don’t know how I survived. We’d been ice-skating on the lake when one of the King of Frost’s toy soldiers came to inform Jack of the tragedy. I remember being very worried for him. We were close friends, but at the time, my secret crush on him remained a secret. After receiving the news, Jack went very still. I was going to approach him, attempt to offer what comfort I could, when suddenly, there was this arctic blast.

  “I threw myself to the ground, convinced I was about to take my final breaths, cold the likes of which I’d never endured engulfing me. It took seconds. When I opened my eyes, I was stunned to be alive, especially since everything else had been… disintegrated. There was nothing left for miles but the dirt of the earth beneath us. Trees, the snow, the lake, everything was gone. He stood there in the middle of it all, his expression blank, and I had never been more scared of anything or anyone in all my life.” Rudy wiped the tears from his eyes, remembering the heartache as if it had been yesterday. “I called out to him, and when he looked at me… there was nothing but emptiness. He… didn’t know who I was. Worst of all, he didn’t care. He just walked away.

  “Jack was going to be a pilot for Kringle, you see. It’s what he’d wanted. His father had other plans for him. He wanted Jack to follow in his footsteps and lead the North Pole’s army. That day, Jack joined his father and the toy soldiers as their general. Without Jack, the Frost War wouldn’t have been over so quickly, but what everyone saw, what Jack did during that war, it’s where his reputation came from. Jack showed no remorse, no regret for anything. It was nothing more than a duty he was performing. He wiped out an entire army without a second thought. With his strength, he could have disabled the enemy’s army, but instead, he chose to annihilate them.”

  Tim’s fingers squeezed his own, and Rudy closed his eyes, taking what comfort he could from his sweet friend’s voice. “That doesn’t sound like Jack at all. I mean he’s grumpy, but he’s also kind. He smiles and laughs, shows compassion. I don’t understand.”

  “I didn’t either, at the time. When I accepted Kringle’s invitation to join the Rein Dear Academy, I was so excited, but at the same time, I was terrified because Kringle had asked Jack to teach me to fly. I didn’t know what Kringle saw in me, but he decided I would become the next captain, and for reasons unknown to me, he wanted Jack to teach me personally. It was true no one was better at flying than Jack, but he was… well, let’s just say, it was a rough start. Whatever friendship we’d once had was nonexistent, as if we were meeting for the first time.

  “Not long after getting started, I was on the brink of quitting. I had tried, really tried, but Jack was brutal. He was trying to break me, and he didn’t care. As far as he was concerned, I was unfit for the position. I was nobody, a strange little elf with strange, bright hair from some remote village of nobodies. We were at each other’s throats day in and day out. One night, I went to see Kringle to tell him I just couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up, asked me to walk with him, and I did. I followed him out into the hangar where Jack was working on his plane. Kringle handed me a snow globe. There was nothing in it but water and snow. He asked me to look at Jack through the globe. What I saw left me speechless.”

  Noel’s eyes widened. “What was it?”

  “What did you see?” Tim added curiously.

  “His heart was completely encased in ice. Whatever had happened that day at the lake, had frozen his heart. Kringle said he’d chosen me not just because he believed I was capable of leading the squadron, but because of my heart. He missed Jack, and there was no doubt in his mind that I was the one who could melt the ice around Jack’s heart. It was tough.” Rudy let out a tired laugh, recalling all those years with terrible clarity. “He wasn’t the Jack you’ve come to know. There was no one more stubborn, more infuriating, more ruthless than him, but I refused to back down. I was determined to help him. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I didn’t leave his side for a moment, no matter how irritated he became. It went on for days, weeks, months, years, decades.

  “Somewhere along the line… I had fallen in love with him, despite telling myself I shouldn’t, that it would only lead to heartache. He wasn’t just any toy soldier I could risk revealing myself to. This was the Prince of Frost. One wrong move and I’d never see the light of day again. There was also the fact he seemed determined to drive me mad with his anger and indifference toward me.

  “We were arguing over something silly. It went like any other argument, with one of us walking away for our own good, except when I turned to walk away, I tripped over the toolbox, fell into the landing gear, and banged my head.” Rudy couldn’t keep his heart from swelling at the memory. “He shouldn’t have cared. Any other day, he wouldn’t have. But that day, something was different, something had changed. He was down at my side, his hand to my brow as he helped me up, and although he continued to argue, it was over how I should have been more careful, how I could have seriously hurt myself. When I looked up into his eyes, I saw concern. The changes were so minimal, so gradual, like… ice melting drop by drop. Then came the day of my first Big Flight.”

  Rudy had never been more nervous or excited as he had been on that day. The night sky had been clear, and to this day, Rudy wondered if it had been Jack’s doing. Rudy had asked him once, long ago, but Jack had neither confirmed nor denied it at the time. “It went better than I could have expected. When it was over, he called me into his office to tell me I’d done a good job. I was stunned.”

  “Because he’d praised you?” Noel asked.

  “Because he smiled at me, a genuine smile. He gets these little wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.” Rudy’s cheeks grew warm at Tim’s knowing smile. “Anyway, I didn’t know what to say. By then, I had fallen pretty deep, but like I said, this was Jack Frost. Most creatures were scared to look him in the eye, much less tell him they were in love with him. I thanked him and left.

  “At the after-flight celebration at the Rein Dear estate, everyone was getting merry on eggnog, and I admit I was a little jolly myself. Jack was the only one not drinking, which really wasn’t a surprise. There was mistletoe, and I ended up under it with Vixen. There were rumors circulating about him and another elf around that time, but nothing had been confirmed. I remember feeling so confused by Jack’s anger when he grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall to my apartment. He pushed me inside and slammed the door. I asked him what was wrong, watched while he paced for a while, and I swear when he marched up to me, I thought he was going to turn me into an ice cube. At first, I thought maybe he was upset by seeing two elves kissing, until his lips were on mine.”

  “He was jealous!” Tim declared triumphantly, making Rudy chuckle.

  “You have no idea. By the end of his confession, my head was spinning. When I told him how long I had been in love with him…”

  Tim sighed dreamily. “That’s the most romantic story I’ve ever heard.”

  “You need to get out more,” Noel grumbled.

  “Hush.” Tim elbowed Noel playfully, letting out a giggle when Noel planted a kiss beneath his ear. They turned their attention back to Rudy, and he couldn’t help his unease.

  “Jack has the power to destroy life, bu
t it’s his heart that keeps him from being a monster. If he keeps going down this path, we’re going to lose him… I’m going to lose him, and I’m afraid I might not be able to get through it this time. He’ll forget our friendship, what we mean to each other. He’ll forget… me.” Rudy couldn’t bring himself to tell his friends they were already well on their way to losing Jack. He had seen it in his lover’s eyes, seen the warmth flickering like a candle flame in the path of a forceful breeze. If they lost Jack… who knows what it would mean for all of them. “Please, you have to keep an eye on him for me.”

  “Us?” Noel sat up, looking alarmed. “We’re no match for him.”

  “Only keep an eye on him, and if he grows menacing, keep your distance. Maybe you can help him get to the bottom of this quickly. If you discover the culprit before he does, notify me immediately. I might have to get the King of Frost involved.”

  “Jack won’t like that,” Tim said worriedly.

  “I know, but right now, I would rather have him furious with me than lose him altogether.”

  Tim and Noel gave him their word and quickly scrambled from the bed. Wishing them luck, Rudy closed his eyes and tried his hardest to summon patience. He was no good to anyone in this condition. He barely had the strength to move his own limbs, much less stand up to Jack. Even if he were at full strength, what would he do? How could he possibly go up against the Prince of Frost? Rudy was only a Christmas elf, while Jack was the Spirit of Winter. With a groan, he shook his head, refusing to fall to despair. Whatever happened, he would give his all. He loved Jack, and one way or another, Rudy would get through to him.

  Chapter 9

  Jack was losing patience. A wave of his hand and the Mouse King would be out of his hair for good. Why was he wasting time at the North Pole City Gazette? It’s not as if anyone can stop you from doing as you please. As long as justice is served, what does it matter the manner in which it’s carried out? Jack frowned at his traitorous thoughts. What was happening to him? Why was his mind filling with such darkness? He had to think of Rudy.

  Rudy is weak.

  “Blast it!” He put his hands to his head with a growl. Where were these terrible thoughts coming from, and why was he having them? He loved Rudy, loved him with every fiber of his being.

  “Your Highness?”

  Jack looked up, recognizing the elf who had been at the Palace Courts yesterday morning. “Show me the photograph you took of the Mouse King.”

  “Yes, Your Highness, of course.” The smaller elf jumped to it, disappearing into one of the many cubicles in the bustling office. Around Jack, the sound of typewriters tapping away irritated him. Cheerful Christmas carols played from the speaker system while elves hastily fluttered about like busy little bees. How very puny Christmas elves were. So fragile. How had he ever fallen in love with one? He gritted his teeth at the pulsing ache in his heart. Damnation! He grew weary of his heart and its infernal, pathetic whimpers.

  “Here it is, Your Highness.”

  Jack snatched the photograph from the wide-eyed elf to study it. Blast it, the hoodlum spoke the truth. There it was as plain as day. The Mouse King’s uniform was pristine, each and every button gleaming on his cuffs as if to mock him. Now what?

  “Jack?”

  He groaned at the familiar squeak and turned to the pesky elves. “What are you two doing here? I don’t have time for games.”

  “We’re here to help,” Tim said, his hand in Noel’s.

  “You mean get in my way. Go home.” He headed toward the exit with Tim and Noel scurrying behind him like church mice.

  “We’re not going anywhere,” Noel insisted. “Ginger says she found a button in Rudy’s fuel tank.”

  Slamming open the front doors of the building, Jack stepped out onto the snowy sidewalk, thinking about his next move. “Yes. It belongs to the Mouse King’s uniform, the one he wore yesterday morning when we brought him in, but at the time, it wasn’t missing. When I handed the clothing to the clerk, the button had already been removed.”

  “That means it must have come off after the photograph was taken, but before you handed it over for processing,” Tim stated thoughtfully.

  Noel nodded his agreement. “Did anything strange happen in that time?”

  “No. It all went smoothly, with the exception of…” It dawned on him then. Was it possible he had been looking at this all wrong?

  “What is it?” Tim asked.

  Could it be that dreadful rodent had been correct in his assumption someone had been hoping to pin the blame on him? He was, after all, an easy target. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to see him destroyed? Had the real villain been right in front of him the whole time? “Hollis and Vale were there. The Mouse King made threats and there was a minor scuffle.”

  “The button could have come off then,” Tim suggested carefully. “But how did it end up in Rudy’s plane?”

  “That’s what I intend to find out.” The two small elves stepped before him, their expressions determined. He didn’t have time to argue with these two. With a frustrated grunt, he called the wind to sweep the three of them up, and in a matter of minutes he stood pounding against the front door of his cousins’ modest little palace. Vale appeared, immediately ushering them inside.

  “Jack, I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Have you now?” Jack pinned his cousin with a glare, wondering if his own kin would have the audacity to declare war on him.

  “Um, yes. I wanted to apologize for my behavior as of late. It’s been most unprofessional and undignified. I completely understand if you wish to proceed with some form of disciplinary action.”

  Jack’s lips curled into a wicked grin. “What an exceptional idea. I think I will. I think I might just do it myself.”

  “Jack?” Vale’s gaze darted over to Tim and Noel before returning to Jack. He quickly took a step back. “What’s going on?”

  “This.” Jack held up the gold button and watched his cousin intently.

  Vale peered at the object in Jack’s hand and frowned. “What is it?”

  “You tell me.”

  His cousin eyed him warily, as if he weren’t certain Jack was serious. “Well, it appears to be a button.”

  “So help me, if you don’t explain yourself to me this very instant I am going to become exceptionally unpleasant, dear cousin.”

  “I don’t know what there is to explain. Please, Jack. I’m concerned, and quite frankly, hurt by whatever you seem to be insinuating.”

  “Someone tried to kill Rudy. They used black magic to keep me out, and this was found in his fuel tank, left behind in an attempt to place the blame on the Mouse King.” Jack watched his cousin very carefully, his lips pursed as Vale grew frightfully pale.

  “What? For the love of Kringle, please tell me you don’t believe I had anything to do with that.” Vale slowly sank onto the large, blue velvet couch, his hurt expression not easing Jack’s mind.

  “Why shouldn’t I? You said it yourself. You’ve not been yourself as of late, and only the three of us were inside that cell with that villain. You could have had Hollis provoke the Mouse King in order to stage the theft. There’s nothing you two wouldn’t do for each other, and everyone knows how you feel about the Mouse King.”

  Vale jumped to his feet and Jack readied himself. If he needed to face off against his cousin, so be it. Vale was no match for him. “Of course they do! He’s a vile creature who has no compassion for the poor souls he destroys. He’s a villain of the worst kind. His own hoodlums dislike him!”

  “So you decided to frame him. To what end?” Jack insisted, only to have Vale round on him, his expression a mixture of hurt and anger.

  “I’ve done no such thing! I would never want Rudy hurt.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  “Because he gives me hope!” Vale snapped. The room fell into silence and Jack watched his cousin resume his seat, his gaze on his fingers as his face grew somewhat flushed. His behavior confused Jack.<
br />
  “What are you talking about?”

  “Seeing how happy you both are, what he’s done for you, how utterly devoted you are to each other… It’s given me hope that I might find such happiness one day. It’s also… given me the courage to approach a certain Rein Dear I have had my eye on for many years.”

  “You—wait, a Rein Dear? You mean, you…”

  Vale’s tone softened. “Am like you. Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” All this time, he had no idea. He had assumed his cousin had never settled down due to his shyness or his brother’s infuriating habit of meddling in everyone’s affairs. He never would have imagined…

  “Tell Jack Frost I happen to prefer elves to sugarplum fairies? Utter madness.” Vale shook his head, and Jack hated to admit some of his anger subsided.

  “I’m your cousin.”

  “You’re also my superior, and quite frankly, rather frightening at times. I didn’t know about you and Rudy. I was afraid you would cast me out. Rejection from you would hurt far worse than any rejection I could receive at the hands of my father. And Hollis, well, I’d rather not think of that. I do love you so, Jack.” Vale gave Jack a sad smile, his pale-gray eyes filled with a heartache Jack had never known existed in his kindhearted cousin.

  But Jack’s anger didn’t stay away for long, and he met his cousin’s gaze, his tone harsh when he spoke. “Where’s Hollis?”

  “Hollis? You don’t really believe he would do such a terrible thing, do you? I mean, I know he can be a pest at times, but, would he hurt Rudy like this? Besides, he was with us the whole time until you took off.”

  Vale was right. His cousin had been at the pub in Jack’s sight the entire time. They both had been. His thoughts went back to Fig, who had been at the causeway, supposedly for an interview. He must have gone after he got kicked out of the White Hart. Jack realized he had been foolish to dismiss the elf so quickly, but he had been thrown off course by the button, and his anger toward the Mouse King, just as the miserable fiend had planned. He had fallen for the trap like some green elfling. Yet, if it had been Fig, how would he have gotten hold of the button? Jack stood and headed toward the front door. Tim and Noel hurried after him, Vale accompanying them.