Wynter
Somewhere below the castle in Jack's icy dungeon

"Help!!! Help!!!!" I scream trying to break free from the chains Jack bounded me in. My eyes try to adjust to the foggy room where iced spider webs and icicles of white frost painted the ceiling.

I wondered what part of the castle this was? It looked like I was in its coldest depths. Maybe it was a forgotten room? Or a dungeon? I wouldn't put it above Jack to house me in a place like this.

"Help!!!" The strength in my voice was starting to diminish. I'd been screaming for what seemed like hours. I take in the shapes in the dimly lit room and try to make a mental note of every item that might be useful for my survival. I was unsure how long I would be in here.

It had a bed, a chair, and a bathroom in the corner with a small fireplace. Surprisingly, it was lit. Jack must have had a smidge of compassion for me. Freezing to death in his realm was not ideal.

"Help... somebody!" I shouted again, limping to the icy bars that trapped me in the room. Shivers pierced through my skin as the frigid air blitzed my back.

Jack Frost comes into my icy room and smiled. A girl who looked like...me was on his arm. "You cloned me?"I fumed, looking at the figure beside him. She looked exactly like me; long, curly black hair, almond-shaped brown eyes. The only difference was the lack of warmth in her skin and eyes. They were devoid of sustenance.

"Like what you see? I call them mineos" He kissed her neck and she giggled. "I wish you were as obedient as her" He sucked in a breath out of annoyance.

"Disgusting!" I hissed, only feeling pity for the mineo. I knew she has no free will or intelligence but I still felt

"Your boyfriend came" He bragged, grabbing the duplicate's waist.

"He did?" A smile parted my lips. Nick coming here meant he knew of my whereabouts! His news filled me with a certain warmth.

"Yes and he was furious! Where's Wynter! Wynter! What a simp!" He chuckled, looking at the ground.

"Jack...please let me go."

"Why?" He turned his head up, "What's so important that our need to go?" I didn't like the tone in his voice. It sounded more like an accusation rather than a question.

But I couldn't tell him....I wouldn't!
I was a human but if Jack knew, he would use it against me.

"I—- I can't tell you."

"Then I cannot help you Wynter" he pulls the clone that looked like me and turned to leave.

"Wait!" I stop him in his tracks before he goes.
"Because... because... I am—-" Before I could utter my confession, I heard a loud boom and commotion.

BOOM
KABOOM
BOOM

"Nooo!!!!" I hear a man scream. A few doors jiggled before the ground shakes.

BOOOM

I fell to my feet.

"What was that???" Jack frowned, turning his head up towards the noise.

I smiled once I heard Nick's distinctive voice.

"Nicholas T Claus." I smirk, pulling myself up to meet Jack's gaze, "my fiancé."

——-

There were a few more booms and explosions before 
Nick burst into the dungeon, making us all drop to our feet.

I tried to shield my eyes from the bright haze of light trickling from the door.
I was frozen by the sheer light of his splendor.
His eyes were the purest hue of white I had ever seen whole his body glowed gold.

I had never seen Nick using his powers like this. It was scary but thrilling all at once. He saw me chained to the wall and immediately ran over to try to free me.  "Wynter! Are you okay?"

"Nick!" My hands molded around the icicles barring me from the outside...from my freedom.
Nick's warm hand reached through the bars to grab my jaw. His eyes scanned over my features, observing my skin for any cuts and flaws.

"Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?"

"Nick! I'm fine" I smiled, wrapping my palms around his wrists, "That woman kissing Jack. That wasn't me! She's a mineo"

"Of course" he cursed, looking at the chain around my leg. He bent low and lifted a palm to free me.

I bent down to aide him but catch the figure of Jack in my peripheral.

"Nick watch out!" Jack throws a large icicle at Nick's back but his reflexes were faster. He easily crumbled it beneath his powerful palm.

"DREW!" Nick dodges another attack from Jack.
Drew comes from beyond the busted doors and runs over to my cell.

"Wynter!" Drew smirks, watching my eyes. He looked relieved to see I was safe and unharmed.
"Stand back."

I nodded and ran to the farthest end of the dungeon. Drew uses his magic to break down the icicle bars and break the lock.
Everything shattered against the floor and walls as he kicked the last parts down.

"You okay?? He walked over to where I was hiding before bending down to break my chain. I nodded, taking his hand as he helped me stand to my feet.
"Come on we have to go. Fast"

We started the trek outside the dungeon but I hesitated as I saw Nick fighting Jack.

"But Nick?" I tugged on Drew's arm.

"Nick is a big boy Wynter. He can handle himself."

"But if we work together?"

"Nick made me promise him to keep you safe. We have to go back, now! Come on!"

ZING!

Another zap shoots past my ear but Drew quickly covers me. "Come on Wyn!" He yanks me to run.
I gather my dress and follow his steps as he guided me up the dungeon steps and through the castle.

Drew was still grasping my arm and guiding me through the castle but suddenly, I felt a jolt!
A ray of red magic surrounds my waist, pulling me into the air.

"Wynter!" Nick grunted. He lost his balance once he saw me in Jack's hold.

Jack pulled me in against his torso, wrapping his ray of red magic tight, around my neck.

"Not another move Nick." He threatened. I struggled to breathe, staring down at Nick with tears in my eyes. Who knew associating with Santa Claus would put me in so much danger?
I was dangling by the thread of Jack's mercy. Tighter and tighter his ray of red magic turned.

Nick's eyes returned to their normal hue as he saw me gasping for air.
"Let her go Jack. She has nothing to do with our feud"

I cringe looking to the sky as the heat of his light ray pierced into my skin. We were both floating in the air, below me was about 30 feet of air.

"I've never seen you squirm like this. You must really like her." I tried to ease the grip but it only got tighter.

Jack turned me towards his torso, grabbing my jaw with force. "I wondered what would happen if I?"

"AHHHH!" I screamed, writhing in pain as he sent a shock through my body.

"STOPP!!" Nick looked into my eyes, trying his hardest not to show his anger. He saw the magic around my neck and knew he had to remain calm lest I get hurt.

Nick

"I'm done fighting you Jack."I confessed, tired of living in fear.

"What!?" Jack looked more surprised than upset.

"I'm done." I float to the floor and looked around the room. "You rule with fear. You take things by force with no regrets. You don't care who you hurt or kill and once upon a time, I used to be like you.
I was so desperate to try to prove something to a man who would never respect me. I didn't care who I betrayed or hurt"  I met Wynter's eyes, staring at the magic rope around her neck. "but... I realize. I'm not like him. I will never be him."

"Nick don't!!" she grunted, holding Jack's arm as he pushed his palm over her mouth.

"What are you saying?" He furrowed a brow.

"Mmmmm!! Nmmm Nimmmck!!" Her voice was now muffled.

"The title of Nick Claus is all yours.

"Mmmmmmooo" she screamed. Wynter watches me as the light of Jack's rope dims. His lips turned upward as he realized the reality of my words.

"Do you understand what you've just said?"

"I do. Let Wynter go and the title is yours. No tricks. No gimmicks. No, if's and's or buts."

Jack pondered for a minute before looking away. "Hmmm... that's a tempting offer.
The full title of Nick Claus and all its perks?"

"All of them. Just let her go."
He hovered a finger over her jaw before nodding.

"I want her too" He tilts his head to the side, staring into my eyes. So it was a fight he wanted?

"No..no way. She's not yours" I grumbled, dismissing the ludicrous question.

"Nor is she yours!" He smirked.

"She's my fiancé!!"

"Mmmmmm!!" she frowns trying to break free.

"Do we have a deal, Nick?"

"No, we don't!" I push my palm to hit him, barely missing Wynter's neck.

"Fine, if I can't have her? Then no one can!" Jack releases the red beam of magic around her neck.

"Nick" I could read her lips as she whispered my name, free-falling thirty feet from above the ground.

They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die.
Well, that's something I heard humans say when they reminisce.
It was strange. The minute Jack let Wynter go, I saw my whole life flash before me.
My birth, my third birthday, my first ride on Jingles. Then I saw Wynter and her time in the North Pole. Our snowball fights, hot chocolate by the fire, the Northern lights...our night in the cabin.
She hadn't been in my life for years but she had touched it like it was forever.

It was in that moment I knew; I loved this girl.

"WYN!" I dove headfirst to catch her. She tries to reach out to grab my palm, praying I would reach her before she fell to her death.

Closer and closer I stretch to grab her, palm. We were only 10ft above the ground before I caught her and pulled her into my arms. I focus my magic and transport us to the snow capped mountain near his castle.

She takes a moment to regain her breathing before burying her head into my arms. Her sobs painted the quiet atmosphere.

"Wyn are you okay?"

She finally meets my gaze, trying to settle her tears.

"I want to go home Nick.
Please take me home.
Home home."

I nodded helping her stand to her feet. "Come on." I guided her down the hall. "Drew! Take her and go to the Pole"
Drew nodded, taking Wynter in his arms and warming her up.
She stop and took one final look at Jack Frost, sticking up a middle finger then looked ahead.

Drew starts my red convertible and they drive off into the moon lit tundra.

"Why isn't Nick coming?" I ask Drew as he shifts the gears of Nick's red car.

"He has some business to finish," he said.

"So we're just going to leave him? Just like that?"

"Nick is a big boy Wynter and can take care of himself." That was a very generic answer coming from Drew.

Magical entities couldn't die so I wasn't worried about Nick killing Jack but I did wonder how confident he must be to willingly stay behind.

Chills went down my spine as I thought of the moments I almost died. I had enough adventure and chaos for one day.

Author Note
A lot to unpack!!!
But Nick said it! He loves her!!