Jack Staples and the Ring of Time

by Mark Batterson

  Jack nodded.

  “No matter what happens next, when you hear the ring of Time, I need you to try and shut it out. You must not listen to her call, do you understand?”

  Outside the chamber, from somewhere far in the distance, something roared. Yet it wasn’t the roar of an Oriax—it was much deeper and infinitely more terrifying.

  Jack glanced fearfully toward the door. Everything was happening so fast. “What do you mean by ‘shut it out’? What is it?”

  “It was music that birthed Time. When you hear her call, when you hear the ring of Time, you must not listen, you must not embrace it! Now that you know you’re not dreaming, it is far too dangerous to go back. You must not time travel without more understanding of what you are doing. You could change everything.” Elion stepped even closer. “I need you to hear me, Jack. If you try and go back, the Assassin can follow. He cannot walk through Time as you can, but he can follow where you go. And if you go back, one wrong move could destroy everything.”

  Something exploded nearby, and screams began to sound from outside the chamber. Everyone turned to look toward the open door as howls, gurgles, growls, and shrieks grew ever louder.

  “We are out of time.” Elion placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “The sword you carry is not a normal sword. It is named Ashandar, and it once belonged to the greatest swordsman on earth. The black blade is both teacher and tool. To use it well you must surrender to it.” Elion smiled. “The Author be with you, Jack Staples.”

  Elion turned to Alexia. “Alexia, I was there the day you were born. It was I who kept you hidden from the Assassin. Your Soulprint is as powerful as Jack’s. And when this battle is over, I will answer all of your questions as well.”

  Alexia stared at Elion with wide eyes.

  “You knew about her and you didn’t tell us?” Mrs. Dumphry was shocked. “You didn’t tell me?”

  “I do not answer to you,” Elion chided. “It had to be done. Now, I must go before it is too late. If the Author allows it, I will lead the Assassin away. Mrs. Dumphry, Aias, whatever happens, keep them safe. If we cannot protect Jack and Alexia, all is lost.”

  Mrs. Dumphry nodded grimly. “The Assassin himself won’t get past us.”

  “Let us pray it does not come to that. The rest of you, come with me,” Elion said. As she strode from the chamber, she pulled her cloak tightly around her, almost vanishing completely.

  Chapter 22

  THE BATTLE OF AGARTHA

  All three children sat huddled against the back wall of the Council Chamber listening to the muted sounds of battle. Mrs. Dumphry, Aias, and Wild had left, ordering them to stay inside no matter what they heard. Alexia had protested, but Mrs. Dumphry merely shut the door in her face.

  The children jumped as something roared from just outside. A large explosion immediately followed, and the chamber shook violently as dust rained down.

  “It’s all going to collapse,” Arthur said, wide-eyed. “The bridges, the chambers, all of it!” Jack had been thinking the same thing. It seemed to him that if just one bridge or chamber collapsed, the entire city would crumble.

  “I brought him here,” Jack whispered. “The Assassin followed me.” His finger traced the scar over his heart.

  Arthur’s eyes stayed glued to the ceiling as he spoke. “It’s not your fault. You heard Elion; how could you have—”

  “NO.” Mrs. Dumphry’s voice was muffled from outside the door. “You will not have them!” Another great boom shook the chamber. A moment later the ceiling near the door exploded, sending stones flying in every direction.

  All three children shielded themselves as shards of stone and diamond rained down. The ceiling and half of the front wall had been destroyed, opening a window into the sky. Above the chamber was a monstrous creature. Its wings and body were covered in golden-black scales, and the beast had the look of both lion and lizard. It was enormous. Its claws were vicious razors and its eyes burning flames. The winged creature had a mane of black fire, and when it roared, the chamber shook.

  The mammoth beast breathed a stream of molten fire down on the chamber’s entrance. And though she was hidden from sight, it seemed as if Mrs. Dumphry was the cause of its rage. Sprays of white flame shot upward, striking the lizard-like creature in the chest as it bellowed in rage.

  “We can’t wait here any longer,” Alexia shouted as lightning exploded across the sky, striking chamber, bridge, and creature alike. “We have to help!”

  All three children now stood with their backs pressed hard against the far wall. Jack nodded, though he had no idea how they were meant to help. Only then did he realize he was still gripping the black-bladed sword, Ashandar.

  “Are you crazy?” Arthur shouted. “What can you possibly do against that?”

  Alexia stepped forward and began swinging her sling. “I can fight,” she said grimly.

  “And so can I.” Jack buckled Ashandar around his waist, drawing it awkwardly. He was surprised to see that the blade was even blacker than the hilt. For some reason, when Arthur saw the blade, his eyes grew wide, and he looked even sicker than before. Yet Jack had no time to ask him what was wrong.

  As they ran toward the door, a bolt of lightning thundered behind them, crumbling the back wall. The moment the wall dropped away, an Oriax with the head and shoulders of a baboon and the body and wings of an eagle landed inside the room. Before the beast could think to attack, a stone struck it between the eyes, killing it instantly.

  Behind them, the door burst open, Wild sprinting in. His shoulder was bleeding and his face was smudged with soot. Just outside the door, Aias lay facedown on the bridge with his left arm ending at the elbow. Mrs. Dumphry stood over him, sending steady streams of fire upward.

  “We need to go!” Wild’s eyes were ablaze. “She won’t be able to hold it off much longer.” Running to the edge of the chamber where the wall had disintegrated, Wild looked down. A short distance below was another bridge. “We’ll have to jump,” he shouted, turning to Alexia. “Can you make it?”

  Alexia rolled her eyes, then sprang forward, somersaulting through the air and down to the bridge. Wild grimaced, glancing at Jack and Arthur. “We all jump on the count of three.”

  “I don’t think I can make it!” Arthur cried.

  “Yes you can!” Jack shouted, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You have to!”

  Arthur met Jack’s eyes for a moment, then nodded.

  “One,” Wild yelled.

  “Two,” Jack and Wild screamed together as another wall exploded behind them.

  “Three!” they shouted. Wild and Arthur sprinted forward, leaped high, and landed safely on the bridge below. Only when they looked back did they realize Jack wasn’t with them. He was standing at the edge of the chamber with Ashandar in his hands.

  “I have to go back!” he yelled. “I have to save them, to change it! It’s my fault they’re here! But I can save them!”

  “No, Jack!” Wild screamed from below. “It’s too dangerous; you have to jump!”

  Without another word, Jack turned and walked away.

  Alexia watched Jack disappear with a sinking feeling in her stomach. What does he think he’s doing? Something pulled at the corner of her vision, and she turned to see a Shadule landing on the bridge a short distance away.

  She immediately sent a stone flying at the creature’s head. Yet the Shadule moved lazily aside as it hurtled past. This Shadule was different than the other one Alexia had seen; it had a long scar that began above its right eye and ran all the way down to its pale chest. As the creature’s wings melted into its body, the scar became even more pronounced.

  The creature sneered as it glided toward Alexia. “Do you see this?” It pointed at the scar. “Your father gave it to me on the day I killed him. And today, I will take my revenge!”

  Alexia stopped. Until this moment Wild,
Arthur, and Alexia had been backing away from the creature. But when she heard its words, something inside her snapped. What? This creature killed Father? Although she couldn’t make sense of it, Alexia didn’t care what she had to do. She was going to kill this Shadule.

  Jack knew what he needed to do. It was clear. Elion’s words echoed in his mind: “It was music that birthed Time. When you hear her call, when you hear the ring of Time, you must not listen, you must not embrace it! Now that you know you’re not dreaming, it is far too dangerous to go back ... You could change everything.”

  I can change everything! he realized. Just before Wild and Arthur jumped from the chamber, Jack had made his decision. He was done running. If I am truly special, if I’m meant to help save the world … then why not now? He could save his mother. He could save Ballylesson, and he could save Agartha. He could change all of it.

  Until now Jack had only traveled through time accidentally. But he thought he might understand how it happened. Each time he’d gone back, his life had been threatened or he’d been experiencing something overwhelming or terrifying. And each time, he’d heard the ringing of bells just before he went back.

  “Now,” he said to himself, “all I need is to be terrified.” As he turned and looked at the city of Agartha, it wasn’t hard to feel fear. Bridges and chambers crumbled all around as creatures more evil than those of his worst nightmares fought against the citizens of Agartha. Yet where was the music? Why couldn’t he hear the bells?

  Turning toward the entrance, Jack watched Mrs. Dumphry send another spray of fire up at the mammoth creature. Flapping its wings, the mighty beast roared as fire exploded against its chest. The beast breathed its own molten fire down on Mrs. Dumphry. But just as it was about to strike, the fire exploded against the shield of blue light that appeared around his ancient teacher.

  As he stepped out to get a closer look, the lion-like beast spotted him. It roared loudly and dove toward the bridge leading to the chamber. When the creature landed, it began to contort as it shrank inward. Jack watched in amazement as it transformed into the shape of a man.

  Jack recognized him. Although he had changed, he was sure it was the same being he’d seen on the mountain. It was Belial, the Lord of Harmony. It was the Assassin, the Father of Evil. As the Assassin walked forward, a dark light emanated from him—a darkness so bright it threatened to blind the world. The Assassin’s eyes were deep caverns of fire, and his skin sparkled like diamonds.

  “You!” He pointed at Mrs. Dumphry. “You have interfered in my plans for too long!” Though his voice was still musical, it was jarring and held no beauty. Behind him, the city of Agartha burned, and the Assassin’s hordes fought the army of the Awakened. For just a moment the Assassin’s gaze shifted to Jack who stood a few paces behind Mrs. Dumphry.

  His teacher turned to see what the creature had looked at, and when she saw Jack, her eyes widened in fear. “No!” she screamed. “Run, child! You are not ready to face him!” As she turned back to face the Assassin, a wall of darkness exploded into her and sent her flying past Jack and through the broken wall to disappear into the darkness.

  “No!” Jack screamed as he ran to the edge to search for his teacher. Yet when he looked down, Mrs. Dumphry was gone. When he turned back to the Assassin, Jack had no trouble feeling terrified. All around them a battle raged, yet he barely saw it. The Assassin was striding toward him.

  The Assassin was beautiful—even with the blinding darkness, his hair was black, his skin shone like diamonds, and his eyes shifted between caverns of flame and an icy blue. His cloak shimmered when he walked, and, until he spoke, Jack was mesmerized.

  “My boy,” the Assassin said. “I have been waiting for you since the day I marked you on the mountain.” He offered a waxy smile and stopped just a few paces away. For the second time, Jack found himself standing before the Assassin with nowhere to run. He had backed up to the edge of the ruined wall, and one more step would take him over the edge.

  “Come with me, and we will finish what we started. Together, you and I will destroy the Awakened!” A look of ecstasy entered his eyes. “I will make you the High Prince of Thaltorose, and we will rule this world!”

  “No!” Jack screamed. He lifted his black blade, pointing it at the Assassin’s chest. He had no idea how to use it, but it was all he had. “No,” he shouted again. “I would never join you! I just want to go home. I don’t care about any of it. Just let me go!”

  The Assassin’s eyes darted hesitantly toward the sword. “You already serve me,” he said smoothly. “It was you who brought me here. It is because of you Agartha burns. I have been searching for this city for thousands of years, and you led me here in a matter of months. You already serve me, but if you choose to follow me of your own free will, anything you want will be yours. Power beyond measure, riches, glory! I will make you a king of kings!” The Assassin extended his hand and offered a smile. “Come with me, Jack.”

  Jack gripped the sword so hard his knuckles turned white. “If you want me”—his voice was as hard as stone—“come and get me.” Without another word, he fell back off the edge of the chamber. He didn’t know if it would work, but this was his only hope. Perhaps, if he kept the right time and place in his mind, he could get there. As he sped downward, Agartha crumbled around him. And as he fell, he grinned. Somewhere in the distance Jack heard the ring of Time, and he embraced it.

  Chapter 23

  STRAWBERRIES ON THE FLOOR

  The Shadule flowed toward Alexia, yet she never thought of running. This creature claimed to have killed her father! And though she didn’t understand it, she didn’t care. For more than eight years, Alexia had lived on her own and fended for herself. Her friends had been the beasts of the circus, and she’d had no family to speak of.

  “Run!” Wild screamed from behind her. “Don’t just stand there. You aren’t strong enough!”

  Yet Alexia didn’t hear. She stalked toward the Shadule with her sling whirling.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw someone fall from the wall of the Council Chamber, dropping like a stone. A moment later, a strange being with pale skin and fiery eyes walked to the edge and stepped off, following Jack down.

  Yet Alexia didn’t have time to think about anything other than the job in front of her. The only thing that mattered now was killing this Shadule.

  Jack hit the ground hard, landing flat on his face with the sword Ashandar lying beside him. For a moment he struggled to breathe. His mind was cloudy, and as he opened his eyes, he was confused. What am I doing in the front yard?

  “What happened?” he mumbled. Yet the instant his eyes landed on the sword, Jack remembered everything.

  “I did it!” he whispered excitedly as he jumped to his feet. “I’m back!”

  As he’d fallen through the air, Jack had kept one thought strong in his mind. It had been the picture of his mother wearing her yellow dress and preparing breakfast. He’d pictured the morning he’d found her body in the yard. Sprinting onto the porch with hope in his heart, Jack shoved the door open and ran into the kitchen.

  A frying pan was sitting on the stove with bacon sizzling. His mother wore the yellow dress with her red apron over the top. She was carrying two crockery bowls from the counter over to the table; one was filled with fresh strawberries and the second contained five eggs.

  As he entered the kitchen, Jack ran into his mother, sending both bowls flying through the air to shatter on the ground. In a moment of panic, he looked at the strawberries and broken eggs splattered on the floor.

  “Jack!” his mother said, gasping. “What is it? What’s happened?”

  Jack couldn’t take his eyes off the broken eggs and crockery. What’s happening?

  Taking one look at his clothes and the sword in his hand, his mother quickly walked him to the front door. “Let’s talk outside, my boy. We can’t let anyone hear you,” she said
softly. As she reached the door, she took off her apron and dropped it to the floor.

  Jack looked around frantically. On the morning he’d found his mother’s body, there had been eggs, strawberries, and broken crockery on the floor. Burnt bacon had been sizzling on the stove and her apron had been lying near the front door.

  Although he didn’t understand what was happening, it didn’t matter. The only clear thought he had was that his mother was alive and he could still save her.

  “Jack, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I need you to leave.” Tears poured from his eyes. “You need to go. If you don’t, you are going to die any minute now!”

  For just a moment, panic entered his mother’s eyes. Letting out a long, steady breath, she spoke softly. “I’d hoped to have more time,” she whispered. As she dropped to her knees, she drew Jack close. “Jacksie, you will someday learn that death is not something to fear. It’s not the end, but just another step in our journey. I cannot run, and you must learn that you can’t fix everything. Even with your gift, you cannot save everyone.” Her tears reflected the morning sun as she kissed his cheek. “My darling boy, thank you for trying to save me. But you must go now.”

  Jack couldn’t believe it. The only thing in the world that mattered to him was saving his mother, and she wouldn’t listen! “Mother, don’t you understand? Something evil is coming! I don’t know what it is, but it will be here any minute. Please! You must go!”

  “I love you more than you could ever know. But my place is here. My time is now.”

  A distant scream sounded from the direction of Ballylesson. It was soon followed by another and then another. Although they were faint, Jack could also hear roars, screeches, hisses, and gurgles. The Oriax were arriving in the sleepy town.