He needed to think through the situation more carefully. It was something that he was self-aware enough to know that he wasn’t good at. But he didn’t have to do all of the thinking by himself.
CHAPTER 39
Mira had woken up and was waiting outside the guest house with Ryoko, who’d come back into the valley after recovering in the ocean. They both pulled Jack into a hug as soon as they saw him.
“Mr. Masterson…” whispered Ryoko. “Jack. I was so worried.”
“We both were,” said Mira. “I should never have let you face my incarnate alone. The trick she pulled on you was one that I invented and subsequently forgot about. Using Shadow Form to suffocate enemies is not a pleasant sensation for either party involved.”
“I’m okay,” said Jack. “And I don’t think there is very much we could have done differently, given how short notice the fight was. Next time we’ll be prepared.”
He pulled back from the hug, looking at both Ryoko and Mira in turn. He could see the same doubt on their faces that he’d heard in Katie’s voice. He wanted to reassure them, but it wasn’t the time. He needed a plan that would help him inspire their resolve,and convince his companions that they could still win.
“I’ll be back,” said Jack. “I need to think alone for a while.”
Mira and Ryoko frowned a little, but they didn’t stop him as he continued into the guest house. He shut the door firmly behind him, found his grandfather’s staff, and sat down on one of the futons.
“Hey…” The staff tingled in his hands as he reached his awareness out, probing into it. “Are you still there?”
He felt a pulse of electric essence in response, and then the imprint of his grandfather sat on the floor across from him. The ethereal, blue form of the imprint was exactly as it had been last time, except slightly more washed out by the level of illumination in the room.
“I am,” said the ghost. “From the expression on your face, I take it that things have not gone to plan?”
Jack shook his head. “We came so close. I’m here on Raptoran Island, in Xepher’s hidden valley. But there was an attack back on Lestaron Island and another one here. Xepher doesn’t have the energy to perform the counter spell, and I need to get home as soon as possible.”
Peter’s imprint nodded slowly. The expression on his face was profoundly sad, and it made Jack feel a mixture of emotions.
“There must be some other way,” said Jack. “Please. I need your help.”
“The safest course of action is to wait for Xepher to recover, as frustrating as I know it must be for you,” said the ghost. “Your life has value, Jack. You mustn’t throw it away in a misguided attempt to take on an enemy that currently has you outmatched.”
“If we can find some way to help Xepher cast the counter spell, he won’t have control over me,” said Jack. “We might stand a chance. Can you think of a way to make that happen?”
Peter’s imprint shook his ghostly head. “It is not possible. The loyalty oath which Mezolak uses to exercise his control over you has a manifestation within the Other Realms. A physical presence. A literal chain through which you are bound.”
“Okay,” said Jack. “But how is that relevant?”
The imprint looked slightly annoyed by Jack’s impatience.
“The counter spell to break this chain involves entering the Other Realms for a time,” said the ghost. “Xepher would have needed to open the portal for himself both ways, along with breaking the chain and enduring the Other Realms. It’s a feat which would have pushed his capabilities to the limit.”
Jack considered for a moment.
“Could I break my own chain?” he asked. “If Xepher still had enough strength to open both portals, could I go through and sever the manifestation of the spell in his place?”
“Doing so would mean your death,” said the ghost. “The Other Realms are more dangerous than any place on Earth. You aren’t strong enough to survive there, and even if you were, I strongly doubt that Xepher would agree to it.”
“Even if it was the only way to keep me from becoming Mezolak’s tool again?” asked Jack.
Peter’s imprint didn’t say anything.
“Could you convince him?” asked Jack. “He might be more willing to listen to the advice of his old friend, er, old friend’s imprint.”
“Maybe,” said the ghost. “But I’m not going to. It would mean your death. The better option here is to have patience, wait for Xepher to recover, and try again at that time.”
Jack felt a sudden, sharp anger that was too strong to be solely limited to the current situation.
“You’re trying to protect me,” said Jack. “And just like last time, it’s going to backfire.”
“Jack—” said the ghost.
“It feels so strange talking to you,” he said. “Primarily because it feels like I’m talking to you for the first time. I never knew you in life, grandfather. And that was your choice.”
“It’s not that simple,” said the ghost.
“Not only did I never know you,” he continued, “I never knew anything about the supernatural. You wanted to protect me, and so you sent me away. Now, I take responsibility for my situation, but if you had bothered to teach me or tell me a single fucking thing back then, or had even just kept me around…”
He swallowed, feeling his anger fading into a cold emptiness.
“It hurt,” said Jack. “I don’t blame you for Mira turning me into a vampire. She had her own reasons, and even if I’d been prepared, she might have still found a way. But the fact is that I was completely ignorant to it as a possibility because of your misguided attempt to keep me safe. I’m not going to sit back and let that happen to me again.”
A long, weighty silence fell on the air in the wake of his words. Peter’s ghostly imprint had a profoundly sad look on his face.
“Perhaps you’re right,” said the ghost. “I will talk to Xepher. There may be a way for him to help you move through the Other Realms more safely. It will still be a very dangerous task that you’re taking on.”
Jack smiled a little.
“I’m all grown up now, Gramps,” he said. “I’ll be okay. I’ll make you proud.”
“You already have,” said the ghost. “You’ve made me beyond proud.”
Jack blinked several times, ignoring the odd, wet sensation he felt sneaking across his eyes. There wasn’t much more to be said, and as he let his focus slip away from reaching into the staff, his grandfather’s imprint faded.
He headed for the orchard, carrying the staff with him. Xepher was still there, though he was sitting with his back against one of the tree trunks now instead of actively picking fruit.
“We have to try the spell anyway,” said Jack. “I understand how it works. I’ll enter the Other Realms and destroy the chain in your place.”
Xepher’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“How do you know the specifics?” asked Xepher. “I never mentioned the details of the counter spell to you.”
“The same way that I know it’s what my grandfather would have wanted,” said Jack.
He carried the staff over to the old man and placed it into his hands. Xepher stiffened slightly as he held it, blinking several times in quick succession.
“You crazy old bastard…” muttered Xepher. “You’re sending him to his doom.”
It was an odd feeling watching Xepher talk to his grandfather’s imprint, primarily because he could only see and hear one side of the conversation. The image of an old man in an orchard muttering quietly to himself wasn’t a strange one on its own, but there was an intensity to Xepher that made him feel like he was eavesdropping by being so nearby.
“You might be killing him, you know,” muttered Xepher.
Jack took a couple of steps away. He heard Xepher let out a low chuckle, which slowly built to a hearty laugh.
“Fair enough,” said Xepher. “Fair enough. I’d thought you’d forgotten about that favor.”
Xepher’s voice grew quieter, and after a couple of minutes, he nodded his head and stood up.
“I will open the portal for you,” said Xepher. “But I cannot lie. If you attempt this journey into the Other Realms on your own, you will die.”
“He won’t be alone.”
Katie’s voice cut into the conversation as she, Mira, and Ryoko weaved through the orchard’s trees. Jack furrowed his brow, unsure of how he felt about her declaration. Risking his own life was different from risking the lives of his beloved companions.
“Katie…” he said.
“Jack,” snapped Katie. “Were you seriously about to do something this fucking stupid without talking to us first?”
He let out a small laugh and shrugged. “I knew that if I told you three what I was doing, you’d take it as an invitation to invite yourselves along.”
“For good reason,” said Mira. “Did you not just hear what Xepher said? If you try this alone, you will die.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” he said. “This is going to be dangerous. I have to accept the possibility that it might fail, and doing that means doing whatever I can to keep the people I love safe.”
“Quit being like that,” said Ryoko. “Do you think we don’t love you? Have you considered that maybe we want to help keep you safe?”
She slid in close to him and kissed him on the lips. Jack scowled and shook his head a little. He knew that there’d be no stopping them now, regardless of what he said or did.
“Fine,” he said. “But we’ll need to take precautions.”
“Starting with the most obvious one,” said Katie. “After the fight with the incarnates last night, you aren’t at full strength. You’ll need to feed again before heading through the portal.”
“As will I, of course,” said Mira. “That’s not too much of a burden for you is it, dearest Katherine?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “No, of course not. How could I have forgotten about you, dearest Mira?”
Xepher cleared his throat.
“I will be waiting inside the temple,” he said. “Join me there once you are ready.”
He walked out of the orchard, carrying Peter’s staff along with him. Jack looked over at Katie, who was waiting with a somewhat anxious expression on her face.
“Do you want to head into the guest house to do this?” he asked.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’ve already taken the potion. Mira, you can go first. It’s less weird that way.”
Mira shrugged. “I have no objection to that.”
Katie fidgeted a little, pulling her ponytail to the side to give Mira access to her neck. Jack could see the obvious nervous tension in her face. Mira approached from the side, eyes glittering with anticipation. She breathed out as her mouth neared Katie’s neck, and Katie let out a tiny, expectant shudder.
“I’ll be quick,” whispered Mira.
And she was, though Jack could tell from the intensity of the embrace she pulled Katie into that Mira was drinking deep. It took an obvious toll on Katie, but it was the smart thing to do. Jack and Mira would both need to be at full strength to stand a fighting chance against whatever surprises awaited them in the Other Realms.
Mira released Katie after several seconds of heavy feeding. Katie wavered on her legs, and Jack was there in an instant, sliding one of his arms under her shoulder to help hold her up.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Katie exhaled and nodded, forcing composure back onto her face. She shot a weak glare in Mira’s direction, who held up her hands defensively.
“I did my best to honor your request,” said Mira. “I’m not sure how I could have been any more straightforward about it.”
“I know, it’s just…” Katie shook her head. “My body’s reaction is… a little confusing for me.”
She blushed, and Jack felt awful for having to suppress a smile.
“Can you handle one more bite?” asked Jack.
“It’s not like I have much choice,” said Katie. “Do it quickly so we can get on with this.”
Jack nodded. He was still partially supporting her, and shifting her body so he could have access to her neck felt a little like lowering her into a ballroom dancing dip. Katie’s cheek nuzzled against his as he found his preferred place with his lips.
He kissed her neck and sank his fangs deep. For a split second, he felt like he could taste Mira’s mouth from where her lips had been. Then, it was just bliss. The awesome, sweet and sour taste of Katie’s sublime, refined blood. He took fast, deep sips, just as Mira had.
He wanted to take her. Katie’s body felt so soft and open to him, in that moment. He wanted to take her, throw her down on one of the guest house futons, and fuck the day away.
He got a hold of himself, realizing that he’d basically topped out on her blood. Katie all but collapsed as his mouth released its seal.
“Katie!” he said. “Are you okay?”
“Mmmm…” moaned Katie. “I’m… fine. Just a little tired.”
“I hate to say it, but both of us feeding off her may have been too much for her,” said Mira. “It might be best if she stays behind.”
Jack expected Katie to object instantly, but she only let out an exhausted sigh. He lifted her in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips.
“Thank you, Katie,” he whispered. “We’ll be back soon, okay?”
She mumbled something with only a vague resemblance to real words. Jack carried her back into the guest house and set her down on one of the futons, covering her with a sheet in case she got cold. Ryoko and Mira were both waiting for him outside.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go meet up with Xepher.”
CHAPTER 40
The wind chimes outside the temple sounded out a soft, lilting melody as Jack, Ryoko, and Mira made their way inside. It wasn’t large and was basically composed of a single, dim room with a floor made from polished brick cut from the island’s black volcanic rock.
Xepher had already drawn a magical circle on the floor, and it was nearly identical in appearance to the summoning circle Jack had once used to commune with Adana, the demoness who’d first alerted him to Mezolak’s existence. Xepher was standing behind a shoulder-high altar, with a contemplative and somewhat hesitant expression on his face.
“You will need to be prepared,” said the old man. “The Other Realms are not a place that shows kindness to humans.”
“I know,” said Jack. “And we are. We’ll be careful.”
Xepher glanced at each of them in turn. If he agreed with Jack’s sentiment, he didn’t let it show.
“Some simple guidelines to follow, once you’re through,” said Xepher. “Don’t talk to any demons, or touch them, or make eye contact with them.”
“That’s simple enough,” said Jack.
“Move fast, but don’t rush, and don’t run,” said Xepher. “Whatever you do, you must not appear as though you’re being chased. Even if you are. Once you’re on the other side, you’ll have to follow your chain to where Mezolak has grounded it. Only there can it be broken.”
Jack nodded, looking over at Ryoko and Mira. Neither of them looked overly thrilled at what awaited them, but he could still see the strength in their eyes.
“Finally,” said Xepher. “Beware of the lightning. And don’t attack any of the native life unless in true self-defense.”
“How do you know all of this?” asked Jack. “Katie once told me that nobody had ever been to the Other Realms and returned.”
Xepher’s lips turned up in a tiny, wry smile.
“Young man,” he said. “I am nobody. Now step back. I will open the portal on this side. Once you’re through it, I will have to close it. When you’ve accomplished your goal and are ready to return, shout my name, and I shall open another portal to bring you back through.”
“Thank you.”
Jack moved to stand with his companions, and they watched with quiet curiosity as Xepher knelt down at the edge of the
magical circle. He pressed both of his hands down against it, taking slow, steady breaths. He had Peter’s staff under one hand, and Jack could tell that he was drawing power from it to pull the spell off.
The ground underneath them began to shake. The wind chimes no longer sounded peaceful but hectic, like the voices of a choir attempting to continue singing through a catastrophe. Xepher was sweating, and the strain was obvious on his face.
He let out a small grunt of exertion, and light exploded in the center of the room. Jack had to look away from the intensity of it. When he turned his head back, a glowing, circular portal stood in the center of the temple.
It looked more like a mirror than he’d been expecting it to. A mirror which reflected a strange, alien reality. Jack took a slow step forward and then a faster one as he drew close enough to hear Xepher’s labored breathing.
“Go!” shouted Xepher. “Hurry!”
Jack took Ryoko in one hand and Mira in the other, and then he rushed forward, stepping through the portal. The sensation of passing through it tingled a little, and it was several degrees hotter on the other side, which made it feel like they’d stepped out of an air-conditioned building and into a place that was totally incomprehensible.
The portal closed behind them. Jack slowly stood up, his feet digging into a thin layer of white ash that coated the ground. They were standing in the middle of a dark wasteland, alone and exposed.
In the distance, he could see strange, massive spires, most of which seemed to span the entire distance from ground to sky, as though they went up above the clouds. His initial reaction to them was to assume that they were towers, but they had no discernible entrances or windows. He considered that they might be trees, but they were also too knobby and grotesque to look like anything natural.
The dominant feature of the crimson sky overhead was similar to a solar eclipse, except both darker and brighter at the same time. It was the type of eclipse that ancient civilizations kept records about. The type of eclipse that was worth fearing as a bad omen.
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