Part 11: Into the Eye

Jack pretty much stayed out of the way. White Blaze guarded him from the ninjas that got past the others. Jack was no slouch as a fighter, but these guys were using some massive fire-power that was way out of his league. The noise from the battles was incredibly loud, but he suddenly heard a strange humming sound behind him. He turned to see ten ghostly figures like priests in dark robes. The humming became more high-pitched and intense, piercing Jack’s brain. His nose started to bleed and then he passed out. White Blaze whimpered in pain and fell to the ground, as well. The black priests motioned with their hands and a strong wind whipped up. It swirled around Jack like a small tornado, lifting him into the air.

Mia looked back just in time to see the robed creatures disappear with Jack. “JACK! NOOO!”

Jack woke to find himself alone in a shadowy chamber lit only by candles. There was a table set for one. Jack looked around, but could see no doors. The exits must all be hidden. He started running his hands along the wall, searching for something out of the ordinary, some kind of trigger mechanism.

“You will sit down, Jack Parses.”

Jack jerked around. He could see no one at first. Then someone in dark robes stepped out of the shadows—someone who hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“You will sit down at the table.”

“No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

“That was not a request.” In the blink of an eye, the ghostly figure was right in front of him. It gestured at him and he felt an unseen hand at his throat. Jack was lifted off the ground. He struggled to break free, but there was nothing to struggle against. Jack felt a little dizzy as the figure kept up the spectral pressure on his throat. The invisible force that held Jack hauled him over to the table and thrust him into the seat. There was malicious amusement in the robed man’s voice. “You have not been taking care of yourself, boy. Look how thin you’ve become. This meal has been prepared especially in your honor.”

Jack was getting his breath back. “Yeah…sure. It’s probably poisoned or something.”

The dark man laughed. “You have my assurance that it has not been tampered with. But of course, you won’t believe me. Surely you’ve already guessed that we don’t want you dead. We’ve invested too much time and effort for that.”

“Just why am I here? And where’s the mighty Lord of Storms? Too busy to see me personally so he sends his lackey to bully me instead?” Jack jumped up and grabbed the chair next to him. He threw it at the black priest. The chair merely passed through him. He waved his hand at Jack. A blast of air knocked him back into his seat.

Sarcasm dripped from his words. “My, my, you have a temper, Jack. You’d better learn to control it before it controls you.”

A ninja appeared out of nowhere to whisper something to the priest. “Well, it seems I have other matters to attend to right now. Eat or don’t eat. Suit yourself. We will have to finish our talk later.” He turned to go.

“What’s the matter? The master calls his dog and you go running? Where is your master, huh? Does he always let everyone else do his fighting for him? I want to see him face to face.”

The priest looked at him, and for the first time, Jack could see part of his hooded face. It was yellowed and wrinkled like dry parchment. But his teeth were unnaturally white, gleaming in the candlelight. He was smiling with evil anticipation. “Oh, you’ll see him shortly. Sooner than you think.”

Jack couldn’t see in the darkness where the ninja and the priest had gone. He never heard or saw any doors open. He searched every wall and could find nothing.

Jack was still looking over every inch of the chamber when he heard a strange whooshing sound. He turned around to see that one wall had slid away. Beyond it was a long hall lit by several highly placed braziers. Dark tapestries hung from its walls. Jack was pretty sure it was a trap, but what else was he going to do? Sitting around in that room wasn’t doing any good. Maybe he was being led to the Lord of Storms at last.

Jack stepped into the corridor. Suddenly the wall slid back into place behind him. No surprise there. He kept walking. What did surprise him was that the hall soon came to an abrupt end. He expected to be led to another room, to a confrontation with his brother. What now? Maybe the tapestries hid a doorway. He pulled one down from the wall, revealing a large mirror underneath. Jack pulled down another, then another. Behind each was another mirror. Laughter echoed in his mind--that cold, maniacal laughter from his nightmares. Furious, frustrated, Jack ripped them all down. Nothing was there but a long line of mirrors. That laughter still rang in his thoughts, louder and louder. Jack kicked one of the mirrors, cracking it. He punched another, blood dripping from his cut fist. Jack was screaming at the top of his lungs. “Where are you hiding? Come out and face me, murderer! COWARD!” He turned to smash another mirror and abruptly stopped. The flickering light was casting menacing shadows across his angry face. Jack stared at the stranger in the mirror. A peculiar smile came to him. Then he laughed—a cold, maniacal laughter that reverberated throughout the hall, shattering the rest of the mirrors.

One wall of the corridor slid to reveal a spacious throne room lit with rows of candles. An object that looked like a kind of hammer sat on a pedestal in front of the throne. Jack walked over to it and picked the hammer up. Energy surged through him. A dark gleam touched Jack’s eyes.

He turned at the sound of someone entering behind him. Ten ghostly priests and a dozen or so ninjas approached and stopped. One of the priests glided forward. “Welcome. We have eagerly awaited your arrival.”

Jack looked at him, his eyes narrowing. Jack threw the hammer at him. A flurry of bolts struck the dark-robed creature, incinerating him in a screaming instant. Jack sat down on the throne. “That was for choking me in the dining area. You overstepped your authority.” The hammer flew back to his hand. He pointed to another priest. “You. You are now in charge of the others. Don’t disappoint me.” They all bowed low to Jack, practically wiping the floor with their faces. And why shouldn’t they bow? He was the Lord of Storms after all.