Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Fantasy

Chapter One: 

        A Meeting of The Minds

"No man amongst you is fit to judge the mighty art that I have wrought. Your rituals are empty oaths you neither understand nor live by. The Great Architect speaks to me. He is the balance, where my deeds are weighed and judged. Not you." - William Gull 

It was a cold bitter night towards the end of the summer solstic when the council reached out into the three worlds and summoned 
Jack with their arcane magic.

One moment he was elsewhere and suddenly without warning he was simply...here, crouching in the middle of a charred circle. The fringes of his clothing continued to smoke. His eyes burned and his hearing was muffled. 

Wind from the valley carried the scent of fresh blood aloft. Moaning amid the sounds of popping and burning flesh could be heard. He stood flexing his legs and straightened his hat as he turned slowly to his right. As an afterthought he removed the ring from his right hand as it continued to dissolve and tossed it into the grass behind him. 

Twenty mangled and mutilated bodies lay scattered across the grassy hill. Some dead, some still...Tragically, living. Blood flowed freely, soaking the grass but Jack ignored the coppery scent and their cries for mercy as he walked among the dead and dying. His attention was focused on the short balding priest who stood at the edge of the smoke filled clearing. 

Standing here, with Jack, on the hill of bones, the priests hands trembled. He averted his eyes and bowed formally. It was clear that the short balding man wanted to run. Behind him, in close formation, stood a platoon of 40 armored men. Even Jack could tell they brought the priest no comfort. 

"Sire," The priest whispered, "A thousand apologies for the hasty sumones, it could not be helped, speed was of the essence"

Jack stopped and leaned forward staring directly into the Priests eyes. The platoon of soldiers did not exist as far as he was concerned. 

"I certainly hope so priest, for your sake. Otherwise there's no man, no beast, no army that shall keep my blade from opening your throat."

Jack wasn't sure why he'd been brought home so suddenly, in the middle of his mission, but it couldn't be good. Moriarty was known for a lot of things, but hastiness and extravagance were not on that list. Well, perhaps extravagance. The thought that this could be very bad was beginning to form in the back of Jacks mind. He was concerned, but he was damned if he'd let the whining priest know that though. 

"Come along dog," he called over his shoulder as he stepped around the little man dismissively and over what looked like a jaw bone. "We mustn't keep the master waiting"

It was a short walk, and by the time they reached the bottom of the hill the entrance to the valley spread out before them opening up into the western courtyard of Moriarty's castle. 

Jack ignored his misgivings, standing tall and waited as word was passed on. Behind him the priest picked at the hem of his robes nervously and remained with the platoon of soldiers. 

With a tremendous squeal the the massive oak doors to the formal meeting hall of Atratus Capella creaked open revealing an interior that had fallen into tragic disrepair. Jack stared idly at the long red carpet trailing from the front entrance at his feet to the back entrance of the stately greeting hall. The material in the carpet was as old as the Chapel itself, woven by hand over the course of decades by six young virgins taken from the village below. Legend claimed that all but one were locked away in the tallest tower of this very castle till their skin was as old and brittle as their bones. Jack doubted that Moriarty had the patience to ignore his baser appetites long enough for that legend to be true. 

The once lustrous material within the carpet now displayed the wear patterns of soldiers' feet up and down the middle, nearly worn through to the ancient stone underneath. Jack paused thinking for a moment and squinted so that his eyes could adjust to the flickering shadows cast by lit torches within. What he saw refused comprehension. It took true effort but if he struggled he found that higher on the walls, to his left and right, just out of reach he could see the intricate tapestries of historical achievement that lined the rock walls on either side of the entire hallway. Once vibrant and full of life they too suffered from neglect. Threads had worked free from key areas causing the pattern in them to decay. The vibrant reds and blues in each were dull and faded. Jack could barely discern the detail within any of them. Many of the ancient heroes littered the surface of the tapestries that could be seen. The lush depiction of Grendel's attack on the peaceful army of the southern kingdom, the dark and bloody recreation of the Minotaur's last stand, Hyde's transformation - depicted in all of its bone popping and skin tearing glory, and Moriarty, locked in his epic and never ending battle of wits with Holmes. 

Down further to the left Jack could see his own tapestry depicting the locating and killing of the first seal to release the power into the universe where it belonged. The mangled corpse of the woman he'd sacrificed was just as beautiful now as it was the day he finished the work. He was still staring when one of the guards to his left prodded him into the building with the tip of his spear. 

Jack smiled, the irony of this visit compared to his last amused him. The last time Jacks feet had graced these halls he was hailed as a hero. The ceremony celebrating his return had spanned the entire length of the kingdom from this small Chapel to the lighter side of Shade town just past the protective walls of this village. Today his summons had been harsh, insistent. The mood was somber and somewhat abrupt. Still, the soldiers that were escorting him needed to learn some respect. He glanced over his shoulder at the men behind him and located the one whose spear had struck his back. 

"I strongly suggest that you step back into your previous position and retire your spear. If it touches me again I will not hesitate to bury it in the soft flesh of your body." Jack said. 

The young man blanched and involuntarily took a step back before hearing the snickers of the men around him. His face burned scarlet and he braced himself. His eyes hardened. 

Jack smiled and cracked his neck. He chose his next words carefully and in the time it took to blink he moved toward the man and whispered in his ear. 

His voice was calm and velvet smooth. "You want to think really hard about the next thing you do son because unless it involves you standing very, very, still then I will steal every one of your friends' tomorrows where they stand. I will gut them all slowly and drink their fear like a fine wine. Don't worry though, I will save you for last. Not because I like you but because you have earned the right to suffer the most. You need to know that I am warning you. In point of fact I want to kill you. All of you. So badly my teeth itch. I don't hate you, I just think your slow. Disrespectful. A waste of time and resources. Killing you would be a benefit to everyone. But more importantly it would be fun. Don't. Blink." 

With that Jack turned on his heel and strode with purpose into the hall followed closely by the platoon of soldiers and the closing of the large oak doors. 

Behind him, standing alone and so still that he had forgotten to breath remained one wide-eyed soldier. 

The voices in the chamber turned off like a switch when Jack entered the hall. He stared around the room defiantly. In a semi circle surrounding him on a raised platform sat the council. They were dressed in all their finery. Grins of congratulations long gone. Moriarty stared at Jack with an expression that was unreadable. To his left Hyde sneared angrily. 

Nothing new there Jack thought. 

The stones here in the center floor were larger, more ornate. Many had jewels imbedded in their centers. Beyond them flush with the walls were benches filled with the audience of hundreds of men, women, and children. They all shook their fists and screamed angrily. 

To the left of the throne sat Hyde in his traditional dark black robes. To the right of the throne sat Vlad dressed in his harsh black suit and tie. His long dark hair was drawn back into a severe bun. In the center was Moriarty. He sat still in his black double-breasted suit and white wig. Jack knelt and bowed his head. As usual it was Moriarty that spoke first. 

"I say young man, travel suits you" 

Jack agreed diplomatically. "Yes sir." 

Moriarty leaned down barring his teeth. His smile was nearly identical to jacks and for the second time since Jack arrived he had reason to doubt. 

"I trust you have experienced no issues with the duty to which you have been assigned?" Moriarty asked. 

One of the voices in Jack's head spoke up now. He stopped to listen to it. 

"Careful, remain guarded. Vigilance is in order." 

The voice of the Lady. Always sharp. Always calm. Always wise. 

Jack began to inspect the crowd again. Perhaps he had been hasty. Was everyone waiting for a specific reaction from him? A young man, two rows back from the spectator's row began to giggle. Then it spread until the hall reverberated with it. The young man sat with a filthy orange cat in his lap, stroking its fur as it stared sullenly out at the proceedings, a crooked tail twitched jerkily. Jack felt sure he recognized the boy, but the cat was new. What was he missing? 

"I have experienced no issues in performing my duties my Lord." Jack replied stiffly. 

Both Hyde and Vladd traded silent glances with Moriarty. Neither spoke but Moriarty nodded as if they had what they wanted. 

"They conspire!" 

The old mans voice screamed in the silence of Jack's head. 

"So is it your sworn testimony before this court that you have performed your duties fully and completely?" Moriarty asked. 

Jacks mind was a whirlwind. The voices were screaming and clawing for his attention. Faster and faster they flew around the center of his head. Most simply wanted to be heard, but others demanded his attention. 

"Stand and be heard Jacky!"

and 

"They dare to threaten the great and terrible Ripper?" 

He massaged his temples with one hand and attempted to respond to both the voices and Moriarty. 

"I am but merely a servant of the Great Architect, my works are for his benefit, as long as I serve him fully and truly how could I ever fail?" Jack asked.

Moriarty paled and his grin faded. A nod to the others brought about a quick conference. The three primary rulers spoke quickly. 

"Why are you here Bloody Jack?" Moriarty asked. 

At this question the room began to spin. Jack braced himself on the guard next to him who promptly began to crumple under the strain. Three others rushed in to support the two of them before they could drop to the stone floor. 

"The trap is sprung! The Jack is hung, The dye is cast, beware the son!" The cacophony of voices in his head cried out in unison. 

"I am summoned and I arrive. For centuries it has been this way. I only strive to honor those of you here today and the Architect whom I serve." Jack moaned.

"Is it your claim then that you serve the Architect? That his will be done?" Hyde questioned in a low hiss. 

Jack turned in a circle taking in the forty-nine soldiers that flanked out on Vladd's hidden signal to surround him within the circle. They were nervous and the spears were shaking but surprisingly they held their ground. 

Jack shook off those supporting him and stood tall taking in the full measure of the hateful gazes all around him. "No Hyde," He replied, "It has always been, and it shall always be my claim that 'I' am the manifest will of the Architect, I am his will made flesh." 

The crowd erupted into chaos. Jacks words were blasphemy this much he knew, but it was time to stand tall and speak the truth, the time for deception had passed. The problem was that in doing so he had put himself on a footing much greater than Moriarty. Others had been killed for less. The audience was in pandemonium, rotted fruit and rocks we're being tossed into the circle and the three elders were standing to leave. 

The young man two rows back tossed the orange cat from his lap with an apology and jumped to his feet. He reached into the pocket of his green jacket withdrawing a pack of cards. 

"You got a bit of a wee gift for me then Hatter?" Jack called out over the din of the anger spewing from the crowd. They were mad with rage. 

The hatters' smile faltered but he nodded tossing the cards to Jack who plucked them from the air as he stood. He prepared himself for his exit. Drawing the dark energy into the center of his being and reaching out into the massive 'verse to find the door that would lead to Earth Prime. 

It was at that moment that a young woman, suddenly appeared out of thin air, shocked and standing next to Jack. Her hair was dark brown. Short. She had Blue green eyes, full rounded lips and was wearing simple Jeans and a t-shirt. In her hand was a book. 

Jack stood his ground nearly speechless and marveling at the fact that he was free of the voices. For the first time since he could remember they were gone. 

"Who are you young lady?" He whispered. 

"J..J..Josephine?" The girl stammered. 

Moriarty lunged from his seat and screamed so loudly that his vocal chords nearly gave out. Spittle sprayed across his desktop. 

"Kill the girl Jackie! Kill her now!" 

"No! Run, Jack, you must run!" the Hatter cried out.

He jumped into the circle between Jack and the girl with both his hands in the air to ward off an attack.Then the girl, wide eyed and readying to ask a question was gone, vanished, into the nothingness she came from. The book dropped to the floor. 

The voices were back, louder than ever and Jack wasn't sure if Moriarty's current ranting about death and blood referred to him or the girl, but he didn't intend to wait and find out. 

"Its time to do what you do best Jackie," The old man screamed in his head. "Killing and running, and not necessarily in that order. We'll have to find the girl later!" 

Turning to the boy he smiled, as the soldiers advanced on them. The boy smiled back 

"Thanks hatter, I owe ya"

Turning the knob on the door of the verse Jackie stepped out of the chapel and behind the lone Soldier outside who remained still as stone in the blink of an eye. There was time for one quick stop before he ran, one quick message, to remind everyone just who in the hell they we're really dealing with. 
He smiled as his blade lept into his right hand and leaned close enough to whisper into the man's ear. 

"I'm afraid I lied Boyo." 

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