Learning what you've lost

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Jareth Archer
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Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

"…We do not dream as a norm, but the fact that you do at times is curious and disturbing…"
Habren-Ashe


Archer had been working on this bit of in-house tool for awhile now and was finally ready to test it. The pentacle had been made into the very floor. He had always wanted a stationary and permanent arrangement like this for his private efforts. Actually it was a Paladium as well as a casting circle. Once invoked around the user, the physical body would be protected from harm, allowing the spirit within to travel beyond. He had been trained in astral travel before and was curious to see if he could still do it since his turning. If he had one of these before, his situation might have been different, but making such an accessory for travel was too complicated and costly.
His goal, as always, was what lurked within the rift. He had spoken to several who had spent time within the void besides his own observations from the outside and was coming up with two different viewpoints. From this side, it seemed to be a wondrous sight of colors pulsing just beyond sight while those who dwelled inside spoke of utter blackness and no clues as to where they were. Light, sound, sensations all denied as they groped about blindly. Occasionally fighting with others also trapped and something they called the wraiths.

To him, there was an element missing in the total picture. It made no sense to be enticed to enter such a thing only to be imprisoned in an unforgiving void. The only thing that he had no clear ideas of were the wraiths. Why were they there and what purpose did they serve. Was this a punishment or prison for them as well or was it some kind of after life playground? Were they jailers or prisoners? The others spoke how coming across one of these beings was more conflict than comfort. One would either feel stronger or weaker for their efforts, so the majority avoided them. Even those who had spent all that time trapped within until the nexus tore open were most reluctant to speak of their time within. His own sire grew somewhat silent when he approached the subject. If it was as bad in there as they few he knew who spent a short season within had described it, then he secretly wondered if all the elders had gone mad in the process after almost 200 years within, and considering the actions of some he may be on to something with that thought.

He was ready as he ever would be. He spent the last several evenings being sure he had the proper spells memorized and learned to protect himself on such a journey. The Paladium would supply him strength and physical protection while he would have to use his other talents for the rest of his being. He laid back on the floor within the Paladium and relaxed. Using the techniques he had learned in the past, he began to adjust himself. He found his new state of existence to be a plus in this. He did not have to focus so much on calming his physical self because everything within was calm. Dead calm.

'Knock off the jokes' he chided himself. His mind would be the challenge in this. He breathed; despite the fact breathing was now unnecessary (except for speaking). It was part of the technique. His eyes closed and he began to clear him mind of all the trivial and unnecessary things that plagued him nightly. Eventually he reached a point of calm and let himself be taken into it.

Eventually, the familiar feeling began to spread over him. Starting in his toes and moving upwards towards the top of his head a soft numbing sensation began to spread in him. He did not resist when he felt the floating feeling come. That was the part that was hardest for any to overcome-the moment you realized you and your body was beginning to take a break from each other. He continued to rise upwards, invisible to all except those who have learned how to see beyond the norm. Up and out he drifts before he starts to aim himself. Gently, he encouraged his form to move towards his goal.

It his state of being, the nexus was now vibrant beyond his physical sight. It was now an explosion of color and light beckoning like a temptress and he wondered if this is where that nonsensical human notion of 'come to the light' has originated from. He could understand the concept fully now as he drifted closer. The opening was pulling at him, but not in a gale force wind or anything dramatic. Just a gentle coaxing along encouraging his form towards the entry point, but he was not deceived.

He willed himself to stop just short of the rip and anchored himself. One arm rose symbolically with his palm facing the non disturbed view of reality as if he was holding himself there. Between the Paladium, his spells, and this, he would not be moved so easily. Slowly, he leaned closer to see what lay beyond the colors that tried to blind his sight.

Now he saw it. As his perspective began to move past the lights he could see the darkness hiding beyond. His 'face' now like a person leaning into a sink full of water and just breaking the surface. The pull grew stronger now, so he focused his 'grips' tighter while allowing his eyes to take in the void better. One arm and his shoulder were in along with his head as he began to probe the darkness with his mind. Dimly he noted a lost one some distance away fumbling about in helpless rage, but beyond that-nothing.

He was disappointed. He had expected more in such an 'after life' as this presented itself to be. Archer allowed himself at least an hour to continue to probe the depths but found nothing. A bit deflated from this anti-climatic discovery, he began to pull himself back out of the rift into the real world just before ethereal claws dug into his astral flesh and began to drag him deeper.

"Don't be shy now,"

(to be continued)
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Re: Learning what you've lost

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"Don't be shy now," a voice of pure ice and malevolence hissed into his ear. "You wanted to know all, so come on in!"

"Yessss," a second hissed. "Why visit when you can live here. Membership has its perks!" Jareth could see several more moving towards him now and could only assume these were wraiths. The mind numbing sense of cold he felt from their touch made him feel dizzy for a few moments. He lifted his free hand in the darkness and called out:

"Ye y'll mn'gthu'll ugg'a aeth Yig ft'anglh uuthah!"

Energy streamed from his hand, slapping away the frozen spirits that clung to him, but more pounced on him before he could begin to pull back from the sheet of cosmic fly paper he found himself stuck on.

"Oh, this one has power," one cooed as it dug in tighter.
"Knows much," another said.
"Will take time, but we are patient," a third giggled.
"Worth the wait,"
"Sooner or later."
"Will be later with this one."
"But worth it!"

The wraiths began to chatter like excited monkeys now around him. The cold making it harder to focus now. He maintained his place and went no deeper, but he could not pull backwards. Before he could focus on a more powerful spell, the first wraith that had grabbed him returned and grabbed the sides of his head, forcing Archer to look into the empty voids that served as its eyes.

"You wanted to know? You want to learn?" it asked. "Then learn well. Learn what you have lost! " it shouted as black fire erupted from its eyes and poured into Jareth's.

3 months ago:

He stood at the bar enjoying the music. Head banging away to the cover band that was playing the club this night. A quick round of rest and relaxation before the three of them left this town in the morning. Woodward was right, slipping away by himself to explore the Nexus was probably the stupidest thing he could have ever thought of. No, it was better if they returned en mass to do a proper study and not be tripping around in the dark, especially when one considered what else was haunting the darkness now.

He stopped enjoying the music long enough to finish his drink and lit a fresh smoke when his eye caught her in the crowd dancing away. He paused in ordering another drink and just watched her moving to the music. She was certainly having a good time out there. He had noticed her a few times since he had arrived with the others, but their work had not allowed him much time to take in the fun type of local night life to any degree. Woodward had understood the need to unwind for a bit, but Tisha was furious he had not taken her along. As much as he cared about his self appointed little sister, sitting at the ice cream shop was not his idea of unwinding at all.

"I'll have a Bailey's Irish Creme and this guy is paying for it." The woman he had been watching dance declared as she sat down at the bar and fanned herself a bit. She pointed to Archer and smirked.

"Oh, and why is that?" he asked while indicating to the barkeep he wanted a fresh one as well.

"Well, you were the one staring at me like crazy," she laughed. He was about to answer when the cover band ripped into 'Bloodlust' by Venom.

"Come on-JOIN US!" he shouted and found she was echoing the words. Both began to laugh. "So you are a fan as well?" Archer asked.

"Oh yes," she smiled. The drinks arrived and Jareth paid. "Thank you. You must be new. Only seen you once or twice in the last few weeks."

"Been busy with work."

"What are you? Not a traveling salesman dressed like that," she laughed again.

"It's complicated."

"Isn't it always?"

"Jareth," he offered his hand. The girl studied it for a moment and he saw the mirth dancing in her eyes like little imps cavorting about. She eventually took it and squeezed.

"Missy," she answered.

Today-in a way

"For someone who is not a traveling salesman, you sure come here a lot." Missy laughed as they left The Necropolis

"A lot of unfinished business." He replied.

"Oh yes, the 'complicated' part." She smirked as they walked along together. He wondered if she could deal with the real reasons he kept coming back. A proper team was rotating to study the nexus now with sufficient back guards to assure all would return as they had left. They had learned a lot in the last few months about the void and Harper Rock's newest citizens. Woodward was beside himself with proof a legend had returned to life and old texts were being reviewed with renewed interest. It was one of the reasons why he insisted on walking her home.

"So, you want to grab coffee before you go home?" he asked while pointing at one of the fast franchises sitting on the corner.

"Yes, but not there." She encouraged him to follow her to a small 24/7 place almost swallowed by the buildings surrounded by the surrounding landscape. The bell tinkled as they entered and took a seat. A waitress approached them armed with a pot and water glasses.

"What ya have?" the woman asked as she poured the coffee.

"You got peach cobbler?" Jareth asked. The woman nodded. "I'll have some of that."

"I want strawberry shortcake please." Missy smiled. "Is the only place in this town that has it the majority of the time. My all time favorite."

The woman brought their treats back and they began to enjoy.

"So when will you be back?"

"Depends on what is going on." He shrugged.

"Well all I know is, every time you show up you are calling me." She refused to be blown off so easy.

"Well, you don't have to answer your phone, you know." He smirked.

"Maybe next time I won't."

"Okay."

"You gonna make me say it? Fine. Why you always checking on me when you come to town?"

He considered his answer for half a second. "I like the way you dance."

Missy laughed a bit before striking a pose in the booth. "So nothing else about me interests me except my dancing?"

"I didn't say I was a eunuch. I just…I just like your company."

(to be continued)
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Jareth Archer
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Re: Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

Three months from now

"Dude!"
Jareth looked up and saw Randal (another necromancer in training) grinning from the door to his room. "What?"
"Word to the wise. Tisha is gonna be on a serious warpath as soon as she sees."
"Sees what?" Archer was curious now.
"You got company waiting at the door." Randal snickered and left. Jareth got up and made his way to the greeting area and found his friend from Harper Rock standing there chatting away with Woodward. He watched the scene with surprise till his mentor turned and noticed him there.
"Jareth, you have company. Don't be shy." Woodward encouraged him. "I just told Miss Styxx she was welcome to stay with us while she was visiting. When you have finished stumbling your way through a proper greeting, show her to one of the guest rooms where she can leave her belongings."
"Uh…sure," Jareth agreed. He watched Woodward walk away with that glint in his eye. He knew that look when the old man had noticed something unique about a person that fell into the lines of their brand of work. He had his own suspicions about Missy as well, especially after surviving a few rounds with Spooky the Wonder Ghost (as he privately called the apparent poltergeist that seemed to be the girl's bodyguard) "Hi," he smiled. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh now that hurts," she pouted. "You are the one who gave me this address and said if I had such a hang up about you bugging me every time you came to town I could do the same back, so hear I am."
"So you came? All the way from Harper Rock? Just to bug me?"
"Yeah." He saw the imps dancing in her eyes again.
"I'm glad." He finally admitted.
"Really?" She took a step closer to him. He decided to take a chance and lean in closer to kiss her when a blood curdling scream echoes from somewhere in Woodward's home.
"WHAT? WHO? WHERE?" A voice filled with teen age fury howled.
"Maybe I should show you your room now." He picked up her bags and began to climb the stairs. Missy followed as the shouting continued.
"Who is that?" Missy asked.
"That is my little sister," he sighed.
"You have a sister? You never said anything before. I want to meet her."
"Not right now you don't." he kept climbing and not pausing on the switchback.

Eight months from now.


"Okay," Woodward was calling everyone's attention to the 'sparring match' that was about to begin. To one side stood Randal ready to test Missy. Jareth leaned against the wall being as non committal as he could. That was part of these sessions-learning what you could do on your own and outside of a few words of advice and encouragement, he could do nothing. Near Randal he saw Tisha giving him some suggestions. He did not like the idea the young mystic has gravitated to Randal once the idea of Missy being around had soaked in. Randal had been expelled for his nonsense. The last incident where one of his reanimated tormentors managed to damage several priceless items in its single minded quest to chase down some of the younger apprentices had pushed Woodward past the breaking point.
Jareth shook his head. That wasn't right. If Woodward had banished him then why was he here now like this?
"Are you alright, Jareth?" Woodward asked with concern in his voice.
"Huh? Yeah, I guess so," he rubbed his eyes.
"I want to check you later." His mentor nodded. "You have been acting a bit odd since Harper Rock."
"Maybe one of those hoochie allurists got into his head," Tisha teased.
"Tisha," Woodward urged the girl to silence. With a nod, he let the two begin to spar. Randal tossed a few harmless spells at the girl and Jareth nodded in satisfaction as Missy blocked them. She was picking up things a lot faster than he had he smiled as she returned 'fire'. The two continued for several rounds till Jareth saw Tisha give Randal a quick nod. Randal's next salvo went as planned, but he made an additional gesture, sending an errant spell wide. Missy blocked the salvo but the extra spell slipped around her defense and sent the girl backwards and down to the floor.
"Randal," Woodward was not amused.
"She has to learn to watch for the sneaky ones as well," Randal laughed just before a chair shot away from the wall and caught the young necromancer across the back of his legs, tripping him into falling as well.
"Oh hell no!" Tisha shouted, realizing what was happening, but before she could act the chair swung up and hit her as well.
"SAM!" Missy shouted as Woodward helped her to her feet. "STOP IT!" She watched as the chair hung in the air ready to slam down on Tisha. "You keep telling me how important this stuff is, so how can I learn it right without taking some lumps in the process?"
The chair was tossed across the room to an empty corner as the ghost (reluctantly) conceded the point. Missy walked to where Randal was still down and offered her hand. "I am so sorry about that." She apologized.
"We're fine!" Tisha snapped.
"Just walk away," Jareth had come to Missy's side and turned her gently away from the pair.
"How would they like it if I just ripped their throats out?" the woman growled as Jareth saw her fangs appear. He blinked and grabbed her to look again, but saw only her normal teeth. "What's wrong, babe?" she asked.
"Jareth-my office, now." Woodward ordered.

(to be continued)
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Jareth Archer
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Re: Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

Two year from now

"In every marriage there are times where it is difficult to find the right words." The High Priestess said and smiled as the two stood facing each other. "It is easiest to hurt who we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by who we most love. It might be difficult some time to words to say "I am sorry" or "I forgive you"; "I need you" or "I am hurting". If this should happen, if you simply can not find these words, leave a rose at that spot which both of you have selected - for that rose than says what matters most of all and should overpower all other things and all other words."
"That rose says the words: "I still love you." The other should accept this rose for the words which can not be found, and remember the love and hope that you both share today." A loud sniff could be heard from the gathering as Woodward tried to retain his calm as he wiped his nose swiftly. Several of their friends laughed softly at him. Students past and present had gathered for this small slice of hope in the face of the coming storm.
"Jareth and Missy, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, it is that it was love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and it is by love which your marriage shall endure."
The Priestess offered her final blessings and they kissed, much to the delight of their assembled family and friends.

15 years from now

"Jareth, we have to discuss this now." Tish insisted.
"No-not NOW!" he shouted as he left the common room and slammed the door to Woodward's office closed behind him. He leaned on the door and looked over the room, wishing beyond hope his mentor would suddenly appear and suggest what they should do now, but that wasn't going to happen.
It was so sudden. The group had the cththonians well in hand and all looked well until one slipped through their ranks and grabbed the ancient from behind. Archer always thought Woodward would go out in a blaze of glory, not shredded by some thing like a kid would destroy a happy meal.
He walked towards the desk and sat in the chair facing it. The idea of sitting in Woodward's chair was beyond thought. The small envelope still sat in his pocket that had been entrusted to him. He knew it contained the location and the key to where Woodward had hidden the formula for his elixir that had prolonged his life. He had looked and acted like a man in his late 40's, yet the facts showed he had been alive for 167 years. 'I should have turned him' he thought. What kind of a power would he have been with the powers of the night added to him as well.
Jareth shook away the delusion and wiped his eyes. He was getting punchy now from lack of sleep and rest. 'All I need now is to begin seeing and thinking the impossible.' Perhaps he had been right. Some residual effect of something from his time in that city still playing tricks in his thoughts and memories.
For the last 3 weeks he had been a rock helping everyone get through this. But now their commune was in danger of falling apart with no apparent leader in place. Some of their number was pointing at him now.
"What do I do now, old man?" he whispered. The door opened behind him as Missy slipped in and walked to him. She said nothing but just placed her hand on his shoulders gently. Something cracked inside of him as 3 weeks of denial finally flowed out of him.
"Let it out, babe," She crouched beside the chair and hugged him tight. "I loved him too." It was not a lie. She had come to trust Woodward as well over time but knew he was so much more than just a mentor to her love. "Just let it out,"

(to be continued)
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Re: Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

20 years from now

"Found an interesting legend last night." Randal dropped a book on the table as he showed up for their morning meeting. "Could possibly be one of our friends in Harper Rock."
"Oh? Do tell, hubby." Tisha smiled.
"Concerns one of the Witch Tribes of Llanddona. It's in a fable format but it tells the tale of a child apparently Gwrach y Rhibyn had appeared to on the night of their birth and marked for death."
"And that is odd how?" Missy asked after a sip of coffee. "I thought every freak storm marked the passing of some portent of doom."
"The odd bit was, the child did not die, but grew up to be a power, only to suddenly vanish one night. Some say the Night Hag finally collected, but that is something way out of the ordinary for a creature like that. Usually they take what they want on the spot and not let it ripen for a few years first."
"What does the rest say?" Tisha was curious now.
"Not much and it gives this child no name."
"Habren Ashe de Grigori," Jareth finally spoke up. "She is already in our database of active vampires in Harper Rock. She is one of Mircea's brood."
"Well I'm impressed," Randal nodded. "How did you find out such an intimate detail like that about one of them?"
"I…I just know," Jareth frowned. How the hell did he know that? Again he felt himself shake as if trying to clear the cobwebs away from his mind.
"Relax and focus," Missy's hands found his shoulder and rubbed and he quickly found himself back in the here and now. His 'fits' as he had come to call them were getting stranger as the years drug on. Flashes of confused reality mixing as one. Collateral damage from the silent war they had been raging had been Woodward's best guess on his condition. He would drift, become confused, but it was easy to pull him back to reality again, but he continued to get these 'glitches' of thought no matter what the others tried or suggested to help him purge them away.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. Missy's hands just rubbed him gently.
"Hazard of the occupation, dude," Randal nodded in sympathy. "Don't worry about it."
"Could be worse," Tisha offered. "You could be jumping up, ripping your clothes off, stretching a rubber glove over your head and run around screaming you were the super chicken vampire slayer."
"Oh now that I would like to see," Missy laughed as she turned his head to kiss him.

40 years from now

He sat in one of the remaining gardens that surrounded Woodward's old estate in silent thought. A lit cigarette hanging from his lip absently as he looked out over the graves a few yards from where he sat.
They were loosing the war.
The situation was beyond containment now. The best chance they had to stop this thing was when the nexus first erupted and they had failed. Ground zero was firmly in their hands as well as the cities and towns surrounding it and the inevitable was in full swing. Other cells like theirs began reporting sightings of the vampires world wide now. They were expanding with a vengeance now and for every clan, cabal, coven or cult they managed to destroy, three more would rise up in its place. The same could not be said for those who fought against the night feeders. Several well established groups suddenly went silent as the infestation progressed. That was the problem with fighting something like this. When they won, their ranks would grow while humans became less. When Jareth and his won, it was just a matter of time before the vampires replaced their missing numbers.
They just kept coming back for more and new replacements for the human ranks grew and learned slowly. Much too slow.
He had watched over too many funerals in that graveyard during the last 10 years. Would it be easier to just give in? He had and he had come out okay. The night was a dark wonderland of experiences calling to them all if they would just submit.
"God damnit!" he shouted as he grabbed his head. Can't these glitches leave him alone ever?
"Jareth?" He turned and saw Tisha standing a discreet distance from him. "You busy?"
He shook his head no and finished the smoke as she approached. "What's up, lil sis?" She took a seat next to him and sighed.
"We just lost contact with our last Portland cell," she began. "They are in Chicago and Phoenix now and overseas is not reporting anything good either. It's like fighting the wind now."
"I know," he agreed as he watched her run her hand protectively over her swollen belly. The results of her and Randal's private time together. Thanks to his decision to distribute Woodward's elixir among their inner circle, she still appeared a girl in her late twenties and having a child in her 50's was not impossible. His own children were hidden elsewhere in a non combative safe house that should avoid attention, much to Missy's relief and frustration. They had that spark, oh yes, but would they have the gift of time to grow up and learn how to use it was a question no one could answer. When was the last time either of them had seen their children and just enjoyed them?
"We're gonna die, aren't we?" a tear leaked from Tisha's eye.
"It would be preferable to the alternative," he replied as he hugged her tight.
'Or would it?' he thought in silence.

(to be continued)
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Jareth Archer
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Re: Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

45 years from now

They were not safe there. The house was already known to the enemy and had been attacked several times recently. The evacuation had come and their numbers dispersed to hidden locations elsewhere-further reducing their effectiveness as a unit, but it could not be helped now. They left nothing of use behind and what could not be moved was destroyed. It was out of control now. Nothing to do but keep falling back and…
And what was the question.
One unfinished bit of business remained for them as they gathered in the graveyard to say good bye to one of their own before they separated.
Randal had put her down. She had returned so eager to be in his arms again. The light in her eyes and the gleam of her fangs and oh-how hungry she was for him. For the first time since this had begun, Jareth froze in a confrontation with one of them. Not since Habren…
"Not now" he hissed through gritted teeth. No fits now! He had to be the rock again as much as he just wanted to fall down that hole and be with her regardless. He had never confronted the witch so why was his memories insisting he had even to this day.
The sun shone straight over them now. They would have 7-9 hours to disperse and get out of the area before nightfall. Plenty of time to finish their business.
Tisha was speaking. Telling the others of her time with Missy. How she literally hated her guts the first time she saw her and how she had come to love her as time had went on. Others spoke up as well with their own memories as he stood there staring a hole through the coffin lid he had almost covered in roses by himself.
This was wrong.
Wrong,
Wrong,
Wrong,

"She is not dead!" Jareth suddenly shouted, much to the distress of the mourners.
"Jareth!" Tisha was crying now. "Oh gods, not now," she sobbed.
"I know she isn't!"
Tisha reached out to calm him, but he shook away her touch. He backed out of her reach and glared at them all like an animal ready to attack. "This isn't right!" he turned towards the woman as his eyes were glaring with a feral light of rage. His lips drawn back into a snarl showing his fangs, causing the others to look at him in total confusion. "I know because I made her beyond death!" He screamed as he lifted his fists and lashed out at the surface of the casket and when he hit it, it shattered like some bizarre mirror that tore the world out of focus and revealed the face of the wraith as it tried to keep Archer's attention focused on the empty voids of its eyes.

He snarled a challenge to the void creature and began to fight again.

"Strong this one is still!"
"Hold him! Just a moment to pull him back under!" The wraith said, but Archer was already weaving a spell of his own.
"A'ai y'gati l'il ro'kanah Nyaralathotep!" He shouted, and the shadow beings were thrown away from him like leaves in a storm. He began to pull out of the void rapidly now. Some the wraiths began to swarm again, but fled as he began to mutter the summons of Azathoth itself. It was a bluff. A novice like him would never have the power or skill to summon the Blind Idiot God, but the wraiths thought otherwise for some reason. He mouthed the spell slowly as he felt himself gradually pulling free of the prison he almost had been trapped in and quit his casting when he saw the lights begin to cut across his vision. The wraiths hung just on the other side like prisoners against the bars of their cell and mocked him.

"Learn what you lost? Just one possible path your life could have taken if you had not become vampire filth!" The hypnotist shouted with a smile. "Why do you leave, o seeker of knowledge? You have but barely stepped onto the threshold of a fortress of dark wisdom waiting for one brave enough to follow it from the topmost tower to its most darkest depths. Come back and explore it all! Dare to go deep into the lowermost vaults where vampires and night fiends are harmless children compared to what truly lives below and beg at its feet for knowledge." It cackled. "It just might teach you all. So bored it is since none for ages have dared to even try. Seek the wisdom even those who were trapped here before did not have the courage to try and learn."

Jareth kept retreating. It was taking every ounce of concentration to keep pulling away now. Eventually he lost sight of the wraiths as more of what he considered reality began to fill the surroundings of his eyesight.
"Coward!" they screamed and laughed except for the apparent leader of those who attacked Archer.

"You'll be back," it smiled.

Jareth rolled his head away from the gate and looked up at the night sky above. No one else had ever suggested anything like this when they found themselves within the nexus. Was it just a private thing no one wanted to speak of or was his intrusion a unique case in motion. He noticed he was slowly being pulled back to the lights as he had felt when he first arrived. He tried to flee but felt so drained from it all. He could imagine the things within shouting in triumph as he was slowly coming closer again.
"Safe term" his mind groped for it now. When they had been taught to journey in this manner, they had all been encouraged to learn a small phrase unique enough to break their concentration and return them to their bodies at once. He fought for clarity of thought for a few moments before he remembered it.
"Tisha looks silly in pink chocolate pants." His mind shouted. A sharp, snapping motion as if he had been flicked from a taunt rubber band filled his being.
A half a second later, his eyes opened and he found himself back within the circle of his Paladium.

(to be concluded)
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Re: Learning what you've lost

Post by Jareth Archer »

"Well hi there!"

Jareth looked up from the floor and saw Mirage looking down at him. She was already dressed to go about her nightly business with her sack of burglar tools, rope, and…was that a sledgehammer in her hand? He wondered.

Mirage crouched down next to his pentacle and looked him over. "I hate to be the one to say it, vampire father, but you look like crap right about now."

"I feel like it too," he tried to sit up but simply didn't have the strength for it.

"Well, hope you feel better." She stood up and took a solid grip on the hammer while making a shhhh motion with her finger across her lips. "Time's a wasting-don't wait up for me. MISSY!" she shouted as she opened the door to leave. "Jareth is awake finally!"

He finally managed to sit up as Mirage left. The sound of feet running met his ears. Hands grabbed him as Missy crouched down in front of him and began to look him over. "Are you okay?" she asked in concern just a half second before she cuffed him solidly on the side of his head. Despite her size, the girl could give a solid hit.

"What the **** did you think you were doing?!?" she shouted. "Scaring the hell out of us like that! I finally called Habren to ask her what was wrong with you, and you know what she had to say? She took one look at you lying here and said 'Oh, he just went for a little walk it appears. If and when he wakes up, tell him I'd be curious to hear about where he went.' And then she left! A real in depth source of information she was!"

Jareth rubbed the side of his head and finally saw the clock on the wall. "What the hell are you fussing about?" he sighed. He had started his astral quest just before Midnight and it was only going on 3 AM. "I have only been gone for under 3 hours."

"3 hours? Try just under 5 days!" She swung at him again, but this time he managed to avoid the blow. Suddenly the wraith's plan was very clear. They could not simply pull him in as long as he was anchored like he was, so they were simply trying to wear him down. Trapped within an illusion as his energy reserves deleted themselves to the point he could offer no resistance and then that invisible line between him and his body could be snapped with ease. Then he could have been a permanent guest of those beings until he learned how to return as the ancients had. He rubbed his face with his hands and sighed. He had not accounted for time when he tried this and with no way to replenish himself in such a state, it would have worked. His own mind kept pushing clues in for him to discover but the insistence of the illusionist finally hit a nerve his fogged logic could not accept. Lucky for him.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say.

"Where did you go?" Now the concern was replacing the anger again in her voice.

"Learning what I had lost,"

"What the hell does that mean?" Missy frowned.

"I am working on that myself right now." He finally tried to stand up and failed.

"Hang on," she sighed as she laid hands on him. He sighed as he felt some 'life' return to him as she casted. She was getting very good at this. Jareth nodded his thanks and casted the spell on himself as well and was finally able to regain his footing. "You're lucky I don't just say crawl to the sewer and snack on rats."

"Thank you, Darkness," he managed a smile.

"Don't try sweet talking your way out of this," Missy's stance was still all business but her eyes were beginning to warm now. "I want some answers."

"And I swear, you will get them. I just need to 'eat' a bit." Jareth reached down to his pack sitting next to the fireplace and pulled out a bottle from one of the pockets. He took a drink and the burn of the liquor helped clear his head more. "Your sense of smell and taste still work, don't they?" he asked while holding out the unlabeled bottle to her.

"What? Don't you dare try to distract me!" she huffed before taking a drink. "Mmm, you got the good stuff for once."

"So your taste buds still work then," he nodded.

"Yes," she admitted. "And as far as my nose goes it works in overdrive now. Some of these undead fuckers need a shower badly! Case in point," she poked him in the chest.

"Fair enough. After I clean up, you want to come with me?"

"I have already been out and I am kinda tired now," she admitted. "Not up to running all over town right now."

"No,no. Just around the neighborhood is all. Then when we are done there is a 24/7 café near here."

"Yes there is. I used to go there a lot." She admitted. "So?"

A soft smile crossed his face. Obviously the farther along the illusions progressed, the wraith simply made educated guesses what to fill in to keep him distracted, but the more recent events gave them more to work with and in that they had hit upon bits of reality in the process.

"After I am done," he began slowly. "We can go and perhaps drop a shot of Bailey's in a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the smell at a bit of a taste of that and…strawberry shortcake as well maybe?"

Missy blinked in surprise. "Those are, I mean were, my favorites. Jareth, how did you know that?"

All he offered was a cryptic smile in reply before heading to the shower.

(FIN)
Image
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
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