Jack dreamed, it wasn't a nightmare, but like an old memory; Jamie held Jack close to him the whole night, trying to ward off an inevitable nightmare... A shudder went through him as in the dream he pounded on the walls of the structure, trying vainly to get inside... feeling helpless and angry as he tried to get into the castle, hearing the cries inside... Jack shuddered in his sleep, sweating, as he was trapped in a fire that seemed to get closer and closer, the flames increasing. Jamie woke from his nightmare with a jolt only to discover that he'd been crying in his sleep as the frozen droplets stuck to him and Jack. Jack didn't wake up at the same time, but a moment later with a cry; jolting in Jamie's grip.
"Jack." Jamie said soft, brushing the frozen tears from him. Jack whimpered.
"Jamie I... I..." He couldn't talk, it was as if his throat had closed up.
"Shhh, it's alright." Jack shook his head, crying.
"No, it's not." He whimpered. Jamie pulled Jack closer, drying his tears.
"I promise, it's okay." He murmured gently, pressing a gentle kiss to Jack's forehead then a feather light kiss to his lips; wanting nothing more than to reassure his love even though his own heart was pounding. Jack returned the kiss with as much love to Jamie as he could then, reassuring him that he was okay. Jamie lingered over the kiss lovingly, when he broke the kiss he buried his head against Jack's neck, shaking a little. His own nightmare had done a number on him.
"J-jamie, what's wrong?" He brushed tears from Jamie's eyes now, stroking his hair gently.
"I was so scared... that I wouldn't make it on time..." He managed on a shaky breadth, holding Jack tighter. Jack was confused at this, what did he mean?
"Jamie, make it where? Who, Jamie, were you trying to make it to?" He asked gently, petting his love's head more gently than before.
"To you... I... I was with North when Roxas called me.. When he did I realized then... your nightmare... and he was..." Jamie stumbled as he held Jack tighter. Jack patted Jamie's back, rocking him slightly.
"It's okay Jamie, he's not around anymore; I'm here. Roxas is here, don't be afraid." He said slowly as it began to dawn on him that the incident that had nearly happened might have well really messed Jamie up in ways. Jamie didn't say anything more, just clutching Jack tight; he had been too shocked at the realization of what might happen - at the time - that he hadn't really had time to really react beyond out of anger that a spirit Jack had thought of as a friend would do that to him... and would purposely ruin what he had with Jack... ruin the trust and sully their love out of their own greed for something they couldn't have otherwise... It bothered him a great deal, more than he could put to words. Jack sighed and fell asleep in Jamie's arms, unable to stay awake much longer. Jamie eventually fell asleep again in exhaustion himself. The next morning was no better than the night before, but Jack did his best to keep Roxas happy. Jamie slept like a log until about noon. Jack smiled.
"Awww, Roxas stop, that tickles daddy." Jack said as Roxas was grabbing onto his stomach as he lay on the floor with the child. Roxas giggled and purposely tried to tickle Jack, the boy's laughter is the sound that Jamie woke up to. Jack laughed.
"O-Oh ho n-no! Hohahah!" Jack couldn't fight the ticklish hands of the child and laughed until he was red in the face.
"Ub u dada." Roxas said clearly as he hugged Jack who smiled and nuzzled Roxas' hair.
"I love you too." He sighed.
"Let's go see how daddy's doing huh?"
"Papa!" Roxas said with a grin. Jamie was sitting up when the two came into the room. Jack smiled and slowly leaned in, kissing Jamie's cheek.
"Good morning sweet stuff, Roxy wanted to wake you up with a good morning hug."
"That so?" Jamie smiled. Jack nodded and let Roxas crawl onto Jamie's stomach and chest.
"Goodmo mo papa." He said, grabbing onto his hair some.
"Good morning Lightning Bug. Ow, don't grab the hair okay?" Jamie shifted to wrap his arms around Roxas as he sat up. He gently bopped the boy's nose, making him giggle. Jack smiled at the sight, but something kept nagging at him.
"No." He realized if Chris had been at the cavern than it meant the others... He felt queasy suddenly at the thought. Jamie looked over at Jack, sensing something might be wrong.
"Jack? What is it?" Jack jolted upon hearing Jamie's voice.
"It's nothing, just forgot something. I'll be right back." He went downstairs to the area where they kept their precious treasures, a stash that he and Jamie had created together. He searched and searched the boxes.
"Where is it, no please... don't tell me that got taken... no, no..." He whimpered to himself. Jamie wondered what was up but he didn't press the issue.
"NO! HE... HE TOOK IT!" Jack screamed, he was freaking out because if Chris had it then that meant...
"T-they have full control over my mind..." Jack whimpered, falling into the corner, hiding there and crying his eyes out. Sensing that Jack was freaking out, Jamie set Roxas in his playpen and then went downstairs. He found Jack after a moment and knelt down next to him.
"Hun... what is it? What did he take?" Jack jolted, crying and shaking.
"No, it can't be... they have control of me... no... no..." He spoke more and more hysterically. Jamie gathered Jack close.
"Jack, love... please talk to me. I want to help, you know this. What do they have? What could it be that would do that?" Jamie didn't like the sound of it one bit and he wondered what on earth could possibly have that sort of hold on Jack... Jack whimpered.
"My birth stone." He shook.
"Back when I was alone... 300 years ago, I was lonely; so lonely I practically would do anything to meet someone and then I found a library, surprisingly there were spirits around at the time. I meant to tell the Guardians of the truth of who I knew but fear took control of that... well, anyways I met this group of spirits later on after I found the library, they told me what I was. Said that they could use my ice talent and w-well you know the rest after 68 and all that happened to me... most of the reason I turned into Jakoul was because of them. We each had drawn our blood up a stone, a simple one; whoever holds it h-has complete power to go into the blood owner's memories, mind, and even control their body. It was a precaution i-in case we turned our backs on each other. C-chris... now that he has it... I don't know what I'm gonna do." Jamie sighed a little.
"We'll just have to go and take it from him... I don't think he'll have fully thawed out yet... I can't say why I think that, but... I did something there that I've never done before... not even when we were faced with dealing with Jakoul and Gale." Jack nodded, sniffling.
"J-jamie... i-if he has it then that means Kale and the others know as well... you see I left them a long time ago, more like Jakoul left them in anger, they wanted the pain to stop; well Jakoul didn't want to s-so they basically have tracked me my whole life so they know all I will and can do... So they might be coming for me to turn me back into Jakoul."
"All the more reason to go now. Tooth's place is on the way, we'll leave Roxas there while we fetch it, just in case. I won't let them do that to you." Jack winced, shaking and crying.
"Y-you don't understand, you can't take it back... it'd be like breaking the Guardians' code of honor of protecting the children!"
"Considering what Jakoul is capable of and the fact that he took what isn't his... I'll risk it. Sometimes, to protect those you love... you have to break a few rules." Jack whimpered.
"I-i promised Jamie... I can't break the code, I just can't!" He shuddered, his insides squirming in pain.
"Fine. Stay here then. I'll go myself, but I'm taking Roxas to Tooth's regardless." Jamie got up and left Jack where he was. He hated this... and he only felt more hatred towards Chris as he bundled up Roxas and flew out. Jack wanted to scream, to cry out all his burdens, to wish that he'd never joined them; he realized they were watching him and knew that Jack knew they had the blood stone.
"GO AWAY! WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!? I'M NOT LIKE YOU GUYS ANYMORE! I LEFT FOR LOVE! TO MAKE A FAMILY!" He cried, bursting out as two of the gang, twin boys, Tricks and Marrow, shimmered into his vision.
"Because, Jack, you made a choice. You chose us, we can't let you go; we wish we could but it's not up to us is it?" Jack whimpered, knowing exactly who he had to talk to about being released and he doubted that he would let him go. Jamie left Roxas with Tooth after a quick explanation. Her gaze darkened slightly in anger at the other spirit but she agreed to keep Roxas safe and her fairies kept the boy occupied while Jamie went after the stone. It doesn't matter what they think. I've faced Death itself... been through hell... I could care less what they will think of me for stealing what wasn't even theirs to take. Jamie had to wonder what Jack was thinking when he'd made such a stone as he headed back to Chris' place. Once there he didn't hesitate to ransack the place in search of it. Chris only chuckled at Jamie's attempts to find the stone.
"What are you looking for Jamie?" He said, knowing exactly what it was he was searching for.
The two boys Jack saw disappeared and he winced, it was his fault... he never should have joined them. He should have realized what he was getting into. Why did I even do it? He wondered.
"Because you only wanted to be seen, to be heard, to feel like someone could feel you; talk to you and maybe even join a family, that's why." He murmured to himself, wincing.
"Oh, that's why..." He cursed himself for being so stupid, he should never had allowed them to tie his blood and mind to that stone.
Jamie ignored the half frozen spirit as he searched for the stone, he didn't come up empty handed. He found a stone... it wasn't the one he was looking for though... but he examined it... Yeah... he was sure it didn't belong to Jack, but to someone else... Chris winced when Jamie came out with a stone. Shit, that's my stone! Fuck! Why did I leave it in my sock drawer? He tried to hide his fear, but Jamie could see it in his face and realized quickly that the stone he held was Chris' blood stone. He knew what he'd found, but the look in the other spirit's eyes only confirmed it when he landed before the other.
"Now then. We can do this the easy way or the hard way... your choice. A simple trade." Chris shuddered, his voice was too quiet for Jamie to hear.
"I don't have the stone. Stine has it." He winced at the pressure from the stone as it was held, it felt like pressure on his mind and soul. Jamie smiled a little, but it's not a pleasant smile.
"Well then, I guess we do this the hard way... one way or the other you're going to get me that stone. Hmmm... I wonder what happens if I do this..." Jamie trailed off, frosting the stone slightly. Chris shook, whimpering.
"Please stop I-i-i'm t-t-t-telling t-th-the tru-truth." He said, his teeth chattering as his lips turned blue from the cold. Jamie withdrew the frost.
"Bring me the stone. Do whatever it takes. I don't think I have to explain what will happen if you don't." He withdrew the ice from Chris that he'd cast two days before, allowing him to move again. Chris shook in fear, not of Jamie but of who he'd have to face to get it.
"I-i can't." He winced, not wanting to feel the cold from the stone again.
"I-it's not my job to demand the stones, I'm merely a-a p-pawn in the group." Jamie's eyes flashed dangerously.
"I don't care if it is or not. Just do what you have to in order to get it. I don't care how. You lot already took what isn't yours, it shouldn't be that difficult and you of the entire group likely has the post reason of all to possess it... just do it. No more back talk or else." Chris winced.
"I-i can't do it alone." He whimpered, the fear was worse than of the stone, it was of something else. Jamie could feel his emotions through the stone itself; they were wrecked, it was likely that he only did what he was ordered, not out of his own will, but that something was making him do this. That something or someone had tried taking Jack back.
"So convince one of the others to help. Just do it. You're smart, figure it out." Chris sighed.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING DO YOU! I CAN'T! EVEN IF I COULD I CAN'T! I'M STUCK HERE AND JACK'S BLOOD STONE IS IN THE HANDS OF A DEMON!" He finally burst out. Jamie was too focused to be shocked by this news, or by any news he'd gotten as of recent. Jack floated down to where the two were, he'd heard the last few words.
"It's true. He can't go back to the realm because his blood stone prevents it." Jamie frowned at that.
"Maybe I don't understand this sort of thing, then again I think it's kind of stupid anyway. If the stone is what keeps him from going then I'll simply have to go with him..." He spoke more to himself than to Jack. He turned to Chris.
"Or you can just show me the way. Whichever." Chris winced.
"Jamie, long before I met you I've been followed. I've always been followed, even during my times of living. I basically signed my life away the moment I poured my blood on the stone amongst the others. They were tricked into doing it, Chris only wished to find a friend, the others wanted their families back. I-" Jack said, sighing before going on.
"I wanted to be believed in, heard, and seen so thus the stones, which is why mine is being held by the one who granted us the wishes, but at a price - that we free him and I..." Jack closed his eyes, tears falling while Chris' eyes held tears of guilt.
"... am what he needs to be free. I am the portal, the stone he has in his power now, he controls me in more ways than you can imagine." He finished, his eyes stared deep into Jamie's, in them thousands of apologies. Jamie is too shocked to know what to say so he just says and does what he can wrap his mind around.
"All the more reason to get it back." He said after a moment and looked back to Chris.
"Now. Show me the way." Chris nodded, opening the portal to the other realm.
"W-wait... do I have to stay once I show you?" He asked and Jack sighed, closing his eyes before he rubbed his temples once the portal to the other realm closed with the two of them inside it.
"Please come back safe Jamie." Jamie wasn't sure what to expect as he pocketed the stolen stone in his shirt. He would need it later likely, but for now he was taking in his new surroundings. The area was horrific, just darkness and fire, the area was horribly muggy; there were screeches and cries of fear and pain, begging for it to stop, even tortures on display. It was much like Death's home, only it wasn't at the same time.
"T-this way and d-don't touch anything." Chris said, shaking in fear as he led Jamie to a dark red fiery black castle. Jamie all but rolled his eyes at his reluctant guide and followed him to the castle; not reacting at all to the horrors around him. When they reached it, Chris put his hand before Jamie.
"Stop, just stay here." He said before silently walking up to the two hooded figures that guarded the doorway.
"I have business with your master." The two looked at each other before letting him and Jamie pass. The castle's interior was also similar to Death's in only that the walls were crimson and black and every candle was a skull with blood oozing from the candle that was lit with black flames that lit up the hall to the throne room. Chris shook.
"Whatever you do, don't listen to his deals okay?" Jamie decided to test the power he'd felt when he'd fought Chris. Jack had said his center was belief... so... maybe... He reached out toward Chris with the power, attempting to change his beliefs a little... to make the other spirit believe he'd be safe as long as he stuck close to Jamie.
"Considering I've dealt with Death... I doubt HE can be much worse." Jamie replied evenly, wondering if his attempt had worked; Chris' back straightened.
"He is nothing like Death I assure you." His voice is numb, but Jamie notes that there is more hope in it now. So it does work on spirits then... but to what degree? He saw a hooded servant standing about, he decided to test it further by making the servant believe that they are seeing their worst fear for a few minutes. It didn't seem to work, but then after a moment the figure dropped his weapon and cowered away in fear while Chris hissed in pain as the doors were opened and they stepped into the throne room.
"Chris, I see you've brought company." The voice was deep, seemingly everywhere at once and echoed like two voices. The figure that sat on the throne was a strange mix of demon and something else. Its skin was burnt red, eyes were cat-like yellow, hell-fire horns jutted from its head and he wore a red cloak with a blue stone in the middle of the clasp. Its feet mere hooves and he had claws like a bear.
"Welcome to my realm, Jamie Bennett." His eyes narrowed at Jamie, as if staring into Jamie's eyes allowed him to see his soul. He looked over him, mindlessly stripping him of his dignity in his eyes; the stone that adorned the cloak glowed, it obviously was the blood stone that belonged to Jack. Jamie was fearless as he stood before the thing. His gaze seemed bored as he looked at the creature before him. THIS is what Chris was afraid of?
"Hmmm, I was expecting you to be taller." He commented after a moment, Jamie didn't seem to feel any effects from the monstrosity before him as his center protected him from the thing's natural aura and power.
"Oh this form is not my original one. I'm still trapped, not at full power as you can see. I'll show you my true form once I open the portal to the other realm." He said, his teeth sharp as he grinned. The room seemed to darken as Chris gasped in pain, holding and clawing at his neck like some invisible power was holding him.
"And you, Chris, have failed your job at keeping him oblivious to who and what he is." Chris was lifted up and there was a sound of snapping, bones twisting and turning.
"P-please m-milord s-stop!" He cried desperately.
"No, this is your punishment for failing your job." He said. There was one last sickening crack and Chris fell to the floor, legs and limbs broken in many unnatural angles. Chris panted and stopped moving for a minute, the stone in Jamie's pocket became red hot, burning through the material only to turn to ash.
"Hmm, useless he was." The stone returned to Chris' body, which now lay unmoving. Jamie was unaffected and only moved over to see if Chris was still breathing, which he was but only just as Jamie's spell protected the spirit from death. He nodded to himself and stood up.
"He was useful enough to me. I suppose I don't have to explain myself. Or are you that naive as he was?" Jamie wasn't allowing anything around him to affect him; though there was no doubt it would later, but for now he managed to stay as indifferent as the thing before him. The creature laughed a slow, evil chuckle.
"You forget where you stand, don't think your little light and power of belief can protect you and him. You're wrong, dead wrong. As long as I hold power over Jack I have a portal to the top realm." He said, his eyes reflecting what was going on with Jack at home with Roxas, Jack suddenly collapsed, North and the other Guardians ran towards in in worry. Jack's eyes were pure black, unseeing as his mouth opened in a silent scream, dark mist surrounded his blood stone as Jack slipped in and out as if infected by the mist.
"I control his mind, his body, his will and spirit. I own him." He snickered, taking the darkness away; Jack became himself again and the vision faded from Jamie's view.
