OK so this is the next chapter!
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Look! I'm updating! Finally! I don't own BE/ANE or ROTG
Now onto the chapter!
Blank eyes gazed out the window at the four exorcists reinforcing the ward again, making sure it stays strong. He didn't understand why they continuously did this, but he'd watch them draw the circle and the ruins, muttering words to make it activate. It wasn't needed anymore to keep him from escaping, no, that was taken care of by the prison that lay upon his neck. Instead, the ward was now just for keeping unwanted demons from entering. Jack still had no idea why they needed him or why they were so hell bent on catching and protecting him. It's been about a week since the event of telling the group his past and he was already growing irritated with the captivity.
Sure, Rin brought some joy but the other had an uptight brother that forced him to go to school. How did he get past the ward? Apparently those damn keys can get passed them because they are pretty much portals. Well that's just great right? Stuck in a building with four exorcists who have been hunting him down for the past years? Oh sure, the place in a big building but that didn't change that fact that they want to watch him. He's pretty sure that if he wasn't allowed to leave the building, the death trap on his neck would keep him from getting very far unless someone was with him.
Jack sighed and turned away from the window. Today was as mentioned. It was just him and the four exorcists. Rin and Yukio were off at school and it was sadly only a few hours ago, meaning he still had a long time to wait until they returned. His gaze wondered over to his staff that he let stand in the corner of his room that he chose to stay in. He had no reason to continue carrying it around since he didn't have much to do. He still kept it with him of course but considering that a majority of the time he stayed in his room, why did he need it in hand. There would be times he would let his hands wonder over it for the familiar feel of the wood under his fingers, but other than that he was on his bed or going out to wonder the building for a bit.
So no, he did not like hanging out in the same room as the four. While he felt comfortable Sandy and possibly Tooth, that didn't mean he wanted to spend his day sitting in the same room as them, much less the other two. Sure he let them know more, but that didn't mean he didn't still feel distain towards exorcists in general. Especially now that he was a prisoner to them.
A knock on the room's door broke through his musings. He turned to see Tooth standing there with a gentle smile on her face. "We're going to be eating. I wanted to see if you'll join us."
"I'm good."
"Are you sure?" Tooth pressed. "I wouldn't mind and neither would the others. I was hoping that we could maybe get to know each other a bit more, make this all less awkward."
Jack just watched her from where he sat on the bed. Did it really mean that much to get together and understand each other? What good would it do in the future? But at the same time, he sighed. He knew he couldn't hide from them forever, but it was nice while it lasted.
"Fine, I'll be down in a bit." Tooth was shocked at first, surprised the demon had given into her plea, but then a smile took over her face and she nodded with great joy. Jack watched as she dashed off and sighed again, but he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face at the memory that came up from the familiar look of happiness. Why did so many things have to remind him of her?
With a shake of his head, he grabbed his staff, for just in case, and headed down to the dining area. It seemed as if it had taken only seconds to reach his destination and that was upsetting seeing as that meant he had to spend more time with them. He entered the room and watched as all heads turned towards his entry. They were already eating and there was a single plate waiting at their table, most likely for him. He was greeted with smiles from North, Tooth, and Sandy. However, he couldn't help but send a smirk towards the scowling Aster as he sat down and began to eat as well.
The air was silent and thick. One wouldn't even dent it with a knife if they tried. No one really knew what to say.
"So…" Jack spoke up. "How long have you been doing…this?" He waved his hand at them to indicate what he was saying.
They each glanced at each other. "Well," Tooth spoke up. "We've each been doing work as exorcists for about 16 years now, we each started pretty young though. Manny recruited us around 12 years ago-"
"So he took you up when he needed help finding me?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow. "And why, if you don't mind me asking, do you need me?"
"Because we need your help to take down a powerful demon." North said, trying to get this point across once more.
"Yeah I get that but why me? And just who the hell is this demon?" Jack asked. He would honestly like an answer other then we need help. "I don't find it fair that I'm being left in the dark while you continue doing what you want."
"We might've told you if you were more cooperative." Aster replied.
"Maybe if you told me, I would've cooperated more." Jack shot the other a smirk at his growl.
"You are right!" North exclaimed with a clap of his hand, shocking the demon. "So please, tell us what you want to know."
Jack blinked in shock for a moment, surprised he was even being told something. He thought they wouldn't tell him anything and just try to find a way to make him cooperate. After another blink, he answered. "Um…well, as I said before. Who this demon is would be nice to know along with why you need me."
"Alright." North said nodding. "Well, this demon we're hunting is, as I said, powerful. I don't mean demon king powerful or high level demon powerful, I mean Satan powerful."
Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "What? But that would mean he was…"
North nodded. "Exactly. He is another forbidden demon. I don't know how you were locked up but he escaped around the same time that you did. Perhaps you know each other?"
Jack bit his lip in thought. When they had all been locked up, it wasn't pleasant. They were times he didn't want to dwell on but that couldn't stop memories from forming in his mind. They were always left near their weaknesses and were chained up, so he was always suffocated by fire and heat. Burns coating his skin. No one ever had the chance of escaping seeing that if they tried Satan would be alerted and only pain was brought. Trust him, he knew. There were also times when Satan or demons were bored and decided to hurt them for fun. That's why it was such a good time to escape when the Blue Night happened. And even Jack was one of the youngest forbidden demons, he couldn't even imagine being there as long as the others.
"Jack?" He turned to see the other's staring at him, waiting for an answer. He gave a smile but he caught Sandy eyeing him, as if knowing those memories were painful.
"It's fine." He said quickly. "I don't really…remember much. It's been years. Besides, from what I do remember, we were never that close together. Some people would start up conversations ever so often, but one could only say so much. W-What's his name?"
"Pitch Black." Aster answered.
Jack let out a soft gasp. He knew that name, who didn't? He was a very powerful forbidden demon, being one of the oldest. He had tried to get them all to escape so many times, but it never worked. The man had actually been in a cell near him and they occasionally spoke. They didn't always get along but it passed the time. But that didn't mean that the other was never cruel. He was a dark demon, unlike Jack. Jack could never express what he felt when the other had been taken away from his cell's side; the best being relief and slight sadness for loosing the demon he could anger.
But he also knew that it most likely wasn't a good thing the other was out. Unlike Jack, who just wanted to be free and explore Assiah, Pitch was much darker and crueler. He thrived on the fear the other forbidden demon's expressed with a joyous laugh, making Jack sick. It was one of the reasons they didn't get along.
"Oi, do you know him?" Aster snapped.
Jack blinked, once again breaking from his thoughts. "I've heard of him." It was a half-truth. "And I know for a fact that he is a powerful demon. No wonder you need my help. But it's not really my fight and I don't even think I could face him if I wanted to."
"But he's causing chaos, worse than if it was a regular demon!" Tooth exclaimed.
"I know." Jack responded. "I know about what he does and while I don't agree with it, it's still not my fight. You guys can deal with him if you want, but I would leave him alone until he does something extreme."
"But he has done extreme things." Tooth pressed. "He's driven people mad and so many have died before we could even lift a finger. Do you not care?!"
"Like I said, I don't agree with what he's doing, not one bit. But, I'd rather not come across him." Jack explained, fingers tightening around his staff.
"You don't get a choice in that mater." Aster said smirked at the other. Jack's eyes narrowed in response to that and his hand tightened on his staff to the point his fingers were bone white.
"I may not have a choice in following you bastards places but you can't make me fight." He growled. "So maybe, you might want to rethink that before I freeze your ass into oblivion." He was now standing while glaring down at the other.
"No? But that collar," Jack growled deeper. "Was supposed to keep you in line. How do you even know you can attack me?" Aster was now standing up and glaring back at the shorted boy.
"You want to find out?" Jack asked as he pointed his staff at the other.
"Bring it Frostbite." Aster replied.
"Stop it!" Tooth shouted, getting in between the two. "I don't know why you decided it start fighting but I want you to stop now!"
"He started it!" Jack growled.
"You're the one that refuses to cooperate!"
"Shut up!" It was North this time that spoke. "Stand down Aster." He said glaring at the man. Aster grumbled but sat down finding he was being ganged up on. Jack huffed and turned away from them, leaving the dining area. He heard shouts calling after him, but he ignored them in favor of leaving the others, wanting to be a far as he could be from them.
However, he didn't get far before he felt a hand on his shoulder. With a scowl he turned, his blue eyes meeting with another shade.
"Jack, I apologize for Aster." North said with a frown on his face, eyes sincere.
Jack looked away. "It's fine, I didn't expect any different."
North frowned even deeper at the comment. They wanted the demon to trust them but with the way things were going, that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. However, before North could say anything, there was a loud shock from the outside. They all rushed to the front of the building and watched as dark colored demons attacked the barrier placed around the place. Jack's eyes widened as he recognized the lower levels. These were the types of demons that followed after Pitch. They soon began to overwhelm the power of the border and they could see cracks appearing.
"Get Jack out of here." North said, giving the pale demon to Tooth.
"What!?" Jack cried. "No! I can fight!"
"You said you did not want to." North responded as he got his swords ready. That made Jack freeze. True, he said he didn't want to get involved in this, but that didn't mean he wanted to back out of anything.
He shook his head. "I said I wasn't getting involved with Pitch, these are just a few low levels. I'm fighting." With that he ran up to the border, staff ready.
"Just use the collar!" Aster hissed.
North shook his head. "That isn't right to do. Besides, if he is willing to fight with us, let him fight!" He laughed as he charged into the battle.
Aster groaned but soon followed, and he was then followed by Tooth and Sandy. The border finally broke and the demons swarmed them.
However, as they all fought, no one noticed the golden eyed shadow sneaking into the building.
So that was that! Nice long chapter at somewhere in the 2000 words. I hope that makes up for the short chapter last time and the long wait. And look! We're getting further into the plot!
Feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.
Until next time! :D
