Notes:  You see, I am keeping my promise.  Now let's forgive and forget, shall we?


Thank you for the reviews!  I wasn't expecting so many, considering my, er, history.  Reviews are always appreciated—comments, CC, praise, questions, whatever.  Wow, VampireNaomi, you say I'm a legend?  Cool! ^^

I also want to give a big shout-out to Avery for sitting through that AIM chat and always encouraging me.  You rule! :)

Just to let ya'll know, I have edited chapter 15 just a teeny bit – now there is an epigraph and a lot less spelling mistakes!

"Master of Puppets"

Master of puppets - I'm pulling your strings,
Twisting your mind, smashing your dreams.
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing.
Just call my name and I'll hear you scream:
Master!
Master!
Just call my name, I'll hear you scream:
Master!
Master!
--Metallica

THE DEMON WITHIN

Chapter Sixteen:  Stolen Lives

A deep rumbling sound shook the earth.

What was it?  An earthquake?  Finn couldn't tell.  The pain was too much.  It was indescribable - burning like cold fire, it seemed to encompass his whole entire body.  It came to a point where he just wanted to die - get it over with, end the pain.  He vaguely wondered if there was a Hell.  If so, then that was definitely where he was headed.

Despite this obvious setback, he still didn't forget Valmont.  Why the hell did he care so much?  Really, Valmont wouldn't give a damn if Finn died.  Yet he could remember Valmont so clearly: his deceptively calm nature, his foolishly false control over everything that crossed his path. 

Perhaps it was this and something more true from within him that drove Finn to crawl along the pebbled ground, searching for anything - for Valmont, truth, a lost cause - something.  Then again, perhaps it was only desperation.  The pain shot everywhere, but hell, if he was going to go, he might as well try to do something useful before it happened.

************

Darkness - suffocating, stunning darkness - beat against everyone's heart as they stood there, watching the demonic figure casually slip out of bed.  When he stepped into the light, the same thought circled in everyone's head: this was still Jackie.  No major difference had visually occurred.  His skin, while it didn't have the same warm glow, was nonetheless his own.  Even though his hair was flatter and neater - it looked smooth, like falling sand - it was still just as thick and black as ever.  He was transformed, but his general nature was still there, somewhere, drowning in that deep black ocean of hatred.

Yet when he turned to face them - quickly, gracefully, head tilted downward - a malevolent fire burned in his eyes, and it gave him a hard appearance as of cold steel.  His desire to destroy was evident.  Hands in pockets, eyeing them one by one with a calculating greed, he walked a few steps, his shoes making a dull thud with each step, the floor creaking beneath them like bones being crushed.  He stopped abruptly so half his face was covered in darkness.  At his feet lay Thorne's men; they had apparently fallen unconscious after casting the spell.

Resoluteness suddenly shadowed his face, and he opened his mouth part-way as though to say something, but no sound emitted from it.  Then, just as suddenly, his eyes moved to something in front of him, something which was inscrutable to the other eyes.

But the worst part came when he spoke: it was still Jackie - soft, but strong, just like Jackie himself - but there was another element to it as well.  In the background, it seemed, rang the rough, snake-like transcendence of the demon Shendu:  "Bring it here."

Apparently, he had said this to a Shadowkha, who dutifully presented the mysterious object - Jade could only see that it was small and shiny.  Jackie used both hands to accept the offering.  Tightening his fingers around it, his mouth twitched as though he were more annoyed than in pain.  He shut his eyes.  The mysterious object glowed a deep blue for a moment.  Then, opening his eyes, he held the object in the light.

The sword gleamed in the moonlight with an almost piercing whiteness.  One hand wrapped firmly around the newly carved ebony hilt, Jackie observed this gift with a cold satisfaction, and a very small smile formed on his lips.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"  he commented in that eerie voice.

No one really knew what to say - was Jackie even addressing them?  He had apparently turned his attention back to the sword; he stroked the blade and tapped on the tip.  It made them nervous, and they all shared the same thought - what exactly did he plan on doing with that?

At length, Uncle revealed himself to be a brave soul when he took a precarious step forward.  "Jackie,"  he said gently but firmly,  "give me the sword."

Jackie hadn't looked up from his weapon; even now he continued to observe it.  "Okay,"  he said airily.

Uncle had obviously not expected this response.  "What?"

"I said okay.  You can have it."  Now Jackie met his eyes.  Quite suddenly, a wicked grin shot across his face, and a manic glint fueled his eyes.  "Catch it if you can,"  he said, thrusting it in Uncle's direction!

"Uncle!  Watch out!"  Jade cried.

"Sensei!"  Tohru cried as well, frozen with fear.

Uncle was glued to the spot, but Captain Black, being a trained agent, launched at Uncle, just narrowly missing the flying sword himself.  They landed on the floor with a grunt, Black doing his best to take Uncle's fall.

Unexpectedly, the sword zipped across the room and retreated to Jackie's outstretched hand.  From the look on Jackie's face, it was obvious that he was displeased.

During this spectacle, no one noticed as Finn crawled halfway through the giant whole in the wall, trembling with the effort; he lay there and watched with the last of his energy.

As Uncle pulled himself into a sitting position, rubbing his head, Captain Black kneeled on the floor, glaring at Jackie.  "Jackie!"  he snapped, his temper getting the better of him.  "Look at what you almost did!"  He was about to say more when he was cut off.

"Okay,"  Jackie said, peering at Uncle, who still looked slightly disoriented,  "I'll humor you and look."

Captain Black mentally revised what he was about to say, deciding that it should suit Jackie's sarcastic remark.  "Look with your old eyes,"  he said a little more gently.  "The Jackie I know wouldn't think that this was funny.  The Jackie I know would be horrified."  He paused, as though waiting for Jackie to react somehow, but he didn't.  "Wake up.  This isn't you!"

Anger flashed across Jackie's face.  "Well then you obviously don't know me,"  he said.  He suddenly broke into a small, humorless chuckle, and Captain Black mentally braced himself.  "You fool.  Don't you see?  This is me - unrestrained, unlimited, completely free.  Free!"

"Free to kill your loved ones?"  Captain Black shot back.

"Free to do as I please,"  Jackie corrected him, grinning manically.  "And I don't have any loved ones."

"We're your loved ones!"

Jackie and Captain Black both to turned to look at Jade, who was still hanging upside by the ankle that a Shadowkha gripped.  A mixture of pain and anger was written across her face; in fact, she looked like she was about to cry.  His own anger resurged, Black glanced at Jackie, and he was surprised to see a hint of confusion in his otherwise stoic manner.

"I don't have any loved ones,"  Jackie repeated weakly.  Something had occurred to him, because he continued more confidently,  "I thought I did, but you all betrayed me.  All of you.  So now I--"

A sound of ecstatic delight howled from the back of the room, and everyone, including Jackie, watched as a disheveled Valmont jumped to his feet.

Meanwhile, Uncle was still sitting on the floor when he noticed something lying on the trunk, which stood before the foot of the bed.  It was a book, and it was open to some place close to the middle.

"Oh god!  Yes!"  Valmont exclaimed.  "He's gone!  He's really gone!  I'm free – he's your problem now, Chan--"  Valmont suddenly fell silent when he suddenly noticed Jackie, who was glaring daggers at him.

Yet Jackie's tone suggested amusement.  "Problem, you say?"  He was delighted to see Valmont knit his eyebrows in confusion.  "This is how much of a problem he is for me…"

Everyone watched Jackie expectantly—Captain Black was on one knee, ready to launch at Jackie if he tried anything—but he was as still as a statue.  A moment later, something else caught their attention.  With a wooshing sound, they all watched in horror as red flames leaped up at Valmont from out of nowhere, enveloping him, forming him into a human torch.  Aghast, they stared as the flames flickered wildly in a sickening spectacle of red, orange and black.  The acrid stench of a burning body stabbed at their nostrils, and the red illuminated the entire room, giving it a hellish appearance.  Several screams rang out from Olivia, and Jade was crying hysterically. 

It was also the last thing that Finn saw before he lost consciousness.

Captain Black stared at the scene open-mouthed.  However, when he turned to look at Jackie, he was half surprised and half relieved to see his reaction.  Jackie's distant confidence seemed to crumble as his shoulders sagged, and a sentiment of horrification flashed in his eyes – for a second, at least.  Then, all of a sudden, he seemed to recover: he stood up straighter and observed the scene quietly.  From this quietness erupted pure hatred and a delicious malice.

"Don't interrupt me,"  he murmured.

"Jackie,"  Captain Black started desperately.

But Jackie only continued, as though he didn't hear Black, though he did turn to face them.  "I call it art."  He sounded terribly satisfied.

Captain Black hesitated, perhaps in remorse, before he grounded, "I call it sick."

"Yes.  You would."  He turned back to look at the human torch.  With only his menacing stare upon it, a great gust of wind erupted from before him and crashed against the fire.  In an eerie, speedy fashion, the fire was blown into oblivion, and darkness reigned once more.  All that remained was the ominous black soot marking the walls, and the somber grey ashes that were scattered along the floor.

************

"Think it's safe?"

Ratso asked this question in a trembling voice.  Not long ago, the gunshots had abated considerably until they'd finally died altogether.  Meanwhile, Ratso and Chow had discussed their plan to, once they'd deemed the outside vicinity to be safe, find Finn in case anything had happened to him.  If he was alive—and they hoped with all their might that he was—they decided to perhaps act as though nothing had happened at all.  Finn was a very fickle person; he may forget about their little row within the next few days or so.  Maybe things could go back to the way they used to be.

Of course, this was wishful thinking.  Deep down, they both knew it, but people think and act oddly in times of distress.  They did not even consider what they would do if they discovered him dead.  They could not bear to think that far ahead.

The two of them had had a brief argument over who would check the dead bodies for Finn and who would look for him in Thorne's place, assuming he had been successful in his desperate attempt to save Valmont.  Chow infinitely preferred the former; he was used to seeing dead bodies in his line of work, but he definitely did not want to face Thorne's men or, more importantly, the wrath of Shendu.  Ratso seemed to feel the same way, but since he had been rock and Chow had been paper, he had no choice but to accept the duty of searching Thorne's hideout.  The outcome of the Rock-Paper-Scissors game commanded this.

Unfortunately, their plan did not work out exactly as they'd planned.  When they tentatively unlocked the door and stepped out of the van, they were allowed one glimpse of the dozens and dozens of the shadowed bodies, outlined by the streetlights, lying in shining black blood when three or four Shadowkha leapt out at them.

************

For a few moments, Thorne's room was cloaked in a stunned silence.  Jackie seemed to be staring into space, eyes fixed on the area where Valmont had once stood.  The only sound made was Jade's hiccupped tears.

Gaze focused on a nearby wooden floorboard, his body trembling, Captain Black silently fumed.  The only thought running through his head was, "How could this have happened?"  The others were probably wondering the same thing, he decided.  A week ago, everything had been just fine.  Now, everything was the inverse of what it should be.  Valmont was dead.  It felt odd, and not entirely relieving to know that his most hated enemy was dead.  The images flashed in his mind like a video being fast forwarded.  Yet the killer's identity was what really pained Black.  Shendu certainly seemed to have complete control over Jackie.  His best friend…  Everything seemed rather hopeless.  Black was afraid to incite Jackie, for fear of another attack against someone else—someone more meaningful to Jackie than Valmont was.  This feeling of helplessness irritated Black to no end.

Jade's unrelenting sobs continued.  That poor kid, to not only see her uncle in this state, but to witness a murder…and a horrible murder at that!  Black wanted more than anything to march up to the Shadowkha restraining Jade and beat it into the ground until it reached China.  Even saying something comforting to Jade would be better than simply kneeling on the floor.  His legs felt numb as he sat there, and his blood ran cold.  Weak sobs ringing in his ears, Captain Black vowed to himself that he would rectify this mess.  He would save Jackie from that psychotic demon.  Everything would go back to the way they used to be—or close enough.  But right now, it was important to stop Jackie before he made any other drastic moves.

After a bit of quick thinking, Captain Black decided to go along with Jackie in his delusional state.  If he could understand Jackie's rather twisted logic, maybe he could bring him back to his senses.

"So,"  he began cautiously,  "why aren't we your loved ones?"

Jackie did not appear to rouse from his trance-like gaze, and Captain Black wondered if he heard him.  What was happening?  Was Shendu…telling him something?  Was he contemplating his next move?  He certainly didn't appear pensive.  Or did he perhaps feel guilty?  Captain Black didn't eliminate any of these possibilities, even when Jackie, still staring, spoke:  "You betrayed me.  All of you."

Black noted that his voice was quiet, mechanic, and almost weary.  His comment, however, took Black by surprise.  "How?"  he gasped.

Whatever had happened to Jackie ended when he spun around to face Black, the hate in his eyes stinging Black's heart.  "How?"  he enunciated, stepping closer; Black readied himself.  "How?  Isn't it obvious?  You were my closest friend, Augustus."  He stopped right in front of him.  "My closest friend deserts me without even so much as a goodbye; then, he shows up out of nowhere and expects me to sign up for a job in which I can work all day and come home sore and bruised.  Not only that, but you want me to stay on board."

"Jackie—"  Captain Black started to defend himself, but Jackie shook his head.

"Don't,"  he said, his voice shaking.  "Don't speak.  Just listen to me for once.  I never wanted to be…to be…a secret agent."  Jackie's whole body trembled—with rage or grief?  "I agreed to the position thinking that it was only temporary, that it would be a great opportunity to get reacquainted with you, that it was relatively risk free.  But most importantly, I did it for you.  I did it because you were my friend.  I trusted you.  But that wasn't enough, was it?"

Captain Black stared at him as he suddenly seemed to calm.  He had not realized that he'd actually hurt Jackie… He wondered if he saw tears longing to be released—tears, mixed with that red and brown?  Beyond that horrible demonic voice, Black detected pain—innocent pain—that could only belong to a living, breathing human being.  Somewhere, beneath those fiery eyes, there was at least a remnant of Jackie's humanity.

"You stole my life away,"  Jackie finished.  Something flashed in his eyes—Black felt a wave of fear as he recognized it to be a sly cunning.  "You know, the ancient Egyptian law was 'An eye for an eye.'  A life for a life…"

Abruptly, Jackie stopped.  For a moment, he blinked straight ahead of him, then spun around just as the door swung open.  Two Shadowkha stepped forth, each forcing a whimpering captive forward.  Everyone was surprised to see Chow and Ratso.

Olivia was delighted to see that they appeared relatively unharmed, but equally dismayed to know that they were recaptured.  Then something occurred to her, and before anyone could speak, she suddenly cried,  "Where's Finn?!"

Smiling, Jackie turned to her and, with a nod, indicated behind her.  "Over there."

When she turned, she broke into a scream that quickly became a choked sob.  There was Finn, white as a ghost, lying unconscious, blood staining the back of his leg.

"You knew he was there?  This whole time?"  Captain Black choked out, and Jackie nodded.

"Oh god,"  Chow murmured as he and Ratso stared wide-eyed.

A chill ran down everyone's back; their blood ran cold as the arctic.  An icy laughter filled the room, painted with disdain and sadism.  As it died down, they all turned to see Jackie leaning against the wall with his head thrown back, hands in pockets, eyes shut, smiling just enough to form a thin line of his white teeth, glistening in the dark.

Jackie opened his eyes and lowered his head almost coyly.  He said,  "Too bad.  He could have been useful.  I do require assistance…I guess now my trust lies within you two."  Through half-opened cunning eyes, a sly smile drawn on his face, he turned his gaze to Chow and Ratso, who were staring at him fearfully.

Ratso began to back away, but the Shadowkha restrained him.  "Uh.  Heh.  Er, I kinda, er, I mean—"

"We're not really decent, er, henchmen--"  Chow began.

"Shut up,"  Jackie commanded evenly.  They obeyed.  He held up his sword menacingly.  "This sword is so shiny that it's almost white,"  he said, admiring it for a moment before glaring at them, "but it won't be for long, should you choose to disobey me."

Nervously, Ratso and Chow glanced at each other, then nodded frantically.

"Good."  Jackie smiled.  He turned his attention once again to Captain Black, who felt his muscles tighten.  He opened his mouth to say more, but red lights suddenly flashed, and the wailing of sirens blasted through the walls.  "What is that?"  Jackie demanded, even though he knew perfectly well what it was.

"That,"  Olivia said, holding up her cell phone and glaring at Jackie rather defiantly,  "would be an ambulance, as well as the police."

Yet this statement did not have the desired effect on Jackie.  He smiled and massaged his chin.  "Yes…the police…wonderful for target practice…" 

Everyone had just been seized by the iron fist of fear when Jackie suddenly stopped smiling and stared ahead of him.  Blinking, he then quickly turned to Chow and Ratso.

"We go."

"Go?"  Ratso repeated dumbly.  "Go where?"

"You'll see,"  is all that Jackie said.  He glanced at the trunk by the bed, and was startled not to see what he expected.  He immediately began to yell at Captain Black, Jade, Tohru and Uncle:  "Who took my Archive?  Hmm?  Speak!"

Clearly, Jackie did not expect Uncle to leap up from behind the massive Tohru, book under his arm.  But Jackie recover in time to pass an angry glare as Uncle made yet one more unexpected move: he threw the huge book at Jackie and said,  "It's yours!"

The book stopped in midair and floated to where Jackie stood.  Still levitating, it opened to the middle of the book.  Jackie was surprised to see the page still intact.  He returned his glare to where Uncle stood; around him, people starting rising.  "What tricks are you playing, Chi wizard?"

Readjusting his spectacles, Uncle said calmly,  "I do not think that is your biggest problem now."

And indeed, the door slammed open, the windows were broken, and suddenly Jackie was surrounded by policemen, guns aimed.

With a wave of the Shadowkhan's hands, Chow and Ratso suddenly disappeared, screaming.  Several Shadowkhan surrounded Jackie as well, and in a moment, he had melted into the darkness.