Author: Sorry this has taken sooo long. Homecoming is tomorrow so I have a lot to do. Hope you enjoy…

Thanx to NewsieFreak172, Jockey, and Brownie…

Love Across Time

Chapter 33: The Master

… Tombs… It's then that all of the clues come together. It makes perfect sense. How could any one get this much power when they had once been poor… they would need a little help of course…

Tombs lead us through the halls down to a heavy set of double doors. Carvings ran along the frame… spells to keep unwanted visitors out. The Newsies were very confused about what was happening. But Mush, Blink, Racetrack, Spot, and I knew that once we went in those doors it was likely we wouldn't come back out.

The doors opened ominously. Tombs stood to the side to make sure that we all got in. Our eyes met. He grinned with dark happiness. "I see she left you. That's just like her…"

I thought I heard a soft growling in response a little ways way. But it could have just been me…

The room was basically a dungeon. The walls were made of large gray stone bricks. The floor was also made of stone. Stained on the floor was a pentagram. If the boys had known which way was north they would have seen that the pentagram was pointing south. Their were torches in brackets on the walls. And what looked very much like a human sacrifice was chained to the wall.

There was a throne on a large dais which we slowly approached and sitting on the throne… was the Master…

۞

Tombs pushed me hard and I fell to my knees in front of the dais. "Jack Kelly… I've been wanting to talk to you."

I looked up at him. Joseph Pulitzer, founder and owner of The World, most powerful man in New York City, and Demon. He was no longer in the suit he usually wore. He now wore a long black cloak with red embroidery. He smiled as he looked down at me, an evil glint in his eye.

Then there was a knock at the door. The door opened revealing Denton being lead into the room by an officer. "Mr. Pulitzer, he said he was a close friend to these boys and has orders to get this story for The Sun."

Pulitzer thought for a second then nodded. Tombs looked startled. "But sir…"

Pulitzer raised a hand. "I think it's time for the city to know the truth."

The officer left. Pulitzer snapped his fingers and the Newsies were thrown against the wall and were chained and gagged by magic. But I was still kneeling in front of the dais. Denton stood stock still near the door shock in his eyes.

He stood up from his throne and started to laugh. "If Tombs is correct then you know what is going on Mr. Kelly. He told me that none other than Jessie The Beastmaster had taken you under her wing. You can imagine how surprised I was when my men told me she had left the city… Seeing how she was your lover."

The room was silent. I could almost hear the Newsies surprise at this. The ones who knew who Jessie was were surprised to learn how close we were and the ones who didn't were astounded that I had been with a magical being.

Pulitzer was standing in front of me at this time. "… Oh don't feel abandoned Mr. Kelly while she was in my city I made sure to hide myself carefully…" But she still should have known who you were I thought. "… I kept low and ordered my servants to use as little magic as possible. But when she left… well you guess what went on…"

"When I learned what you meant to her I knew I would have the advantage over her. After all she, how should I say it, has a thing for poor boys." He leered at me. He reached and grabbed me by the collar. I fought. He hit me. Next thing I knew I was spitting blood out of my mouth from where I lay on the floor. He lifted me from the floor again. This time I didn't fight.

He snapped his fingers again and a dagger appeared in his hand. He raised it above his head. "Never judge a book by its cover!"

"AHAHAHAHHH!" yelled Pulitzer as his and was severed by a flying dagger. When I looked at the dagger I recognized it. It was the dagger that almost killed Mush… But Jessie has that dagger…

I looked around in time to see Tombs charge at someone then go up in flames as a sword cut him in half. When the flames cleared I saw… Dutchy.

"YOU LITTLE BITCH!" yelled Pulitzer as he cradled his stump of an arm. I was very confused.

"Dutchy, What the hell!" I yelled at him.

"Here" He tossed me a machete. "Cut the other Newsies down and go stand by Denton."

Dutchy turned around and started to battle with Pulitzer. I picked up the knife and set to work freeing the Newsies. I was having trouble freeing Race when Denton appeared beside me. He helped me free them.

Once we were all free we hurried toward the door. We tried to open it but it wouldn't budge. I turned back to look for Dutchy.

Pulitzer and Dutchy were in a dead stalemate. Or that's what it looked like at first glance. When I looked harder I saw that Pulitzer as struggling but Dutchy looked almost bored. The Denton let out a yell… "Common Jessie!"

… And with that Dutchy swung the sword and cut off the head of the Master. A great cry filled the room. Then the great doors swung open.

Race gave a sigh of relief. "Looks like were done here."

Dutchy came forward. "No Race, we're far from done."