It was two weeks later that Jack woke up on the floor of Chase Young's dungeon. Stumbling to his feet, jack walked over to the stone door that held him in. With a slight touch, it slid open and Jack was free. Looking around nervously, Jack left his cell and headed for Chase's lair above. He exited the dungeon into Chase's throne room where, upon the throne, sat Chase.
"Care for a bowl?" he lifted some lao mang lon soup in Jack's direction.
Jack was hungry, but he really didn't want any of the evil soup. He shook his head gently and went further into the room.
"You slept for a very long time…"
"I'm so sore…"
"That's from lying on a rock floor for two weeks. Have some soup. It'll at least ease your muscles."
Jack reluctantly took the bowl from Chase.
"You need it to live, Jack. As long as you're evil, you must drink the soup or you will begin to fail."
Jack looked over the brim of the bowl at Chase.
"I don't want to be evil, though…"
Closing his eyes, he finished the bowl.
Chase closed his eyes in thought.
"It takes a certain kind of strength to reject evil."
"I guess," Jack sighed, "You gonna eat this?"
Jack held the dragon's tail up for Chase to examine.
"I've had better. You can eat it."
Jack grinned as he sucked it down. After a momentary sense of satisfaction, Jack sat down beside Chase's throne.
"Chase," he mumbled, "Not that it matters in this world, but… I'm sorry…"
Chase looked down at his smaller counterpart. For some reason, his voice was trapped in his throat. He wanted to say something, but he had no idea what to say. Should he be his usual callous self or accept the boy's offering? Instead, he chose silence. Better he give off no impression than the wrong one.
Jack felt the cold silence and simply looked down into his empty bowl.
"Chase," his voice cracked, "You know this stuff better than I do."
"And?"
"Is there anyway I can be… normal again?"
"You mean your ordinary, obnoxious, teenaged self?"
"yeah…" Jack choked, "I'm tired of the voices. I'm tired of never being alone. I'm tired of the shadows…"
"Unfortunately, you will always be the Dragon of Shadows. Perhaps when you make the final journey to normality, your mind will be allowed to rest."
"So," Jack's eyes widened, "There is a way?"
"A grueling one, but yes."
"Tell me Chase!" he jumped to his feet, "Tell me!" he grabbed Chase's collar and drew him in close.
"It is a path you must find on your own, Jack. I cannot tell you the way…"
Jack felt himself weaken. He let go of Chase and stepped back a bit.
"On… On my own?"
"No one can help you with this task. The right idea will come to you in time. I recommend that you meditate on this until it does."
"How will I know what the 'right idea' is?"
"You just will, trust me. If you cannot determine your fate, then neither can anyone else."
Jack looked down at his feet.
"Can I get a room?" he asked suddenly, "A real room? One that has a bed. I don't think sleeping on a rock floor is any good for my back."
Chase wanted to laugh, but instead he pinched the bridge of his nose to hide his smile.
"Fine, one of my cats will take you to a room."
A black leopard approached Jack and led him out of the throne room.
"Thanks," Chase heard the boy call back to him as he left the throne room.
"No," Chase mumbled, "Thank you."