I know its been a while folks, the last few months have pretty much thrown my life in the wash on spin cycle, but im back now and hopefully ill be releasing an update at least once a week! Cheers
The two leather clad assassins half carried half dragged Jacobs body through a door outlined in wrought iron before lifting him up and laying him on a stone slab. An ancient looking woman wearing swishing silk vestments shuffled over and began inspecting his wounds.
"Another wayward soul?" she asked in a raspy voice, lightly reaching out and touching Jacobs skin. His eyes fluttered opened and he groaned, trying to sit up.
"Hold him down," she urged, waving a gnarled hand at the pair in front of her.
The two silently obeyed, securing both his hands and feet to the table. The old woman shuffled around picking herbs and bits of dried plants from an wooden table in the corner. She tossed a handful from several piles into a marble mortar and pestle, grinding away as she shuffled back over to Jacobs side. With a few quick snippets to the pair, the female gently lifted up Jacobs head as the male emptied the contents of the mortar into a small wooden cup. A splash of a red colored liquid later and the older women forced the mixture down Jacobs throat. He coughed and sputtered, splashing it all about before groaning and attempting to thrash about. After a few minutes the groaning turned to animalistic grunts, continuing even harder to break free from their restraining grip.
"A lot of fight in this one," the old woman mused, a sly grin streaking across her face.
"He took down three of our own…." The man hissed, his voice almost carrying a venomous tone.
"Ta-er Al-sahfer brought him," his female companion added, her light airy voice almost a squeak.
"Hmmm," the woman mussed, fingers spreading more herbs across the open wounds.
She picked up another bowl, dipping her fingers in a mushy concoction before smearing it inside the worst ones. Jacobs body gave one last shake before settling down and relaxing. The old woman wiped her fingers clean on a red piece of cloth. Placing one hand on each side of his face, she gently forced his eyes open. She muttered something to herself before letting them slide shut, fingers trailing down his face to his chest where she prodded seemingly random spots.
"You can release him," she said, not looking up from her work. "The herbs have begun to take effect."
"Are you sure?" the man asked, hands hesitating where he still held onto Jacob.
"Yes, yes," she grumbled, waving him away. "I sense greatness in this one…"
The door quietly swung open, leaving a soft shudder in the air. The two standing nearby turned, and upon seeing Nyssa walk in, immediately took a step back and bowed their heads in respect.
"How is he?" she asked, walking up and lightly touching his chest, feeling his breath slowly filling his lungs.
"The boy is strong," the old woman mused, shuffling around and mixing more herbs in her stone bowl. "Remarkably so…"
"Good," Nyssa replied, grinning and gently brushing his hair out of his face. "How long will he need before we commence with the second trial?"
The older woman gnashed her remaining teeth together before clicking them together and grinding a stone pestle into the bowl.
"Twelve hours, at least." She grumbled, picking up another bowl and filling it with various herbs and powders.
"Al'Thaeban, Al'Faar, you will watch over him," Nyssa commanded, turning away from Jacob and the older woman.
"Yes, Mother," They replied in unison.
Nyssa nodded, sparing a smile in Jacobs direction before taking her leave.
"Will he live?" the female, Al'Faar asked in a soft quiet tone and taking a step towards Jacob.
"Let me work, child." The older woman shot, giving her a shove before smearing another mixture across Jacobs wounds. "You were told to watch."
The younger woman remained silent, taking a quick step backwards.
Twelve hours exactly passed as Nyssa silently opened the door to the stone chamber. The heavy aroma of burning herbs and tangy taste of alcohol lingered in the air. The male of the pair, Al'Thaeban, sat in a wooden chair in the corner. His eyes were completely closed and his chest quietly rose and fell, sleep had completely overtaken him. Al'Faar, the young woman stood fully awake close to the stone slab, giving Nyssa a nod and a soft smile as she entered. She approached the stone table herself, finding Jacobs chest rising and falling in the same manor. All but a few patches of his skin on his chest were smeared with the concoctions, leaving a multicolored mess.
"Where is Al'Maealij?" Nyssa asked softly, not wanting to wake either man.
The young woman pointed silently to a small wooden bed pressed close to the stone wall where the ancient woman slept soundlessly.
"She already prepared the mixture," she whispered quietly, nodding to a bowl filled with a milky blue liquid that seemed to move all on its own.
"It is time then," Nyssa whispered, slightly shaking Jacobs shoulder.
His eyelids fluttered for a second, before a groan passed his lips and he slowly woke up. Without giving him any warning, she parted his lips with the edge of the bowl. As quickly as she could, she dumped the mixture down his throat.
"Do not speak, just drink," she urged as he tried to turn his head away. His eyes squinted in confusion before he ultimately began to swallow the liquid. Once the contents were consumed, she removed the bowl and helped him sit up.
"What was that?" he groaned, face showing his disgust. "Tasted awful."
"Nymphaea caerulea," the woman to his right answered, taking the bowl from Nyssa and laying it on the stone beside him.
"Al'Thaeban, Al'Faar, bring him," Nyssa cut in before he could speak again.
They nodded simultaneously and began to lift Jacob from where he lay and brought him to his feet. With a groan of protest, he stood, feet shuffling as he was carried forward. Nyssa opened the door and led the group from the room.
In the corridor the group was approached by a hooded figure, clad in the same uniform leather as Jacobs two companions. He or she, he couldn't tell, approached Nyssa and gave a small bow of its head.
"Go to Taer Al'Safirs chambers and inform her, the second trial is about to commence," She urged, addressing the nameless soldier. With a nod of its head, it silently disappeared down a corridor before Nyssa began leading the small group in the opposite direction.
"What do you mean, second trial?" Jacob asked, frowning at both the assassins at his side. Neither one spoke. "Nyssa?"
"Soon all will be revealed," she stated flatly, continuing down the corridor.
They passed several adjoining corridors, flames flickering behind them as they passed and leaving shadows dance across the walls. As they passed, a shadow out of the corner of Jacobs eye caught his attention. He turned his head, swearing he saw a face. With a squint of his eyes, he looked harder down the corridor. Thea? He thought to himself before blinking and shaking his head, trying to focus. All he saw was an empty corridor. Passing by a few more and coming to a very sturdy looking wooden door, they stopped. Nyssa pulled on an iron ring attached to it.
The door creaked open loudly, revealing a stone room lit by a set of torches hanging high on the wall. A very pungent smell creeped out, burning Jacobs nose and causing his eyes to water. Chains littered the floor and walls, clanking slightly as his companions stepped over them. As carefully as they could, they sat him down in the center, quickly hooking up the shortest chains to his ankles. The male companion quickly exited the room once his side was secured, leaving his female partner behind.
"Ynju," she whispered quietly as she snapped the last chain into place.
"What?" he asked, wearily looking up and trying to focus his eyes on her. Either she didn't hear him, or chose to ignore him because she stood up and exited the room without a moment's hesitation.
Nyssa turned and nodded silently to the pair outside the chamber. In reply, they shoved the door closed, leaving a thud to echo around the room. Nyssa turned back to face Jacob, standing with her back to the door and hands clasped behind her back.
"I am going to ask you questions," she started, her voice vibrating off of the stone walls in a peculiar manor. "You will answer."
"Do i have a choice?" He replied grimly, shaking the chains attached to his legs.
A smirk crept to her lips as she shook her head, sending her dark hair swaying around her face.
"What is your name?" She asked, staring at him intently.
"You know the answer to that," he sighed, shaking his head and blinking slowly. Both his voice and hers started to waver about in the air in a psychedelic manor.
"Answer the question." She replied flatly. "What is your name?"
"Jacob Lance," he answered, lifting his eyes up to look at her. A shadow began to move from behind where she stood as his answer echoed around the room.
"And who are you?" She asked simply, her voice seeming to repeat the question over and over around him.
"I am the son of Laurel Lance and Oliver Queen." he answered, eyes trying to follow the shadow as it drifted farther away from her body.
"Laurel Lance….Oliver Queen…." the words rebounded off the walls and crashed around him causing him to flinch slightly.
"I asked who you are, not your lineage." Nyssa voice broke into the cascade of sound.
"I am Jacob Lance," he repeated, eyes starting to swim in his sockets, sweat beginning to bead up on his face.
"Jacob Lance…..Jacob….Lance….Jacob….."
His head began to throb, the words feeling like the clap of thunder around him. The shadow crept farther away from Nyssa and closer to where he knelt.
"Who are you?" Came the question, Nyssas once calm voice sounding like a crescendo.
"I don't know….." He muttered, trying to cover his ears. "I dont understand...dont…."
"Has it started?" Sara asked, walking up behind the two members outside the door.
"It has," they both said in unison.
Sara watched from outside the door, her vision partly obscured from the small viewport cut into the door.
"What is she doing to him?" She asked to the two guards beside her. "Whats going on?"
"You must watch, and wait." The female of the two answered, nodding her head and continuing to stare ahead.
"Jacob…" echoed his answer around him, slowly beginning to soften and moving closer. "Jacob…."
He tried to lift his head to look at the source of the voice but his head suddenly felt weighted down.
"Jacob," Came the voice again, this time accompanied by a warm touch under his chin, pulling his gazes upwards.
He peered into the shadow directly in front of him, vision slowly starting to clear after blinking several times.
"Jacob…." The voice called, this time becoming more clear and recognizable.
He shut his eyes tightly for a few seconds before finally opening them and staring at a face he knew instantly.
"Thea?" He asked, his own voice coming out strained and full of emotion.
"It's me," She replied, smiling happily and all but melting his heart.
Words suddenly became stuck in his throat, finding himself completely unable to reply.
"Why are you here Jacob?" She asked, hand caressing his cheek.
"You know why im here," he sighed, nuzzling her warm skin. "For you, for Laurel, for Ollie."
"You can't keep using that excuse," she sighed, slowly taking her hand away from his cheek. "She wouldn't want you to do this, Ollie wouldn't want you to do this to yourself."
"I have to…" he started,opening his eyes and glaring at her.
"No you dont!" she urged, cutting him off. "This isn't for me, this isn't for any of us. It's for you! You could go home, back to Star City! Be with me, well her , but me! You could have a quiet life!"
"You don't understand….you're not her…." He grumbled, shaking his head.
"Laurel would be disappointed! Oliver would be ashamed of you!" She screeched, her face beginning to take on a demonic appearance.
"Shut up...shut up...shut up…" he muttered, squeezing his eyes tightly shut.
"You failed!" Thea screamed, her face and voice contorting horrifically.
"I haven't…."
"Jacob Lance!" Came a new voice, deeper and slightly modulate voice. "You have failed this city!"
Jacobs head was forced up by the bite of a metal arrow tip, his eyes snapping open to look at where the voice originated. The Green Arrow stood in front of him, bow drawn back and preparing to lose a shaft into Jacobs throat.
"I haven't…..." Jacob started, eyes meeting the pitch black gaze from behind the domino mask.
"Quiet!" The Green Arrow snapped, the arrows tip digging into Jacobs skin and causing blood to slowly well up.
"What the hell is happening?!" Sara burst out, inching forward towards the glass. "He's bleeding!"
"It is a hallucination," the male of her two compatriots addressed flatly.
"What his mind produces, his body makes a reality," The female put in, gently pulling Sara backwards by the shoulder.
"And if his mind thinks he's dying?" Sara asked again, spinning around and swatting the female's hand away. "What then?"
"Then he will die." The male shrugged, as the female nodded sadly.
"What happened to you bro?," Came the voice again, this time changing to the freckled face of Wally west. "You're killing people now?"
"I didnt…" Jacob started to reply, words sticking in his throat. "It's not like i…"
"Liked it?" Wally finished, shaking his head. "But you did man, you even asked that wack job for your own turn at it for what they did to Sara…."
"They would have killed her!" he protested.
"So instead you killed them?" Wally asked, disgust spreading across his face. "Is that what's become of my brother?"
Jacob sat silent, his face and body wracked with guilt.
"I guess so," He sighed, running a pale white hand through his unruly red locks. "In truth that's what you were, a killer. You're the reason we're dead after all."
"That was Prometheus…." Jacob shot back, trying to stand up.
"Who was there looking for YOU!" The redhead growled, raising a finger and stabbing it at Jacob. "If it hadn't been for you, our whole family would still be alive!"
"Im sorry," Jacob whispered, eyes dropping shut in shame.
"I should have never taken you in…" The voice came again, changing tone and shape to match that of Laurel Lance. "The system should have handled you, maybe carted you off to some orphanage across the country."
"Laurel….mom…." Jacob pleaded, shaking his head. "Not you…."
"You cost me my husband….my sister...my entire life!" She accused, face contorting in fury. "You cost me everything!"
With a shrill screech, she let loose a sonic blast and knocked Jacob down to the stone floor. A second blast hit him full in the chest, washing over him and rippling through his body. The pain lasted for what felt like hours before the mind shattering sound wave relented. Jacob groaned in pain before sitting up and wiping the dripping blood from his nose. A modulated laughter began to grow louder and louder in the air, reverberating and echoing through his head. His eyes snapped open and lifted, meeting the mottled mask in front of him.
"You son of a bitch!" He growled, launching himself forward only to be stopped by the chains around his legs.
"Yes, me!" Prometheus gloated raising his arms wide. "I made you a promise, boy. You will never be rid of me!"
"I should have…." Jacob started, thrashing against the pull of them chains.
"What? Killed me" Prometheus finished, letting forth another burst of modulated laughter. "You can't kill me, you never could…"
With the creak of leather rubbing, Prometheus lifted his hand and pulled his mask from his head.
"Because I'm you," he continued, the voice changing from its modulated menace to Jacobs very own.
Deafening silence filled the room as Jacob stared in horror at the mirror image of his own face.
"What the hell?" Jacob finally asked, his voice a hoarse whisper. "How?"
"It's simple really," Prometheus replied, smirking and kneeling down mere feet away from Jacob. "I'm every dark desire, every thought you've had that's been less than decent, all the parts of you that you try to keep locked away. Your mind is twisted to the point where you couldn't cope, so you put a mask on it to cover it up."
Jacob closed his eyes and with a shake of his head, tried to clear the image from his sight.
"Such a silly thing," Prometheus went on, leather groaning as his arm held up the mask to his own face and peering into the eye holes. "It's just a pile of rags and a bit of leather, yet its tormented you for so long?"
Jacob opened his eyes, groaning audibly when he saw the man before him still there. He gave another yank on his chains, trying his hardest to free himself.
"I mean look at it," He went on, ignoring Jacobs desperate struggle and turning the mask towards him. "It's really rather pathetic."
"Get that thing out of my face," Jacob growled, hands curling into fists and face contorting in anger.
"Or what?" The tormentor laughed shaking the mask. "What could you possibly do right now?"
"I will find a way to end you," Jacob spat, lunging forwards only for Prometheus to lazily jump backwards out of reach.
"Why wait?" Prometheus asked, grinning evilly. "Let's settle this now, you and me."
"Unshackle me," Jacob growled, standing up.
"From what?" He asked, donning his mask and tossing his sword to Jacobs feet. The clatter of steel on stone rang throughout the room, echoing back to the center again.
Jacob shook his foot, expecting the chain to rattle in response, only to find the shackle suddenly vanished. He stood there for a few seconds, bewildered. The confusion only lasted for a few seconds before he snatched up the fallen sword and rushed at Prometheus. Modulated laughter filled the room once more. Jacob slashed wildly at the man, nay the monster, blade cutting through the air again and again. Each slash was avoided as Prometheus lazily ducked, turned and twisted out of the way. After the blade flashed by his face, he rushed forwards, slamming a gloved fist into Jacobs chest and knocking the man backwards. The digitized laughter rang out louder as Jacob doubled over and gasped for air.
"Give it up boy," Prometheus taunted, arms crossing over his chest. "You will never beat me."
Jacob lifted his head, breath barely filling his lungs and grinned. He shoved off the ground with every ounce of strength he could muster, rushing at the man. The laughter began again, Prometheus standing ready. Jacob slashed across the mans chest, randomly at first. Each slash again was deflected before one finally landed, ripping the leather. Prometheus lifted a gloved hand and touched the cut, crimson liquid wetting the dark leather as he moved it away. Jacob grinned evilly, kicking forwards with his right leg and slamming the man into the stone wall behind him. Again Jacob slashed with the sword, blade cutting through leather and starting to sing. In a matter of moments, Prometheus was reduced to a bleeding mess, sliding down the wall with a groan. Blood began to pool around the man, staining the stones red.
Jacob closed his eyes, expecting and hoping that the vision would end. Clapping began to ring out, breaking his from his hopes and snapping his eyes open.
"Well done," Prometheus modulated voice called, heavy with pain and starting to slow. "You've managed to to defeat me. But have a look at yourself."
Jacob frowned before looking at himself. His hand still clutched the sword, now covered in dripping blood and starting to congeal. He looked away, down towards his chest and saw his own scars, a horrific realization coming to his mind. Each and every cut, each slash and bleeding wound now on Prometheus, mirrored one of his own scars.
He took a step back, dropping the sword with a clatter.
"Ahh, now he gets it," Prometheus laughed, groaning as he stood up. Blood continued to spill from each of the cuts, now cascading down his chest towards the floor. "Now stop running from it boy, just embrace it!"
He started to walk forwards, towards Jacob before snatching up the fallen sword and spinning it around in the air. The blade was now pointed towards Prometheus, handle held out in front as he continued stepping.
"Do you have the stomach to end it?" He asked as Jacob inched away, shaking his head and muttering to himself. "Can you end it? Can you do what you must"
Silence came in response as the bleeding man pushed farther on.
"It wouldn't be your first, nor will it be your last," He continued on, feet steadily padding onwards despite the slickening stone.
Jacob continued to back up from him, before finally coming to the opposite side of the room, his back to the stones.
"Do it," Prometheus urged. "Do it!"
"Do it!" Came Laurels voice, shrieking out the words.
"Do it!" Came The Green Arrows in a modulated tone.
"Do it!" Wally West urged.
"Do it," finally came Theas voice, completely calm.
"Do it," he found himself whispering as he grabbed the hilt of the sword, plunging it through Prometheus leather and through his chest.
A groan escaped the mottled mask, this time completely unmodulated. Blood began to trickle through the mouth opening, joining its companions in wetting the floor. With surprising strength, Prometheus gloved hand shot up and pulled both Jacobs shoulders towards him, bringing his face just inches from the mask.
"This is what you are," Came a whisper, barely audible.
Jacob pulled his hands away in garish surprise. The laughter began to fill the room, echoing his dying words.
"This. Is. Who. You. Are." They rang, bouncing off of every wall with a thunderous volume.
Jacob shoved away the body before clamping his hands over his ears. Each word vibrated through his head over and over, feeling like each syllable was going to kill him. After a few moments the assault ended, the pain slightly receding. He carefully lifted his hands, finding a much quieter voice speaking to him.
"Jacob Lance," Came the voice. "Who are you?"
He opened his eyes and looked up. Gone were the shadows, gone was the blood stained stone and sword. Now instead he looked up to see the flickering of torchlight and Nyssa standing patiently in front of him.
"Who are you?" she asked again in the same quiet tone.
"I am a killer and i am lost." he sighed, standing up.
"And what is it you seek?" She asked, stepping forwards.
"Justice. Vengeance." He stated simply.
"For who?" she asked again, taking another step forwards. "Who are you really doing this for?"
"Myself," he admitted, sighing and hanging his head.
She took several more steps forwards till she was standing directly in front of him. Very slowly and in a non threatening manor, she placed her hand underneath his chin, lifting his head.
"Jacob Lance," she started, looking directly at him and smiling. "You have passed the second trial."
He smiled in a wordless response, watching as she signaled towards the two standing outside. With a series of whines and groans, the door gave way and a gust of air breezed in. Jacob took a deep breath, his sweat soaked skin starting to cool. The two assassins entered, releasing the shackles around his ankles and stepped to the sides, one arm outstretched in the direction of the door. Surprisingly both had smiles adorning their faces, Jacob noticing the female of the two.
"Come, you are allowed a moment's rest before the final trial," Nyssa announced, extending a hand for Jacob to take.
He accepted, walking side by side with Nyssa towards the rooms entrance, both of the guarding assassins taking up positions behind them.
Upon reaching the door, Jacob suddenly stopped, a flutter catching his eye on the ground.
"Hold on," he called, releasing Nyssas hand and kneeling down.
A small black feather laid on the ground, completely undisturbed. With gentle fingers, Jacob picked it up and examined it. The quill was warm to the touch, the vane was complete and soft. He stood, clutching it softly in his hand. The soft echo of a bird call floated to his ears.
"What is that?" Nyssa asked, peering at Jacobs hand as he shook his head softly.
"A feather, " he replied simply.
Her face took on a split second look of confusion before the two following assassins gently nudged him forward, the female closing the door behind them. A resounding thump echoed around the room one last time before every torch was snuffed out, throwing the room into darkness once again.