1.The Aftermath
Broken and hopeless. Jack had never felt as useless as he did at this moment. Even when he lost his grandfather, his mother, all the deaths that he'd experienced. None of it compares to the loss he felt for Alyssa. His feet start moving without conscious effort. The light weight of Alyssa's body cradled in his arms. With the book in his hand. That infernal book. Bound by nothing but magic and the books will itself.
The Vade Mecum. The cause of so much terror and pain. Yet this book could be the source of hope for him, and Alyssa.
He kept walking, lost in his own grief. Eventually finding himself in a large clearing amidst the forest. The clearing was around twenty meters in diameter with thick tree's and bushes surrounding the edges. A form of darkness seems to linger around the area making all the colours dull and dark. There are no vibrant colours in the clearing all the trees are dark green and browns almost as of they are rotting from within.
He continue to walk into the centre of the circle towards a large dark grey stone. The large stone had many smaller stones covered in moss and yet the large grey stone was pristine. The stone was around seven feet long and four feet wide, reaching three feet off the ground. He carefully placed Alyssa down on top of the stone and took a step back looking on her still form. She looks like she's just sleeping , peaceful and quiet. Yet he knows that is not the case.
He took a seat on the ground next to the stone and Alyssa and finally let the tears fall.
"I don't know what to do" he muttered to myself to nobody. The tears stream down his cheeks. He let the book fall to the floor and placed his hands on Alyssa's arm. Dropping his head as the tears continue to fall.
Through his closed eyes he began to see a dull blue light. A look of confusion crossed his face and opened his eyes to try to find where the source of the light was coming from. Looking around he noticed the Vade Mecum glowing a light blue. He hadn't noticed but his tears had been falling directly on to the book on the floor of the clearing.
"What the?" he said and reached down to grab the book. As his fingers touched the cover of the book a flash of images fly through his mind. He remembered first meeting Alyssa and the look of confusion on her face when he took over the tour of campus. Then a flash of their first kiss then it changed to when they were in the temple and trying to get into the Grand Magus's office to get a look at the book. The image of the page of the book coming through the gap in the doorway and cut his hand. He saw my father being destroyed by the book and flash of faces most of them he didn't recognise.
His vision returned to normal and he hadn't realised that the book was now in front of him in his hands with the pages open glowing a soft gold colour. It gave off the feeling of contentment and being whole.
"We are whole now" a whisper comes from somewhere. Jack looked around unable to see anyone in the clearing.
"What the?" thinking he must be going crazy now. He dropped his gaze to Alyssa.
"We are now whole, a worthy soul has claimed me" a voice whispers in contentment and relief.
He looked down at the book which continues to glow and a gently light begins to increase in size until the entire clearing is bathed in a soft yellow light. Slowly the light subsides and he realise something.
Whether it was the book telling him or Jack putting the pieces together on his own but it all made sense now. The book cut Jacks hand when it wasn't completely finished and Alyssa was with him at the time. She was his witness. There must not have been a need for her to put a thumbprint on it she was Jacks witness.
He somehow managed to enter into a contract with the book without meaning to and now that the book was completed Alyssa had somehow been his sacrifice to the book without meaning to. He doesn't have a first child and has no family left so the spell must have triggered with the person who meant the most to him.
He suddenly feel the power flow through him.
"I wonder, if the book is magic and I now have the book and the magic flows through me I have almost unlimited power".
Before he knew it he fell into some form of trance his mouth is moving but the words make no sense. Jack's eye start drooping and he falls to the ground exhausted. Suddenly immense pain fills Jacks entire body and a scream escapes his mouth.
The pain continued filling his whole body like a burning inferno that reaches the very tips of his fingers. The pain reaches a crescendo and then nothing but darkness.
Alyssa's eyes shot open and she's sat at the bar back on campus. "What am I doing back here. How did I get here? The last thing I remember I was…."
The it hit her. "I'm dead aren't I?"
"Yes and no." A voice says behind her. She turned to see Mr Morton (jacks Grandfather) behind her walking up to the bar. She looks at him confused and he just chuckles at her as he approaches.
"What do you mean yes and no?" Alyssa asks confused.
" What I mean is you are alive but not so and dead but also so. You care currently at an in between faze of dying" He explained whilst leaning over the bar and grabbing two bears opening one for him and passing one to Alyssa which she opened and took a deep drink out of.
"So I am dying?" She asks not fully understanding the explanation provided to her by Mr Morton.
"that is yet to be determined. You could still die and yet you could yet live. Unfortunately there's not much you can do to influence that decision and instead of leaving you in darkness I thought this would be a more pleasurable experience" He leaned back on the bar stool getting comfortable.
"So what do I just sit here?" Alyssa asked clearly getting frustrated "unaware if I live or die?"
"Pretty much" he said drinking more of his beer." But instead of sitting here drinking I thought we'd have a little chat. So, Jack"
"What about him?" She nervously twitched in her seat and hoped her face didn't give anything away. Even the mention of his name created a feeling of excitement in Alyssa's chest that no words could quite explain.
"You know what about him. I'm not going to tell you what to do about Jack, but you know how he feels about you and you know how you feel about him. My grandson never quite did follow normal conventions. You may think that you cant be with him or something silly like that just keep an open mind. Knowing my grandson like I do he rarely lets obstacles get in his way and you may find that what you really truly want is possible" he stood up and downed his beer. "I will now leave you to your thoughts"
Alyssa turned to him, "you say that like you know what's going to happen" she asked not even trying to hide her anxiety.
"maybe I do, maybe I don't" he laughed and walked out the door without looking back. Alyssa turned back to the bar and her drink and downed the rest then reached over and grabbed herself another beer and took a sip. An image of jacks smiling face flashed in front of her eyes and she couldn't help but smile. The smile stayed in place for a while before it slowly faded.
She snapped out of her musing and started to feel tired. Maybe this was it, maybe the decision had been made. Then nothing but blackness.
The first thing Alyssa felt was pain. Her body was on fire as if it had been bathed in acid. Her eyelids felt like they had cinder blocks on each lid but slowly they opened. Grey and gloomy and yet in the corner of her eye se could see a soft yellow light and then a scream and a thud. The light subsided and then not a sound.
That scream though, it sounded like jack. "Jack?" She asked while slowly moving her aching body. She slowly sat up on what seemed like an altar to her but a crude one at that and looked around. There on the floor was Jack. But not a healthy Jack.
He was slumped on the floor with deep cuts all over his body and a large gash across his chest that was gushing blood.
Alyssa jump up despite the pain and knelt down beside Jack. The blood was pumping fast now. The tears started to fall. "Don't give up jack" she said ripping off her top and placing it against his largest would and placed her hand over it. "Please don't"
"Restittuatur, Sanetur, Reparetur" she chanted and removed her top that was on his wound. It barely did anything and the wound was still bleeding heavily. "Restittuatur, Sanetur, Reparetur. Restittuatur, Sanetur, Reparetur. Restittuatur, Sanetur, Reparetur. Restittuatur, Sanetur, Reparetur, please please please".
Her energy finally gave out and she collapsed on top of Jack giving in to the blackness.
Alyssa didn't know how much time had passed and she slowly started to open her eyes and lift her head. Panicking she removed her top from Jack's chest and the wound was gone. She couldn't help but smile and gently laugh from relief.
"Jack" She said and gently started to shake him. He slowly comes to holding his head and groaning heavily.
"Alyssa?" he asks opening his eyes "Alyssa!" he said hugging her tight "I didn't think it would work."
"Didn't think what would work? Actually, how am I alive?" Alyssa asked completely perplexed as to how she was here.
"Well about that…." He went on to explain his theory and showed her the book that is now nothing more than ash. That was the Vade Mecum that was now bonded with him. All of a sudden, the pain that Alyssa felt came back to her and her body gave out on her leaving her feeling very weak.
After explaining everything to Alyssa it seems her body gave out on her. Luckily being a werewolf Jack's body was able to heal quickly especially compared to Alyssa. He reached out and stopped her head hitting the floor and rested it on his lap. "Are you ok Alyssa?"
"I feel really weak" she groans out quietly barely above a whisper.
"I've got you" he whispered to her, and gently lift her into his arms placing her head in the crook of his neck and started walking out of the clearing. "I think you just need some rest" he looked down to her and she is already asleep in his arms.
Jack can't help but look at her as she sleeps in his arms, she looks peaceful and beautiful. Her blond hair resting against his shoulder this time she looks at peace but he knows that she is.
He continued walking through the dense forest and hadn't realised exactly how far he'd walked in that trance. The next thing he knew he's outside the house with the wolves. He kicks open the door and slowly walks inside.
Clearly he can hear Hamish and Randall calling his name "Jack, Jack" and heard footsteps as they near. "We're so sorry about Alyssa….wait is that Alyssa? Is she alive?" he stop and turn to them.
"Yes she alive, she needs rest so I'm just going to put her in my room to get some rest and I'll be right back to explain it all to you" gently he walks up the stairs making sure he doesn't wake Alyssa and gently laid her on his bed. Covered her up and gently make his way out of the room.
While this had been going on Randall, Hamish and Gabrielle had trudged back into the house. Now was not the time to be around the order. They'd helped to stop the apocalypse but at what cost. Alyssa was dead, Vera without her magic and the order in chaos.
It wasn't all bad I mean they'd gotten Lilith back…sort of. She looked exactly like a demon and before they got into the house they'd dropped her off at the order's temple for them to take a look. Nicole stayed with her which is probably for the best at the moment.
Then there's Gabriella, Randall put her to sleep in one of the other rooms. She'd cried herself to sleep in his arms after what she'd done, still covered in Alyssa's blood. At that moment Randall was thankful that Jack wasn't here. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he was here. Alyssa just died in his arms hiss head and emotions must be everywhere. Imagine if he sees Gabrielle right now especially with Alyssa's blood on her. These thoughts kept going through his mind.
Even though there more of werewolves at the house right now than him and maybe they could restrain him but that was a big maybe. Midnight (when he had taken over Gabrielle) said himself that Silverback was always ruled by emotions and Jack must be very emotional right now.
Id didn't help that when Jack had reminded the Knights that they should be looking through the archives of books that they had about each of their pasts Hamish and Randall had stumbled on a passage about Silverback. One of the previous Knights who had bonded with Silverback had for some unknown reason lost his entire family which included his two younger sisters and he had gotten lost in his emotions, his sadness, his anger…. his fury.
It had sparked the change and Silverback hadn't let go for a week. He'd fed off of the knights emotions and fed off the anger and fury. By the time the other knights had caught up with him he'd decimated seven villages. It took all of the knights to stop him and that was when Alpha was still around. It would be even harder now if jack lost control there aren't enough of us anymore to pin down Silverback.
So Randall was now sat at the bar in the house a bottle in his hand and it was about to be polished off when both he and Hamish heard footsteps coming up to the house. The front door was kicked open and Jack walked in with Alyssa in his arms both Randall and Hamish jumped up "Jack, Jack" they both said at the same time. "We're so sorry about Alyssa….wait is that Alyssa? Is she alive?"
"Yes she alive, she needs rest so I'm just going to put her in my room to get some rest and I'll be right back to explain it all to you" he answered his face passive and he walked straight upstairs.
"Did you see that?" Randall asked looking at Hamish both of them were stunned. "how is that possible? She was dead" continuing to be stunned Randall grabed another drink "I think many drinks will be needed tonight" he said and polish off the original bottle.
Before long Jack slowly came down the stairs, looking like he was in physical pain. "you alright man? You don't look so good" Randall asked as Hamish gets up to help him to a seat.
"Yeah yeah I'm fine just a side effect" he said wincing heavily but relaxing once he got into a comfortable position.
"Side effect of what?" I ask cautiously.
"Bringing Alyssa back. I had to use the Vade Mecum which by the way is no longer in existence so we don't have to guard it anymore. I'd unknowingly entered into the contract and the book thought I was worthy so gave me the power and destroyed itself." He let out a deep breath, one that looked like he'd been holding in for a long time.
"You did what!" Hamish explained, whilst Randall immediately thought one thing. "Cool".
"This is great!" Randall said jumping up to his feet "not only is Alyssa alive but Jack has the most power out of anyone in the order and he's a Knight, this could be fantastic for us"
"Well we'll see" Hamish said slowly pacing. "We need to get to the Temple and start sorting everything out"
"No we don't" Jack said quietly "We're not going there until Alyssa is healed and we get some rest" he said letting his head rest on the pillow and close his eyes effectively ending the conversation.
Jack's eyes slowly opened to the harsh daytime light. Wincing until his eyes could adjust. A noise drew his attention, Hamish out cold snoring louder than ever in the chair next to him and Randall out cold on the floor. Nothing changes between these werewolves. Most of the bar had been emptied as well.
Jack starts to move my arm and legs testing to see if he could feel any pain. "Hmm, no pain" he stated confused to nobody in particular . He was expecting pain especially after his injuries yesterday.
Slowly still wearily expecting the pain to hit he stood up and started walking to the stairs, intending on checking on Alyssa, assuming she would be in a considerable amount of pain. Slowly and quietly he approach his own room which he had given Alyssa for the night. He eased open the door to find the bed empty but slept in. Walking into the room he took a sniff using his werewolf senses and knew Alyssa hadn't been gone long. Then realisation hit him. The shower was on she must be in the shower. He let out a deep breath and sat on the bed.
The shower then turns off and shortly Alyssa comes out in nothing but a towel. "Sorry" she said slightly embarrassed. "I didn't know would be in here and I thought it would be fine to take a shower only I don't have any clean clothes"
"That's ok" Jack answer smiling shily. He then stood up and walked to a dresser and grabbed some comfortable Joggers and a baggy t-shirt for her and passed them to her "Here these are clean. Besides you and I both know I've seen you in less than a towel" he smiled and winked at her then walked out closing he door behind him giving her privacy to change. Following the comment however Alyssa's cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment and yet she couldn't help but smile.
Alyssa quickly changed into the clothes jack has given her and found herself sniffing the top loving how it smelt of Jack. A knock on the door made her jump.
"You decent no Alyssa?" Jack asked not opening the door.
"Yeah" she answered sitting down on the edge of the bed. The door opened and Jack walked in closing it tightly behind him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked taking a seat next to her on the bed.
"Actually really great" Alyssa said looking at Jack "What happened? I don't remember much" she said drying her hair in a towel.
"Well um Alyssa, there's no easy way to tell you this. But you died"
He breathing stopped and she froze. Time seemed to freeze as well and they didn't speak for a moment. Suddenly a look of confusion crossed her face. "Then how am I alive?" Immediately her eyes filled with fury. She stood up face turning red in anger. "Who did you sacrifice to bring me back! How dare you kill someone just to bring me ba-"
"Wow wow Calm down Alyssa!" Jack said grabbing her hands gently and bringing her back down onto the bed next to him. "I didn't sacrifice anyone" he paused " I used the Vade Mecum. Someone when the book cut my hand when we were in the temple I entered into a contract and you were my witness. I was able to complete the Vade Mecum and the book is now gone. Our understanding of the book is all wrong its not just a spell it has some form of consciousness. Well it did and it said it chose me and I was worthy or something like that. The book helped me save you"
"But that's not possible, we always thought the book needed a sacrifice and it was a spell everything about it says it's a spell" Alyssa said looking at the ground in confusion.
"I think what you mean to say is Thank you Jack your so amazing" jack said light heartedly.
Turning to face Jack slowly Alyssa with a smile on her face said "Thank you Jack" then leaned in and gave him a huge hug.
"Always Alyssa, I've said it before and I'll say it again I'll do anything for you." Jack quietly said looking deeply into Alyssa's eyes. "Thank you for everything Jack" Alyssa said hugging him once more. Jack wrapped his arms around her holding her tight.
"I don't know what id do without you Jack" she said into his chest. "You wont need to" he said kissing the top of her head. He released her and they both stood up. "Better wake up the rabble then" he said smiling mischievously.
The silence in the house was broken swiftly by a loud roar from Silverback who stood in front of where the boys were passed out. Randall sprung up into the air at the roar attempting to land on his feet. However as he was still badly hung over he quickly lost his balance only to end up in a head on the floor looking into the face of a roaring Silverback.
Hamish had been asleep in his comfortable chair and the louds road made him jump so much that the chair toppled him with it. The result f which was him landing next to Randall in a heap on the flor looking at a roaring Silverback.
Silverback stopped the roar and swiftly changed into a laughing Jack. the wolves then heard a high giggling coming form the right and looked over to Alyssa red with laughter looking at the boys faces who looked like they had no idea what was going on.
"What was that for" Hamish asked getting up off the floor and helping Randall up.
"Jack thought he should wake up "the rabble" as he put it" she said still smiling using her hands to illustrate the air quotes. Both Hamish and Randall glared daggers at jack who was still laughing harder than ever.
"Dude not cool" Randall said dusting himself off " You could have woken Gabriella"
Immediately the laughing stopped and was replaced by growling coming deep from within Jack's chest.
"Oh no" Hamish said looking panicked his gaze flipping between Randall and Jack "You shouldn't have said that Randall"
The change was already happening and jack was quickly changing into Silverback. "Alyssa knock him out we wont be able to hold him back" Hamish shouted to Alyssa panicking and trying to hold Jack down as he was changing.
"But there's two of you?" Alyssa asked looking confused and reluctant.
"Just do it" Randall shouted at her. Muttering the words of the incantation and cutting her palm Alyssa pointed her hand at jack and he passed out on the floor. Both Randall and Hamish let out deep panting breaths.
"Why did I have to do that?" Alyssa asked coming over to Jack and checking he was ok.
"We came across a story about Silverback and his host." Hamish said catching his breath and walking to the bar and pouring himself a glass of whisky from a hidden bottle. "When his host become emotional in some way be it anger or anything like that Silverback who is highly emotional himself feeds off the emotion and becomes stronger and stronger the more powerful the emotion. That is why Silverback is the stronger of us." Downing the glass of whisky for comfort he poured himself another.
"But why was he emotional, what has Gabriella done?" both Hamish and Randall were silent and looked at each other unsure of how to approach this.
"What do you remember Alyssa?" Randall asked standing up and approaching Alyssa.
"I remember being attacked I think" she ask confusion on her face as if the images were only now just coming to her, "By a.. werewolf." She looked directly at them "it was one of you was it?"
"No no of course not" Hamish said standing as well and approaching Alyssa placing a comforting hand.
"Was it another pack?" she asked.
Randall and Hamish looked at each other. "No" Hamish responded "It was Gabrielle"
AN what does everyone think so far, do you want me to continue