Hi sorry long time no update, work has been crazy busy, and i launched a web comic so its been taking up a lot of my time - u -
3 weeks before the curse broke.
A quick clasp of the wrist buttons. A silken black tie pulled tight, finished with a signature gear shaped brass clip. Designer blazer pulled over a matte black dress shirt. He ran his fingers through blazing red hair, one last tug on the bottom of the coat and he made pace to his private elevator in the personal pent house suite.
Stepping inside it was compact, big enough for only a few people. The walls where a rust rose gold, reflective in an infinite mirror. Marble tiled floors and sleek glittery sliver arm rails.
"GOOD-EVENING-MASTER-SPICER." A Jackbot, in a butlers uniform stood tucked away in the small corner of the elevator. A nod in confirmation to the floating robot. A small 3 pronged robotic claw, covered in an over sized white glove pressed the ground floor button.
Staring at his rose reflection in the closed elevator doors, a half cocked grin crept on his lips. Pale skin, ruby red eyes, a fresh cut, slicked back. His face was cleanly shaven. Jack's thumb ran over the rounded edges of his black painted finger tips. Rouge eyes darted to the ground for a moment as he felt butterflies in his gut.
The sound of base began to blare in a loud muffle into the small elevator. The encapsulated booms only lifted his mood. The feeling Jack felt was a kin to a child the night before Christmas, years of work and planning, with tireless research. Everything was starting to come together. The more he descended the louder the base got, lyrics and instruments became more defined. A rush in the heart, one last comb of his fingers through the hair.
"WE HAVE ARRIVED SIR." The robot spoke just as the doors opened. Muffled noise turned into a booming anthem of Gothic EDM club music. A bouncer greeted him as he stepped outside, the door closing behind him. Base raddled the floor as his black oxfords, gilded with a metallic brace over the heel run and round the ankle, clanked the glitter filled black tiled floor beneath him. Walking up on the landing till he met the black painted railing overlooking the swell of his night club.
Club Spicer established only 16 months ago, in the heart of downtown Tokyo, pack to the rim with people. Tight outfits, and high heels clacked on over packed, raving dance floors. Red and black beams of light cut through the floor and fog. The music became harder, bodies swayed to the music as Jack folded his arms.
Tonight was special, he had a guest coming to meet him. And he was by far more that eager to see them after all this time. But first, a drink.
The tail ends of his blazer caught his pace as he made his way down to the pass of the steps. A large daunting man preemptively unbuckled the thick red dividing rope so that he may pass.
The man himself, Jack Spicer's face alone was enough to influence an uproar from the sea of party goers. Ladies gushed at the young club owner. He merely gave a wrist flick like wave to the crowd, still grinning wickedly he made pace to his bar. It was carved out of a medieval horror movie. The edges like stabbing stalagmite, something the king of hell would surely have in his own bar. All black, long with drips of spilled liquor on top.
"The usual." The blond had to ask loudly due to the noise. Shaking a martini loudly as the ice in the metal cylindrical cup clattered.
"Please Ashley." His smile was almost flirtatious as he flicked his head up to look at her.
Katnappé once a foe and adversary, now an employee. She was dressed in a tight leather bodice, a silver zipper down the center. With 3 belts equal parts down the chest. Straps with studs covered the skin tight stays. Her belly button was exposed, she was wearing fishnets, and tight black booty shorts. A golden garter belt held up a single black stocking. A bottle opener was fashioned inside the garter. Her dark brown eyes smiled at Jack.
Back then, when the heat got too hot for her after the late war against the monks, she fled to Harujuku Japan to hide out seeking new work. When word reached the undergrounds of japans Yakuza, it also made her way to her. That scrawny bean pole Jack Spicer was using his brain for once and enterprising. Rumor had it that his father and himself started a company. Creating a weapons and arms manufacturing plant, right in the heart of Tokyo, and according to hot gossip had it he was hiring. Maybe that idea was pure catnip.
Now the blood between them had always been sour and bitter. But Ashley was bored of her life, running mock jobs for the Yakuza only got her so far considering her origin. Though be it fun, to slice and steal from rich old men, she missed the old days. Fighting for Shen Gong Wu, and maybe even that twerps shortcomings.
Getting in contact with Jack wasn't too difficult for her, it seems he still frequented the "R/evil" threads online. He took her request to meet rather quickly, it was surprising. Perhaps he's just as naive as she remembered. She took the late night speed-rail right to Tokyo. Her once short blonde hair had grown out rather long, reaching the center of her back, but with short cut pixie bangs. That she had tucked underneath a black hood with cute cat ears. Ruby red lips adorn by her signature sharp eye liner, with sharp dips in the eyes, giving her a provocative feline eye. Multiple earnings of studs and diamonds littered around her ears. Tight leather pants and studded mod heeled black boots. A ring over her two middle fingers that clasps down the fingers like a panthers claw hidden the pouch of her sweater. Wireless headphones poured in disastrous music as not single word in the clamped speed rail was uttered. Eyes paid little attention to the slick smile that crept on her lips.
She was excited at the moment.
Midnight was upon the city as she left the fast moving bullet train. The metal grate of the platform clacked under her as she pounced off the railing right over the edge into the city. Swinging like an Olympic gymnast she swung upward in a twirl off a street light. The full moon behind her she jumped from post to post, mounting on the side of a building she scrambled vertically up it till she was at the roof top. The bright multicolored neon lights of midnight Tokyo lit up the sky so brightly stars where hidden. Signing softly, she surged forward along with the pumped up beat of the song, she followed the g.p.s. guiding her through her headphones to her destination
It took little time with her speed and dexterity. Slinking down in an alleyway from the rooftops, those around didn't even noticed her till she walked passed them.
Down the clean white painted rows of the downtown sidewalks, nothing was out of place. Clean without even a candy wrapper on the ground. Couples walked arm in arm as the were trees lit up with small pearl like lights.
Before you would know it, she stood at the summit of a high-rise skyscraper. Rosy black glass running up to the clouds, reflecting the world she looked at her appearance. She was getting older, this bothered her, no longer a spry 19 year old, underneath her expensive makeup and bronze contour she felt it. All the boredom, and dissatisfaction of the world.
"Well at least this will be fun." She purred softly to herself as she walked inside. The doors opened automatically. The lobby was empty except for a creepy looking schmuck behind the lobby desk. It looked clean and expensive inside. Rich deep redwood floors, places to sit, black leather sofas, a large light fixture with two spinning gold gears, with a race car like font, boldly printed "SPICER".
"Yep this is the place." Ashley said when she took her Air-pods out of her ears.
Sauntering up to the desk her hips swaying with each strut. It even smelled too clean in here. She would be lying if she said it almost made her uneasy. It was very not the Jack Spicer she remembered. A skinny bean pole with too much makeup on, tinkering with something in his mothers basement. No this was wealth. Or at least pretending to be.
"12:45 appointment with Spicer." Her words where flat as she spoke to the odd looking man at the desk. To describe him, it was what you think an alien would wear if they where pretending to be human. Their skin looked sickly and pulled, eyes so brightly blue it was inhuman. In a suit that looked overly starched.
"Yes ma'am the Master will see you. Please proceed to the elevator on your right." It spoke.
This thing is a damn robot.
"Did you hear me Jack?" Katnappé's voice cut into his senses again. He was daydreaming, if what he had been researching was true, the eagerness was oozing from him.
"Yeah, and make it dirty." He answered her past question.
Ashley only grinned at her boss. As she began to gather the ingredients for a Long Island. She cracked an eye at him, he looked his new normal. Expensive suit, black driving gloves. Guy-liner. But there was a sinister twinkle in his red eyes.
"So what's going on?" Her tone was flat, she knew he was up to no good, and damn it she wanted in!
Jack climbed on a black leather bar stool, lit up with a large red single neon pole.
"If you guess right I'll give you some catnip." Jack grinned, a childlike snicker left his mouth after.
"Fuck off." She snapped back, but with a bit of playfulness in her voice. She poured the drink into a long curvy glass, piling it high with garnish, squeezing a fresh lime wedge in before swirling it down with a long thin spoon.
She slid it over on a coaster with a gear on it.
"I'm guessing it's nothing but evil deeds." She returned his less than virtuous grin. Jack chuckled taking a lick of the sugary rim of the glass then taking a bite down on the fruit skewer it was garnished with.
"I may have found a way to make new Wu." He smirked, biting into a maraschino cherry. Her eyes blew out and her mouth gaped, painted on eyebrows rose and set as dark delight set on her pretty face, her open mouth curved into a smile over blood red lips.
"H-how? Is that even possible?" She felt gobsmacked, now give it the nerd, he has come far. But is something like that even conceivable? She had never even considered the idea that it could be made other than by the long dead monk, Dashi.
Before the seduction could begin Spicer was tapped on the shoulder. One of the security bots, it looked like a normal Japanese man. But underneath the disguise was a robotic skeleton.
"PandaBubba is here sir." It spoke, voice hairy, with an over dramatic accent. He sighed as he hopped off the seat.
"Not gunna finish your drink?" Ashley purred with a curved brow.
"Send two shots of Baijiu over to our table Ash." He grinned as he got up.
Ashley felt blood pumping all the way to her fingertips. Her heart was racing at just the idea. But why PandaBubba?
Fucking PandaBubba? Ashley bit her lip at the thought. It was perplexing that that beast of a man was joining Jack for drinks. Part of her job was to keep a detailed track of all Jacks former adversaries. Last she heard PandaBubba was entering a ring of thieves and looters that sold ancient artifacts from west Asia.
If what Jack said was true, and new Wu is on the rise, that's the only correlation Katnappé could piece together at the current moment.
Jack walked through the sea of people, arms rushed to try and pull him off for a dance. He grinned at the attention but passed it off like water off a ducks back. He would play another time. The fog of the dance floor was cut with his stride as he headed far back towards the private booths. 2 Large security guards, their faces gaunt, eyes dark. Men he had hired personally for the more rowdy of guests stood outside the private party room.
They cleared the door way for him as Jack pushed the black metal door.
The inside of the room was neon purple, the ceiling a mirror and the floor matte. A large table designed for the finer things in life adorned by a single dancing women. One giant "U" shaped white sofa, that soft glow of a neon in the light, littered with PandaBubbas goons. And there at the centre the guest of honor. Looking at the man he tried not to scoff, He was still just as giant as he remembered. Taking up three seats himself. He was wearing a black and white pin striped suit. Large golden buttons down the front of the jacket, and a white undershirt with a golden popped collar. His thick fingers were littered with rings with fat jewels. Big lobey ears, his left ear a small hooped earring. His hair had been cut in a street style, a perfect shaved face into a salt and pepper chin strap beard. His curly hair corn-road on top of his head, to the back of his crown into two curly pompoms, resembling a bear. His under eyes had deep heavy bags on his drawn stupid mug.
A faint grin was on his lips as Jack entered, the two were clearly sizing each other up.
A few days had passed for everyone else, yet not for the Haylin Witch, Wuya. Time had all but stood painfully still. She had used up every last ounce of her strength sending acid green hell flames in the small spider lily cave. She incinerated everything single thing inside. It was no longer a hidden garden of forgotten beauty, but the dead husk of a rotted out volcano. The ground was cinders all flourish was now charcoal. All the flowers and grass, along with Clay's cowboy hat were incinerated in the blast. Only a small patch of green crabgrass were had she stood remained. Wuya had since collapsed.
Dried blood from her eye where the vessels exploded had since turned brown on the ground around her mauve long hair. She lay there, curled with her slender legs tucked to her chest.
She was unsure how long she had been passed out for. But her slumber gave her no rest. All the memories that the bastard Dashi had stolen from her played in her brain like a bad movie. Over and over she relived the moments that had been forgotten.
Now the daggers at her pride, were noticeable without mention. But that was not what made her woulds feel mortality. She had a son? How could something like that be forgotten? Especially that he was taken from her.
Long nails scrapped into the dry earth, grass and small rocks took purchase under the beds of her nails as she audibly hissed with anger.
"Ame." She growled with hot blooded anger as she forced herself up onto her hands. Her voice was raspy as she screamed loudly, that faded into a chocked sob.
"I'll kill you."
Over the monks temple, a lull had passed through the alps of the high mountain peaks, the farmers fields were empty, as crystalline rivers flowed between radish patches.
Birds sang a canary tune, as small white flowers littered the bright green fields. A clear and blue sky, truly a beautiful day for a funeral.
Monks sang in tandem a low octave, chanting a deep hum. Wearing all white robes, they each stood on a step leading up the side of the peaking cliff. White stone path, swept clean of stumbling stones. 4 young monks carried up a casket. Carved in simple wood, warped in creamy clean cloth. Each monk held up one of the 4 poles.
As they passed a monk, they lit a small incense stick, continuing their chant. As the 4 weary young monks met the summit, a loud brass bell chimed deep down, away in the temple.
Grand Master Fung's body was burned in dragon fire, and his ashes scattered to heaven. A small stone monument was pitched right there at the cliff top, along with the small white flowers and the signing birds.
Chase Young carried Ame's smoldering body down the dark hallway. Chandeliers made of chains moon-silver in colour, and curved dark metal, lit with yellow candle light did little to gleam the black wall paper in the narrow pass. The injuries that Ame originally had that had been healed by the oasis, were replaced with new ones. Chase had created the hot spring to heal superficial injuries, he learned about a healing springs in the high frosty mountain peaks in the far reaches of the north. It was little difficulty for him to recreate this back in his own palace.
His light chestnut eyes ran her dainty body up and down. Her lower lip was rather swollen, and small finger tip sized bruises could be seen forming on the center of her rib cage. Her once satin robe of pure white snow, had been burnt and cindered around the collar and the tight ends of the sleeves.
The once tightly pulled and tied robe had opened down the center, the sash of lace had loosen due to their excursions, her graceful body that was once covered up neatly, had come loose. The robe split open down to just above her navel. She was thin so much that he could see the curves of the center of her ribs between her breast. Chase watch her chest rise and fall as she breathed silently.
Chase tore his eyes away from her figure. His large hands, one supporting her shoulders, the other under the back of her knees. He carried her back to her room. His brows furrowed as he suppressed a huff. All this trouble just for one girl. Dashi, what were you thinking?
Before the current years summer equinox, Chase Young had sought out one of the jade lion dog temples. The Grand Master Dashi had secretly built them over 1500 years ago. Each library is filled with ancient knowledge collected by Master Monk Guan, Grand Master Dashi, and even Chase Young himself. All the ancient doors connect to the same library, a portal of similar magic that was used to create the "Golden Tiger Claws".
Chase found himself standing outside the daunting Jack beast, it was covered in overgrown vines, deep down a cave pass in the cliff side. Large fingerboard hooked fangs, a soft curvy mane of fur rolling back its head. Giant paws, and eyes of green diamond.
Chase stretched out his hand up to the large and wide snout, of the foreboding jade beast. It was cold and dusty under his palm.
His sharp eyes, softened a bit as he stroked its snout for a moment. But that faded as his brows dipped into a strong face, the slits in his eyes narrowed as he summoned strong magic from the whole where his soul once was. The eyes of the beast started to glow a dull red as the statue started to shake.
Deep in what seemed to be endless halls made of tall, dusty book shelves filled sealed scrolls. As he wandered the dark corridors of the library, an eerie whisper shifted between the walls of books. Ghostly divulgence echo's out to his ears beckoning him to wander deeper into the darkness. His viper eyes blew wide bouncing and curving what little light the space had to offer for maximum vision in the endless black.
Confidently he walked towards the ominous sounds with little worry, he's confidant that he could easily crush any lost specter if it dare challenge him. At the end of a hall, the yellow stone floor littered with brittle fallen scrolls. A single wooden table was stuck between to shelves and wet forest green stone walls.
He flicked his hand lighting the long forgotten over burnt candle on the table. The small place bloomed with the small light that illuminated the narrow space. His shadow stretched long behind him as he knelt down to pick up the fallen scrolls. They where dusty, they had fallen long ago. He crept down, his armor creaking as he picked them up off the stone floor. Sharp eyes ran over them, the writing had dulled and smudged. But he recognized the brush strokes. This was Dashi's hand writing.
He sucked in a silent breath and his eyes fell shut as his brows furrowed. Neatly he pulled them up and placed them on the tiny wooden block table. He reached out from under the table pulling out a tiny round wooden stool. He sat down on it, convinced his own body weight, not to mention his war armor with surly crush it. It complained in a large squeak, but did not crumble. He huffed out, picking up the brittle long paper, and began to read.
SUMMER,
Headed to Japan, Wuya has been getting involved with the terror beyond the sea.
-end
He huffed, these were just logs. But he could scratch his head. Was this before he met Dashi? He could not place a memory of Wuya working with someone that would spring Dashi to action.
He continued reading.
FALL,
I have gained much information. A man named the "SHOGUN NO ZETSUBO" and its spawn have been causing terror in a power struggle to put hold over Japan. The man was named SHOGUN (warlord) after bringing the late emperor victory.
The people call him "SHOGUN NO ZETSUBO" warlord of despair. And a child who he raised as a monster. The people say it is a fire breathing dragon.
-end
Chase poured himself deeply into the scrolls. Reading this did not jog a single memory. Damn you Dashi the least you could have done is date this!
WINTER,
The snow that falls, is also mixed in with ash, the closer you go north the more ash that falls. The towns are desolated, people starve as the fields are choked by falling ash. Famine rips through the people till they are dead.
This is despair. No one dares challenge the warlord. Research states Wuya gave him a magic potion. In promise for his service to her. Little is known about the child. People say no one lives if they meet them. I am doing all I can to help the people, when the snow clears I will face the monsters of the north.
Next scroll.
LATE WINTER,
Spring rounds the corner, and I write this with a deep regret. Using the crystal glasses to try and get a vision of my adversary. I saw a nightmare of horror. A world that Wuya and a man, who I am deeply sadden to admit, was someone who I once called Friend. The warlord of despair. Hand in hand in evil. Joined forces and destroyed the lands in eternal ash. The child was not with them.
Time could not wait any longer. I will face them and stop them at any means. I will be sending word for Dojo to bring me Wu.
That was the last scroll, he kissed his teeth his forearm pressing into the table. He wanted to learn more, surly this must have something to do with the Haylin Dragon. He was sure of it. He turned to the infinite wall of books, scrolls and trunks.
His serpent eyes closed, Chase's senses sharpened as his nostrils flared. At first it felt far, echoing in the void. A murmur of the dead, he could feel its power slithering in dark tresses. He honed in on it, focusing on the knowledge he sought out. The incoherent whispers slithered themselves into his ears, layered over themselves in a harsher tone the more he closed in, words too hard to make out layer over and over themselves, until it was so loud it became heart pounding. It pulled him into a depth as he felt almost consumed.
THUD!
Chase stepped back suddenly with a gasp, into a shelve rattling it roughly. His arm still outstretched as he had forgotten himself in some sort of trance. He panted lightly as his long black bang slipped over his right eye. The candle waved as if a breeze had fallen down the path.
An omen? His outstretched hand focused into a knuckle cracking tight fist. Eyes sharp like daggers darted to the dusty stone floor at what had fallen.
A chest had fallen. A small wooden trunk covered in tightly bound dragon bone chains. The wood a deeply stained cherry brown, aged greatly. Just holding it may give one a splinter. 2 bands of metal over a curved wooden top with many brass coloured stones. A large lock over a silver clasp. It oozed magic.
He let out a gruff, almost in disgust. His armor clanked as he knelt down onto one knee, the sharped curved demonic armor bent into the floor as he reached for the chest. It snapped with a spark deflecting his hand like a slap, It threw it back behind his head.
Almond eyes widened for just a moment as they then came to set once more.
"Dashi.." Chase hissed in annoyance.
Chase almost stopped in stride as Ame stirred in his strong arms. He felt himself swallow as he looked down at her face, she was in a sweat.
The haylin power wanted out. He could feel it in her coiling and spinning with raw hate and rage. Her small body no matter how strong could not contain it. Dashi did all this just to keep one girl safe? Be it fun to have to her around the past short while. Guilt makes man do strange things.
Chase looked down again at the small trunk again and huffed a sigh. It appears another secret Dashi was intending to keep from him, this along with his other adventures. He rubbed his stinging hand in his other as he focused in on the chest.
Many, many layers of complex magic, and dragon chains too keep even the most focused out. The knowledge he would seek was in there, that much he was certain.
It took a staggering 15 days for Chase Young to break the protection spells imbued on the chest. He was panting ragged, beads of sweat so large the made audible pat noises when they fell on the ground below. His legs crossed and his head bowed as he meditated in front of the chest. His hands clasped in the "Dhyana Mudra" pose. He felt ragged, his hair clung to him and his armor felt so heavy as if the gravity in the halls had increased so much his bones would be crushed beneath their weight.
In order to break each seal placed on the chest, he had to focus on each mantra of his body, aligning it with one layer at a time.
He was past exhausted. Despite the countless years honing his senses and body. Travelling the world, and also defeating the strongest warriors humanity had to offer him. Despite the close calls, bloody battles and taxing fights. This was its own strife.
His focus could not be broken for even a moment, it must maintain level and true or the dragon chains keeping the intelligence in would surley repel him out.
The tips of his fangs gaped as he openly panted, the last layer of the seal was upon him. He felt stiff and fatigued, all muscles so tense it was painful. His brows furrowed as he aligned his Chi one last time. The last seal was just as powerful as all others before it combined.
He lost himself in it. He plunged beneath the surface, Dashi's glow could be felt, as he breached the surface, that old familiar friend. He could feel him, that after glow he would give you just by being within his presence. His tight brows softened as his mouth settled. It was like eating something bitter. That good that Dashi gave him, the good Chase had abandoned for glory. He swallowed thickly as he felt himself fall forward, too tired to stop himself. The last layer of the magic exploded in a brilliant golden glow consuming the narrow hall.
Cha-... A whisper?
Chase... A call?
Chase. No, a command.
His spirit left him, falling down a well to a memory he had long since forgotten. Long long ago. With a rich sunset that painted the sky in brilliant yellows and oranges, that faded to the crass purples of the coming night.
That's right, Dashi had told him about what it was he was looking for, Dashi gave him the knowledge so long ago. Here in the sunset lit summit of a forest back home..
Within that memory he had submerged into his past self, spry and young, only 23. Sitting at a campfire with Grand Master Dashi outside a smoldering fire. Dashi was telling him something, crickets fell back into sound as white noise faded.
He was trapped listening into his old body, unable to reach out and grace his long gone friend once more. He could hear his own old thoughts back then within his mind, layer over his own at bay voice.
"What is going on?" He called out in his own mind, unable to control his bodies movement.
"I must have broken the last seal, I'm certain of this." He breathed as Dashi seemed to be speaking.
"I had forgotten about this day. How am I here? I barely any of this remember!"
Chase stifled himself as he immersed himself into the sort of dream he was under. Dashi's voice sounded like he was underwater as Chase struggled to hold on to the memory. Emotions seemed to be overflowing through his younger self.
"Dashi what are you trying to show me?" Chase cursed within a silent body, unable to fully understand still.
The fire popped as Chase allowed himself to soften, he could feel the emotions of his past self. Melancholy, and deeply sympathetic. Something he almost could not remember being. Even seeing this scene he could not place it. He had forgotten.
"The moment I looked that kid in the eyes." Dashi spoke, the first words he had spoken that was coherent to Chase, he gasped loudly at hearing his friends voice clearly for the first time in centuries.
That kid? Who is he talking about? He felt his hands in his host body go sweaty as they curled closed over his thighs. It was hard to focus on his words, his eyes grew almost blurry for a moment. Leaving Dashi to look at the half dead fire.
"You never told me her name." He felt himself say. "Her? Who is her?" His eyes left the fire to look back at Dashi, his features looked slightly surprised, Dashi swallowed what looked like something sad. But it faded, as did the last bit of the sun.
"I named her Ame, like the rain." He smiled.
SO I MADE A PLAYLIST, really quickly for jacks club its on spotify titled Spicer
Katnappe is listening to the song on the train = i love it feat charli xcx
When Jack enteres the club its playing CorsetTheme by Teddyloid