Chapter 27

The Immortal's Child

"Every being in the universe has collective pool within them which contains power. Their experiences if you will." Herobrine explained. He was walking back and forth staring Jesse down from his spot on the ground. "Everything anyone ever does in their life turns into this experience power. Anything you learn from, anything you puny mortals overcome, applies to this law."

"What does this have to do with the Witherstorm?"

"When two separate beings face off in combat," Herobrine continued, "The survivor takes the power of the deceased. Every time you slay a spawn or another person, you take their power with you. The more you kill, take or earn the stronger you become."

So when I killed the Witherstorm," Jesse frowned, "I took this- its power?"

"Well...that's the kicker Jesse." the Immortal went back to his chair, casually sitting down."You see, depending on a person's inner power, only so much power can be taken. You cannot take the energy of another if their power exceeds yours. You can only take a small amount. Say for example, that a chicken, by the grace of Notch, managed to kill an enderdragon, he would only be able to take a small amount of the former enderdragon's power. Power taken beyond a person's limits will drive them insane."

Like you, Jesse thought bitterly.

Herobrine raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly, as if he had heard his thoughts.

Jesse stood up, shakily brushing himself off, "So I have the Witherstorm's power, but you are implying I should have lost my mind."

Herobrine was broadly grinning now, "Only a few people in the entire universe could have absorbed that things power Jesse..."

Jesse shifted, having difficulty handling the sudden wave of unease cutting through his internal terror. He didn't like the way Herobrine smiled at him, "You are one of them?"

"Well yes, but imagine my surprise when I came to collect and there wasn't even a drop of power left. There was nothing. I thought perhaps Steven had it..."

"So what?" Jesse frowned, "You're saying only Immortals have the power to absorb anything in the universe? You, Steve, and Alex?"

"Yet here you are," Herobrine gestured, "With all the experience."

Jesse squinted, "What are you implying?"

He smiled, "What do you think I'm implying?"

"That I'm an Immortal," Jesse scoffed, "But for me to be one, I'd have to be created by Notch, which I'm not. So then I'd have to be-" he stopped.

Herobrine's smile widened, and the words that came next...

"There is a reason your parents weren't in the picture Jesse."

Jesse couldn't breathe; he was struggling just to take the next breath. The world around him seemed muted; he was trapped focusing on this possibility that- Jesse shook his head.

"Steve told you he lost his child didn't he? But he didn't say how. And didn't you tell him that you never knew your parents? If you look at the resemblance-"

It was too much, too much for Jesse to swallow. It couldn't- there was no way- Steve would have...His jaw clenched and he glared at Herobrine, "That's stretching it, even for you."

"I only tell the truth when the truth hurts more."

"I don't believe you!"

"Think about it kid. When I look at you there are so many signs that point to it." Herobrine stood and started to walk circles around Jesse, "You have no parents, and they have no child. You're the right age." he snapped his fingers, "Then there are all the little things about you too. Immortal's draw people to them, it's a little power they are blessed with. The people you meet either despise you for reasons unknown to them; or they have complete trust in you. They want you to lead them, they rely on you."

Herobrine stopped walking, sticking his hand into the smoky prison that still held Aiden. He grabbed the youths chin, wrenching his head and forcing him to look at Jesse, "Do you really think a normal person could make allies out of a sorry punk like this. He tried to kill you, pushed you off a floating city. Now look at him! You're friends now? How does that work I wonder?" He removed his hand letting Aiden's head drop.

"And what about Lukas, Petra, and Ivor too? Do you even think they would follow you if you were normal? They hardly know you Jesse. It's been what- a few months at most? Anyone else would have gone off on their own way. Yet here they are, blindly following you along. Well until recently that is. It was pretty easy for you to push them away like that don't you say? It's because you were never friends." He sneered.

Jesse cringed, "Liar."

"Then there is good ole Steve and Alex. You woke up in their house wounded and delirious, and then not two hours later. You were sharing food with each other. You trusted them because they have that effect on people, same way they trusted you." Herobrine mocked, "Didn't you tell Steve you thought about staying here, and how it - and I quote 'felt right'. You felt like you belonged and something about them just clicked didn't it? Family instincts perhaps?"

Jesse took a step back, "N-no."

"You're the Immortal's Child Jesse," Herobrine laughed, "It's the only reason you were able to absorb the Witherstorm. You have the blood of two Immortal's and the power of Notch in your veins! You're Steve and Alex's biggest mistake, their biggest regret, and the one thing they couldn't protect. They never tired to get you back because of me!"

"You're lying!"

"I don't care if you believe me or not! You have the experience of the Witherstorm and you will give it to me!"

"Why do you even want it?!" Jesse snapped, "You're powerful enough!"

"The Witherstorm devoured half of your world Jesse. The amount of raw power in the creature hasn't been seen anywhere in the universe for over half a millennia. Its power is all I need to get my edge. Then I can finish what your father started."

"You're obsessed!" Jesse spat.

The other tilted his head, "Obsessed? Now that depends on what side of the story you've heard. But it doesn't matter anyway. We're done debating now. You better decided if you are going to give me what I want Jesse and you better pick fast." He jabbed his head towards Aiden, "It is well past midnight and I cut his air supply off over a minute ago."

Alarmed Jesse looked to Aiden, horrified to see the male limply lying against the bubble. Jesse rushed to it, "Herobrine stop!"

"No,"

"Herobrine please! Oh God's!"

"Tick, tock, his time is running out. But you can still save him, you know what I want."

"Fine! Fine! Take it!" Jesse cried, "You can have your stupid experience power, I don't care! Just let him go!"

"Is this an agreement? I can take what I want?" he asked.

"YES!" Jesse's heart was going a thousand miles a second, "B-but you have to swear not to hurt him once you have it- or any of my friends!"

Herobrine frowned, "That's a lots of people, isn't his life enough?"

"Do you want the power or not?! Hurt them and you can never have it!"

The Lost One thought on it, "Fine. Steve and Alex aren't included in your protection however."

Jesse hesitated. He felt torn, it wasn't fair to them. Alex and Steve had done nothing wrong. But his friends...Steve and Alex were immortal, and they could help each other against Herobrine. They'd be alright...Right? "O-okay."

"Are you sure now? That's a lot of power to give up for such unimportant people. You can always replace them. Think carefully."

"Don't you dare!" Jesse slammed his fists against the orb. The blasted bubble may be made of smoke but it was as solid as iron against his hands. He watched in horror and Aiden slowly began to slip away from him. "Take it! Herobrine! Stop-"

Before Jesse's fists could come down for another hit, the bubble- Aiden still inside of it - vanished. There was a loud boom, almost like a bomb had gone off and Jesse felt like his breath had been stolen. Wide eyed and terrified Jesse whipped around, "Where is he?!" he demanded.

Herobrine calmly pointed, Jesse looked across the chasm just as Aiden appeared on the other side. Smoky prison now gone, Aiden was on his feet for barely a second before collapsing onto the ground like a rag doll.

"No! Aiden!" Jesse went to move, when Herobrine stepped in front of him.

"He'll live."

"Get out of my way! He's not moving!" Jesse sidestepped around the Immortal, hurrying for Herobrine's makeshift bridge.

The rocks rumbled and collapsed, they gave away just has he reached the edge of the cliff, tumbling to the fiery pit below.

Jesse whirled around, "I swear to Notch! If you killed him-"

"He's alive," Herobrine flipped his dagger around, carving an X into his shoulder, seemingly unfazed as blood spilled from the wound. "I swear upon the powers of Notch and my own power that none of your friends will be harmed while you live. Which," he grinned, "Won't be much longer."

Jesse's heart skipped a beat, and he slowly shifted away from the other male, "What?"

"Were you not listening very well back there?" the psycho laughed, "How else am I supposed to get the Wither's power?"

Jesse froze.

When two separate beings face off in combat, the survivor takes the power of the deceased.

Then with a victorious roar, Herobrine rapidly advanced.

"We're running out of time!"

"Shit I know! Just hold the torches closer and let me see."

Petra lowered her torch and Lukas squinted at the map in his hands. "I think we're getting close to the door."

The pair had made a brief stop at Steve and Alex's place. Taking the map out of study they now struggled to find the entrance at the base of the volcano.

Petra looked back; she could see the lights from the village through the old pines. They were still lighting lanterns and playing music, fireworks launching off on occasion. The people blissfully unaware of what was going on outside their town.

"Crap!" Lukas stressed, looking ready to crumple up the map and hurl it, "I don't know where we are Petra!"

"What if we went and asked Bach-"

"We don't have that kinda time! We'd have to double back, and then it might be- it might-" Lukas's voice cracked.

Petra looked up; the moon was almost directly above them. It was almost midnight, and they were running out of time. "We'll find it Lukas I know we- woah!"

Lukas looked sharply up at her as Petra stumbled back into an open path, something cracking under her foot. She lowered her torch down, illuminating the ground.

The female had stepped onto the jaw of a skeleton archer, the head severed from the body.

"A spawn?" Lukas asked.

Petra looked down the trail, raising her torch. There were loots piles and bodies littered down the hill. She looked up towards the mountain, seeing more bodies up the way.

"Jesse!" Lukas gasped.

Their friend had unintentionally left them a guide.

They raced up the hill leaping over the remains of the slain spawns. There were dozens upon dozens of bodies, and that is what they could see.

"We're almost there!" Petra called from higher above Lukas.

Ahead of them, the volcano was a behemoth rumbling loudly in the night. Up close and personal it was an intimidating giant with smoke and fire pouring fourth from its peak.

Lukas swallowed nervously; their friends were in that monster.

"I found the door!" Petra yelled pulling Lukas from his thoughts.

Lukas joined Petra at the giant stone door. It was already cracked open. Jesse had come through here. They stood at the entrance, looking into the black abyss before them. They could see nothing, only blackness beyond their torches.

Suddenly a loud boom tore from the mountain, racing down the hallowed halls, echoing like a bomb. Causing the pair to take a step back in surprise.

Jesse and Aiden...

Lukas's eyes widen and he tightened his grip on his torch, "Stay close?"

"Elbow to elbow," Petra replied, grabbing his free hand with hers.

He nodded and together Petra and Lukas bolted inside and into the howling dark.

Ivor looked around the well made kitchen; there was an open cabinet in the upper corner, half a bottle of whiskey inside... Nature was waiting. The night was nearly silent; the nearby village had even stopped its music and fireworks.

Alex had taken Reggie and Ivor down the mountain as fast as that horse could go. Along the way Ivor had told her everything he'd discovered in the journal entries, including the hidden pages that Aiden found just before the attack.

Alex was grief stricken but grateful to know what had happened to the journal's owner. In return she explained everything, what had happened at the Immortal's Gate, Herobrine's reveal. There were a few other details as well, details that Ivor found very difficult to swallow.

Then Alex had left, making haste after her husband and to the mountain.

Now Ivor and Reggie were once again stuck waiting, and Ivor had - unfortunately - time to contemplate. There was a lot of information to process and all Ivor was able to really do at the moment was think.

Reggie was having a bit harder time doing that. He paced back and forth between the kitchen and the porch, aggravated and nervous. He had offered his services to Alex, to which the female had firmly refused.

"I can't do this, we have to help." the guard growled.

"We don't have the means to get there."

"She left the horse."

"Perhaps," Ivor frowned, "But there is still the matter of finding the entrance-"

A large boom cut through the night and Ivor jumped in his seat.

Reginald cursed, looking sharply to the volcano, "That came from the mountain! Ivor we have to-"

"Alex, Steve?!"

A large burly man, twice the size of Reginald entered the house. "Alex! Steve! We need you- who the hell are you?!" he demanded as he spotted Ivor and Reginald. He was carrying a war hammer.

"Friends!" Ivor said quickly. "And you might be?"

"Where are Steve and Alex?! Where are the kids?!" he snarled, not answering the question.

"Alex and Steve went to the mountain! They went after the kids, they're in danger."

"Danger from what?!"

"I don't know!" Reggie cried, "Someone called Herobrine."

The massive male froze, "Herobrine!" he cursed, "Then they can't help us."

"Help you, what do you mean help you?"

The other was already walking swiftly out of the house, taking the bottle of whiskey with him. "The spawns have come out of hibernation, and they're attacking our village in frenzy. This must be the Dark Ones doing. I have to inform the elders!"

"Wait, um Sir-"

"Bach."

"Bach," Ivor said sternly, "Allow us to help."

Bach frowned.

"Alex and Steve are helping our friends," Ivor said, "Allow us to help theirs."

"You can't do much with a broken leg," Bach stated gruffly.

"Do you have a brewing stand?"

"We have nothing to make health potions, it won't matter."

Ivor grinned, "You can make a lot more than health potions my friend." He looked to his partner, "Reggie, get that horse! We have some spawns to slay!"

Ivor couldn't help the kids, but he wasn't about to sit on the sidelines either.

Jesse jerked and rolled away as a pile of debris and rocks nearly crushed him.

"I appreciate the sport Jesse," Herobrine chuckled, "But I will get what I want."

Jesse dodged another rock, he knew full well that Herobrine would eventually catch him. But he also knew that Steve and Alex could sense Herobrine if he used an excess of power. They'd have to come back from the Hallway sometime, and when they did they would know. If he could just hang in there...

Jesse didn't like breaking a deal. But his survival instincts were kicking into overdrive. He needed to go, he needed to stay away.

That, and Herobrine probably had some loophole waiting to exploit. He'd probably kill all of his friends once he was done with Jesse.

Holding out was his best hope to keep them alive.

"I don't get why you needed me to give you the power," Jesse yelled, in his best attempt to keep Herobrine distracted, "Obviously you were going to just kill me and take it."

The Dark Immortal seemed to play along, "It's almost ironic actually. Now that you mention it... The one thing I wanted, was possessed by the one person I couldn't touch."

Jesse slid behind one of the stone thrones, "Is that so?"

"Oh trust me; I knew the moment you came to the First World. I could sense you, and I did go right after you. I have been waiting to get my hands on your power for a long time."

"So why didn't you?!"

Herobrine smashed through the chair like it was dirt, watching as Jesse scrambled away. "Like I said, I couldn't touch you. No matter what form I took, not matter what technique I tried, you'd survive somehow."

"Form?!" Jesse's gears were turning, "You mean the archer?!"

"No, that wasn't me. I did try to kill you at the watering hole, while you were unconscious. That's when I became suspicious of your heritage." the other hummed, "Then I tried the enderman."

"That trapped gate was probably your doing too!"

"Yes. I knew who you were by that point. Because the only person I knew I could never harm was Steve and Alex's child."

Jesse gritted his teeth, "Still gnawing on that bone are we?"

"They used a large portion of their power to place an enchantment on the baby, a powerful seal to keep me at bay." Herobrine smiled, "The only person who could break the seal is the wearer, which is why I needed your permission to take the power."

It gave him the right to hurt me, Jesse thought. He noted how Herobrine merely followed him around the square, almost casual. He wasn't rushing, or moving fast.

He was toying with him.

"I admit it was frustrating. But I needed to be sure it was truly you. So I led you and your little desperate friends to the Gate."

Jesse rolled, dodging yet another wave of rock, "What does that have to do with anything?!" he demanded.

"All that crap about old magic was a lie I made up to get you up there. Only the Immortals can light the gate, which you did. Petra and Lukas couldn't do it if you recall."

Jesse staggered, hesitating.

"Are you finally coming to accept your inheritance?"

"Go jump in a lava pit!" Jesse spat.

"You activated the old Portal kiddo." Herobrine smiled, "And Steve knew the moment you told him, he knew exactly who you were."

Steve's expression.

"Which brings up the question, why didn't he tell you?"

Jesse cringed.

"Or the even bigger thought," Herobrine whispered, "Why did He and Alex leave you to grow up all alone." the adult's breath tickled his ear, "Did they not love you Jesse?"

He gasped; he didn't realize he had stopped running. Jesse cried out in fear and ducked, the blade just missing his hair my centimeters, he scrambled away. Herobrine casually followed suit.

"They must not have cared enough to come back for you," the Immortal sighed.

"You are a liar!" Jesse started to run.

"Honestly look at you, who would? You were never adopted, you grew up by yourself."

"Stop!"

"Steve finally sees his son, and his first action is to make you leave!" Herobrine snarled, "He didn't want you Jesse!"

"SHUT UP!" Jesse cried. He looked back, "You don't know-"

Herobrine swung the dagger just grazing Jesse's cheek. But the wound sent fire coursing through his body, and Jesse stumbled back crying out in pain. He gripped the wounded flesh with one hand, trying not to scream.

"I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Herobrine teased, "It's gonna get worse!" he swung the dagger down.

Jesse managed to block with his own sword, the act sending shockwaves through his arms. His knees gave out and he buckled to the floor.

"Poor little Jesse," Herobrine sneered as he pushed down, "His family didn't want him, his little pet is dead, and he pushed his friends away. You're all alone."

Jesse snarled and slammed his head into Herobrine's face. The man cried out more in frustration then pain as he stumbled back. Jesse swung his sword, slashing Herobrine across the chest.

Herobrine let loose a feral growl, summoning fire with his hands and searing the deep wound closed.

Confused, Jesse took a step back, seeing the wound failing to heal from neither the cut nor the burn.

It didn't heal...

Jesse's eyes widened, "You're not healing!"

Herobrine's lip twitched.

"You're trying to take the power, so that when Steve and Alex get here, you can defeat them!" Jesse took a step back, "The runes still work! You're going to kill them! This is a trap!"

Herobrine chuckled and straightened, "Clever boy. But one you already set off I'm afraid."

"Jesse!"

Jesse froze, looking towards the opposite end of the chasm, "Pet...ra?"

"Jesse! We're here, where are you?!"

Lukas!

They had followed him! Even after everything he had said to them, after what he had done.

They were here!"

"I'm afraid the game is over now," Herobrine sighed, then he lunged, fast and hard.

Jesse yelped and shoved Herobrine back, but it was a struggle. The demigod came again, he wasn't toying anymore. He intended to get what he wanted. Jesse blocked another blow, creating sparks on impact.

Herobrine backed up for a moment, then jabbed, faster than an arrow.

Panic coursing through him, Jesse wildly swung out.

The dagger was knocked clean out of Herobrine's hands, skittering away and falling over the cliff edge and into the chasm.

Jesse scrambled back the best he could, closer to the edge of the ravine so Herobrine couldn't flank him.

"Hmmmm," Herobrine hummed, "Now I'm unarmed..."

From the corner of his eye, Jesse thought he saw his friends appear on the other side of the chasm.

"Doesn't matter."

Jesse looked sharply ahead just as Herobrine launched forward. His hands were wide and reaching out. Jesse swung out in defense. Herobrine catching hold and grabbing his wrist before his sword could make a mark.

Herobrine yanked his sword free. And with one clean smooth spin, Herobrine turned Jesse's blade around and stabbed. The diamond cut through Ivor's carefully crafted gear like it was paper.

"JESSE! ! !"

Jesse jerked, his throat tightened and a agonized scream tore free from him. Pain coursed through his body at an unbearable level. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak. His knees gave out, and Jesse would have fallen to the floor. But Herobrine gripped the hilt, forcing his weight onto the blade and driving it deeper still.

"I told you it would hurt more." Herobrine whispered calmly.

Jesse let out a whine as the other twisted his blade slightly.

"I hit nothing vital, I want you to stay alive a little longer for me. I want Steve to see why he should have chosen wiser."

Jesse tried to speak, tried to do something, anything, but he could feel himself slipping away. There was blood running down his leg, he could feel it on his hands as he feebly tried to pull the blade free. He felt drained, like all his remaining energy was being sapped dry. He whimpered in pain.

Herobrine pulled him closer, free hand weaving through Jesse's hair, "Shhh, it will be over soon enough. I want to thank you for your help Jesse. Think of it this way, your short worthless life is finally being used for something bigger." Herobrine violently yanked the blade free kissing Jesse's forehead as he did so. He let the sword drop to the ground. "I always get what I want kiddo."

Then Herobrine released him and walked away.

"JESSE!"

Jesse staggered, for only a moment. His mind and the world around him was a fog of pain, screams and voices echoing in his ears. Jesse collapsed, darkness closing in before he even hit the ground.

"Goodbye Jesse."

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