Chapter Nine
Prophecies
Jake remained in his room with Tabitha for the next two days, avoiding everyone with Tabitha being the go between for contact between them and the others in the museum.
When she brought breakfast in the third day, she sat down on the bed, looking over at Jake, who was furiously working on Hunter.
"Jake," She asked quietly, "Has anything changed between us?"
She wanted to know, no, she needed to know. They hadn't spoken of this since everything had been revealed to them by Andre.
Stopping, he looked over at her and shook her head, "Nothing I heard changes the way I feel about you. I still love you and nothing will change that. I'm not going to be another person who shoves you aside simply because of something they heard or some stupid reason. When this is all finished and over with, don't be surprised if you get a certain question asked."
He winked over at her and smiled as she smiled back. She knew what the question would be and for the first time, felt a little calmer. She needed to tell him something, but wasn't sure if now was the right time. Something inside of her was certain he would take the news she had to tell him well and not panic. Yes they were young but he might even be really happy about it. Perhaps it was something that Andre had said when he was telling them of his past.
"When are you going to talk to them?" she asked.
Shaking his head, he replied, "I don't know. It's not that I'm upset anymore, though I was for the first two days. In retrospect, I can see why they did it and accept it. I don't know, maybe I'm being stupid."
"A little." She chuckled, smiling over at him.
"Oh all right. I'll go see them, come on." Jake said as he stood and extended his hand to her.
Moments later, they were in the kitchen with the others as Jake apologized for his actions only to be told he was well within his right to act that way, but everyone was glad he was back on speaking terms with them.
Andre, of all of them, was especially happy to speak with him again.
"I've got something to show you." He said, motioning him to follow to the office upstairs where Suzie normally handled the finances of running the museum.
Using a stack of books, Andre sat down next to the computer and began typing into a search engine on the internet. Strange Egyptian words appeared on the screen as Jake and Tabitha realized he was typing in Egyptian, something neither had seen before.
A new website popped up onto the screen showing several pictures of old scrolls and papyrus etchings.
"This is what I came across while we were in Paris." Andre explained, "It wasn't just a second honeymoon for us, but also a fact finding mission."
"What's written on those scrolls?" Tabitha asked, her curiosity amusing Andre.
"Stories, prophecies, things of that nature." Replied Andre.
Pointing on one scroll inparticular, it held images of small creatures and a large figure standing over them.
"Look familiar?" Andre asked.
Jake nodded, "That looks like a puppeteer."
Andre nodded, "Exactly. This is the scroll describing a pharaoh who was able to give life to inanimate objects. It claims that a sorcerer named Afzel then stole this secret of life from him. According to the scroll, this pharaoh, Utyllo, had bargained his soul with a demon named Sutekh in exchange for this power. When Sutekh came to collect, the pharaoh told him about the theft, but it didn't matter. His soul was taken and Sutekh vowed vengeance."
"That name," Tabitha said, "Afzel. He's the one who gave the formula to you, right? He was being followed by Sutekh's minions, right?"
Andre nodded, "Very good. Yes, I was the last one to be with him before he died. He whispered something to me. Something I have never told anyone, not even your father."
"What is it?" Asked Jake, his eyes wide with excitement.
"He mentioned that one day the…" Andre stopped and thought, "It's difficult to translate, but roughly, "The chosen" would arrive and would have the knowledge inborn to them."
"So," Tabitha said, confused, "In other words, they wouldn't need the formula. They could just," She searched for the word. "…call and the puppets would awaken right?"
Andre nodded, "Correct. But there's more. This chosen person would also face the great demon lord and was destined to defeat him in battle."
Jake arched a brow, "Why are you telling us this, Andre?"
"I would have thought it quite obvious. I think one of you is the Chosen."
The pair looked at one another before Jake laughed, "Well, it would have to be her. I doubt it's me."
Andre got a curious look on his face, "Why would that be? Aren't you the one who created a new puppet single handedly? Didn't you transfer Dexter's essence into Trickster? Aren't you now working on a second puppet?"
Jake shrugged. "So did my father, so why couldn't it be him?"
Andre shook his head, "Not in the way you have done. Your quality of work with Trickster, his mannerisms, his agility is beyond even your father's work."
Jake sighed, "Well, we have yet to see what Tabitha can do. After all, she is a Toulon." As he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She blushed.
After the two of them left, a movement in the corner of the room caught Andre's attention as Rick stepped out from the shadows and nodded to him.
A few moments passed before Andre nodded as if talking with him, "Yes my friend, I didn't tell them about the "Other". They have enough to be dealing with."
Returning to their room, Tabitha and Jake sat in silence for a while before she asked, "What's wrong?"
He shook his head, almost like he couldn't believe what she was asking.
"What's wrong is everything." He stammered, "Everything is going wrong now. First, my parent's souls are trapped in puppets. Next I find out I'm a Toulon and now we find out one of us is predestined to defeat some demon lord. What could possibly be wrong?"
"What's wrong with being a Toulon?" she asked, rather insulted.
"It's easy for you." He said, turning his anger and emotional confusion on her, "You've always been one. It's easy for you to accept, but I haven't been."
She sat there; stunned at the way he was not only talking to her but what he was saying.
"I've also been alone until now. I thought that my situation had changed for the better. I found you and the puppets and…a home?" She ventured, her voice softened by his wrath.
"Don't turn this around on me." He said, turning his back to her, "It's not my fault I've been thrust into this mess. I wish I wasn't a Toulon."
Her eyes widened at hearing those words. For her, it was always something to be proud of. Being the last Toulon until now was something she held dear. Her name was all she had for so very long. Since meeting Andre, she felt a renewed sense of honor at having the blood of the Toulon name running though her veins. But Jake, what he said truly hurt her as she stood and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Asked Jake, shocked to see her leaving.
"I'd hate for you to be forced to share a room with a Toulon." She spat before turning and leaving.
"Well shit." Is all Jake could say, hitting himself in the head with his hand, "Way to go Jake. You've just driven the one woman you would give anything for away."
A scuffle outside was heard before Jester and Trickster came into the room, Jester giving an "Ooooh." While wearing his frowning face.
"Yeah," Jake said in response, "I'll agree with you there, Jester. Oooh. Jake screwed up."
The pair of puppets moved over and climbed onto the bed to sit beside him as he lay back onto the bed, folding his arms over his face.
"I really screwed up this time guys. I mouthed off and should have shut my mouth while I was ahead. I said stuff I didn't mean and now Tabitha is upset with me."
Trickster cocked his head slightly and hissed as Jake sighed, "I told her…I told her I wished I wasn't a Toulon."
"Ooooh!" said Jester whose head turned to the angry face.
Uncovering his face, Jake nodded, "I know, I know. I didn't really mean it. Being told I was a Toulon was a great thing for me, but you guys have to understand, this is all taking its toll on me. This is not some every day run of the mill situation going on here." He said, trying to defend himself, "I love all of you since you ARE my family. That has never and will never change. Andre, Elsa, all you. Especially Tabitha. Guys, I love her more than you know. I'd do anything for her and give my life for her."
Reaching into his pocket, he removed a small velvet bag and said, "See? I even told mom I wanted to marry her. She went and got this. It's the engagement ring dad gave her before they got married and she switched rings." He showed them the small diamond ring before slipping it back into the pouch and into his pocket.
"Not that I'll be using it now. I think she's so pissed off at me, she won't even want to talk to me anymore." And covered his face again as Jester's face twisted to reveal a smiling one again as he walked over and sat on Jake's chest.
"Dex," He said, moving one arm to look over at Trickster who sat there, staring at him, "You know what it's like. Well, at least you did."
Trickster nodded as Jester looked between the two saying, "Oooo?"
Sighing, Jake replied to him, "It's a long story and I don't know if Dex wants me to talk about it."
Turning the little puppet nodded as if giving permission.
Looking over to Jester, Jake put his hands behind his head and started.
"When I first met Dex at the Phoenix, he was just like everyone else. Hard working, straight as an arrow and was polite to everyone. Nicest guy you could ever meet. That was because of Rebecca, his fiancé. They had been dating for three years and he had finally plucked up enough courage to ask her to marry him. Both of them had been in bad relationships prior to meeting, especially her and her ass of an ex."
At this, Trickster simply nodded and looked down at the floor.
"Well, everything was going fine until one night two weeks after they had put the news of their engagement in the paper. They were out eating dinner when he ex-boyfriend showed up. He started yelling at them and saying how he stole her from him and how she was nothing more than a whore. Before either of them could do anything," Jake said, looking over to Trickster who was now slowly shaking his head.
Looking back to Jester, whose face had turned to frown, "The guy took out a gun and shot Dex in the shoulder before turning and shooting Rebecca in the chest two times. Then he took the cowards way out and shot himself."
Reaching over, Jake put a hand on Trickster's back and patted.
"After that, Dex was gone for a month from work. I went to the funeral and he was totally emotionless. Didn't cry or anything, but everyone knew he was hurting. After that, when he came back, we were all shocked. It was as if nothing had ever happened, but Dex was different. Pranking whoever he could laughing annoyingly at anything that could be construed as funny and just being the office pest."
Jester was staring over at his companion and shaking his head.
"I asked him why he had changed. What had happened. He told me that the first week he had sat in his apartment, crying and sitting with the lights out. Suffering. Then one day it hit him. His belief in a rational universe was swept away. Everything just happened, there was no reason or logic to it. His idea of adventure was to cause chaos and confusion all over. In the end, he decided he must show everyone that life is a joke"
Upon hearing this, Trickster turned and let out a "He he he!" loudly and began to do flips on the bed.
"See?" Jake asked Jester who finally turned his face to a smiling one as Jake said, "To be honest, I prefer this version of him. Always happy, wanting people to laugh and enjoy themselves."
Unknown to any of them, Blade had been standing outside the door listening. Turning, he moved to find Tabitha.
He found her in Suzie and Rick's room, sitting on the bed, her elbows on her knees and head in her hands, crying.
Walking up to her, he tapped her on the leg as she stopped suddenly and looked down before smiling at him.
"Hey there Blade." She said, sniffing and wiping away her tears.
It was at the moment Blade actually raised his hands to her as if wanting to be picked up.
Somewhat surprised, she picked him up and sat him on her lap. Looking up at her, he pointed out the door toward Jake's room.
She shook her head, "No. I don't want to talk to him. Especially now."
Blade shook his head as she stammered, "He said he didn't want to be a Toulon, like it was some kind of damned awful curse or something."
Again, Blade shook his head.
"You don't believe me?" she asked, shocked.
Blade simply looked at her and then pointed back toward Jake's room.
"You think he didn't mean it?"
Blade nodded.
She shook her head, unbelieving.
"I was going to tell him something important tonight, Blade. Something that would either turn him away from me or bring us closer."
Letting out a hiss for her to continue, she smiled. She trusted this puppet so much, she could tell him. "Blade…I'm pregnant."
He looked to her stomach and reached out with his hook hand to touch her belly before pointing out the door again.
"No, I'm not about to tell him now." She said, getting angry.
Moving him to the bed, she got up and went into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it. She needed to splash some cold water on her face and calm down.
When she came out minutes later, she looked around, but Blade had gone from the room. Walking out, she headed for the kitchen when the gothic puppet came running up, pointing to the elevator.
"What?" She asked, confused, "What is it?"
He simply pointed for her to get in the elevator. Nodding, she moved quickly and stepped inside as Blade followed and held up his knife hand to wait.
A moment later, Jester and Trickster came running in followed by Jake who was out of breath.
"Would you two tell me what is so important?" he asked as he looked up at Tabitha and gave a half smile.
"Hi."
She half smiled back, "Hey."
The door to the elevator shut as it began to go down before Blade popped open the fuse box and stopped it between floors.
"What's going on Blade?" Jake asked, not sure what was going on.
"He he he." Said Trickster as he moved to the corner.
Looking up at the pair of them, Blade pointed to each one and then crossed his hands.
"I think he's mad that we're upset with each other." Suggested Tabitha as Blade nodded.
Jester's head spun around to a sad face and mimicked Blade's actions.
"So is Jester." Jake added.
"He." Said Trickster as Tabitha smiled broadly.
"Trickster too."
They looked at one another without saying a word before Jake looked at the floor, "Tabitha, I'm sorry about what I said. I should have never said that. I am proud to be a Toulon. It's just that with everything going on, I was overwhelmed."
"You don't think I'm not?" She half way yelled back, "I'm even more stressed over this than you are. You've been around this kind of stuff your entire life. I've only had two and a half months of experience with it. I'm only now understanding what they puppets say when they talk."
"I…" Jake began to say as she held out a hand to stop him, "And then you say that you've got a lot to be going on with? That you're angry with your parents for not telling you the truth?"
Her face grew red, "I didn't get a chance to know my parents! Both of them were taken from me and now I think I know why. If Sutaketh wants all Toulons dead, than that included my grandfather Robert and my mother. Now he wants me! You have parents who wanted nothing more than to protect you from knowing things that would terrify you!"
Tears began to stream down her cheeks as he reached out and pulled her to him.
Fighting him, she struggled and punched his chest for several moments before giving in and leaning on his chest as his arms wrapped around her.
"I'm sorry." He said over and over, "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
Finally, she nodded in his chest, "It's okay."
"No, it isn't." he replied shaking his head, "I should have thought about you. How all of this has been affecting you. I was selfish."
Moving back, she looked into his face.
"I know you've been under a lot of pressure and stress. I wasn't being fair to you either. I know this is a lot for you to accept as well."
Staring into her eyes, he said, "I love you, you know."
Smiling back, she leaned her head against his chest again, "I love you too."
A hissing sound caught their attention as they looked down and saw Blade staring at them. Pointing once to his stomach, he looked back at her.
Jake looked from one to another before asking, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
She blushed before nodding, "This isn't how I wanted to tell you, but…I'm pregnant."
He seemed to freeze for a moment, going expressionless before he grinned like the Chester cat, "When did you find out?"
"When Elsa and I went to the store to get food, I slipped a test in. So about a week." She replied, relieved that he was happy about the news.
A tapping on his pocket caused Jake to look down at Jester who was grinning.
"Yeah, Jes. I think your right."
Reaching into his pocket, he removed the velvet bag and slid the ring out, showing it to her as she gasped.
"This isn't exactly how I wanted to do this either, but…"
He slipped the ring onto her left wedding finger as he asked, "Tabitha Toulon, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
Again, tears began to roll down her cheeks as she hugged him, saying, "Yes."
There was hissing in the elevator as the puppets celebrated as well before Blade turned the elevator back on and it moved back upstairs.
"We need to find my parents and Andre and Else." Jake said, holding her hand and pulling her out.
"Dex, can you see where they are?" Tabitha asked.
Flipping down his x-ray specs, Trickster looked around and then pointed to Tabitha's old room on the next level and hissing.
"What are they examining?" Asked Jake as Trickster shook his head.
Moving up the stairs, Jake reached to open the door when he heard a commotion inside.
Reaching over to his side, he removed a small dagger he had taken to carrying with him in cases like this as he tried to open the door but found it locked.
"Andre!" he yelled twice before moving back and kicking the door at the handle as it flew open.
Two things happened in succession as he entered the room. From the corner of his eye, he saw Andre and Elsa, bound by ropes and lying on the bed. In front of him, a Wheeler was writing something on the wall with a sharp protrusion from his wrist, covered in blood.
As the door opened, it turned to him and laughed before leaping onto the bed.
Before he could take more than three steps toward them, a ring of fire circled the bed as the flames rose, covering it from view. A few seconds later, the flames disappeared, leaving nothing but an ash ring around where the bed had been.
Quickly, he moved to the floor and looked down, seeing the rune symbols that had now been completed in a circle around where the bed had been.
"Damn it!" Jake shouted and kicked the ash.
"Jake…" Tabitha whispered as he looked over at her.
"What?" wondering what it was she saw.
Looking over to where she was pointing, he saw what had been written on the wall as the dagger dropped from his hands.
SURRENDER OR THEY DIE
To be continued on Book Three of the Puppet Wars.