59 Rally (2/2)

Jake

Looking out at the hills, overlooking the Kingdom of Ebonhart, Jake could see a crimson haze in the distance. Everything seemed like a swirling mess within his head. It felt as though he had drank a half bottle of Jack before flying over to the castle. As he stood in the shadows of the walls, he viewed an army of Crimson Knights forming their ranks in front of the entrance. There were enough men to surround the castle completely.

Sadly, Jake knew they were setting up their formations to stop him. As he looked at the many men, he could see the milky white eyes void of life within their armored heads. Aremesis had yet again supplied him with all he needed to counter his brother's assault. He had only to wait for the men to come from the hills before setting hell upon them. Jake knew that a portion of his subconscious was now blocked from the corrupt leader as he thought of his brother. If he had not taken a portion of Will's gift, he wouldn't have even known that he was standing at the place of his birth. Even though he was not in control of his own limbs, when his head turned to the gates, he wondered what exactly it would have been like to grow up within the walls of the kingdom.

He thought of his brother who was only miles away from the battlefield. His mind always wandering back to the fear that Will wouldn't walk away from this fight. He couldn't shake the feeling that this could be the impossible battle that would claim his younger brother's life. If I can do anything to stop that from happening, he thought as he allowed his consciousness to look up to the heavens, give me the strength to do so.

Looking at each corner of the castle, Jake tried to find at least one weakness in the structure whenever his puppeteer allowed the chance. No matter where he looked, he could see hundreds of knights. Even with his new wind aura, he knew Will would need extra support. One of the cuts from his scythe would only cut a small fraction from the army. As knights banded together as far as he could see, he could only hope his brother had a plan.

Knowing there was not much he could do, Jake still made himself useful in the only way he knew how. He sent mental images of what transpired in front of him to his brother. Everything the corrupt Jake saw, Will saw within his own mind. Jake silently thanked the luck he had come upon when thrusting his own lineage weapon within his brother's chest.

”I know you're there young Jake.” He heard his own voice say in a menacing tone. It sent chills down his spine knowing that the puppeteer had been able to find him. ”I know you try to fight me with every fiber of your being, that's very admirable of you.” He felt his mouth twitch into a smile.

You won't win. Jake said within his mind, the only way he knew to try communicating. Will has trumped you in all you have tried so far, what makes this any different?

Jake received a bone chilling chuckle as an answer. ”What does it matter if this works or not?” The apparition within him laughed as he looked over the many thousand knights guarding the castle. ”Regardless of the outcome, we have killed thousands today, you and I.”

One way or another, Will is going to find a way to end you. Jake said as he thought of the many men who had lost their lives that day. Each one met their end at the tip of his blade. He will find a way to free me of you, and when that happens, I'll end you myself.

”There is an end to all things, of that you are correct.” Aremesis mused. ”Life ends no matter how long it takes for the process to come about,” he said as he raised his sword to the sky. Darkness swirled around it as if the night itself bent around the blade. ”But darkness is eternal.”

Jake looked over toward the crimson sky ahead. With each minute, the sky grew brighter. His brother was coming with all he could. He knew it would be a long night, even though he wasn't in control of his own body, now that he had another aura he could feel every cut and bruise that Aremesis received. ”No matter how brightly your light burns, it will always die, brother.” He heard himself say as a nostalgic feeling coursed through his body. ”How fitting that this fight is the end between us brothers,” he said as he pointed his blade toward the crimson sky. ”Now we can finish our own battle, Ragnos.”

Before he could respond, Jake felt a pressure weigh down on him from within. It felt as if he were being pushed from his own body. ”I think it's time to say goodbye Jake.” Aremesis chuckled as Jake's subconscious struggled to stay within its body. ”It's been fun while it lasted, but I think I'll keep this body now.” Jake could feel himself slipping into the darkness that was trying to consume him. A suction force appeared within and threatened to shoot him out into the nothingness.

The void was only an inch away when a hand grabbed hold of him. Jake looked from the void to see Will's hand clasped around his forearm. The darkness was traded with gold as he was once more transferred to the golden throne room which belonged to Cainus. ”If you ensure that Will does not learn of what you spoke of with the dark lord, you may stay within my dwelling until your body is free once more.” The late king looked upon a wide eyed Jake as he turned to once more sit upon his throne. ”He is not yet ready to know the truth.”