Chapter 5

Chapter 5

 

Unlike the dungeons below Morgan’s chambers, they were less ornamented with fixtures. It left you with a dark and cold feeling, and for Jeff, lying on the bed. He could tell something had changed through the bond he held with EJ. His body still felt weak, yet he was getting stronger quickly. As he looked down at his hands, they seemed to glow with a cold sensation going through him.

Jeff tries to move around a bit, feeling the chains still clamped to his leg. “At least I am not in the dungeon anymore,” he whispered as he looked around the room. He could hear the guards outside the door walking down the hallway. He knew by the sounds that soon Morgan was planning on moving forward with his plan of world domination, of acquiring the full power of from the Five Keys of Destiny and the items that pertain to them. If he could find and control them to become a God. It was Jeff’s and the Council of Light to ensure that it never happens.

Jeff wonders about the mysteries that lie within it. Some say power, some say untold riches beyond, or both enough to control the world. It had nearly been a week since the last time he saw anyone as he slept in Morgan’s chambers.

Things have been rough on him, as Morgan questions him every day. He tries to get more information on the bond he carries and the high council if he knows who they are, making sure the boy is who he says he is. He came close last night and would have almost gotten the information if he could if the bond was still open somewhere.

As the tonic trickles down, Jeff’s eyes flutter open, glazed with a sinister glow. His body trembles, a puppet on Morgan’s strings. Unleashed, he rises, a dormant beast awakened.

Morgan’s dominant voice reverberates through the room, penetrating Jeff’s thoughts like a poisonous arrow. Commands pour forth, each word a shackle, binding Jeff’s will tighter. Without hesitation, Jeff obeys, his movements swift and precise, a lethal dance of obedience As Jeff continued to play the role of the obedient servant, his heart raced with a mixture of fear and defiance. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, glistening in the dimly lit room. The tension in his muscles was noticeable, as if ready to explode at any moment. But outwardly, he kept a stoic facade, his face an unreadable mask.

Deep down, a fire burned within him, fueled by the injustice of his situation. He danced this twisted dance, driven by Morgan’s dark desires. But Jeff refused to succumb entirely to the role assigned to him. He held onto a sliver of hope, knowing that his true allegiance lay elsewhere.

With every command uttered by Morgan, a surge of anger would pulse through Jeff’s veins, momentarily clouding his vision. But he quickly regained control, using that anger as a catalyst for his hidden rebellion. With precision and purpose, Jeff concealed the storm of emotions raging within as he executed each step and movement.

As Morgan’s words continued to echo in the room, Jeff’s mind raced, desperately seeking a way out. He knew that the web of deception he had woven would eventually unravel, but until then, he played his part flawlessly. He had to bide his time, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal his true intentions.

In the darkness of his thoughts, Jeff silently vowed to himself that Morgan’s twisted desires would never come to fruition. He would not allow himself to be consumed by darkness, nor would he let Morgan’s icy grip tighten around his heart. Though he played the role of the obedient puppet, deep down, he was a rebel, waiting for his chance to break free from the chains that bound him.

With each passing day, Jeff’s resolve grew stronger, his determination unyielding. He would not be a mere vessel for Morgan’s twisted dreams. He would reclaim his autonomy, and in doing so, bring an end to the toxic control that had poisoned his existence.

And so, as Morgan reveled in his perceived power, little did he know that Jeff’s spirit burned brighter than ever, ready to shatter the illusion of obedience and embrace his true destiny. They set the stage and were about to begin the battle for freedom. He is a weapon forged by Morgan’s twisted desires, a vessel of unwavering loyalty. So, he thinks, but the truth was Jeff was only pretending to be at Morgan’s control. “Soon, my Dark Prince, you will be unstoppable when your strength returns. For the Light will never touch you again, as your heart grows cold.” Jeff wanted to say, “dream on,” for what Morgan truly wants would never happen. For now, he had to play two sides of the coin.

Morgan placed the vial back into his pocket, resetting the ward around the room, and closed the door behind him. Knowing if someone was listening or taking the boy, he would know who and where. Morgan concentrates on the boy’s mind as the boy sleeps, hoping he will find what he is looking for. Not realizing it in the room where the boy sleeps, a soft, warm glow of white light encompasses the boy as he sleeps night after night; Jeff leaves part of himself with the boy to heal the body, removing most of Morgan’s tonics.

Jeff ventures out in spirit form as he walks the hallways. Unlike EJ in Jayden’s chambers, he is transparent because his body is somewhere else. Jeff had no substance. He was barely even a ghost because he was using most of it to support the life of EJ’s body. This gave Jeff a chance to listen in on things going on about him and find out what Morgan was doing as he looked at the maps on the table. Most surprisingly, he discovered that followers of Morgan had exposed two influential council members, and he learned that Jayden had taken over Derrick's position as the new judge of time or timekeeper of the fabric of time.

Whenever Jeff needed information on his progress, he could always rely on the helpful notes in Morgan’s study. When Jeff reads the notes about nothing on Downing’s brothers or the Whitmore’s, he smiles, but it brings him close to one or possibly leads to the three brothers Will, Robert and Danny in Jayden’s camp. Jeff’s eyes nearly fell on reading that. Wondering, could it be? If so, why would Jayden be so careless? Grief saddens him as he looks at all the worlds tied in a black ribbon at their destruction, as noted in Morgan’s journal, to point to what he has done to each one. He glorifies himself as they suffer in his name.

While Jeff was reading the names on the wall, a bright light surrounded him right where he stood. It was so bright that Jeff had to cover his eyes for a moment before he could see again. Jeff soon opens his eyes, finding out he was standing in a garden like the one he brought EJ to, except this one was full of life.

Four people were sitting on a bench under a tree. He knew Derrick, Jayden, and Bowden. The fourth person glanced at the face, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was EJ himself. “But how is this possible since he is supposed to be changed somehow?” he said to himself.

Jeff approached the bench from the gate as EJ laughed, running over to greet him. While the rest sit there and laugh at the boy’s excitement at seeing an old friend? But it only lasted for a mere second as Jeff tried to pick him up in his arms and hold him close to him. He realized he could not touch EJ as before, watching his arms and hands slip through him. Jeff looked at the three sitting on the bench as the boy walked by his side unaffected by his touch.

Derrick and Jayden, their voices filled with empathy, explain to Jeff the reason he cannot touch the boy, while Jeff gazes at EJ by his side. A single tear escapes from Jeff's eye, tracing a gentle path down his cheek, as he comprehends the truth. In the background, Bowden's voice cuts through the silence, its tone soothing yet firm. The air in the room carries a subtle scent of tranquility, as if the space itself rejects darkness and malice. As Jeff takes in his surroundings, he senses a profound understanding that this place exposes the depths of one's heart, stripping away any illusions. The cries of those burdened by their own misdeeds echo in the air, but they remain unheard, as the encompassing Light once again embraces them.

Jeff tells them all that he has learned of Morgan in his study and maps. “Alas, my friend, we can’t help you with information except for this place where you can come in your sleep or when you’re not walking through the halls. It is a gift from the Master of the Light for you and EJ to communicate, since your bond is broken.” Derrick glances at Jayden, watching EJ. Bowden, placing two fingers on Jayden’s right wrists, which was a queue, and said that they need to be alone with Jeff for a moment.

Jayden was trying to catch the boy’s interest. “EJ, do you know what else this place, that other place didn’t have?” he said pointing over in the field down the road. EJ could see his pony, Jackson. EJ got up, ran over to the fence, laughing, and then looked at Jayden with wondering eyes as they walked down the road.

Derrick laughed, watching EJ running down the road with Jayden behind him. Then his face got long and serious, and his mouth tightened. “Jeff, the body that we have created for EJ is a living being. Which can hurt and can die just as easily as if he were in his real one. It is no longer just made of matter and magic. In time, it, too, will die or will simply fade away.

“When you see EJ, you must never tell him where you are, no matter how bad things get for you or him. Morgan has placed several new wards when you are asleep. Right now, he is probing your mind as you sleep, looking for anything that might help him.” Bowden pulls out another pouch and starts mixing some ingredients that are only found here, where Morgan can’t go, that the master himself had handed him.

Bowden takes the juice from a rufnety gum tree and grinds the spices into a small cup as he was directed. “This will remove and erase the memories of your past only in the body, not in the spirit. Bowden has agreed to play possum and give it to you while you’re asleep in Morgan’s chambers. Dressed as one of the guards stationed by your door, he is sleeping at his post right now. 

“Nothing will happen to the Guard. We decided to give him a different post somewhere else because he is doing us a favor. We will do one for him without being touched by Morgan, giving him a chance to take a different path in life, you might say, than the one he is on right now.

“As you awaken, Jeff, the world around you will come alive once more. The distant twinkle of stars in the sky whispers a prophecy of your impending strength, promising a future filled with both triumph and destruction. The night air carries a gentle breeze that rustles through the trees, creating a melodic symphony that serenades your ears. Accompanying this soothing melody is the soft chirping of birds, their cheerful song welcoming the new day. The anticipation of your role as Morgan's Dark Prince lingers in the air, mingling with the scent of uncertainty, creating a palpable sense of tension.

“As Morgan's longing for the artifacts intensifies, they transform from mere trinkets to alluring unattainable treasures, their hidden secrets eluding his inexperienced touch. The air is heavy with anticipation, the artifacts patiently bidding their time, awaiting the arrival of the young boy EJ, who will eventually embody the White Solon. In this moment, you and EJ stand side by side, emanating an aura that permeates the surroundings, infusing the atmosphere with a subtle but undeniable sense of destiny. A subtle fragrance, whispering of something new and promising, fills the air. It lingers, mingling with the sounds of distant battle cries and clashing weapons, creating an atmosphere pregnant with hope and power.

Beneath this hopeful scent, however, a heavy sense of foreboding permeates the air. It feels as if the very essence of evil hangs like a suffocating cloak, chillingly reminding us of the malevolence that envelops the battlefield. The shadow of darkness looms, casting a gloom that smothers the senses. Its presence is almost tangible, whispering sinister promises of destruction. Amidst this despair, a glimmer of hope flickers like a distant flame. It is here, where you, the Dark Prince, and him, the White Solon, unite to ensure a brighter future. In this future, the Shadow Realm is destroyed, hope overwhelms evil, and you and the White Solon stand as guardians, protecting humanity from the abyss.

As you and EJ, the White Solon, stand side by side, the artifacts gleam with a mysterious energy. Their power pulsates through the universes as the merging process begins. With every movement, a symphony of whispers and murmurs fills the air, creating a chorus of anticipation. As you both immerse yourselves in the task, the weight of responsibility settles upon your shoulders, sending a tingling sensation down your spine. The universe seems to hold its breath, aware of the unstoppable force that is about to be unleashed.

In this union of light and darkness, a new age is on the horizon, promising to shake the very foundations of the encroaching darkness.

Embarking on this quest, a tingling sensation courses through your veins, a mix of excitement and trepidation. It feels as if the very essence of the adventure is pulsating within you. The weight of responsibility settles upon your shoulders, urging you to right the wrongs that Morgan has unleashed. The touch of your friend's presence beside you brings comfort and determination, bolstering your resolve to defy the encroaching Shadow Realm. Together, you and your friend shall restore balance and prevent the darkness from seizing control, as the stars have prophesied.

Yet, the time for this task still remains uncertain, like a distant horizon that looms closer with each passing moment, but not as close as any of us would like. Both of you must grow and learn, as your destiny separates and then once more combines. Only when that happens will the prophecies come true, and the Shadow Realm, Morgan, and the Gods of that realm will disappear.

 

* * * * *

EJ was so excited to see his pony Jackson again that he rubbed his head and gave him an apple from a nearby tree. “I knew he was still alive,” EJ said, glancing over at Jayden.

Jayden laughed. “Of course he is. Your Aunt Margaret made sure nothing would happen to him or the roosters and the chickens or any of the Downings and Whitmore’s livestock.” As they walked through the farmyard down the road, a farmer waved to Jayden and came over to meet them at the gate.

“Hello, EJ,” the farmer said as he looked down at the small boy and Jayden. He looked around down the road. “Just you today?” he asked, as if he was expecting to see some more people.

Jayden smiled at the man in the farmer’s overalls. “EJ, this is Mr. Glen Tremens, who runs this farm.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, son,” Glen Tremens said as he rubs EJ’s head.

EJ's shock intensifies as he gazes at Jayden and then at his horse. He asked, “How is it that he is able to touch me and feel them and nobody else?”

Jayden kneels to look EJ in the eye. “They’re here in spirit, just like you.” Tears form in EJ’s eyes as he looks across the field at his pony. “They’re dead, aren’t they?” he asked.

The boy’s face showed pain as Jayden saw tears falling for his pony. With his arm on the boy’s shoulder, Mr. Tremens kneels. “No, they’re not dead because if they were, you wouldn’t be able to see them like me seeing you. You’re not dead, at least not yet,” as he tries to laughed to put a smile on the boy’s face. “Your body is just somewhere else on vacation.” EJ smiled and looked up at Jayden, remembering the apple and the two halves. Maybe it applies to his pony as well and the Downing roosters?

Feeling better, EJ wiped the tears from his eyes and gazed once more at the farm. It was a little farm, not as big as the Downing Farm, but big enough. It had a nice barn and a large yard with a tree, a swing, and a tree house in the front. It almost reminded EJ of his home on the Downing Farm.

He could smell fresh bread baking right out of the oven. Jayden smiled at EJ as he watched EJ’s eyes wander around the farm, glancing at everything. “Well, don’t just stand there,” Glen said, putting his arm around EJ. “Let’s go inside and have some nice hot bread and meet the misses. After all, son, I understand this is your farm. I’m just the caretaker,” Glen replies.

EJ turned his head and looked at Jayden as he followed right behind them, shocked. The first words out of EJ’s mouth as he entered the house were, “My Farm?”

Glen Jayden laughs. EJ’s eyes opened wide with new wonder. “Yes, all yours. The master said you need a place where you feel comfortable and at home. This is your home away from home. When you come here with Jeff and others, nobody can enter this place unless their heart is pure enough that they and you see the Light in their soul.

“For they cannot dwell or sit with the master as he asks for the mask they hide behind, for they will not give it to him willingly. So, they, too, will perish as they hide behind another mask, leading them deeper into the pits of darkness. 

“For it is the mask we must all wear. We must not hide from the master, for it is his mask. He knows them all well as we sit by his fire as Light, and the Darkness is one and the same.”

EJ looked around the farmhouse living room; it was cozy with a little fireplace. He wondered if it ever got cold enough to use it. He was already missing his Ma as Mrs. Tremens came out of the kitchen with sliced fresh bread and butter with jam on a tray. With a pitcher of lemonade, she looked around the room as if more guests were coming. Jayden calmly nodded that they would be here momentarily as she set the tray down and joined in the conversation.

Jayden and Glen try to explain to EJ how things work and how he can be in two places at once. Like his pony, who is dreaming in a field of green, thinking of him, the roosters, and some of the livestock doing whatever they can not to upset him.

For it is true that in reality, as he looked at and talks with the Tremens, the caretakers are the ones dead and have passed on like Jeff, but someone assigned the Tremens this special task to guard the gate and ensure the boy’s safety here.

Derrick enters the farm with Jeff, who seems strange as he looks around at the place as he enters the gate for a brief minute. Jeff stops and looks at Derrick as if he doesn’t know him. Derrick waits as Jeff returns transparently, just like EJ, and then feels bewildered.

 

* * * *

The guard who was asleep, Bowden, slips into his mind and then places a sleeping spell on the other guard as he goes inside the room. Setting off Morgan’s wards, knowing time was not on his side, he rushes across the room quickly.

Bowden pours the vial down the boy’s throat and then transforms both guards into mice. He puts them into his pocket and dissipates them to a nice, safe spot. For now, he keeps the mice in a cage for safekeeping on a shelf in his library with lots of cheese and things for them to chew on when they wake up.

Morgan storms down the hallway, finding both guards missing at their posts. He enters the room and sees the boy still in the bed where he had left him. Morgan feels the air of the ward, seeking what has changed. He sees it was only the one Guard breaking the ward as he looked at the boy sleeping, but neither of the guards were here or at their posts. Morgan probes the boy, checking if anything has changed, but he finds nothing, which is a curiosity in itself; he cannot find anything that he has done to him either. It is as if something or someone is blocking it from affecting him.

Morgan tries to wake the boy from his deep sleep but is unsuccessful. Thinking of the tonic he has been giving him, it may have been working after all. But it still bothers him about the guards being gone and entering the room. Knowing full well that he would kill them if they so much even touched the boy or disturbed the room, thinking this, he grinned. “Cowards.” Thinking they deserted him by being punished for disobeying a direct order. Which indeed he would have done no questions asked. He couldn't stand anyone defying his orders, especially when it was something he himself had commanded, and everyone will learn that once he becomes a god of all the entire universe and in the realms and worlds of them.

 

* * * *

Bowden hurries back to Derrick as they are starting down the road to the farm, where the boy is by now. Bowden nods to Derrick, his eyes glazed over as he stares at Jeff, the master's tonic coursing through his veins, heavy and sluggish, making him wonder where the boy has gone. With a silent nod, Jeff, confused, turns to him, then looks back at Derrick again. Jeff seems lost for a moment, his gaze flickering, as if his spirit mind struggles to catch up. Jeff noticed them sitting on the grass before entering the farm’s gate. He pondered as he looked at the trees and little farm out in the middle of nowhere. Derrick turned to Jeff. “How do you feel?” he asked.

Jeff laughed. “I feel like my mind has just gone through a blender.”

“Well, it was necessary, my friend; like this place, you will understand once we all go through that gate. For that is the masters of the light gate, Jeff; Morgan can’t go there, or anything of Morgan’s, for that matter.”

Jeff looks down the road at the main gate they all traveled to, thinking that was the gate. Derrick and Bowden explained how Morgan tried to trick them using a world just like this one to gain two followers of the high council and emphasized the need for an extra precaution to be in place for all of them and for the boy and his family.

Revealing nothing, who they are now or where they are, or anything that would even give him a clue. Telling him that the master has also placed a limitation on him. While he is in EJ’s body for a time, it’s up to him to care for it as his own, Enhancing Jeff’s skills as a ghost while maintaining EJ’s body while out gathering information, so it does not drain his strength. Bowden gives him a special gift from the Master of Light himself, which removes all the dangerous substances and tonics Morgan gives him, increasing the boy’s strength even faster and his new abilities he will soon discover when he wakes.

“Yet it is up to you, Jeff,” Bowden said. “You, Jeff," Bowden said, "have the responsibility to play the part of Morgan's Dark Prince well because if you don't, everyone's life will hang in the balance until Morgan is destroyed, and he will be when the time is right. For he, too, has a journey like you, for it is told in the stars, and he must walk the path before it ends.”