42 Jack of Spades (Again)

Celine nodded briefly, "Yeah I can broadcast images and sound but not move from the spot im broadcasting."

"Can you alter the sound slightly?"

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Haiden was exhausted, he was working till late slaving away as a stable boy for a noble. Every day he had to wake up early and go to work tending to the estate's 30 horses, and at the end of the day he had to clean all the horses, all for 3 silver a month. It was the bare minimum to stay afloat even in the poverty stricken districts.

Reaching his house he swung the door open to see his wife asleep in a chair presumably waiting for him to come home. She worked also, and based of the knicks on her hands she worked in the fields harvesting grandis fruit. Grandis fruit was a popular fruit among the middle class, because of it's decent taste and large body.

Lightly shaking his wife awake he put a blanket around her shoulders and started walking towards the bedroom with her. But as he reached the door his vision blurred as deep voice spoke out. If someone form earth heard it they would compare it to a voice changer.

In front of his eyes was a building burning with smoke billowing, several dead bodies lay about, but what was most attention grabbing was a bloodied man wearing a mask in front of the carnage.

"Hello Forgemire, you may be wondering what is happening right now, I would tell you to not be afraid but you definitely be scared."

Trembling Haiden increased his grip on his wife hugging her closer.

"But I am getting ahead of myself, let me introduce myself, I am the Jack of Spades. And contrary to what you might be thinking I am not the cause of this. No, the cause of this is a group called the Brotherhood of the Labyrinth. They are a cult that worships an evil god; they were the culprit of the mass killing a couple of weeks ago. I have just finished a battle with three of their members, two of which you may recognize."

The Jack of Spades paused for dramatic effect.

"Killsman Cast, and Daniel Hildegard were both members. If you aren't sure who they are let me tell you this, they were both highly influential nobles of Forgemire. I am broadcasting this to all of Forgemire for two reasons, first is to the citizens. A unique marking of them is their serpentine tattoo's, specifically a three headed serpent and a basilisk are known as one. If you find a person with one be wary."

The Jack of Spades then walked over and picked up a body and moving it into a kneeling position, and pointing a finger gun to his head. Looking at the face of the individual most would recognize him as Killsman Cast.

"Second is to the Brotherhood."

Suddenly a hole appeared in the side of Killsman's head killing him instantly.

"With that a bid you ado."

His vision clearing Haiden found himself hugging his wife both of them kneeling of the floor. Shaking slightly, his mind was spinning for the information the Jack of Spades had just given to them.

A new determined light shining in his eyes he hugged his trembling wife and looked up at the sky.

"I won't die to some stupid cult."

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Celine looked astonished at Jack, who had just killed one of the most recognizable figures in front of the entire population of Forgemire. Taking of his mask he looked at Celine tiredly before speaking.

"Let's go before the authorities get here."

Closing her mouth Celine simply nodded and opened a gate to her house. Letting Jack step through first she closed the gate behind her and quickly called the head maid over.

"He needs first aid desperately!"

The maid looked at Celine oddly as she recognized jack from the broadcast that had just happened, not from his figure but from his injuries.

Seeing the look in her maids eyes she simply waved her hand.

"No time to explain just treat him first, oh also catch me please."

Right after she said that her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fainted on top of the maid. The maid quickly caught her while calling for more maids and stuck a handkerchief to Celine's nose which was now bleeding.

"Treat him, I'll take care of the miss."

The maids nodded quickly and worked on dressing Jack's wounds. Although he was being treated he made no change in expression even when alcohol was poured on his wounds. Jack was currently to engrossed in his thoughts from killing three people.

While the maids wrapped his wounds his hands couldn't stop shaking as he stared at the floor ahead of him blankly.

(I just killed a man.... No I killed three.... But what does that matter, what matters is that I'm a killer now)

Jack didn't planning on killing Killsman but he had sensed Killsman reaching for a gun to kill him so he decided on the spot to kill him as a warning.

(Oh my god.... he was a father... his family loved him.... what have I done?.... Am I monster now?... No it was either him or me.)

Jack's pupils dilated and his hands clutched into fists reopening the wound on his left hand staining the wrapping red.

"..ack ....Jack.... Jack!"

Shaking his shoulders the head maid pulled Jack away from his thoughts.

"I'm going to need an explanation from you later, but since you're obviously in need of recovery I'll take you to the guest room."

Nodding silently Jack walked behind her and laid down on the bed falling asleep immediately.

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Seeing the image of her father dying Felicia felt something snap in her head as pain throbbed through her. After a few seconds the pain subsided and emotions flooded in, but before dwelling on what had just happened she heard a knock on her door.

Opening it she saw a middle aged beautiful lady carrying an unconscious Lizzie, who was covered in soot and coughing slightly.

"Killsman tried to use her to kill Jack, but he managed to save her. He told me to come here and return her to you, she needs her mother right now, she's had a very traumatic experience."

Taking her sleeping daughter into her arms she nodded slowly to Annalise. Annalise turned around to go but was stopped by a slight tug on her sleeve. Lizzie had reached out and grabbed her sleeve while burrowing her head into her mother chest.

Felicia smiled weakly, "Well I guess you better come in, you both need a bath."

Annalise expressed her gratitude and stepped inside holding Lizzie's hand. Walking into the bathroom she sat to the side and waited for the bathtub to fill with hot water.

Taking this quiet time to think, Felicia thought about what that pain was in her head was. Slowly collecting her thoughts she realized that it had something to do with Killsman's death. For some reason she did not feel any sadness due to his death but relief, it was like a veil was pulled from her eyes and she could see clearly now.

Little did she know that this was Killsman's curse being lifted, anyone close to the victim would be effected by the curse causing them to have feelings of trust and love towards Killsman. It was a standard curse set by the Brotherhood to ensure that their members would not be found out.

The reason for Killsman's family's love even though he was cold was because of this curse. Daniel Hildegard's family would be feeling this as well, the main reason for people putting up with his abuse was the curse. Of course his curse focused more on the feeling of fear and respect.

Watching Annalise play with the now awake Lizzie within the bath Felicia smiled weakly and dipped her hand in the water before brushing Lizzie's head.

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Lilian stood straight up, just before she saw the image she felt something snap within her head and a sense of clarity come over her. Because Lilian was more accustomed to magic than Felicia she realized that something had severed a connection with her. Fearing the worst for jack she was panicked until she saw the broadcast.

After seeing the broadcast she opened her door that should be sealed. Swinging open the door she paused waiting for a force to pull her back into her room, but it never came. Breathing a sigh of relief she quickly pulled up on her dress and ran towards the front door.

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Gregor stood straight up from his office chair.

"That damn kid! You think you can fool anyone with that mask."

Rubbing his temples Gregor paced back and forth.

(So not only was Killsman a member but Hildegard too, I don't think the higher ups can ignore me anymore.)

Stopping abruptly Gregor smirked slightly before sitting back down in his chair.

"Nice going kid."

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Reginald sat down with the res of his family and Annalise in the living room. Despite watching his father die he did not feel sad, but instead he simply had a head ache thinking about all the extra work he would have to do.

In fact the only one who seemed upset besides Lizzie was Regina, hugging his mother the Cast family spent a quiet evening.

While they sat there comforting each other, Reginald clasped his hands together.

(If father and Hildegard were members who knows who else could be one. I should focus on finding more members. I might not be able to fight them, but I can definitely find them!)

Reaffirming in his heart what he was going to do he smiled and mumbled.

"Good luck Jack."

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Deep underground beneath a certain house in Forgemire sat three figures. A robed man, Cassandra, and a feeble looking old man.

The vision clearing from all their eyes, they each had different reactions. The robed man swore and spat on the floor, while Cassandra chewed on her thumb nail lost in thought. But what made both of them pause was the old man's reaction.

"Hehehe, I never thought I'd see another trickster within my life. I don't know whether to feel glad or bemoaned."

Seeing that even this person was interested in the Jack of Spades, or as they knew now Jack Axter, the two paled and knelt before him.

"Forgive us your lordship! We were unable to get rid of the threat that loomed over our operations."

The elder simply waved his hands dismissing the kneeling members.

"It is fine he exceeded my expectations too."

Relaxing slightly the two left the room quietly pondering over what to do next leaving the elder alone in the room.

"Hehehe, I suppose that we'll be meeting sometime in the future Jack. I hope you don't disappoint."

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Jack awoke slowly and looked to his side with a groan. Because of the adrenaline during the fight he wasn't suffering too much. But after sleeping the pain had caught up to him.

Laying her torso on the side of Jack's bed was a sleeping Lilian, hearing the groan she quickly opened her eyes and grabbed Jack's good hand bringing it to her lips.

"Ugh, where?"

"We are in Celine's house, I was able to get out of my room thanks to fathers death, and from what you told me I assumed that you were either in the Cast residence or Celine's. I wound up going to the cast's first so that's why they're here too."

"They?"

Jack looked beyond the worried Lilian and saw Reginald Felicia and Lizzie smiling at Jack. Reginald stood up and waved for a maid to get Celine. After conversing with Lilian for a while the door opened and Celine walked in with Annalise and Gregor in tow.

Sitting down in the last remaining chair Celine spoke up.

"Well now that were here, I think it's time to establish a organization to fight the Brotherhood. Any ideas?"

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End of Volume One: Tricksters Reign-New World