Chapter 57

Jacke's POV

As we walked back towards the rubble, everyone seemed uneasy, it wasn't shocking, however; They had never truly met Jameson, nor Damien, my brothers of old brought back from ruination. We walked towards the rubble, Damien raising his right hand and bowing as a sign of goodwill and respect before continuing with us. We got to the rubble and if it weren't for the fact that this wasn't the first time that had happened, I might have broken down then and there. This was our home, our base of operations, but above all else, it was where Jake and I fell when we were sent here the first time. Jake's Coffin lied deep within the earth here, and we swore no matter how many times our home was destroyed, we would build it back stronger than before; There was a feeling of dread in the air as if all was lost, and nothing would matter anymore. Our family needed a reminder of why this place held so much importance to us, so Jake took a second and gave a brief but thorough speech.

"Nicki, do you remember the first time I brought you here? I had just been brought back, you were with Jade and I told you that I wanted to show you both something. Do you remember what lies underneath the ashes here?" He asked, and slowly but surely the gears in her head started turning, putting the pieces together, and then her eyes lit up; A mix of fear and pride, but most importantly: Hope.

That was all we needed, Jake and I fused once more as Nicki rallied everyone together, telling the story of how Jake died; Meanwhile, Jameson, Damien, and I headed through the rubble turning brick after brick over, searching for the door to the basement floor. After a while of searching, our family joined us, gathering what little remained of our home up and setting it off to the side to be stored, the ashes and dust were swept with the wind, and finally, after hours and hours, we found it.

"Lady Muerte, forgive me for this intrusion, I would speak with you," We said before descending down the ladder to the basement floor. It was cold and damp, but still very much intact. There in the center of the room, surrounded by hoarded relics we had found from the remains of past victories, laid the remains of Jake's skeleton. The only physical remains of our origins, and perhaps, the source of our salvation.

"Jacke, do you know what you're doing? Truly know what you're doing?"

"Yeah, I'll admit, even for me this is risky as all hell," Jameson said as we approached the bones, every fiber of our being screamed in agony to leave it be, but sometimes when the path seems empty, a leap of faith is all that is required.

"Let me answer that question with this Jamie: Would we be here if not for Jake's death? Would we have anything at all if not for the cry for help of an innocent soul, being violated and tortured by one he thought he could trust?" We asked, and the room fell completely silent, they knew that what I was about to do goes against everything that we were taught, but something was compelling us to have faith, that a break in tradition may be the key to our salvation. Everyone in the room kneeled on one knee, and lowered their head, not daring to question whatever was to come.

"LADY MUERTE, WE ASK FOR YOUR SALVATION, GUIDANCE, AND WISDOM IN A TIME OF CRISIS," We yelled before grabbing a knife, and spilling a small pool of blood against the cold bones before us. A glass equivalent of gasoline lit a cigar with a match, threw the match over the bones, and as the fire ignited: Blew as thick a cloud of cigar smoke as we could muster over the bones before kneeling before our work. This was no longer about right or wrong, loss or victory, this was a matter of faith; And while our faith may twist and turn, its path remains true to our will.

"Arise, oh faithful," A mature yet beautiful voice spoke from the smoke, and as we stood the bones were turned to ash, and our fate was sealed; A dangerous deal, but a deal we would make good on, as the smoke twisted and turned it took the form of Lady Muerte, mask and all.

"You ask for salvation? For Guidance? But what shocks me most, for wisdom?"

"Death comes for all, my lady, and we have evaded your gaze far too long. The ashes of Jake's bones symbolize our faith in your abilities, the ritual itself symbolizes our will, all that remains is you," We said with respect, but underlying curiosities, a thirst not easily satiated.

"It would seem an enemy of old has returned to your path, old love planting the seeds of war, and yet there's not a shred of fear upon your face, dear Jacke, You've certainly done a lot, and suffered even more; You've got your destined love, what more would you desire?"

"In all respect, my Lady, I simply need a direction, a course for our inaction, your call is our will manifested. We wish to destroy this old enemy once and for all; It won't be pretty, war never is, but she will not stop until we lie dead at her feet, and when Alex marked us, claiming us as hers she said she would never let go of us, even fighting mortality itself to keep us by her side. I believe her, but it wouldn't be just if I didn't reciprocate said faith," We spoke in a low tone, at this point the tone of our speech didn't truly matter, we were a tool; A living weapon with a wielder, but without direction and security from she who claims all, it would all be for naught.

"I see, an undying love, brought to fruition with the fuel of war, is that it? I understand the spiritual importance these bones meant to you boys, and when I leave, I will leave the dust and ash as is, as a reminder of your faith; and a promise to keep: Never give up, Never surrender, you're better than that. I deem your worth the same as I did that faithful day when Jake passed from this world, worthy yet misguided, but if I shall be your guide; Then let it be said, a man within the walls of a holy trinity church waits for you, wishing nothing more than your time. Go to him, see what he has to say, and judge his worth on my behalf. Do this for me, and the next time you face the horde of undead commanded by your old flame, you shall best her in my name, and she will not have any remains to reincarnate herself with. You shall know the taste of victoria once more, and when you return, you shall rebuild your tower in my name; Stronger and sturdier than before, and guided by the wisdom of your brothers. Good luck," She said before dissipating, and true to her word, the ashes of Jake's remains fell to a single pile. Our oath was broken, judged, and found righteous, we knew what to do next and we knew this chance we were gifted, the faith that was shown, shall not be misguided.

"Let's go boys, we've got a long road ahead."