Chapter 29

He was taken to the room he had woken to after he had been rescued from the priest of death. It was almost twice as large as his own in Spring valley and severalfold extravagant. Lying on the bed, as if taking the size of the room in consideration, sleep took time to capture him giving his mind time to be occupied by Jane.

He wondered what had happened to her that had forced her into breaking up what had seemed to be joined by the gods themselves. He also thought of the little time they had shared together and how he had sworn never to be involved with that her again after she left. He could not help but wonder why he found it hard to completely let go.

"Your feelings for her are still as strong as they had been." A voice inside him reminded and he knew it was right. When he made that oath, he had clothed it with so much doubt that if Jane had shown even little interest minutes after, he would have run to her with rapture. He pretended not to like it but the warm embrace earlier could be worth more than anything he had had for the last two months. He decided everything would be cleared up the next day; there was no need of killing his head this night.

He wanted to toss aside her thoughts and get some sleep when the eyes of his mind saw someone it had been seeing for the last thirteen years. This time, she was in distressful tears, asking him when they would meet. In her eyes he could see how unfair the world had been to her, leaving its marks on her beautiful face in the form of large dark scars. 

He cried at that sight. He wanted to jump out of the bed and help but that shut his mind's eyes, returning him to reality, which was a luxuriant room, meant to bring happiness to its occupants. "Lulu, where are you? What has become of you?" His eyes were glued on the ceiling, as if she was there, as he spoke.

Jack's face was grim at the table where supper was being taken. He, Brenda and Jason had decided to have a meal together before going to their various homes. The three of them were rather close and concerts such as the one they had had earlier this night were a huge source of happiness to them. However, the scowl on Jack brought the other two on the verge of choking on whatever they were devouring. 

"Jack what is it?" Brenda asked, her brows knitting together with concern. 

"I know him as well as I know myself. No one loves my performance better than he does. Performing before him is one thing that brings happiness to my miserable life. Brenda, you are blessed with gifts beyond our comprehension, what is wrong with my brother?"

She knew how small his circle of friends was and for that reason which people mattered most to him. There was a girl he cared for, but not even his feelings for that girl came close to the love he had for his brother. Considering what she knew, she was afraid to tell him, lest he turned the restaurant to waste.

"Your music took him to a realm any spirit painter would wish to be. He decided to use your music for a breakthrough. Do not expect him to be exactly him immediately after the breakthrough." She did not know what to tell him but the demanding eyes pointed at her gave her no choice.

"Should I take it from you that he is alright?" Jack asked.

"Well, he is not entirely fine. However, that is for him to explain to you, not me."

Jack wanted to press but he knew Brenda; she was the type who never went back on her words no matter what. Her statement took appetite from him. He decided to bid them goodbye and left. Jason did not try to stop him. He turned to Brenda to say a few things but even she left. He decided to deal with the food alone and leave when it was time. The one who left earlier was a smart fellow blessed with skills beyond ordinary men and the lady, she was a freak and how he came to know her and be her friend was still a mystery to him. If they had matters to attend to, he knew better than to stand in their way. Instead of getting himself killed, he was better off eating.

Jack did not go to where he lived as soon as he left the restaurant. He headed to a place he believed he could find Eddie. Taking on a corridor which led to a large street, he jumped over a pool of water narrowly missing stepping on water. Hardly had he jumped when a vehicle stopped before him. In a hurry to find his brother, he did not stop to converse with whoever was occupying the vehicle. Unfortunately, whoever stopped the vehicle did not stop only to have Jack walk away. A hand gushed out of the window carrying a foot long rod. The fingers pressed a few points and a pin-like object found its way on Jack's neck. He wobbled before plunging to the ground. 

A man in a dark cloak walked out of the vehicle to where Jack was lying. He lifted him shoulder high to the vehicle. As soon as the door was shut behind him, the vehicle disappeared into the dark skies.