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Part 4 / The legacy revealed
Jeronik awoke in a dark cell, the only light came from
a small window that allowed a pitiful amount of moonlight to shine through.
He shivered slightly and whimpered.
"Sari?" he whispered, already knowing he was
alone. "Lae? Shii?"
There was no answer, and slowly, Jero fell into
a fitful sleep.
***
He was awoken by the door clanging. Slowly, a scrawny figure wearing an oversized
cloak walked in, given the air of someone important. Jero merely growled at
the figure.
"Come now Jeronik, is this anyway to treat your
host?" the figure said, and threw back his hood. Immediately, Jeronik recognised
him as the man that had given Sari the money, some months before.
"Host? You kidnapped me," Jero growled.
"For a very special reason," Mr Brown replied,
a smirk on his face. "You are no ordinary Gelert, Jeronik."
"Don't tell me, I'm adopted," Jero glared, remembering
Sari's sarcastic streak. For some reason, Sari seemed to rub off on him, little
characteristics of her popped up in him. Jero didn't care, anything was better
than hiding in a corner.
"Have you heard of the Jewel of the Lost Desert,
Jeronik?" he asked.
"No, what is it?" Jero asked curiously.
"The Jewel of the Lost Desert was said to be
a legend, a jewel capable of giving its owner a power that far outstripped even
the Faerie Queen. It was owned by her, for a thousand years, until, one day,
a thief took it. For ten thousand years, it was lost, like a grain of sand in
the desert. Then a reclusive Faerie, living in the deserts found it."
"So?" Jero asked, looking entirely unimpressed.
If Mr Brown had to put an emotion to his face, he would almost say Jero looked
bored.
"The Faerie was someone you might know Jeronik,
in fact, I would almost say she was your old owner."
"THE FAERIE?" Jero yelped. "What have you done
with her?"
"Ah, Jeronik, the story has not ended there,"
Mr Brown said with a cruel smile. "You see, your precious Faerie was afraid
someone would steal it. In fact, my father attempted it. But the jewel was reclaimed,
and I'm afraid the grief killed him. But I will own its power soon enough."
"How does this involve me?" Jero asked in a
small voice.
"You see, Jeronik, the jewel is not just mere
emerald, or diamond. The jewel, my dear Gelert, is not even a jewel." Mr Brown
fixed Jero with a piercing glare. "The jewel is in fact… you."
***
"So where are we going?" I asked nervously, pacing up and down the Faerie's
cave for the twentieth time.
"You are going to the hide out of Mr Brown,
Sari, and I have told you this on many occasions," the Faerie repeated. I guess
I was being a bit annoying, it was just if I stopped, processed the events for
a moment, even thought about what could be happening to Jeronik at that very
moment (The scenarios were rapidly descending into the impossible.) I would
just loose all grasp of reality. By being annoying, even just acting something
near enough to myself, it added a sense of normality to my life.
And I needed the normality - we all did.
"So when are we going?"
***
"Me?" Jero asked, confusion clear in his voice. "I can't be the jewel."
"And why not?" Mr. Brown asked, clearing humouring
him.
"Because…" Jero trailed off. "Doesn't the jewel
need to be a… jewel?"
Mr. Brown laughed slightly. "I was surprised
to find it was in a Gelert. The prophecy said it would be in a girl." He pulled
a small book from within his cloak and started to read it.
"The jewel will be a girl with hair the colour
of the sun and eyes lighter than the palest blue. She will give her life for
a loved one, and in that sacrifice, the jewel will be released." He paused,
and looked at Jero. "But it doesn't matter, I have the Jewel now."
Jero glared at Mr Brown for a moment, before
putting on a pitiful whine. "Can I look at the book?"
Mr Brown glared at him in disgust. "What would
you want the book for? It contains only what I told you, nothing more." He shook
his head at Jeronik. "When will you learn to join the right team? I could've
given you the world Jeronik, if that Faerie hadn't lied to you."
"I don't like you." Jeronik replied pleasantly.
"And I never will." He leant forward so he was mere centimetres from Mr Brown.
"And I wouldn't insult the Faeries either. They have ears you know."
Mr Brown gave in irritated snort and without
a further word, turned round and walked out.
"Don't let the door hit your butt on the way
out!" Jero called. The door slammed shut with a resonating thwack, leaving Jero
alone with his thoughts. Ooooh Dear, Jero thought miserably. I'm in
big trouble.
To be continued…
Neomails will be stuck on a pedestal and worshipped by Chia gods for a
while before being replied to.
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