On the ride to his Grandma's house, he played over in his mind what happened at his old house. The spirit hit him with something that never really entered his mind before, but it should have..all the signs and evidence point to it.
Standing there infront of the spirit, he felt like a train had hit him full speed."So, you mean to tell me that...I've been trained for this even when I didn't know?" He asked, hoping it wasn't true.
"I'm afraid so Jory Johnson. Every mortal with that little something special is given a test to see if they have what it takes to become someone with..well..extraodinary talents, as you can see...not too many make it..but you did." So, his entire life has been a test, to see if he had what it took to be a necroscope. This would certainly explain his battles with Zedd and Earl Beardie..but where did the phantom factor into this?
"So, me seeing ghosts, me being possessed, me being followed by spirits..my anger...Zedd..Earl..they were all tests?" The spirit simply nodded at the question. "You've proven on many occasions Jory Johnson that you have the skills and qaulities that a necroscope must possess to pass the test. Leadership, resourcefulness, strength, courage, compassion...these and many more traits won you the abilites you possess now.
"If all of the things I've been through have simply been a test, then is what I'm facing now a test? He wished it so, he didn't need this in his life right now, he didn't want Scotty, Kerri & the others to go through this. "That you have to find out for yourself, I'm not the one whos to give the answers away, only to guide and harness your gift."
"What is it with you people and your riddles? All my life its been nothing but riddles? Is this a way to develope a trait or something? Whatever it is its really friggen annoying me." The anger was beginning to boil up in him. All the frustrations with the weight being placed on his shoulders was really starting to get to him. "If a man is only given answers, then what will he learn from it? It takes a real man to be able to solve the problem and learn something from it, like you have done recently...dont let that trait die Jory Johnson..your going to need it."
"This is all too stressful spirit, how does a necroscope more experienced handle such pressure?" if anything, the spirit owed him this answer he felt. You have to only look inside of you Jory Johnson, and find what you believe will sooth you and calm your spirit." Great, more riddles. He knew that he wasn't going to find anything here but dead ends, besides..he needs to get to Colbert to confront the phantom.
"Thank you for your time spirit, and for it and the job you've done..I'll allow you to stay and haunt, though I dont know what good it will do since this place is empty." The spirit gave a great big laugh then turned his back to Jory and started towards the door. "Dont worry about me Jory Johnson, soon a young one much like yourself will move into this house, and like you I will test him. For now, you worry about the task that lies ahead of you. I wish you luck."
As he watched the spirit disappear from his view, he began to realize that all his life he was secretly bred to do this. Theres more to being a necroscope he figured, theres something deeper..something that needs to be solved, he knew this was going to annoy him so he had to solve this fast, he had to go see the phantom.
He didn't tell the others what went down in the basement, only that the spirit simply wished not to go and agreed to leave the next residents alone. Jory figured more if not the whole group didn't believe him, but the lie would mean that Jory was not in the mood to discuss anything and so they simply left him alone and changed the subject to something else. The drive to his grandma's house would take between 30 minutes to 45 minutes...possibly even an hour, depending on traffic, so Jory decided to throw in his "Faceless" cd by Godsmack and listen to that the entire way there instead of talk, for once he just wanted to music to take him away and allow him a break from this life, but alas..a man's work is never done. The way Jory decided to get to his grandma's house to go onto a busy street that ran a few blocks away from Division called Addison street. Though busy, it wasn't as busy as Division and it allowed Jory to get to his grandma's house quicker plus it would allow his pals to see the Spokane scenery, Addison would eventually lead to Jory's destination anyways, so this was the way to go. This street brought a lot of memories back to Jory, all the times he and his family took this road to the local Fred Meyer's grocery store or to "The Y", a chunk of Spokane that was mostly buisnesses. The road led to just about anywhere he and his family wanted to go, so he made sure to make a stop here and there to show the gang places that held some meaning to him. Growing up, Jory learned to memorize this town like the back of his hand, and could take you anywhere from any spot in the city just like that, because of this Jory went out of his way a little to show the gang an old burger joint he used to like called Steer Inn, and the local mini-golf place called Wonderland. Of course, he couldn't forget the one place in Spokane history that has always been a hot spot and a meet & greet for many generations...Paddisons..the rollerskating rink. If anyone is good with history, they know that rollerskating rinks have always been a place where everyone in town goes to meet up with friends or meet new people and skate the night away, and it was no different in Spokane. It felt great to see the old place again, and it made it a little easier to make the trip out to his grandma's house, which is now only about 20 minutes away.
Just down the road from the skating rink is where Jory grew up when he was the tender age of 4 years old, and right across the street is the Retirement Home his Great Grandma lives in and owns. He always hated going to visit his Great Grandma, not cause of her, but because of all the other old people that lived there and just the enviroment itself..it was Hell for a kid inbetween the ages of 9 & 14. He cared for his Great Grandma, but didn't really feel a family bond to her or anyone on his Aunt Bonnie's (His grandma's adoptive sister) side of the family. His grandma was adopted his his Great Grandma & Grandpa, so he wasn't even blood related to half of his family..making him feel an empty spot for that side of the family. Sure, they were there for his grandma and later his mom, but he felt distant to them...as if they saw him as more of a black sheep and as if he saw them as friends of the family...what a great relationship. Up the road from that was an old house that Jory lived in with his mom and her at that time boyfriend. He was a little old for her, but hey what does age gotta do with love eh? The house they lived in was nice, but like every house Jory has lived in since he could remember..it was haunted.
The house was haunted by a small boy, and it made its presence known as often as possible. From keeping Jory up at night with a feeling of being watched, to possession, to moving objects..flickering lights...orbs of light..ya name it..he did, it was very annoying. The relationship between his mom and the older gentleman didn't last too long, and Jory ended up living with back at his old house on Courtland..but it was ok with Jory, hes used to moving and was starting to get used to all the weird things happening to him. Up the road from that is the freeway that takes Jory to his grandma's house, which lies basically out in the middle of no where in an area rich with trees. This area was your basic hick area, with their very own general store that Jory visited a lot when he lived with his grandma. The back roads were very fun to take though, Jory and his Uncle Mike one time discovered a whole bunch of unclaimed land across the highway in his Uncle's snowmobile and they cruised over that for hours. The place was in the middle of no where, and it resembled nothing like a huge town..but Jory loved it, hes always been an out-doors camping type person and this scene was exactly what Jory was into.
It took longer then an hour to get there due to the stops, but they made it with still plenty of sunlight to go on. They pulled onto a dirt road that went down a few yards then would take a right and near the end of this road is where the house stands. He turned his music down a little bit and slowly drove down the road. Up ahead is where all of his favorite and most painful memories lie, up ahead is where the phantom wants to meet with Jory, it was all a little too much for Jory to handle really. The other could sense Jory's tension, and didn't bother to try and console him..they knew that this was far more deeper then they could ever possibly know. Even driving slowly didn't help much, as the road wasn't all that long and before Jory knew it they had arrived to the house. Jory put the van in park then looked out the passenger side towards the house, it too stood empty like his old house in Spokane, which made it even sadder for Jory. He had always hoped the house would stay in his family and that it would serve as a family heirloom for future generations...damn his step-grandpa...damn him.
Jory exited the van and slowly walked to the front of it, keeping his eyes on the house. Cautiously, Kerri, Scotty, Zedd & the others also exited the van and watched where theys tood as Jory slowly made his way past them and over to the huge gate that would lead onto the old garage path. Before the 2 story house was built on this land, his grandma & family lived in a trailor on this property. Jory can recall a lot of times where before the house was built, the backyard would be litered with dogs & other animals and late at night he and his family would play kick the can. Kick the can is a game where a group of people spread out and hide while a person protects a coffee can or soda can, the object of the defender and kick the can, if you cant and he catches you..your out of the game. Ahh, the good ol' days, gotta miss em. Jory unlatched the lock on the gate and with some effort, he opened the gate all the way open and let his friends come in. The gate wasn't all that far off of the ground, so everytime you try to ope it a part of the gate would scrape itself against the concrete...not a fun sound. Once everyone was in, Jory closed the gate and turned to face the music. Taking his lead infront of the group, Jory turned to them all and said "Keep an eye open..." Before walking down the garage path towards the backyard.
Zedd had everyone spread out a little and prepare for the unexpected, Jory though payed no attention and continued to walk like a zombie towards the backyard. It wasn't too much of a walk though, and Jory was in the backyard only after a minute or so of walking. It still looked the same, the grass was green..the trees still tood, the dog pen was still up, the chicken coop was still there, the lawn furnature was still there, everything seemed as is. Once Jory stepped foot on the patio, he saw movement to his right and quickly he turned to see the phantom slowly walking towards them from the part of the property that was used for dirt bike racing & other events. Alongside the phantom was the robed girl whom Jory ahd the displeasure of facing in New Orleans, but other then that the phantom appeared to be alone...something was up.
Instead of waiting for it to come to him, Jory stepped off of the patio and into the grass and walked towards the phantom and the robed woman, and was quickly followed by Zedd & Kerri, whom had Scotty and the others scan the rest of the area while they all talked. The phantom and the robed woman stopped before they reached the grassy part of the backyard and just watched as Jory stopped a few feet away from them, with Zedd & Kerri not far behind.
"You've nothing to fear, I do not have my army with me as you can see." The phantom said in a calm voice. "I dont take any chances." The robed woman stepped infront of the phantom and removed her hood from her head and looked at Jory with a combo of lust and bloodlust in her eyes.
"Long time no see Jory, thought maybe you didn't survive our first encounter." She said with a growl. "It takes more then zombies and fancy light shows to bring me down." She smiled and ran a finger down his cheek "Mmmm, so it does."
"I'm here now phantom, what do you want?" As much as she wanted this woman's finger off of his cheek, it strangley felt very soothing to him. "I've asked you here Jory because, I feel I must share something with you while I still can."
"What do you mean?" Something wasn't right, the phantom was changed somehow. "You see Jory, I'm not what you think, and neither is my general whom you see infront of you." Gah, more riddles, here we go. "It is difficult for me Jory, I've been struggling with this for some time now..."
"You see Jory, it is not her wish to do harm to you or your friends." Now heres a twist, how was he to believe that? "I see, so everything thats happened so far is just kiddy games and were all havin fun?"
"No Jory, everything has been very much real. Its just that we cannot control our attacks on you." Interesting, this had to be a trap. "Are you two from Hell?" They pondered the question for a moment, as if they had no memory of where they come from. "No, we simply work for them."
"Against your will?" If they couldn't control their attacks, then Hell must be using something on them. "Yes, against our will." If this was the truth, and these two were truely being controled against their will, then that meant there was something even more powerful then these two looking to kill him..and look at the hard time hes been having with them.
"How is it your being used agaisnt your will with the amazing abilities you have?"
"It is a long story that must be told at a different time Jory, but know this. A curse of Bloodlust has been placed upon us, so when the sun goes down..we become creatures obsessed with one thing..your head on a spike."
With the same thought in mind, Zedd, Kerri, & Jory all turned to see where the sun's placement was in the sky...he guess that they had only 5-10 minutes of sunlight left. He turned back to the phantom and her general to tell them they would be leaving then, but when he did he saw that the two of them were starting to tremble and they couldn't stop.
"Oh...no....its...happening...."
"Jory.....you...must....leave....now...before....we...change.."
"Shes right Jory, though we out number those two, once they turn it will only be a matter of time before they summon their army." Zedd had a hint of worry in his voice, that made Jory sweat.
"No time Zedd, the van wont get us out of here in time and by the time I have my power up to the point where we can travel like light they will have already turned. Were going to need to stay and fight this out.
"You think its possible for us to do that Jory?" Jory wasn't sure if he wanted Kerri apart of this, afterall she does have a kid and a fiance..she doesn't need to be here fighting this battle.
"Maybe, if we spread out and stay hidden we could possibly last til morning, or wait til they are weak enough for us to escape. Hurry, spread out..and let the others know that another battle may begin.
Quickly, Zedd & Kerri spread out to different areas in search of their companions to inform them of what was happening. Jory turned once again to notice that both the general and the phantom's apperances were beginning to change...taking on their old evil looks that jory has grown accustomed to seeing.
"Ladies, we didn't have the time to escape..it appears we do battle once again...goodluck."
With that, Jory sprints off to the woods on his left after he senses that everyone has taken their spots. Once in the woods, Jory uses his gift to allow him to bound up a tree without effort and stake out there, giving him the perfect view of the general and the phantom..who are close to slipping into Bloodlust. With one last look at the sun, he grabs the hilt of his sword and turns to watch the final transformation....so it was to be like this? A battle on his own home turf...
"Heh.....bring it.."
In a pleasent meeting thats now turned for the worse, Jory and his crew must now take on both the general and the phantom in the backyard of one of his childhood homes...was this a trap? Were they really in a Bloodlust? Why were they being held agaisnt their will?...Only time will tell.