Legacy
Chapter 15

With whatthe group assumed the end of their quest behind them, the wearytravelers headed for home. They were badly in need of a reprievefrom any kind of excitement and desired only a quiet place where theycould thoroughly collect themselves. But their arrival would have towait for morning, as the sun had already set, which would maketraversing a thick forest a most arduous task.

Even with abody drained of most of its energy, James was unable to rest easy. Only recently had the group turned in, but James had already wokennumerous times. His troubled mind was making it impossible for himto sleep soundly. But James would soon discover that an uneasyslumber was the least of his worries.

What wasmore a vision than a dream invaded James’ mind once he hadsuccumbed to his fatigue. He could see his parents’ home from hisvantage point just outside the clearing where it resided. At such alate hour, there were no lights on nor any other signs of life. Forsome reason, the silence engulfing the scene seemed most unsettling.

The bushesaround the clearing suddenly began to rustle. And with the rustlingcame very strange growling sounds. There was nothing human aboutthem nor did they sound like any animal James had ever before heard.

Moving soquickly that they were nothing but blurs, the creatures that had beenlurking charged toward the house. Some broke through the front doorto gain entry, while others crashed through the windows.

After beingshaken from his sleep, James scurried to his feet. He took a quicklook at the others and wondered if he should wake them. Decidingquickly that he would be leaving them out, James hurried off on hisown.

James ranas fast as his legs could take him through the shadowy forest. Hisalready tired body grew even weaker from running, but he would letnothing slow his pace. The vision he had experienced continued toplay itself out in his mind, making James all the more determined tokeep going regardless of his lethargic state.

When hereached his destination some hours later, James found only thecharred remains of what had once been his home. Seeing this, Jameswanted badly to feel something, no matter how horrible the feeling,but instead his body had gone completely numb.

“Why?”asked James. “Why would you do this?” Rage then took a firmhold of him, prompting James to draw his sword. “Show yourself! Coward! Where are you? Is my blood not good enough for you?”

When histears stung his eyes shut, James fell to his knees. “You said youwanted me,” he said. “So what are you waiting for? Take me! IfI had known you were going to do this, I never would have said no. Iwould have given you whatever you wanted.”

The sunshining gently on her face woke Jaycee. The first thing she noticedafter opening her tired eyes was the empty spot beside her whereJames had been sleeping.

Jaycee wokethe others and the three immediately began their search. Jaycee wasfamiliar with the area and knew where James was heading, so she wasan easy choice to take the lead. Much like James, Jaycee had aresolve that wouldn’t allow her to rest until she found what it wasfor which she was searching.

What hadbeen found by James was eventually found by the others. Archer andAiko were shocked to replace the house they had traveled to burned tothe ground. But how they felt paled in comparison to how Jaycee wasfeeling. Having lost her parents at a tender age, Jaycee had come toconsider James’ parents almost as her own.

“Whathappened here?” asked Jaycee, who was shaking so badly that it wasimpossible for the others not to notice. When she made her way tothe burned structure, Jaycee placed her hand upon it. The blackenedwood crumbled in her hand. “Why?” she whispered, tears fallingfrom her eyes. “What did they do to deserve this?”

“Jaycee,”said Aiko. When she made her first move toward Jaycee, Archergrabbed her by the shoulder, preventing Aiko from going any further. Archer did nothing more than shake his head when Aiko looked at him.

“Theywere good people,” said Jaycee. “They didn’t deserve this.” It then dawned on her that James was just as aware of what hadhappened. “We have to go,” she told the others. When she turnedto face Archer and Aiko, Jaycee put up her bravest front, but herswollen eyes showed that the young lady was suffering.

“Are yousure?” asked Archer. “We’ll wait if you need us to.”

“No,”said Jaycee. “We have to leave now.” Looking to a path justbeyond the clearing, Jaycee couldn’t help but think back to happiertimes when she and James would chase each other down it. “I knowwhere James went.”

James hadexhausted nearly all of his energy, but still he refused to halt hisprogress. He knew every second was crucial if he wanted to replaceShadow Kahn before the man could unleash yet more senseless death anddestruction.

Being sofamiliar with his surroundings, it came as a surprise to James toreplace the trees of the forest brimming with pink blossoms. Neverbefore had he seen such a thing in that area. But even more odd wasthat as he ventured further, his fatigue started to wear, making itpossible for James to continue to a nearby pond to take a drink ofwater.

Quenchinghis thirst would have to wait, however, as James discovered a womanstanding atop a patch of land in the pond. She was dressed ingarments of radiant white that seemed to be dancing on a soothingbreeze. But more captivating than that was the silken whiteblindfold she wore. It made James wonder if the woman was aware ofhim.

With hisbody seemingly moving on its own, James walked into the pond and madehis way to the woman. There was something about her that broughtabout a feeling of peace within James, and it was a feeling he badlyneeded. Just by looking at her, James was sure the woman was hidingnothing sinister behind her magnificent appearance.

“How longI’ve waited for this moment, James,” said the woman.

“How doyou know my name?” asked James. The newfound energy he hadexperienced suddenly drained from his body.

Rather thananswering his question, the woman crouched before James and gentlyplaced her hands upon his face. She then pressed her foreheadagainst his.

“Who areyou?” asked James. Before he could begin to put up a fight, Jameshad already succumbed to his exhaustion and fallen into a deep sleep.

* * *

A merchantled a young man by the arm through the center of town. It wasevident by the look on the boy’s face that the merchant’s gripwas uncomfortably tight. The ferocity with which the man thenknocked on the front door of a local home was more than enough toprepare anyone on the other side for bad news.

A mananswered. “What has he done this time?” he asked.

“This sonof yours threw a rock through my window, Mr. Gerard,” replied themerchant. “He said he didn’t do it, but there’s no one elsewho could have. It’s not bad enough that he’s a menace, but theboy has to compound it by being a liar, too.”

“I willtake care of it,” said Mr. Gerard.

Themerchant threw the boy to his father. “That’s what you telleveryone,” he exclaimed. “Yet these things keep happening. Farmore drastic measures need to be taken. Or are you lenient onKenneth because you want to encourage him? You’re far toorespected in this village to allow your good name to be tarnished bythe likes of him.”

“I willsend someone to replace your window,” said Mr. Gerard. He thenshut the door before the merchant could continue his verbal assault.

“Whatnow?” asked Kenneth. “Are you going to beat me again? Somerespected citizen you are, beating an innocent child. If onlyeveryone knew what kind of man you really were, they wouldn’t be soquick to admire you then. You’re just as fake as they are.”

“How manytimes have we had this conversation, Kenneth?” asked Mr. Gerard. “Too many times, by my count. I assume that if nothing drastic isdone, then we will have this same conversation many more times.”

“Theprice you pay for being a father.”

“I wonderif you would act this way if your mother was still here.”

“Well,she’s not here, is she?” asked Kenneth. “That woman couldn’tstand living here, so she ran out on us. Though I would think youwere more to blame for that dog leaving than I was. You couldn’teven control her. What kind of a man are you, unable to control yourwife or your son? Not much of a man, if you ask me.”

“You willnot refer to her that way. She is still your mother.”

“So,you’re the only one that can call her names?”

“How muchmore of this are you going to subject me to?” asked Mr. Gerard. Hehad asked his question loudly enough for Kenneth to hear, but itsounded as if the question had been directed at someone other thanhis son.

“If youno longer want to be subjected to this, may I go?” asked Kenneth. “This useless back and forth is starting to bore me.”

“Gatheryour possessions,” said Mr. Gerard.

“What,you’re going to break everything that I hold dear to teach me alesson? Well, go ahead. I have ways of getting more. Besides, Idon’t become attached to things.”

“Gatheryour things and get out.”

“What?”asked Kenneth. “What did you say?”

“It hasbecome painfully clear that there is nothing I can do or say to makeyou change. And if you continue down this path, then you will onlyget worse. So I have no other choice but to make you fend foryourself. Perhaps then you will see things differently.”

“Youcan’t do this to me. I’m your son!”

Mr. Gerardturned his back. “Not anymore,” he said.

“So,that’s it?” asked Kenneth, tears welling up in his eyes. “You’regoing to throw your son out on the street like some animal? You wantme to beg for your forgiveness, don’t you? Well, I won’t! Nomatter what, I’ll never beg for anything!”

Mr. Gerardgave no reply.

“Don’tyou have anything else to say?” asked Kenneth. “That’s it? Those are the last words you have for your only son?”

“You aremistaken,” said Mr. Gerard. “I have no son.”

20 yearslater . . .

Kenneth,now a man of the cloth, stood bedside of a young woman who hadrecently endured the pains of childbirth. Every feature of the manwas the same as it was now. For Father Gerard was now the man knownas Shadow Kahn.

Even beforediscovering that she was with child, the woman was in poor health. It was suggested that she terminate the pregnancy in order to betterher chances of survival, but she vehemently refused, as did FatherGerard.

“Father,”said the woman, her voice little more than a whisper.

“What isit, my child?” asked Father Gerard, taking her hand. The bittercold in her grasp told the father that she was not long for theworld.

“I wantyou to . . . take my son,” she said. “I know you’ll raise himto be just as fine a man as you are.” To hide what she had to sayfrom the midwife in the room, the woman softened her already weakvoice. “Please, Kenneth, you have to promise me.”

“But Iknow nothing about raising a child.”

“Everyboy needs a father. Regardless of how you raise him, you need to bethere for him. He needs to know that he’s loved.”

FatherGerard could come up with no reply.

“Pleasetake good care of him,” said the woman, her hand slipping fromFather Gerard’s grasp. “Please don’t let him live his lifewithout ever knowing what it feels like to be loved. Don’t abandonhim and leave him at the mercy of this cruel world.”

“I willdo the best that I can,” said the father.

With asmile now gracing her colorless lips, the young woman's life came toan end.

The midwifecovered the young woman’s body with a sheet. “What will you dowith the child, father?” she asked.

“Whatabout the girl’s parents? Will they take him?”

“They saythey’ll have nothing to do with a bastard.”

“Then Iwill take the child. I will see that he replaces a suitable home.”

“Whatname will you give him?”

“Hisname?” asked Father Gerard.

With thenight came smothering black clouds that drifted before the moon,hiding it away from the world below. And the stars that were alwaysin abundance were nowhere to be found. It seemed as if all celestialbeings had gone into hiding for the night, desiring not to play thepart of audience for the unspeakable act about to take place.

Deep in theforest Father Gerard and twelve of his most devoted followers hadgathered around an altar where the newborn child had been placed. Themen wore the robes that were donned only for the most sacred ofreligious ceremonies.

“Theworld that seeks to corrupt us will no doubt attempt to lay claim tothe soul of this child and make him yet another abomination in theeyes of our Lord,” said Father Gerard. “We will spare this boythat indignity and send him to paradise. For his soul is still pureand not yet tainted by the evils of man.”

FatherGerard then drew a dagger from his sleeve. There was much hesitationfrom the father, who began speaking in a voice far too silent to beheard by the others. After the lengthy hesitation, he completed themost gruesome of acts.

The fatherand his followers gathered at their place of worship to celebratevictory once the horrific deed was done.

“Drink,”said the father. “For tonight we have spared a soul from oblivion. We truly have done the Lord’s work. Greater than I is God.”

“Greaterthan I is God,” said the others.

The menthen drank their wine. Father Gerard, however, refrained fromjoining them. All he did was watch.

It wasshortly after their initial drinks when Father Gerard’s followersbegan to fall. The man they had so faithfully followed had repaidtheir devotion with poison.

“Why?”asked one of them.

“Youreally want to know why?” asked Father Gerard.

Days later,when the townspeople learned of the atrocity, they apprehended FatherGerard. The hasty sentence handed down by the king and permitted bythe Novas was death, to be carried out immediately.

Through thestreets of Dorsett the father was paraded. His hands were bound andhis body was badly bruised from numerous beatings. The townspeoplehad all come out to watch the spectacle. Most of them yelledinsults, while others hurled rocks. Some even got close enough tospit on the man they had gone from admiring to loathing in only a fewshort days.

FatherGerard had lowered his head and closed his eyes as he was marched tohis death. Even with madness surrounding him, there was a sense ofcalm resonating from him as he spoke the words that only he couldhear.

It was onlyafter he had been taken to the scaffolding and had a noose placedaround his neck when the father opened his eyes. “Amen,” hesaid.

There wasno look of fear on Father Gerard’s face as he stared at the angrytownspeople. Despite the punishment that was only moments away, helooked very much at peace. But his demeanor would quickly changewhen he found his father in the crowd. The passage of time had donelittle to change his stern appearance.

“PerhapsI did this for all the wrong reasons,” said the father, an out ofplace smile upon his face. He then looked to the sky. “Still . .. I regret nothing.” And with that, the floor gave way, bringingan end to the most despicable of existences.

* * *

“How Iwish I could say that was the end of that man,” said the woman. Though James was in a deep sleep as he rested in the woman’s lap,he would remember vividly every word that was being said to him.

“Hisarrival into paradise created great unrest. He questioned the Masteron the one subject that was never to be questioned. His disdain formercy was unlike anything ever before seen. Such a fool. ‘Twasonly through mercy that he was spared from fire and presented withthe most beautiful gift. ‘Empty words,’ as he called them, thatmortals speak to receive the glorious mercy of the Master.”

With theway the woman was running her fingers through his hair, it would havebeen evident to James had he been awake that she had a great fondnessfor him.

“That manwanted an example to be made of the mortals to show that their sinswould not go unpunished. But what sins could the mortals commit thatcould match his? Eventually his defiance left the Master with noother choice but to expel him. He was sent back to the world of theliving with a very important decision to make. He was to eitherabandon his twisted system of beliefs and one day return to theMaster, or he could continue to hold steadfast in his ministry ofhate and suffer the consequences. Needless to say, he made the wrongchoice. For once a man has allowed his heart to become consumed byanger and hate, there is little anyone can do to bring them back. Itis ultimately up to that person to change their ways. But too manytimes that person refuses, and they become swallowed by darkness,never able to return to the light. And that . . . is what happenedto your father.”

The sun hadalready begun to set by the time Jaycee and the others arrived at thepart of the forest where James had discovered trees covered inblossoms. But there was nothing as wondrous waiting for them. Theblossoms that had greeted James were nowhere to be found. The forestwas once again merely a forest.

Knowingabout the pond nearby, Jaycee led the others to it, hopingdesperately that James would be there. Her hopes were realized, asJames was found lying on the small patch of land. Wasting nary amoment, Jaycee jumped into the pond and hurried to James.

Jayceereached James quickly. With his eyes closed and his body showing nosigns of life, Jaycee feared the worst. “James, are you alright? Please say something.”

Jaycee’svoice was enough to wake James. “Jaycee,” he said.

Findingthat James was unharmed, Jaycee draped herself over him and began tosob uncontrollably.

“They’regone, Jaycee,” said James. “They’re both gone.”

“I know,”said a tearful Jaycee. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”