"The Glowstone... I needed a bigger piece of Glowstone... Out of all the regents! Glowstone..." Mark said with a sobbing voice. The two tears dropped from his face, onto Princess Janet.
The tears dripped onto Janet and were quickly absorbed. She suddenly had a massive headache, so she called out, "Husband?"
In disbelief Mark looked to his wife's eyes to see them slightly clear, "That's right! It's me!"
Mark stared into those eyes, that had a sudden hint of slight clarity to them, as again they clouded over by confusion, "Who are you? Why are you holding me?"
Mark let go of Janet again, staring at her face. The blue beauty continued to lay on the floor, as he watched her attempt to sit up. He saw that she could use her hips! As he continued to watch her, she failed to get up, as his knees and feet did not respond.
"Mister do you know why my legs aren't working?" Janet tilted her head and asked.
"Mister... Mister... Mister..." Mark said over and over... "Yes. I know why your legs do not work."
"Can you fix them?" Janet asked again in an innocent voice. Though she didn't quite know who this was... She felt safe with him. Mark could tell that her memory was damaged. A tiny part of her still remembered him, but another part didn't... As long as she didn't totally forget... If there was still hope... He could keep... He could keep going...
"Yes... I can fix them... I sure can." Mark said again, his voice growing slightly hard and cold, as he lovingly touched the hand of Janet. Janet didn't refuse this touch but felt like it wasn't slightly improper. At the same time though, she felt that it wasn't enough, which perplexed her...
Mark turned his head to look in the direction of Deagoth as if he could see through the walls, ground and over hundreds of kilometers away...
"The Skull! The Skull of the Sun God! If that isn't a big enough piece... Nothing is! Wait for me Witch King... I will bring the entire world to your front doors, and when everything comes crashing down. I will walk away with the Skull in the midst of chaos... Wait for me."
*******
Jack had returned to his office back at the Holy Palace, still in his regal garb. He was still thankful that none of the citizens seen him come or go. How convenient!
He was currently talking to Lucius about the service he performed for the ladies of Jade when he felt something. Whatever this something was... This something felt off.
Lucius noticed Jack had gone silent suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Lucius asked, clearly concerned for Jack.
"I... I don't know. Would it be cliché to say I felt a disturbance in the force?" Jack said while looking up at the ceiling.
"What force?" Lucius was quite confused on this wording.
"I don't know how to put it. It's more accurate to say a disturbance in the Light. I feel... Sorrow? but... Why? And... something else..." The flames of Jack's eyes danced in a slow manner, almost sluggishly.
"What else?" Lucius leaned forward, he was slightly fearful.
"Something bad has happened and... Something bad will happen... Give me... Give me just a moment." Jack asked Lucius has he held up his hand, to give pause.
[Leslie are you alright?] Jack asked.
[Yeah... What's wrong?] Leslie replied.
[I don't know... Come to my office as soon as you can.]
[...Alright?] Leslie was slightly confused as she answered.
[Julia are you Okay?] Jack messaged, but he didn't get a reply
Jack looked at Lucius, "Where's Julia?" Jack had referred to Verruca by her first name, making Lucius even more on edge.
"She's on the city border, checking the suburbs for any more clues to the assassination," Lucius said quickly.
"Can I talk to her from here?"
"She might be able to hear you, but I doubt she can talk back."
"Call her... Call her now. Get her back now." Jack said quickly, but forcefully. He thought in his mind... What else? What else do I care about?
"I need Lady Jade and Princess Emily. I want them to come to my office now."
"Is that really appropriate?" Lucius asked. Emily had been here before, but Jack quickly excused her...
Jack thought for a moment and remembered the dread wearing matrix knight dudes. They were called...
[What were they called? Something something holy... Holy Sentinels!] Jack remembered.
"Holy Sentinels heed my words! I want Warmarshal Verruca, Princess Emily, and Lady Jade in front of me as soon as possible, no matter the cost! NO MATTER THE COST!!" Jack slammed his fist on the table, as gold sparks flew from the impact.
A loud humming resonated with the Holy Palace, as all the Holy Sentinels acknowledge the command.
Jack paced back and forth. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling... A really bad feeling.
The first to arrive was naturally Leslie.
She opened the door cautiously, as she looked in to see Jack pacing behind his desk, and Lucius sitting in front of the desk with a rigid posture.
Leslie took a step in, "What's going on?" For as long as she had known Jack, he had displayed anger once, but she had never seen him act like this.
Jack turned to see Leslie. As soon as he saw her, he took large strides from around his desk to appear in front of her. He leaned down to embrace Leslie, as he just held her in his arms for a moment.
Leslie was startled, but she reciprocated the hug. She enjoyed this but also felt at a loss... Just what had happened? Jack continued for a moment, before he continued to hug Leslie but lifted her up off the floor, and put her in a princess carry. He walked back to his desk, and he placed her in his lap.
"...?!" Leslie was completely at a loss. She thought she was at a loss before, but Jack did this right in front of Lucius.
In fact, Lucius gave a dry cough, which seemed forced seeing as he didn't have a throat or lungs.
Jack looked over at Lucius, while his flaming eyes danced a bit, "Yes?"
"Ah... Would you like me to leave?" Lucius inquired, seeing Leslie being held in Jack's lap and embrace... Almost like a pet...
"No. I want you to stay here for now." Jack spoke sternly.
"Oh?" Lucius was slightly disturbed... Just what did he feel was only thing that Lucius' mind was working on... He had never seen him like this.
Leslie noticed the awkwardness of Lucius and wanted to be put down. She struggled a bit, but Jack pulled her closer. Helpless she asked, "Jack... I'm not going anywhere you can put me down now."
"Hmmmm? No." Jack responded flatly and held her firmly, but gently in his embrace.
Leslie's mouth gapped slightly. She recovered, "Jack, what exactly happened?"
"I'm not sure. I want everyone here first."
"Who's everyone?"
"Your mother, Julia, and Emily." Jack rattled off.
"When did you get to first name basis with Emily?" Leslie frowned.
"I'm not, and it's also not very important at the moment," Jack said, and before Leslie could interject, the door opened. Flanked by two Holy Sentinels Jade was escorted into the room. They bowed and left, leaving a very confused Jade.
"What's going on?"
"Have a seat on the couch. I need to wait for the others."
Slightly startled, Jade nodded her head and complied. Interestingly enough, she sat exactly where Leslie would of, and in the same manner. Like daughter; like mother.
Jade couldn't help but notice that her daughter was sitting in The Holy Witch King's lap, and was being embraced by him no less... Almost like Leslie would run away, if he let go. This was the vibe she got from The Holy Witch King.
A moment later the same occurred with Emily, as she was pushed into the Office, "I can walk on my own thank you!" She had turned and berated the Holy Sentinels, but they had already disappeared by the time she spoke against them.
"AGH! Silent numb skulls!" Emily stamped her small foot. She was coloring in her coloring books a moment ago, and then the Bozos, ahem, Holy Sentinels came in and dragged her out.
"Emily take a seat on the Couch," Jack said from behind her.
Finally realizing where she was she stiffened, "What's... What's going on???" She too was at a loss and asked the same as everyone.
[Did he just call me by my first name?] Emily could only think.
The silence that was emitted by The Holy Witch King was long enough, that she simply did what he said, and hopped up on the couch next to Jade.
Emily looked over the people present, and couldn't help but see Leslie in The Holy Witch King's embrace. Somewhere deep in the recesses of Emily's heart, unknown to her... a jealous feeling was roused.
"Is it proper for the consort to sit in the King's lap during a meeting?" Emily couldn't hold her words any longer.
"...Emily come over to me..." Jack said sternly, after being reprimanded. Everyone looked at Emily, then to Jack... A collective thought of 'What?' was resounding in their minds.
"Just what do you want to do?" Emily looked hard at The Holy Witch King.
"I didn't ask you to question me. I asked you to come over to me. I expect that you do it." Jack said flatly.
"I am no citizen of this kingdom, so I have no reason to do so," Emily said folding her arms.
Jack moved Leslie to his left leg to sit. He still didn't let her go, while Leslie was so lost, that she didn't know if this was still real life.
Again silence ensured, and Jack stared Emily down.
"Also... When did you start calling me by my first name?" Emily tried to bring up another topic.
Jack continued to say nothing and stare, the dancing flames of his eyes even emitted crackling sounds.
Jade watched this play out amused. She had no idea who Emily was, but this was entertaining, to say the least. Was this some type of dominance play?
Lucius had just this morning praise Jack in his mind as a divine bring... And here he was with his consort on one knee and forcing another to approach him. Lucius mentally shook his head. He was at a loss about the whole thing. He wasn't sure what he felt at the moment. He was still sitting here, simply because he wanted to know what Jack felt earlier.
Under the pressure, Emily finally buckled. She slid off the couch and walked, ever so slowly, over to the side of the desk that held Jack. Again, she felt just how big Jack was compared to her.
Now beside Jack and looking up to him under the odd gazes of the room, Jack scooped up Emily and placed her on his right leg. She had no weight to her, unlike Leslie.
Whatever Emily was going to say was toss out the non-existing window in Jack's office. Her whole mind was blank, and she was currently unable to form thoughts. Even though Leslie had long wanted to get down from Jack, it was due to embarrassment, not because she actually wanted to get down. Now that Emily was sharing her place, she couldn't help but feel a certain emotion.
She remembered she talked with Jack on other women, but to see it and feel it... That was another thing! It didn't help she had a poor opinion of Emily in the first place.
Jack rubbed the back of Leslie, as she looked up into his face. She didn't say anything, but Jack could read the slight sigh of displeasure on her face.
[Is this displeasure I see?] Jack mentally messaged Leslie.
[Exactly why is she sharing your lap with me?] Leslie didn't bother to hide how she felt.
[Oh? And here I thought you wanted to get down.] Jack teased.
[Because it's not appropriate for me, let alone her, to be perched on your lap during a meeting! Or even in front of company!] Leslie felt breathless, even though she was speaking mentally.
[I make the rules. I don't know what else to say. Call it being selfish. Also, if you haven't noticed the little one has shut her trap since I placed her here.] Jack spoke to here, and Leslie had to agree... This did shut up the usually mouthy tiny princess ambassador.
[Think of it as a type of punishment.] Jack said to console his Consort.
[I bet you're enjoying this.] Leslie looked back up at him.
[I am. Hahaha.] Jack said and laughed in his mind.
The expression on Leslie's face eased up, while everyone in the room wondered what all this was about... The silence was excruciating.
Finally, the door opened, as Verruca bound into the room. The Holy Sentinels were only seen for the briefest of moments before they disappeared in a small flash.
"What's wrong?!" Verruca howled until she noticed that Jack had both Leslie and the tiny ambassador on his knees... Lucius sitting in front, and another lady sitting on the couch...
The door closed behind her, and the click of the door brought her too, "Exactly what's going on?"
Jack rubbed the head of Emily, and then gestured to the Chair in front of his Desk, "Julia have a seat."
Verruca scrunched her face slightly at hearing her named called in front of so many people, but didn't say anything to refuse. She walked to the chair to the right of Lucius next to the couch and sat down with her imposing form.
Jack paused and then opened up to what he felt. What he said next left the room stunned.