The night was lit with flames in the distance and there were embers around him. The embers didn't hurt as his body temperature was hotter than the embers themselves. All he could hear was the screams of men on the ground around him along with those in the distance. As far the eyes could see there were only ruins and flames and carnage. He was standing in the middle of it all, worn out and breathing heavily. He then heard a battle cry from behind.
The alarm rang waking Jace up from his dream and he took a deep breath in. For a moment he just sat there, catching his breath. "What the hell was that Ereck?!" He shouted but Ereck didn't respond. "Ereck!" he called him.
"What?" Ereck responded.
"What in the hell was that?" Jayce asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"That nightmare. I told you I'd talk to Samantha about you. Why did you give me that nightmare?"
"Oh, you had a dream. It wasn't me."
"What? That wasn't you? Why did I have it then…"
"It was just a nightmare. Don't make a big deal out of it."
Jayce took another moment, "Yeah," he breathed out, "just a nightmare." He got out of bed and did his routine.
In the university,
Jayce tried to find Mark but he couldn't. After calling him he found that Mark was running late so he left for his first lecture where he saw Samantha already sitting where he usually sat. She was looking at her phone. "Hey," he said with a smile.
Her face lit up when she heard him. "Hi," She stood up and hugged him. "How are you this morning?" she asked.
"Good. You?"
"Me too." They both sat down. "Your bruise is all healed up." She touched his cheek where the bruise was.
"Oh, I didn't even notice this morning." He held her hand.
"That was quick."
"Not really, but I'm Brawns, remember?"
"I remember but still… I guess as long as you're fine."
"Yup. By the way, I have to talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
"It's about Ereck."
"Oh, then let's talk during lunch break.."
"Yeah, by then Mark should be here too."
In the canteen, Mark was sitting at the corner table and had saved two seats for them. Samantha was already there and she waved at Jayce, calling him to the table. "How's it going, Mark." He greeted.
"I'm good."
"Jayce, you wanted to talk with me?" Samantha asked.
"Yeah right, it's about Ereck. I think you should put down that spell of yours which keeps him knocked out whenever you're nearby."
"You want to wake him? Did you forget what he did the last time?" Mark said.
"I remember, but he was just trying to save himself back then. And besides, I don't want to keep him as a prisoner. He can be useful sometimes."
"I know. I was gonna do it myself sometime soon." Samantha agreed with Jayce.
"You too? I just hope you both know what you're doing. I don't trust him after what he did."
"It'll be fine Mark, I'll make sure of it." She assured him.
"I'll come by your apartment this evening. I'll put it down then." Samantha said.
"I think both of you should come to my place. And not just for today, but for every day." Mark suggested and then took a big sip of his cola.
"What for?" Jayce asked.
"For training. Because. Sooner or later we will have to fight and I wanna be prepared for when that happens."
"You're right, we need to start training ourselves." Samantha looked at both of them.
"You know I'm all in for training but where are we gonna do that? We'll need a bigger space than your house." Jayce told Mark.
"For today my place will have to do. I'll talk with my dad about the space today." He replied.
"What are you going to say to him?" Samantha asked
"Leave that to me."
"Alright. We'll come by your place six?" Jayce looked at Samantha for confirmation.
"Yeah. Works for me." She said.
"Hey, Jayce," Mark called.
"Yeah?" Jayce looked up at him.
"Your bruise is all gone."
"Yes, because I'm Brawns."
"No shit you're Brawns, it's still fast."
"Huh?"
"You remember I have an eidetic memory, right?"
"Yeah I know, you don't forget anything."
"I remember from our past, a bruise, like the one you had last night, should have taken at least thirty-six hours to heal. It has only been sixteen hours since then."
"Fine, whatever, would you rather have me with bruises?"
"I'm just simply stating the fact, on the contrary, I'm quite relieved that it's healed. God only knows what twisted truthful answers you would have given to anyone who asked you about that bruise."
"Why would I not tell the truth about that? I just got in a fight with some guys,"
Mark laughed, "Jayce you're forgetting that people of this time can't handle five mobsters on their own."
"When you put it that way," Jayce took the last bite of his pizza and licked his fingertips, Samantha saw and offered him her sandwich, "You don't want it."
"I'm not hungry." She said. Jayce took it and finished it in three bites, Mark was still amazed to see Jayce's hunger, "Your hunger never ceases to amaze me, Jayce."
"You know it's still not enough for me."
"Yeah, I know."
"Are you gonna finish that?" Jayce Mark's wrap, "Yes, I am." Mark took a big bite but was having trouble getting it down his throat. Jayce and Samantha were laughing at this.
At the end of Jayce's last lecture, he texted Mark to wait for him before leaving for home. He met him at his block's entrance. "What's up?" Mark asked.
"I'm coming with you."
"What changed?"
"I don't have much to do at home today."
"Okay, let's go then." They went to the parking lot and get in his car.
"How about we go to a drive-thru first?" Jayce suggested.
"You're already hungry, sure, we'll go there first."
At the drive-thru, Jayce ordered a barbeque chicken burger, a cheeseburger and a chicken cheeseburger with a meal to which Mark said, "Thanks Jayce, but I'm not hungry."
"I know." Jayce handed the cash.
"All for you?" Mark said quietly.
"You need to ask?" Jayce gave him a look. Mark just shrugged and hit the gas.
"So Mark, when you said training, what did you have in mind? Do you have the tools?"
"Not yet and I think we should just stick with warm-up today. I'll have it all arranged by tomorrow, the tools and everything else."
"I don't need a warm-up."
Mark laughed, "I know you're strong but you don't wanna pull a muscle when we train. All of us need to warm up."
"No, I don't, I already work out every day and I've been pushing myself ever since the other night."
"What other night?"
"The night I remembered."
"Oh, well in that case, what if you spar with us?"
"Like old times?"
"Yeah, like old times."
"Hell yeah,"
Once they got home, Mark told him that he needed to make a call and will join him in a short while. Jayce put his coat on the hatstand saying, "Alright." Jayce brought a plate from the kitchen into the living room and turned on the tv. He sat on the couch and put the meal on the plate, played the Daredevil series on Netflix and started eating. A few minutes later Mark came and sat beside him.
"Who did you call?" Jayce asked.
"My dad. Told him we need space and some equipment for our training sessions."
Jayce paused the show, "Hold on, what exactly did you say to your dad?"
"Relax, I know how to handle a conversation. I said we are working on a big project and need a space for it. Also, I'll be making some big purchases in the upcoming weeks."
"And he agreed? He didn't ask any follow-up questions?"
"No, he never questions me."
"I guess that makes sense. Who would question your decisions after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Jayce said, "Yeah just wait a few more hours."
"What now?"
"Not you Mark, I was talking to Ereck."
"He's up now."
"Yeah, he's been up for a while now."
"I don't know how you handle that Jayce, I mean I wouldn't be able to handle such an ass for a minute in my head."
"I guess you just learn to live with it. Even after all these years, it still freaks me out every time he shows up."
"Technically, he never shows up,"
"Yeah, every time I hear him in my head?" Jayce unpaused the show and took another bite of his burger. "So anyway, what did your dad say?"
"He'll arrange a place for us by tomorrow."
"He can do that?"
"Yeah. He has a lot of money and influence. So, yes, shouldn't be a problem."
Mark got up, "I'm gonna go work on my papers. When Samantha arrives I have something to talk about with you."
"Why can't we just talk about it right now?"
"We can but then I'd have to repeat myself for Samantha and you know I don't prefer repeating myself. So you're gonna have to wait till she gets here."
"Sloth."
"I heard you!" Mark said.
Jayce fell asleep soon after finishing his burgers. At 6:14 p.m. Samantha rang the doorbell. Jayce had been asleep for about an hour now. Mark came out of his room and saw him laying on the couch. "Coming!" he said as he opened the door for her.
"Welcome,"
"What took you so long?" She came inside.
"I thought Jayce would let you in but it turns out that he's asleep."
She put her coat on the hatstand, "I see, so do we wait for him or wake him up ourselves?"
"I guess he should have enough sleep by now. You wake him and I'll get some coffee for us all."
"Alright."
Samantha walked into the living room and saw Jayce sleeping peacefully. She walked up to him quietly with a faint smile on her face. She leaned in to kiss him but out of the blue, he grabbed her neck with a grip so firm that it choked her. His eyes opened and he saw her. She looked back into his eyes, within seconds his pupil went from dark amber red to deep blue. Jayce then realized that he was choking her and immediately let her go, "I-I'm so sorry," he held her, "I didn't mean to. I don't know how I did it. Are you okay?"
She coughed and stood on her feet, "Yes, I'm alright."
"I'm so so sorry,"
"No, it's okay. It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that."
"It's not okay, I almost choked you." He sat down looking at his hands.
"Hey, calm down. It was just your reflex. You didn't even know I was here until you saw me. It's okay. I'm fine." She sat beside him.
"What's going on?" Mark peaked from the kitchen.
"Nothing, he's just sulking for almost choking me," Samantha said in a sarcastic tone.
"Why do I sense sarcasm in your voice?"
"Well, it's because I sneaked up on him, and knowing his kind, he'd obviously choose fight instead of flight, hence the choking. It was his reflex."
"When you put it that way, I'll remember not to sneak up on him."
"Yup, learn from my mistake." She looked at Jayce. He was still upset about it, "Hey," she cuddled him, "you can never hurt me, okay? Now cheer up or I'll beat your arse up to it." she kissed him.
He kissed her back, "How did I get so lucky?" he questioned.
"I know right, you're one lucky soul."
"Enough with your romance guys. I brought snacks." Mark came with a tray in his hands. "Let's eat then get started with our session today."
"What did you bring?" Jayce looked at the tray as Mark put it on the table.
"Some chips and coffee." He sat next to Samantha.
"Ah, thanks man," Jayce picked one up and ate. "You wanted to talk about something with us?"
"Yes, you guys remember Viktor Lermontov?" Mark took a sip of coffee.
"Yeah, the mob leader," Samantha said as she picked her cup.
"Mhm. I looked him up and he's exactly what we thought him to be. A Russian mob leader wanted for multiple felonies all over the States. His current whereabouts are unknown but I can figure it out with some time if that's what we want to do." He looked at Jayce.
"Okay, but what does he have to do with me?"
"Nothing, I couldn't find any links between you two. He's not even interested in collecting artefacts."
"What was it all about then?" Jayce wondered.
"Maybe someone paid him to get the sword and mixed up the names," Samantha suggested.
"No, I checked it out. He's not the type to work for someone else."
"What the hell is going on then?" Jayce was confused.
"I say we just let it be. We already have a lot on our plate to deal with. Besides, if they come again, we'll deal with them together." Samantha held their hands.
"I think you're right, however, Samantha," Mark looked at her, "I doubt they'll come after Jayce ever again." They laughed, "Yeah, you're right."
"You guys want more coffee?" Mark got up from the couch.
"No, thanks.", "Yeah, I'm done too."
"In that case, let's start our session then, shall we?" He picked up the dishes and went to put them in the dishwasher. "Yes, let's do it!" Jayce exclaimed.
"Do you wanna do it now or after this, Jayce?" Samantha asked him softly.
"Do what?"
"You asked me to wake Ereck, remember?"
"Oh, right. Let's do it now. He'll get trained along with me."
She laughed, "It doesn't work that way Jayce, and even if it did you'd have to train a lot harder to get on to his level."
"Are you implying that he's stronger than me?"
"No, I'm not implying anything here sweetie, you know for a fact that he's much stronger and skilled than you are."
"Yes, but aren't you supposed to agree with me?"
"No, not at all and I thought you liked the truth." She stood up, "come now," she gave him her hand. "Mark, where will we train?" Jayce took her hand.
"In the basement," He came out of the kitchen and showed them the way.
They came down to the basement. It had wooden flooring like the first floor of the house and the lights were warm. There was light coming from the windows above as well. The basement was mostly empty other than the shelves on the north and east walls of the room. The shelves had some books on them and some of Mark's instruments. There was gym equipment at the corner of the room which seemed to have been left unused for some time now. which Mark moved aside the two couches from the centre room, "Give me a hand, Jayce."
Once they moved the couches the three of them stood at the centre of the room. "This should do for today," Samantha called out.
"Mark, give us some space." She sat on the ground and pulled Jayce down to sit and face her.
"You're doing it now?" Mark said.
"Yup, be quiet now." Samantha closed her eyes and started murmuring a spell which neither Jayce nor Mark could hear. All they could see were her moving lips. Jayce started to feel dizzy.
"Is that supposed to be happening?" Mark asked in a low voice. He remembered Samantha telling him to be quiet and he didn't want to disobey her. He was also afraid of messing up the spell by disturbing her. Jayce fell to the ground, Samantha stopped murmuring and opened her eyes, "Wake up!" she said in a commanding voice and Jayce's eyes opened and they looked the same as they did in the cafeteria while fighting with Kevin and his henchmen. He stood right up and kneeled to Samantha.
Samantha got up from the ground, "Rise, Ereck." He stood back upright.
"Nrdevi," He said.
"Ereck, you will talk in English from now on unless you have something to say that should stay between just the two of us. Okay?"
"Understood, princess."
"Now, I have woken you because Orec asked me to. Don't repeat your past mistakes."
"Forgive me, princess, but I cannot promise you that."
"I know you are bound by your duty, but that's an order."
"You can punish me if you want but I can't follow this order if you are in danger."
"Did you just-"
"Hey, Samantha," Mark interrupted her, "let it be. It's his job. He can't help it."
"Fine. But you will listen to Orec as well from now on and follow his commands."
"As you wish, princess."
"Good, now let him back in control, and Ereck, it's nice to have you back again."
Jayce's eyes went back to normal and he came to a relaxing posture now. "I was on the ground right?"
"Yes, you were." Mark walked in.
"So I take it that he's back now," Jayce raised his right eyebrow, "Ereck?"
"Yes, it worked," Ereck replied.
"There you are. Let's get started with our training then."
"I'm just gonna do some light warm-up exercises today. I suggest you do the same, Samantha." Mark started stretching his arms and legs.
"Sure, but how are we going to train for real?"
"He talked with him. We'll have the equipment and more space by tomorrow." Jayce sat back on the ground.
"Alright. What are you doing, Jayce?" She asked him.
"I already worked out in the morning. So now I'm meditating until Mark and you are warmed up."
"And then what?"
"Then. We are gonna spar."
"Nope. I'm not gonna spar with you. At least not today."
"Why not?"
"I'm just not up for it today."
"Guess it's just you and me Jayce," Mark said.
"Yeah. I suppose you'll do for the first day."
"We'll see."
After the warm Jayce and Mark spared for a while. Mark was good and he had technique but Jayce started picking up on his techniques with each blow he took. Both of them were pulling back their punches and kicks but it was getting harder for Jayce with each blow. Samantha was working on her magic the whole time. After about twenty minutes of sparing Jayce and Mark stopped as they were worn out. "Tired already?' Samantha teased them.
"Yeah, we weren't just standing there, you know," Mark answered.
"You know damn well it takes a lot of focus to do magic."
"Yeah, yeah."
Jayce and Mark gave each other a look, "We're calling it for today."
"Okay, you boys go, I'll be there after some time."
"Don't be too late," Jayce said as he went upstairs.