Chapter 18 (continued)

The trip to my grandmother's home felt as if it took years, we stopped back at the hotel to grab the others before heading there, we were going to need the truck to haul the stuff back to Tennessee anyways, Keith was looking drowsy still but we needed to get this done.

K: Why don't you just fill your car up, just wait for the truck later.

... She does not haul... that is what truck's are for, that's why I bought it and had you bring it, if the 'Angel' is to haul anything... it'll be the expensive stuff, or grandmother's treasures.

He was tired I get that, but I wanted this done before the funeral, so that once it was over, we could leave... I wasn't welcomed here already, once the day has ended, it'll be worse for me.

K: ok I'll see you there then.

It took forever but we got there, nothing had been touched as far as I could see, the grass had grown and weeds surrounded the fence... stuff that happens when not taken care of.

K: Do you want to take care of the house first or the surrounding buildings?

There's not many things worth keeping from the other buildings, she's thrown junk in there so let's just deal with the house for now.

It took a good four hours for us to empty the house, the majority of it were things that we could get from stores but we did keep anything that she had collected over the years.

L: Well that's everything in the house... want me to do a run through of the other buildings?

No I'll do that, but I'll have you help Keith with prepping the house for the fire.

L: well if you mean dousing it with gasoline, I can burn it down without that, it's not good for the environment anyways dude.

Don't call me dude, and we're not using gasoline... we'll be using this.

I handed him a gasoline tank filled with a red liquid that had an orange glow with it.

L: Ok? So what's th-

'Lupus in holocaustum'... Burnt wolf. Extremely rare and expensive. Wolf lore says this stuff had been created by Hati, the moon chaser, he grew hatred towards his brother Skol because Hati believed he should chase the sun, so he created this to turn the moon into the sun, instead... it created the blood moon. The liquid burns with no smoke and the once set ablaze, it is said that the fire can last forever, or for only mere seconds, it all depends on how you do it.

L: ... oh sorry, I kinda fell asleep halfway through your lecture, wanna run that by me again.

Pour the damn shit around the house before I use it to set you ablaze, you may have learned some "amazing" fire magic, but this stuff is uncontrollable and will burn anything in its path.

K: Jeez... don't gotta be so harsh dude.

He made his way over to Keith and they walked the perimeter of the house letting the liquid free of the bottle

John... you and me will go through the surrounding buildings, we could probably find something in the garage, Kerry if you could, start the vehicles up, we will be leaving shortly.

Kerry went to start the vehicles as John and I made our way to the garage, I knew for a fact there were things in here we could take and will take... but if either Keith or Lucas seen what they were, they'd want them destroyed.

We walked in the garage and John started looking around, I walked straight to the back wall and removed a large plank from the wall, behind it was a keypad in which I typed in my grandmother's code... my father's birthday

'041781'

Once entered it let out the promising tone of taking the password and you could hear the hidden trapdoor in the floor raise and open for us.

J: Slade... what is this?

A past long forgotten...

We descended down the stairs which brought us to an iron door, with a heavy beam across it. I removed it easily and opened the door giving a small amount of light to the room behind the door.

What do remember of my grandmother John?

J: well she was an amazing person, a mother figure to everyone, she helped people.

That's my grandmother, but did you ever see her dark side?...

I flicked the light switch on the wall and the lights turned on giving us the view of this room.

J: What the hell...

Hooked to the walls, on the tables... were weapons, but not just ordinary weapons, but magical weapons.

My grandmother locked this away before my father was born, this was her life before he gave her a new one.

J: these are weapons used against witches, weapons to torture them and to kill them.

Not just witches, but vampires and werewolves too... she went after those who were hurting the good people, she tortured many and slain thousands.

My grandmother hated the fact that she couldn't shift like her older brother, so she decided to do something, and that decision brought these weapons into her life, for years this was what she did, but when my grandfather came along... she changed, my father had been the final change that made this life go away.

J: please tell me you plan on destroying these...

Of course not, John... these will give me an upper hand against witches and vampires.

J: You don't need these weapons Slade... you yourself are a weapon.

Ya? what if one day a witch decides to use magic uncontrollable and goes after those I love, these will help me John, help our needs.

J: They should be destroyed Slade, but if want to follow this dark path... then be my guest.

I knew he wouldn't be happy... but I wanted the upper hand, it's what I do.

Let's start packing it up then, let's start with the witch weapons then move on from there.

John was about to pick up a mean looking dagger but then noticed a picture of my grandmother next to a silver hair man with his eyes closed.

J: Who's the silver haired guy, I don't recognize him.

...Unbelievable

You're jokeing right? JOHN! That's Dracula.

J: The Dracula?

What other Dracula do you know? Of course that's the Dracula. She visited Europe to make sure he was still asleep, and couldn't miss the chance on getting picture.

J: hmm.. ok.

We started to pack up the weapons and finished it up in a good half hour, we were about to bring them up when John's phone got a call, surprised he got a signal down here...

J: This is John... Alpha Hudson good to hear from you... I mean where basically finished up over here just need burn the house down... Well if it's that important I can head over there now... yep... Ya see you in a bit.

What does Alpha Hudson want from You?

J: I guess he wants me to help with the setup of the funeral, since I knew Eleanor very well he thought I should go and help.

Oh, well then you better get going, just check up on the others before you go, I'll get this stuff.

J: Alright... see you there Slade.

Once John left the room I moved to the back wall where a hidden safe was located. I knew what was inside, but I didn't believe John needed to know of it. Once I open the safe I reached in and grabbed a rolled up piece of paper, written way before my grandmother's time, this was a scroll handed down to each Jackson family member, it had been given to my grandmother after her brothers death. I had found lolng ago but never got to read it, my grandmother had caught me with it before I even opened it, she had told me once I was ready, I'd be able to read it.

I'm ready grandmother...

I unraveled the paper and read what was written.

* Sons and daughters of the Jackson family, long have we endured the pain of the first born curse, for a millenium we have not questioned it, no longer shall we sit in the dark. Thus said curse started long ago when the firstborn Jackson known as Fenrik Alerez fought against his father Skoll, the distand child to devour the sun. Alerez defeated his father only to learn of the curse he unleashed, The curse devoured his soul and was sent throughout the Jackson tree. Alerez lays dormant at the bottom of the pacific awaiting for the Jackson who bears the mark of the exile, the one chosen by Fenrir, the Father of all wolves. He shall unleash Alerez and bring on the fall of our true enemy... Mankind.

-Filtiarn Jackson*

The Jackson who bears the mark of the exiled, Fenrir's chosen... this was stuff I had never heard of before, I had never known how far back the Jackson line went, now I'm to me that the Jackson family had been direct link to Skoll... I had so many questions, and the only one that could answer them... was dead. I was about to close up the safe when I saw a glint of medal i n the safe, and I couldn't believe what it was.

It was my father's blade, the blade I had used to kill John worthing.

You've kept it all this time...

I didnt expect to get a response but when I heard the voice I literally jumped out of my socks

'Its been awhile hasn't it Slade...'

I dropped the blade on the table.

'Hey easy mann, I was created to kill, not to be dropped'

I didn't know if I should've been angry or happy, my father had this blade locked away in a safe when he was alive, after he died I found the key to the safe and took that blade. For the past few years I had thought it a normal blade, now it was speaking to me. I picked it up again and knew if it could speak, then it would have a name.

What is your name blade?

'Well nice of you to ask, I had wanted to tell you my name long ago but you were to focused on revenge, before I was binded to this blade I was known as the trickster, but after I crossed paths with your father... Well, he gave me the name shifter'

Shifter?

'Here let me show you'

Shifter let off a powerful glow an suddenly alot heavier, when I could finally see again shifter changed from the small blade to a massive longsword.

'Sorry about the shine, should've warned you'

You think?... what happened between you and my father, and why can you change?

'I crossed paths with your father probably when you were a mere infant, I was causing much havoc amongst the members of the Sioux pack and they finally had enough, I was able to keep the most of them away but your father finally bested me, he killed me but thought he could make me useful, so... the shifter was born.'

And what? you just decided to listen to his commands?

'Kinda, I don't know, I guess I just believed him to be the best damn wolf alive. Hey it doesn't matter, what does matter is that you are my new master, and hopefully you will use me now that I've spoken to you.'

I'm not a weapons person shifter, I don't care for them...

'Oh well if not a weapon, then how about something to protect.'

This time I closed my eyes and felt the change in wait, when I finally opened my eyes shifter had changed himself into a shield.

'How's this? Happy with some defence?'

Not bad, not bad indeed, is there anything you can't shift into?

'Yes, I can't turn into projectile weapons, things that shoot basically. Other then that, I can most likely shift to it.'

Hmm, pretty cool.

Before I could question him anymore a loud crash came from outside, not knowing what it was I ran up and out into the open. Nothing had changed, but it was quiet, to damn quiet.

Where is everybody?

The vehicles were running as I had asked but know one was around, I went over to 'Angel' and looked inside, amongst the boxes in the back seat I could see Kerry hiding, she looked at me with terrified eyes and pointed in the direction of the side of the house, when I looked over I caught a glimpse of Keith, Slumped over on the ground. Before I could do anything, I was knocked across the back of the head with a steel pipe, knocking me to the ground.

??: Damn that must've hurt, so sorry Slade.

Everything was a blur to me but I could the attacker swinging me again, I jumped up grabbing pipe and pulling the bastard into a headbutt, he let go of the pipe and fell backwards onto the ground holding his nose.

??: YOU FUCKING PRICK!

My vision slowly came back to me and I looked to the ground to see who attacked me.

TONY!?

He knocked my legs out from under me and got off the ground.

T: I'd say it's great to see you Slade, but then I'd be lying.

He went in for a kick at my ribs but I rolled out of the way and brought myself off the ground getting into a defense stance, shifter who switch back to his original form in my hand at the ready.

T: Look at that, another blade, are you going stab me in the back if the head like you did to Jane.

He was letting his anger fuel him rather then strategy, I knew I could best him as long as I kept my eyes on him, but I didn't want it to end this way.

I'm warning you now Tony... get out of here before I kill you.

T: And let you get away with her death? not gonna happen Slade, you crossed the line, you killed a wolf, you killed MY MATE!

   I felt the trickle of blood running down the back of my neck, I understand it's a pipe... but his strength has heighten sense our last encounter. I looked to him and he had a smile on his face.

T: let me guess, your questioning my strength... Well, let me show you.

   He pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing a black necklace with a red and white stone in the middle, the stone I couldn't tell what it was.

T: Amazing what the witches can do to a useless stone like the tumbled carnelian, boosts the strength, speed, and corouge of the one who bears it. This was given to Jane, even with this she wasn't able to protect herself from you. I'll make better use of it.

   He was on me in a blink of an eye, I had been able to block it but he had knocked me back a few feet making me unbalance, he used the moment to knock shifter and the pipe from my grip. They flew a few feet away but not out of eye shot, if I needed them again, I'd know where they were.

T: Your slow Slade pick up the pace now.

   I went in for a combo but he was able to block the majority of the hits, I went in for another head slam but he easily counter it by rolling to the side and throwing some jabs into my side.

T: Come now Slade... don't make this easy for me.

   My attacks were doing nothing to him, he showed no sign of stopping and my body was barely making it after his attacks, I needed to get that necklace from him before he finishes me.

   I moved on him from the left but he was at the ready flipping me on my back and pinning me to the ground with his knee, I looked to the side and noticed I was within reach of shifter... but the pipe, it was missing.

T: looking for this?

   I looked to him and just barely got the glimpse of the metal before he buried it into my leg, I scream out in pain and reached for the pipe to pull it out but he pushed my hands to the side and slammed so punches into my head, I was barely holding on.

T: the great Sioux pack weapon, near to death with a pipe through his leg.

   He moved the pipe around bringing on a wave of pain, and I couldn't do anything about it.

T: What a depressing sight, I had hope for a better fight, you disappoint me Slade.

   I reached for shifter but Tony kicked it out of my reached and kicked me in the side of the head.

T: let's not have any of that now...

  He pulled my head towards him making me look at him.

T: You brought this on yourself Slade, you should've stayed in that damn cell.

   He pulled the pipe out of my leg and held it over my head.

T: Good riddance Slade.

   Just as he was about to put the pipe through my head a blade protruded from his neck, his is went wide and he dropped the pipe and reached for his neck.... the blade, it was covered in blood but it had been red before, Tomy fell to the ground and standing behind him was Kerry... she had killed him with the 'bloodlust' blade.

Kerry..

   Tears fell from her eyes, in order for her to save me... she had to kill him, and this was her first kill, and the first is always the worst to bear. She fell to her knees and looked at looked at me..

K<3: Slade, I k-killed him.

   What could I say, we both knew if she hadn't done that I would've been dead, but she could control her feelings, she wasn't a killer...

Kerry... I'm so sorry you had to do that, I should've been able to handle it myself.

   She kept quiet for awhile, but then she looked as if she shooked it off and helped me sit up.

K<3: I'm fine, really Slade, I'm not a damsel in distress, I can handle myself.

That's my girl...

K<3:... But I still see no need for killing.

   I was fine with that, I didn't want her killing anyways, if she was in that situation again, I'm afraid it won't happen the same way...

Hey I'm good right now, go make sure Keith's okay, he can help me with my injuries.

   She nodded and ran over to Keith, there's one thing though... in all this chose. Where the HELL is Lucas.

   As if on que... Lucas came around the corner of the house and looked our way.

L: What the hell happened!?

Where the fuck were you? You left Kerry and Keith on the own!

L: I got a call from Lena, I had to answer it so I went to one of the buildings, here let me help you.

   He got on his knees and was about to heal my leg but I was having any of it.

Get the hell away, I don't want your help.

   He grew agitated.

L: Listen Slade, I'm just trying to help dammit.

Keith and Kerry needed your help earlier, there's a thing called 'call back later'. You've done enough.

   He was fuming, he wanted to kick my ass and I knew it, before he could do or say anything Kerry came over with Kieth in tow.

K<3: Will you to stop bickering? Keith fix Slades leg, Lucas if you want to help, take the truck and go check up on John, if we were attacked, maybe he was to.

L: Lena would kill me if anything happened to her father, fine I'm going, but I ain't taking the truck.

   Lucas opened a portal right next too us and was gone in the next few seconds. I knew John was alright, no one would dare attack and Alpha, especially one of the top ten, I was just happy that the bastard left to check up on him.

K: Slade don't know how to tell you this... but none of my magic can fix this...

You telling me I'm stuck waiting for the damn leg to heal on its own, I know I can regenerate, but really? This will take gods who knows how long.

K: I said my magic can't do anything... but maybe one of grandmother's can, I read it last night, it'll heal the leg, but at a cost.

What a damn surprise.

K: your leg can be healed, but I need a replacement, from a dead person.

   I looked over to Tony's body, the blade still in his neck... his leg was fine.

Do you not see the body right there?

K: Yes I see the damn body, but taking it from him isn't the only catch... once you add take his leg, a part of him coomes along.... Slade, Tony would be in your head...

What?..

K: You take from the dead, and they get something in return... a part of Tony will come back from the dead and haunt you forever if you do this Slade. Can you deal with that? With having Tony in your head?

... do it.

K: What?!

I said do it.

   If we didn't do this I would be stuck like this for a very long time, and right now I had to be at my very best, once my grandmother is put to rest, Hudson will let his wolves loose and have them hunt for me...

We need to do this now Keith,  get it over with...

   He was reluctant at first, but he then sighed and placed one hand on my broken leg and the other on Tony's leg.

K: 'bind the force that's been broken, take from the dead and in return, give them life.'

   The sound of breaking bones filled the air, I looked over to Tony's leg, the bone and roped through his skin and others were following it's example, once the ritual was finished there was much left of the leg but smashed bone and a pool of blood. Keith removed his hands from both of the legs and I looked at mine... completely healed, as if it never happened.

Wow... didn't actually believe it would work.

K: Ya well... it did. Do you here him?

   I listened, but all I could here was the wind blowing in the tree's and the sound of birds... no Tony.

No? Am I suppose to see him?

K: No, only here him, guess it hasn't fully kicked in... be careful when you get up, maybe the healing hasn't finished either.

   Keith helped me to my feet and I put some pressure on it, it felt fine... I took a few steps and nothing happen, good.

Seems like it's fully healed to me... maybe the book was wrong, maybe I won't hear Tony, good...

K: Books of spells are never wrong Slade.

Oh Ya? Well what about tha-

K: Don't bring up that stupid book, listen... this was grandmother's, so just be ready when Tony finally starts bothering you.

Let's hope he forgot everything after he died, anyways... did you and Lucas finish pouring the lupus liquid? Or did Tony interrupt that.

K: No we finished, I was heading over to you to tell you we were ready, thought it would be better if you did the honors.

   Kieth handed me a match... it was finally time to burn the past. I walked over to the house, remembering the great times I had here, where my grandmother had made a life for herself and my father.

   Goodbye...

   I lit the match and tossed it into the liquid, it didn't take long for the house to be engulfed in flames, Keith and Kerry came to stand next to me... we stood there watching the house burn for a little while longer until I turned around and headed to the vehicles.

Where finished here, now for the worst part. Keith I got a few more things to grab in the garage, how about you head over to the grounds for the funeral, make sure Lucas hasn't gotten himself killed yet.

K: Don't take to long, you know the wolves around here... they'll go after me if your not there.

Oh stop being a baby and go, don't worry Mann, I'll be there right after u show up.

   He headed over to the truck and sped up, I told Kerry to get in the care and wait for me to finish up. While walking back to the garage I spotted shifter on the ground.

'Well wasn't that fun, didn't think the little lass had it in her.'

... I will leave you here.

   But I didn't, he had been my father's blade and I would dare leave it behind. The boxes took only 20 minutes to get up and in the Angel, I was ready to head out but almost forgot something. Walking back to Tony's body, I pulled bloodlust out of his neck and wiped the blood on the grass.

You should've just left when I told you.

   I turned and headed back to the car, on the way I nearly had a heart attack... through the window, I could see someone sitting in the back seat, starring right at me, I blinked and when I opened my eyes... he was gone, Keith had told me in would see Tony, and I guess he was right... because the person who was in the back seat... wasn't Tony. At least as far as I knew.

   I got in the car and looked into the backseat, the man wasn't there, no sign of anyone even sitting there, Kerry turned to look in the back.

K<3: What wrong Slade? Something missing?

No.. yes... I don't know.

K<3: Jeez you look like you just saw a ghost.

   I turned to look at her.

... I think I did.

  concern show in her eyes, I wasn't suppose to see anything, I was told I'd here Tony. I sat in the chair and headed out of the property, whateverit was... I would have to wait till later, I've prolonged enough... it was time for me to put my grandmother to rest.

   Thirty minutes past until we arrived at the entrance of the compound, earlier I had thought it looked packed... now, well I wouldn't find a damn parking spot even if it hit me on the damn head, so... I drove over the sidewalk and parked on the grass...

K<3: won't you get a ticket or something? I mean, it's also within city limits.

If it's a problem, let them sue me, I'll be able to pay any size bill they send my way.

   We walked inside and didn't see anyone, more then likely everyone was back by the lake, what? Wolves love the water, so of course we found a place with a reasonable size lake. We walked to the back and were met by the sight of Keith and Lucas sitting on a bench near the back exit.

K: Finally, what took you so long?

Took a detour to see this bountiful land.

L: bountiful? This state is nothing but empty tilled plains...

Well good thing your not staying, is everything ready?

K: Ya everythi-

L: No it's not, earlier I tried to talk to John and Hudson and these damn wolves blocked my path, I told them I knew John but you think they listened... Nooo!

And you didn't blow them out of your way, I'm impressed.

L: Ok, your really starting to piss me off.

   The argument didn't go on any longer because at that moment John walked into the room.

J: your here good, let's get this over with... these wolves want you dead after what happen back at the house.

How the hell did they figure that out?

   As if I needed an answer, I looked right of to Lucas.

L: What? They wouldn't let me near them so I shouted so all could here.

You fucking idiot.

J: hey look at me, there is no time for this, let's put Eleanor to rest then get the hell out of here.

   I didn't argue with John, I just walked past and went out the door, he was right, if the rest of the pack heard of the Tony's death, then they'll be after me, as far as it sounds... there not after Kerry, at least the moron didn't shout Tony got killed by a human.

H: Slade you've decided to show up finally...

Hudson was off to my right and I couldn't help but to let my anger rise.

Funny thing Hudson, you've said it yourself nothing gets into your territory without your knowledge, how did Tony end up back at my grandmother's then.

H: must've slipped by.

   My anger got the best of me and i stormed over to him... a major mistake. The pack was on me at seconds pulling me back keeping me away from there alpha.

That is complete bull and you know it Dwayne!

H: Not only are you questioning my word, but you didn't  Address me correctly... I am alpha Hudson of the Sioux pack, and you will make sure you address me as so.

   You are no alpha... you are a coward, hiding behind your pack, sending your wolves to there death... you allowed Tony to come back, knowing at least one of your problems would die.

   The entire pack went silent, those holding me back let me go and backed away... I had insulted an alpha... they were waiting for the outcome of my words. But nothing came, except for the ringing of the clock. Hudson stared at me for the longest time until turning away.

H: The time has come to put Eleanor to rest, let the funeral commence.

   Making himself look good in front of the pack, if we had been in other circumstance... he would've been on me the moment I called him Dwayne. Instead of attacking him I back away and went to the front of the pack, where I would stand during the funeral, Kerry, Lucas, and Keith stood by my side when the Paul barriers made their way through the path of wolves, it was the exact same as my brothers funeral, except for the numbers and of the gifts. Instead of gold, ruby's or hematite, they gave her Amethyst stones, they were believed to   Ward off the darkness that lurks in all magic users... when she made it to us I gave her two ruby's and one of her favorite necklaces, Keith was on the verge of tears but he was able to speak out a verse of the Christian bible and bide her farewell. The wolves lead her to the boat ready to set her on her way... but Lucas stopped them, he was holding a ring with a fox on it, I let it slip by at my brothers funeral... but not this one. Before he could place it on her I jerk his hand away and grabbed the ring.

She will be given the wolves proper farewell, I will not have you taint her soul with you witchcraft.

   He stared at me in disbelief but backed away... some of the other wolves had step forword at the commotion. The barriers went on with their work and pushed the boat off to drift into the lake, once far enough in I lit the arrow and shot it into the air, watching it fall and setting the boat ablaze...

Farewell... Grandmother.