The Golden Telescope

36 - REALITY CHECK

DUBLIN, IRELAND – PRESENT DAY

Arthur stood over Jack with the spectacles in his hand.

Jack's legs wobbled under him, and the butler quickly took him by the elbow and helped him onto the couch. He then dashed across the room to the walnut sideboard, filled a cup with water, and returned, handing the drink to Jack.

"Thanks," Jack said as he took a sip, then wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. He sat quietly with a somber look on his face.

"Well?" Bill asked, "What happened? Did you see Sir Edward?"

Jack looked up at his friend, "Um...kind of."

"What do you mean 'kind of'?" Bart jumped in.

"That's exactly what I meant. I kind of saw him," Jack sighed. "It makes it difficult when I'm looking out through his own eyes, you know?" He raised both of his eyebrows at his friend as if to say 'duh'. "Mostly, I saw his hands. And just before the end of the vision, Grandpa Edward walked toward a mirror. I think he wanted to show himself to me." Jack rubbed his eyes and wiped his forehead.

'Did he say anything to you? Was he able to communicate a message? Arthur asked.

"That's the interesting thing," Jack began, "it seems like he can only communicate with me through writing because he went to a desk and wrote out a message to me. A warning, really," Jack paused for emphasis.

"A warning?" Bill asked. "What kind of warning?"

"I'm not sure if I can remember it word for word, but he basically said that I'm in terrible danger—just like last time," Jack looked at Bart, then back to Bill. "He said that my aunts murdered my parents..."

Bart's mouth dropped open. Jack shook his head, blinking to keep the tears from pooling in his eyes.

Bill frowned and sat on the sofa beside Jack, placing a comforting arm around his shoulder. "So, this is where I should tell you that your grandfather suspected their death wasn't an accident," he said. "That's the reason behind why I relocated to Portland in the first place." Bill paused, and a grave expression crossed his face, "I'm shocked to hear that Inez and Clara were behind it, though... Ross's own sisters."

"Was there anything else in his message, Master Jack?" Arthur prompted.

Swallowing, Jack found his voice again. "He said that Inez and Clara think he's dead. He also mentioned that he is hiding in the past. For self-protection." He looked inquisitively at Bill, then at Arthur.

"I know Master could send people backward and forward through time by use of the hats," Arthur said. "That's what got him into trouble with the mission he sent Lady Lydia on, but...Sir Edward wasn't wearing a hat when Inez and her thugs forced him out through the portal that night. So, I'm quite perplexed about how he pulled off such a stunt."

"Oh, and he said one more thing," Jack started with a new sense of sadness in his voice, "he said that my aunts have seduced Ethan and that I present an obstacle to their evil plans. So, I need to master my abilities, and fast, he looked at Bill as he said this. "He said that he would do what he can to help."

"Crazy," Bart said, "But how much help can he possibly be if he's hiding in the past?"

"I'll bet there's quite a lot he can teach you by means of those glasses, Master Jack," Arthur offered.