The Golden Telescope

37 - CLIMAX

DUBLIN, IRELAND – PRESENT DAY

"I don't know anything about these evil aunts of mine," Jack started. He jumped up off the couch, facing the others, "but they have my brother. There is no way Ethan could know what those witches have done," his brown eyes were dark and foreboding, and there was a new intensity in his demeanor.

"He has to be told! And we need to get him away from them before it's too late," he turned to look at Arthur, "You said you tried to rescue him...when was that?"

"It's been more than two years, Master Jack," the butler replied with a sad and skeptical look on his face. "I fear they may have their claws too deeply embedded in him by now."

"Especially since it's clear, they utilize dark magic to influence and manipulate things to their own advantage," Bill added. "I mean...think about the lengths they've gone to already; killing their brother and his wife, then attempting to murder their father." He paused. "...it seems likely they may have also used those powers to sway Ethan their way."

"Yeah, well, I'm not willing to just assume he's lost to the dark side," Jack rounded on Bill. "Next thing you know, they'll be going after Sadie, too. I can't allow that to happen!"

His eyes were wild with rage, and he shoved his damp bangs out of his face as he paced. "I'm surprised they haven't tried harder to find me," he said. Then he stopped abruptly in the middle of the room and stared at Bart.

"What is the recurring theme I've heard in these visions, Bart?"

"Uh...your grandparents?" he asked, looking across at his friend.

Jack rolled his eyes. "And...?" he urged.

"And..." Bart's eyes widened, "They both warned you that you are in danger!"

"Exactly," Jack said. "After they plotted to have my parents murdered, they split us up and have been keeping an eye on us ever since! They even went to the effort to have those stupid tracking rings made to monitor our magical abilities," he took a deep breath, looking around the room at each of them with increasing intensity. "You can bet they're going crazy trying to figure out where I am!"

Jack darted across the library, pulling the drapes aside to look out at the empty grounds. He could feel it in his heart, in the dreaded, incessant thumping that pounded through him. They were out there. He knew it.

He turned back to the room, starting to hyperventilate. He shoved his hand into his pocket and withdrew his inhaler. Sucking on it deeply, he rolled his eyes and exhaled, then stuffed it back where it came from. "Ugh...I hate that!" Jack exclaimed.

"Anyhow, I'm not about to sit here just waiting for them to voop in and grab me at any moment. I feel like a sitting duck here. I want to take action. We need to find out where Ethan is. I want to talk to him. He needs to know the truth." Jack looked at Arthur, who was scowling and appeared to be concentrating hard on something, then to Bill.

"Well, I happen to have a tool with me that could help us with locating Ethan," he stood and headed for the doorway of the library, "it's in my suitcase. I'll be right back," and he dashed into the hall, his footsteps thundering up the staircase.

"Actually, Master Jack, we should also be able to locate your brother using the globe," Arthur said, and the three of them looked at one another.

"Let's do it!" Jack exclaimed, "Lead the way, Arty!"

They all dashed out of the library, up the staircase, and stopped in front of the familiar walnut door. The butler pulled a large keyring from his jacket pocket, identified the appropriate key, then inserted it in the keyhole and opened the door.