The Magical Islands Of Da

17.5 The Harsh Reality

"You really thought you were back home huh? No, welcome to reality again!" 

Cole opened his eyes and stood up; he wasn't in Jessie's room. Instead, he was in another jail cell, with mice and skulls on the floor. There was no bed like in his previous jail cell.

In front of him was Jessica wearing what seemed to be pajamas. Cole ran up to her but hit something hard, he fell back on the ground. He shook it off and got up, he reached in front feeling a little woozy. 

He was giggled at while being watched, "Oh I see, it's a mirror, you really do have me trapped in here!" 

She showed him a little device that blinked a blue light, sort of similar to the one Elijah had described to him earlier. 

"You did. No wonder The Sinful was able to find me. Jessica...why? How could you possibly work for a guy like him? I can't believe you would do this."

"Well you probably will cause, he's my dad. That's all I really need to say, I'm sure you can put those two things together and understand why. Cole I'm sorry I did this to you, I had no choice."

She went closer to the glass and looked at The Boy. 

"I'm very impressed and inspired by your bravery and ability to put others over yourself but look where it got you. I see what you've done but...as they say, family always comes first over others."

"Really now? Then tell me this. How would you feel? Just...how would you feel if you were truly away from him, without him there to protect you?" 

There was a pause before the glass wall changed, Jessica could not be seen any longer, just an old putrid wall. Cole kicked the wall before looking down, he was no longer wearing the glistening golden vest, just his own attire. 

Tears started to build up in his throat, Cole took a deep breath and looked out the window in his cell, the sky outside was purplish black with rain coming down. A loud thud could be heard behind him. It was Jessica with two guards by her side.

The guards had the heads of wolves but the body of a human, with their gear being over plated and shining, they were holding spears. 

"Cole, just follow me, we have some things to discuss with my dad...whether you want to or not. Oh, one more thing...you'll need to wear these." 

Once again Cole's hands were tied up like in cuffs, he gruffed as he followed Jessica out of the cell. His hands were behind his back, the walls were stone bricks like a medieval castle, rooms were lit with torches that hung against the walls.

Eventually he was led into a room which had what seemed like twenty guards in the room with The Mysterious Man sitting on a throne, the throne wasn't fancy, just made of wood. 

"Ah, finally you brought him, I told you to bring me to him ten minutes ago, but you...gah, sweetie...you're grounded after this for the next three hours."

"Grounded? And for three hours? That's too long, dad I'm sorry. Just please, it was an accident...plus I was just...trying to make sure that he was well, okay. He's been through it!" 

The Mysterious Man's eyes panned between the two.

"Sweetie, that's not for you to decide, this is still my castle, do you understand sweetie?"

She slowly nodded and looked down at the ground slightly. Cole would pan his gaze between the two before he shifted his focus to the man on the throne, there was an uncomfortable silence in the room.

"Cole look usually someone like you...I would plan a public execution for but...you are a special kind of problem, that doesn't have a simple solution. Look at the end of the day, you made me go through hell to get you, and you caused me a bunch of trouble with other rival kingdoms and tribes, but at the end of the day..."

The man paused while reaching for something.

"You have rewarded me with this." 

He took out a box with a lock on it, the lock had a purple glow to it, giving off some odd mind hurting energy.

"Can I please just go home sir? You promised me if I gave you the vest then you would take me home. Plus I think the reason you want the vest is clear." 

The man on the throne laughed and looked over at Cole in a confused manner, "Okay then kid genius, tell me what I really want."

Cole looked at him for a few seconds without saying anything before he looked at Jessica once again, "You want her to be safe. Knowing your reputation, you know she's a target to others. So, to be by her side, you want to wear it to protect her, Seth?" 

Jessica looked at her father and felt her chest beat in pain a little, Seth gasped and didn't say any word for a few moments.

"You're...really smart for your age. And how did you even know my name?" 

Cole pulled out the picture of Seth when he was younger with a younger Solamon and others in the picture, he threw the picture on the ground in front of Seth. He looked at it for a few seconds before looking back at Cole. 

"Okay look, you saved my daughter...in that arena, I don't know what Solamon was thinking, I'll give him a piece of my mind later. But we both will always be grateful that you protected her, I can't actually take you home."

Cole started to tear up, he dropped to his knees and sobbed on the ground.

"But I can make you a part of the family. A special guest." 

Cole slowly glanced up at the man, his eyes shifted to Jessica before back to her dead. He slowly got up.

"I'll never join your family, it's twisted. And relies on fear."

"Then there's nothing more, guards put him out of his misery." Seth looked away

Jessica screamed, "Please! Please don't hurt him! You can't!"

They started to approach Cole until Cole's restraints went on the ground, they stopped and slowly backed away from him. 

"What are you idiots doing? Just put him down! Don't make me put him down!"

Cole held his hand out to everyone, he was wearing The Ring Of Light, Seth stood up and took out his staff. 

He stood up off his throne, Cole pointed his index finger at him. The two stared at each other through the harsh reality. ***

(Hey ya'll! What an intense chapter this has been, how will it end for Cole? Let's find out in the final chapters!

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