International Legends

Chapter 23 - Jasper

Before the timeline takes its course on Mani's ship, returning us to the cruise that we all so love to hate on, I use my spyglass to stop time. My mom, instantly knowing that I would do this, walks up to me.

"You're breaking the rules," she says. "Mama Earth is going to catch you eventually."

"Screw the rules. Who cares about an all knowing God or Goddess who does nothing? Mom, the rules never did anything good for you. Why would I give them any regard? That wouldn't get us ahead."

"I just don't want to see the powers that be to get upset with you my child," says Genesis, tracing her fingers along my chin. "Just because you have the high qualified position of Grim doesn't mean that you will be able to keep hold of it."

I know this, but it still doesn't help. Knowing the glories of the hell-world of which I had come from, not knowing how to get around the situation, I simply nod at her. I then change the course of the ship, transporting it back to Vortex City.

There is the demon-baby Claire. She shakes her finger at me as if to say, "This is not good."

Mom is playing with her, allowing the child to make figure 8's along her long Wyorm back while she turns to me and says, "You got to love the next generation. They seem to always have more spunk than those who came before. Her parents would be proud."

Vortex City shines before me, the brilliant tall towers of the Wizard-infested city looming large.  The people there are frozen in time, as the spyglass when used freezes the subject. Placed on the corner of the ship, everyone within its sight was frozen instantly with only Genesis behind me as we approached the city docks, staring at the faces of my frozen friends and the wretched Vampire Queen, before stepping out into the metropolis.

"What are 'Wizards' mom?"

She laughs, as if this is a ridiculous question, but I've never genuinely known. It seemed as if every major conflict in human history had its basis in a human that wanted nothing more than to cause a war with those that are next to them. Why then wouldn't a person want to be under the protection of someone more learned than them? Who is more concerned with the general wellbeing of life itself - a human hellbent on survival, or a benevolent Guardian?

"You misunderstand the humans," says Mom, as we swish past the frozen civilians paused in mid-conversation and during the work. "They don't have the same concerns as we do as far as living forever, being worshipped, or embodying some archetypal force."

What is it that they want though? Why would a select group of humans break away from the Gods and Goddesses, deciding that they are capable of their own self-actualization?

Up the tallest tower, past Naomi Campbell's mother. The sell-out, giving her own child to her ex-husband, one that hadn't talked to her in years, giving her child to be a science experiment. It seemed sick and wrong even, that this woman could love this man even when there are no reasons to do that.

"My mom used to feel the same way about my Dad," says Mom, staring at the red-headed woman. "She used to feel that if she loved him hard enough, he would somehow find that she was worth all the trouble."

It was obvious though, from looking closely at Mrs. Campbell that she was in pain. Perhaps realizing that she had lost her daughter had put her in the position of going to her ex-husband. Regardless, she looked torn. As if she had fallen under his spell again, realizing that she was still in love with the man. Perhaps she had just given up on having any agency whatsoever. I know how that feels unfortunately.

Passing by the frozen guards, we made our way to a laboratory, where we saw something that shocked me - clueing me into what was really going on. 

I thought Mr. DeAngelo was being kept imprisoned, but it was obvious that he was working along with her - the Vampire Queen. The way he was able to transport himself back to Vortex City in spite of being held by the golden rope made me realize that he had friends all over. Here he was now, standing in front of the of the timelines that were diverging from the true time.