The Edge of MINECRAFT (Being the Second Volume of the Minecraft Trilogy)

Him Again

It was those eyes. Alex shivered. Those eyes had haunted her since the day she had first laid eyes on them, though of course, she had never seen the original owner.  The man that stood in front of her was undoubtedly that original owner, the origin of the glowing white eyes that had followed her everywhere.

"Herobrine," she breathed, unbelieving.

"The one and only," he said with a grin and a dismissive arm sweep. "And you must be Alex, right? Amazing, after all these years, to finally meet you, face to face. My, you've grown. You're not still that little curious girl who explored the underwater temples."

"How many villains do you have a history with?" Alex was vaguely aware of Jack demanding from her side.

"You don't know me," she said resolutely to Herobrine.

"But you do," he insisted, continuing to smile, his eyes glowing bright. "We've known each other for a long time. I've been watching you pretty much since your birth. You knew me, though. You just knew me as Conan."

"You were Conan?" Jack asked incredulously. "How? You just recently escaped from the Nether."

"Conan was a sorcerer who worshipped Herobrine," Alex explained. "He was dangerous, but not invincible. I killed him with my arrow. I shot him through his heart. I didn't miss like the historians thought. But Herobrine possessed him. He used him as a physical vessel in the overworld. I clashed with him after that, and when people saw him again, they just assumed he was still alive."

"Conan was a useful servant," Herobrine admitted with a shrug. "Of course, he wasn't perfect. You beat him, and even after I had some agents dispose of you, that pesky son of Fredrick managed to kill him. Just a minor setback, if you will."

"You're a monster," Alex said fearfully.

"I'm a businessman," Herobrine said defensively, feigning hurt. "I thought we were friends, dear Alexis."

"Don't call me that!" she shouted.

"The historians do."

"Not the ones that got it right."

"Silly little girl," Herobrine laughed suddenly. "You really haven't changed. You're still so, so afraid." His eyes glowed whiter, like his malicious sense of humor was powering them.

"I see you're still just as much a coward," Alex fired back. "Still working from the shadows and taking hostages." She nodded to the poor man she assumed was Samuel Jameson. "Always letting pawns do every little job for you."

Herobrine was still grinning from ear to ear. "My poor dear, that time is over. Your pesky little friend Steve forced me out of those shadows. He beat me once, but now my full power dims returning. Speaking of which, where is the little bugger?"

~~~

Lucas stared unbelieving at the Dark Lord in front of their group. He had thought they had beaten him for good three months ago. He thought that with the destruction of that sword, those white eyes were gone for good. Even when they got the report from Theos, Lucas had just assumed that Herobrine had help. No way could be anything more than a blind beggar.

But no. Now Herobrine was here, and he obviously was plenty powerful. Now he apparently knew Alex, to make things weirder. The mysterious girl who he thought of as tough as nails seemed struck speechless in his presence. And now the remark about Steve. Surely he knew, right?

Confused, Lucas looked to Herobrine, about to say something, but a twitch from Jameson caught his attention. The head elder of Westlodge lay bound and beaten in front of them, but he definitely hadn't lost the will to fight. His eyes still burned with fire. Lucas looked closer only to realize Jameson was mouthing something. He doesn't know about Steve.