Sky Forever

Chapter 29: Revelations

"Jared!" Amber whimpered.

Homunculus looked at me as I entered.

"Jared Cast!" He said, grinning menacingly, "How good to see you!"

"Put her down, you fiend!" I brandished the golden sword.

"Take one step and she's dead." He answered.

I noticed the knife he had at Amber's throat was actually her diamond dagger that the Immortal Guard had thrown away.

"How did you get that?" I asked, pointing to it, "And how did you get her?!"

"Simple," He replied, "I knew you were coming. I've planned every little bit of this out. But, I know that's not much use against you, since you're the same."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused and trying to stall so I could think of a plan.

"Surely you saw this coming?" He said, "Being a PreCog and all that."

I looked at him, "A what?"

"A PreCog. Precognition. You can dream the future." The Emperor explained.

"No, I can't..." I argued.

"Oh really?" He said, looking slightly puzzled, "I always assumed you could, since your father could."

"What?!" I yelled, "How do you know my father?!"

"We were good friends, back in the day." He replied, "Until he betrayed me."

I stood in shocked silence for a few moments.

"Is that why you imprisoned me?" I asked.

"Yes!" He said, condescendingly, "Good job for figuring that out!"

"Sorry, I'm still trying to get over the fact that you, a corrupt, merciless, angry little Emperor, were friends with my father!" I said.

"There's no need to get personal..." He replied.

"There is every need to get personal" I replied, "And if you don't let Amber go, I'll have to kill you."

"I'd like to see you try." He replied, pressuring the diamond dagger onto her throat a little more.

He was right, I was in no position to kill him at that moment. It was an empty threat. I had absolutely no idea what to do so I decided to stall for a bit longer.

"How did my father betray you?" I asked.

"It was a decade ago." Homunculus explained, "My baby son had just been born from my late wife Esmeralda. It was a beautiful moment in my life. Until your father, Kay Cast, had to ruin everything."

"What did he do?" I said, quickly scanning the room for any ways to distract him from Amber. I noticed the balcony to the left.

"He killed my son. My three week old son, Jasper Jr." He answered.

I looked back at him again, trying to comprehend what he'd said, "My father killed your son?!"

"He said he was trying to assassinate my father, Axel. But, the arrow went astray and killed Jasper Jr."

"Wait...why was he trying to assassinate your father?"

"I don't know, he never told me. I banished him from the city after that." The Emperor said, "Then, when I came to power-"

"By killing your own brother." I interrupted.

"Oh, you believe that rumour do you? I guess you're just going along with the crowd, like everyone else. You don't know my real struggles, Cast!"