Order of the Golden Dawn (Neophyte Series 2)

CHAPTER 9 : HELL OR HIGH WATER

        'Named after his deeds?' Jordan asked the next morning as we sat enjoying a pineapple, banana and strawberry breakfast. 'Do you know of such a person?'

    'That rose to power the way he described? No; no-one living anyway.' I replied.

    'Well, he is a demonic being after all. What if he is in fact dead?'

    'Highly unlikely. But he made it sound as though it was a very long time ago. Maybe he's just very old.' I suggested, shrugging my shoulders.

    'That does sound more likely. He mentioned that he had seen many battlefields in his time, right? Maybe there's something in his blood that keeps him alive and youthful for a very long time? But that would mean you wouldn't age either. You are apparently cut from the same cloth, after all.'

    'I am nothing like him, Jordan. And I'll ask that you mind your tongue.' I insisted in a defensive tone.

    'Obviously you are not ready to talk about it. I shall put it behind us for now, I suppose. Besides, that doesn't mean that you have to be like him, or your father.'

    'Oh, really? What makes you think I can fight it off? You saw what happened before we entered the grounds.'

    'All I'm saying is that we are who we choose to be. Our blood does not define our actions or who we truly are. I was merely suggesting that if you could learn how to control... whatever the bloody hell is inside you, then maybe you could use it against them. Fight fire with fire, if you will. I wish I had such a weapon.'

    'Oh, I assure you, you do not. You have no idea how unsettling it is to not be in control of your own body. To be seconds away from killing your best friend and can do nothing to stop it.'

    'I'm just saying that if I were you, I'd be learning how to control it, before it controls me; that's all.' She smiled nervously, unsure if she was pushing personal boundaries.

    Thinking back to the day I had met Jordan, I recalled her strange ability; though I hadn't seen her use it since. I remembered her tiny hands closing my own; the leaves above us parting to let in the sun and life blossoming within my very palm. Then I thought of the blast that had shot me onto the grounds — I had forgotten the bright burst of light that had caused such an explosion that it sent me flying a hundred feet through the air.

    'Oh, but you do have abilities Jordan; and if I remember correctly, you always have.' I began to remind her of what she was capable of and she suddenly seemed uplifted — as though discovering our unusual abilities was something beautiful; regardless of how treacherous mine truly was.

    'So, what should we do about it then?'

    'What do you mean?' I asked, unsure of what she was getting at.

    'Well, we're here now; are we not? It doesn't seem like we're going anywhere anytime soon. We are explorers after all, the pair of us. We escaped the blade of Jack the Ripper; the depths of a swirling whirlpool, and a demonic werewolf — yet we survive! It seems only right that our journey continue inward.' Laughing at her childish tone, I stared into the castle to which she was pointing.

    'Inward?'

    'Yes; and in more ways than one. I think our journey is more than just what we have been through thus far, and whatever lies within the castle itself; but within ourselves as well.'

    'Well Jordan; you just focus on what you can do. I think my... problem is better left untouched for the time being.'

    We spent the rest of the day exploring the grounds, searching for any way possible into the castle but came up short once again. We rested by what resembled a giant stone foot, nestled behind a massive willow tree by what we assumed was the edge of the grounds. Jordan went on about her theories of underground caverns that could lead us into the castle.