JFB Chapter 4: A Fateful Meeting

         He was in the middle of a vast ocean with no help in sight, the silhouette of an aged man was coughing atop a hill bathed in starlight, a large spider crawled toward him across a polished floor, then his body was crippled as it took its last breath, and he felt the sad feeling of a life wasted…

         With one hard blink, Jake broke the line of vision that held him there, and sidestepped. He didn’t exactly enjoy being caught unawares, in which he wasn’t able to control his power to see people’s fears by looking into their eyes. He preferred not to see a person’s vulnerabilities, the very things they dreaded and kept hidden deep inside, before he even had a good look at them. Jake knew what would make her heart quail, despite the intense look in her eyes, before he even knew her name.

         Curiously, Jake took note of Eva’s idle fist, still raised in her bout of fear. Glancing heavily at the exposed crystal around Eva’s neck, he stalked forward into the shop, leaving Eva without a word or hint of recognition.

         Just like the rest of the world, Eva had adopted a monstrous image to accompany Fear’s name, not actually seeing Fear or Deceit that night a year ago, the Great Fear. But Eva pondered his age, thinking he could not be much older than herself. He looked as human as herself, at least, but his shadowy eyes…

         Eva unfroze from her temporary shock as the whole point of her journey flooded her mind. Any doubt that had begun to creep into her thoughts about ever finding Fear vanished as if it were never there. She directed her determination on a new subject, spinning on the spot to catch up with Jake. He obviously knew the place well, as his steps faded and Eva continued to struggle through the zigzagging aisles. This gave her plenty of time for her doubt to return. Had she really just seen the face of Fear? She burst into the clearing at the front with a flare in her eyes.

         “You,” Eva marveled aloud at the huddled forms at the counter. It seemed moments before Jake had been whispering to Kasper, though he erased any concern from his face as he slowly swiveled to face Eva. He raised his eyebrows innocently, as best his dark countenance could achieve, and folded his arms.

         “What?” Jake replied, with a hint of annoyance that Kasper caught.

         “Have you met her before, Jakob?” Kasper tried to peer closer at Jake, but his gaze did not move from his turned position toward Eva.

         “No,” Eva replied as she moved closer, gazing in wonder.

         For what it was worth, Jake found himself temporarily sidetracked too. He had thought his chances were ruined when he missed the perfect opportunity to snatch the crystal a year ago. Yet here he was, and here she was; a second chance was just inches from his grasp…

         “Jakob!” Kasper’s voice had raised in pitch.

         Jakob’s head turned to Kasper, though his hand did not fall from its reaching position.

         “This is Evalyn. She is a Virtue also,” Kasper explained, keeping a wary eye on Jake’s hand.

         “I know,” Jake merely responded.

         “You know?” Eva asked surprised. She had taken off her hat again, subconsciously rubbing her arms for warmth.

         “Nothing could be easier to see,” Jake said gruffly.

         “What Jakob should say,” Kasper put in, “is that Virtues can usually sense other Virtues. Sometimes more strongly than others, and sometimes not at all. I think it’s just fate trying to tell us something.” Kasper began to smile, though any philosophical mystery was lost on the two bewildered expressions. “Have you met before?” Kasper asked again.

         “No.” Jake flatly stated.

         Eva squinted, a small shock reverberating in her heart. She did not know what to make of it, meeting Kasper’s sidelong glance with empty significance in her eyes.

         “Jakob, Evalyn is Lady Truth. Perhaps the greatest Virtue of our time,” Kasper said, his expression close to glowing. Eva bit her lip, suddenly nervous. She felt the need to explain that she had just found this out too, and if he felt the need to laugh at such prophetic words, he should go right ahead. Laugh, snort, stare dumbfounded, anything.

         “Er…” was all she could get out. Her nervousness began to turn to fear as Jake concentrated his gaze on her. She could feel him evaluating her as he stood up. He took his time, stalking back and forth, shooting Eva the occasional glance. Eva’s skin prickled as if she was under an examination, though she managed to hold his gaze. His movements were fluid and brooding, until his furrowed brows were right in front of Eva. For a moment he failed to see her eyes once more and instead glimpsed steady sea on all sides of him; Eva’s greatest fear. No longer within the confines of Kasper’s shop, Jake looked from the ocean to the night sky above, and almost smiled.

         The smile was pure wickedness when he returned it to Eva’s face. She was frozen in place once more, feeling the chill of his presence that reminded her of the cold breeze of the sea.

         Eva saw the intention in his eyes before his hands darted up. When Jake’s hand slashed for the crystal around Eva’s neck, her own hand instinctively shot up to protect it.

         “Jakob!” Kasper commanded. He was ignored.

         An unmistakable smirk spread on Jake’s face and his shadows darkened dramatically. His left hand was still raised, poised to strike, and a brusque V peeked through his sleeve, tattooed onto his left wrist. Smoke began to trickle from his fingers.

         Any warmth was swept from Eva’s complexion, and she looked forward as if through a haze. Concentrating on the point before her, Jake’s chest, she took a deep breath that cleared away the cold.

         “This belongs to me,” Eva said in a hush, her breath failing her. Horrid questions screamed inside her head, demanding to know why she had seeked out Fear in the first place. Jake raised his hand higher. The room darkened considerably and Eva stumbled over nothing. She recovered quickly however, only to see Jake had his hand around the crystal, her crystal.

         White fire surged within Eva, straight to the fingertips in her left hand. As Jake’s eyes darkened to a gleam hidden in shadow, Eva raised her left hand in shock as a light broke the shadows apart. Struggling to find the source of the light, she followed its beam to her very own hand. Truth clicked in her head as she realized the powers were her own. She could almost laugh for joy as her fear melted away along with the smoke. When she looked up, Jake had already let go, his body tense. Advancing forward, Eva raised her left hand curiously, amazed at the pure light radiating from it.

         “Stop right there!” Kasper said, his tone strong and forceful. With a shock Eva realized he was addressing her, and her steps froze. The light seeped back to her hand, but not before she realized that Jake had stepped back, keeping his distance. It was surprisingly hard to keep her body from burning with the fire that now coursed through it. She heaved a few deep breaths as she returned to normal, perplexedly looking up at Kasper. A calculating look glowed from his eyes, and after a moment, Eva saw that his eyes were on the crystal also.

         “I’ll be in back.” Jake said awkwardly, striding to the end of the counter. Remembering something, he spun around. “You don‘t deserve that crystal.” With that, he crossed beyond the counter and into a doorway Eva had not noticed before.

         Eva’s mouth fell open and she swooped onto Kasper. “What just happened?”

         “Certain Virtues have a power tied directly to their left hand, and I suspect you’re one of them,” Jasper explained, ignoring Eva’s gaze that bordered on incredulity. “Put out your left hand, palm up.” Eva did so wordlessly, though her eyes were still locked on Jasper. He proceeded to put his left palm on top of Eva’s and a tension suspended between them. For a moment it seemed all the ticking in the room rose to a final sound and silenced on a brink, as Jasper then looked up to match Eva’s stare, challenging her with his joyous light against her smoldering grey.

         Eva refused to break the hold and grit her teeth, though Jasper gave her one last smile before he shut his own eyes. A warmth tingled between their palms and Eva’s eyes quivered, still refusing to move from Jasper’s relaxed face. Heart beating, Eva felt as if white fire brushed her fingers and a power reverberated through her whole body, till her whole form shivered. Right when Eva couldn’t take it anymore, she broke her gaze and looked down at her hand. Bright light shot from her palm and illuminated their faces, drowning out the lamps above with a much purer essence. With a gasp, Eva pulled away and the light vanished, leaving a smug expression on Jasper’s face.

         Stunned, Eva stepped away from the counter, refusing to let her mind come to a conclusion as to what she had seen. She didn’t ask to be a Virtue, her life felt so lost already. But she couldn’t deny the light that had come from her own body and the power that had surged through her. A nearby clock face reflected Eva’s face, and she felt she didn’t know the striking eyes on her milky complexion or the sureness they portrayed deep in their depths.

         Jasper pointed toward her hand covering the crystal. “You’re one of us.”

         Eva plopped her head in her hands, glancing upward, as if looking for hope from the blaring lights above. She blinked twice, thinking the lights shimmered like stars. Tilting her head, she realized the lights were only lights. Jasper’s eyes were warm and he smiled comfortingly.

         “Kind of makes you wish you left while you had the chance.” The two sat in silence with their own thoughts while Jake was absent. Eva was too busy with her pondering to make any guesses as to where Jake had gone, but by the look on Jasper’s face, it seemed he was coming back. Maybe she was a Virtue like them. It wasn’t impossible, just hard to accept. She knew the way the people, including herself, regarded the Virtues. Jasper spoke up.

         “Most people find out they are a Virtue when they are younger. I did not actually realize it till my middle ages.” Eva thought again of the crystal. Did it really contain the power of the Virtues, the power she did not wish to have?

         Presently, Jake returned with a large paper bag and seated himself two stools from Eva. Her frustration returned in an instant.

         “What’s all that?” she said in spite. Jasper answered for Jake, who was fumbling with its contents.

         “You see, young Jakob decides to drop by from time to time, and I think to myself, ah! He has come to visit me in my lonely shop. But no, he comes here for his groceries.” A sarcastic smile came over Kasper as he peered at Jake, who ignored him. Eva thought it an odd place to go for food, but then again, she did not know a Virtue’s life.

         Jake’s boots scuffed the ground as he got up and began to make for the aisles without a word. “Hold up!” Kasper called. A cuckoo clock to Jake’s right suddenly burst forward, its chirping bird inches in front of Jake’s face. His form came to a rapid halt, but even faster he broke the bird’s spring in half. “Where do you think you’re going?” Kasper questioned.

         “I came for what I needed and now I’m done.” Jake shoved the broken pieces of the clock onto a nearby shelf. Kasper’s eyes positively beamed, an amusement rooted deep within his being clashing on the two unsuspecting young adults in his shop. “I’m sorry, Jakob, but you seem to have been involved for awhile now. You can‘t just walk out now.”

         “And I still have questions,” Eva added, a little pathetically. Jake gave the crystal around Eva’s neck a heavy look and swept into the room he had just come out of.

         Watching Jake’s back disappear into the back room once more, Kasper asked, “Would you like some hot cocoa? This may take awhile.” Brought back to her senses, Eva slowly followed Kasper through the doorway behind the counter.

         There was no mistaking the power within her now, and she would have to learn to keep it in check. It had felt almost instinctive, letting the tension burst through in a flash of intense white light. Faintly, Eva registered a small kitchen with dark wood cabinets and numerous hanging pots and made her way through a second doorway to a cozy room. A glowing fire blazed in a hearth and three armchairs humbly stood before it. Kasper was already seated, waiting patiently for Eva, while Jake was in the process of seating himself on the floor, a bit away from the empty chairs.

         “Jakob, you’re insulting my foresight. There are two extra chairs for a reason.” In response, Jake glowered and pulled a loaf of bread from his bag. Kasper sighed.

         “If that’s how it is, I’ll go get some hot cocoa and let you two get better acquainted.” Once he reached the doorway to the kitchen he turned. “I think you would both find it wise to not attempt any more stand-offs tonight.” Eva nodded, feeling a strange tiredness from the use of her powers, and seated herself in a chair. “Jakob?”

         Feigning innocence, Jake pulled a milk carton from his bag also. “Can you get me a cup and some paper towels?” Kasper was not amused, but seemed satisfied and vanished into the kitchen.

         Silence filled the room, broken by the occasional crackle of the fire. Eva stretched her arms, peering at Jake as he slowly ate his bread. She briefly considered challenging him again, if only to break the sudden calm in his demeanor. Her nerves still tingled however, and she chose not to risk losing her control again. A few stray crumbs dropped to the floor and he quickly gathered them into a pile. Eva slumped back into her chair.

         “So, how has Deceit been?” Eva pronounced, as if the whereabouts of a wanted criminal were suitable evening conversation.

         “I don’t know. Why don’t you find him and ask the same way you found Kasper?”

         “I wasn’t looking for Kasper. I looked up your family‘s last known residence.”

         “And how exactly is that possible? Fear isn’t exactly in the yellow pages.” Jake smirked at his own joke and gulped down some milk from the carton.

         “No, but Bloom was.”

         Jake abruptly spat out his milk and chanced a glance at Eva, his eyes dark. In the short amount of time since Jake had looked at her, Eva had forgotten the coldness of his stare. Except this time, white fire pulsed through her veins along with fear.

         “Here you go,” Jasper announced, reentering the room. Passing a steaming cup in Eva’s direction, he paused and took note of the scene.

         “Jasper, who is she?” Jake demanded, straightening in his seated position on the floor.

         “You know, for someone who likes cleaning so much, you sure make most of the mess,” Jasper said, reaching for a nearby mop. Jake quickly stood.

         “Who is she?”

         “What Virtue?”

         “What, who, same thing!” Jake grasped the mop from Jasper’s hands.

         “Not quite,” Jasper replied softly, taking a seat in an empty armchair. Eva took a deep breath and felt her senses calm. Jasper smiled in an apologizing way, and offered the cup of hot cocoa to her. Eva hesitated in smiling back, only managing a slight twitch about her mouth. Her powers had brought her this far, and she could not find any use of denying them much longer.

         “I’m Truth.” Instead of feeling as if a death sentence had been pronounced, Eva felt almost relieved. Here was finally an answer in a sea of questions. Being Truth resolved how she had known the names of Fear and Deceit and been able to look for them. Perhaps her search for truth could bring her much farther.

         This news was not a comforting matter to Jake. His knuckles clenched around the mop he held, the wooden handle threatening to splinter. “You know my name?”

         Eva peered from the top of her cocoa. “Jakob Bloom.”

         Jake took a deep breath, steadying himself. His eyes darted to the windows, though he knew they were shut, and his feet twitched toward Eva and the door at the same time. Eva quickly set down her steaming mug, sinking back into her chair as if she knew what was coming.

         “Don’t you dare go to the police because they don’t stand a chance,” Jake growled. Eva looked to Kasper for support, though he looked just as scared as she did. Jake’s eyes focused on the ceiling, but Eva was too frozen to glance upward also to see what held his attention. Jake continued, “I know every one of their fears, and can make it appear. You must not know true fear to think you can count on anyone when they‘re afraid.” Jake lowered his gaze to Eva. “You have no one to trust as long as I am around, and remember that.” Eva eyes were wide enough to shatter, and Jake took that as her understanding. The chill of his presence reminded her of the cold breeze of the sea once more and it felt as if life had left her fingers as a dead look transferred from his eyes to hers. He lowered his voice to a murmur and continued. “I‘ll give you the chance to leave now, but while you’re at it, show the police your left wrist and they’ll tattoo it for you. You know how everyone hates an unmarked Virtue.” Eva felt like a cold wind had washed over her face with a burning aftereffect. Jake flicked to her crystal, and Eva had the sudden realization that Jake did not want her to leave at all. She put her hand to her crystal and opened her mouth, trying to find the right words.

         “No,” was all she could muster. Eva remembered Kasper urging her to leave once she had told him Fear and Deceit wanted the crystal. Jake’s hungry eyes confirmed it. “Why do you want my crystal?”

         Kasper straightened, furtively brushing his hand through his pepper-colored hair.

         “Truth?” Jake pronounced. Kasper subconsciously nodded, and it took a moment before Jake realized he had a mop in his hand. He set it aside.

         “Her powers,” Kasper broke the hush, “are untrained and powerful. This will be another thing we must take into account.“ He directed his words to Eva. “Out of your many powers as Truth, one of them would be naturally to discern the truth.” Before Eva could ponder this Jake stepped forward. A cold glare shone from him as he brushed the hair away from his eyes.

         “Why?” Jake echoed. “You have no idea what that crystal is.” The shadows rimming Jake’s eyes seemed to deepen and scorn shone from what could be seen of his eyes. “What it could be.”

         “So what if it is some special crystal? It‘s mine and I’m not going to let just anyone take it!“ Eva said, exasperated. She so wished her words to be strong enough to make Jake back down. About to argue once more, Jake snapped his mouth shut and furrowed his brow. Fumbling for words, he struggled to remember how Felix looked like; it had been so long.

         “‘So what’ is not the best way to put it,” Kasper filled the silence. Peering at Jake, he motioned for him to back away. Eva was surprised to see Jake oblige. Kasper began to explain, “The Celesti crystal is in two halves. Am I right in guessing Felix has the other half, Jakob?” Jake had no time to answer, whether he would have or not.

         “He does,” Eva pronounced. She had felt the truth in Jasper’s guess. She could feel the beating tension in the room, realizing they were approaching the heart of the matter and why Kasper had been so worried.

         “What happens when the crystal is whole?” she timidly asked. Kasper sat down and folded his hands together, their fingers clinging for assurance.

         “The Celesti crystal is said to be the source of the Virtues’ powers. Many Virtues have wondered why such powerful forces reside in human souls. The answer is the broken crystal. While it is broken, there will always be Virtues, the powers passed down as a Virtue dies. Our bodies act as containers for the powers. If the crystal were to be whole, the power would be contained within it.” Jasper’s face had a shadow of a grin as the light of the fire danced upon him, but it was ashen and old. “That would make the living Virtues the final ones.” A sudden warmth transferred from Jasper’s eyes to Eva’s cold grey ones. Her heart swelled with new hope, if only to see the happiness in Kasper‘s eyes.

         “Would you like that?”

         “Very much.” Kasper began to laugh with pure delight, A laughter wise but with a faint taste of the ignorant delight of youth though that had been lost long ago. Though wrinkles were set about Kasper’s face, and his hair was grey, his eyes were ageless depths of the lightest blue and his laughter rang like echoes resounding within him. Eva had heard of people called magicians, and guessed the man would fit the description. But if the purpose that kept the captivating man upon this earth had to do with magic, Eva doubted. They were a bit like Jake’s powers that only astounded and terrified people. Eva had to admit contentment was contagious about the old man, despite the saddened lines that swept about his mouth.

         Unnoticed by the pair, Jake looked over from his spot, a dark cloud still upon his brow. Kasper continued. “I have waited a long time on that street corner to meet you.”

         Eva stared into the fire, fingering the crystal around her neck. If only it had been whole, she would have been saved from this life. As would Kasper. She remembered the loneliness that pounded down on her within his shop, as time went by in steady ticks. The crystal was not meant to be broken, just as humans were not meant to be Virtues. And, she turned toward Jake who steadfastly stared out a window. If she couldn’t trust him, she could trust the truth. Fleetingly, she wondered what would have become of Jakob Bloom and Felix Rayner had the crystal been whole.

         “I want to help you. No one asks to be a Virtue.” Her eyes ended on Jake.

         “Good answer,” Kasper said, standing up. “Though as I have said before, you will learn to live with it, Lady Truth.”

         Jake had not moved from his spot staring out the window. Kasper leaned against the fireplace, observing Jake’s solitary figure.

         “You never told me you and Felix knew about the crystal, Jakob.”

         “You never asked,” Jake responded gruffly.

         “I’m assuming your intentions are darker than helping future generations of innocent people from difficult fates.”

         Jake finally turned from the window. “As always.” He strode from the room, and Kasper let him pass, though he seemed to show him out. Eva sensed a connection between the two, stranger than friendship, but an understanding all the same. She pretended to no longer notice Jake, sipping at her hot cocoa. It was stone cold.

         Back in the shop, Jake whispered, “What was her name again?”

         Kasper answered, “Evalyn Reaper.”

         Jake brushed his dark brown hair from his eyes. “Why her? She is the worst of people; ignorant, naïve, careless… She has no right to act a savior or pity any of us-”

         “Give her time, it will take her awhile to realize we’re all only human in the end, even Virtues.” Kasper said with finality, following Jake to the back of the shop.

         Jake’s eyes were back out the window and he smirked. “You sound so sure.”

         “You going to your house? It’s still hidden, you know. She wouldn’t have been able to find it.” Kasper said. Jake rubbed his eyes and nodded. Briskly walking through the aisles, Jake’s boots thudded on the dusty floor. Kasper watched his feet, thinking to himself.

         “I need to think,” Jake simply said for a farewell as the paused before the revolving door. Kasper nodded.

         “Me too.”

         “Is it safe to go?” Jake asked with slight annoyance, flicking his head beyond the door to the street beyond. Glancing at a particular clock to his right, which was a musty grey like the cobblestone streets outside, Kasper answered,

         “Give it ten seconds. No, five. Wait, fifteen.”

         “Kasper!” Jake hissed.

         “Scared?“ Kasper taunted. Jake glared and walked through the revolving doors without a backward glance. “Now!” Kasper called, and mirthfully laughed yet again, as he could hear Jake’s footsteps fade into silence. Kasper’s laughter endured till he wiped tears from his eyes and looked once more at the clocks about him. He instantly sobered and walked back to the front of the shop and into the living room. He found Eva hugging her legs to her body, clinging to the warmth of the fire. His eyes were searching and his tone very precise as he approached Eva.

         “Don’t mind him. The trick is to look just past him, if he ever chooses to look into your eyes.” Evalyn jumped as she took in Kasper‘s return.

         “What do you mean?” Evalyn asked, confused. Kasper studied her with an intensity that Evelyn almost cowered from, and finally answered,

         “You’ve got a journey in store for you, and it has barely just begun. I’ll let you in on our secret. You may see him as only a young adult like yourself, but once he looks into your eyes, he has power. Knows what makes you jump and can create it just as easy. I guess you can say, he is fear himself.” Evalyn stared back at Kasper, her grey eyes upon her fair face no comparison to his, but then again, his had seen far and wide. The words were quite beyond her understanding. Kasper returned to a more hearty tone and teasingly said, “All you have to remember is not to be afraid of him.”

         Eva followed Kasper back into the kitchen, and was led through another doorway into a hallway with two rooms. She had been so quick in running away that she had made no plans as to where she would stay during the night. Luckily, Kasper had planned for this too. He opened the first one to the left and showed Eva in. She realized her hat and bag, containing some money, had already been placed on a side table. Surprised, Eva turned to Kasper, perhaps to thank him and wish him a good night, but his grave face stopped her.

         Kasper’s eyes were searching and his tone very precise as he repeated his words:

         “Don’t be afraid of him.”