Real Name: Erased
Current name: Jack Maludin
Age: 34
Apparent Age: Mid 20’s to Mid 30’s
Image: Jack Mauldin is as non-descript a person you have ever met. His attire is always kept up with the last years fashion as not to draw attention to himself. His dull brown hair is styled in whatever is normal for the area that he is currently in. His hazel eyes are a mix between green and brown.
Personality: He comes across as confidant and knowledgeable enough to belong in most any situation but not enough that he stands out as a master in any field. What many don’t know is that Jack is a true Sociopath but thru training and a long active life he has managed to fake his way thru social interactions. Also, he has chosen for himself, with the help of his Avatar, a life that works for him and a different but effective Code.
History:
During one of the missions back in 2000, Jack’s entire team was killed in an ambush. The team held out for 2 hours in a 3 story building on the other side of the world. The team was not able to call for help but they did get a message out that consisted of one word “Burn”. That was the code to inform the command that the mission went sideways and that they were dead and for them to destroy all records of them permanently as well drop a bomb on target location to remove all evidence that they ever existed.
As the enemy was able to finally breach the building, the bombs dropped. Jack, being on the roof calling in the order for his team’s death, heard the bomb before he felt the explosion. The odd thing was that he could feel the impact before the bomb even hit. As the bomb went off destroying everyone and everything in the building, Jack being on the roof was blown off and landed on another building 3 blocks away. As his body lay there broken and bleeding Jack felt the building shaking from the bomb blocks away. In the shadow of a neighboring building, as he was lying on the roof of an abandon building, Jack sees the shadow of Death. Looking up into the shadow looking skull he feels wonder and excitement warring with peace and contentment.
“This is your agama, this is your death. You will survive but first you must die.” Confused Jack lays there as Death, or what he thinks of death, grasps his hand and stands him up. Looking around Jack sees his body there on the roof. “You are a mage this is where you awaken. This is your time. Look at reality. See the illusion see beyond. I will guide you in this life and the next as well. Walk with me.” Reality shifted colors became washed out as Jack and Deaths shadow walked across the roof and off it slowly sinking down to the ground while still walking north. “We will be traveling the other worlds now, that is called the Umbra these are just as important as the reality you know.” Pausing Death looked at Jack with a cocked head. “You think of me as Death. I am not. I am your Avatar. Due to your awakening, the circumstances, and who I really am I take on this appearance The Shadow of Death. You make call me what you will just so you understand I am not death but we do have some things in common and so will you soon. ”
During his walk with his Avatar the Shadow of Death Jack learned many things about the world but more importantly about reality. After what seemed like a week of walking and learning Jack found that while he could not talk he didn’t need to, his avatar answered every question that Jack had before he even could voice it or think it. Finally, coming to stop back on the roof where his body lay broken his avatar looked at him again. “We have walked around many worlds and you have learned much. Only a few moments have passed since you died. It is now time for you to return back to the world of the living. I will always be here with you all you have to do is look inside yourself and I will be here. You will never be alone. Now, AWAKEN.”
The words said, Jack finds himself laying down breathing in a ragged breath everything hurting. Taking stock he finds that while his body is not broken, everything is bruised. Knowing his Avatar fixed it somehow Jack slowly gets up and starts to strip out of his gear and begins to make his way down the building still weak after his ordeal. Leaving the building covered in dust wearing only his shirt and pants with his side arm tucked in his back, Jack blends in with the others running around in confusion leaving the life that ended on that roof to start a new life where he could do better make more of a change without being told what to do. A chance to fix things on a deeper level and knowing why he was doing it instead of just taking orders. That man up there died now he would be known by whatever name he needed.
5 years later.
Jack’s Avatar informed him that if he wanted to improve his magic and abilities he would need a Familiar. Someone or something who could help him and who would always be there in spirit, as well as physical form. He would also need to find someone who would be willing to take him into one of the other realms.
Tracking down a Dreamspeaker proved to be difficult, and, in the end, he had to contact one of his only friends, a hacker by the handle of Mouse, who had the ability to find most anything about anyone. Their relationship was founded online when Jack was looking for a specialist in the art of information gathering. It started off as strictly professional but over the course of the years and many of jobs and information sharing between them their relationship changed. Slowly at first a favor here and there, complaints shared. Slowly, even though they have never met in person, a true friendship formed. So when faced with finding a Dreamspeaker who would be willing to work with him, he turned to Mouse, and like so many times over the years she didn’t fail him. Providing Jack with a name, and the typical you owe me one, Jack gave his thanks and went to see the woman who would help him.
Traveling to Australia was a bit out of the way, but it made sense to him now that he thought about it. The Aborigines were supposed to be very in touch with all things spiritual. Upon arrival, following the directions provided by Mouse, Jack rented a Jeep that was able to go off-roading in the wilds of the Outback. Over the course of 3 days, Jack found the remote village and the Dreamspeaker named Allirea, which translated to Quartz in the English tongue.
He found Allirea in the middle of the village. Allirea he thought was a pretty woman. Not someone you would fall in love with at first sight but she had an aura about her. He could see she would have many suitors in most cities, but here people revered her.
“Greetings Allirea, I was told that you are a walker of worlds and that you would be able to help guide me there. I am on a Seeking for one who will share my life and I theirs. I humbly request your help.” Jack states as humbly as he can, knowing that one of her abilities would be able to see thru him and how he truly felt. He just hoped that she would appreciate the effort of him being polite and at least showing her respect she has at least earned from her fellow tribe members.
“A death dealer a dark spirit of sorts. You lack something basic most the world has.” Cocking her head looking at him before continuing on. “Yes, at least you are showing respect though you feel no disrespect either. You are broken in a way, you lack empathy you lack remorse. This would be dangerous for many of your kind but you also don’t enjoy killing, do you?”
“No, Allirea, I don’t. It is a means to an end and if the person is able to change their ways then so much the better if not if they are past redemption then I will send them on to get it right the next time. I know we are supposed to feel sorry and mourn for the loss of a life wasted, but I just can’t.”
Stepping back, Allirea walks slowly around Jack looking him up and down seeing the person who he is, reading him more deeply than anyone, besides his Avatar, has ever done. Standing in front of Jack she slowly shakes her head and has a pitying smile, “Yes, of course, I will help you. You, above all others, who I have ever met, need a spirt to help you, to guide you, to…..Balance you.” Before Jack could reply she continued. “I want you to listen to me and take this very seriously. Heed my warning and listen with your Avatar. Choose wisely, by that I mean seek out wisdom not strength, not speed, not power, not intelligence, not knowledge. Seek out wisdom.”
Listening carefully to what she said and thinking that she was the Dreamspeaker so she would know more about this that he would himself he decided to take that advice. “Yes Dreamspeaker, I was not sure what I was after to begin with but what you say has merit and I will do what you advise.”
“Good. If you survive this you make me think that there is hope for your Tradition yet.” She replies with a big heart felt smile. “Come into my hut, strip down and meditate until I get you in a few hours. When the ritual begins come out as the day you were born and receive our blessings.” Walking into the hut Jack strips down folding his clothes neatly putting it off to them off to the side of the entrance. Walking to the middle of the hut where a mat was laid out he sits and begins to enter a meditative trance. It takes longer than he would like but eventually he was able to achieve the trance. An indeterminate time later Allirea walked into the hut. “It is time. Follow me.” Standing up still holding on to his trance like state he follows her. She spoke again, “Watch us, listen to us and feel. Feel with your soul, with the world. When the time comes you will know it that is when you step through. I will be sending you deep into the other world. Where you go, how shallow, how deep, is up to Fate but you will be where you need to be but you might have to look and seek a bit. I will know when the time to bring you back rest assured you will not be stranded.” All Jacks reply was a simple, “I’m not worried.” “Of course you’re not I forget sometimes your kind does not have the same fears about death as others.”
Stepping out of the hut the first thing Jack notices is that it is night the second thing he notices is that the entire tribe seems to be gathered there around a bonfire. Then his senses get assaulted from the music and sounds he didn’t notice earlier and the smells of the outback. Everything is heightened whether from his meditative trance or something that Allirea is working he doesn’t know.
Standing there in the middle of the tribe by watching them dance around the bonfire with flames reaching twice the height of a man Jack tries to feel as Allirea told him. With his senses stretching far he opens himself up to the forces within himself and the world. Watching the tribe, feeling them move on the earth, feeling the earth turn with them he feels he is on the cusp of understanding something when his attention is diverted to the rift forming between him and the flames. Looking over at Allirea for confirmation he sees that her eyes and staring thru him and he hears her voice in his head it is time.
Stepping thru the portal Jack finds himself in a different world. Not the land of the dead, also called Low Umbra, for Jack has been there before and knows that this place is not it. This is a place that seemed familiar but at the same time completely new. Looking around at the alien landscape, Jack takes it all in looking around for anything. What he sees is a world full strangeness. Hours passed as Jack wonders the world he found himself. Odd objects fly through the air and the landscape seems to change from time to time. Finding a spot overlooking a waterfall made of emerald water, Jack sat down closed his eyes reached deep into himself and focused on the thought of wisdom. Moments passed when he heard a voice deep and rich behind him. “Greetings Mage. You come looking for me?” Jack turned and stood in a fluid motion, pausing for a second when his eyes rested upon what looked like a dragon.
The dragon stood on all fours a little under 5 feet tall, its scales where deep emerald green that of the waterfall that stood behind Jack. In fact, Jack noticed that if the dragon was in the shade the scales would blend in with the shadows and look almost black. The dragon was missing wings but its hands resembled a cross between human hands and reptile claws. It looked as if those hands were dexterous enough to turn a book or drive a vehicle and deadly enough to rend his flesh. As Jack looked into the Dragons hazel eyes, he was struck by the fact that his own eyes were the same color of the dragons. “I have never met a dragon before. I didn’t even know you existed.” The Dragon smiled a very expansive grin showing all his teeth. “I am a spirit I can take many forms. Your mind from somewhere in your past must have thought that Dragons where old and wise. Since I do fit both of these things I decided that this form was appropriate.” Thinking back Jack remember reading some fantasy books and in some of the books the dragons where old and wise. “Yes, your thoughts are easy to read, as well as that of your life and very interesting life and death. You come here seeking a Familiar but really no idea what is needed to accomplish this. Your Avatar said that you needed a balance, Allirea said you needed wisdom. You are smart to heed her advice and that of your Avatar.” “Thank you, spirit. I take it since you answered my request that you wish to partner up?” Jack replied. “You assume much but with reason. As it happens you intrigue me. I have been watching you for the past few days learning about you. I find that I am interested in the world in which you come from. Also, I find I am bored and I could use a traveling companion myself. But there is a price to pay. One I am sure you will be willing to but one you might not know.” Jack looked blankly at the Spirit no longer trying to keep up social appearances with facial reactions. “What price is that?” Jack asked curious on what he would have to pay. His Avatar, Deaths Shadow, told him that some of his magic would be the price but that is not what he was getting from the spirit. “You are correct magic is not the only price you will have to pay. In order for this relationship to work, you and I both, have to merge on a magical level, on a spiritual level. In this I will have full access to everything that makes you who you are. In return, I will be a part of you as long as you exist and my magic will be part of you.” Jack let that statement hang in the air for long time thinking about what he would be giving up and what he would be getting weighing all the options before him. The spirit for its part let him take all the time he needed careful not to rush while knowing the outcome based on what he read of the mages soul.
“Yes. I am willing I think we could benefit one another. I don’t think a dragon will be suitable for my world.” Jack replied.
Smiling the Dragon said, “You did not bring a vessel for me to be housed in. In fact, you are completely nude. The only thing you have that I could possibly work with is that of your shadow. Yes you will be my vessel. And trust me, if people see me they will admire me for I will be a part of you.” The spirit bent down and then started to eat Jacks shadow. The more of the shadow the spirit consumed the more transparent it became. As the shadow was being absorbed by the spirit Jack started to feel ill. Like something was being taken away part of his soul. By the time the spirit finished eating the entire shadow Jack felt like the inside of his chest was hollow.
Jack looked at the dragon face to face and felt like a piece of himself was missing he also noticed that he could almost see right through the dragon. The spirit then reached its dragon like human hand and pressed it over Jacks heart. Jack then felt himself become whole again as the dragon spirit slid over his chest becoming a two dimensional being in the form of one massive dark green wingless draconic tattoo that covered most of his body.
“I know you didn’t want this. I feel your worries about blending in with me covering your body like this. But if I need to I can rearrange so that I will be hidden under your clothes. But this right now spread out is more comfortable for me.” The dragon tattoo explained to Jack answering his unspoken worry.
“I can deal with that. Can you leave me or are you stuck on my skin now?” Jack asked. “Oh no I can slide off any time and we will always still be connected. Like this.” The spirit said as it slid off Jacks body at his feet growing out from where Jacks shadow should be forming into that of its original dark emerald form no longer transparent no longer flat but the full sized dragon it was when Jack first met it. Jack felt the emptiness again but it was much, much less.
“That emptiness that you feel when I am separated from you I feel it as well. That is why it is much more comfortable with you than separate.” The spirit replied as it jumped into Jack merging with him instantly both feeling complete at the same time.
“Yes, much better. By the way what do you want to be called?” Jack replied. At this the dragon laughed and as it did it moved across Jacks body causing a shiver to go through him. “Only you would asked what I want to be called. Not what is your name but what do I want to be called. I like that. Call me Other. And I shall refer to you as Nameless or by whatever name you are going by that week. I know that is how you truly think of yourself. When you died they erased you from your world as if you were never born, and now you change names as needed. So, you are truly nameless to yourself so that is what I shall call you.” Jack was taken back for the first time that he could remember. The fact that he had someone with him now that knew everything about him was an eye opener.
Changing the subject Other said, “While in your reality my powers and abilities will be diminished but as you grow and gain in power so will I. We are bound now to one another familiar to familiar. You wear me just as I am wearing you. Let us head back for I am anxious to see your realm.”
Jack started to turn back the way he came and found himself back at the entrance of the rift. “How did we get here so fast?” Jack asked Other. “In this world you can travel by thought we both had the desire to go back where you came from and we arrived here. Also, on a side note, in case you get confused, time tends to travel differently here. So, a few days might have passed or a few seconds. I know if feels like a week but keep in mind you haven’t eaten nor had anything to drink have you.” Nodding at this Jack walks through the rift back into the night as he steps though the aborigines are still dancing the didgeridoo is still being played. At that moment Allirea opened her eyes and smiled. Jack walked up to her as she smiled at him. “I see you have found what you were looking for. The question is did you take my advice or did you ignore me.” Jack remembered to smile as he looked at her, “I took your advice. I sought out wisdom and it came to me. Thank you.” He spent the rest of the night watching the dance and the ritual complete. By dawn he gathered up his gear thanked Allirea and was on his way.
10 Years after Awaking
“Jack I need some help, you feeling up to sending some fiend back to your ever great recycle of life?” Winter asked over the phone. “What did this ‘Fiend’ do to merit my attention?” Jack asked getting up from his hotel bed getting himself another beer. Opening the mini fridge he sighs when he noticed it was all out. Walking over to the desk he sits down and grabs a pen and starts to write on the paper tablet. Winter continued, “An associate of mine informs me that there is one of my kind that went insane and has been committing all sorts of atrocities and needs to be put down. The others are having a problem doing it, so I offered my help. And since you by my tally you owe me one, I am calling in a favor.” Jack could hear the smile over the phone. Jack and Winter had a sort of game going on at Winters behest. Kind of how normal people would fight over the check. Well, theirs was a bit different but in the same stadium. “Sure Winter, but you know what I want and need. Send me the information and I will look it over as long as it is on the up and up I will do this for you.” There was a pause then Jack heard winter reply, “It’s been uploaded to the server now. Review it at your leisure and, as always, let me know if you’re alive or dead after this I look forward to hearing all about it regardless of the outcome.” A small sighing laugh escapes Jacks lips, “Will do Winter.”
Hanging up the phone Jack logs into his secure server that his only other friend Mouse set up for him. That woman is always so polite but seriously odd. Other says as he slides off Jacks skin and starts to walk around the hotel room. “Yes, but she understand my line of work, and I understand hers.” Jack replied and he began to look over the files on the vampire that is causing all these issues. Reading over the documents and pictures if only half of what was in there was true this vampire needed to be stopped. “What gets me Other, is that vampires usually police their own. Why was I called in and why do they need me? What makes this one so special or hard to kill?” Maybe they need a power that can take care of it in the day and don’t want to sacrifice their human familiars? Other replied. “Maybe but this is near Denver so we have a drive on our hands. Hey, where do you want to go after this?” I don’t know maybe Louisiana I have been wanting to swim with some gators. Or we can try Canada you need to work on your French language and I hear that there is another accomplished Mage up there that is offering Spirit training. “Sure, but first I need to get some supplies and check on a vampire.”
Pulling out his monocle he focuses on the his ability to see anything in the world while pulling out an old roman coin Jack flip it through his fingers as he began to use every bit of lucky skill to find and locate the vampire that was in the files. After an hour of searching and feeling and watching, Jack finally found his vampire. It was just as the files showed, male, approximate age, late twenties, blond hair. The vampire, whose name was Steven, looked to be sewing some leather cloak together. Jack adjusted his perception to get a good look at the place. The house was for the most part neat the living room had some toys on the couch with the exception of the kitchen. The kitchen looked like a warzone, there was body parts on the floor, in the sink, and on the table. Jack could see the body of a young teen boy face down on the table with the skin on his back flayed. Jack only hoped the kid wasn’t alive when it happened. Judging by the position of the boys neck it looked as if it was broken but judging by the horrified expression on the kids face he saw it coming. Revelation struck Jack as he shifted his perception again to view what the monster was working on. Upon closer inspection Jack saw that the monster was making a cloak out of human skin. “Other, we have to go now. It will still be a day to get there but we are leaving now.” Jack said as he started to pack making sure he remembered everything he used his magical sense to scan the room for any item that he might have left. Other put his clawed hand on Jacks wrist and flowed up his body into the tattoo that was his other form. Yes, this creature needs to die and quickly but I still think you should do more information gathering when we get into his city. Other informed him as his familiar began going through Jacks memories to see what he saw when Jack was viewing the vampire.
The trip to Denver from Arkansas was long but they made good time hitting every green light along the way and only stopping when the vehicle was low on gas. During that time, Jack bought some scratch off tickets, using a bit of luck, and won enough to keep him in fuel and food for the rest of the trip. It was night when he pulled into a cheap motel outside of Denver and using the last of his winnings paid the room for the night. Before he got out of his vehicle Jack used a bit of Magic to trick any surveillance or security cameras that were in the area to malfunction. He then went to the front desk and paid for his room in cash.
Jack grabbed his gear out of his truck Jack walked up the stairs to the second floor and entered his room. He set his gear down and then started to set up some basic wardings to keep him from being noticed by supernatural creatures. Once the very basic protections were in place, he then decided to get some rest. “Other, I need to recover will you keep watch for me and wake me up an hour or two before dawn. I want to be in place and strike while this creature is at its weakest.” Jack spoke while he was stripping down for the night. Of course, get some rest. For tomorrow we hunt and send this creature back to the wheel where he hopefully will get it correct the next time around.
Dreams were not pleasant for Jack they alternated between his vision of the vampire and the random thoughts and dreams leaking from his neighbors in the rooms next to his. Still when he woke up he felt refreshed after a hot shower.
Seriously Jack, you need to get control of the Mind sphere. I have been trying to figure out why random thoughts from people keep popping into your head. It’s not your magic or not completely. I think when you died it unlocked some latent psychic ability. I think if you master the Mind sphere you might be able to stop the random thought. Might being the key word. Other informed Jack as he exited the shower. “Yes, I know I need to learn Mind. I need to Learn Spirit. Also, I need to complete this mission first. After that we will see after this.” Yes, we will. You keep saying that but something always comes up. “Hey, we went to Antarctica to see the penguins so that you could ‘view’ them in their natural habitat. So, yes, things come up and so do jobs. I am learning. I am doing more magic now in these past 5 years that I ever did since I became a mage. Let’s focus on the path a head of us right now and then look into getting some more specialized training. Oh, and before you start, I don’t care to study at our chantry. I just don’t fit in with them. They tend to take the job seriously which is good but feel sad about it.” Jack replied while he got dressed. There are other ways but I agree you don’t fit in nor should you. But try to fake it better will you. Other said with a smile in his voice. You are correct Jack it’s time we walk our path. Dawn is upon us let’s locate this creature and end its death. Jack sat down and watched the sun rise. When the sun was an up enough that all the vampires should be asleep, he focused on his monocle and brought Steven to the front of his mind. His vision shifted and he found himself looking at the vampire sleeping in a windowless basement. Jack took note of his surroundings and shifted his vision back upstairs. He was in luck as the monster had not moved from the previous day. It looked as if maybe the creature was hiding out or just had to finish his human skin cloak. Jack gathered all the information he could and when he came out of his trance he noticed that the sun was well over head and the growling in his stomach informed him he missed lunch.
“Other, he is still in the same house it’s about 35 minutes away. I need a bite to eat and then we can go. I want to drive around a bit in the neighborhood so that I get a better lay of the land and pick up some tools.”
Jack drove around and decided the best time to enter the house was two hours before dusk, when families were sitting down for dinner and most people would be off the street. Jack found a house a block away that had mail piled up he parked and gather up his tools in a backpack. Sawed off shotgun, wooden stake, hatchet, hacksaw, and a change of clothes in a large zip lock bag all where they needed to be. Dressed in lightly faded blue jeans and a grey short sleeve shirt and a Kevlar vest underneath with a backpack slung across one shoulder, Jack looked like he belonged. Sure, he was a stranger, but most people didn’t know their own neighbors in this day and age and they would have to look hard to see his vest but at a distance he would look just a bit overweight. As Jack walked up to the house, he took one covert quick look around and walked right up to the door and as he did he let loose a bit of magic unlocking it so he could walk right in like he was meant to be there. Slipping on his gloves he opened the door to the house and walked in.
The first thing Jack noticed when he entered the house was the stench. The second thing was it looked just like it did when he viewed it last. Jack ignored the kitchen as he made his way to the basement stairs. Jack something is not right here, I don’t know what it is but something is off. Jack stopped at that and looked around. If Other said something was wrong that usually meant something bad was going on. Jack whispered back, “I will be careful.” He took a few moments to shift his sight into spectrum where he could see in the dark. Jack took some more time to get adjusted to the heat of the objects around him as his sight solidified into the different range of viewing. Jack started to walk silently again as he used his abilities to open the basement door and ensure the stairs didn’t creek.
At the bottom of the steps Jack slowed just enough to do a quick look around before he continued to where he saw the vampire sleeping. Jack set his backpack down and silently pulled out the shotgun and wooden stake. As he walked toward the vampire every sense was alive ready for combat. He did not waste any time as he got along side of the sleeping vampire there in the human cloak that it was using as a blanket Jack took aim with the stake and brought it down with all his strength. At the last possible second the vampire rolled out of the way but not fast enough to avoid the wooden steak completely. The Stake entered the vampire’s chest but missed his heart by six inches. What came next was something Jack had never seen and never wanted to see again.
The vampire rolled off the table and hit the ground and started to growl. Standing up it snarled ripping the stake from its chest. “You dare attack me little mage. The spirits watch after me when I sleep and now I will make you one of..” He was cut off by the shotgun going off point blank in the vampires chest. Knowing that vampires were hard to kill he quickly reloaded his weapon but that small amount of time cost him. When Jack looked up next he saw the vampire finish shifting into the werewolf chrinos form. A mix between half man half wolf standing eight feet tall or more the creature had to bend down just not to hit his head on the celling. “Crap!” Jack shouted as he jumped to the right barely dodging a massive claw swipe. “Get off Other!” Jack yelled and he hit the wall. The creature, the vampire werewolf, whatever the hell it was, snarled. Feeling Other slip off him Jack pulled his .40 sig out and started to shoot the creature in the body as he then turned around to get upstairs where there was light and the narrow passage of the stairway should slow it down. As Jack reached the stairs he was about half way up when he felt a claw rip through his Kevlar vest and made contact with his right shoulder blade and cross his back ending near his left hip side. Turning because of the blow he fell backward on the step hitting his head on the top of the stairs. He would have been paralyzed if the Kevlar wasn’t there to absorb part of the impact. The creature was in the process of taking another swipe which would have ended his life when Other jumped on the back of the creature and used his claws and teeth to tear into the vampiric wolf. Even then the left claw still cut through the Kevlar and ripped his into his ribs and stomach breaking two rips and cutting deep into tissue near his diaphragm. Grunting in pain Jack was able to maneuver the shotgun right underneath the creatures neck and pull the trigger. The head wasn’t blown off completely but it was only hanging on by a few muscles. Jack laid there for a second until he started to notice the muscles thickening on the neck of the dead vampire wolf creature like it was healing. “Other, get my bag please and the stake. I can’t move to well.” Don’t move I will gather it up and help you. Once Other finished putting the things in the bag he jumped or flew over the two down combatants. The first thing he did was to pull Jack off the stairs and move him to the side. Then he went to the creature and dragged him up as well all the while the almost severed head was getting more and more muscle back. Jack saw this and crawled over to where Other dropped him. He then got the wooden stake out and pushed it through its heart. Slowly, with pain and care, Jack got the hatchet out and finished cutting its head off so that it would not come back. With the help of Other, Jack was able to patch himself up just enough to keep him alive for him to seek treatment.
With the help of Other, Jack was able to get the body laid out in the living room and the head on the lazy-boy recliner. Jack cleaned himself up the best he could in the bathroom before putting on his clean clothes. Once everything was taken care of, he slowly gather his stuff together. “Other, we need to torch this place. Too much of my blood is here and too much evidence. Hop back on but be gentle I don’t think I can stand too much longer.” After Other merged back, he felt a bit stronger. Jack then proceeded to use his magic to jinx the gas stove regulator to be on full so when the fire did start it would burn the house down.
Jack remembered his friend said about vampires bursting into flame when the sun hit them so he positioned the body with the windows open so that in roughly in 15 minutes when the sun creeps across the living room and hit the vampire the flames would like the gas which would burn down the house.
Jack took one last look around and left by the back door. Slowly making his way to his truck, he saw life in random homes going about their normal business. Just when he got to his truck Jack heard an explosion and turned around to see the small fireball go up a few blocks away. Getting into his truck Jack slowly pulls away before anyone came out of their house to see what the noise was about.
As Jack drove away, he passed firetrucks going in the direction he and a few other cars were now coming from. Jack turned north deciding Canada was a good place to go. Before he could make it too far with the sun down Jack was having a hard time driving with the pain. He decided that he would pull over by a rest stop and get some sleep. Other told him that he would watch out for him as usual. Five minutes after he found a good place to rest Jack was out.
As sun light entered the truck Jack started to wake. It felt like his whole body was on fire or broken. “Other I need to get to a hospital. Something is not right.” Jack said as he pulled the truck back on to the road. Jack there is something wrong with your wounds they are infected but it is not a normal infection. There is nothing a hospital can do for you. We need to get you to a healer another mage. “Crap! The only mage I know of in this neck of the woods is Mouse and she is a state away.” Jack pulled out his phone and dialed one of Mouse’s burner phones. “Hey Mouse. It’s Jack. I need some help and I am hurt pretty bad. I am going to try and make it to phoenix I need a place to stay lay low and to heal up.” Jack got directions for a chantry in Phoenix that she assured him that they would be able to help.
Jack thanked her then focused on driving only stopping to fuel up and not even to eat. Jack had long since lost his appetite and was barely able to hold on.
Jack knew he was almost there but looking at the blood pooling next to him on the seat did not inspire confidence that he would make it there.
“Dammit, Other, keep it tight or else I will bleed out before I reach the Chantry we only have a few miles to go.” Jack gritted is teeth as he felt his familiar tighten around his torso to keep the blood from seeping out. You try and hold your form between 2 dimensions and 3 dimensions and keep your own familiar from bleeding out. You manage that then you can complain until then focus like we talked about and block out the pain. You focus on driving I focus on keeping you alive. Other replied while keeping pressure on the wounds using his tattoo form and physical form act as a type of tourniquet.
“How in the hell did we miss the fact that the vampire was also a werewolf. I didn’t know they could do that.” Maybe if you worked on your Spirit like I have been recommending to you then you would have known. I did try and warn you when we entered its lair that something wasn’t quite right. “I know and that is what kept me alive. But hell a vampire werewolf! At least it won’t be eating anymore humans it was a good death as I have ever seen.” I think you need to let Winter know what you actually had to do. This seems as if his favor for a friend was more than what should have been. “I will if I survive this.” Jack replied has he reached the chantry. Pulling up the driveway stopped behind a vehicle amazed that he didn’t run into it as he put the truck into park and slide out the seat. Almost falling down with his legs barley able to support his weight Jack slowly walks almost shuffles to the door. “One hell of an impression we are going to make huh Other. Try and keep me upright.” Jack said as he got to the door and knocked. Leaning on the door frame waiting for an eternity for someone to answer Jack almost nodded off standing up.
When the door opened Jack jerked his head up looking at the person who opened the door. “Hi, Mouse sent me she said you could help.” Grimacing he took a ragged breath. “I...” Was all he could get out as his legs no longer supported him and his vision dimmed.
--------------------------------At this point I don’t know what you have in mind I would say his familiar would stay on trying to keep as much blood in him as possible and when or if they started to work on him Other would hop off so that he wouldn’t interfere unless Other knew something I don’t.-----------------------------------------