Chapter 104 Trapped

*Eric Lockwood *

"Chase, I can't hear you. The reception here is awful. I'll call you once I know it's safe." I waited for him to answer, but all I got was static. I hung up and placed my phone back in my pocket. I had problems of my own and I needed to solve them one at a time. First things first, I needed to get to my apartment.

I knew someone was following me and I had a difficult time shaking him off. Obviously the Chief had eyes in this area and he was monitoring my every move. If I wanted to throw them off my scent, so to speak, I would need to play smart.

I led whoever was following me into a shopping center. It was Christmas Eve tomorrow and I was counting on the huge crowd of people inside the department store to be my cover, but primarily I was there to alter my scent and see if I could nick a scarf or something to change my appearance. I hurriedly passed by the cologne section and took the closest bottle and sprayed. It had a gawdawful scent which was perfect. It was so crowded inside that I was able to take a Burberry scarf from a father who was there with his girls, a pair of sunglasses on the display rack, and a hat off of a mannequin. I did leave money and the price tags by the cash register, so technically, it wasn't stealing.

As I exited the mall, I still had this uneasy feeling that I was still being followed so I decided to enter a convenience store located around the corner to see who was following me. I hid behind an aisle, crouched down and waited while I peered through the glass windows keeping an eye on the passersby doing the Christmas Rush.

I stayed in that position, crouched low, for a good amount of time until my knees began to ache. I didn't see anyone that either resembled a Wolf Troop nor pause at the convenience store. I was about to step out from my hiding place when I saw him...the Asian Wolf Troop from the Chief's office! He paused near the entrance of the convenience store, contemplating whether to walk in or not. I could tell he was speaking to someone by how he placed his hand on his earpiece. After a good five minutes of surveying the area, he, surprisingly, turned and walked away. I stood up and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Can I help you with something?" The elderly Asian woman asked from behind me. I almost jumped from the sound of her voice. She startled me.

"Ah, I-I'm sorry. I was trying to get away from someone. My ex-wife's current husband. He's somewhat of a jealous man and doesn't like me talking to my ex-wife. It's Christmas and I called her to ask her what the kids wanted," I lied to her. I saw her face turn into a scowl.

"You poor man. Should I call the police?"

"No, it's quite alright. I seem to have lost him. Here." I handed her a hundred dollar bill. "Is it possible I use your back entrance to leave?" She shook her head, refusing the money.

"Of course. When you exit the building through the loading dock, turn left. It'll take you to the street parallel to this one," she replied while pointing to the back door.

"Thank you. If ever I happen to come back again, I'll make sure to purchase grocery items from your store," I told her before bowing at her gratefully. I hurriedly walked towards the back door and exited the convenience store into a large store room. I, then, went through the loading and unloading area of the store and turned left like she told me, almost running towards the street. I took out all the items I had taken from the mall and made sure my face was completely hidden.

I walked unto the street and looked for the nearest street sign to find my bearings. Once I knew where I was, I hailed a cab to take me to the apartment I had bought just in case I needed to hide.

My apartment was a five minute cab ride located near the Yankee Stadium. I am a baseball fan, although no one in my family has known, and I had made a good amount if money gambling on their wins and great stats, that is, when I had a good feeling it would be a great season for them. I have never actually gone to watch them play, but I made sure I caught all of the action on the sports channel.

I paid the cab driver, hopped out and stood infront of the brick building. This, unfortunately, will be my new home for the time being until I could figure out how to use the black sapphire hanging on my neck.

I pressed the "door open" button on the wall station using my thumb and took out my keys for my apartment. The main door opened and I slid in, closing the door behind me. I took the stairs to the second floor where my apartment was waiting.

I punched in my security code and unlocked the door with my key. Since I was accustomed to living in a mansion, this apartment, although big in size, was quite small for my taste. To make the apartment seem much bigger than it really was, I made sure to keep it minimalistic and only had furniture I knew I would use.

I was taking off my sunglasses and emptying my pockets onto the table of the foyer when I noticed the black sapphire I had reserved for Chase was emitting a red light. It was eerie. I took off my coat including my hat and scarf and hung the items on my coat rack near the door. I closed all the curtains and sat on my sofa, taking out the black sapphire from under my dress shirt to see if the same was happening to it too.

It was, however my black sapphire's red glow was pulsating and the gem itself felt warm to the touch. I took the necklace off and placed the black sapphire on the coffee table infront of me. What was happening? Think, Eric, think. When Chase called, I distinctively heard him say the words keeper, black and ring, but he didn't make much sense. Hold on, he did say keeper. That's it! He knew something... he knew about the black sapphires when I have never told him anything about the gems I had in my possession!

Did this mean the actual keeper was still alive? And here I thought the keeper was my mother who was already dead. Perhaps my mother was still alive? Josephine had faked her death, was it possible my mother did so too? I laughed at the thought. I distinctively remember opening the coffin of my mother and spitting at her before she was cremated to ash.

I decided to call Chase. Maybe this time cell reception wouldn't be so bad. I got up and picked up my phone from the table near the foyer. I pressed his number on speed dial and waited for him to pick up. No luck. His phone was off.

Landline. I'll call him through the landline. I walked to one of the windows of the apartment, then dialled the number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Lockwood residence," a girl's voice answered. It was one of Athena's children.

"Hey, poppy. It's Grandpa, but don't say my name out loud. There are some people there who don't like me all that much," I told her, silently praying she wouldn't get caught talking to me. "Is your Uncle Chase there?"

"He's in his room, but he can't talk to you right now. He's done something bad," she answered.

"Can you do me a favor then? Can you tell him to call me right away? It's very important Grandpa talks to Uncle Chase. If you can, can you lend him your phone or tablet?"

"Okay. Will you get me an extra Christmas present if I do?" She asked.

"Sure thing, poppy. I'll get you an extra Christmas present. You do this for me and I'll get you two extra presents. Just don't tell anyone what I've asked you to do for me," I told her, sweetening the deal. I was about to ask her another question when I heard Athena's voice.

"Who are you talking to?" I hurriedly hung up, not wanting to get caught. I knew the black wolf might stop my granddaughter from speaking to her Uncle Chase, but I just had to risk it.

I dialled One's number to ask him if the black sapphires that I gave him were also glowing red. He instantly picked up.

"E.L., the one wolf I needed to speak to. There's something weird happening to both of the black sapphires you gave me. They're both glowing red. Are yours doing the same thing?" He asked. I could definitely hear the agitation in his voice.

"Yes, they both are," I answered.

"What about the ones you have in that little chest of yours?"

"Currently, the Chief has the chest so, I wouldn't know," I said.

"So, he's actually wearing one too, right?"

"One, why don't you call him and ask? After I left his office, he had me followed. I don't want to risk him finding where I am. So do us both a favor and ask him. I need to figure out how to stop my granddaughter's anointment later tonight. Just call me when you have heard something important," I said, irritated with his mundane questions.

"E.L., you got me into this mess in the first place," he said in utter frustration. "What was I thinking to actually listen-"

"One, you were thinking of the black wolf and how she bit you in the ass!" I exclaimed.

"Fine, my ass is healed thanks to this gem, but this red glow is freaking me out. Like it's a countdown or a prelude to something terrifying. If I die because of this, I'm going to make sure I haunt you in your dreams, E.L.!" One shouted, his voice now threatening.

"Stop it with your nonsense. If you die, I will too. If that's the case, I'll just see you in the afterlife," I reasoned. I heard him sigh. He was such a little worrier.

"I'll call the Chief now and find out what's happening to him," he said, sounding defeated. "I shouldn't have listened to you."

"But you did, so live with it," I retorted and hung up. I wanted to throw my phone at the wall, but it wasn't worth it. I still had to wait for Chase to call.

I turned around and was so shocked to see my black sapphire floating in mid-air that I dropped my phone. I turned my head to check the other one that I had left on the table at the foyer and it was floating too. I felt that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the dread that I had done something that I could not get out of.

Before my very eyes, my black sapphire split into three perfect proportions. Then, one of the three black sapphires flew towards me and stopped right infront of my face. I tried to back away from it, but I couldn't move....like something was holding me in place.

"Take it." I heard a voice in my head.

"No!" I screamed. However, as hard as I tried, I could not stop my hand from reaching up and grabbing the black sapphire. "Mind over matter. I am the one in control of my body," I said to myself, over and over again, desperately trying to stop my hand from touching it. Sweat dripped on the sides of my face and my whole body was shaking as I fought to gain control of my hand. I thought I was strong enough to resist, but in the end, the black sapphire had a mind of its own.

The black sapphire flew into my hand and my fingers instinctively wrapped around it. The red glow became red flames that began to travel up my arm throughout the whole of my body. The flames engulfed me, burning my body. The agony of being burned alive was too much to bear that I fell on the floor, screaming, praying that it would stop, but it didn't.

I couldn't take the pain anymore so I closed my eyes and allowed the flames to consume me while begging the Moon Goddess for her mercy. To my utter dismay, mercy never came.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of suffering, I didn't feel the pain anymore. I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark place of empty space. The only light source was a mirror off to the side. Where was I?

"Hello! Is anyone there?" I yelled. I waited for someone to say something, but all I heard was silence.

All of a sudden, I heard a maniacal laugh, but it was an echo and it sounded quite distant.

"Hello! I don't know where I am. Can you help me?" I yelled again, hoping whomever was laughing would be closer than I thought.

"Ah, this vessel will do," I heard a deep manly voice say. "It is quite old, but it will do for now. Now where can I find my master? Black sapphire, help me locate my master." There was a short pause then he said, "Marvelous. My master is nearby."

"Master?! What are you talking about?" I asked the strange voice. I heard him chuckle.

"Peer into the mirror, wolf," he instructed. "I will not harm you. Look into the mirror and I will give you the answers you seek."  I guess he felt my hesitation. I slowly moved forward until I stood in front of the mirror. I was expecting to see my reflection, but what I saw was another person standing within the mirror.

He looked middle-aged, just around the same age as Lucas or Chase, of average height with a medium built. He had red hair, startling orange-red eyes and a well-trimmed moustache. While I wore a suit, he had a black cloak on with a black sapphire nestling on a rather ornately designed pendant which was hanging on a gold chain around his neck.

He smiled at me. "Hello, I'm Chester. I am Gamma to Aranck. It's a pleasure to meet you Eric Lockwood." He knew me?

"Ah, hello Chester. Pleasure is all mine. I'm sorry have we met before? Because I don't ever recall meeting you," I said.

"No, but I know you, all of you, through this." He lifted the pendant from his chest.

"I see," I said, nodding my head at his revelation. "I have a question for you. Where am I?"

"You do not know? I know you to be smarter than this, Eric Lockwood." I looked around me, searching for a clue to where I was, but all I saw was empty space.

"Forgive me, I'm really tired and don't have enough time to play games. So where am I? And how about you, where are you?" I asked, hoping he would give me a straight answer.

"I am inside your abode. See?" He moved aside and showed me my apartment.

"How could you be inside my apartment?! I asked him, clearly confused and angry at the same time. "AND WHERE IN THE HELL AM I?" I was tired of everyone's BS. I deserved a straightforward explanation. He again chuckled and this time I saw the flicker of flames in his strange eyes.

"You, my dear friend, are trapped inside a black star sapphire, this black star sapphire." He again lifted the pendant from his chest. "Don't worry, Eric Lockwood, for inside the gem, you will never feel pain nor hunger just helplessness," he quipped, obviously enjoying my dilemma.

"Trapped?! How do I get out of this thing?!" I asked him in a state of panic.

"Honestly, I do not know, and even if I did know, I would not tell you," he answered, his lips curving in a smile. "Cheer up, my friend. I have given you a front row seat to the ruination of the black wolf."

I slowly slid to the floor and buried my hands in my face. I had to accept my fate. In the living world, Eric Lockwood was no more.