Wrath Reincarnated

JULES

Guardians and Arcanians led them through the forest toward the golden tree. They marched on either side of Jules and Rukia. During the brief journey, their escorts isolated each member of the group from the others, though Rukia and Whiskers remained by their masters' sides. Other Verdantis came out of the literal woodworks as the procession paraded through scattered woodland buildings, and they stopped and stared from a safe distance. Mothers didn't hold their children tight, but seemed ready to grab their kids if need be.

A creeping and eerie feeling settled itself in the pit of Jules' stomach. He looked all around him, certain he'd eventually find a lake. There's no massive golden tree in my nightmares—but there are golden doors.

Whatcha thinking about, Jules? Rukia waddled by his side and looked up at him with glee like he'd never seen before.

Didn't you drink the tea? You're not feeling any…sort of temptations?

Ah man, of course I am! That guy's neck is practically begging to be ripped open. I mean, look at how exposed it is! Walking around like that in broad daylight, practically asking for it. Jules shook his head. Don't forget what you came here for, Jules.

Her panting grin had all but disappeared. Right. Save Lust. Then get the hell out of here.

They reached a fork in the path, and the front Elder led them on a course that veered far and away from the golden tree. Jules reached out to his friends. I'm starting to think this is a trap.

You don't think they're working for The Maiden, do you?

No, Kat, Cyrus thought. They talked smack about her earlier. Probably referencing Greed, of all people, too.

"So where's this Tree at?" Rukia asked, breaking the silent ice between them all.

"Rukia!" I might need to get a leash for you!

"Very astute of you, little fox. Though I'm not surprised, coming from a forest dweller such as yourself." The towering tree's light seemed to fade out to Jules, just slightly.

"That tree is a facade. A distraction—for those such as your tutor—for the real Tree, which lies down below." Nothing's ever as it seems with The Painter.

They eventually approached what looked like a mine entrance, specifically like the Crystal mines of Zephyria that Jules had seen in children's books, emerging from a hillside. Its gates were made of scorched wrought iron, with twisted bars and sharp, rusted edges. Jules felt a pressure in his chest as his heart rate quickened his breathing, and sweat beaded around his forehead. With each footstep toward it, he felt heavier and more sluggish. He thought back to what the Arcanians had spoken about just earlier that day, about the Gates to the Underworld.

An Elder stepped up to the gates. They twisted and bent and curled back, screeching into the night air a horrific melody, until they finally ceased to move. One-by-one, the Elders entered the cave, and the Guardians near Jules motioned for him to follow. He scooped Rukia up and placed her on his shoulder, and she nuzzled into his neck. Be ready to Integrate, Little One.

Jules followed them inside. The wide mouth of the entrance funneled to a narrow corridor, down a set of slippery stone stairs. Light withdrew with each descending step. Be ready for whatever's down here, Jules warned the others.

After a long and winding pass, the staircase emptied out into a wide, open cavern. Its ceiling was at least forty feet away from him, and it was equally wide. This reminds me of the Raventrees' lair…

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A hole struck into the earth above allowed for a sliver of moonlight to pierce through to the other side of the expanse. As Jules' eyes focused into the low-light setting, he noticed another Teleportal, inactive, that looked like it was built into a Shrine. Now that's certainly different.

The sole ray of light moved along the stone ground and illuminated the cavern's most prominent feature: a long stone bridge separated two entirely separate segments of the cavern, which fell to unknown depths between them, and on the other side, directly in the moonlight's path, grew a lone tree.

THUMP-THUMP.

Jules' irises widened not just from the darkness, but from the mounting temptation. I'm here for Lust, and Lust alone. Remember that, Jules. Remember.

But maybe I could also meet Greed somehow… And gain the knowledge I seek from Kaizen—the power to defeat Wrath.

"Or maybe I could save my parents. My sister… All of Coralhaven. Marina Veridia, and Shinsora, too."

"I could have a ball," Rukia whispered. "Or a squirrel. Or a ball. Or maybe kill everyone here. Or maybe even—a squeaky ball."

"We're here for Lust," Cyrus said. "But maybe I could get a different Vessel… Or become an Alter today. With more power, I could help the world more, and sooner, and spread knowledge. I could… Go back in time, and train harder. Or meet my parents. Or save Patty…"

"I could have four tails, if I wished," Whiskers said. "Or catnip. Maybe even seven tails. But a pile of catnip… Or a mountain of it. But perhaps… Nine tails would be an incredible sight to behold…"

"I could learn more about Pop. Or even just be with him again. I could talk to my parents, or find out if they're alive… Or even just learn their names. I could end this curse, this life, and end these nightmares. Maybe I could even slap The Painter. Break his jaw, even…"

Before they knew it, all five of them stood before the bottomless chasm.

"Only one may traverse the path at a time, Children of the Stars."

The moonlight struck the bottom of the Tree of Wish's trunk, and began its slow ascent. Torches along the wall lit up the entire space, except for the furthest depths of the chasm below. Eerie shadows danced on the walls, in perfect harmony with the flames. Remind me of the Shadow Realm. Jules faced his friends; his feet felt like they were bound in cement, and he noticed the rest of body weighed just as much.

"I'll go first," Rukia said. "They've all got us feeling heavy, and I'm the lightest."

"Not quite." Whiskers slinked his way toward the bridge.

"Damn kitten…"

"Neither of you are going," Jules said. "I'm sorry, but we've only got three wishes. Kat will go first, to cure her curse." And if it comes to a fight, Cy and I can take them while she's safely separated.

Katarina hesitated and gazed at Jules with longing eyes. I know, Kat. Trust me, I know. But stay strong and focus on the moment, the situation we're in, not what we could have. "You will see him again," Jules said.

She turned to rub an eye, then stepped onto the narrow bridge, wide enough for more than one foot, but less than two. She walked the line slowly. About halfway, she lost her footing. She wobbled and trembled for a moment, then took another sliding step. Her foot nudged off a stray rock that sank and fell into the dark abyss. Katarina looked over the side for what felt like an eternity to Jules, but none of them ever heard a sound. Don't turn back, Kat. Don't turn back. At last, she finally crossed the final stretch and stepped onto the wide stone before the Tree.

PLOP!

"Good job, Kat." Jules finally breathed again. Cy will get Lust, and I will bring everyone else back.

"Cavern's that deep, huh?" Cyrus stepped one foot on the bridge. Jules swiftly reached out and pulled him back.

"One at a time for the whole—"

The scarlet flames of the torches turned matte black, and the bridge beneath seemed to vanish in the darkness from Jules' vision.

CRACK! CRACK! CR-CR-CR-CRACK!!

Jules yanked Cyrus back to the ground as fissures claimed the bridge, and it crumbled down into the dark depths below.

Cyrus, Whiskers, and Rukia looked to Jules—and Jules looked out to Katarina, isolated on her own island. "KAT!"

"This isn't what I had in mind Jules!" she shouted.

"How bad is this?" Jules asked the Elders. One pointed at Katarina; all their faces were somber. Jules spun around and realized that he pointed to the Tree and not his friend. A faint stream of smoke rose from the tree where the moonlight struck it. Shit. Small embers sparked on the trunk, and then black flames erupted at the base.

"Ah fuck. That bad."

"It seems our Prophecies held true, despite our best efforts to prevent it."

"Your mind wandered from you initial goal, did it not?"

"Kat…" Cyrus said.

"What do you mean!?" Jules asked. "I—We're still here to save our friend! We—"

"You had thoughts to bring the dead back to life, did you not?"

"Kat…" Cyrus repeated.

"I wasn't—Cy was going to get Lust—" I've said too much!

"We warned you not to bring death into this sacred place."

"Kat!" Cyrus spun around to her, exposing his backs to the Elders, Guardians, and Arcanians alike.

"I wish this curse would end!" Katarina shouted at the Tree.

"Kill them all!" an Elder shouted.

"With pleasure." The Guards moved in on Jules and Cyrus.