Chapter 42

After a lunch that Henry would have really enjoyed, had it not been for the clinging, icy tendrils that stuck around after whatever Jewel had done to him, they’d left the restaurant, ready to begin their shift. Once again, they were taking his car, with Jewel seeming perfectly happy to let him do all the driving up and down Powers, and around the area. However, as promised, once Jewel confirmed there weren’t any immediate rifts opening nearby, she directed him to make a slight detour.

“I would say what I’m about to show you is dangerous,” she said dryly as they got out of his car. She’d had him drive down Marksheffel, a country type road that had a lot of turn offs into, well, empty, uninhabited fields, until they were clear of the road, and any unwanted type of interest. “But I highly doubt you’d heed my warnings.”

“I’m hurt.” Henry said jokingly. Sure, he refused to get rid of his Evil Eye, and was doing things the hard way. But he wasn’t foolishly reckless.

“You’ll be more than hurt if you continue down your stupid path.” She shrugged. “But, considering I am sort of in charge of you right now, I might as well show you this. That way, my conscience can be clear that you were at least taught properly.” She looked at him, her eyes serious. “I’m not kidding when I say this is dangerous. If you get yourself killed because of this, that’s on you.”

Henry nodded, looking from Jewel, to her D.E.D. His three D.E.D. were hanging out just behind him, though he could tell they were all watching Jewel intently. They were intelligent creatures, but they weren’t omnipotent. And even his Evil Eye, which seemed to have the most expansive set of knowledge regarding D.E.D. and humans, hadn’t offered up an explanation of what he’d seen before. The use of D.E.D. powers by human beings.

“As I’m sure you found in the records,” Jewel started, “the original exorcists combined D.E.D. into physical objects. Swords, shields, staffs, and even books. All of these things could be imbued with a D.E.D.’s essence, to house it and its powers. After all, humans did not have the resonation with the D.E.D. that they do today, and the D.E.D. who came over, were far too powerful to be left unbound by some means.”

Henry had heard about that. Legendary weapons from myth, weren’t just myth’s it seemed, but objects imbued with the otherworldly power of these creatures. By wielding them, the original Exorcists and Demon Hunters, had been able to push back the invading entities.

“These methods weren’t the only means, and humans, ever ambitious, sought ways to further empower themselves. Mainly because, humans are weak.” She said that last part with more than a little venom.

“Tell me how you really feel about humans.” Henry said with a grin. Which quickly disappeared as another punch of icy cold rushed into his body. Whatever Jewel was doing, she could do with just a look towards him. That was terrifying.

“Quiet.” She said, as he doubled over in pain. “Some…enterprising groups, found that through intensive tattoos, and a careful, precise process that required multiple D.E.D. and humans to conduct, they could transfer the D.E.D.’s entire power to the human. However, this method often led to irreparable damage to the recipient, and also destroyed the D.E.D. in the process.”

Jewel looked at him. “The most famous of these groups, the Berserkers, became more monster than human. But by casting aside their humanity, and to some degree, their sanity, they achieved fearsome powers.”

Henry was familiar with berserkers. The stories surrounding them claimed they partook in strange concoctions before battle that gave them superhuman strength, and the ability to fight through grievous injuries. However, they were also known for being extremely reckless, throwing away all sense of humanity, and concern, for themselves. They were the type of force you pointed towards and enemy and got completely out of the way of. Jewels explanation made sense.

“As time progressed, the stronger exorcists came to realize they couldn’t keep throwing away those with potential, nor keep sacrificing D.E.D. in the process. Because of this, they sought a new, safer means, of power transference. By the time they’d finally figured it out, humans had gained the affinity, the proper resonation, to be able to utilize a new technique. This technique, which I’m going to teach to you, is the culmination of their efforts, the culmination of generations of human and D.E.D. experimentation, and sacrifice.”

Henry couldn’t help but feel a chill rush through him, and he knew it wasn’t from Jewel this time. For once, she was completely serious, and somber when talking about the lives lost. Considering she didn’t seem to care about D.E.D. as living things, this must have been extremely important to her. He held any comments he may have to himself, fully intent on her.

“D.E.D. are creatures of energy. They are matter incarnate, with unique abilities to manifest the matter they’ve consumed and stored, into their own abilities. Because of their ability to consume, and store matter, they can serve as conduits of immense potential. What we, as exorcists, have come to be able to do, is link ourselves with a D.E.D., and gain access to their abilities. To keep it simple, this process will give you the ability to utilize matter, in the same was as the D.E.D. you undergo the process with.”

“So, they’re sharing their power?” Henry asked simply. That’s what it sounded like.

“No.” Jewel sighed and closed her eyes. As she did, Henry watched her form seem to waiver, as if the air around her was condensing. Frost appeared on the ground at her feet, and her Cyoeraeth drifted further away from her, seeming cautious of being too close to her. “You’re sharing your power with them. And in exchange, you can tap into their abilities.” Her breath misted in front of her as she spoke, and when she opened her eyes, Henry gasped. The pupils were gone, replaced by two, blindingly blue, starburst patterns he could only compare to icicles. All across her body, icy blue light rushed, forming crisscross patterns. Her already pale skin, seemed to shine like freshly laid snow.

“This process, can only be done once.” Her voice was different. “And it will forever bind you, body and soul, with the D.E.D. you choose.” The figure he’d thought he’d seen, appeared around her, seeming to envelop her. It solidified around her, like a dense shroud, giving Henry a perfect, clear view of it.

The D.E.D. was beautiful, in an eerie sense. It was completely humanoid, looking like a pale woman with long, black hair, and ice blue lips. Her skin looked like a thousand snowflakes, glittering brightly, and Henry couldn’t help but notice, she was completely nude. Staring at her, he couldn’t take her eyes off her, even as he felt the air around him drop dangerously from her cold presence, and his body’s warmth was quickly fading.

Yuki-oona. His evil eye said in his mind. The other two D.E.D. behind him, were completely silent, though he could faintly tell, they were on edge. By your classifications, she is an Ultra-Rare D.E.D. By our classifications, she is a few stages above a Larpen in strength.

As quickly as she’d appeared, her form faded away, and Henry felt himself breathe in deeply. He hadn’t realized he’d stopped breathing. A moment later, as heat rushed back into his body, sending pinpricks of pain to his limbs, which appeared to have begun to frost over, he blinked rapidly. What the hell.

“What.” He said breathlessly. “How.” His mind raced. This changed everything. The form, the power that had radiated from Jewel, that D.E.D. It gave off a feeling of raw, overwhelming power. A feeling, he realized, that was very close to what he’d felt when he saw Fenrir appear at Loki’s behest. Was this another legendary D.E.D.? Did Jewel wield power equal to Loki? And, more importantly, was the power she wielded, and Jon, and the Director, and JJ for that matter, all thanks to Legendary D.E.D.?

“I’ll tell you.” She said quietly. Jewel was back to her original form, no sign of what she’d just shown him evident. “But, let me once again stress, this decision is permanent, and not one to be made lightly.” She looked past him to his three D.E.D. “And one, that I wouldn’t recommend you do with such low caliber D.E.D.”