Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 14. Путь к победе

Chapter 14. The Path to Victory
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Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 21:08

"Yes, it's me," Jack Quirrell replied, playing with his knife.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 16:57

He stood in the center of the ERISED room, calm, collected, smiling beneath his neatly trimmed beard. A switchblade spun in his right hand, and Jack himself seemed oblivious to the images flickering in the mirror-screens. But Lisa watched, her eyes twitching from side to side with the overload of information.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:15

"His name is Jack," Granger said in a choked voice, "but his last name... his last name doesn't match."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:01

“Well, someone has discovered my evil plan,” Jack said calmly, and jerked his hand.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:01

Lisa fell, trying to cover the wound with her hand. Blood gushed from her halved cheek, drenching the floor.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:15

"Now you'll think twice before bragging about your intelligence, won't you?" Jack continued.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:16

Amy touched Lisa's other cheek, and the bleeding immediately stopped. The wound began to heal before her eyes.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:16

“And someone said that she doesn’t cure the head,” Quirrell grinned.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:17

"It's a wound on the cheek, not brains," Amy snorted angrily.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:18

"Yes, yes, girl, but you know, and I know, and you know that I know, that you can heal heads, fix brains, repair damage, but you don't do it. Because you're afraid, afraid of losing control, afraid of starting to rule people, turning them into your friends, slaves, puppets, and lovers. Oops, it's a little early for that last one, but never mind, at your age, with such friends and a large, close-knit family, everything is in your hands, Amy Weasley."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:20

"I'll never be like that!" Amy screamed.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:20

"We all make promises in our youth that we're later willing to break," Jack smiled. "Because sooner or later, Lisa will talk you into it, and you'll fix her head, once or twice, and then you'll fix Taylor a little, and so, little by little, your life will get better and better."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:22

"It's Jack Slash," Lisa said a little vaguely, "and he's trying to turn us against each other."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:22

"Why would I do that? Amy already dislikes you, Lisa, for being too smart, but she tolerates you for Taylor, doesn't she?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:23

"Amy is my friend," Taylor frowned, "you shouldn't say such things about her!"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:24

"When it comes to fighting, you have to know who your true friends are and who your enemies are, right?" Jack said, continuing to play with his knife. "Who'll stab you in the back at the crucial moment, and who'll cover you?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:24

"Amy and Lisa are my friends," Taylor repeated stubbornly, "and I trust them!"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:25

"Of course, of course, but what will you do if your friends betray you and turn away?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:25

"Why would they do that?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:25

"Let's say they find out you can turn into Dark Cape?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:27

Taylor saw Amy flinch out of the corner of her eye.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:27

"Is that true, or does he believe it to be true?" Lisa said. "True, Jack Slash is famous for his ability to fool capes, and rumor has it he once even managed to talk his way out of a Dark Cape."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:28

"I see that idiot Snape's lessons weren't wasted," Jack smirked. "How satisfying it is to manipulate manipulators who think they're smarter than everyone else, that they certainly won't be fooled! But we seem to have gotten a bit sidetracked, so let's get back to business. I need a philosophy vial, and I want it ASAP. Hey, system, can you hear me? If you don't hand over the vial, I'll start having fun with these young girls—a finger here, an ear there—it'll pass the time."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:28

"Why isn't ERISED affecting him?" Taylor finally realized what was bothering her about the situation.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:31

"He... he's under control!" Lisa's eyes widened in horror and admiration. "That's why the trap doesn't catch him, and that's why he's so hard to read!"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:32

"You're wrong," another voice rang out, deep and booming with excess power. "In his lessons, Jack was Jack, so no one suspected him. Enough of these word games, I'm tired."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:33

"But I almost convinced them," Jack countered, seemingly to himself. "Young Potter loves to win..."

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:33

"Cut off her head!" the voice interrupted him.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:33

A ghost, a projection in the form of a radiant middle-aged man, condensed in the air. Dressed in a snow-white tunic, sandals, and golden hair, the man's figure radiated light and peace.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:35

"Oh, that was him in the Forest!" Taylor cried, discreetly releasing a few flies from her sleeve.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:36

"Great way to give yourself an alibi," Jack grinned.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:37

"I don't care!" the man declared. "I need the vial! I need my powers!"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:38

He raised his hand, and a beam of golden light struck Amy Weasley, paralyzing her.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:38

“I can add pain, too,” the man said.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:38

"Who is this?" Taylor couldn't help but ask, discreetly releasing the insects.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:38

"Dark Cape Zion de Mort," Lisa replied, continuing to watch the scene with wide eyes.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:39

"That's right," the man clapped his hands, and Taylor's subjects died. "Share my pain!"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:39

A beam of light struck Taylor, and she was overcome with agony, an endless wave of pain that obliterated her consciousness. Everything Taylor had endured at the Dursleys' was child's play compared to this. The pain of Quidditch practice was practically nonexistent compared to what Potter was experiencing now.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:39

"…uk," the pain ended, and Taylor was able to perceive what was happening.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:46

She lay on the floor, her head resting on Lisa's lap. Granger stroked Taylor's head, holding her close, as if trying to absorb some of the pain. Taylor, stubbornly gritting her teeth, began to rise and saw that Lisa's legs were bleeding, cut off at the knees. An explosion of rage, no less powerful than the pain, blinded and filled Taylor from head to toe, throwing her into the air.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:41

Potter snatched up her baton and assumed a fighting stance.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:41

"Well, that's better," Jack's voice came.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:41

The mirrors turned halfway, the broadcast of scenes from Jack's life ceased, and a mass of shelves emerged from the walls. In a recess, lined with velvet, lay identical test tubes, small, about fifty milliliters each. No markings, no labels, no clues, just hundreds of them.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:42

"This isn't funny," Zion-de-Mort said into the void. "Should I hurt you again?"

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:43

He didn't see Taylor running up, holding the baton the way Jack had taught her. Jack, incidentally, saw Potter perfectly well and even winked at her and nodded approvingly.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:44

"I'm the one who's going to hurt you, you glowing asshole!" Taylor yelled, jumping and kicking Zion.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:44

The glow flared, the blow to the shoulder did not pass, but something else happened, something very strange.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:45

Taylor suddenly felt a connection between herself and Zion. An invisible, glowing cord paralyzed them both, holding them frozen a meter apart. Dark Cape's previously sad face was contorted with anger and fury. He tried to move, but couldn't, his arms and legs trembling and twitching. Taylor felt with horror the glow flowing toward her along the invisible cord, flowing somewhere, but she, too, was powerless to do anything. Rage seethed and boiled within her, the radius expanding so much that she suddenly realized where she was: directly beneath the Forbidden Forest, beneath its center, in the very heart of the Sphere.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:46

Unless, of course, you take into account the kilometer-thick rock above the room.

Camrad_RIP 08.01.26 в 17:46