Thanks for adding WGM to your reading list! Enjoy!

Author's note: Bold Italics during a flashback mean the Voice and Italics not in Flashback also signify the Voice. I will probably change how I do it in the near future.

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James:

"Now stay put, got it?"

The door slammed behind me as I tried to adjust to my new surroundings.

Believe or not, being locked in a dark chamber in the middle of the night was not my idea of a fun time.

["Ok, I gotta go, James. I'll be right back.", Maria cooed as she rose from her seat.

"Ma'am, you can't leave 'til the interrogation is done.", the interrogator stated.

"Well, are you going to prevent a young girl from doing her duty or will you hold her up and see her do it right in front of you, hmm?", she snarkilly replied, leaving a cowering pale-faced interrogator in fear.

"I thought so.", she stated and left the room in a huff.

Not wanting to waste a minute of time, I spoke, saying, "Shall we continue?"

The interrogator composed himself and eyed me with a stink face, "I thought you two were inseparable as I distinctly remember trying to separate you in the beginning..."

"Do you want me to say my side of the story or not?", I asked.

He didn't answer so I took it as a cue to continue.]

"What now?", I muttered to myself.

Suddenly, there appeared to be luminescent reflections echoing off the floor.

Was I in an underground tunnel? Is that why the walls were narrow and stunk of rot?

You have arrived at my lair, young Padawan.

"Very funny...", I whispered back to the voice.

It has been a long time since you acknowledged me, has it not?

"You do not exist, you are a only figment of imagination.", I repeated over and over again.

Fool, I thought you would have known by now that you can never escape from the hold of the Book of Secrets.

The light amplified a millionth fold and when I reopened my eyes, I observed the creature that haunted my dreams and had plagued my thoughts since I was five years old.

"Count Lazlo, we meet again."

My words barely made an imprint on the cacophony of the massive chamber filled with artifacts and rare relics. It was a living treasure trove that existed for only one purpose.

Keep a memory busy.

I see you have been sent to be reacquainted with your heritage.

"Your sarcasm has gotten worse over the years, Count."

You know I really prefer you call me by my first name instead of my former title.

"You must be pretty bold to think we can go on a first name basis."

Let me look at you.

I stood still as his essence drifted over to me and examined my appearance, he clicked his tongue and uttered,

Hmm. Would you like a boost to help with that bruised face?

"No thanks. I don't make deals with dead men."

Then, let us discuss what brought you here in the first place. They think you have rebelled against them, correct?

"Are you laughing? I don't see anything funny about coming here again."

I remember last time you were here. Do you?

"No, I was five. What could I remember?", I lied.

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"Mom. Dad. What's going on?"

"James. Your brother has failed his test. He is not chosen."

"What?", I screeched, incognizant of what was going on.

"Brother!", I called out until I saw Marcus in the crowded tunnel.

My brother who was known for comforting me after nightmares ignored me and looked the other way.

Stumbling, I came upon a wall and slipped only to find stable footing and to hear shouts come from another side...

Looking up, I saw a giant cave before me. Where was I?

Child, child, come here.

I followed the voice and saw a giant standing before me on a throne.

You are not the one that just failed, yet you remind me of him.

"Please, sir. I want to go home to my family.", I trembled before him.

Ha. A useless child with no power wishes to return with nothing to pay for his way back?

Priceless. He laughed maniacally, and I got extremely annoyed.

Grabbing a sledgehammer, I proceeded to lift it and throw it against his front.

As if...umph. Staggering back, my attack seemed to be working as I kept at it, yelling, "Let go of me evil man!"

You speak of evil as you know it, curious. I did not stop and grabbed inanimate objects until I jumped over his makeshift throne and decimated his head.

I needed to get out of this place and if he would not let me leave, he would pay for it!

Deal. A surge of power burst where he used to stand and came towards me, filling me up and creating something new in its place.

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I gave you unlimited power and named you the successor to the Ambassadors of Evil.

"Oh right...you ruined my life! I never asked to be given a superpower. What you did was curse me to eternally being a conduit of power. This ability is very taxing on the human body if you didn't know!"

I did you a favor. Your parents had no idea you lacked powers. Think of it, if I had not done that, you would have been the black sheep instead of your older brother, Marcus.

Creeping up on me, he whispered,

All your success in life is due to me. You owe me and all I ask is to merely act as an observer in your everyday life.

"I didn't know back then, but I know now that you and all of AoE are wrong."

He simply clucked his tongue in distaste after hearing that.

"The Book of Secrets is not liberating and the fact of having a cursed object boost your power or in my case, make me a literal powerhouse is unnatural."

You speak as if you believe I asked to be bound to this literary work.

"Attending GEAR school and being with Maria has opened my eyes...All that remains after a life not well-lived is a pile of skulls and a list of regrets. Having my desires fulfilled will not make me any happier than I am now!", I yelled out.

I had been wrong this whole time, I thought. For so long, I kept hiding who I was by using various masks, oblivious to the hurt that AoE caused.

The influence of the Book of Secrets must be stopped if only to weaken AoE from the inside.

"Goodbye, Lazlo.", I stretched my hands out-right and rose using all the power I had to destroy this monster from the inside out.

The orange ball of energy kept growing until I launched it with full-force at his Chamber of Secrets.

What?, he shrieked as the place dissipated into smoke.

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Author's note: To be continued...and no, you're not supposed to understand what happened right now...but will eventually.