Chapter 10: Date Night Part 2
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Claire sat at a computer in the Bellridge public library. She made it a habit to go to the library every day and research more about Merlin. Most of her searches led to popular movies, tv shows, and books, but with more refined searches, she found information that sounded similar to what Merlin had told her. Claire also read up on all Merlin folklore she could so she could ask Merlin what was real or not. She would always laugh whenever Merlin got offended by some myths she would ask were true. Like the one that said that he and Morgana were lovers. Merlin nearly blew up the Blacksmiths when he heard that one. She made sure to ask less personal questions from then on. That day, she read about Merlin's enemies. Morgana, of course, was number one on the list. Then, on one website it shared how a man named Mordred was also an enemy to Merlin. It said that he was the one that killed King Arthur.
"I'll have to ask Merlin about him." Claire closed the browser and logged off the computer.
Claire stepped out of the library, the setting sun casting a pinkish haze to the clouds. She thought about her magic as she walked back to the park. By the end of her lesson with Merlin, she performed the shield spell perfectly. It was still hard and drained her, but she was able to control her magic. The fear she felt of being out of control was gone and replaced with a hope of improvement and maybe even helping people with her magic. She also thought about Jim. After the success of her magic lesson that day, she felt that maybe it was time to tell Jim.
Claire reached the park and walked under the overpass. She pulled out her horngozle and drew an arch in the side wall. Stone fragments broke apart, opening up the doorway for Claire to walk through. She descended the stairs as the doorway stone fragments reorganized themselves into the sturdy rock wall it was before.
Her foot stepped off the last of the many steps and she walked through the long stone-carved tunnel which led to a turn that opened up onto the balcony.
Claire noticed movement and a shadow spread over the floor at the end of the corridor. Someone was walking in from the balcony. As she walked closer, the shadow's shape looked like it could belong to Jim. But the angle of the light from the cavern was distorting it, making it look tiny.
"Jim? Is that you?" She called out
"Claire?" Jim answered. His shadow halted.
Claire smiled. She sped up and rounded the corner. "I wanted to talk-" Claire stopped and gasped.
Standing halfway between her and the balcony entrance was Jim. Regular, normal, not a troll, but human Jim.
"Oh, hey. What do you think? Pretty cris-" He was cut off by Claire.
"Who are you and where is Jim!" She almost yelled.
"Woah, woah, take it easy." Human Jim quickly moved his hand to his jawline and pulled. Suddenly, a burst of light blinded Claire and Jim, troll and armor, stood before her, holding the glamour mask in his hand. "Its me." Jim said cautiously.
Claire let out a huff, "You gave me a heart attack. I thought you were some evil doppelganger or something." She said, her surprise dying down. She walked up and snatched the glamour mask out of his hands.
"Why would you scare me like that?" She said annoyed holding up the mask.
"I wasn't trying to scare you. I was…." He said a little embarrassed.
"What?" Claire said a little mad.
"I was going to ask you on a date," Jim said sheepishly.
Claire's brows rose. A date? Claire thought to their last date and it was cut short by Morgana possessing her. That felt like a lifetime ago.
"You were going to ask me out on a date?" She said. She couldn't stop the corners of her lips from turning up.
"Yeah, I thought, since our last one was pretty much a disaster, that maybe we could try again." Jim shrugged, but kept his eyes watchfully on her's.
"I…" She stopped and thought a moment.
For once there wasn't anyone trying to kill them and now that her magic was somewhat in control there was nothing that could get in the way, except her.
She looked up into Jim's eyes and came to her decision. She smiled.
"A date sounds nice." Claire felt like this was exactly what she needed to make it up to Jim after she ditched him the past week.
"Really? Awesome!" Jim said excitedly. She handed back the glamour mask, he slipped it on and changed back into human Jim.
"So...shall we then?" Jim said with a half smile and held out his hand to Claire.
Claire was nervous to touch him, mainly because she wasn't sure if her magic would react to him. A silly but true thought. She slowly took his hand and let out a sigh of relief as nothing happened.
"By the way, I hope you're not planning on wearing that thing all night. I would hate to kiss a mask." She said trying to sound confident, yet nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'll make a note of that." Jim grinned as he softly entwined his fingers with hers and they walked up the stairs to the surface.
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They turned the corner from the diner they just ate at. Well, Claire was the one that mostly ate. Jim snuck a few silverware to nibble on. Besides that, they had a good time and he managed not to pull the seat out from under her when he was helping Claire with her chair. Jim was feeling pretty confident that the date might just turn out to be a normal one. Then he hoped he didn't just jinx it.
As they walked in silence Jim stole a glance at Claire. She was smiling and looking up at the sky. Jim looked up at the sky too. It was dark, but the stars were starting to come out. Jim smiled at the simplicity of the moment. He was walking side by side with the girl of his dreams enjoying a starry night. Nothing weird or strange about it.
Jim walked a little closer to Claire and his hand brushed hers. After a moment he reached and took her hand. Jim felt her hand grip his in return and gave a light squeeze. The butterfly sensation filled Jim's chest. She reached her other hand over and hugged his arm, pulling herself closer to him. Now Jim felt like a million butterflies were having a rave in his chest.
"This is nice," She said contently. She wanted this night to never end.
Then, Claire's mind returned to the secret she'd been keeping from Jim. She didn't want to ruin the date by revealing her sudden magic powers. So to push the thought aside she determined to tell him tomorrow.
All of a sudden Jim tugged Claire right into an alleyway.
Claire let her hand drop from his arm and looked around.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"You'll see." Jim said tenderly.
He led her into a multi-level parking garage at the end of the alley. They climbed a few flights of stairs and eventually came out on the top level that was open to the starry night sky. He pulled her to a corner of the parking garage. Claire smiled. From the view, she could see the beautiful skyline of Bellridge city and further.
"Wow," She said in awe. It was more lit up than Arcadia and there was a river that snaked through the city into a bay.
A flash of light came from behind her and Claire felt a big rough hand slip into hers. She smiled and looked up. She found Jim, the real Jim, blue skin and all, standing beside her. He set the mask on the cement barrier. He looked out over the city.
"This is nice," Jim agreed.
Without warning, Claire snaked her arms around his waist and hugged him as tight as she could. The armor didn't exactly make it the most comfortable hug but she didn't mind. Jim smiled and gently hugged her back.
"Thanks, for all this, it's perfect," Claire lovingly said. After a moment Jim responded.
"Well, almost perfect," Jim said.
Claire glanced up confused, she saw Jim pull out his phone. He fiddled with it until a song started to play.
Her eyes lit up, it was the song he played when he took her to the lookout point during Spring Fling.
Jim set his phone down next to the Glamour Mask and took Claire's hands in his. She smiled as he led her different directions with the music. Sometimes doing silly steps, but eventually transitioned into a slow-dance swaying side to side. He spun her out and she turned back in and they continued their slow dance until the song ended.
Claire looked up into Jim's eyes, love building up inside of her. Jim didn't think he could love her any more than he already did, but sharing this moment, this night with her made it possible.
Jim glanced down at her lips and slowly leaned in closer to Claire. He pulled her in and as he did so, Claire lifted herself onto her tiptoes and craned her neck up to his face.
Their lips met and collided in a deep long-awaited kiss. Jim's lips were course against hers, but they didn't lack in movement as they moved against her lips. Claire felt her cheeks blush, but that didn't stop her from wrapping her arms around his neck. Jim put his arms around Claire and pulled her up off the ground. Claire's lips brushed up against one of Jim's fangs that jutted up from his mouth. Jim's lips stopped moving for a moment in hesitation, but Claire wasn't ready for their kiss to end. She quickly pushed her lips against his. It took Jim an instant to process her action and he kissed her back in full force. The corners of Claire's lips turned up at the thought that Jim was holding back before. After a few moments, their kiss slowed to one last simultaneous movement. Jim brought his mouth away from Claire's and pressed his forehead tenderly to hers. Claire brushed her nose against his and let out a blissful breath.
"Now, it's perfect," Claire whispered.
Jim released a built-up sigh and hugged her a little tighter, but not enough to crush her.
He was happy. He didn't have anything to fear anymore. Claire was here and Jim felt sure that she wasn't going anywhere.
Jim set her down and they walked back to the rooftop corner. They looked out over the city and the stars, arms around each other, and smiles on their faces.
They stayed there for a while. Jim built up the courage to ask Claire why she was distant the past week. She replied that she needed time to adjust to the new surroundings, which was partially true. After a few other conversations, Claire gave a small yawn. Jim noticed and tilted his head at Claire.
"Sounds like we better get you to bed. Wouldn't want to keep you past curfew," He teased.
"Ha ha. I'll have you know I'm a grown-up now and can set my bedtime whenever I want." She teased back.
"Well, it happens to be past my bedtime so I better get going. Hm, but I also happen to hate walking alone at night. Would you mind walking me home?" He jokingly asked.
Claire knew he only needed about an hour of sleep with the heartstone giving him energy, but she was a little tired so she decided not to protest.
"It would be my pleasure." She chuckled. As they turned to go a sudden cold feeling rushed over her. She gasped. It was the same feeling she got whenever Angor Rot would appear through a portal. Claire spun around frantically. It was also the feeling she got when she saw Morgana face to face.
"Claire? What is it?" Jim asked seriously.
"I just thought I...saw someone." She stared down at a nearby cluster of trees by the street.
"Hm." Jim scanned the trees too.
"It was probably nothing. Let's go," Claire said trying to soothe her nerves. She started walking towards the parking garage stairwell.
Jim looked over the trees again. He glanced over his shoulder at Claire and wondered if there was still something else going on with her. Brushing it off, Jim put on the Glamour Mask and caught up with Claire.
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They walked down the cavern steps into the Trollmarket. Claire put the cold sensation she felt at the parking garage out of her mind and they talked about random things as they traveled. Like, why the color of the Heartstone was blue or when they thought Papa Skull might put out their next album. They made their way to their cave apartments and climbed the stone steps to Claire's room which was the only cave with a makeshift curtain. Which was there until she could get a real door.
Before they reached her room, Claire tugged Jim's hand to stop him. He turned and looked at her.
"What is it?" Jim asked.
Claire felt the pull to be honest with Jim. He did nothing but be real with her all night. He deserved to know.
"I-" Claire was cut off by a sound, one that came from inside her supposedly empty room.
They both turned and looked at the curtain. Only NotEnrique would go into her room, but they just passed him in the Troll Pub. Claire looked at Jim and shook her head in a way that said 'no one's supposed to be in there'. Jim held out his hand and the Eclipse Blade materialized into it.
Jim and Claire slowly approached the curtain. Jim got closer to the doorway and listened in on the intruder. He could hear them rifling through something.
Jim looked over to Claire beside him and he mouthed to her that they would rush in on his signal. Claire nodded and readied herself.
Jim mouthed "3, 2, 1, go." They burst through the curtain and saw their intruder. Romkil.
"What are you doing in here?" Claire asked.
Romkil quickly dropped the bag and faced them in surprise.
"I-I can explain." Romkil hesitated.
Judging by half of her backpack's contents being emptied onto her bed, he was looking through her stuff.
"You have five seconds before I throw you out of here and drag your sorry butt to Galerg," Jim threatened.
"Don't! I was just, just..I..." Romkil struggled to come up with words.
"Five." Jim charged at Romkil, but he feigned and dodged Jim's attack.
"Wait a moment," Romkil said, but Jim turned and kicked Romkil in the chest, throwing him into a wall. Romkil quickly stood up, but found the point of Jim's sword at his throat. He held up his hands in surrender.
"James wait!" Romkil blurted. Jim raised an eyebrow.
"It's Jim," Jim growled.
"No." Romkil looked into Jim's eyes and after a moment he looked at the ground. His shoulders slumped in defeat as he let his hands fall to his sides.
"Your full name is James Lake Jr., you were named after your father, who left you and your mother when you just turned 5 years old. He'd bought you a bike as a Birthday gift. A gift he never got to see built."
Lines formed between Jim's eyebrows in confusion. "How do you know that?" Jim asked.
Romkil lifted his gaze to Jim again and held it. "Because I'm James Lake Sr."
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