HELLO, MY BEAUTIFUL CREATURES! I will tell you right now we are now one more chapter away from Claire joining the Trollhunter Squad and I can't fucking wait tbh. I might add a bit more to this chapter so it leads to it more. I'm at 4,874 words at the moment so I don't know just yet but maybe I will. Maybe I won't.
Also, I wanted to steer a little bit away from the original story since it took me 22 CHAPTERS TO GET HERE... I'm not mad. Just disappointed in my slow-burn writer self. Also, I wanted to make a Percy Jackson joke so I did.
ANYWAY! I hope you guys enjoy this!
"Describe to me again what you saw, Master Jim."
"It was a long grey tail with scales. Looking back at it now," I placed my hand on my chin as I thought back to when I first saw the oddity. "I think the end was in three parts. It had spikes too. I don't think I cared to consider that at first though. I was just rather on edge at the sight of it." I looked back to Blinky who was giving me wide eyes before we went towards one of his many bookshelves.
"I hope I am wrong about this, but I might have an idea as to what this being could be." I followed his with Toby in tow as he grabbed a large book and placed it on the island in the center of the room. After opening the book with his lower set of hands, he flipped to a specific section with the upper set before turning it towards me. "Was the tail you saw like this one?"
"That's exactly what I saw." I looked up to Blinky who took the book back from me.
"This can't be good."
"What's that supposed to mean, Blinky? What is it that he saw?" Toby's voice had a dripping sense of worry as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Please tell me it's not a death sentence. We've had enough of those already."
"It might just be another, Tobias. I'm sorry. What you saw, Master Jim," He looked towards me with soft eyes that seemed to give more worry than his voice was portraying. "Was a Basilisk."
"A Basilisk? Is that the snake thing from Harry Potter? The thing with the stone glare like Medusa that spits venom and stuff?"
"I have no clue what this Harry of Potter thing is, but you are correct on the stone glare and the poison. It's a European creature known for its lethal gaze and deadly bite. Though I have never heard of them singling out a specific target, I wouldn't doubt that one would due to our lack of knowledge on them. All our kind knows is that they are somehow related to dragons, has a close relation to cockatrices, and can only be killed in two ways."
"So what do I have to do to get rid of it?"
"Either you get it to listen to the crow of a rooster or you force it to see it's own reflection." I sighed as I placed my hands on the island, leaning slightly as I drummed my fingers against the stone beneath them.
I already despised my birthday but adding in the fact that I'm possibly being targeted by a creature like a real-life Medusa on top of it? Yeah. Worse. Day. Ever.
"Okay. Wonderful. What would have caused it to follow me to the school though?"
"To be horribly honest, Master Jim, I have not even the slightest of a clue. They are a rather curious beast. Only myths and tales have ever been told of their existence, but here we are with one placing it sights upon you. The only reasonable explanation is that the beast was called upon for one reason."
"And what would that be?"
"To either cause mayhem as they have had for centuries or to kill Master Jim specifically."
"You called upon a Basilisk to kill the Trollhunter?!" I felt myself squirm as I heard Stricklander's voice toward Bular.
"Your kind is taking too long to grasp the amulet and we are running out of time as well as my patience."
"Basilisk are chaotic creatures, Bular. Do you know what this means if it decides to attack in broad daylight? Our kind will be outed with ease and it won't be as easy as faking a murder scene to clean up the mess." I heard Bular's growl as I flattened myself up against the stone wall as I tried to listen in on the conversation still as they continued.
"Do you think I care if humans realize one of their myths were true? They can never lead it towards trollish kind. And even if they did, it will be you and the other impures taking the hellish fires of it instead. It wouldn't even matter when right after I will be releasing my father from his captivity."
"But a Basilisk? That creature might bring ruin to the world before even day breaks! Their eyes will turn any being to stone if desired and the venom is potent enough to even bring a Gum-Gum to their final moments."
"Do I have to restate again, impure, how little I care for this plain, and the effects my action has on it? I do not live with the mortals and I do not care for the world they reside in. I care for my father's release. That is all."
"So if there is nothing on the earth for you and your father to rule over, then you won't have a single care to give? Even when Lord Gunmar himself is angered by the end of his world?"
"If not for what I have done, there won't be a reign for him to begin. Now, leave me be. I must be ready to find the remains of the Trollhunter. That amulet will be mine and no impure is going to stop me." I could tell by the silence that held there for a moment that Stricklander was going to continue, but thought it would be best for him to leave it at that.
"As you wish, Master Bular."
This can't be good. Not good at all.
Wait. Why am I worried? If those fleshlings are out of my hair, then I don't have to worry about Tons-of-Fun and Mr. Too-Big-For-His-Britches ratting me out.
But that does mean I no longer have my sock supply and I'm not going back to straight baby food.
I've gotta tell the Trollhunter. And soon.
After our talk with Blinky at Troll Market, I had to rush my way back to school to make it for rehearsals. With the weeks dying down and everything for the play, I wasn't going to let a snake creature make it so Steve took my role as Romeo. I've come too far and panicked one too many times to let myself fail now. Also, I spent probably too many hours remembered lines that I'll probably die being able to recite for it to all go to waste so easily. But none of this went unnoticed by Claire as I dropped my bag off backstage.
"Are you alright? You look a little pale." I gave her the best smile I could as I shrugged slightly.
"As well as one can be, I guess. It's been a long day." She gave me a small laugh as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I can tell with how you still have your helmet on your head." I gave her wide eyes as I reached up to touch my hair only to be stopped by the extra bit of protection. I felt my face heat up as the crystal under my shirt mocked the feeling while I took the helmet off with a sheepish smile. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine." I tossed the helmet onto my bag before speaking again. "I just had to go make sure of something before I lost my mind about it." It was obvious Claire didn't want to take this as an answer, but she backed off on asking if I was okay as a soft look appeared in her eyes.
"If you say so. But if you need anything, let me know, alright? I don't need you fainting or anything." I gave her a small smirk as I decided to toy with her as I had before when we had a conversation like this.
"Is it because you don't want to kiss Steve?" She shook her head slightly as a small smile appeared on her face.
"It's more about how I care about you, Jim." She reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder as her voice had a joking tone to it as she went on. "Not having to kiss Steve is just a bonus." I felt myself smile easily at her as the crystal had a cooling feeling against my skin as my body seemed to ease itself from the tension I didn't know I was keeping on myself.
"Thanks, Claire."
"Any time." Her face brightened up after that as she dropped her hand from my shoulder. "Oh! I almost forgot! Wait right here for a second." I gave her an amused look as she jogged off behind me for a moment to rummage around with something before coming back to me with a small box. "Ta-da! Mary, Darci, and I felt wrong about not getting you anything so right before practice we all decided to run over to the nearest place we knew to find you a little something." I felt myself bite the inner part of my lip as Claire held it out to me.
"You guys didn't need to get me anything."
"We felt like it. Now, take the damn thing." I laughed a little at her as I took the box from her and took off the lid. Within it was a small little keychain of one of, if not, my favorite movies.
"How did you guys know I like Gun-Robot?" I chuckled a little as I took the keychain out and looked at it a bit more closely. It was the main robot from the film with his blaster held out in his right hand as the set of him seemed to be stuck in place while he was running with his other arm bent at the elbow and tucked in right beside him.
"Actually, we started asking Toby a few questions on things you liked after he told us it was your birthday."
"Don't let her fool you! She asked him herself!" Claire glared off behind me as Mary's voice could be heard from the distance. I found myself glancing over my shoulder for a second with a grin before bring my attention back to the slightly angered Latina.
"Either way, I love it. Thank you." This caused the glare on her face to disappear as she placed her hands behind her back with a wide smile.
"Glad to know you like it." I closed the box after putting the keychain back in it as Miss. Janeth called out for all of us to set up for the very beginning of the play. With matching soft smiles, Claire and I gave each other a knowing nod as we went off to set up for ourselves as a thought danced around in my mind.
Maybe birthdays aren't so terrible after all.
"What's your plan for going home today?" I smiled wide as I walked out of the school with Claire beside me.
"I was gonna ride home today. How about you?" She shrugged as she held her backpack straps in her hands.
"My parents are picking me up today. Something about how they don't want me biking home by myself with the Enrique scare." I nodded as I bushed my hands off on my jeans. I didn't know what was getting me so nervous about speaking with her personally, but the crystal on my skin told me enough that the nervousness was true within my system.
"Completely understandable." I put my hands in my pockets so I would stop fiddling with them.
Is it the whole Basilisk thing? Or maybe what Mary said? Or the whole 'a pretty girl gave me a keychain of my favorite movie' like it was nothing?
I sat down at the spot we waited together a few months prior. She gave me a wide smile as she sat down next to me. "We're doing this again?" I smiled back at her as I leaned back onto my hands.
"Would you rather be left alone?" I smiled widely at her as she mimicked the way I sat.
"You act like I don't enjoy your company." She looked over to me which caused her hair to wave slightly behind her neck as she looked up to the sky. The street lights shined down on her skin.
I always thought she was pretty since I first saw her, but after getting to know her more, I realized there was much more to the Latina than meets the eye. She is beautiful but more than just on the outside.
She turned her face to me and gave me a kind smile as her deep hazel eyes seemed to sparkle in the street light's bright graces. I felt myself smile easily at her as I felt my breath hitch slightly at the sight.
"How has your day been?"
"It's been," I sighed a little as I pulled my eyes away from her for a moment before looking back at her with a sheepish grin on my face. "A day."
"I don't want to push you into talking about it, but Toby said you hated your birthday." She brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them as she looked right at me. Her chin was placed on top of her knees as she watched me with a careful look in their eyes. I sighed a little bit as sat up to put my hands on my thighs. I took a moment to place my words in the right way before I started to answer her unspoken question.
"Do you remember when we were at the museum and I told you about my dad?" I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see her nod slightly as she kept her chin on her knees. "It was eleven years ago. Today." I swallowed hard as I looked down to where my hands were before speaking again. "I just turned five. Everything was so calm at first and I was excited due to this bike set box I was given that he had bought me so we could build it together. I couldn't wait as I ran down the stairs as any kid would." I chuckled lightly before I felt my hands curled into a fist. "But then I saw my mom crying by the front door and the U-Haul truck that was sitting out in the driveway. Ever since I hated my birthday. I hated seeing my mother cry like that and I felt like it was all my fault as a kid. I still do sometimes." I felt a hand place itself on my shoulder and it caused me to bring my eyes towards the hazel ones that gave such a sorrowful look before she pulled me in close to a loose hug. I felt wrap her arm around the back of my neck as she placed her chin on my shoulder. I hesitated at first, but I reciprocated the action with a small release of the breath I didn't know I was holding. It hitched a little as it had before. It wasn't for the same reason as it had before. I was rather happy within that moment even while my chest wavered as I was on the edge of crying.
I've never been ashamed of my emotions. My mom always said it was one of the things she always loved about me. The fact I put my heart on my sleeve was a saving grace to her because it made it a lot easier to understand how I was doing. She said I was an emotionally mature kid and it was a blessing in disguise that I should never change.
But there were always moments like this that made me feel weak. That I wasn't strong enough.
Even though I have been punched through the air by a Gum-Gum, it'll always be my emotions that make me feel as if I'm not strong enough to carry on.
"I'm sorry." I felt myself smile as Claire mumbled those two words to me before pulling back from me. "If I knew it was that, I wouldn't have-"
"Claire, it's fine." I gave her a wide smile, even though it was obvious she was slightly ashamed of herself. "To be honest, this has been the best birthday I had for a while." I put my hand in my jump's pocket and pulled out the keychain to swing it lightly around my index finger. "It's probably my favorite." This caused her to smile sweetly towards me as I decided to make sure I had the moment memorized in my mind.
Even though out of the corner of my eye, I saw the grey scaled multiple parted tail slither in the far distance behind her.
A car horn made itself heard as it pulled both Claire and I's attention from each other.
As well as from the Basilisk in the distance.
"I guess I should go before they lose their minds." I chuckled at her as she got up to her feet. She looked at me for a second before giving me a soft half-smile. "I'll talk to you later, alright?" I gave her a large smile even though in the corner of my eye I saw the grey scaled being once more. This time closer.
"Definitely." She swung her arms a little awkwardly which made me fight a small chuckle before she turned and ran off toward her parents' car. I watched the car turn off onto the next street before I nearly jumped to my feet. I pulled the crystal out from its confinements as I put the keychain back into my pocket. I dropped my bag onto the sidewalk as I pulled out a silver shield that Blinky had given me. It was in the form of a thin silver wrist addition but he showcases to me with a simple flick movement would cause it to complete its shape.
"This is a reflective mirror shield. This will be your friend if you come across the Basilisk once more."
"So this is some Percy Jackson kind of stuff? Like when that one dude in Mr. Strickler's mythology lesson did with Medusa?"
"Again, I do not understand your question but from what I can tell, yes." I strapped the shield to my wrist and gripped my hand in a fist tight as did a slight pump movement with my forearm. This caused the shield to extend itself and move into a circle before it came to complete 360. After it reached the end, a slight shifting could be heard as it made itself into a smooth surface.
"Percy Jackson shit it is."
I placed my bag over my shoulder as I made my way to the bike rack. I grabbed my bike while putting on my helmet and then started heading towards where I know was a vacant part of Arcadia. I glance over my shoulder as I started making my way towards a beaten path only to see a grey and dark black serpent-like figure following behind me in the slight distance. I tried my best to keep myself balanced on my bike with a single hand on the center of my handlebars as I pulled out my phone from my left jeans pocket. I somehow managed to start calling Toby as I kept biking my way down the dusty path.
"TP here. What do you need, Jimbo?"
"Basilisk. Over on the mountain trials."
"Oh shit! I'll bring AAARRRGGHH with me. He's at my house at the moment anyway."
"Why is there a troll in your house?"
"Why is there a troll in your house?"
"Touché. But meet me here as soon as you can. Remember, don't look it in the eyes."
"You got it! Be there as soon as we can."
I heard him drop the phone call before I put my phone back in my jeans pocket.
Or at least I tried to as I lost control of the small bike.
How did I think that would work out well?
I groaned as I brought myself up to my feet as I did as I have done before in Troll Market to activate the shield.
"For all that daylight protects, with all of Merlin's magic within me, I will protect and defeat as the sun will let me." I kept my shield in front of me as I gripped my now armored fingers into a fist as I heard a small hiss coming from the creature that has now caught up to me. I felt myself glare into the shield as I stepped back lightly.
Alright, you stupid stone snake. Come at me.
With a quick hiss and what sounded like a spit, I saw that the creature hitting down right before my feet. I watched with wide-eyes as its venom caused the earth near my feet to bubble and corrode with ease.
Okay. Change of plans. Don't come at me.
I felt myself run as quickly as I could as I used the shield to peer behind me to see the bright orange eyes of the black and grey serpent slithered after me with its large fangs as it gave a loud hiss in annoyance at its prey scurrying away.
Sorry to annoy you buddy but I kinda don't want to die right now.
I jumped to my right as I saw it aim another venom spit to my feet. I started pounding my feet heavily against the dirt as I tried my best to gain a good distance between me and the snake being. I looked past the shield to see that the sunset sky was darkening with the looming of deep grey clouds while I also took note of how the path I was taking was cut off by a cliff.
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Come on Tobes! I need a hand here!
I felt a quick whip at my feet, causing me to tumble onto my hands and feet as I turned to lay on my back with the shield kept up before my face. I could hear the snake slither before me as I kept my eyes closed tight as I ducked my head under my armor forearm of my right hand while the thunder roared in the distance as I heard rain started to pelt against my armor. I crawled backward slightly as I used my feet to push me away from the creature. I placed my right hand behind me and felt that I was at the edge of the road.
Come on. Come on. Why hasn't it turned to stone yet? Hasn't it looked at itself?
I felt a sudden weight tried to force itself against my shield. I groaned as I landed on the bottom of my back with my head and shoulders being off the cliffside. I kept my left arm strong as I used the shield to keep myself safe from the serpent's blows. I saw from slightly under the shield that it was using its spiked tail to strike at me. It strikes against the metal three times before reading itself to do it once more. I kept the shield up as best as I could as my other hand kept me from falling off the cliff.
Wait. It's in a rhythm. Maybe I can use that against it.
I waited for it to start striking again, this time I forced the shield back into the movement as I kept my eyes shut behind the action. This caused a small roar to come from the scaled snake which allowed me to swipe at the beast with the metal piece addition. I used the opportunity to roll out of the way from the snake and used the shield once more to see behind me as I started my way back down the path even though now the dirt was replaced with slippery mud. Its eyes glowed as it slithered after me with pure rage in its heart.
WAIT! The glowing eyes! Maybe it turns those that look at them to stone on command!
I turned as fast I could after I saw the eyes begin to glow once more. I held the shield against the top of my chest as I ducked my head under the protective layer. I heard what sounded like a scream come from the serpent as it suddenly cut off just as soon as it began. I stayed that way for a moment as the rain came down harder than it ever had before. I waited to feel another strike against me. I waited for another hiss or another spit towards my direction. But as I counted the thundering heartbeats that rang in my ears while actual thunder roared in the distance, I realized that it would never come. I dropped the shield with a sigh as I glanced slowly up towards the beast. The grey snake was now completely of stone as it was stuck in a petrified state. I felt myself drop to my knees as I retracted the shield Blinky gave me as I felt footsteps shaking the ground behind me.
"Jim!" I smiled as I heard the mud splatter lightly as Toby ran to my side. I gave a weak laugh as I put my hands on the ground before me.
"Worse. Birthday surprise. Ever." I fell onto my side as I heard Toby call out my name once more, but I couldn't get my body to reply to him as I felt my eyes suddenly become heavy. Sleep taking over my exhausted body easily as the rain wet my face and the mud dirtied the armor I still had summoned.
I shot up as I felt myself come back to reality from what felt like a few minutes of darkness. I took sharp but even breaths as I tried to calm myself. I looked down at my hands seeing that my forearms were exposed instead of being covered by my normal blue sweatshirt. Instead, I was welcomed to my white t-shirt which was obvious either the rain or the sweat from my interactions with the basilisk caused it to stick like glue to my skin.
"Good. You've awakened." I turned my head over towards the voice to see a wide smile on the turquoise skinned troll that has easily become a dear mentor to me these last few months. "Can you stand, Master Jim?"
"I can try to." I brought myself off of the makeshift bed I was laying upon that was more like a sacrifice alter if anything. I brought myself to my feet where it was presented to me the idea that I could easily stand beside the fatigue I put my body through earlier. When I looked over to Blinky once more, I noticed that his smile only deepened at the action.
"Wonderful! Follow me then. I have something I desire to show you." I followed Blinky without another word as he went to a room that was off to the side of his library. He walked into first before gesturing to a large cardboard box that laid in the middle of it. "Ta-da!" I gave him a confused look as a smile found its way onto my face. "Go ahead! Take a closer gander." I walked over to the box as suddenly a rush of happiness filled my veins as I realized what was within the cardboard confinements.
"Is this-?" I looked over to Blinky once more as I knelt down to look at the pieces closely. "These are the pieces to a 1955 Vespa! How did you come across these?"
"Let's just say, I did a bit of barging with Bagdwella." The smile I had still on my face deepened as I felt a hand place itself on my shoulder. "Tobias had told me of what this day meant to you. That the last thing you were given from a fatherly figure was a bike kit you had never finished." I looked up to Blinky to see he had a saddened look in his eyes as he looked over to me. "So I figured I would gather something that Tobias said you would enjoy. With AAARRRGGHH's help of course. I figured we could build it together if you desire." I felt myself stand as I flung my arms around the troll. It was obvious that the stone skinned creature never really had the gesture thrown upon him but in the end, I felt two sets of arms find themselves around me.
"Thanks, Blinky. This is the best gift I was ever given."
"You're welcome, Jim."
"Mr. Lake. May I speak with you?" I looked over to my history teacher as my mind hazed between the human form before me and the green trollish one I have seen of the man.
"Yes, sir?" I held my bag's strap tightly within my left hand.
"I was asked to join you and your mother for dinner this evening." I felt a burning feeling start in my chest as the crystal against my skin mimicked the feeling within me.
Really? Brining my mother into this? Can't you just rip the crystal off my chest and call it good?
"Oh really? What for? I thought I was doing well at the moment." I gave the teacher an uneasy smile as I tried my best to make it seem as if I didn't understand what he was trying to do.
"Oh nothing of the sorts, Jim. You are doing quite well despite your recent, activities." He gave me a knowing look as a slightly sinister smile graced his face. I felt my eyes widened as he pointed to my chest.
During the auditions, he saw the armor. He's a changeling.
Fuck. He knows.
He knows.
I felt my eyes narrow their attention at the changeling as I spoke without a single thought. "I swear if you cause harm to my mother, I'll end you myself."
"Why would you say such a thing?" He gave me a large smile as he leaned against his desk. "We'll be just having a friendly little chat, Young Atlas."
"A friendly little chat. Right." I heard the warning bell ring as I took a deep breath before releasing it. "I've got PE starting, Mr. Strickler. Do you mind if I cut this short?"
"Of course not, Jim. We can continue it this evening if you like?" I felt a growl reach the base of my throat as I found myself walking towards the door as I spoke.
"Sure."
"So! When are you going to tell our little Jimmy Jam you like him?" I rolled my eyes as Mary teased me while we were walking towards the gym.
"Can you drop it?" I smiled at her as she just nudged my shoulder.
"When you actually admit you like the guy." We opened both sides of the gym doors with ease. "Like, seriously. You freaked out when you found out it was his birthday the other day. It was so obvious when you were willing to be late to theater practice when you wanted to get him something. You're never late. Especially to theater." I felt myself blush slightly as we made our way to our usual spot in the bleachers. It was a testing day for the guys to see how far they're advancing with the rope test, so we got away with sitting on the bleachers instead of participating in the action.
"What are you two talking about?" I smiled at Shannon as I sat down beside her.
"Nothing-"
"How she had a thing for Lake."
"Oh. Did you just realize it, Mary? I kinda figured it was a thing for a little while." I felt the blush deepen on my face as I groaned lightly at the both of them.
"Can we please drop this?" Mary placed a hand on my right shoulder as she gave me a semi-serious look.
"Girl, you get guys asking you out like it's nothing. But when you get feelings for a guy you act like you don't have the means to ask him yourself."
"That's because being asked out and asking someone out are two different playing fields."
"She's not wrong, Mary." The little bickering faded into the background as I watched as Jim put his hands into his gym shorts as he had defeated look on his face. I knew it wasn't due to the rope test. I've witnessed him complete it multiple times before. He looked defeated as his shoulders slumped slightly and his chest raised slightly before lowering slowly. I knew instantly something was off with him.
Was it his chat with Mr. Strickler after class?
I felt myself frown as he suddenly looked over to where I was sitting. He gave me a slight smile and a wave that I reciprocated with ease. Even as I felt Mary nudge my shoulder once more, I knew I was more preoccupied with the fact that I knew the smile was forced on his features.
Okay, whatever it is, it had him upset.
I felt myself smile as my thought continued.
But kind of Juliet would I be if I wasn't willing to help him?