Back with another chapter, and now on a every other week schedule. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, liked, or followed. It means the world to me.
I own nothing concerning Trollhunters.
ENJOY!
Chapter 7: It's Not Actually A Jersey Devil And Justin Saw Something.
"Are you sure this is the last place on the map?" I stare at a large warehouse, Claire and Justin walk up behind me. Justin double checks the map, turns to me and nods. "It just doesn't seem like a place the Jersey Devil would be hiding."
"Traditional legends say that is normally stays deep in the forest. And the forest is nearby but it's not thick enough for it to hide in." Claire says.
"Since when did you become an expert on the Jersey Devil?" I ask.
"Just now." She smiled, holding up her phone.
"Ohhh… buurrnnn…" I shoot a quick glare at Justin. "sorry."
"Well, let's go check it ou…" just as I say it a loud screech shakes the old building. Suddenly out of some sort of instinct, I widen my stance and hunch my shoulders, baring my human teeth and growling.
Justin jumps back and looks at me confused. I try to move myself from my defencive position, but find that I can't. Claire notices and comes to the rescue.
"Justin, you've been so much help," she smiles at him and puts a hand on his shoulder, walking him away from the warehouse. "But you should probably get going. It's getting late. And Jim and I can handle this from here, and we don't want you in danger of this thing." she waits for him to walk down the street we came, and he turns the corner. Once out of his line of sight she turns to me.
"What are you doing?" she says, gesturing to my defensive position. Which probably looks really weird while looking like a human.
"I don't know. I just did it and now I can't stop." another screech comes from warehouse, making my stance lower. I take off the glamor mask throwing it to the base of a tree. "Claire, I want you…"
"Don't you dare tell me to wait outside, Jim!" She yells. Marching up next to me with a menacing finger pointing at my chest. I take her tiny wrists in my large hands, coming out of my stance, shushing her.
"Claire," Say slowly, "I want you, in there, next to me, with me. Got it?" I say. Her eyes soften, and she nods with determination."But, I want you to find a stick or something first." the building shakes again. And I enter my lower once again.
"A stick?" she looks at me like I'm crazy.
"Or something," I add.
She rolls her eyes, looking around her. Then walks past me and picks up a long piece of re bar. She spins it around for a moment then after getting the feel for its weight, stomps it into the ground saying, "Ready."
We walk closer to the warehouse, as it shakes we listen to the sounds of some sort of screech eco through the structure.
"Jim," Claire whispers. "Why aren't you wearing your armor?"
"Because there's a good chance It could be intelligent. Or maybe even a type of troll." I open a door and cautiously walk inside, the hair on my neck stands on end. And I get a cold shiver that runs down my spine. Walking a little farther into the warehouse, Claire and I look up to the same dreadful sight. Her face visibly pales as it spots us.
"Why the hell did it have to be a Stakling?! Of all the things in all the world it had to be a Stalkling!?" I scream.
"Jim, you might want to…" Claire starts, but I finish her thought.
"For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command!" The armor appears around me with red magic, the silver armor replacing the black, but the red markings remain.
"Fancy." Claire smiles.
The Stakling glides down to us, swiping with its giant claws, and snapping at us with it's pointy teeth. Sure enough, the Stakling is blue, with large horns, pointy teeth, tall and has a tail. But still not a demon.
It begins to lunge at Claire, she doges the first few advances, but each getting closer then the last. I run an grab her out of It's reach, knocking the wind out of her. I jump up to the platform on the second level overlooking the rest of the warehouse.
"Claire, stay up here." I say
"No… *cough* you said... *cough* I could… *cough* I could help."
"You still can, just not hand to hand. Be my lookout?"
"Jim, you said…"
"That was before I knew it was a Stakling!" I roar at her, and she flinches at the sound. I feel a knot of guilt fill in my chest. "I'm sorry, I just… I can kill it, but not if I don't know you're safe."
She looks me up and down at the armor, and nods. "Ok… alright. I'll be your look out."
"Thank you."
I jump down to ground level. Slicing my silver and red blade across it's leg as I come down. It cries out in pain.
In response I let out a deafening roar, grabbing it's attention, I begin scanning my environment. In the warehouse it has less room to move around, good. It jumps up, just barely able to fly in the building. I jump onto the wall clinging to some exposed re bar. I dismiss my sword, -in the back of my head thinking what I'll call it seeing as it is no longer Daylight or Eclipse- and sumon my glaives. And throw them at the Stakling's neck, only clipping it. I repeat this several times while dodging it's advances.
It grabs hold of my leg and tosses me into the air, probably expecting me to hit the ceiling. I do, but angling myself just right that my feet hit the roof. I launch myself back down at the creature, summoning my sword, and drive it into it's back. Red light beaming from the impact, the Stakling turns to stone and falls to the floor with a crash. Shattering and spreading across the ground.
I pull my sword out of the rubble. And replace Dusk on my back, jumping up to Claire.
I go to apologize again for roaring at her when she quickly puts a finger to her lips, shushing me. Then she quietly whispers.
"We have a problem."
"I thought I just took care of the problem," I whisper and point over my shoulder to the pile of rubble on the ground.
She shakes her head, motioning to the window, where unbroken glass once was. I walk over and stick my head out. Below me is a far too curious Justin, peering through a window at the destruction.
I pull my head back inside, face palming. Now a million questions race through my mind; How much did he see? What does he know? And is he going to tell? I look at Claire and see the same thoughts running through her head.
"This isn't good," Claire starts. "What are we going to do?"
I start pulling on my horn, and rubbing my neck with my other hand. "We could always implement rule number 2," I say sheepishly.
"Jim! You know very well that we can't do that," she laughs trying to keep her voice low.
"I know, but what are we going to do?" I can see the gears turning in her head.
"I've got it. You take off your armor, you are really stealthy with it off, and take me outside without Justin noticing. Then hide and stay quiet. I'll find out what he knows. There's a good chance he didn't see me in here with you."
"So he'll probably be more open to talking to you." I catch onto her idea. "Alright" I dismiss my armor and place the amulet back in my pocket.
Claire climbs onto my back and I climb out a window opposite the side Justin is on, and quietly lower Claire down, and quickly retreat onto the roof of the warehouse. I crawl on all fours to the edge and watch as Claire approaches Justin, who just found the glamor mask. Luckily he doesn't know what it is, therefore it's not possible for him to use it.
"Hey Justin, whatcha doing back, I thought you went home?" She asks. He looks up at her, "Is that a mask?" she asks taking it from him and thoroughly observing it.
"Yeah, I um saw it tossed aside, by… something." Justin says. He looks nervous, and begins to shift from foot to foot. "I think it might be magic."
"Why would you say that? It looks like a regular mask to me." She says, and wow Claire is good at acting outside the theatre.
"Because I saw it transform something…"
Uh oh…
"Really?" Claire didn't have to ask what.
"Claire, um, I don't think you should to date Jim."
The look on Claire's face was almost jenuine shock.
"Why?" she asked cautiously.
"You just shouldn't." he replied.
"You sound like my parents," she placed a hand on her hip getting bored of this. "Give me a real reason."
"Because... I think he's the Jersey Devil…" It sounded more like a question then anything else.
"You think my boyfriend is the Jersey Devil?" she rolls her eyes briefly glancing at me.
"No, no, you have to believe me! I saw him from around the corner, and he looked like a human then he pulled at his face and then threw the mask aside. And he was this big blue creature, but in normal clothes. He had horns and these big teeth. Then I ran around the back of the building and looked in the window and he was wearing armor and attacking this huge bird creature. Then he killed it, with a big sword. I think he's still inside the warehouse." He rambled, pointing to the building. Claire just stood there, pinching the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. Doing the same, I gave an exasperated snarl.
"I think we've both heard enough and I think someone's seen too much don't you?" She said it loudly, looking at Justin, but I knew it was directed at me.
"What? No you've got to believe me!" He begged.
"I wasn't talking to you." she said.
"Who were you taking to?"
I jump down from the roof, and land in darkness.
"She was talking to me." I say, ominously walking out of the shadows. He jumps back pulling Claire's wrist, trying to get her away from me, and the supposed danger I present. She doesn't budge, she just sighs and shakes her head.
"Justin, this is Jim."
"That's not Jim! That's a monster!" he shrieks still pulling.
"Why do they always do this?" I ask Claire.
"Because you're a seven and a half foot troll with blue skin, big teeth and horns, babe. It's just not in the norms these days." She jokes, all the while Justin is still pulling her wrist. "Do you have any muscle?" she asks him. And gestures for me to get him off of her.
I walk over and grab the collar of Justin's coat lifting him off the ground. He's lighter then a feather.
"Of course you're in on it." He points to Claire. "Just wait until Detective Skinner finds out!" he shouts at me, I snort and roll my eyes.
"And here I thought you admired me for saving the world." I tilt my head looking at him. He folds his arms and grunts, watching his feet dangle below him.
"Think he'll tell?" Claire asks me.
"If he's already threatening to go to Skinner? Definitely." I say.
"What should we do with him? And don't say rule number two, because that won't help." She says unable to keep a grin off her face, and I laugh a bit.
"You know I'm right here, right?" He asks, letting his arms fall to his sides.
"Yes, and we're discussing what to do with you." I turn back to Claire.
"We can't have him going around spitting this stuff, even if no one believes him. It will cause trouble for you the longer we're here. And not just you, me too," she says.
"I know, but we can't exactly put a brown paper bag on his head and take him hostage."
"Or maybe…" Claire gets an idea. "We could have him over for a sleepover." she grins at me, raising an eyebrow making sure I understand.
"May I please see your phone?" I ask Justin.
"No, you can't have my phone." He replies.
"Give me your phone." I say holding out my hand.
"I'm not giving my phone to a monster!" He spits.
"Oh, now you've done it." Claire adds.
"PHONE." I growl, "NOW."
He shivers and reluctantly gives me the phone. I turn it on, password protected. I hold it in front of his face and give a low growl. He unlocks it. I open the text messages and pull open his mother's contact. And send a message.
-Hey Mom, A new kid in town asked me to stay the night. I'm already at his house. Is it alright with you if I have a sleepover tonight?-
"You know this is a violation of my privacy, right?" he asks, still dangling. "Isn't your arm tired yet?"
"No." I say waiting for a response from his mother. Then it comes.
-Of course! I'm so happy you're making friends! Just let me know if you need anything.-
"Looks like you get to spend the night at our place." I say.
"I don't want to go to your filthy dark smelly cave of bones." He moans.
"You were so much more mature, like, two hours ago." Claire says.
"Agreed, can you go back to being mature?" All I get is a hump "Fine, be that way. I'm going to put you down now. And if you try and run I will catch you." I gently set him down. After a second of looking at me he turns toward the city and books it. I roll my eyes, he glances back every few seconds. And with my enhanced hearing I hear him say from two blocks away. 'Fastest on the track and cross country team. Ha!'
"I'll meet you on the way back to NTM." I say, she nods and starts walking back in the direction of the entrance.
He glances back again, seeing me still standing. Then turns back and keeps running. While he's not looking at me I go into a full speed run and hide around the corner of the next street. He looks back to see where I was, only finding that I'm gone. And turns back and faces me, and skids to a stop.
"Looking for me?" I ask.
"How… you were back there, then… then you were here. Ugh, how fast are you?" He says, panting and breathing fast.
"Faster than you, that's for sure. Now am I going to have to carry you or are you going to come with me peacefully?"
"I'm not going with some monster." He huffs, planting his feet.
"Please don't call me a monster, it hurts my delicate mental state." I say seriously, with a bit of humor. He just stands there. "Fine, looks like I'm caring you. Any preference as to how?" Still just standing. "Look, I'm trying to be accommodating, and your just being a brat."
His eyes flared at being called a brat. "I'm not a brat, Jim. I just don't want to be kidnaped."
"Is that what you think I'm doing? No, we're going to go to my place to have a sleepover. I'm cooking a nice dinner. You'll meet some of my friends, and then we'll share scary stories and secrets. If it makes you feel any better, I'll even wear the mask."
"When do I get to go home?" he asks.
"That depends entirely on you. Now, can we go?"
"Fine."
I point him in the direction of NTM, and he starts walking.
"Aren't you going to blindfold me?" Justin asks.
"There's no need for it. You can't get in without a key, so even if you do know where it is, no one would see anything but a concrete wall." I say.
My ears twitch and I hear the flower shop owner working late, watering flowers out front, I quickly jump onto the roof of the floral shop.
"Oh, hello Justin. What are you doing out this late?" The woman asks. with dark skin and dark coarse hair that looks like Darcy's, she dusts her hands off on her apron.
Justin looks around for me, then catches a glimpse of me on the roof.
"Oh, umm… I…" He looks at me, thinking he's going to be smart. I quickly dispel the thought by baring my large teeth. He swallows hard then says.
"I'm just out for a late night stroll, just trying to clear my head."
"Oh well you have a good night then, be safe." the woman says.
"You to Mrs. D." He says then continues walking. I give him a sharp nod before jumping to the nest roof. Watching as he walks in the prompted direction. I listen for anyone else nearby, but don't pick anything up. So I jump down next to Justin, scaring him pale.
"Holy shnikies! Give a guy some warning." He exclaims.
"Sorry, force of habit."
"What, scaring a guy senseless?"
"No, being stealthy." He stays quiet thinking about the implications that could have.
We walk in silence through the forest, I clear my throat.
"Thank you for not ratting me out to the flower shop lady." I say.
"Well, It's kinda hard to ignore a creature on the roof baring his teeth at you." He says, sounding hurt.
"Sorry, force of instinct. But I can't have you revealing anything to anyone. You seeing me without the mask was not a part of the plan."
"Your creepy plan to enslave humans?"
"What? NO! What the crap kind of stuff are you reading Justin? I don't want to hurt anyone." I growl out.
"Then what do you call what you did to that bird thing?" He asks glaring at me.
"The Stakling? That thing is far from something I would consider protecting. It's an incredibly dangerous creature."
"The thing that everyone saw, was that it?"
"Yes, but It's far from being The Jersey Devil. And so am I."
I see we're nearing the entrance, and Claire is there waiting under the bridge, sitting against the entrance with the glamor mask in hand.
"I don't have a horngazle," she states as she gets to her feet.
"Sorry babe, I forgot. Also, this knucklehead walks slower than Blinkey." I take the Horngazle out of one of the pockets on my thigh and hand It to Claire.
"Justin, do you want to do it?" Claire asks holding it out to him.
"Do what? And were are we? And what is that thing? I thought we were going to your place."
"We are, and like I said, you can't get in without a key. This is a horngazle, and It's the key. And Claire, he doesn't deserve to open the door, he's been too much trouble tonight." He stares at the horngazle being offered to him by Claire, then at me, then at her, then back at the horngazle.
"Whatever," Claire says. She draws an arc on the wall and presses her hand to the center of it, opening the passageway.
Justin's jaw drops staring at the spectacle of magic, "Woah…" Is the only thing he is able to say.
"Justin, it's like you've never seen a magic door open before." Claire mocks.
We walk down the stairs and Justin's mouth is agape. Taking in everything.
"Your going to start catching flies if you don't shut your mouth." I say. He quickly shuts it glaring at me.
"I'm going to check to see if the coast is clear, if not then I'm going to have to take Justin on the high road." I walk to the edge of the crystal stair i'm on, and jump down to the next set, and the next. Listening to a short conversation from the two above.
"Justin, ease up on him. What do you have to gain by being so cruel to him?"
"I don't know, but seriously. He's an actual monster," he says. And every time he calls me a monster it feels like getting punched in the face. "I don't know why you're dating him." He finished.
"One, he's not a monster. And two, because I love him, and he's my best friend, and because I know that he'll always be there for me." Claire says, seriously.
"Ew, gross. I don't want to hear it." He says.
"But dude, If you don't start lightening up, I'll have you turned into a frog." I listen carefully to her voice, and she's serious.
"Haha, that's funny." He waits a moment. "Wait your joking right?" Claire Says nothing. And I can hear Justin's breathing speed up.
I jump down and see a bustling trollmarket, and on any other day would be glad that progress is going so quickly, but this means Justin gets to take the high road after all.
I wait at the bottom out of sight from the trolls. Once Justin and Claire reach the bottom, I stop them before they can be seen. I glance at Justin, his coat doesn't have a hood.
"Take off your coat, and give it to Claire," I say. Removing my own Jacket. He hesitates before complying after receiving a glare from Claire. I hand him my own.
"Put this on, and pull the hood up and tie it." He does. "Ok, now climb on my back."
For a moment he looks at me like I'm crazy. Then does as he's told. I crouch down for him to climb on my back, once he's secure I turn to Claire.
"I'll meet you there, see if you can't get any blankets or pillows from the other trolls."
"Wait, trolls?" Justin screeches in my ear, resulting in a harsh growl.
"Alright, see you at home Jim. I like that, home." She mused as she walks away.
"Justin, I'm going to go very fast, and very high. If you scream in my ears, my very sensitive ears, I will drop you. On purpose." I say, growling. "Do you understand?"
He only nods.
"Good, now hold on, tight."
I run out of the cavern at the base of the stairs, I use a large crystal formation to vault myself toward the wall and cling to the small indents and protruding rocks on the cavern wall and climb quickly to the ledge of my cave. All the while hearing Justin on my back, trying his hardest not to scream.
"Was that so bad?" I ask, bending down so he can reach the floor.
"Yes, you went like 0-100 in five seconds then climbed a wall that's nearly flat, and scaled it like it was nothing. That shouldn't even be possible. Especially not with me on your back. And honestly you shouldn't be possible." He steams, partaily shaking. He takes of my jacket and hands it back to me.
"Would you like an apology?"
"No, I… I'm just stating the facts." He says, folding his arms.
"I know someone you would get along with very well." I say, keeping Eli in mind. "Well, anyways, we're here. Welcome to my cave." I lead him inside.
Justin stops in the middle of the room, starting at the cabinetry and appliances.
"So much for filthy, dark and smelly," I say.
"What no bones?" Justin says, barely grinning.
"I dare say that you made a joke," I laugh. "No, no bones. Although, there is an occasional troll."
"What?!" He shrieks "You never said anything about trolls in your little 'sleepover agenda'" He does air quotes.
"I told you, that you would meet some of my friends, You've met Claire, but she's the only human friend I have on this side of the continent. The rest are trolls or changelings." I say.
"Then what are you?" He asks, cautiously.
Before I answer I'm interrupted by a small green fuzzball.
"Oi, why'd you keep bringin in more ev these flesh bags?" NotEnrique says, jumping up on my shoulders to sit in between my horns. Justin jumps back, and runs around behind the counter.
"What is that thing?!" He yelps.
"Oi, I'm not a thing! I'ma changeling. Why, you scared?" He says, causing Justin to lower behind the counter.
"That's enough, NotEnrique. What are you doing this far up anyways?" I ask.
"Big sis told me y'all was avin a party. I haven't had any fun on this trip trip so far, so I thought I'd join ya. Whatcha cookin?"
"Nothing yet, I don't have any pots or pans or anything to cook with. Think you could help me out?" I look up at him hanging onto my horns.
"You need somethin' I'm your guy. I'll be back." He jumps down, and starts crawling toward the entrance.
"Hey, tell blink and ARRRGGG! to come up if they get a minute. I have someone for them to meet. And to ask what to do with."
"Ohh… I get it, because he spotted you without the mask. Why you gotta be so reckless all the time?"
"It was not my fault, he was supposed to have gone home." I growl in his direction. "Anyway, NotEnrique, Justin. Justin, NotEnrique."
"Nice to meet you fleshbag." NotEnrique salutes him then runs out the door.
"Stop cowering, would you? No one is going to hurt you. And if they try, I'll stop them." I say.
"I don't get you. On second you're growling at me, the next you say you'll protect me. What gives?" he comes around the counter and leans against it.
"Force of habit and instinct."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Back to your earlier question, of 'What am I'."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"Everything," I raise an eyebrow at him, smiling through my teeth. Just as Claire walks in with an stack of old dusty blankets bigger than herself.
"Hey boys, whatcha talking about." Claire asks.
"Oh, you know, he asked me why I growl then tell him he's safe with me. And that all goes back to what I am." I say.
"Oh. well, that's not touchy at all," she says sarcastically.
"Yeah, but if he's gonna know…"
"Well don't let me stop you, I'm just going to set up some makeshift beds in the other room."
I lower to a comfortable crouch, resting my arms on my legs. And seigh/growl while pulling my hand down my face.
"So, what are you?" Justin asks.
"I'm a half-troll. I'm half human. And I'm the Trollhunter. Not that that title means much to you."
"Half human? I… have a hard time believing that."
"I still have a hard time believing I'm half troll, so I get that. But, here I am, no longer human."
"Wait, you were human once? Like all the way? 100% human?"
I nod.
"What happened?"
"Ummm, the end of the world and a wizard with poor social etiquette."
"What?" He laughs.
"Let's just say, desperate times call for desperate measures."
"So… how did you… end up like… that?" He gestures to all of me.
"A creepy magic potion."
"Alright, so the Trollhunter bit?"
"You said you saw me in my armor?"
He nods. "Yeah, where did that go?"
I pull out the amulet, and toss it to him.
"That, is the Amulet of Merlin. It gives me the armor and stuff."
"Woah, this is really cool." He runs his fingers across the dials.
"All done, makeshift beds are made. You boys done talking about Jim's transformation." Claire walks in.
"I wanna see it." Justin says.
"The beds? They're not that impressive." She says.
"No, Jim's armor."
Claire looks at me, noding for me to show him. "Why do you encourage this?" I say standing up.
"It's my only form of entertainment." she smiles.
I moan, but indulge them. Focusing on the amulet, I summon it out of Justin's hands, and into mine. And wordlessly sumon the armor.
"Woah!" he shouts.
I call Dusk to my hand, and spin it around with skill. Then dismiss the armor.
"You enjoyed that too much," Claire says. "So what's for dinner?"
"Nothing until your brother gets back with some cookware."
"Wait! That thing, uh NotEnrique, is your brother? I thought you were human!" He screams.
"Grahh" I growl. "Is it possible for you to stop doing that?"
"No, I'm human. He is just like my brother. And yeah, stop screaming, I don't have super hearing, and it still hurts my ears."
"Sorry. You still haven't told me why you do that."
"Do what?" I ground out, rubbing my ears.
"Growl, and snarl, and that sitting thing. It looks so uncomfortable."
I slouch down to my position. "Like this?" I sit on my heels only the balls of my feet touching to floor. My back is hunched and my hands are used as balance or if I need to crawl.
"Yeah, wouldn't your feet and legs hurt or get tired?"
"No, this is actually more comfortable then sitting or standing. I sit like this when I'm relaxed or comfortable. And the growling is something I can't stop, it just comes out sometimes, I can control it when I need to though, mostly."
"Oh, like back at the police station?" he asks.
"Yeah, I let a few slip on accident."
"Haha, you should have seen Dr, Cross' face…" He looks at Claire, laughing hard.
"I'm sorry I missed it." She says, and walks over to me. I grab her hand and pull her to sit on my thigh. She does but is a bit uncomfortable with it.
"So, Justin. Anymore questions?"
Post Authors Note: If you can't tell I have a thing for reveals. There will be more to come, but not anytime soon.
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