Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 8.1: Curse Getting Worse

"That was the Enchantress?" Jack scoffed as they walked through a foggy forest with leaf-stripped branches. "That abomination?"

"She did used to be really pretty," Eli said, "your mother."

"His mother?" Jett arched his brow.

"Oh, my goodness, you didn't tell him what your mother did to him?" Eli suddenly reached over and lifted the boy's shirt under his protests. "This is the curse of the Enchantress! I can tell because I'm a Seeker and we learn all about what it feels like to be near a cursed person, too."

Well, she's weird! Jett snatched his shirt away from her and moved away. "Then you didn't have to lift my shirt, wench!"

I touched his left side. Jack groaned.

"Yeah, she's a wench, be careful. She's also a little..." Jack put his finger to his nose and crossed his eyes. "You know," He leaned in and whispered, "crazy."

Eli stomped in front of them. "I hear you guys talking about me. I thought if I lost you, I'd find the next cursed person. And that was him. Found him like a magnet—"

Shit! Jett ran after her. "I was about to go help Jack and you suddenly—"

"Well, I thought I recognized that bag! A cursed Piet? Really? What, did your parents sell their souls?"

"Shut up!"

She's impossible. He would have killed her. Why didn't he kill her? Jett clenched his fists and began arguing back at Eli.

Jack groaned and pushed to walk in front of both of them. He couldn't deal with those two children. They were really like children. In fact, now that he thought about it, they might even be the same age. Now he was stuck with them in this strange place. But being here did nothing if he couldn't kill Norman. That was the whole point of coming here. Why did Norman have to use some sneaky method like gas? Was he trying to choke the daylights out of everyone?

He was. Probably was. Jack rubbed his nose and followed the path where it would take him.

Yes, follow the path. It's this way, I'm sure. Serena's excitement rippled through his body as if it were his own feelings.

So, if we get there, you can lift my curse?

I can. But not the—

Forget about the boy. I came for me. Not him. He just happened along. Once I can start focusing on my own thoughts, the better.

If that was the Enchantress, Jett was thinking, I have to kill her to lift my curse. Jack didn't know how the boy would do that without a weapon. The Enchantress didn't seem to have any magical powers, so Eli's boomerang might work. But her neck was half machine and even the sharpest blade couldn't cut through metal.

Jack thought to Serena. What about the Enchantress? Don't we have to kill her?

No, the magick is still strong there. I can be freed just being there. Then I can lift your curse and you can be off.

That sounded like a plan. Eli and Jett could go on their own chaotic adventure if they wanted to. He would be free of his curse, kill Norman, and then he would someone snag himself an airship, steal some cash, and be off. No one would miss him and soon, he would be forgotten. Maybe he could even start a new life somewhere and host a gallery or two. Or maybe become an aeronaut? Why not? It was his life. He could do whatever he wanted, and his thoughts would be his own.

* * *

With Serena's guide, Jack pushed through the gnarly forest, breaking dead branches, and plowing through undergrowth. He didn't pay attention to the arguing chaos behind him. Why were they even following him? If Jett wanted to kill the Enchantress so badly, why could he and Eli just go back there? They didn't have to see the freedom of Serena.