Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 13.1: He was Of All Trades

"I'm Dr. Gray. And this has been calling for you." Dr. Gray handed him the stone. Jack took it without thinking and it warmed in his palm. Wiping his eyes, he stared at the stone's pulsating purple glow matching in time with the glow in his chest.

Dr. Gray sounded familiar. The name, the voice, the frazzled gray hair. And was he wearing a lab coat. The tails of the coat dragged in the water.

"This dragon's breath calls to you. The only one I took from the caves. Every time news came on about Knave Diamondo, it would pulsate in Morse Code. Find Jack. And you're Jack."

Jack combed his long hair out of his face. His own name weighed heavily on his shoulders. "I don't know who I am," he said.

"Jack Ogswold, Knave Diamondo, and now, Jack Plantagenet," Dr. Gray said.

"How do you know?" Why did everyone seem to know now? It had been his secret and it felt like the entire world knew about his past.

Dr. Gray's eyes crinkled, and he pointed to the stone. "It was bound to you at birth, sire."

"My mother did it?"

"Mm. I was there. Queen Mary C. Plantagenet. No one ever knew what the C. stood for." He chuckled.

Jack grabbed Dr. Gray's shoulders. "What did you just say? Queen who?"

"Mary C. Plantagenet. Although when the king was enchanted by the Enchantress, she was forced into exile."

"And after that?"

Dr. Gray straightened his lab coat. "She found out that you and Jack Ogswold were switching places. She tried to curse Jack Ogswold. Didn't know by then there was only one boy with that name. Meaning, after you killed him."

"You're telling the truth?"

"Indeed. Here," Dr. Gray rustled in his pocket and took out a slip of paper, "I visited her in her cell before her death. She gave this to me."

It was his birth certificate. Jack Plantagenet under Mary C. Plantagenet and Anthony Plantagenet, the current king. He sat back and realized with a jolt what Serena had done. But most of all, that he had fallen for it and so easily!

He let out a string of curses. "She lied to me. Dungs and apples, I fell for it." He couldn't believe it. How did he not have a moment of doubt? Was he that keen on getting rid of his curse? And it was true. Mary C. did curse him by mistake. She was supposed to curse peasant Jack!

"Dungshit!" He hissed through his teeth. The screech of a dragon reached his ears.

"What are you going to do?"

Jack looked at Dr. Gray. Not even in a million years would he have imagined that crazed Dr. Gray from the screen would be someone that would straighten him out. Anger boiled in his chest and almost crumpled up the paper. He handed it back to Dr. Gray. What did he want to do?

"But what can I do?" He hung his head between his legs. "I don't even know who I am."

"Who do you want to be?"

Dr. Gray smiled. "My real name is Gray Barry. But I can tell people I'm Dr. Gray. It's like my alias. When I'm Dr. Gray, I'm a little too obsessed with the myths and legends surrounding dragon's breath, Dragon's Wood, and dragon's tears. When I'm just Gray Barry," He glanced up at the sky as the sound of beating wings neared, "I'd rather sit around and dream of a world where dragons aren't controlled by an evil Enchantress. But those parts make up who I am. I think you need to ask yourself, Mister Identity Crisis, who are you?"

"Are you a wise old man?" Jack gave a dry laugh.

"That's another one." Gray winked.

Who am I? Jack wondered. Jack Ogswold was the charismatic, sometimes jerk who always got what he wanted. He was so ambitious. Knave Diamondo was the ruthless killer. He was a master using his feet, kicking his foe to death. He was also good with the knife and enjoyed the thrill.

And Jack Plantagenet is the kind one. Can't leave it alone. Just leave Eli and Jett in the gassed Enchantress' cave? No. I had to. I didn't even think. He gave a light chuckle and rubbed his face. It had always been there. All his sides. And with Eli, somehow, he wasn't either one.

"We can't stay here forever. I have a little house not too far from here. Come along," Gray said and stood.

"So, it's possible?"

Gray cocked his head.

"To save them? Eli and Jett?"

Gray grinned. "I don't know who Eli and Jett are, but yes, there is a way to stop the Enchantress. Did you figure out who you are? Why don't we talk more at my house?" He disappeared around a corner.

Of all the things to happen to him in one day, Jack realized for the first time that all the little selves that made up who he was were always with him. He'd always been one person. And now, deep in his core, he knew who he was. It was the name he had been calling himself for years.

"I'm Jack Of All Trades," he mumbled under his breath. It was the stupidest last name that ever existed. "How about, Jack Ovaultrades?" A weight lifted from his shoulders. Laughter bubbled up his chest. He chuckled to himself. What a day it had been. When he stood, his head reeled, and he fell to his knees. A sudden wave of exhaustion overcame him.

His vision blurred. Jack stumbled a few steps. Gray came back for him. A purple light shone around. An extra pair of hands picked him up. Purple eyes shone in the dark and Jack smiled in the face of uncertainty, because he knew who he was. Then, he slipped into unconsciousness.