Jack Of All Trades ✓ | steampunk, dragons, trickery

Chapter 15.3: Jack Thought He Knew Margorie

"Oh, my baby ship," Gray was moaning as they floated to the ground. Scraggly treetops became visible. Hazel violently brushed them through the mangled branches that scraped against their skin.

"Let me go!" Jack struggled against the Lormink. Hazel dropped him in a bush, and he tumbled out onto the muddy ground as rain fell on him. Espin landed on the ground and turned into a man.

"Espin, what have you done?" Jack snapped. "Margorie!" he called for her through the rain, searching around for her golden hair. In this bleak place it should stand out.

Espin grabbed him by the collar. "She was trying to kill us!" he snarled.

Jack pushed him away, bristling. "How could you say that? She got us to the opening!"

"When the light flashed, she took the steer and turned it." Espin bared his fangs. "And I saw a tail."

Jack blinked flicking his hair and letting water splatter. "A tail? But you can't prove that."

"I sprained it," Gray moaned. "I can't move!"

"You killed her," Jack spat at Espin and went to help Gray.

"I didn't kill her. She's a human infused with dragon magick. Like the Enchantress."

That was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Well, lizard man, if she was half dragon how come you couldn't tell before?" Jack grabbed Gray's arm and pulled him up. Gray grunted and stumbled. He favored his right leg.

"Because we neared Dragon's Wood and the Enchantress was close. I think she's always been that way. She might be your half-sister, Plantagenet related, and probably infused a long time—"

"Shut up!" Jack yelled. Espin was being ridiculous. Infused with dragon magick? What was all this new stuff suddenly coming to light?

"I don't know where we are," Gray whined, "or the cave."

"I know where it is. At least, a cave," Espin said and began marching off into the forest. Jack held up Gray and glared at Espin. He couldn't trust that dragon fairy. Maybe all dragons were controlled somehow by the Enchantress. Maybe he shouldn't have let his guard down with Espin at all.

"I can't go without you. It's my duty to protect you." Espin crossed his arms, facing Jack.

"I don't trust—"

"Jack," Gray began, "I'm cold. Follow him please? This is his home. He knows it well."

I don't want to. Jack scowled. "Fine." He was soaked to the bone, shoes sloshed, and a shiver rain up his spine. The last time he was here, it was more or less the same deal. Why couldn't he just come here dry?

But before they could make another move, footsteps approached. Jack let Gray lean against a tree and drew his knife when he saw a glimpse of gold.

"Margorie!" he called.

"Shush, you bastard," Espin hissed.

"Jack!" came Margorie's call. A white light flashed before them, Espin cursed, and Jack rubbed his eyes, trying to see his sister and any threats that caused that. It wasn't lightning, happening so close like this. This was an attack. As his vision tried to come back and spots of black faded over the scene before him, he saw Margorie wearing her coat, standing before him. Behind, a black and silver scaly tail swished back and forth.

"You're not my sister," he said, rubbing his eyes, but his vision was dark. It was like it suddenly became night. Instead of struggling against the dark, he embraced it. He listened for footsteps and caught a wrist as the hand tried to grab him. A girl squealed.