The Half-Blood Giant

Chapter 4: Seeking Help

Chester must have fallen asleep himself, because before he knew it he felt a light, feathery touch caressing his cheek. He opened his eyes groggily to see Jackie. She was serious, but she didn't seem angry anymore.

"Chester," she said, her tone soft with understanding. "How long were you suffering with your cravings?"

"A-a while. A few weeks at least," he admitted. He tensed up with frustration. "I'm so ashamed of myself. I wish I wasn't like this." He hugged himself with his arms and averted his gaze. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave me."

"No, no," Jackie replied firmly. "I've stayed with you since the beginning, haven't I? We can get through this together. But you have to be open with me and tell me when you're having a hard time, so we can tackle it together, okay? We're a team."

"Right," the giant agreed. He pondered for a moment. "But Jackie... I don't think this is something I can handle on my own, or even with you. I need help. Professional help."

"Like a therapist?" she inquired.

Chester nodded. "However... I don't think it's a good idea to go to one. I can't let anyone else know that you or the baby are here. If I tell another giant I'm having problems, suspicions will inevitably be raised. It's too dangerous. Besides..." He sighed. "It's not like giants around here see eating humans as a problem."

"Hm," Jackie huffed. She lapsed into silence, stroking her chin. Her eyes lit up with an idea. "I know what we can do." Chester looked at her inquisitively. "My portals. I found another world, with humans and giants living in it. Maybe you could travel there and seek help."

"That's... not a bad idea, actually. But you can't use your magic, can you?" he pointed out.

"My lightning magic hasn't been significantly affected. Just my blood magic," Jackie elaborated. "I can make portals."

"Well, I suppose it's worth a shot." Chester was uncertain, but at this point he was willing to try anything.

"Just don't eat any humans while you're there," Jackie admonished sternly.

"I won't," Chester promised. "You want to go now?"

"Oh..." Jackie paled slightly. She still didn't trust other giants she didn't know, and her recent mishap with Chester was not filling her with confidence. "I should stay here with the baby. But I can make a portal for you. I feel rested enough."

Chester ensured that Jackie had everything she needed before she conjured the portal. They set a time for Chester to return, since he wouldn't have any way to contact Jackie from the other side. Jackie gave him a sliver of her magic-infused lapis lazuli stone, so she could sense him with its aura. She would be able to make small portals, like windows, to check in on him every so often, if needed.

Jackie had the wisdom to create a smaller portal in the floor, at Chester's feet, that he could hop into like a puddle, rather than struggle to make a gigantic portal that spanned his full height. The giant gave her a small wave and fearlessly jumped in. Jackie made sure he was unharmed before closing the portal. She rested and waited, reflecting on the events of the day.

She could forgive Chester's lapse in self-control, but the fact that he was struggling so much filled her with concern. She didn't fear for her own safety as much as his well-being. She had faith that he could overcome, yet she still worried about him, especially with him currently occupying an unexplored alternate dimension. She knew he was strong and could handle himself—he was a giant, after all.

Jackie was tempted to make a tiny portal to check on Chester, but she needed to save her magic to bring him back. She had spied on this world out of curiosity long enough to know he would be fine. The human and giant societies were not well-integrated, so she didn't think Chester would lose control and eat any humans. A colossal barrier separated the humans and giants, presumably for common-sense safety reasons. She wasn't sure how well Chester could navigate a foreign universe with more modern technology, but she had faith in his resourcefulness and intelligence. He was courageous, too, and Jackie admired him for that.