The Forest Chronicles

Chapter 6

Jason gasped. Alexander squealed. "I can't believe it!" he said, his voice echoing through the cobweb-filled, yet clean but not so much, mansion. Victoria was kneeling beside the oily machine. "I heard that you were a witch! Is that true?" Alexander was spitting out question after question with odd speed; he had no intention of pausing, even for air. "Do you know spells? Do you make potions?" Jason was bent over, picking up the glass shards from the old vile. The shards had a faint green tint on them, but the glass itself wasn't made coloured. "What's that machine do? Did you make it? How long did it take you to make it?"

Now Jason had a small handful of glass shards. Now Alexander finally stopped talking. "Yes. Yes. Occasionally. Mechanical knight. Yes. 8 years." Victoria replied. Jason closed his right hand, unaware that the hand he decided to close was the hand that held the glass. Jason flinched; the glass shards that were injected into his skin fell to the ground. "Ow!" He grabbed his hand, and stumbled then tripped. A loud chime from a clock echoed through Jason's mind.

He looked over to his friend. Alexander was crouching, half-way standing, half-way sitting. His mouth was open with a smile, as if he was going to speak, but he didn't say anything. Time seemed to...stop. "Descendant!" Victoria yelled, she quickly ran to be at Jason's side. "You are so incompetent!" Victoria sighed and face-palmed. "What..?" Jason mumbled. The glass was pushed farther into his skin. "Gods!" Victoria rolled her eyes. "Benjamin!" She yelled.

As if on command, Benjamin bust through the double doors. "I got the Dust Blood- What in the heavens happened, my lady?" Benjamin walked towards the confused Jason. "The descendant was cleaning glass and was cut," Victoria said, sharply Benjamin nodded. "Stay with him while I go get the supplies." Victoria stood up. Now it was just Benjamin and Jason.

"What's dust blood?" Jason asked, recalling what Benjamin had said when he had first arrived. Benjamin's pale face filled with crimson. "Dust Blood," he paused. "Is blood from the Dust Creatures." Jason gasped. Dust Creatures were servants of Kei, Jason's great grandmother. Dust Creatures were giant, blood-thirsty beings. All they do is kill for Kei and the other gods, including Kaikos. "How would you get some?" Jason rambled on. "How- Why-Why would Victoria want the blood?" Jason's voice shrunk to a whisper.

Benjamin held Jason's hand, adding pressure. "Lady Knolas, my master, needs it for her machine. It is an oil substitute." Jason raised an eyebrow. "You mean that thing?" Jason pointed to the big machine in front of the frozen Alexander. Benjamin nodded, sadly. "The Shivering Knight of Knolas." Knolas? "You mean 'of Knolas manor.' Right?" Benjamin shook his head. "Knolas was a kingdom. Long, long ago. It all fell apart when I was young."

What? Young? Benjamin looked 15, just like Jason and Alexander. "Young? A-Are you, like, ancient?" Benjamin blushed more. "No, no! Heavens no! Well," He sighed. "I'm neither young nor old." Jason was even more confused by the entire situation. "You see, Jason, I am not a human, nor nymph, shapeshifter, demigod. I am a-"

"Vampire! You aren't adding the correct amount of pressure to his hand. Are you trying to kill him?" Victoria was back, Benjamin was nervous, Alexander was frozen in time, and Jason was a mix of scared, worried, and curious. "You're a vampire?!" Jason yelled. Victoria pulled her goggles to her eyes, sitting on Jason's right side. "No. Benjamin is a Dust Creature." If Jason could have seen Victoria's eyes she most likely would have rolled them.

Now, Jason was shaking slightly. "Descendant. Stop moving."

"He can't help it, Victoria."

"Excuse me?" Victoria asked, her grip on Jason's arm tightening. "I am not 'Victoria ' to you." Jason winced. "Please, be careful. I have literal glass in my hand, right now." Benjamin chuckled. "Shut up, vampire." Victoria squeezed Jason's arm. "Holy Shka!" Benjamin stopped laughing and started wheezing. "Don't use his name in vain!"

Jason pulled his arm back. "If you're only going to cause pain instead of heal me, I'm- I'm going to leave!" Jason tried to stand, but he failed. So, he stayed sitting. "It is better if you simply sit still." Victoria said. She was holding something: a dagger. "Don't let her stab me!" Jason screamed. "She won't. Well, there's a chance."

"What?!"

"She won't now." Benjamin rolled his eyes. Jason closed his eyes tightly. He was ready for horrific pain, but he didn't feel anything. Oh, she hasn't started stabbing me yet, Jason though. "When are you going to stab me?" Jason finally asked. "Open your gods-dang eyes." Victoria said, sharply. Jason wearily opened his eyes. The glass was on a small white cloth at his right side, which was next to Victoria. "I don't stab people who have been hurt." Jason sighed with relief. "I wait until they're better and unexpecting."

That didn't make him feel better. "Can we unfreeze time, my Lady?" Benjamin asked. Victoria snapped her fingers. Alexander stood up, but because of the change of time, Kronosion exchange Victoria called it, he fell. Victoria was already walking towards the weird 'Shivering Knight of Knolas,' so she was able to catch the falling Alexander. Victoria held her breath. "Oh, uh, so I guess I fell for you, huh?" Alexander smirked. "Get off me, you creep." Victoria covered the rest of her face with her hands. She was most likely blushing. But who knows? Oh, right. I do.

"Young love," said Benjamin. "Fine then," Victoria said. "I'll just simply stop making the sun potion." Benjamin gasped. "Please, my lady! I need to go out into the sun!" Victoria sighed, now sitting in front of the machine. "Fine." She said, She didn't sound mad. She sounded....happy. Happy like a little girl spending time with her older brother. "Benjamin," Victoria moved her hand to a group of tools, searching for something only using her hands. "You look too pale, go to your room for more sun potion."

It seemed she didn't find whatever it was that she was looking for. Jason sighed and stood up. "Woo! It feels good to finally stand up!" Jason grinned. He looked over to Alexander. Jason chuckled, he put his hand on Benjamin's shoulder. "Benjamin, look!" He whispered. "Hm?" Alexander was holding an iron hammer. "This?" Victoria looked to Alexander. "Yes." She said, holding her hand out. Alexander put the hammer in her hand, their fingers brushed against each other for a split second.

Jason burst out laughing. "This is pure entertainment!" Benjamin nodded, giggling. "You realise I hate him, right?" Victoria was back to being ticked off.