The DollMaker Returns

Chapter 23: The Start of Mason's Transformation

  "We have got to move fast." Caleb pushed. "Mason's started turning into a doll and we don't have any of the ingredients yet." Jackson agreed. "Gloria has given me a riddle to solve." Gavin mumbled, slowly.

  "Really?" Jackson asked. "What did she say?" "Yeah." Caleb agreed. "What was the riddle?" Gavin scrunched his eyebrows. "It was something to do with a vase and a ballroom and whatever building this room is in is where we'll find the next riddle." "I think I know where you're talking about." Rachel said. "Follow me."

  The group followed Rachel to the ballroom inside hers and Caleb's castle home. "Why are we in here Rachel?" Jackson asked. "There are multiple vases in here and this is a ballroom." Rachel explained. "So I guess it depends on what's inside the vase." Gavin scrunched his eyebrows again. "I think it was some kind of flower that was inside the vase." He mumbled. "I can't really remember though." 

  "Don't hurt or tire yourself out Gavin." Phil warned. "I'm fine Phil." Gavin replied. "It's just hard to access those memories for some reason, that's all. Nothing I can't handle." "Are you sure about that Gavin?" Amelia asked. "We could have Daniela, Shadow, or Coco hypnotize you to get to those memories if we need to." "Trust me, as good as that sounds, I'll have to pass." Gavin responded. "I would probably enjoy that, but I don't really want to lose my control over myself right now." Neither do I Gavin. I enjoy having you sane and in control when I'm stressing like this.

  "You will never find the clue!" Mason yelled. "The DollMaker will win and there's nothing you can do about it!" "And I think you're possessed." Lisa commented. "The Master would do no such thing to one's soul or physical being." Mason disagreed.

  "Why is he black and white like a shadow kid?" Jackson hissed. "I don't know." Rachel replied. "Maybe it's part of the transformation he's going through that we need to stop." "What, so his doll is black and white?" Jackson asked. "How does that work?!"

  Rachel cupped his face. Her eyes became irresistable. He couldn't look away, even if he wanted to. Which he didn't. The colors were simply too pretty. "Calm down Jack." She whispered. "You're being unreasonable." She was right. "Just calm down and relax. Everything will make sense in the morning. I promise."

  Jackson groaned. "You're right. I was being so unreasonable." "Rachel, now is not the time for hypnosis!" Caleb protested. "Don't tell her what to do!" Jackson yelled. Rachel gently cupped his face again, bringing him back into her safe and soothing embrace. "Relax Jack." She instructed. "You just need to sleep right now." 

  "You're right Rachel." Jackson realized. "I just... need... to... s-sssleep....." His voice got weaker with each word that came out. "There we go." Came Rachel's soothing voice. "Just relax and sleep. I'll wake you up when we find the ingredient." With one final, massive yawn, Jackson's head lulled down to lay on the soft coil that was near. His body went limp inside the strong coils around his weak body, and his eyelids dropped closed. Slowly, his mind went silent so he could sleep inside the blissfully soft cocoon around his slim, yet slowly bulking body, which was going blissfully limp and still.

  "Well then, now that he's taken care of." Lisa said as Rachel finished the coil cocoon around her new werewolf captive. "Let's get to searching the vases with flowers in them." Rachel finished as the cradle stopped around Jackson's forehead, completely silencing his quieting mind.

  "You will never find the zombie blood on your own without my help!" Mason yelled. "The DollMaker always wins!" They searched the vases, but found nothing when Tom spoke up. "Guys, I think me and Phil found something worth looking at!" He said. "What did you two find?" Rachel asked. "I think it might be a riddle." Phil explained.

  "Do this and ye shall be punished." Mason spat. "Yeah, yeah, whatever mister doll." Beth replied, rolling her eyes.

  "Who wants to read it?" Caleb asked. "I'll read it." Anya responded. Phil handed her the piece of paper that he and Tom found inside the tulip vase. "What does it say Anya?" Anna asked. Anya looked at the paper. It said:

"Over in the river clear,
lies the treasure ye seeks.
Find the running water
near, the grand fountain
hold what ye shall find
where the treasure leaks."

  Anya glanced up after reading the riddle. "Running clear water?" Tom asked. "Where the treasure leaks? What's that supposed to mean?" "I guess we'll have to find out." Anna replied. Amelia swallowed hard. "I guess so."