The Huntress: The Phoenix

Getting stabbed with a pencil

Can't we have a family meeting without anyone trying to kill us? I hated these things. Liam once told me what they are called but my tongue twisted trying to pronounce it. What were they again? Ah yes, Tariaskuq. They were humanoid creatures that were associated with shadows, invisibility and obscurity. And this was not our first encounter with them. And yes, that didn't sound good, I agree with you. Especially when one of them lunged towards me. I was still frozen on my spot. Luckily, Liam was fast enough to slash it with his spatha. "Go!" he yelled. "I'm not leaving you behind," I said as I loaded an arrow and aimed it and Tariaskuq but it quickly blended within the shadows. Olivia unsheathed her dagger and threw it at the wall where the Tariaskuq hid. It cried out in pain. It sounded like a human shrieking but at the same time it sounded like a wolf howling. She quickly pulled the dagger out and faced us. "I think we all need to go. Right now!" Olivia commanded, and everyone did as she ordered. Dad ran out first then I followed. I turned around to see if Bellamy was behind us. I forgot that he also used a bow and arrow. He had a bow in his hand and shot one of the Tariaskuq before gaining onto us. I looked ahead trying not to trip on anything. And trust me, it had happened before. Really embarassing. My little sister, Phoebe, laughed at me the entire week. I looked at Bellamy who was beside me. "Any clue as to where we're going?" I asked. "Well we're going in the wrong direction. That's for sure," he retorted. "Stop!" Olivia shouted and we all stopped abruptly. Olivia was sure bossy today. "I think we lost them," she said. "How did they know we were leaving today?" Liam asked, side glancing at Bellamy. I elbowed him hard at his stomach. "Ow!" he winced in pain. "Well either way, they were going to find us sooner or later," Olivia pointed out. I looked at Dad's direction. "Don't worry about me, kiddo. I could always go back to Phoebe and your mom," he smiled. I ran up to him and hugged him. "But be safe," I said. But how will you get back?" I asked, breaking the hug. "I have my ways," he winked. I turned over and looked at Bellamy. "Well, show us the way, Captain."
I joked, causing Bellamy to let out a chuckle. He led the way while we followed behind but I was distracted. I looked back and saw Dad walking in the direction of the camp. Maybe he was going to get help there but how? He can't go up to Samantha and say, "Hi. Can you help me? I was attacked by shadows trying to protect my daughter in the woods." He could get probably five restraining orders. Then I felt fingers intertwine with mine. I looked up and saw Liam. "He's gonna be fine. Promise," he reassured me as he kissed my temple. I squeezed his hand and smiled.

"How much longer? My legs are starting to hurt," I whined as we walked up the road leading to God knows where. "A lot longer," Bellamy groaned. "Do you even know where we're going?" Liam asked. Bellamy stopped and turned to face us. "No but I don't mind if you lead," he responded with pure sarcasm. Liam mumbled something under his breath which I think was inappropriate. "Can everyone just calm down. We have a lot to do in such little time," Oliver said, rubbing her temples. I also felt a headache coming on but it wasn't from the boys. The voice I kept on hearing, it was quite annoying. It would either whisper something or yell it in my head. And most of the time, I could never understand what it's saying. "You okay?" Bellamy asked, snapping me out. I pursed my lips and nodded. "So you know how to get us to our destination or not?" I asked. It was starting to get dark and we couldn't keep on walking not knowing where we're going or who was following us in the shadows. Bellamy scratched the back of his head and sighed in response. "Sorta," he said. My eyes widened and Olivia sighed. I quickly glanced at Liam, who wore a proud smug on his face. I frowned and nudged him with my elbow really hard right under his ribs. He winced in pain. Seemed as if that's how I had to tame him from saying something dumb. "What do you mean 'sorta'?" Olivia asked the question we were all wondering.  "I said I know where it's located. I didn't say I know how to find the location," he answered. I guess that was something we should've asked before we left. 'Yeah, have some time to ask him while having tea with the Tariaskuq,' the voice said. I started to rub my temples. I felt a hand on my own hand and started to rub my knuckles in circles. I looked up and saw Liam smiling warmly. I smiled back and then turned to Bellamy's direction. "So-," Bellamy cut me off before I could continue, "-what's the plan? Well, there's a powerful being who lives not so far from here. In the city, if I remember correctl. She doesn't technically live there but you get the drift," he said. We all looked at him with confused expressions. He rolled his eyes. "Her name is Ansuya. Ever heard of her? Oh wait. Yeah, I've heard of her, or mostly likely read about her. She's associated with knowledge. I think she keeps record of everything that happens, right?" I asked, knowing very well that I knew I was right. I just wanted to show off that I know my stuff. Bellamy responded with a smirk. "But how will that help us?" I asked. Bellamy then frowned. "You tried I guess. We'll get the map from her but it will be hard, trust me. I just hope you guys are good with riddles as you are with your fighting skills," he said as his back faced us and kept on walking. I was still trying to process if we should take that as a compliment or as an insult. "How are we going to get there? Are we gonna have to ride some mythical beast? Of slay it? Or is the beast going to ask us riddles and solve it then slay it?" I asked. Everyone gave me a concerning look probably thinking if they should take me to an asylum before continuing with the mission. Poor Liam and Olivia, they have to deal with me all day everyday. "What? I don't even know how to respond to that. We're gonna get there like any normal human being would. We're gonna take the bus there."

The bus trip was, well you guessed it, boring. The woman on my left kept on sneezing on my arm. She would apologise but after some time, I think she was doing it on purpose. The bus came to a halt and I quickly stood up and ran out, tripping over a few bags in the way. "Fresh air at least!" I breathed in with my hands stretched out. Then I remembered the woman who kept on sneezing on me and wiped my arm on a nearby lamppost. "Again, I apologise dear," said the woman, now behind me. I removed my arm from the lamppost and smiled at the woman. I couldn't get a clear view of her in the bus, maybe it was because I didn't want to look at her, but she looked adorable. She looked elderly but she didn't have a lot of wrinkles. Her hair was silver due to old age. She had thin lips and bags under her eyes. Maybe she never got enough sleep. And man did she love the colour pink. Pink sandals, pink skirt and shirt, including her lipstick which stood out. "It's fine. Don't worry about it," I waved it off. She smiled as she made her way to the library. "Wow, thanks for waiting for us," Bellamy said with pure sarcasm. That boy and sarcasm, I swear. "Now what?" I shrugged. Bellamy kept quiet and pushed the doors of the library. He stood by the doors, waiting for us to go in. "What a gentleman. Liam, take notes," Olivia teased as she lead the way. Liam grumbled something before following her. "Coming or are you going to stand with your new friend?" Bellamy pointed at the lamppost. I rolled my eyes and walked in. That library was huge. Cool air smacked me in my face. The books were nearly put in the shelves and it was super silent as if there's no one there. The books were nearly put in the shelves and it was super silent as if there's no one there. Bellamy nudged me and pointed to the front desk. There, I saw a lady who looked like in her early twenties who wore a blue long sleeved cashmere sweater and a pencil skirt. Her silver hair looked metallic but I couldn't tell how long it was because she tied it with pencils. She wore cat-eyed glasses that had a transparent frame. I looked around and saw no sign of Liam or Olivia anywhere. We walked to the front desk and the lady looked up from the book she was reading and smiled. "How may I be of assistance?" she asked, her purple eyes glistening. "Oh I uhmmm...," I looked at Bellamy for backup but he just smirked at me. He did this on purpose. I glared at him but as soon as I was about to cuss him the lady disturbed us. "Hold on," she squinted her eyes and readjusted her glasses, looking in Bellamy's direction, "Bellamy Collymore? What in the Helheim are you doing here?" She asked, now glaring at the boy. The smirk faded from his face, couldn't say I wasn't happy but, what the heck, I was happy to the point I almost laughed at him. But a thought quickly popped up in my mind. How does this librarian know Bellamy? "And I'm assuming you brought her here because you need the map to the Land Der Verlorenen Seelen , am I correct?" I stood there scratching my head trying to process what she said. "I think you're mistaken. We actually-," I felt something cut my cheek. I cupped it and turned around. I saw a pencil on the floor not so far from me. My eyes widened. How could a pencil do that? I turned around and saw a pencil was missing from the librarian's hair. Bellamy placed his fingers under my chin and turned my head to face him. He removed my hand to look at the cut. "Why'd you do that?" he growled at the librarian but still looking at me. "Collymore, you know I don't like be told I'm wrong. I didn't aim for her eye because I like her," she shrugged. As if those words made anything better. "Thing is, Levesque, no one needs to hear about this. Everyone working with the Dark lord is out and about. They try to attack, even kill you if he doesn't want you dead yet." The librarian explained. "Who is he?" I asked. "Before I tell you that, you still need to learn about your capabilities. What you need to do. The reason you were born. Your destiny, Blaire Levesque. It's time."