The Twin Legacy: the Shadows of Dusk

Chapter Six

A swirl of black covered Artemis, not allowing her to scream. She shook and tried to bite the darkness but it did not work as it was as transparent as smoke. She'd heard her name called out by two different distinct voices. Artemis snaked her hand down to her wand and mumbled out, "Lumos!" A flash of bright light glowed, making the darkness drop her.

"Artemis!" yelled a familiar voice.

"Over here!" Artemis answered.

Apollo and Alex appeared around the corner. It appeared as they were at the entrance hall, almost to the door. In Apollo's peripheral vision, he saw the smoke of darkness slither into the shadows. Alex rushed to Artemis' side, who had been breathing unevenly.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" Alex exclaimed.

"I have no idea" Apollo started at the shadows in the corner.

"Ow ow ow. My ankle and arm, they hurt. And so does my head." Artemis whined.

A reddish bump started to appear on the top of her head. Her ankle also didn't look too pretty.

"It's probably not broken but let's get you to the hospital wing" Apollo took a look at her arm and head.

Alex and Apollo helped Artemis up, and they rushed to the hospital wing. As they walked past the corridors, they heard low grunts and a foul stench flared up their nostrils.

"Hermione!" two voices belated out.

The two voices belonged to Harry and Ron. They ran to a door and entered it, releasing the foul smell once again. The trio wanted to ignore it but they couldn't. Alex and Apollo helped Artemis on the ground and went to follow Harry and Ron.

"I want to help!" called out Artemis.

"No, you stay here! You're injured. You'll be no use" Apollo replied.

Artemis wobbled herself up and limped towards the girl's bathroom. She peaked inside and a twelve foot lumpy body troll stood there with a wooden club. Hermione was shriveled up against the wall, with a face full of true fear.

"Confuse it!" Harry said desperately to the boys.

The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It was looking around to see what made noise. He noticed the group of boys, hesitated but then decided to go for him, lifting his club.

"Oy, pea-brain!" yelled Ron as Apollo threw a metal pipe at him, hitting his shoulder.

Artemis froze in fear and wobbled against the door. After a few grunts, yells, and crashes, a final crash bellowed down the corridors.

"Is it — dead?" Artemis heard Hermione say.

"I don't think so," said Alex, "I think it's just been knocked out."

A rush of loud footsteps rushed past Artemis, not noticing her at all.

"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall with such anger in her voice, "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"

Before Apollo could speak out, Hermione appeared from the shadows.

"Please, Professor McGonagall — they were looking for me, well at least Ron and Harry were."

"Miss Granger!"

"I went looking for the troll because I — I thought I could deal with it on my own — you know, because I've read all about them. If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead by now. Alex and Apollo distracted him, Harry stuck his wand up his nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."