The Twelve Heroes: Finding Our Identity (Editing)

Magic Room (Edited)

Sophie’s P.O.V.

I know what you’re all thinking. Magic is fake. Magic is for fairy tales. Magic is for non-fiction stories. I know I’ve always thought that, but today I found out that Magic is real. And Magic is not something to be messed with, so be warned. If you don’t believe, suit yourself. I’m not the one (I hope) who is going to get killed for not believing.

After Phillip (I prefer calling him Phillip. It seems more formal) told us all he knew, I was positive that this wasn’t just some prank. I mean, I knew it wasn’t a prank after we got on that plane and took the horrible ride over here. But, I still didn’t believe anything like a god depositing their soul inside of you could happen until Phil told us with a straight face.

Austin and I were in my room discussing everything when I came up with a plan. Of course, I wouldn’t have come up with this plan if I didn’t see Ellie sneaking through the house, searching for answers. Ellie didn’t strike me as the sneaky type. She seemed like a quiet girl who stayed where she was supposed to stay all the time. Never judge a book by its cover. The quiet types are the murderers.

I told Austin my plan, which was to go the upper floors and search the rooms. If we didn’t find anything up there we would check the bottom floors. But before we went searching we would have to see where Phillip was because if we got caught, we’d be dead meat.

“Come on, Soph. We need to hurry up and do this before Phillip calls us to for dinner or something.” Austin headed out the door. I slung my bow and quiver of arrows over my shoulder and followed Austin out of the room.

“Remember we need to be careful.” I reminded him.

Austin looked irritated by me. He was my older brother by about four minutes so he liked to think that he was in charge of me. And he was. He was always watching out for me and protecting me.

We quietly snuck pass the living room where Phillip was lounging and headed into a secluded hallway.

“I think this is a good place to start.” I said.

Austin looked at me like I was crazy and I smiled. Maybe I was just a bit crazy.

A few doors were mottled but most of them looked brand new. I picked a door at random and headed over to it. It was locked, of course! I jiggled the door knob but it still wouldn’t open. Then I whispered, “ανοιχτό.” and the door opened.

“How did you do that?” Austin asked.

“Do what?” I was oblivious to the fact that I spoke a different language.

“You just spoke in a different language!” Austin said incredulously.

“No I didn’t! Austin let’s just find out what’s in here.” I walked into the room and stopped, causing Austin to bump into me.

“What’s wrong?” Austin asked.

“Look.” I said simply.

We had entered a room that seemed far too large to be in the mansion that looked so small on the outside. My mouth was agape. The room looked so simple but so complex at the same time.

“It’s a…” I tried making my mouth work.

“A gigantic museum.” Austin finished my sentence.

I walked to the closest artifact and looked at it in awe. It looked like a horn from some kind of animal.

“This may be a museum, but it’s not filled with boring artifacts.” I said while inspecting the tusk.

Then I figured out what animal the horn was from. It was a horn from a Minotaur. I only knew this because I read the Percy Jackson series and researched all the beasts mentioned in it. I traced my finger down the side of it and then looked at Austin.

“Soph, I think we should go.” Austin said cautiously.

“Why? We just got here and I haven’t gotten to see everything!”I complained.

“Soph, look ahead of you. I don’t need a book to tell me that that spells trouble. Since I don’t have a weapon right now, you’ll have to fight it.” Austin slowly inched away, heading towards the door.

I looked in front of me and screamed. It was the most hideous creature I’ve ever seen. Judging from the wings and woman’s body, it was a harpy.

“What do you want from us?” I asked, drawing my bow and arrow.

“Get out! Get out now! You must go!” It screeched.

“Come on, Sophie! I’d listen to that bird thing if I were you!” Austin pulled me away from the harpy.

I notched my arrow and released it. It shot through the air and hit the harpy’s wing.

“You are doomed!” The harpy lunged at me and I quickly dived out of the way.

Austin grabbed my arm and yanked me against the wall. I was breathing heavily. I shot another arrow at the harpy, hitting it in the wing.

“Maybe we should go.” I whispered to Austin.

We sprinted to the door but the harpy got to us before we got to the door. It grabbed my right arm and made a deep, long gash. I cried in pain and clutched my arm. The harpy laughed and then the door flew open and Phillip came in. Just the man I didn't want to see.