Opposites: The Staff of Light [Book One]

5. Alice Becomes an Owl

Annabeth

I’m so dead. Yeah, critically, it was my fault. Everything was my fault. Well, if Alice and her friends weren’t actually talking about me, I never should’ve strangled my twin sister.

Dearest parents, I am very sorry but I will not follow your orders.  I can’t stop hating my sister because everything about her is really about what I hate. 

Now, look. I lost one of the greatest things I love to do: researching. 

Ugh! That was too harsh! But I shouldn't complain. It's best if I really shouldn't complain. They might hear me and then boom! My books are toppled into the chimney. I'll never forgive myself if ever my books were also banned.

"No!" I heard Alice shout at Alex from the other room. I think they were having a deep conversation. Or.. should I say, argument? 

"I wish they could just minimize their voices..." I murmured to myself, staring out the window. "Sheesh, that could be real helpful". My head rested on my palms, my elbows placed on the window sill. 

Suddenly, a brown owl as brown as my eyes, opened the windows by its talons, which made me fall on the floor by the strong winds of the snow and it sat on my sill. Combust. His name was Combust and he's my pet. I let him go out into the forests and com back whenever he likes. 

"Combust!" I cried, getting up and closed the windows. I was ever so happy to see him. "It's been  while". I sat down on the floor in front of him. 

I couldn't understand him but he does talk to my mind for some reason. I didn't know why. Is it because I have hair with the color same as his? Is it because he's an owl? I didn't know what else he was capable of but I didn't mind the other factors. I had my attention on the owl and that was it. 

He started talking in this voice in my head. "Annabeth, my darling it's been so long! I told you I would come back!"

"I've always believed you, and I doubted, Combust. So, how are things going?"

"Things are going great! But, there is one thing I had to tell you..."

"What?" Fear took the most of me. 

"Oh, yes. The message was... the message was... umm... I think I've forgot already..."

Great. 

"Let me think", Combust continued, but for the first time, I doubted he'd remember. If he ever remembered, that would happen when I'd run out of the streets naked. Which will never happen.

He ran inside with his little talons and jumped up my bed. Well, this is the most extraordinary owl I've ever seen. Birds usually fly but this thing usually walks. How cool is that?

I sat down beside him and gave him a lot of time to think but nothing seemed to help him. With the time I gave him, I think I already finished a book or even a novel. Probably a series. 

 "So?" I asked impatiently. 

"Hold on, I think I remembered", he said. "And then I forgot again..."

I sighed. "Does it include me?"

"I think so. In the first place, why would I even be delivering a message if you weren't included, hmm?"

I guess Combust is right, I said to myself. That was a really dumb question to ask. Why did I even say that? Only an idiot would ask that question...

"So, my question, now... When will you remember, then?" I asked, impatient to know. 

He sighed. "I don't know".