The Force of Four Worlds

13 - Emuishere

Isabelle had some serious issues with her cabin mates. But to be honest I couldn't blame her, even if she had imprisoned me in a cat cage that smelt of burnt cheese.

Please don't ask me how I know what burnt cheese smells like.

Then, there was the portal. How did I know there was a portal? I don't know. I just know, you know? 13 years of magician's training at the best academy for magic in the world (excluding Hogwarts, of course) pays off.

Anyway, I was hurtling through the portal at the speed of light, trapped in a cage better suited for rabbits than fabulously amazing demigods named Emuishere Badawy. I heard a click somewhere and we landed. I went flying and, despite Isabelle's accounts, I did not scream or panic in the slightest. Ok, there may have been a little bit of yowling. A little.

Anyway, the latch to my cage had clicked open and I bounded out ready to kill that (expletive deleted). But she was staring at someone else.

"You look like me." She said it once. He did, the same golden-brown eyes and skin, and frizzy hair.

"Well, sort of. Would you possibly know why there are thousands of people fighting each other wth spears and shields?" He looked less astounded at her realisation.

But she only repeated herself: "You look like me." For several seconds he stood there, watching her, her watching him. "Sorry," she said and held her hand out. "Isabelle Morgenstern, daughter of Vulcan. I am currently shielded by the Mist, so I can only assume you are a demigod. Know your godly parent yet?"

The Mist? What in the Duat was that? And were there other demigods? I searched my brain, trying to place this new information somewhere. Vulcan. I had heard that before.

The boy looked equally stunned and puzzled. Then, Isabelle screamed.

A hellhound. I growled. I promptly forgot I was a small grey kitten, and the boy looked at me, even more confused. Poor thing. I suppose I made it worse by changing back into human form. I smiled apologetically at him, and slipped my pencils out of my pockets.

Those things were pretty cool. The way I found out I was a demigod, was when I was doing homework with a window open, and a cat started talking to me. I didn't believe it at first, but then it handed me the two pencils. They had prints of cats all over them - seriously Mum? - and when I sharpened them, they turned into daggers. I didn't know what they were made of, but it was a dark metal, and seemed to radiate shadows. I'd never used them before, but I had trained in the First Nome with daggers before.

I drew them out of my pockets whilst the boy stared (Isabelle was messing around with her stupid goggles again - you can't weld a hellhound to death) when he ran past. He ran into the other boy, and apologised, then started stabbing at the hellhound with a bronze spear. It was no use: the animals hide rebounded the bronze every time. I leapt forward and stabbed its left leg. It sank in, and the monster howled. Isabelle flickered and disappeared. Useful goggles she had. Whenever you were attacked by monsters, just disappear and abandon your comrades to die at the hands of an overgrown mutt! Now only £30 on eBay!

I carried on stabbing the monster, but it healed as quickly as it howled. Suddenly, blood spurted from its side, and it stumbled back, stepping on someone unseen. The unseen someone swore and appeared again. Stupid Isabelle Morgenstern! Now you're going to die. Hope you're proud of yourself.

The hellhound readied to pounce, and Isabelle cowered. Then, the boy who we had bumped into earlier did something incredibly stupid. He lunged out in front of her.

Idiot! I thought. Isabelle would have gotten out of the way in time, and you didn't harm the hellhound anyway! All you did was leave us with less backup!

But I rushed forwards and a blade into the monster's chest. I felt as it hit its heart, and it howled and fell.

I felt the boy for a heartbeat, a pulse, anything. But it was too late.

"Dead." I broke the silence. I nodded towards the hellhound. "Also dead."

Isabelle's hands were over her mouth, her eyes shining with tears. The other boy looked shocked.

I felt around the dead boy's pockets. There were only two things.

A crumpled picture, undoubtedly a younger picture of the boy. He was held by a man, who had dark skin and black hair. He smiled enormously. Next to him was a woman, who looked like an older Isabelle. They were surrounded by green grass and looked happily at the boy. On the back, in looping handwriting was a message.

Nate, it said. Remember what is important, even when nothing seems like it is.

I put it to a side. The other was a small book, bound in leather. I opened the first page, and in similar, but messier handwriting, there was a small inscription.

The diary of Nathaniel Morgenstern. 

WOOOOOO

Yes these chapters are late, we are very sorry, but there was an error in communication, and we Apollo-gise. I also would like to say sorry for this cliffhanger, even though I'm really not sorry.

Sincerely, Mini Veronica Roth

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