Daylight is Mine to Protect

Worry Part Two

I suck in my breath. The Staff of Avalon. Merlin had told me all about it. Apparently, it is the only thing that can bring Morgana out of her prison, since it was wielded by a powerful wizard with great power. To have Angor Rot going after it now...

I shiver, imagining a world where Morgana could roam wherever she so pleased. It is bad enough that she still has an influence on the world despite being trapped by Merlin.

"We have to get to it before he does." The determination in Jim's voice lifts my spirits a little higher. He's the Trollhunter. Nothing can stop him. I wince as I look at my raw hands. Well, nothing can stop him as long as he has his amulet, and I'm right behind him to deal with Angor Rot.

"Claire, can you use your staff to get us to Merlin's cave?" I hear Toby's voice ring.

"I would if I had been to the place, but I have no idea what it even looks like."

"Guess we're taking the long route." Jim frowns. "But we'll have to hurry."

They start to make their way back across Troll Market, and I groan. I just made it over here. Now I have to go all the way back?! I look at my sore hands. Why why why why why why?!

"Hold on Master Jim!" Blinky holds up all four of his blue, stone-like arms. "The place with the staff, it could be dangerous! While I agree we must make haste, I also believe all of you should prepare for the worst. We can go tomorrow afternoon."

"We?"

"Why of course! You don't think I would let you go by yourself, do you?"

"O- of course not."

"Good. Well then Master Jim, we'd better start preparing!" He puts one of his arms on the Trollhunter's shoulder and leads him away, Claire and Toby trailing behind.

This is perfect. While Jim is safe in Troll Market with all of his friends, I can go... I curse silently. Shoot, I can't prepare at all. I have detention! I rub my temples. Ugh, this is the worst!

*   *   *

A painstakingly long time later, I make it back out of Troll Market. The details haze even in the moment and, by the end, my hands are blaring with pain. I stumble into my house and into my room wearily. The soft bed looks so appealing to my tired muscles, but I quickly finish up the concoction to heal the stone seeping up my neck. I barely manage to set my alarm before collapsing on it in a heap of limbs.

In what seems like two seconds later, I wake up to the never ending beep of the alarm clock with a jolt from my poor heart. Blearily, I hit the snooze button with practice ease to quiet the persistent noise. Once that task is completed, however, I find my limbs once again dissolving into the covers. Moaning silently, I force my eyes open; my limbs follow after a brief moment of hesitation.

I get ready slowly, almost as if in a trance, repeating the things I need to do for the day. Finish detention. Protect the Trollhunter. Stop Angor Rot. Finish detention. Protect the Trollhunter. Stop Angor Rot.

I find myself looking at the clock on the wall. As I had cleaned up the house, I had found it still functional among all the rubble. My eyes widen as I read the time. Merlin's beard! I'm going to be late!

I rush to put my sneakers on and race out of my house as fast as my feet can carry me. My bike almost tips over as I barrel onto it, and the tires screech as I speed off.

I arrive at school late. I know I am late because I passed the cars who had just dropped off their naughty kids on my way.

I rush into the school and skid to a halt as I see who is in front of the detention room. "Ah, you must be Amber. What a wonderful first impression: Late to detention," Stricklander says to me with a small frown. My heart hammers violently in my chest. What is this? Do I still have a pixie in my ear? Is this a nightmare? "Ah yes, you must not know who I am." He holds out a hand. "I am Strickler, former teacher here and current substitute for detention."

"S- substitute?" I squeak out. Curse my shaking limbs. There's no way he won't recognize me.

"Yes. Coach Lawerence called in sick and all the other teachers were conveniently doing something already today." He sighs. "So, here I am." He motions with one hand. "Come on inside Miss Amber." I slowly inch past him, never taking my eyes away from his face. Not once does a flash of recognition flicker across it.

Inside the room are only two other students: Steve and Eli. Just my luck. I sit down quietly at the table farthest away from the two. I'm still not quite sure whether or not Steve still hates me. And, no doubt, Eli has adopted similar feelings to his new bestie. Maybe I can study him to find out.

"Alright students." Strickler addressing us at the front of the class instantly catches my attention. "Work on your homework for the next hour. Not talking, no goofing off, and no cellphones. If I see them, I confiscate them." I silently get out my homework and begin to work on it. The equations are fairly simple, and it gives my mind a chance to relax. At least that's one thing detention is good for. I finish all of my homework in less than twenty minutes and yawn as my lack of sleep catches up to me. 

"Amber!" I wake up from the drowsy feeling shutting my eyelids. "This is detention, not nap time," Strickler says dryly.

I blush and stammer, "R- right. S- sorry sir."

"And please do stop stammering. I'm not a monster."

"Right.. sorry." Speak for yourself. I shivered as that fateful day flashes through my mind. I hope I make it out of this hour alive.