Toil and Trouble

Eye of Newt and Claw of Bear

The twins spent the next few days exploring the house and the woods around it. Daphne and Diane both loved hiking, and did it whenever they had the chance. There were some trails in the woods, but it better when they went off the trail, towing a can of spray paint with them.
The fourth day there, they ventured into the town. It was a few miles away, Uncle Fredrick lived very out of the way. Diane drove this time, guiding the large Range Rover over bumps and around potholes. Daphne was fiddling with the camera around her neck, getting it ready to use. She was a photographer for the nature society, an odd job for someone who lived in the city. Elton John played softly through the speakers, a strange taste for people their ages. Their father was the owner of a records shop, and his eclectic music taste had been transferred to his daughters.
They pulled into the town, parking in front of the post office. The town was small, known mostly for being so close to the coast. The library was next to the post office, just beckoning to Daphne. She was the bigger reader of the two, reading everything from The Hobbit to War and Peace.
The library was cool inside, the smell of books, old and new, filling the air. Daphne inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the smell of knowledge. The old librarian at the front desk regarded them over the tops of her wire half-moon glasses, white hair sharply pulled into a neat bun. "Well?" She croaked, voice like crumpling paper, "What are you two looking for?" "Um. We'd like to check out some books on the history of the town and the myths and legends based here." The old lady pointed behind her, "Those are under History and Legends. Check under Alexander Rowing for both." They did as instructed, finding four books under the authors name. Checking them out, they left the cool of the library and went in search of lunch. There were plenty of spots to choose from, and they ordered at a small diner decorated with designs of a bygone era. Diane spread the books out on the table, pulling a notebook out of her bag. They munched on burgers smattered with onions and bacon, and fries with gravy and cheese curds on top. They poured over the books, starting with the history of the town, making notes in purple and black ink in the notebook. The town was built over a cross of three or more ley lines, or telluric currents, drawing people with ideas of mystic power to it. The rolling hills, the woods of ash, oak, and elm, the closeness to the sea all drawing them to the area, hunting for the people under and over and around the hill.
The twins were finishing off the last of their fries, when a girl came in. She was dressed for hiking, with thick leather boots and tall socks, cargo shorts, t-shirt, and a flannel wrapped around her waist. She was greeted by the staff, an air of familiarity about them. Her eyes landed on the twins in their booth by the window, and her face split into a smile. Striding over, she spun a chair from the table around and straddled it. The girl ran a hand through the spiky black hair that was tipped with purple and leaned forward. "I haven't seen you here before. You two new here?" "We're just visiting. You know Fredrick Wraeburn?" At the girls surprised nod, Diane continued, "That's our uncle. I'm Diane and this is my twin Daphne. Pleased to meet you." The girl stuck it her hand, and Daphne notice the large amount of gold and copper rings on her fingers. "Nice to meet ya too Diane and Daphne. Names Osa. Osa Beare." They shook, and the twins were surprised by how warm the girl ran. "Osa, huh? That's new. It mean anything?" The girl grinned, teeth white in her tanned face, "Yeah actually. It's Spanish, means bear. Your names aren't very common either. Lemme guess, your names are Greek and Latin. Diane is also known as Diana and Daphne is after Apollos ex-lover. Am I right?" She finger gunned, a smirk lighting up her sharp features. The twins nodded in surprise, this girl knew her stuff. Their mom, who was an anthropologist, had loved the Ancient Greek and Roman cultures, naming her children after her favorites. "Wow. That's impressive. So, Osa, you know any good hiking spots around here? Daph and I were going to go tomorrow, and we would prefer a guide who knows their way around." The girl grinned, revealing pointed canines. "Yep. Actually, meet me back here tomorrow and I'll show you some of the best. Bring stuff for a long day hike. This is gonna be great!"