The Masked Stranger

Chapter 17

Jade’s P.O.V

“Yep, it’s exactly as I thought.”Artemis says.

“What is?” I ask.

“You’re the chosen one.” She tells me.

“Chosen one of what?” I ask.

“It’s an old Dorvailian prophecy, you're the person who's been chosen to have your family line carry on all magic, old, sacred, and even black magic. You were chosen centuries ago to be the bearer of some of the most important magic of all, it said that one day the chosen one would give birth to another chosen one, who would give birth to the most powerful creature that would ever live, but nobody knows if it’s going to be good or evil.”That was the last thing I heard, before I blacked out.

***

I was in the woods at nighttime and I heard yelling and I got a splitting headache. I collapsed on the ground out of sheer agony before I heard a voice.

“You won’t win, you’ll never escape me. I will find you, and when I do you’ll die.” The voice disappeared and all my limbs went numb causing me to lay on the ground and just look up at the sky as it changed from its normal blue to a reddish green.

***

When I woke up I was lying on a light brown couch. I looked around only to see Adara, Apollo, and Anala staring at me with concern in their eyes. Then I remembered everything that Artemis had told me, that I was the chosen one. Suddenly Artemis walked into the room holding a mug that I’m guessing is filled with tea. She handed the cup to me and I instantly knew by the aroma it was giving off that it was most definitely tea. I took a slow sip of it to calm my nerves.

“Jade, what do you remember?” Apollo asked me.

“I remember how Artemis told me I’m the so-called chosen one. After that everything is all a blur.” I tell him before sipping more of my tea.

“Okay, well at least you don’t have amnesia.” Apollo says before sitting down in a chair on the other side of the room.

“What I want to know is why you just collapsed like that?” Adara said.

“Shock probably, I don’t really blame her I was going to slowly ease her into a mindset of being the chosen one but you old hags had to just go ahead and blurt it out.” Apollo said, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“This is just further proof that we don’t have any time to waste. We need to start her on a stricter training regmin now to better prepare her.” Anala said.

“I’ll go pick out new potions to teach her.” Adara said as she walked into the kitchen.

“I’ll find new spells to teach her.” Anala said, picking up the spellbook off of the coffee table and taking it to the dining table.

“Both of you follow me.” Artemis said to Apollo and I. We walked out of the cottage and into the woods.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked her as I struggled not to trip over logs and exposed tree roots. Apollo followed close behind me, occasionally catching my waist to help me balance.

“We are going somewhere we can train in peace. Where we won’t potentially destroy the cottage.” Artemis replied.

“That makes sense.” I said, agreeing with her.

Eventually we reached a clearing in the woods. That’s when I realized the trees were huge. They reminded me of redwood forests on earth, not that I’d ever been to one just saw pictures of them. I then felt Apollo nudge my arm bringing me back to reality.

“First off let’s start by learning what your vampire powers are.” Artemis said.

“Wait, how are we going to do that?” I asked her.

“I’m curious too, how do you plan to figure out her Kova abilities?” Apollo asked as he hoisted him up to sit on a rock.

“I’ve met a few vampires in my time. Let’s just say I know some rather entertaining training methods.” Apollo and I looked at eachother slightly concerned by the use of the word entertaining.” Now then let’s get to it, Apollo. I want you to attack Violetta.” Artemis continued.

“Should I be concerned!” I whispered to Apollo.

“Very!” He whispered back. “I’m sorry but did you just ask me to attack her, you know very well that it is forbidden for a familiar to attack the one they are charged with protecting!” He said out right refusing.

“Apollo, come here!” Artemis called him over to her in a harsh tone and he walked over hesitantly. I then heard the two of them argue for a minute or two before she hit Apollo on the back of the head hard causing me to feel sorry for him. Poor guy I don’t know what they are saying but I sure do feel bad for him. Apollo then started walking back toward me. He started running which confused me then he transformed into his wolf self and started snarling at me.

“Apollo what are you doing what’s gotten into you?” I asked, confused. Then he leapt towards me growling and baring his teeth as he did so. I hit the dirt so fast it made my head spin. Apollo grabbed a hold of my shoe with his teeth yanking it off my foot and I crawled backward away from him.

With one less shoe on my foot I stood up and just began running across the clearing and toward the woods, Apollo hot on my trail. Finally I reached the woods, thinking I was safe. I slowed down a little and looked back only to have the wind knocked out of me as I felt Apollo’s wolf form body slam me onto the ground. I used my hands and arms to block him from biting my face as he kept trying to nip at me. I turned my head sideways and closed my eyes. “Apollo stop, this isn’t you.” I said as he kept trying to nip at me and his claws began digging into my abdomen. “AHhhhh!” I screamed.”APOLLO STOP!!” I yelled and almost instantly I felt him get off me. That's when I opened my eyes and sat up. I looked at him and his eyes were glowing yellow.

“Interesting, to think that a life or death situation can trigger an awakeing of your Kova abilities. Well done Apollo!” Artemis said then Apollo’s eyes stopped glowing and he shook his head and shifted back to his human form. I was fumeing this was going to be a long training.

***

The three of us walked back to the cottage in silence. When we got back I stormed up the stairs to my room. I was thoroughly furious. I flopped down on my bed before angrily screaming curse words into my pillow.

“If it’s any consolation I didn’t want to do it.” Apollo said from the doorway where I proceeded to throw a pillow at his head. “Okay I deserved that.” He said before picking up the pillow.

“I’m going to forgive you only because I know that was Artemis’s idea, but if you ever do that again I’ll beat you so bad you’ll feel it for a long time.” I said before glaring at him annoyed.

“Got it.” He said before gulping.

“I sure hope so, for your sake.” I said with a sickly sweet smile.

“What’s that Adara you need help cooking dinner, why I’d love to help!” He yelled down the stairs.” I got to… go.” He said then he quickly ran down the stairs he ran so fast I could have sworn his shadow was left in the dust.

“Moron.” I said to myself.