Saphora: vol.1 Retention (The Athena Universe) (38 page)

Reaching the bookshelf she needed, she ran down the aisle to the book’s location. Being the mere four feet and ten inches that she was, she was grateful for he
r ability to manipulate gravity. It was similar to levitation, though she could not control the direction of the objects, or herself for that matter, aside from up and down. Using her ability, she raised herself up, enough to reach the book that was about twenty shelves high. Gripping the spine of the book, she held it close to her chest, before lowering herself back to the carpeted floor. Her landing, graceful, immediately turned into a mad dash to get back down the aisle. She had a smile on her face, thinking that perhaps she beat the clock of fate with enough to time to alter it. Pivoting around the bookshelf into the wide aisle of the library, she nearly stumbled to a stop. Her platinum hair, boxing her dark face in with bangs, tied in funnel-like ornaments on either side of her face, swayed forward in the sudden stop. Her red eyes, behind largely framed glasses, went wide at the sight before her, and her grip on the book grew tighter with every strained breath. There in front of her, on the far end of the library with a smug grin, was Enya. She frowned as she tried to steady her breathing. Panic would only end things more quickly. Glancing down at the book in her hands, she thought of a way that she could get it out of the library safely. She needed the book to survive.

Enya smiled as she
started walking down the wide aisle of the library, her index finger trailing along each table that she passed.

“Hello, Artemis,” said Enya. Artemis was silent, and Enya’s toothy grin spread. “My apologies. Let me introduce myself.”

“I know who you are, Enya. Guardian of Hades. Winged creature of fire,” Artemis spoke up. Enya giggled.

“I prefer the term phoenix. Though that does have a nice ring to it.”

“You’re making a mistake, Enya,” Artemis said, glancing around the room and silently making a mental list of the things that could be used as a weapon. The tilt in Enya’s neck corrected itself as her eyes narrowed.

“That sounds like you know what I’m here to do.”

Artemis scoffed.

“
Unfortunately.”

“And yet you’re still here. Standing still. Have you lost hope? I would have expected you to run, being the tiny thing you are.”

“Do not underestimate the small,” countered Artemis. Enya smiled.

“Oh? Tell me. Have y
ou seen yourself surviving this?” she asked as she began to walk forward again.

This time as her index finger dragged along the surface of the table she passed, her nail dug in somewhat, and left behind a trail of flames, barely kindling. Artemis couldn’t help but draw her eyes to the slowly growing flames atop the table. A part of her ached. She knew the damage that would be dealt to this library. And though she would not be there to mourn it, it burdened her conscious.

“I have not,” she answered, seeing no point in lying. Enya raised a brow, drawing nearer. “But I will not lay down and be slain.” Enya smiled.

“Good. I was hoping this wouldn’t be boring.”

With a swift pivot of her body, Artemis launched the book she was holding behind her at one of the large windows. It crashed through it, pages fluttering as it made its way to the ground. It captured Enya’s attention, making her head snap up at the distraction. In that time, Artemis dashed down the bookshelf aisle closest to her. Enya hissed as she ran up, making the same turn down the aisle. But Artemis was gone. Groaning in frustration, Enya looked around agitatedly, as if Artemis would be hiding within one of the many bookshelves. But she had ran up one of them and was now hoping from bookshelf to bookshelf, trying to hurry her way to the swords at the front of the library, held by hollow armored statues. But the sound of Artemis’ pitter patter atop the bookshelves drew her attention. She smirked, leaping to the stop of the bookshelf to her left, and spotted her, hopping away.

“
Now
you run!” Enya laughed, jerking her wrist forward and sending a ball of fire charging at Artemis.

Hearing the sounds of the crackling flames, she ducked, letting the ball rush past her into the wall. She looked behind her, and saw that Enya was aiming to throw another. Focusing on the bookshelf that Enya was standing on, she released its gravitational pull, causing it to lift into the air. Startled, Enya wobbled on it before looking up at the ceiling she was headed for. Making the decision to jump, she landed on the bookshelf in front of her, snarling as she looked up at the now hopping Artemis. She stood on the bookshelf, and started leaping after her. Hearing this, Artemis started sending all the bookshelves she had passed into the air. Annoyed with the trick, Enya’s ginger hair began to harbor flames as fire trailed down her arms into her hands. Launch after launch, fire struck down the bookshelves as Enya fought to stay balanced
on one. After the bookshelves were struck down, there was nothing in the way of aiming for Artemis. A stream of fire chased after Artemis’ figure. She twisted to the side, but was still licked by the flames. She groaned in pain, wobbling to the edge of the bookshelf. She winced, holding onto her arm as she looked over at the grinning Enya.

As Enya powered another stream of fire, Artemis stood and leaped into the air to avoid the hit. Her manipulation keeping her safely afloat. Using the nearby chandelier to kick off of, Artemis flipped, allowing her feet to make contact with the ceiling. Once
they did, she took off in a mad dash to continue towards the front of the library, now only a short jog away.

The library was quickly being consumed in flames by the time Artemis reached and drew the sword from the lifeless hands of the armored statue. But still, she felt a surge of confidence once she possessed it. Enya, on the other hand, laughed, in mockery of the decision.

“A
sword
. How valiant. But I wonder if you’re trained to use it,” Enya jabbed. With some fancy wrist work, Artemis held the sword in a combat ready stance, and glared at Enya.

“Come and find out for yourself.”

“I intend to.” Drawing the sword that was sheathed against her back, she took careful, yet confident steps towards the ready Artemis.

Artemis took her cautious step forward. And then they were upon each other. Blades colliding, bodies dancing in the struggle to
land a significant blow upon one another. After several unsuccessful attempts, the two pressed their swords against one another’s, eyes locking before they pushed off each other, taking several steps back. Already having exerted most of her energy during the flight to retrieve the sword, and the scramble to gather the information, Artemis was now panting. It didn’t help that smoke was now beginning to fill the room from the flames that were eating away at the library. She coughed, wiping her forehead as Enya giggled.

“Not bad!” Enya applauded.
“It’s a pity though. Had you laid down to be slain,” Enya smiled. Artemis glared. “You may have spared this library.”

Artemis frowned, and charged at Enya again with a cry of anger. Enya readily picked up her sword, happy to engage with her. Their blades clashed again, and their hair whipped about their faces. But this time, when Enya’s sword raised for an attack, Artemis stole its gravitational pull, aiming to banish it to the ceiling. Enya’s eyes widened, caught of
f guard as she grunted, trying to keep control of the sword. Artemis spun with her sword, cutting Enya across her torso. She scowled, letting go of her sword to back away and hold a hand over her now bleeding torso. She backed away, just enough to be under the now floating sword. Artemis waited the split second for the sword to point downwards, before applying a harsh gravity, aiming to slice the sword through Enya’s skull. But she made the mistake of gesturing her hand towards the sword, giving away her intention to Enya. Enya rolled out of the way, dodging the sword by a mere fraction of a moment. Artemis groaned, going into another fit of coughing, when her attention was grasped by the opening of the library doors. Mishka had pushed them open in distress, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.

“Artemis!” she cried, ready to run into the room.

Artemis rushed to the doors, wrapping her arms around them and pushing them shut. She used what energy she had left to apply gravity to the doors, as she pushed her sword through the handles. Mishka beat against the doors frantically. Artemis closed her eyes as she coughed, listening to her friends cries of denial.

“Artemis! Artemis, no!” Mishka cried, banging on the wooden doors. Enya’s laughter called Artemis’ attention behind her. She was standing up, one hand over her torso as her other attempted to draw her sword. But the gravity was too intense. Enya’s patience had been tested. Artemis could feel it in the atmosphere.

“Enough of this,” she hissed, as her form began to change. Artemis pressed her back against the thudding doors as she watched Enya’s transformation into her natural, and most powerful form – the phoenix. Her wingspan spread to nearly the size of the library, knocking over and setting fire to several if not all of the surrounding bookshelves. There was a hawk-like cry as her body expanded and morphed into that of the winged flaming creature. Artemis blinked rapidly as the sparks flew off of Enya’s body, stinging her eyes.

“Artemis!” sobbed Mishka.

Stay tuned!

Go to
http://jazjohnson.weebly.com
to stay updated on future releases and other upcoming events!