Paranormal Fantasy Story - Book 1 Recap Chapters 1 - 10 (Part 1)

Almost a year after I wrote and posted the first BP story on Steemit.com, I have decided to share the second story of the series here with the Steemit community! I will forever be grateful to Steemit for adding writing to my long list of creative adventures.

In case users haven't read it yet, here is a repost/recap of the first story to read before I begin releasing chapters of the second story in the series titled "Retribution". The first story (recap) will be split into two posts due to size limitations.

Here is a quick description of the story:

Beatrix was an ordinary girl. She wished one day for something extraordinary to happen to her, and one day—it did. Follow Beatrix on her extraordinary adventure as she plummets further into an unknown world full of strange beings, mystical creatures, and magic.

When tragedy begins to unravel the
world around her, love drives her
on the journey that lies ahead.

But, will it be enough?

I hope you enjoy! :)

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CHAPTER 1

Branches shattered and the winds swirled.

The ground raced under her bare feet. Branches hit her and cracked under her, as she raced through the forest. It was after her and she knew it. Fear filled her heart. It was a dark, crisp autumn night. The moon flashed through the branches above, casting eerie shadows in the woods. Breathing heavy she kept running. She could hear it behind her, crashing through the woods like a giant. It was getting closer.

Her heart raced; it felt like it was beating out of her chest. Clouds covered the moon and the woods went dark. She could barely see where she was going, but knew she could not stop. Suddenly, the ground gave way to air, and she was falling; weightless into the abyss of darkness. A sensation filled her, one she had never felt before. Fear overwhelmed her, and she let out a scream that pierced through the night like lightning. A blinding flash of light filled the night air. The swirling world around her went still and everything went dark.

This is the story of Beatrix Percival. Beatrix was a bright young woman. Head of her class, she would twirl her fingers around locks of her luminous blonde hair as she solved the most difficult of math equations. She loved learning and aspired to someday be someone great. Beyond her skills of knowledge, Beatrix didn’t really have any talents. She couldn’t draw or sing. She watched other kids develop amazing talents. This sometimes left her feeling quite ordinary. But, she thought to herself, “ordinary is ok.”

She was adored by her friends and family. The time she didn’t spend studying and reading, she spent cooking with her mom, or hanging out with her friends. Her parents were anything but ordinary though. Her Dad Maxwell, worked for a top-secret company that developed extraordinary products. Every once in a while, he would bring an invention home to test. The last one was a gadget that could catch house flies. It would glide through the air chasing flies. One night, the whole family found out that the device wasn’t quite ready. During dinner, the fly catcher was in hot pursuit of a fly and accidentally shattered the living room window.

Beatrix was never quite sure where her Mom, Ella, worked. Or even what she did. Ella was gone during the day; attending meetings of some sort. But, Beatrix was used to the confidential nature of her parent’s jobs, and spent her time with them conversing about life rather than work.

In her own life, Beatrix noticed small obscurities. Lights going on and off when she looked at them. Finding items that she had thought were broken, in one piece again. One night, when she was camping in the woods with friends, she went out into the night with a flashlight in search of kindling. Her flashlight grew dim and suddenly went out. The night was pitch black. When her hope of finding her way back to camp started to fade, a firefly flashed in the woods. She walked toward it as it sailed and flashed through the night air. She followed it up a hill. As she neared the top the camp lights came into view. Beatrix paused for a moment, wondering if the firefly had purposely helped her back to camp. She was so used to the oddities of her parent’s lives, that she really didn’t give these occurrences much thought.

One of Beatrix’s favorite subjects of study was history; especially genealogy. The Percival family dated back hundreds of years. Though her family had much history, she had a hard time finding any truly specific information. Most of her research gave her bland and ordinary results. Before her grandmother’s passing, year’s ago, her grandmother, Etta, would tell her stories at bedtime; tales of their family history. Beatrix knew her grandma embellished her stories due to their extraordinary nature. Never the less, she en-joyed them, and loved escaping into that fantasy world her grand-mother spoke of. Ever since she was a little girl, Beatrix was told her grandmother was not quite right “upstairs”, giving reason to her wildly unbelievably fascinating stories. But, Beatrix’s life was so ordinary, she hoped someday for something extraordinary to hap-pen to her. And one day, it did.

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CHAPTER 2

Beatrix awoke from a restful night’s sleep. The sun beamed through the window in her bedroom. She lay there for a second looking at the ceiling. A small spider wandered into view. At first, Beatrix was startled. She watched as it meandered across the ceiling. It paused for a moment. Beatrix stared at the spider, and it almost seemed that the spider was staring back! The spider sat there, still. Beatrix and the spider sat there silently mesmerized with each other’s presence for a couple of minutes. The room was silent except for the sound of her Mom making breakfast in the kitchen below. Suddenly the spider fell. Beatrix, frozen in place, felt the spider land on her arm. The room started spinning and went black as Beatrix fell into a dreamlike state.

She awoke in the woods. Sunlight washed the forest with a cozy amber hue. The sun felt warm on her shoulders. Beatrix heard a whisper in the distance. She decided to investigate. She followed the sound of the voice. Something was calling her name. “Beatrix”……. “Beatrix”…. The sound echoed in the air. Making her way through the woods, she followed the voice. The voice grew louder; she was getting closer. There, ahead of her, was an opening in the side of the hill. It looked like a cave. The sound echoed out the cave’s entrance. Beatrix contemplated whether or not to look inside or stay outside where it was sunny. “This is a dream, and nothing can hurt you in your dreams” she thought to herself. Into the dark cave she ventured, following the voice. The darkness engulfed her. The air was cold and damp. The voice began to fade quieter as she walked. Beatrix paused. How could the voice be getting quieter? She stood there in the darkness. The cave fell si-lent, accept for the occasional “drip” and bat squeak.

The air temperature seemed to be dropping rapidly. Beatrix wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to keep warm. Without warning, she heard the voice loud and clear scream her name “BEATRIX!!! BEATRIX!!! HELP ME!!!”. A chill ran down her spine. It was her mother’s voice. The room abruptly fell silent. She couldn’t even hear the bats. Beatrix stomped her feet on the ground, but no sound was made. She fell to the ground and closed her eyes. “It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream!” she screamed in her head. She opened her eyes to see a mysterious green orb drifting through the cave toward her. The orb floated so elegantly through the cave; illuminating the walls as it went. A sense of calm washed over her. Beatrix stood up. The orb drifted closer and closer until it came to a halt right in front of her. She stared into the hovering ball of green light. She somehow felt safe. Beatrix slowly raised her hand to touch it and suddenly a blood curdling growl shook the walls. The green orb suddenly vanished, and the cave went dark. Beatrix turned to run and tripped on her shoe lace. She slammed into the cold, hard floor.

Beatrix sat up to realize she was back in her room. Her heart raced and raced. She glanced down at the bed to notice the little spider wandering away. She sat there stiff. “What just happened?” she wondered. “Was it just a dream?” It didn’t feel like a dream to her, and something told her it was much more than a dream. It was a warning; a glimpse into what was yet to come. She looked down to reveal a bruise on her knee and scratches on her elbows. Her heart began to race once more. It wasn’t a dream.

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CHAPTER 3

The days went by. Beatrix tried making sense of the vision the spider had shown her. She kept her eyes open for the spider, hoping for its return so she could ask it what happened. “Ask it?” she thought. “Spiders can’t talk…but maybe this one can?” Days went by, and the spider hadn’t returned. Beatrix wanted to talk to her parents about her experience, but felt she couldn’t, in fear they wouldn’t believe her. She decided to put it out of her mind. So, Beatrix went back to her usual schedule of breakfast, school, studying, and family time.

One beautiful autumn day, Beatrix was walking home from school. The trees were vibrant with color, and the air cool and crisp. A slight breeze shuffled the branches, causing orange and crimson hues to cascade down to the earth all around her. Her house was a little walk from school, but on days like today, Beatrix didn’t mind the walk. She gazed down at the sidewalk and began counting the cracks. She came to a screeching halt when there it was again; the mysterious spider! Beatrix crouched down, paused for a moment, and stared right into the eyes of the little spider. Its eyes gleamed in the glowing sunlight. Beatrix’s eyes grew with fascination. She held out her hand, resting her fingers on the pavement. The spider looked up at her, and then scurried onto her hand. Beatrix braced herself for another vision, but nothing happened. “Maybe this wasn’t the same spider” she thought.

Out of nowhere she began to hear a small voice. “Beatrix! Beatrix! Hi Beatrix!” Beatrix looked at the spider to see if it was the one talking to her, but no sound came from it. Charley, her friend walked passed her. “Hi Charley!” Beatrix exclaimed, thinking the voice might have come from him. Charley looked back and said “Hi… um, did you want something?” he asked. “I thought I heard you call my name” Beatrix replied. “Nope, wasn’t me” he replied back. “See you later” he said, as he walked on.

Beatrix looked back down at the little spider again and said “Was that you?” The spider took a step forward and a voice rang out “Yes, it was me!” Beatrix stumbled backwards almost dropping the spider onto the ground. Its voice seemed to be coming from all around, not from the spider itself. “Ho-How are you doing that?” Beatrix exclaimed. “How c-can I hear you?” she asked perplexed. “We are having an inner conversation” the spider said. “You are not physically hearing a sound; I am speaking to you through thought. It is safer this way… for both of us.” Beatrix stared at the spider in awe as it continued. “There are great evils hidden in this world. Some as you would expect, live deep in the shadows. But the most fearsome, the most atrocious, live right in plain sight.” The little spider started scurrying around slowly in a circle on her hand. The spider paused and stood stiff. “it’s coming” he said. What had been a beautiful sunny day started clouding over. Tiny rain drops began to spatter on the concrete. Beatrix set the spider on the grass for a second to adjust her backpack, and when she looked back, it was gone.

The sky grew an eerie dark blue color. The rain began to pour now. Beatrix put her hood up and sprinted home. Up the porch steps she raced. The front door was half open, so she ran into the house. She dropped her backpack to the floor as she gazed at the destruction around her. “Mom…..Dad!” she called out, worried. No one answered. Besides the sound of the rain, which had now turned into a small storm, the house was eerily silent. Beatrix ran up the stairs and checked each room. No one was up there. She ran back down the stairs and saw the spider poised at the bottom. Beatrix tried her hardest to stop, but slipped and tumbled down the stairs onto the living room floor.

Beatrix arose slowly and looked behind her, there, the spider sat on the railing. “Get up” he said. “There is much to do”.

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CHAPTER 4

Tears welled up in her eyes. She was worried about her parents. Where could they have gone? Beatrix took a deep breath, collect-ed herself, and stood up. The spider walked up to her. Beatrix held out her hand and the spider scurried into her palm. “What d-d-d-o I d-do?” she asked in a sorrowful, defeated voice. The spider looked up and replied. “The forest holds the answer that you seek.”

Beatrix packed some necessities, walked out onto the front porch, and glanced back at the half open door. She took a deep breath, turned, and pierced the air with her stare. She was at the beginning of a new journey, and her life was about to change forever.

Beatrix set out on her quest to find her parents. Swiftly, she walked down the sidewalk. The rain had cleared but the sky was getting dim as evening approached. The spider, nestled in her hand, acted as her compass. As she passed the houses on her street, she caught glimpses of families sitting down to home cooked meals, and for a moment - she wished her life was ordinary again.

They had reached the edge of the woods, but the night was catching up to them. Beatrix set down the little spider, opened her backpack, and combed through the various things in her bag for her flashlight. The night was mostly silent except for the occasional hoot of distant owls in the forest. She found her flashlight, flipped the switch, and aimed it around her; scouting out her surroundings. Everything was calm. The sky had cleared, revealing a luminous moon. She looked down for the spider, but he had vanished. She stood there, puzzled by his departure for a moment, but remembered her mission, and used hope to fuel her on her journey.

She walked up to the edge of the tree line. The woods that had looked so bright and vibrant during the daytime, had been trans-formed into eerie shadows in the night. She stepped into the woods. “The forest holds the answer that you seek;” that’s what the spider had told her. Though, after she had maneuvered her way through the dark woods, she began to doubt him. There were no signs. Nothing to let her know if she was on the right path.

As her hope slowly began to fade, she heard something moving in the brush. She walked toward the noise. Branches rustled in the woods ahead. She shined her flashlight to try and get a look, but the trees were too thick. She worked her way through the dense woods to reveal a door. Perplexed, Beatrix looked at the door. It stood, all on its own, in the center of the forest. She looked on either side of the door for a structure for it to be attached to, but none was there. Branches rustled wildly on the other side of the door. “Mom! Dad! Is that you?!” Beatrix called out into the night air. The rustling stopped. Beatrix approached the door with her flashlight, eager to find her parents. She bustled around the corner of the door. The smile on her face faded when she saw the horror before her. There in the woods, like a grotesque statue, rested a monstrous creature.
The being’s eyes glistened and flashed in the light of her flashlight. Its skin, wrinkled, gleamed in the moonlight. It rested there, on all fours, feeding on a wild animal it had captured. Its fangs pierced through its pray as it viciously devoured its meal. Beatrix, shaking with horror, quickly turned off her flashlight. The creature didn’t seem to notice. Beatrix slowly walked backwards; away from the creature. Suddenly, her shoe laces caught on a branch, and she came crashing down. Branches snapped and crashed as she plum-meted to the cold earth. Bewildered, she looked up to see the creature standing on its hind legs, towering over the brush. Its fiery eyes shifted around until they locked on her. Beatrix fidget-ed with her shoe laces to get them untangled, but it was no use. The monster started leaning in her direction. Beatrix took off her shoes and burst out running into the night.

Branches shattered and the winds swirled.

The ground raced under her bare feet as she dashed through the forest. The creature let out a terrifying, monstrous growl that echoed through the woods, as it crashed through the trees. It was after her and she knew it. She ran for her life. Moments with her parents flashed through her mind. Was this it? Would she escape? Fear filled her heart. The moon flashed through the branches above, casting eerie shadows in the woods. Breathing heavily, she kept running. She could hear it behind her, crashing through the woods. It was getting closer. Her heart raced. It felt like it was beating out of her chest. Clouds covered the moon and the woods went dark. She could barely see where she was going, but knew she could not stop. Sticks scratched at her like claws as she ran. Suddenly, the ground gave way to air, and she was falling; weight-less into the abyss of darkness. A sensation filled her, one she had never felt before. The sensation scared her. Fear overwhelmed her, and she let out a scream that pierced through the night like lightning. A blinding flash of light filled the night air. The swirling world around her went still, and everything went dark.

Beatrix’s head was still racing. It took her a moment to realize she had stopped. Her eyes were closed. She was afraid to open them. She felt around with her arms. Nothing but air was around her. She tried moving her feet, but could feel no ground beneath her. She decided she would open her eyes on the count of three, to see what was happening. Scared….nervous….she took a deep breath and counted, “One……Two……Three”

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CHAPTER 5

She opened her eyes and peered out into the darkness. She was floating in the air; hovering above the earth. The clouds thinned and the moon peeked through. Weightless, Beatrix gazed around. She was hundreds of feet above a grand valley. The moonlight cast sharp shadows from the jagged rocks below. Afraid and uncertain, she looked around for the nearest land and spotted a cliff. She longed to be on land again. She gazed at the grassy cliff and wished to be there. Without warning, she began to drift toward the cliff’s edge. Over the canyon she flew, until she was over the cliff. She hovered over the tall grass, and slowly rested her feet onto the soft earth.

Exhausted, Beatrix fell to her knees, and sat on the bed of grass to rest. “What just happened?” she wondered. She went through the series of events in her mind over and over again. How did she float in the air? What was that bright flash of light? Beatrix tried to find a logical explanation for the events that unfolded, but deep inside was sure she already knew the answer to that question. Could it be true? Could she have… powers?

Beatrix wrapped herself in her sweatshirt and rested her head on her backpack; using it as a pillow. Her thoughts began to calm, and she slowly fell asleep.

Bright morning sun gleamed through the trees. The clouds had gone leaving the sky a vibrant blue. Dew drops shined on the blades of grass. Beatrix sat up and looked around, scanning her surroundings. Resting on a dandelion next to her, was the little spider. It startled her at first. “Hello Beatrix” said the little spider. “You have much to learn in a little amount of time!” he exclaimed.

“Last night….did I….fly?” asked Beatrix.

“Why, yes you did.” replied the spider.

“So that means I must have some sort of….you know.”

“Yes. Yes you do.” he replied calmly.

Beatrix heart started racing. She knew the question she wanted to ask so badly, but was afraid of the answer it might yield. Beatrix paused for a moment, then asked:

“Am…am I a….witch?”

The spider straightened his posture and his eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Yes. Yes you are!!”

Her eyes grew wide. She began trying to make sense of it.

“I have watched over you through the years.” said the spider “You come from a very old line of powerful witches; one of the oldest. I have seen you display magic by accident, and have waited for this day to come. I wish it were under better circumstances though…” The spider looked down at the ground for a second, and then looked up again. “You have no idea what kind of power you possess. I can help you reach greatness!”

Beatrix began looking back at unexplainable moments in her past. That time she was sure she broke her Mom’s favorite vase by accident. The way street lamps would flicker when she stared at them. All the strange and mysterious happenings she had experienced flashed through her mind.

The spider shook a grass blade and eagerly exclaimed: “Now, time is precious, and we don’t have much of it, so come along! You have so much to learn.”

Beatrix held her hand near the grass blade, and the spider leapt in.

“You will do great things Beatrix Percival!”

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CHAPTER 6

She had always wished for something extraordinary to happen to her, and now it had. She was ready.
Beatrix set off into the woods with the little spider to guide her on her quest. The sunlight broke through the tree tops casting sparkles of light onto the ground below. Beatrix walked with a new aura about her. Through the brush they went; weaving around the large trees. Beatrix had fashioned some footwear out of an old shirt from her bag. She looked down at the spider. It contently stared off into the distance. “Where are we going?” she asked with curiosity. “To the door” replied the spider. A shiver ran down Beatrix’s spine. She began to tremble. She knew what door the spider was talking about, for near it was where she met that insidious creature. Panic filled her. Flashes of that night raged through her mind like a storm. She recounted that night: The dark creature, gleaming in the moonlight. She remembered its sharp fangs tearing through the flesh of its kill.

Beatrix stopped walking. Fear froze her in place. “With knowledge dear Beatrix, there is nothing to fear.” said the little spider. “I have crossed paths with the creature you met in the woods last night. I know how to get passed the guardian of the door.” “But you’re so small. You can hide easier than I can.” Beatrix choked out in a worried tone. “Don’t you worry” said the spider. “Leave that to me.” Not completely reassured, Beatrix nodded, and they moved on.

The woods were alive. Squirrels chased each other through the canopy of the forest. Deer meandered by. Deeper into the forest they went. They walked and walked for what seemed like hours. She looked all around her for the door, but saw nothing in sight. She began to question the spider. Did he know where they were going? Did he know where the door was?
Up ahead was a giant tree. It must have been centuries old. Beatrix gazed up at it, not noticing the red door peeking out from be-hind it. She looked down, saw the red door, and froze. She strained her ears to listen for the creature, but heard nothing. The woods were eerily silent. The rustling of squirrels and other wild-life had subsided. “We are near” said the spider.

Quietly they inched their way closer to the door. A tree branch cracked near by. Beatrix looked all around her for the creature, and there it was, resting on the ground in the distance. Her heart started pounding. She stared at the spider with a worried look in her eyes. The spider uttered something. Beatrix couldn’t tell what he said though, for it was not in English. She looked puzzled at the spider. A flash of light blasted through the trees around her. The world grew around her, and so did the little spider. Afraid, she closed her eyes.

“It’s OK” said the spider. “Open your eyes.” Beatrix opened her eyes to towering grass blades. She was resting on a leaf the size of a mattress. She took a step forward and looked all around her. It was like a world within her own that she had never discovered. Basketball sized lady bugs shuffled by. She turned around to see the spider, now life-size, sitting beside her. She saw her reflection in his eyes; she was a spider now too! “Y-you can do magic?!” Beatrix asked, with a shocked look in her eyes. “Of course” said the spider nonchalantly.

“Now, we wait.” said the spider.

“For what?” Beatrix asked.

“For the door to be opened.” replied the spider.

They scurried up a tall blade of grass and rested on top; waiting for the door to open. The creature raised its head and began looking all around it; trying to figure out what the flash of light was, and where it had come from. Beatrix and the spider sat for a few minutes. Curiosity filled her until she couldn’t keep quiet any long-er. “What’s behind the door?” she asked. The spider turned, looked at her and replied: “The other side; the magical world.” He paused for a moment and continued “On the other side you will find what you need to grow your powers. It’s another world; similar to our own, but filled with magic.”
Beatrix stared at the door, mesmerized with wonder. “But if it is just sitting here, out in the open like this, can’t anyone find it?” she asked.

“Only magical creatures from the other world can see it.” said the spider.

Beatrix sat and pondered what she had just learned. Her mind tried to make logical sense of it all. But, it was magic. True magic; and magic didn’t make sense, it just… was.

The sky grew a deep, dark purple as the evening approached. The ground began to shake like the beat of a drum. The monster towered above. “It is time” said the spider. The creature made its way to the door with a ruckus; snapping branches as it went. It reached for the door, and a handle appeared. The creature opened the door slowly and began to walk through it. Sunlight beamed through the opening and washed the ground outside. Beatrix and the spider raced for the door. The ground shook with each step the creature took; it was almost on the other side. They ran for the door as it began to close. They darted around the grass blades and over small rocks. They were almost there. The beam of golden sunlight on the ground grew narrower as the door was being pushed closed. Across the earth they scurried as fast as their legs could carry them, and they passed through the doorway just in time. The door shut behind them, shaking the soil.

Sunlight shined through the forest ahead. It was daytime. The creature stomped off into the distance.

“Did we travel in time?” she asked, looking around confused. “It was nighttime just a few minutes ago on the other side of the door.” The spider looked at her and said: “No, we did not time travel. Our days and nights are opposite your world.”

They rested on a purple flower for a second. Beatrix gazed around at her surroundings in awe. She sat there; stunned by the beauty around her.

The spider turned and looked at her and saw the wonder in her eyes. He looked out into the other world and said: “Let’s begin.”

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CHAPTER 7

The spider muttered something into the air. Beatrix watched the world shrink around her. She was back to full size now. She gently picked up the spider. Through the trees in the distance, she could see a town. It looked similar to the one she lived in, but had a flair of whimsy to it. The houses and buildings were painted in bright, happy colors. As they walked closer, she noticed other things. Strange, but wondrous things she had not seen before. Tiny feathery creatures fluttered about. They emitted a pure white light. “Those are talenbees” the spider said, noticing Beatrix’s eyes affixed upon them. She held out her other hand as one drifted up to her. The talenbee landed on her hand and suddenly, she felt a rush of pure happiness. For a moment, she forgot about her worries and troubles. Then, as soon as the talenbee came, it left; drifting away, and out of sight. The feeling left with it. “Talenbees emit happiness” the spider said. Beatrix looked at the spider and asked: “Why would you ever want to let go of one?” The spider replied: “Talenbees make you forget about your troubles, they distract you. If people forgot about their problems, they would also forget to fix them, and nothing would ever get solved.” Beatrix took a moment and thought about this, then continued walking.

They continued on their way into town. The buildings weren’t the only things with a touch of whimsy; the people were too. Dressed in vibrant eccentric clothing, they wandered from store to store. As they passed an alleyway, Beatrix saw a dark figure in the corner of her eye. She abruptly turned her head to see what it was, but nothing was there. “This way” said the spider, pointing at the teal shop on the end. Beatrix disregarded what she saw. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe nothing was there. However, deep inside her, she knew something was there, and she had a rotten feeling about it.

She walked up the steps of the bright teal colored shop. She craned her head to read the sign: “Mrs. Evelyn’s Instruments of Magic.” They walked into the store. The spider pointed at a stack of shopping baskets, so Beatrix walked over and picked one up. Beatrix gazed around, fascinated by all the wondrous products. A small table full of tiny gadgets was set up in the corner of the shop with a sign hovering above it that read “40% Off Scurtlekwibs.” “Oh my!” the little spider exclaimed. “They’re on sale!”

Beatrix walked up to the table, and the spider ran off her hand and onto the table. He scurried about, looking the curious items over, and pushed four of the small devices to the edge of the table. He looked up at Beatrix and said: “We will need these.” Beatrix picked up the small items the spider had chosen, and put them in her basket. They continued around the little shop and collected a variety of different items; each oddity more curious than the last!

She walked up to the cash register. A tall woman stood dressed in vibrant yellow clothing. The hue of her attire was far from the most interesting part of her outfit. Atop her head, was a hat covered in eyes. The eyes were all different colors and seemed to be scanning the room.

“Oh, I see you like my hat!” the woman said with excitement in her voice. “It’s the perfect way to keep an eye on my shop when my back is turned. I have three available for purchase, if you would like your very own!”

“No thank you” replied Beatrix with a shocked look on her face.

Beatrix set her basket down onto the counter. The lady looked over the items one by one and added up the price. “That will be two hundred and seventeen poqine please.” Beatrix looked at the lady puzzled. All she had was regular money.

The spider looked up at her and said: “Just a minute.” He scurried down the counter, across the floor, and into the center of the room. A loud snap shook the shelves as a flash of light illuminated the shop. Beatrix closed her eyes to the blinding light. The room went quiet. She slowly opened her eyes to reveal the spider had trans-formed into a young man. Green sparks cascaded from him and fell to the floor like glitter. He was her age, and had piercing red eyes and dark hair. The boy walked up to her, looked into her eyes and said: “My apologies miss. I have yet to formally introduce myself. My name is Arthur Quib.” He held out his hand to her. Beatrix paused for a moment, then smiled shyly, and shook his hand.

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CHAPTER 8

The tall narrow boy standing in front of her smiled back and walked up to the counter. “How much?” Arthur asked. The lady in yellow looked at him and said “Two hundred and seventeen poqine.” She pursed her lips, crinkled her brow, and said “You could have morphed outside you know…lots of breakables in my shop.” Arthur looked back at the lady, and in the sincerest voice said “My apologies. Here is a little extra for the trouble I caused.” He set out a hundred extra poqines onto the counter. The lady in yellow looked at him and her eyes brightened. “Well, that’s OK. No harm done!” she said, as she swiftly swept the poqines into her hand. Arthur collected their items in a bag, and headed for the door. Beatrix and the lady in yellow shared a glance, as Arthur took Beatrix by the hand and led her out of the shop.

Once outside, Arthur and Beatrix continued walking down the sidewalk. Beatrix stole glances of Arthur. His hair drifted across his face in the wind. Arthur looked at her and quickly she looked away, and pretended to be interested in a funny looking creature across the street that was repeatedly flying into the window panes of a small shop. Arthur cast his gaze ahead, and so did Beatrix.

Chattering people and creatures making a variety of otherworldly noises filled the void of nonexistent chatter between them.
“I know what you must be thinking” said Arthur.

Beatrix looked at him and said “Why didn’t you reveal yourself to me sooner? Where were you in the woods that night?”
Arthur looked at her with calm eyes and replied “It was not safe for me to reveal myself at the time. The night you were chased in the woods, I was there. I followed you to the door and watched over you when you were being chased by the monster. For a witch to be able to access the deepest depths of her power, they need to believe they are about to die.” Arthur looked at the ground grimly. “I was watching over you; I flew on my pet sparrow, Jinx. I wouldn’t have let you die” he said looking up at her again.

“What was that dream you shared with me?” Beatrix asked curiously. “What did it mean?”

“Only you saw the vision” he said. “That is one of my special powers. I cannot control how frequently it happens, or when it happens. But when it does, it shows a glimpse of what has been, or what is yet to come” he said.

A cluster of different emotions churned in her head. They stood there silently for a second and then continued walking. They walked into a little shop, and Beatrix picked out some clothes and a pair of shoes. Once outside, she put on a pair of socks, and slipped on her new footwear. Arthur and Beatrix stopped into four more shops, and on their way to the fifth, a dark shadowy figure appeared out of thin air right in front of them. Arthur stared at the shadowy being with fury. It was from another world, and it didn’t belong there. Beatrix glanced at his eyes, which had now changed to a bright yellow. His eyes glowed in the dim lighting of the dreary day. The shadow drifted above the ground in a ghostly manner toward them. Arthur stepped in front of Beatrix. The shadow opened its fiery eyes and stared into Arthur’s. A reverberating tone filled the air, as the daylight dimmed for a split second. Street lamps burst, throwing shards of glass all around them.

Suddenly there was a snap, and the shadow disappeared. Arthur fell to the ground. The day returned to its cheery color. Beatrix looked down at Arthur, and lay down next to him. His eyes changed back to their vibrant red hue. Beatrix looked into his tired eyes, and asked “Are you ok?” “Yeah, just tired” he replied. “What was that thing?” Beatrix asked. Arthur, breathing heavy said “I don’t know.” Beatrix looked at him befuddled. “W-what did it want?” Arthur looked into Beatrix’s eyes, wishing he had a more comforting answer for her. His eyes grew heavier with every passing second. He looked at her, and replied “You.”

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CHAPTER 9

Beatrix stared at Arthur with horror. “Wh-what would it w-want with me?” she stuttered. But, before he could answer, the weakness overcame him, and he fell into a deep sleep. Beatrix sat be-side him. Tears welt up in her eyes, and began to fall and splash on the pavement below. Footsteps grew closer and she looked up. A little old lady walked up to her and said “Oh my goodness! Dear, do you need a hand?” Beatrix wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. “This way darling” said the little old lady. She began to walk down the sidewalk. With the snap of her fingers, Arthur, still unconscious, rose from the ground and drifted in the air behind her.

Beatrix followed the woman through town. They walked up to a little yellow house. The woman bounced up the steps, opened the front door, and went inside. Arthur hovered behind her. Beatrix walked through the doorway into what appeared to be a little sit-ting area. Though the outside of the house was bright and cheery, the inside was dull and lifeless. The walls were covered in old greenish brown patterned wallpaper that had begun to peal down at the ceiling. The windows were covered with tattered curtains, letting through only small dots of light. The architecture in the interior had a completely different look to it than it did on the outside. Beatrix looked at the ceiling. The paint was peeling, and wires hung down from where she presumed once used to be a light fixture.

She followed the little woman through the house. With each step she took, dust rose in small clouds around her feet like miniature explosions. Each room they walked through looked different than the last. “Excuse the mess” said the little old lady as she brushed away cobwebs in the doorway. They had reached a grand hall. Beatrix was surprised by the size of the space, given the exterior of the house was so petite. Large crystal chandeliers covered in hundreds of candles cast a dim, orange glow around the room. They continued walking across the black and white tiled floor. Straight ahead was a gigantic, marble fireplace ablaze with a large fire. Ornate carvings of strange creatures covered it from floor to ceiling. The fire created dancing shadows around the room as it flickered and burned. The little old lady sat down on one of the many chairs in the room.

Arthur drifted beside her, and slowly came to rest on a chaise lounge. “Come dear. Sit” said the little old lady.

Beatrix walked over and sat next to Arthur on the chaise lounge; setting her shopping bag on the floor next to him. The fire danced wildly in the old woman’s eyes. Arthur twitched slightly then went back to rest.

“So where are you from?” asked the woman.

Beatrix looked at her. The old woman did not at all look interested in Beatrix’s reply. She grinned as if she already knew the answer to the question.

Beatrix looked at the woman with a confident glance, and said “Here. From town.”
The smile faded on the woman’s face. Beatrix grew uneasy as the woman stared at her. Beatrix looked over at Arthur whom began to move a little. “Never mind him” she said in a snarky tone. “I need you to come with me.”

“W-where?” Beatrix replied.

The woman did not answer. Suddenly, the fire went out. The old woman stood up from her chair. She turned around and began to walk away slowly, as if Beatrix should follow her. Large blood red feathers peaked out from underneath the old woman’s blouse. The tips of the feathers looked as sharp as knives. They flashed in the candlelight as she walked.

Beatrix looked at the old woman puzzled. The feathers were not there before. She also realized how, even though the woman was walking further away, she began to appear taller. The old woman turned around to reveal glowing black eyes; each illuminated with a little white orb of light. “COME!” demanded the woman in an otherworldly voice.

Fear overtook Beatrix. Frozen in place, she began to tremble. Crimson red sparks swirled in the air around the woman as she began to transform. The razor sharp red feathers cut through her blouse and spread out into wings. A sharp, black beak formed on the woman’s face. A long tail protruded from behind the woman, who now was more creature than human.
The creature stared daggers at Beatrix. It took a step toward her; shaking the room, and rattling the crystals of the grand chandeliers above. The creature let out a loud roar that rattled the windows in the hall. It began to move toward her; each step shaking the room. Dust and small pieces of plaster rained down from the ceiling with each step the monster took. Beatrix began to back up. She fum-bled over small tables and other furniture as she attempted to keep her distance from the creature. Something made a banging noise on the other side of the hall. The monster looked away to see what it was. Beatrix swiftly ran and hid behind a large chair.

She peered out from the side of the chair. The monster frantically looked all around for her, and let out another deafening roar. Beatrix shook and began breathing fast. The monster paused for a moment and the hall went silent. It strained its ears, trying to listen for her. Beatrix crouched down slowly, and as she did, a pen glided out of her pants pocket onto the cold hard floor.

Her heart sank. The monster began stomping towards her. It knew where she was. Beatrix tried to think of a way to escape. The monster drew nearer with each passing second. Suddenly, a little metal device rolled across the floor and stopped next to her. It was one of the scurtlekwibs. The gadget opened up releasing waves of swirling green light. Beatrix put her hand in the waves of light. The room began to contort and spin. She swirled in a barrage of flashing lights. The world around her slowly came to a halt. She was sitting in a bedroom. She glanced at the night stand. A little sign read: “The Ravenstoop Inn.”
Beatrix looked out into the room. A small ball of green light grew in front of her. The lights in the room began to flicker. It swirled and grew before her, revealing Arthur. Arthur began pacing back and forth with a concerned look on his face. He stopped and faced Beatrix. She looked into his vibrant red eyes, as he said “They know more than I thought. They know you’re here now.”

Beatrix looked at him and asked in a panicked voice “What do they want me for?”

He looked at her and replied “You are more unique and special than you realize, Beatrix Percival. With the blood running in your veins, if you choose the right path, you are on the road to becoming one of the most powerful witches of all time, and they know that.”

Beatrix gazed out the window at the stars in the sky. They seemed to wink at her as they twinkled.
“There is no time to lose.” he said. “We need to begin your training tonight.”

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CHAPTER 10

Arthur poured out the items from the shopping bag. “I knew those would come in handy” he said, looking at the scurtlkwibs. Amongst the pile of stuff, was a little black tome. In metallic gold lettering it read: “Beginners Witchcraft, by Etta Percival.”
Beatrix quickly grabbed the book, and ran her fingers across the lettering on the cover. She had never known that her grandmother had written a book. She gazed at the cover silently and felt a sense of home.

Arthur pointed at the book and said “This book will help you on your journey to reaching your full potential as a witch. The spells are pretty simple, but once you learn the basics, you will be able to create your own spells.” Beatrix flipped through the book as he talked. “Not all magic uses spells. Some magic is created using your mind. Emotions like happiness or fear can result in wondrous magic.” Beatrix looked up at him. “Is that how I was able to float over the valley that night?” she asked. “Yes.” Arthur replied. He smiled and looked at her. “But that is only a small sample of the magic you are capable of.”

“Let’s open the book and begin” he said. The two of them sat next to each other on the end of the bed. Beatrix opened the book to reveal an introduction page:

Magic is curious. When used for good, it can be a beautiful thing. But if magic is used for heinous things, it can be wickedly destructive.

There is a turning point in every young witch’s and warlock’s life, when they learn that they can create magic. If they are not mentored, it can lead to the creation of a fiercely evil spirit inside of them; A spirit greedy for power. Magic, mostly, can give you what-ever you want. But, in life, we are not meant to have everything. Because to have everything, you need to take from others.

Use your magic wisely. Love the world, and it will love you back.
I dedicate this book to my beautiful baby granddaughter Beatrix. May this book guide her someday on her journey.”

-Etta Percival

Beatrix turned to page one and they began. “How to Move Objects with Your Mind” titled the first page. Beatrix read the instructions:

Clear your mind. Forget of everything, except the object you would like to move. Imagine the item getting light as a feather, and floating up into the air. Believe it can float in the air. If you do not believe, it will not work.

Beatrix wasn’t sure she could do it. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She opened her eyes, and stared at a clock resting on top of an old dresser across the room. She looked at the little wooden clock, and imagined that it could fly. She closed her eyes, and envisioned it floating weightless above the dresser. She opened her eyes to see the clock still resting on the dresser. “I can’t do it” she said. “Sure you can” Arthur said in a reassuring voice. He put his hand on hers, smiled, and said “I believe in you. You can do it!”

Beatrix looked at the clock, blushing slightly. If she could float above a valley, she could certainly do this, she thought. Beatrix looked at the little clock once more, and closed her eyes. She imagined the clock lift up off of the dresser, hovering effortlessly above the dresser top. She opened her eyes and, to her surprise, the clock floated in the air like a balloon. Happiness and joy filled her heart. She turned and gave Arthur a big hug. Arthur said to her “See, I knew you could do it!”

Beatrix and Arthur spent the rest of the evening learning new spells and other magic. The night had gotten late, and they decided it was time to get some sleep. They each got ready for bed, and rested next to each other on a small, full size bed. They turned out the lights. The moonlight washed the room in a dim blue light. “Arthur” said Beatrix. Arthur turned and looked at her. “Thank you…for everything that you are doing for me” she said. He watched as her eyes glazed over. She smiled as a tear sailed down her cheek. Arthur brushed her tear away with his hand. She looked at him as he stared deep into her eyes. They looked at each other for a moment, and Arthur smiled and said “Goodnight Beatrix.” She smirked and said “Goodnight.”

(Read Chapters 10 - 20 in the "Part 2" post)