The Pure One -✔- Book Two of the Phoenix Trilogy

Chapter 31 🔥 The Intruder

Hi! I know I said there's no update today but I was really inspired by some of my readers messages (you know who you are, wink) So here's my token of gratitude. A piece of sweet message could go a long way. This chapter is two thousand plus words. Imagine, I wrote this for four hours only? Trust me, it's a big OH on my part since one update usually costs me a day or two. Enjoy!
Love lots,
Mariam Sarhan

~~~~○●○~~~●○●~~~○●○~~~~

"Helllloooo. Maybe someone might want to say something?" Pearl was waving her hands in front to catch the attention of her rather shocked and obviously overwhelmed audience. "Anyone?" She asked again starting to doubt if they would snap out of it.

"Hmnnn, maybe I revealed myself too soon? Scalia did told me not to," she was pacing left and right while saying her thoughts out loud, "but they've proven they're strong. I've tested their capabilities except for the runaway Faerian, of course."

She was so engrossed discussing to herself that she didn't even noticed her audience tiptoeing away from her very quietly.

"Tsk, tsk. Me and my stubbornness. It didn't even occurred to me that they couldn't handle to be in a my presence." Pearl continued to mumble, her right hand pressed on her jaw.

"Anyway," she suddenly jolted to look towards them but was surprised to see no one. "Hey! Why the hide and seek? In case you haven't noticed, running away is futile." Pearl shouted towards the treelines. She waited a few minutes but received no answer.

Pearl smirked and walked back towards the two passed out figures lying on the sand. "My, my, my. Your friends left you both here at my mercy."

Meanwhile, somewhere inside the woods. . .

"Okay, I think we lost her." Venus whispered as she stopped from running. "We need to regroup fast. Daphne and Agnus needs us."

"What the heck is that all about?" Amelia asked anxiously.

"I don't think it's a very good idea to leave them there with that woman." Alrik replied instead.

"We have to come up with a good strategy here." Vee continued without answering to both of her companion's statement.

Amelia sat down on a protruded rock by a tree, "we heard the same thing, right? She's a goddess. I don't think she's lying. Geez, who could have thought Phoenix has a sister."

"Daphne and Agnus might be in danger now. We have to go back," Aldrik insisted.

The three were beyond shocked from what they discovered. They were all lost into their own set of thoughts.

A silhouette was watching them from far away. To him they seemed to be discussing with each other. But, the truth was, not one of them was actually hearing the other one out. They were just babbling one word after another trying to avoid the reality. What was real and what was not?

"Is this a new way of collaboration nowadays? Can you come up with an answer doing that?"

They were all startled to hear Pearl's voice but they don't physically see her anywhere.

"Where are you? How did you find us?" Venus asked while looking around perplexed.

"Come back to where your friends are. You're wasting time. I'm not your enemy and I'm sure you won't stand a chance against me if you make me one." Pearl's words was so emotionless that it would set fright deep within your soul.

"O-okay," was all they could answer in unison looking as pale as a ghost. But no one moved an inch. They were as if stuck to where they stood.

"Alright! I'll do it myself." They heard Pearl said. Some snapping of fingers echoed, in a blink of an eye, they found themselves standing in front of her.