Guardians

"So," he said in the same static tone.

"So what?" I asked, irritated.

"So you agreed to his terms," he replied.

"What else was I supposed to do?!" I exploded at him. All the tensions of the ordeal had been building up, and now like a volcano, I blew up at him.

"You had no other choice," he sighed in resignation. "Maybe we can do something to stop him."

"Oh, and what are two kids going to do against a powerful dark wizard and his entire organization?" I asked vehemently. I knew it was mean to say that, but I couldn't help it.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled quietly. I finally came to my senses. We needed to work together, not blame each other.

"No, I'm sorry," I said. "You're right; maybe we can do something."

"The question is," my friend asked, mainly to himself, "what?"

"Do you have any idea of what he wants us to do?" I asked, hoping his Othersight could help us.

"No," he replied, "but I am sure that it won't be good." A minute of silence went by before he spoke again. "You overcame the truth serum rather quickly."

"It was nothing compared to the Cruciatus curse," I smiled grimly. "I wish we had our wands with us."

"If we did," my friend stated with a lopsided grin, "then we wouldn't be here now, would we?"

"I suppose not," I replied, returning the smile. "What do we do now?"

"Wait, I guess," he shrugged. In the quiet that followed, a crazy idea entered my mind.

"Wait a minute," I cried out in excitement. "Not all spells need a wand, right?"

"Rose, the ones that don't are usually potion of some kind," my friend replied, but I wasn't about to give up.

"I didn't need my wand to expel the truth serum," I stated, a broad smile on my face. It took him a moment or two to understand.

"It would take a wand to do that, but you didn't need one!" he exclaimed. "Go ahead and try an unlocking spell; it doesn't hurt to try." I immediately concentrated on the words of the Alohomora spell.

"Alohomora!" I cried out. There was a sudden flash of light and pain, and I shut my eyes tight. I had never gotten a result like that before! Of course, I had never used the Alohomora spell on myself before, either.

"You did it, Rose!" my friend called out, causing my eyes to open in surprise. The chains had fallen off my wrists. I stretched out my muscles and immediately came to my friend's aid. The Alohomora spell was easy to cast, and it wasn't long before we were sprinting down the torch-lit corridor. So far we hadn't run into any Brethren, but the chance of that happening was vast. Suddenly, a bird screech and a ruffle of wings put a halt to our tracks.

"What in the world...?" I could hear my friend say as we stared through the barred window into another cramped cell. Inside was a huge scarlet and gold bird, who screamed out in anger as it recognized us as humans. Almost immediately, my friend went into the Othersight. Gradually the bird calmed down, and I waited somewhat patiently for an answer.

"She's a phoenix," my friend eventually said after returning from the Othersight. "She was captured and sold to many owners before the Brethren acquired her. She's been locked down here ever since, Rose. Can't we help her?" My friend looked at me with a pleading look. I eyed the phoenix bird again. Phoenixes were legendary for their sharp talons and beak, and their feathers acted as a tough armor.

"Is she... safe?" I asked, glancing at the razor-sharp talons, four on each foot.

"Of course," he replied. "She's promised not to harm us if we help her." I stared at the phoenix and found myself gazing straight into her eyes. They weren't bloodcurdling eyes like I had expected; on the contrary, they were filled with intelligence and hope. Those eyes convinced me at last.

"Alohomora!" I called out, and the phoenix jumped from the open doorway with a cry of joy, blowing us both down to the ground.

"Whoa, easy there!" I cried out as she beat her wings. She realized where we were and waited for us to get up.

"We need to hurry up and get out of here," my friend said, being the rock of good sense as always. The phoenix gave a cry as she took to the air.

"She says she knows the way," he said as the phoenix flew down the hall. "Come on!" Together we ran after the phoenix and hopefully not into the Brethren.