Eight - A Warm Welcome and Directions

Isabel led Bethylasia, Sheila, and the books back to her village down a little path. Soon they arrived at the village of Ember Hollow. "This is my village," Isabel explained to her new friends, "My family and I have lived here years and years."
"I see," Bethylasia said with observation, "It looks like a decent place to live." All around her were empty shops and houses; everyone was at the bonfire.
"It may look decent," Isabel stated, "But every day is worse than the last!"
"What do you mean?" Mystery asked with concern.
Isabel took a deep breath and said, "This evil warlock you mentioned – Dante – his three henchwomen raid our village every day and force me and my people to give them our money so they can embezzle it on weapons and materials for Dante's magic!"
Horror gasped and said with shock, "That's terrible!"
"It is!" Isabel said with gloominess, "That's why my family and everyone else are very poor." She then slumped her head and let out a sad sigh.

Soon, everyone reached a small cottage on the outskirts of the village. Isabel went up to the front door and opened it slowly. "Isabel, is that you?" a kind woman's voice asked from inside.
"Yes, Mother," Isabel answered as she went in, "I've brought some new friends in to see us."
"New friends, eh?" a man's voice asked, "Who are they, my daughter?"
"The Princess Bethylasia and her loyal book subjects," Isabel replied, sounding important.
The man and woman inside the house both gasped and man said, "Well, bring them in, Isabel!"
Isabel led the princess and the books into the cottage and in the living room were the man and the woman – Isabel's parents. The father had light skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes; he wore a cream-colored shirt under a brown vest, orange breeches, gray stockings, and brown shoes.
The mother also had light skin, and she had light, sandy brown hair and green eyes; she was wearing a light green shirt under a brown dress, dark brown wooden shoes, and a gray scarf on her head.

Sheila looked around and saw a black cat sleeping up on a bookshelf. The calico meowed out loud, and then the back cat woke up with alertness. "I see that your cat sees Hazel," Isabel giggled to Bethylasia.
The princess smiled back as she removed her cloak hood, and then Isabel's parents bowed to her in respect. "Your highness," Isabel's father said as he stood up straight, "What brings you and your subjects into Ember Hallow at this time?"
Bethylasia cleared her throat and said, "I'm on a quest to find the Pagemaster's book of secrets. My grandfather said it was stolen by the evil warlock Dante!"
The peasant family gasped in shock, and then Isabel's mother whispered, "Oh, Lester!"
Lester, Isabel's father, comforted his wife by saying, "It's okay, Marianne. If the princess can destroy a sorceress, she can certainly defeat a warlock!"
"Yeah," Bethylasia continued, "My friends and I are looking for the best way to find Dante so that we can get the book of secrets back as quickly as possible!"
Lester rubbed his chin and said, "Hmmm. Dante is very dangerous, and the quest for finding him is not easy at all."
"Please, Father, her highness must know!" Isabel pleaded to her father.
Lester sighed and explained, "Dante's lair is way off in the Restricted Section. It's past the Fantasy section where we are now…" Fantasy grinned and nodded at that part before Lester continued, "And it is past the Adventure section's villages and cities, too. There will be thieving gypsies, wicked literary demons, and even some of Dante's minions, too!"
"We can take it, right?" Science Fiction said with a look of determination.
Bethylasia and the other books nodded and then Isabel said bravely, "I'm coming with her."
Marianne gasped and asked with disbelief, "Isabel, why?"
"I need to face my fear of fire sooner or later," Isabel answered, "The princess and her friends need someone who's been through a lot, and can go through more!"
"What do you mean?" Bethylasia asked with a raised brow.
"I'm sure Isabel will explain things later," Lester replied to the princess. He turned to Bethylasia and said, "You keep my daughter safe, your highness."
"We won't let anything happen to her," Bethylasia reassured with a determined smile.


A while later, Isabel and her parents were outside the cottage with Bethylasia, Sheila, and the books. Hazel the black cat wondered what was going on from beside the front door, so she walked out to investigate. Sheila looked at Hazel with surprise in her eyes, but then she sniffed at the black cat's nose. Hazel nuzzled her nose against Sheila's cheek, and the two of them purred in content. "Something tells me that Hazel should come along and protect the princess's cat," Lester chuckled.
Isabel picked up Hazel in her arms, and then gave her parents a reassuring smile, telling them that she was going to be okay. Marianne hugged her daughter with tears in her eyes, and then Lester did the same.
"It's alright," Sci-Fi softly assured Isabel's parents, "We'll find the book of secrets, and then there will be happiness again in Libralia. I promise!"
"Wish me luck, Mother and Father," Isabel told her parents as she walked off with her new friends, "I'll face my fear!"
With that, everyone waved goodbye, and then the large group of friends walked off towards the entrance to Ember Hollow. Unknown to anyone, three familiar evil women and some fiery demons were watching them…