The Creative Strategist

by Sarah Noffke

  “Okay, how about a vine?” Liv mused, pointing at the canopy overhead. Not just a rope of vine fell down on her head, but along with it came a few heavy branches, which assaulted Liv in the head, making her sink faster.

  She threw them off the best she could, but then saw the hole she’d made in the canopy overhead. It hurt her heart, making her realize she’d damaged the forest. Even though she knew conserving her magic was best, she made an impromptu decision. Pointing at the branches, she sent all of them, minus one long vine, back up, weaving them back into place.

  When that was done, she turned her attention to the vine, trying to wind it up, careful to keep it from the quicksand. Liv wasn’t sure how her lasso skills were since she hated rodeos and had spent exactly zero time as a cowgirl.

  Holding onto one end, she tried to toss the vine at Bellator. Thankfully, her aim was good, and the vine made contact. Unfortunately, her approach was wrong, and the vine simply fell loose beside Bellator.

  Liv huffed, looking down. The quicksand was at her hips now.

  “Okay, I just need to focus,” she decided, letting out a long breath.

  Like she’d seen in the movies, Liv circled the vine over her head, releasing it when it had enough speed. It actually wrapped around Bellator, to her surprise. However, when Liv tugged, it pulled free again.

  She reeled it in quickly, not at all entertained by the gross noises the quicksand was making. Again Liv tried to lasso Bellator, but the pressure caused by sinking seemed to be deterring her from focusing properly.

  Beside her, the trees shook. She was doubtful it was a park ranger who was coming to help. When a giant lizard crashed through the brush, Liv lost hope that he was there to save her.

  The thing was easily as long as a car. Its long forked tongue slipped from its mouth as it regarded her with ravenous fury.

  “Die by quicksand or giant lizard?” Liv asked herself, tilting her head back and forth as if weighing her options.

  Wondering why she hadn’t considered this before, she pointed her finger at the vine’s end lying next to Bellator. It rose, circling several times before tying itself in place. Liv tugged, finding the vine secure.

  She began pulling herself toward Bellator as the lizard lumbered in her direction, looking not at all happy about her attempts to escape. As she neared the edge of the quicksand, the beast sped up, moving with more agitation.

  Liv redoubled her efforts, moving her hands one over the other as she dragged her legs behind her. The lizard, who had no manners whatsoever, tried to cut her off when she made it to the dry bank, lashing out at her.

  Liv was forced to drop the vine as she launched a fireball at the monster. He swallowed it promptly, gulping it down like it was a large turkey.

  “Right,” Liv said. “So you like fire. Good to know.”

  The lizard opened his mouth, and a rush of flames sped out of it. Liv jumped, ducking and wrapping her arms over her head as the heat soared over her. The momentum had been enough to release her from the quicksand, but now she had bigger problems. Literally.

  The giant lizard closed his mouth, blinking at her with a strange fury. Liv didn’t want to do what seemed like the obvious thing, but she knew she had little choice. Fire didn’t work on the beast. He was too close to Bellator for her to reach. And her only other option rested next to her.

  Liv stuck out her hand, throwing a huge wave of wind at the lizard. As she’d planned, it picked him up as if it were a cyclone, whirled him around, and dropped the flailing monster into the pit of sand where she’d just been.

  The lizard screamed, its claws paddling frantically as its bottom half sank. The sight was too much for Liv. She wanted to live and didn’t want to be eaten by the man-eating lizard, but killing it, especially like this, seemed wrong.

  She strode quickly over to Bellator, pulling it up from the earth.

  “I might regret this,” she said, pointing at the lizard that was about to be swallowed by the quicksand because it hadn’t watched enough movies and didn’t know to remain still.

  Liv pressed her eyes shut and pulled her hand back up as if yanking in a fish at the end of a line. The lizard flew toward her and knocked her back, and she crashed into a tree trunk. And because she had that kind of luck, the lizard landed only a few feet away, adorned with quicksand all over his body, the same as Liv.

  She rubbed her head from the impact, giving the lizard a tentative expression. “So, I’m not sure if you realized what happened there, but in case you blacked out, I just saved your life.”

  The lizard lunged at her. She jumped back, narrowly avoiding being chomped.

  “Sure, I was the one who threw you in the quicksand, but still, I saved you,” Liv argued.

  Again the beast lunged at her. Liv decided against an attack. For some reason, Bellator wasn’t interested in fighting the beast, which was unlike the blood-hungry sword. Instead, it seemed to want to rest. Knowing that trusting her sword was for the best, Liv stuck it in her sheath, staring at the lizard like it had the next move.

  “I’m unarmed,” she stated. “So if you’re going to eat me, do it fast. I don’t have time for you to find hot sauce, which obviously makes everything taste better.”

  Liv stared at the lizard, waiting for its next move. She was prepared to jump to the side. To run. To fly into the trees. But what she knew she must not do was hurt the lizard. That message was echoing from her core. The lizard didn’t lunge. Instead, it approached her, sniffing her boots. She tensed, clenching every muscle in her body. She kept her chin up as the lizard ran its nose up to her hips, continuing to sniff.

  “Good lizard,” Liv said, wondering if it was deciding where to start eating her. Maybe one arm at a time? Maybe from the head down? Or the feet up?

  It flicked its long tail, creating a wind that was almost as strong as the one she’d used to knock it into the sandpit. Again, the tail flew. It was about to hit her in the face. Liv didn’t back away, though. A strange faith overcame her, and she remained completely still as the tail soared straight for her face.

  To her surprise, it stopped inches away. She held her breath. Blinked. Nearly peed herself. Then slowly, the lizard lowered his tail, regarding her with quiet appreciation. His tongue flicked out of his mouth as he sauntered into the jungle, apparently done with her.

  “Well, that was easy,” Liv lied, brushing at the quicksand on her pants, to zero effect. She looked around, hearing a rustling sound, wondering what devilish monster was after her next.

  Liv didn’t pull Bellator when the trees parted as if being pushed apart by giant hands. Instead, she lowered her chin and waited for whatever was going to come next.

  For the second time, Liv almost wet herself when a glorious and majestic orange and red bird as large an eagle soared over the trees and landed on the ground before her. The bird had bright blue eyes and all the wisdom of the world in his gaze. Liv had never seen anything so beautiful in all her life.

  And then he spoke to her, not aloud, but rather in her mind.

  You know when to not fight and how to honor and protect all creatures, the phoenix said. I have yet to meet anyone who visits my island like you.

  The phoenix flew away without another word, but lying where it had been was a single orange and red feather. Liv could hardly believe it.

  She approached carefully, worried this was a trick. However, when she held the feather in her hands, it was real.

  Had everyone who had ever come to Jaco Island fought and pillaged, looking for the feather? Was the key to be at peace with the island, not fighting the dangers it presented? Liv wasn’t sure she’d ever know what had transpired on that strange island, but as she held the feather close to her chest, she was aware that she’d been in the presence of one of the most powerful creatures in the magical world.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Liv deposited the phoenix’s feather on the countertop in front of Subner. If he was impressed, he didn’t show it.

  “So you di
dn’t fight the monitor lizard, then?” Subner asked.

  Liv narrowed her eyes at him. “I did, sort of. But then I rescued him.”

  “And you didn’t destroy the forest to get out of the quicksand?” Subner asked curiously.

  “I did, but I mended it,” she replied bitterly.

  He nodded, combing his hand over his chin. “Did you meet any of the other creatures guarding the island?”

  “No, and if you knew about all this, why didn’t you warn me?” Liv asked.

  “Because,” Subner began, “the phoenix would have known if you were doing something to be proven as being noble at heart. You can fake that, but it’s detectable. I needed you to be honest and good because that was what you wanted to be. Because you knew preserving life was important. That was the only way the phoenix would relinquish one of its feathers.”

  “If I had defended myself, like, killed the lizard and brought down a tree, what would have happened?” Liv asked.

  “More obstacles would have come at you until you were dead.”

  “And you just let me walk into that without any warning?” Liv questioned, her voice rising.

  “I had confidence that you’d make the right decisions,” Subner stated, plucking the feather off the counter and turning back to his work with the two metal balls.

  “You and Papa are some tricky—”

  “I’d stop while you’re ahead, Warrior Beaufont,” Subner stated.

  “Okay, fine. I’m still alive. Thanks for not telling me how to survive because that might have gotten me killed…I think.”

  “And now you’re ready to go stop Russ,” Subner said. “Although it will be much more difficult than getting the feather from the phoenix.”

  “Let me guess: you’re not going to tell me how to defeat him, even though you know, right?”

  “I actually don’t know,” Subner said with a sigh. “It’s been a long time since Russ was around.”

  “Oh, well, I realize you told me he’s after a powerful entity,” Liv began. “But my question is, why?”

  “Because Papa Creola cares a great deal about this creature,” Subner stated.

  Liv was surprised he had given her any information. “Continue,” she dared to say.

  “I believe that whoever released Russ wants to draw Papa Creola out of hiding, thinking he will defend this creature from Russ,” Subner explained.

  “But he won’t, will he?” Liv questioned.

  Subner shook his head. “No, he’s relying on you to do it.”

  Liv nodded. “Okay, so where do I find Russ?”

  “The portal to the underworld is in a place few expect,” Subner stated. “However, Russ won’t be there for long unless you stop him. Once he breaks out, he’ll come after his target and carry it to where he believes it belongs—the underworld, where it will be trapped forever.”

  “Okay, so is the portal to the underworld at Disneyland? Or a frozen yogurt shop? Another happy place?” Liv asked.

  “No, it’s in a place much happier than those.” Again, he extended his hand. She copied his movement, allowing him to drop another piece of parchment into her palm.

  Liv unrolled it, read the location, and realized she should be surprised. However, at this point, this was par for the course.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Canada. Obviously, the portal to the underworld was located in the peaceful and happy country of Canada. Specifically, it was in a little village where the locals all knew each other’s names and played ice hockey together on the weekends. The portal was apparently in the cellar of a craft mall, where the locals all rented booths to display their art and sold it to one another.

  According to the owner, Amity Buckwell, no one ever made any money because they always turned around and bought something from another artist with their profits.

  “We mostly just trade funds,” Amity explained.

  “That’s sweet,” Liv said, admiring the various booths as she passed them on the way to the back.

  Amity hadn’t questioned Liv when she stated that she needed to inspect the cellar. She’d simply smiled and said she’d be happy to show Liv anything she needed to see. Liv wanted to caution the woman to ask for ID in the future or something, but that kind of questioning would have prevented Liv from getting to the portal.

  Maybe Amity didn’t know her shop’s cellar led to the underworld. Maybe she did know, and thought that whoever was bold enough to venture down there had to endure the risk that went along with it. Or maybe all Canadians were just good people.

  “I’ll take it from here,” Liv said when Amity unlocked the door to the musty cellar.

  “Whatever you like,” the woman said, holding up the keys. “I’ll be up in my office if you need anything. Just holler when you’re done, and I’ll come down here and lock up.”

  Liv nodded, forcing a smile. She turned for the door but paused. “Do you know what’s down here?” Her curiosity had finally gotten the better of her.

  The woman’s expression changed. “I’ve heard rumors, but I treat this area of the building the same way I do bell peppers.”

  “How is that?” Liv asked.

  “I leave them alone. The darn things give me heartburn, and are too spicy for my liking.”

  Liv nodded. Canadians couldn’t even handle a bell pepper. The extra jalapenos she ordered on her nachos would probably kill them. “So you know what’s down there, then?”

  “I know what my granny told me,” Amity answered. “She’s the one I inherited the business from. I’ve done what she told me and kept the area locked at all times. However, she said that if anyone ever showed up needing to go down there, I was to let them in without question.”

  That had made Liv’s job easier. “Well, I’m here to secure it so it doesn’t get out, which is what I suspect it will do if it goes unchecked.”

  Amity shivered. “I appreciate that very much. I’d never get to sleep at my usual bedtime of seven-thirty if I knew ghosts were roaming the streets.”

  Ghosts. That was what Amity thought was locked in the cellar? And seven-thirty? These people were simple but in wonderful ways.

  “Don’t worry,” Liv stated confidently. “I’ll ensure the ghosts stay locked down here.”

  Amity smiled in relief. “I’m glad for that. I just wonder who called you to tell you about the problem. Murray, maybe? He’s the one who has been hearing the ghosts get more restless, probably because his booth is closest.”

  Liv nodded. “Yes, it was Murray.”

  Amity backed away. “Well, you do your job, and I’ll go do mine.”

  Once the woman was gone, she turned to face the eerie darkness that lay before her. The stairs to the cellar descended rapidly, leading to what she could tell was a dank and dirty storage area. Liv knew exactly what she was going to face, but the question that plagued her the most was why?

  Why was Russ back? Who was he after? And why was this creature so important to Papa Creola?

  Pulling Bellator from its sheath, she started down the rickety steps, knowing the best way to find answers was to search for them. Nothing was ever revealed in a beacon of light, but rather after exploring the darkness where few ventured.

  The step shuddered under Liv’s boots. She was about to conjure a light when a flame on the stone wall ignited. Liv’s hands automatically tightened on Bellator, and she paused to study the strange blue flame. This place was full of magic, and a very strange kind, too.

  Tentatively, Liv took a step, and another flame materialized on a torch ahead. She could now see that the staircase led to a wet stone floor surrounded by brick walls pierced by barred doors. At the end was the largest door, and behind it, something stirred. This definitely wasn’t the most inviting place she’d ever been.

  Water dripped from the rafters overhead. The floor shook again when Liv made it to the bottom of the stairs. She didn’t jump when something knocked hard against the barred door ahead. However, she nearly sliced Plato in half with Bellator
when he materialized beside her.

  “What the hell?” she asked, her anger flaring. He had never startled her when he popped up randomly, but that was because she was usually half-expecting it. However, he had left her, and she hadn’t thought he’d be coming back anytime soon. As happy as she was to see him, she was also furious that he had scared her so badly.

  “You can’t go down there,” he said, his voice deadly serious.

  “What?” she questioned. “I have to. Papa Creola says I have to stop Russ from getting out, which it sounds like he almost is.”

  Plato nodded. “He’s broken through the first four gates. There’s only one left.”

  Liv let out a long breath. “Well then, it sounds like I better hurry.”

  “No, you can’t.” Plato moved faster than she’d ever seen him, taking the place in front of her and blocking her path.

  Liv narrowed her eyes at the lynx. “You’ve been acting super-strange lately. You leave me without an explanation, and now you’ve shown up and told me I can’t do my job.”

  “Liv, I think you can do many amazing things. However, you can’t stop Russ. He’s too powerful, and he will kill anyone who gets in his way.”

  Heat flared across her face. “How dare you tell me I can’t do this? I’ve fought things that make this puppy look like…well, like a puppy dog.”

  “With three heads,” Plato said, walking backward, looking over his shoulder at the thundering gate.

  Liv followed. “Why did you show up now? I thought you said you had to disappear? Did you just stop by to tell me I’d fail, and that I can’t do this?”

  “Liv, this is the strongest magical creature I’ve ever known. There is only one creature who has ever defeated it.”

  “The one who put it behind the five gates, right?” Liv guessed.

  Plato nodded.

  “Well, who was it? Maybe I can go and find them,” she said, mostly to herself. If Plato hadn’t deserted her, he could have given her this information originally and saved her the time.