The Rise of the Warrior: The Hakima's Tale, #2

By Dedra L. Stevenson

In the continuation of The Hakima's Tale, Phoenix Kassim must train as a warrior against the supernatural power of the Blue Jinni and his legions of followers. Her mentor, Sophia, teaches her how to battle dark supernatural powers and gather the tools of The Hakima.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dedra L. Stevenson
• Release date: Jan 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781942735014

Dedra L. Stevenson

Dedra L. Stevenson is the author of The Hakima’s Tale trilogy, Desert Magnolia, The Skinwalker: Resurrection, Antar and Haider, and Tales of the Lantern.  Additionally, she’s the Executive Producer of an award winning short documentary, Lemonade, about the trials of caring for an adult with Autism in the UAE. She’s worked as an Instructor of Media Studies at Zayed University for 5 years, and was the Co-Founder of Women in Film and Television in UAE.  Her publishing imprint, Blue Jinni Media, is an emerging brand for many types of content, including Audio Books, EBooks, Paperback, Podcast and Films.  Together with her partner, Rodney W. Harper, she’s producing Lore Hunters, a podcast exploring world folklore tales and experiences. Her film, Lemonade, is receiving international attention, has won two awards for Directing and Producing, and had sparked many other Autism awareness campaigns and care programs to begin. She’s the mother of 4 children, holds writing workshops at schools throughout the UAE, and reports that she’s yet to produce a feature film, so that’s on her list as she’s now writing a feature length screenplay based on her first horror novel, The Skinwalker: Resurrection. Additionally, she’s got a series of children’s books that will be coming out soon, The Magic Carpet Series, for very young readers, an international Cookbook called Breaking Bread Around the World, and a prequel to The Hakima’s Tale, called Iretunaar: The Blue Fire of the Desert You can follow her via any of her social media networks: Twitter: @Hakimastale , @LemonadethefilmUAE @bluejinnimedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHakimastale/ https://www.facebook.com/magnoliagrovethebook/ https://www.facebook.com/bluejinnimedia/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/244885799261170/ Instagram: #bluejinnimedia #dedrastevenson Snapchat: Dedra_s

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The Hakima's Tale: The Rise of the Warrior

E-Book Edition

The Hakima’s Tale®

is a registered trademark of Dedra L. Stevenson.

Copyright © 2014 by Dedra L. Stevenson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including but not limited to characters and content may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN  978-1-942735-01-4

eBook Layout and Editing by:  Rodney W. Harper

This book is dedicated to the special kids, the ones who don't quite fit in. May we find their true purpose.

Foreword

Writing this second book was a lovely experience, and as Phoenix, our hero, became empowered by gathering the tools of a warrior of the supernatural, I also became empowered.  I lived the adventure with her, felt her pain and her joy, and shared in her sense of purpose.

As readers enjoy her tale, I hope that they too, will feel empowered and search for their sense of purpose...I want to thank the readers of the first instalment, The Hakima's Tale: The Revenge of the Blue Jinni, for supporting me with their letters of support.

Again, I must remind readers that this book is a work of fiction, and Jinn are not in reality as I have portrayed them in the book. Jinn are very real to millions of Muslim people, but nothing like what I have portrayed in this work of fantasy fiction.

BOOK TWO

The Rise of the Warrior

Aladdin remained two days in this hopeless state, without either eating or drinking. On the third day, regarding his death as certain, he lifted up his hands, and joining them as in the act of prayer, he wholly resigned himself to the will of heaven. In this action of joining his hands he happened, quite unconsciously, to rub the ring which the magician had put upon his finger and of the virtue of which he was as yet ignorant. When the ring was thus rubbed, a genie of enormous stature and a most horrid countenance instantly rose as it were out of the earth before him. This genie was so tall that his head touched the vaulted roof, and he addressed these words to Aladdin: 'What dost thou command? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave-as the slave of him who has the ring on his finger-both I and the other slaves of the ring.

1001 Arabian Nights

Prelude

The Tutelage

After a hard day of training, Phoenix thought to herself, I can’t believe that I’ve survived for more than two years with this old coot. She’s brilliant, but so bossy! I can’t wait to see my parents again. God, how I miss them!

She always looked so amazingly prepared when her parents came for a visit because she didn’t want them to worry about her; but no one realized the anguish in her heart, because she had learned how to hide her fears and heartaches so well. It was part of her training the Marid were masters at knowing exactly what fear to play with and exaggerate, and even Phoenix wouldn’t always be on to them. They came to her in all forms—wind, fire, and small animals, as well as completely invisible, although that form barely ever worked with her because she could smell them when they were invisible.

They were constantly planning attacks and ambushes, but Phoenix considered it target practice. She was becoming a mighty fighter, able to levitate balls of fire and hurl them at them via her telekinetic power; and, she absolutely loved it when they tried to place spells on her with the help of weak demons. As Phoenix saw the black shadow of the spell drifting through the air towards her, a mere utterance of Bismellah would dissipate it into the wind. She only had to think of it to get a chuckle.

Sophia had taught her well, but there was still so much to learn, and her physical/spiritual strength was still in need of fine tuning. Phoenix was a strong girl as compared to ordinary girls, but she needed to be more than strong—she needed to be invincible. But her physical strength was not as deficient as her spiritual strength. After all, Phoenix had reached her teenage years, a time of emotional turmoil for any girl, especially one who walked alone without even the love and safety of her parents to comfort her. And, as if that wasn’t enough, she was always wondering what it would be like to do normal things like hang out with her friends, play sports, or even have a crush on a boy.

As her teenage body awoke with feelings that she didn’t understand, she became more and more confused about what she wanted. Mother had told her that one day, after all this was over, she would be able to do normal things like get married and have a family, but she didn’t explain to her the growing desire to know a boy, and to enjoy his attention.

Sophia knew what was on her young pupil’s mind and commented, What you are feeling is normal, habibti, however you must learn to suppress it. You are not the same as ordinary teenage girls and you must learn to mask your heart’s desires, or, mark my words; they will find out and use it against us.

Phoenix realized that Sophia was right, but hormones were hormones, seemingly unstoppable. I know Khalto, she replied, I know, but I can’t help but wonder what it feels like to kiss a boy or feel him put his arm around me. I mean, I’m not even in school to get a look at how anything is done. How will I know how to react later, when all this is over, and some guy does pay attention to me?

S

ophia shook her head as she painfully reminded her, Habibti, please listen to me, and try to pay attention this time. Boys are something you simply cannot afford to think of now. You want to know how typical teenagers forget about the opposite sex? They get busy with other things, and in your case, I would hope that would be your training. Now, get back to work on your levitation practice.

Phoenix listened, and she tried to suppress the loneliness, but it was excruciating. After all, doesn’t everyone need someone to love and to be loved in return? For the moment, however, she tried to swallow her loneliness and practice the skills that would help her in her life’s mission.

Levitation and the power of teleportation and telekinesis were only a small part of her new found skills. Over the last two years she had learned many things; Martial Arts, the Holy Scriptures and their protective powers, healing through herbs, plants and crystals, various ways to kill or trap a Jinni, spells, and how to free a human of possession.

It was a wonder that Phoenix had time to think of anything else because that had been quite a lot of training to pack into two years. She had worked so hard, but she had not surpassed her mentor. Sophia could still block her every attempt to surprise her, and both of them knew that this simply wouldn’t do. In order to be victorious, Phoenix would have to be better, more clever, and faster than any Marid.

The Marid had started to ready their forces for the imminent war to come. From every river, stream or cave that Marid were said to inhabit, the Generals assembled their recruits from the forty troops of Jinn that had scattered the globe. Using arcane incantations and talismans, as well as scouting them by flight, Coulda, Angrit, and Bafeemus located the troops as well as their princes, who were easily convinced of the cause.

The inherited powers possessed by each Hakima differed slightly, so the Marid were not sure what they would be up against. They tried to prepare for everything, because in one year their master would be released, and the Marid would finally rule the earth and every being in it, both human and jinn.

The Arwaah also prepared by continuing their diplomatic missions to the many Jinn tribes and the Barakah. The Barakah were Jinn/human hybrids, and most of them didn’t even realize they were born from a Jinn parent. These hybrids were often the result of an unexpected pregnancy and often their mother didn’t even realize that it was a Jinn admirer that had fathered her child. They merely assumed that the child was the child of her husband.

These beings were always odd in some way, different from other children, and no one but the Jinn ever realized why. They had great dormant power that would only show itself at times of heightened emotion, such as anger or love. However, just because their power was dormant didn’t mean it wasn’t potentially powerful, even more powerful than a pure Jinn species, and that power would need to be on the side of good, not evil.

There was so much to do, and so many more things to learn, and only one year left. Would she become the warrior that everyone had hoped for? All the Hakimas before her had known who they were, from the time they were born, but Phoenix was at a severe disadvantage because she had learned late and packed a lifetime of knowledge and training into two years. Sophia had always said that the power of self-esteem and the belief in yourself is your greatest power, but Phoenix never told her that this was the one thing that eluded her. Would this be the Blue Jinni’s chance to be victorious?

He waited patiently, and it was as if he could feel the young Hakima’s doubt, as he felt more powerful and anxious to poison her at every turn.

Chapter 1

The Companion and the City of Orbs

Leaving home was tough for Phoenix, but even tougher for her parents. No two people suffered more from empty nest syndrome, and after all the years of worrying about Phoenix and her unique predicament, they had to get to know each other all over again.

Two years into the problem, however, was enough to bind them to each other, stronger than ever before. They went out together for dinner, for walks, and the cinema, always with protection from the Arwaah. However, their thoughts always turned to Phoenix.

Leila would say, quite often, I can’t stop thinking of her. Did we do the right thing? Oh Ben, doesn’t this all seem insane sometimes?

To which Ben would often reply, Baby, don’t worry. I don’t know how or why, but this all seems right to me. And, did you forget the confidence she showed the last time we saw her? She was radiant. I know our daughter is special, but now it shows in her eyes. She can take care of herself.

A conversation like this would often be followed by snuggling on the sofa, watching TV, embracing in the warm comfort of each other’s arms. On this night, however, their comfort was about to be disturbed by a familiar sight. He appeared before them and bowed with respect, then said, Great parents of the Hakima; I have urgent news from the King. We have looked into Phoenix’s future and discovered that there is something that she must do very soon if she wants to defeat the evil ones. She must find her companion immediately or she will be lost forever, and in order to find her, she must go to the City of Orbs. This is where her companion is trapped, and if Phoenix is unable to release her before the New Year, she will be trapped there forever. We can help her pass through the portal to her companion’s world.

Ben took a moment to collect his thoughts.

Yana, you have proven to be a trusted friend, Ben said. Thank you for this information. This is twice that you have warned us of potential danger.

Yana looked very pleased with himself, and bowed with respect before he faded from sight.

Visiting the City of Orbs required that Phoenix travel through the portal to another dimension, and in order to do this, she would temporarily be deconstructed at the molecular level and put back together. However, as the Jinn theorized, once on the other side, she will no longer be human, but Jinn herself, and no one could know for sure if she would be safe, either upon departure or arrival.

Messengers from the Arwaah house told Phoenix of her impending mission, and her reaction was less than pleasing to Sophia.

Why do I need this companion anyway? Phoenix asked upon hearing the news. I already have three. Can’t anyone explain to me why I should put myself in such danger for a fourth companion?

Sophia could not believe what she just heard, because, until now, she believed herself to be raising a warrior.

This is not the response of a princess! You are never to disappoint me again this way! Do you understand? Sophia quickly snapped.

Phoenix was taken back by her scolding because she had always believed Sophia to be working for her safety first at the end of the day. She communicated this through her hurt expression.

My dear, Sophia replied, I know my words disappoint you, but I am shocked by your lack of bravery. Everything in this life happens for a reason and the time jumper has already seen you in the future. Doesn’t that give you comfort? And, his exact words were, ‘she must obtain her companion from the city of orbs to have more chance for victory.’

Phoenix started to feel her inner strength come back. She looked at Sophia apologetically.

Sorry Auntie, guess I’m just a little tired from training today. When will we do this?

The messenger from the Fliers responded, Tomorrow, at Magreb.

Ok, if I have until the sunset tomorrow, I’ll go to sleep now so I can wake up early to get some practicing done, O.K.?

Sophia nodded in agreement, and the flier stayed overnight to be available to take Phoenix to the portal at the designated time and place.

Meanwhile, in the palace of the Marid, the Generals were planning their next move. Through their agents, Coulda had learned of Phoenix’s whereabouts a long time ago, but every attempt made on her life would be fruitless because of her special abilities, along with the fact that she was under constant surveillance by the Arwaah.

For weeks now, Coulda had been planning their next move, contemplating every possible way for them to attempt getting access to the girl. Bafeemus and Angrit could feel that Coulda was close to having a plan, but he hadn’t shared anything with them. This made them angry, because, as an officer, Coulda was the same rank as they were. Finally, Bafeemus broke the silence.

Brother, you’ve never led us wrong, but I’m really starting to doubt your abilities now. We must ask you what you’ve been working on. Restore our confidence in your sinister abilities.

I grow tired from plans that produce no results! Coulda replied, annoyed and bothered by the interruption. Therefore, I am finally devising a plan that will rid us of the mighty Hakima and her miserable followers. I know if I leave it to your abilities, we’ll end in failure, as always.

Chastised and offended, Bafeemus left Coulda’s comments without offering any reply. Angrit heard the whole thing, and was getting more than a little annoyed by Coulda’s constant criticizing.

Coulda, oblivious to their feelings, continued, "As you know, we have captured a time jumper and have beaten the truth out of him about what has been revealed to the Hakima. It seems that she must retrieve her companion from the City of Orbs to be able to use her most powerful abilities. However, in order to do this, she must pass through a portal that takes her to another dimension where she would be temporarily