JACKSONThere was silence across the room, eery silence. Maximus? Maximus! I turned sharply to see disbelief, anger and confusion pass across the faces in the room - the last being on Owen. I still stood frozen. It was Caleb who broke the silence, his voice resounding through the room. 'Maximus?'Olga turned to him.'Yes. The Vampire your pack took down. Krystal had being in the fight. I thought she had died. I had mourned her' Olga's voice broke 'only for her to resurface again'.I unfroze, confused. 'She was there during the fight?' I asked. Olga nodded. 'She ran away from home. Next I hear, she was dead or was supposedly dead, killed during the battle against the Vampire Maximus' 'How then did she survive' Caleb asked.It was Owen who spoke after his initial confusion had worn off. 'Witches, unlike you believe, are powerful. We don't die easily. She must've survived the battle'Caleb sighed.I turned to Olga who looked blankly at the wall, a question burning in my mind.'
PHOENIXThe eery darkness blanketed the whole compound, crickets chirping wildly. I looked on, reality sinking. My mind went back to my earlier conversation with Lana.She had dropped by, fingers trembling wildly. I looked on, my gaze resting softly on her. she sat beside me and took my hands in her trembling ones. "Luna, I want you to listen to me. It's urgent" she mused, her voice sounding rushed. I turned to her, silently willing her to speak. She sighed, heavily. "I shouldn't be doing this but I can't be quiet anymore. I think Conrad, my brother is working against the Alpha" she mused.That had me seating up, eyes wide. "He had been acting strangely, distant so I followed him one time. He had climbed up the mountain and met with a man he had called Kenneth. They talked about a woman they both referred to as Mistress. They are plotting to attack, Luna, attack tonight"I sat up. "What" I squeaked. My throat burned from lack of use. Lana got up, dashing into the kitchen. She
THIRD PERSON Krystal heaved a vengeful sigh, her mind a monotone.PhoenixShe had to kill PhoenixPhoenix had to die.'I will take you down Phoenix, all of you. You can't beat me. I have the last say' she bellowedHer body began heating up, blue strings of light surrounding her just as her men began backing away in fear. The Mistress was loosing her mind. She was out of control with hatred. Phoenix closed her eyes quietly, breathing in calmly. She remembered what Caleb had told her after he mumbled earnestly that her mom was alive. Stay focused, he had said. If you get lost in your thoughts everyone dies, he had told her. She thought about her Dad that had died to protect her, Rain, a friend she had lost and closed her eyes for a fight that may very well be her last. She was prepared to fight to the death. * * *Warm sunlight peaked through the curtains, filling the room with its golden hue just as the occupant of the sole bed opened her eyes for the first time in years.Her
PHOENIX I trembled, tears of anguish racing down my face, leaving behind salty trails. The loud roar outside increased, wails and the sound of bones breaking resonating through the pristine walls. I wound my arms tighter around myself, my knees drawn up and my head resting on it. I shivered in fear, my tears wetting my thin flannel shirt. I wrapped my hands around my head, trying to drown out the sound but the wails, the screams, the sound of bones breaking pierced through my tight fists and rung through my traumatized ears. I breathed in deeply, my breathe catching in my throat as I stood up, making my way to the front door. I trembled. As soon as I stepped into the yard, my mouth hung open. I stood dazed, the view in front of me gory.It was my fault.It was all my fault. I stepped outside, weaving my way through fallen bodies, dead bodies, as I searched for him. My chest tightened painfully as I saw pack members being slaughtered gruesomely, body parts sent flying wildly. I
PHOENIXTWO YEARS LATER...I stood in front of the hospital ward, wriggling my fingers, my shot nerves present. My heart beat erratically, sounding like a mad drum under the hands of a drunk drummer. I trembled.I was beyond nervous. I bounced on my feet, my body convulsing with nerves as I breathed in deeply, trying to reign in my wandering thoughts. I began to count in my head, trying to calm my quivering nerves when a throat, clearing in the distance, snapped me out of my reverie. I turned to see sparkling sea blue eyes stare back at me.Dr. Ashley.She beamed at me, her eccentric deep blue eyes gleaming with undisguised ardor as she pulled me into her arms, her warm embrace. Her sumptuous strawberry fragrance enveloped me and I greedily breathed in deeply, putting an abrupt stop to my quivering nerves.She had that calming and soothing effect on people.'Phoenix! Good to see you. I take you are here to see Katerine' she said with a big smile on her face, the edges of her blue ey
PHOENIX The bell jingled as I stumbled into 'Nature's kitchen', my nerves picking up again. I gripped the edge of my graphic Tee, running the fabric through my quivering fingers to try steady my ever so wonky nerves. I bounced on my toes, my fingers wriggling in nervousness. My breath caught in my throat and I cleared my throat to steady my nerves. I began to count in my head, trying to focus on my breathing. I visibly sunk into myself as I looked around the almost full restaurant. I breathed in deeply and quickly gravitated towards the kitchen, my place of work. I had to quickly steady myself to avoid crashing face first on the ground when a pale leg shot out of nowhere, blocking my path. The culprit, Kyra.She stared at me, a perfectly trimmed eye brow raised.'You're late Phoenix' she drawled out, her rosy red lips quirked up in anger and I sunk further into myself. 'I..I had t-to see m-my mom' I murmured out, my ever so nervous stammer present. Kyra's cold blue eyes sparkl
PHOENIXTEN YEARS AGO... Eight year old me sat on the semi rusty swing, letting the cool spring breeze push me back and forth. I watched as other young pups bounced around the half full play ground while I chewed on my bottom lip, biting it in furious concentration. My fiery red hair was up in pigtails and I twisted the curls mercilessly in absolute nervousness. A hand grabbed mine, effectively stopping my muscular act and I raised my forest green eyes to see warm hazel ones looking down at me. I sunk into myself. The owner of the beautiful eyes sat down on a bench beside the swing and he turned to throw his dimpled smile at me.'I saw you sitting alone so I decided to keep you company' he muttered when I kept staring mercilessly at him. I shrugged.'I am Rain by the way' he continued when I didn't say a word. I shrugged again.He sighed deeply, running his chubby fingers through his coffee brown hair. I stared on. 'I am eleven' he pressed, wanting me to at least say something.
PHOENIX 'Nixy? Earth to Nixy!' someone whispered, sending cold shivers down my spine. I turned abruptly to see Caleb staring intently at me, his green eyes ablaze with worry.'Oh Caleb, I didn't see you there' I mused, subtly shaking my head to calm my racing thoughts.Caleb merely looked at me, his eyebrows sardonically raised.'scrubbing tables is not part of your job description' he mused, his raised brows daring me to deny it.'oh come on Caleb, I can handle it. Besides you have helped me more times than I can count. I owe it to you to help' I said trying to quickly finish up before he decided to grab the sponge off my soggy hands. Caleb merely gave a sigh of defeat, breathing in deeply.'okay then, do what you want. You can be stubborn when you want to be. I am heading out. Why don't we quickly grab dinner. It's my treat' he said. 'Sure Caleb. Let me just finish with this' It was past nine when I eventually arrived home. The shadows casted by the trees kept me company, oddly g