Phoenix Tales-Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Ever Burning Fire 1

Deep within a shadowed wood, a young woman sat on the ground leaning against an old oak tree. Her fiery red hair turning lighter or darker depending on how the sunlight fell on her. Her eyes were closed, she herself thinking of memories centuries old now. Her ears caused her to be mistaken for an elf; she didn’t mind though, it kept her alive every day from her true destroyers, the Vampire hunters. ‘Being a hybrid between a full-blooded vampire and an elvish shapeshifter has its advantages…I can look like an elf and walk in the daylight with no true harm done,’ she thought to herself. She opened her long-lashed eyes revealing them to be a warm blue-hazel. Many had thought her beauty had surpassed those of an ordinary she-elf. She did not believe this to be so…even after all the memories inside her. She looked up and noticed it was noontime and she stood up to her five foot eight inch height, her subtle curves hidden beneath an emerald green traveling cloak. Underneath the cloak she wore button up blue shirt the sleeves draped a little at the ends hinting elegance. Her pants were a tan cloth…soft to the touch, but durable and suitable for traveling long distances. Her natural ivory colored skin was smooth and soft despite the years of travel. She sighed, ‘Distance…I have traveled many miles this past month…so many times.’ She shook her head and started walking through the woods…her mind wandering into memories that she hoped would never repeat themselves.2

~Flashback~3

Phoenix was walking home from her great-grandmother’s house in the Clan. She smiled a little. She was the next in line to rule the Clan…the Michinazyu. Her Clan was comprised of mostly various types of Elves, Shapeshifters, and the occasional Vampire. She herself was the only Vampire hybrid with in the Clan. She may have only been 8 years old…but much was expected of her. She was the leader’s great-granddaughter, a happy child by nature. She walked into her home…and screamed. Her mother lay dead on the floor…drained of her blood. Phoenix looked desperately around to see who had done this…when her own father came up behind her. “Hello daughter…good to see you home.” He shut the door to their home and picked her up, setting her on his lap. “Tell me what you learned today.”4

“But what about Mommy? How did she die?”He smiled coldly. “I’ll tell you soon I promise…now tell me about your lessons.” She looked up at him and started talking about her lessons. As she sat in his lap, his hand started moving up her leg and he started caressing her. Before he leaned down to kiss her throat, Crystal, Phoenix’s great-grandmother, burst into the home her staff at hand and her gold eyes hard.“Put. Her. Down. Darkax.” He growled. “Bitch…you stay out of my business.”Phoenix’s eyes widened as her grandmother stood in front of her father and picked her up, setting her on the ground. “No. You are not going to hurt another one of my girls.” She raised her staff light flashing and one moment her father was there…the next he was gone. Crystal looked down at Phoenix and smiled sadly, her white hair falling across one shoulder. “Come little one…let’s take you to your new home.” Phoenix’s eyes widened, “But…But…”5

“Shh… no buts. This no longer your home…your living with me.”6

~End Flashback~7

Phoenix walked until she came upon on a small abandoned kitten in a tree. She picked it up and noticed it was half starved and cold. She held the kitten to her body to warm it up and looked around trying to find a way to feed the poor thing before she was dead. As she searched she let her mind drift once more…to a memory not so long after that.8

~Flashback~9

It was her 14th birthday and she was walking home from the woods. She had been gathering herbs for healings used by her grandmother when suddenly Riki jumped out from behind an old oak tree. He was 4 years older than her but they were friends just the same. “Hello Riki…how are you?” Riki smiled gently and tugged Phoenix to his side. He replied huskily, “Oh I am doing very well thank you.” He ran a hand down her sides lightly sending shivers down her spine. Phoenix looked up at Riki. “Riki…what are you doing?” He smiled and bent forward to kiss her on the lips but she moved away from him. “Riki stop it!” He growled predatory-like and before she saw it coming he had smacked her down to the ground. He continued to try and kiss her and when she wouldn’t allow it he started beating her. Drago, hearing the commotion while he was walking followed the growls and cries of pain until he found the two. He snarled at Riki and punched him sending Riki flying. He knelt down by his great-granddaughter and picked her up slowly…knowing that most of her ribs were either cracked or broken. She cried out painfully and slipped into unconsciousness. Drago held her close and whispered, “Hold on Phoe…hold on.” He turned to Riki. “You stay away from her!” Drago ran to the closest house that he knew a powerful healer was…and it turned out to be a young kitsune’s house. The kitsune’s name was Autumn Emeraldra…also known among the Elementals as the Water Queen. “Autumn…can you heal her?” The kitsune wrapped two of her tails around her waist and nodded. “Bring her in and set her down on the table…I’ll heal her best as I can.” He nodded and then went to Crystal’s house to tell her what had become of their great-granddaughter. Autumn looked up and down her young friends body and then placed hand over her chest…a liquid warmth spreading up her body down her arm into Phoenix’s injured body. A pale light blue light surrounded the girl and soon all her ribs were whole and healed. Autumn smiled a little and decided to move the girl to a better spot to let her sleep. She moved her to the bed and set her down gently. “Sleep well little queen…” She closed the door quietly and left Phoenix to her much needed rest.10

~End of Flashback~11

Phoenix shook her head. “So long ago…memories are all that remain of the pure and innocent Phoenix. Memories of a time where there were no such thing as Vampire and Immortal hunters alike.” The kitten meowed quietly in her arms. “Shh…hush now little one.” She smiled faintly. “I think I shall call you Marie. How do you like that hmm?” The kitten purred in her arms and slowly fell asleep against the Vampire hybrid’s cool skin. Despite her heritage of the Elvish Shapeshifters, she still could not hide some of her vampiress within her. In fact…as the light started setting over the horizon her body glowed with an eerie light…her skin the hue of white. “The price for being me is that all see what is on the outside and nothing more. They want to use me for their own twisted purposes…but I’m sorry to say I ‘m not going to allow that.” She sighed quietly…remembering a time just before her coming of age or the awakening of her element came into being.12

~Flashback~13

”Phoenix your turning sixteen this coming full moon. You will be considered an adult that night you know this…” Phoenix sighed; Crystal had been trying to convince her that she needed to learn what she truly was. “I know what I am Crystal.” Crystal sighed quietly and looked at the young woman before her. “You are the future Ruler of this tribe. I am NOT about to see you be single on that throne. Your great-grandfather and I agreed on this matter.” Phoenix eyes widened in shock, her young musical voice faltering at the thought, “You mean…I’m…I’m betrothed?” Crystal smiled, “Yes your betrothed…to the vampire Sky Mistera.” Phoenix let a breath out in relief; her love of the past year had been chosen. “When’s the wedding?” Crystal laughed quietly, “Three days.” Phoenix ran from the room and to her old sanctuary of the woods. She had always felt at home here. She shapeshifted into a snowy owl and flew through the woods letting her thoughts roam. As she neared home she saw Sky. His whitish blonde hair shinning under the moonlight as his black eyes searched the sky. “I know you’re out here my little one…where do you hide?” Thinking that he was speaking about her she flew close to him and then heard a giggling woman stepped from behind a tree. Phoenix knew the girl from the next village over. Her name was Angeni. Almost the exact opposite of Phoe in more than one way she slithered up to Sky and kissed him passionately. Phoe’s heart plummeted into her stomach and the sight and she flew straight back to the village. She arrived at Sky’s home and she shapeshifted into her human form and stood waiting for him. He returned sometime later that night and he saw Phoe there he eyed her. “What are you doing here my dear?” Phoenix walked up to him and slapped him. “I saw you with Angeni. I thought you loved me not just because I was the closest thing you had to true power here. This engagement is off.” Sky stood before her and then slammed her into wall. She cried out in pain and tried to stand up slowly. “You…” He kicked her knee knocking legs from under her. “…are going to…” He kicked her in the ribs. “…marry me…” He kicked her again. “..without a care about Angeni.” He continued to beat her until she was bleeding heavily and unconscious. Sky licked off her blood and smiled putting an illusion on her to make her appear to be healthy and unwounded. ‘Soon,’ he thought to himself, ‘Soon she will have to obey my every order…and soon…so very soon. She will never fight me back.’ 14

The day before the wedding, the full moon rose over the Ritual grounds. Phoenix was wearing a long-sleeved forest green velvet dress that flared at the end of the sleeves. Runes decorated the dress…each one of the elements represented. Her hair was worn down for the ceremony; it pooled down her back in waves the fire adding highlights to her hair. At her side her three closest friends entered the ceremony with her. Crystal always loved these selected few of her friends. That is why they were here…on this most sacred of blood nights. At her right stood Angelus, a hybrid between an angel and a demon. While he was her closest friend by far they could never be together…nor did they ever wish to be. His taste was more to men than women. The Clan accepted this, which was a true blessing for she never wanted to see her best friend leave her because he was different. He spread his wings and smiled at Phoe, “Well I guess I have to bring you back from the Abyss huh?”  Phoe laughed and hugged her friend. “That’s right.” Next to Angelus stood the Magi…although everyone called him Magi. His long black hair was only visible when he had his hood down. His tiger, Vin, lay in front of him; “I shall help Crystal with the spells.” He turned to his young friend and kissed her forehead. “You know about the past…and you know the future somewhat…Magi you’re the closest thing I got to a true father…do you mind me seeing you as such?” He laughed quietly, “I always saw you as one of my own even before I started teaching you the spells you know all so well. I don’t mind in the least.” She hugged him and watched him and Vin walk over to Crystal. At Phoenix’s left stood Autumn. The young kitsune smiled at Phoe. “Your nervous. Don’t be…it won’t hurt at all my friend.” Phoe smiled and hugged her. “You know we’ve always treated each other like a sister have you noticed that?” Autumn nodded and wrapped one of her tails around Phoe’s waist. “Don’t loose your personality Phoe…your too well-loved for it to happen.” She stepped away from them and headed to the front door. Her job would be to keep anyone from entering the room during the Rites. Crystal stood up from sitting at her throne. “Phoenix Lilly Starsaber, do you accept the responsibility that is about to be placed upon you?” Phoenix nodded, “I do.” Crystal eyes held her joy but her face remained blank. “Then accept your weapon crafted by those you love dear and come forward to the altar.” When Phoe turned Angelus stood next to her, a long case in his hands. “Happy Birthday Phoe…and you know as always I’m here for you no matter what.” She smiled and opened the case and gasped. Inside laid a glaive. And no ordinary glaive at that, the pole and blade was made of pure crystal. Runes of power were etched into the pole as well as a phoenix. Along the sides lay a pair of angel wings and she looked at Angelus. “You made this for me didn’t you?” He smiled, “Most of it…but on Magi’s orders. Now go. They are waiting for you.”  She smiled and hugged her friend one armed and then proceeded to the alter where Magi and Crystal stood. “Kneel,” Magi said quietly. When she did so she felt her soul detangle from her body and float in their words of spells. Suddenly she was inside herself again looking deep in the Abyss, the most sacred place to an Elemental child. Around her she felt the elements gather around her. First a rush of Fire, then Wind, then Water, and all the elements flew past her as though intentionally missing her. Suddenly it grew cold around her and she shivered gently and looked around and saw that only one element remained within this place. A version of herself stood in front of her; she was the same yet different. Her hair was covered in any icy sheen, her eyes a shade of ice blue. Her wings were spread behind her, a demon wing and an angel wing. The other Phoenix spoke. “I am the you within. I am the Ice Queen…and I am the Balancer. Do you wish to accept the true you…or do you wish to return to the mortal realm for all time and never be able to access your powers of the Elements ever again?” Phoenix stared at this other version of herself and her eyes flickered at the thought running across her mind, “The only choice I like is being who I truly am, Ice Queen. I do accept you to be me.” The Ice Queen stepped forward and into Phoenix and she felt a rush of power from inside her and a voice calling her name. “Phoe! Phoe! Come home!” She followed the voice and her ascent going slowly. When she opened her eyes her body glowed with an ice blue sheen. “Did I pass?” Crystal laughed softly, “My little Queen…of course you passed.” She looked at Phoenix dead in the eye her gold eyes reflecting her emotions; “There has not been an Ice Queen since I became leader of this tribe six thousand years ago.” Phoenix’s eyes widened and then she screamed, “LOOK OUT!” A cold laughter pierced the room and Darkax removed the sword he had driven through Crystal’s chest. Crystal fell to her knees and collapsed to the ground her eyes closed and her blood pooling around her. “CRYSTAL!” She turned to Darkax the temperature falling rapidly around her, but before Phoe could attack he was upon her. His fangs sank deep into her neck and she screamed out. There is no use in screaming my Queen…there is no one left to hear it. He feed heavily off of her and she soon lost the will to fight him off and soon fell unconscious from blood loss. She heard footsteps around her and a cry of anguish. She felt someone pick her up. “Phoe? Phoe can you hear me?? PHOE!” Her throat hurt as she came slowly conscious and she looked up at her friend. “I’m…sorry Angelus.” He held his friend and almost sister close to him. “Phoe please don’t leave me. I don’t want to face tomorrow without knowing your safe.” He cried…she had never seen him cry before but she saw it now and felt the tears hit her face lightly. “Oh Angelus…please…where’s Darkax?” Angelus shuddered. “He escaped…but I cut him up very nicely.” He looked at her face. “I’m sorry to say when you were unconscious you he bleed on you.” She shivered gently and hugged her friend tiredly. “Can I sleep now Angelus?” She looked at him sadness in her eyes. “Do you think I could rest now…and never wake up?” He stood slowly with her in his arms. “Not if I can help it.” 15

When Phoenix awoke again she was alone in a room. She got up slowly and looked outside…just in time to see Sky walk into the door. She spun around and his eyes saddened. “Phoe…” She growled, “Don’t call me that.” Sky took a step back. “I need to tell you something…your no longer mortal.” Phoenix’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?” Sky looked uncomfortably. “I mean…that you’re a vampire now.” All the events the events that had happened recently came to her in a rush and her legs buckled from underneath her. With his vampire enhancements, he easily caught her before she hit the floor. “Shh…I know it’s a shock.” She weakly knocked him away…”How?” He swallowed, “Angelus brought you to me saying that if I really loved you and wanted you for the rest of your life that I would heal you. You were already changing from Darkax’s blood…my own would have guaranteed you to live…but you would be one of the creatures of the night.” She shivered in his arms and he realized she was hungry. “You need blood…” He tilted her chin to his neck gently and felt her cool lips touch his skin and shivered gently used to feeling her warmth in his arms. He felt her fangs graze his neck and then penetrate his skin. She began feeding off his blood feeling warmth enter her form. His blood tasted sweet on her tongue. She soon pulled away and licked the wound closed and he stared down at the girl he had just beaten to a bloody pulp just a few days ago and soon felt the guilt he should have felt then. “Are you alright now?” Phoenix shivered still but she nodded. “Where’s Angelus?” Sky smiled a little and picked her up. “He was called away for a duty of some sort.” She smiled a little and then sniffed the air. “Do you smell smoke?” He turned around and saw that the front entrance way was burning. “Hold on Phoe.” She wrapped her arms tightly around him fearful of what was happening. He leapt out the window and landed on his feet and ran around to the other side of the building and looked around him covering Phoe’s eyes so she couldn’t see. The village was aflame and a woman’s cackle was heard throughout the village amongst the blood curdling screams of the Michinazyu Clan. Sky ran to where he thought it would be the safest to put the weakened Phoenix. “Sky…don’t leave me please.” He looked down at her. “This is going to be dangerous Phoenix…I don’t want to see you hurt.” She looked back at him. “What is there left for me to fight for?” He realized she had a point and headed to the Ritual grounds and the cackle of a demon flooded their ears and minds. “Well well well…what do we have here? A few Vampires trying to evade my plans?” Sky set Phoe on her feet and gently kissed her lips. “If anything happens…know this one thing if you do not remember another happy thought about me. I may not be at your side milady…but I shall remain within you until you wish to release me again. Do you understand?” She threw her arms around him. “There is one thing I want to tell you…” He looked down at his young eternal queen. “Hurry…she’ll find us here soon…” He was startled then by a kiss so soft and gentle, it could only be described as a kiss from heaven. “I still love you no matter what happens to us.” He was surprised when she said that. “Even after all I have done to you?” She smiled, “Even after all you have done to me.” A chill passed between them, “Well wasn’t that a touchy scene. But you two don’t belong in this realm.” The Hunters came closer to the two and Phoenix’s glaive suddenly appeared in front of her and glowed with an icy light. She grasped it and a wave of power entered her once more. A bright flash of light surrounded her and when it faded, the Ice Queen stood in her place. Her entire outfit had changed; she wore an ice blue one-piece outfit with a dark blue sash around her waist. She wore white boots and sleeves that extended to a point and wrapped around her middle fingers. A gemstone shown on her forehead as well as three along her cheek, and two demonic like wings spread behind her the shade of white and ice blue also. Her cold-hearted eyes flickered to the Hunter. “You think we don’t belong here? Think again.” A wave of power blasted in the direction of the Hunters, knocking them off their feet. She held her glaive in one hand and did a crescent moon sweep, slicing most of their arms clean off. Sky watched in awe at how deftly she had done it and then turned upon hearing a snap of a twig and saw a Demoness. “Carmellia,” He looked in Phoe’s direction and blew her one last kiss before running after her. They stopped at the bloodstained alter where Crystal had died not two days before. “So Sky Mistera has come to my call.” He growled and pulled out his katana, “Never bitch.” She laughed and blasted him with a wave of power and he was knocked down a few steps. “You have come to protect your Queen then…instead of me taking her life you plan to sacrifice your own. How pathetically noble.” Sky’s eyes shadowed, he knew he would die tonight, Magi had told him so…but…he realized that he was going to hurt Phoenix more than anyone had ever done to her physically. She had survived a near rape, a bloody beating, and a vampire draining…but…nothing could heal her broken heart. /Goodbye Phoenix…I hope…I hope you find love again./  He turned to Carmellia and did a butterfly sweep with his katana slicing across her chest just as she put a dagger through his heart. Carmellia put her hand to her chest and faded away…and sealed herself into the Realm of Illusions. After the battle with the Hunters, whom were now either dead…or dying, she went looking for Sky…and when she found his dead body at the altar…she collapsed next to him crying her heart out. She gave him one last kiss on the forehead. “Goodbye Sky…may the darkness embrace you.” She got up…and left her homeland never to return again.16

~End of Flashback~17

She looked up from her daze to see that the sun had finally set over the horizon and looked and saw she was close to the road to the next town. “Well…maybe I should stop at a local inn someplace to get some actual sleep and some food for you right Marie?” The kitten meowed and hopped onto her shoulder. She laughed a little…and realized she hadn’t laughed in the past 2000 years. She didn’t know who was still alive from her homeland…but she was bound and determined to find out who was. She did not know whether Angelus, Magi, or Autumn had survived the attacks. Her heart ached at the thought of them dead…and she shook her head. They had to have survived…they had to. She remembered the last telepathic message Sky had ever sent to her, ‘Find love? I don’t even know if I can find it again my old love. You left a scar to deep within me and it feels like love shall never remain within me.’ She began walking away from the woods then and down the beaten dirt path…to Matrianasta, The city of liacosa.18