~Abraham Lincoln
We gathered in Philip's apartment, trying to find a place to sit among all of the books. I sat on the floor next to the chair Kayin chose. The books on the coffee table were about myths, legends, and magical creatures.
Philip's living room felt warm and cozy, furnished with dark wood and deep forest green couches and chairs. It looked more like a fancy library than the home of a mohawked circus performer.
"Before I start, do any of you need anything for our Christmas Eve charity show? It's tomorrow, so speak now or forever hold your peace." Philip set down a tray of glasses, small plates, and a pitcher of lemonade.
"Friday is going to be exhausting." Taliesin poured a glass of lemonade. "I don't need anything."
"Camp ends at three and the show starts at five, so hopefully that's enough time to rest and get ready," Philip said.
I poured a glass of lemonade and passed it to Kayin before getting my own.
"Thanks," he said.
"Sure."
"I don't think we need anything." Anali walked in carrying a platter of sliced fruit.
Gavin followed with a plate of crackers and cheese. "We are good to go. So on with the story telling. The kids should know how all this Phoenix stuff started."
Philip rolled his eyes and waited until everyone filled their plates.
"Shamash flew over Earth checking on his people, making sure they were safe," Philip began, his Phoenix gift weaving power into his voice, drawing us into his story. “His feathers were yellow, orange, and red flames streaking across the sky. The people below stared at his beauty, some fell in worship, while others ran in fear.
"Shamash only laughed at the people's behavior. He didn't understand humans and their need for more. More power, more wealth, more land, more things, more, more, more!
“As the Phoenix King flew away from the city, he felt something that reminded him of Akasha. Searching the green land below him, Shamash's golden eyes spied a young woman sitting next to a sparkling river. Silently he landed, wanting to get a better look. Her thoughts were silent as she connected heart and soul to the world. She sat in meditation, completely open, and vulnerable. There was no fear, no worry coming from her, just a sense of peace and joy.
"Shamash sat quietly watching the strange woman. Her black hair curled around her copper shoulders and fluttered in the breeze. Her lips formed a soft smile as she emerged from her meditation. Shamash delighted in the pale green eyes which opened, looking at him in curiosity without fear or worship."
I floated on the sound of Philip's voice as the images he described filled my vision as clearly as a movie.
"'Hello, I am Aya,' the young woman said. The musical sound of her voice drew him closer, and Shamash decided to find out more about this young woman. He changed into the form of a man with flame-red hair, gold eyes, and pearl white skin.
"Aya blushed at his nakedness, but didn't look away. ‘I'm Shamash,' he said. Walking closer to her, he held out his hand. Aya placed her small hand into his and let Shamash lead her away.
"Together they lived a wonderful life. They had six children, three boys and three girls. Each a blend of their parents; midnight black hair with ruby red streaks, peridot green eyes with gold flecks, and creamy copper skin."
I gasped momentarily breaking from the spell of Philip's voice. It sounded like he just described me.
"After a long life together, Shamash and Aya lay dying. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren surrounded them with love and prayers.
"'Aya, my love, my wife, you are my heart, and I do not wish to live without you. Come with me, rule by my side in Akasha,' Shamash, begged holding out his hand as he had all those years ago. As she did the very first time, Aya took his hand with an open heart. As the couple took their last breaths, their bodies dissolved into a pile of ashes.
"The family knew more was to come and waited, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, but always loving each other and their parents. As the sun set, a soft trill sounded and a magnificent bird with flames for feathers burst from the ashes. Pearly tears dripped from his eyes onto the ashes, and moments later another bird rose. She was smaller, and her flame feathers were purple, blue, and green, showing that she was indeed the heart of the Phoenix King.
"A prophecy said that a child will be born looking like their first Jewels: onyx and ruby, peridot, gold, copper and pearl. And this Jewel, along with the Treasures, shall have the power to open a doorway back to Akasha to help their people left behind." Philip paused taking a sip of his drink. I felt his power leave. I blinked as my mind cleared and the images faded.
"Shamash and Aya's grandchildren and great-grandchildren look like the Treasures, like Kayin, with one or two traits of the Phoenix King and Queen." Philip explained.
I looked up at Kayin's soft ruby-studded curls. "Before, when Aya and Shamash were on Earth, was it easy to go between the...worlds?" I asked not sure if "worlds" was accurate, but I lacked a better word.
"Yes. Akasha is another world, another dimension if you like." I nodded. I have seen enough Star Trek and Dr. Who to understand other dimensions. "Well, there were doorways all over the world for magical creatures. However, as people became more fearful, greedy, and hungry for power, the doorways began to close. They couldn't stay open, something about inharmonious vibrations," Philip said with a wave of his hand.
"Where did the prophecy come from?" Kayin asked.
"Before the doors closed all the way, several scrolls appeared before Children of Fire whose hearts were still pure. Some were found in churches, temples, and monasteries while others appeared before individual people. I'm sure the original prophecy rhymed beautifully and embodied the wonderful mystical tone all prophecies should have. Unfortunately that has been lost in the multitude of translations."
"Why are there still magical creatures here?" I asked. "Shouldn't they all have gone home when the doors closed?"
"Well, no one's sure exactly what happened." Philip leaned forward as if sharing some secret. "We do know over time many of the portals closed, so at the end there were only a few left open. Some magical creatures lived on Earth for years and didn't know how weak the portals had become. And some beings wanted to stay, at least until the last minute. Shamash and Aya found everyone they could."
“Why would they want to stay?" Not that Earth wasn't nice, but Akasha seemed nicer in my dreams.
"Some were enjoying being gods. Some liked the food, and some had created homes and families here," Philip told us.
"When did the last portal close?" Taliesin asked.
"No one knows for sure, but the guess is around two thousand years ago," Philip said.
The images his story painted danced through my head. Did I believe that the story is real and that I’m a part of it? A fairy tale in which I am the magical princess whose people are waiting to be saved. Unfortunately, I stopped believing in fairy tales long ago.
"Never stop believing. The world is so much more than you could possibly imagine. Someday you will know all there is, and see amazing magical things, but until then believe. Believe in the possibility, believe in hope, believe in magic, love, laughter, and joy. I know it will be hard, and people and times will try to crush your beliefs, but hold onto them. I pray you will remember the wonderful things you have seen and felt while we were together. It is real, and it will always be real. Believe."
I never understood my mom's words until now. For the first time I couldn't accept her advice at face value, despite everything happening around me, or maybe because of it.
Who wants to be so very different from everyone else in world?
The conversation flowed around me, but I didn't hear any of it. My mind tumbled the new information around and around in my head. I rubbed my queasy stomach. Guh. I'd never thought so hard I'd made myself sick before.
"Are you all right?" Kayin asked, rubbing the back of my neck.
I relaxed. "Yeah. I must have eaten too much."
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Suddenly, all the conversation stopped. "You didn't eat very much. Did you feel bad during camp?" Philip asked, leaning towards me a bit.
I scratched my arms. "No, maybe all the thinking I'm doing is making me ill."
Taliesin snorted. Rude.
"Sara, honey, do you have a rash?" Anali asked.
"No, I feel weird, like ants are crawling on me."
Philip stood up. "And your stomach feels queasy?"
"Yes." Damn it, new weird was coming.
"Does anyone else feel bad?" Gavin asked as he walked to the window and looked out.
Everyone said no. Of course, this is my own special weird. Well, good. I don't like to share anyway. I'll keep all the weird to myself.
Philip's blue eyes looked me over. "She must be sensitive."
"Or it's something totally normal." I offered, in a pathetically hopeful way.
"Maybe," Gavin as he closed the curtains. "But we'll go and check it out. How you feel right now is how Children of Fire feel when they are close to a walk-in or the Sons of Belial."
"Who?"
“The Sons of Belial are a group that hunts magical beings, then drains them of their energy, power, and life. They use the stolen energy to increase their own power and extend their lives.” Philip explained as he put on his jacket.
Oh, good. The only thing this crazy party was missing, a good dose of evil, had arrived. I sighed and leaned my head against Kayin’s leg.
"How far should we check?" Anali said.
Gavin stopped, his expression blank. "You're staying here."
"No, I am going to go and help check for a walk-in. So, Philip, how far away should we check?"
"Let's go about three blocks out."
"Anali," Gavin began. The look she gave him stopped him from saying any more.
"You three stay here. Taliesin, you have my number, right?" Philip asked, putting his phone in his pocket.
"Yes."
The adults left, leaving us 'kids' behind. If they hadn't been looking for some creepy thing out to kill us, I might have protested.
"I should have gone with them," Kayin said. "I am a good hunter."
"Have you dealt with a walk-in yet?" Taliesin asked.
Kayin sighed. "No, but I do have my contacts in to keep me safe."
"Are they stronger, or faster, or anything?" I asked. In movies and shows people possessed tended to gain super strength and the ability to projectile vomit. "And why do contacts help?"
Taliesin shook his head, his white braid falling over his shoulder. "No, they are bound by the person's body they possess. They can sense magic, but that's it. They even lose their psychic connection to their leader while possessing someone."
"How do you know that?" Kayin asked.
Taliesin shrugged. "It's in one of the books on magical creatures Philip has. I believe that information came from a Dreamer."
"Well, it's good to know. As long as we don't look them in the eyes we should stay safe," Kayin said. "The contacts hide the fire burning in our eyes. If they see that fire they can track us magically. Don't look at one until your contacts get here. I know Philip ordered some."
"Wait, you're not a Child of Fire." I remembered touching Taliesin’s hands, I’d felt no spark of heat just coolness. "Why are you here?"
Taliesin glared at me, his ice blue eyes hard. My stomach lurched. Rude. It was just a question, he didn't have to answer if he didn't want to.
The door knob jiggled then a scraping sound. Someone was breaking in!
"What do we do?" I whispered.
"Out the back door," Kayin hissed leading us through a small kitchen and a door which lead onto a rickety, creaky fire escape.
"Are you kidding?" I asked.
Taliesin pushed my shoulder. "No, and hurry up."
I followed Kayin, shivering in the damp winter night. This was not good, not good at all.
When we reached the bottom, Kayin and I turned to Taliesin.
Taliesin pulled out his phone. "Let me text Philip."
The door slammed open and Kayin pulled me and Taliesin into the shadows. A woman stood at the top of the stairs scanning the parking lot.
"We need to run," I whispered.
"Where?" Taliesin snapped.
She began to walk down the stairs.
"Away from her would be a good start."
We turned and ran, Kayin in the lead.
I shouldn't have suggested running, I hadn't actually meant running, more like quick walking. My sides hurt. Panting, I did my best to keep up with the guys. Or more accurately, not slow them down too horribly much.
She came closer. My sick stomach and itching skin hadn't let up. Kayin turned down an alley. A dead end. This was turning into a bad horror movie. Turning back, we could see her outline against the darkness.
Above us the clouds parted and the moon illuminated her.
"Damn it, the moon is out," Taliesin muttered.
Slowly, I turned expecting to find Taliesin's perfect features morphing into some kind of hideous were-monster.
Taliesin was glowing. The moon's rays illuminated his skin and hair, creating a soothing silvery glow.
"Taliesin?" I asked.
He sighed. "I'm a unicorn, or part unicorn. My father is one, apparently."
"Master will be so pleased." She, or more accurately the walk-in inside her, hissed. "A unicorn, alive and well. There has been no other unicorn for so very, very long."
Taliesin stepped back as she came closer. "They can't know. The Sons of Belial can't know about me."
"Where are the adults?" I asked. "Maybe they can do something?"
Taliesin fumbled for his phone. "Does anyone know where we are?"
Kayin and I both shook our heads.
"Can Philip do the voice thing over the phone?" I asked putting myself between the walk-in and Taliesin. Kayin moved in front of me.
"I don't think so, he's not that powerful," Taliesin answered.
I took a deep breath. Okay, fairy tale world, let's see what you've got. Closing my eyes, I thought of how I felt in my dreams. How connected to Akasha I felt when I'd held the jewelry. A tiny spark of warmth flickered in my belly.
Legend says that the Jewel is powerful, and I'm the Jewel, so maybe, just maybe, I could do what Philip did. I focused on that little spark of warmth and moved it to my throat.
"Stop," I said forcing as much power as I could into my voice. "Stop moving."
She wavered, and her face hardened as she fought the command.
"Stop," I said forcing more power into my voice, it had to work.
Her body froze. I stepped out from behind Kayin and walked forward, careful to keep my eyes down.
"I want you to forget. Forget about us."
"Never," she hissed.
I tugged on the power, pulling more into me. My hands shook as heat flooded my body. My throat vibrated with power. I needed to talk to the thing inside of the woman. I closed my eyes and followed the sick feeling to a dark presence inside of her.
"You will forget," I insisted, wrapping my power-filled voice around the creature. "You will forget about all of us. You will have no memory of a unicorn, or anything magical here."
"Forget," it hissed.
I opened my eyes. The woman's mouth went slack, and her body swayed. Oh, God, had I done that? My eyes swam with tears. I blinked, trying to force them back. "Go back to the circus school. Look around as ordered. Tell your leader you found nothing."
"Go back," she said, lips barely moving, her voice a hissed whisper. She turned, her movements choppy as her body swayed.
Still energetically attached to her I frantically pulled at the connection, reeling back when it finally snapped. The walk-in shook her head and walked away, her movements normal.
"Thank you," Taliesin said.
My hands shook.
"Are you okay?" he moved closer.
I shook my head. My stomach clenched. I forced someone to do what I wanted. I ran to the nearest
garbage can and threw up. Hands rubbed my back as I emptied my stomach. This is a gift? What if I hurt the woman? My stomach convulsed as I threw up again.
"It's over; it'll be all right," Taliesin said.
But it would never be all right, because part of me reveled in this new power. Never again. I would never use it again. The dark part of me grinned, as I dry heaved as there was nothing else in my stomach to throw up.
"I'm going to use your bandanna, okay?" Kayin asked.
I nodded and felt him remove it. He walked away and I heard water running. He came back and wiped my face with the icy wet cloth. I focused on the cold and did my best to shut my brain down.
"Little Sister, we have the same hair," Kayin said touching my bun which crunched under his finger. "What do you have in your hair?"
I giggled. I couldn't help it. He sounded so offended by my gelled hair.
Kayin raised an eye brow.
My giggle turned into laughter. I clutched Kayin to keep from falling.
"Is she all right?" Kayin asked.
I laughed so much I began to cry. Crying led to sobbing. Kayin’s strong arms held me close. I buried my face into his warm chest, the tiny bit of my mind that was still rational was mortified. I never cried, especially not in front of others.
"Kayin, I’ll call Philip and walk to the street, so he can find us."
"Okay, thank you. I’ve got her,” he said, his deep voice low and serious. It rumbled through me and I relaxed.
“You sure you’ll be okay?” Taliesin asked.
I felt Kayin nod, his chin bumping the top of my head. "We will, and if I need you, I'll yell."
Kayin's warm hand rubbed my back. Taliesin’s footsteps echoed as he walked away.
I took a deep breath and pushed everything I could back down to deal with later. I trusted Kayin and felt safe with him, but I wasn’t ready to have some big therapy soul-baring moment. "I am so sorry, Big Brother." His shirt had a big wet blob on it from where I sobbed like a baby. "Your poor shirt."
"Little Sister, you saved us. My shirt is nothing. Thank you."
I looked up. His eyes were soft, and I could feel his concern like a tiny little finger reaching out to see if I was all right.
"Wow, fire is dancing in your eyes."
Blushing, I looked down. Yay for being a freak.
"It's not a bad thing," he said.
"Sara! Kayin!"
"Over there, Gavin," Taliesin called out.
I wiped at my eyes and reached up to fix my bandanna, but my fingers found only hair. Oh, crap.
"What happened?" Philip asked.
"Sara, are you all right?" Gavin grasped my shoulders and turned me around to look me over.
I stepped back. "Yes, I'm fine."
"You've been crying. Your hair..." Gavin reached out, but I stepped back again bumping into Kayin, who steadied me.
"Sara saved us," Taliesin said, stepping over a pile of trash. Gross, I looked around the alley for the first time. Trash cans, dumpsters, puddles of what I hoped was water surrounded us. And the smell, my tummy lurched. Oh, I didn't like this smell. How had I not noticed it before?
"Is anyone hurt?" Gavin asked, his tone professional and cold.
I bit my lip and shook my head. I hadn't meant to hurt his feelings, but I hadn't expected him to reach out for me.
"Okay then let's get back to the school. Anali is already there," Gavin said.
"What? No." My chest tightened as I fought to take in enough air to speak. "No, the school isn't safe. I sent it, her, back there. You have to call Anali. I didn't know. Or I wouldn't have." My vision began to gray at the edges, and my hands shook.
Gavin held my face still and looked into my eyes. "Philip is calling Anali right now. I need you to breathe. You're having a panic attack. Listen to me and do your best to follow."
I gripped Gavin's wrists, hanging on as my sight dimmed. He took loud, slow, breaths. I could feel his exhalation on my face. My gasps changed to match his.
"Good," he said soft and slow. "Very good. Keep doing that.”
“Anali is safe, she saw the walk-in go back into the school, so she left. I told her to meet us at the cafe down the street," Philip said.
I blinked. Gavin's peridot green eyes were the only thing I could see. My breath returned to normal, and the pressure on my chest left. Okay that sucked. Mental note to never have another panic attack ever again.
I dropped my hands from Gavin's wrists. "I'm sorry."
He smiled, but I could feel his worry and sadness. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Let's go to the cafe, and get you guys warmed up."
“I'll need to borrow a jacket," Taliesin said, stepping into the moonlight and glowing again. It was as if the moon loved him and wanted the world to see his beauty.
Gavin took off his coat. "Here, there's a hood too. I'd forgotten you're a unicorn."
"Thanks." Taliesin hid beneath the big coat.
"Come on." Philip wrinkled his nose. "This place stinks. Let’s go get something hot to drink, and then you can tell us what happened."
I wanted to walk behind everyone, I needed a moment to myself. To regroup. To calm down enough to ensure I wouldn't throw up again. Gavin and Philip had different ideas. Philip led us, walking the tiniest bit in front, chatting like nothing was wrong, and Gavin walked behind, surrounding me with a sense of protection and security.
I liked being cared for, but it would be nice to only feel my own crazy emotions right now.
Chapter Eight
“How blunt are all the arrows of thy quiver in comparison with those of guilt.”