Phoenix Child

  * * *

  You know how sometimes an injury doesn't hurt until you look at it? That happened to me as I stared at my hands. The skin on my palms was bright red and blistered, then faded pink as the burn went up my fingers. What in the world happened? I thought fire wasn't supposed to burn me? Maybe the Phoenix power did it? I channeled a lot of it, something I had never done before.

  Letting the cold water run over my hands, I wished I could control the power to regenerate like I could pull up fire. Gently, I patted my hands dry and went out to the table. Gavin stopped at the first truck stop he found. The diner looked like something out of a movie. Clean, cheap, white tables, black and white checkerboard tile, and a jukebox. The waitresses wore blue dresses with white aprons and called everyone "Honey." The diner was crowded for nine on a Monday night.

  When I got back to the table there were plates of fried zucchini, fried mozzarella, fried onion rings and nachos. I didn't realize I had been gone that long.

  "I ordered you a garden burger and a vanilla milkshake. I hope that's okay," Gavin said.

  "It's great, thanks." I looked down at my hands, checking where the burns ended and carefully picked up a mozzarella stick with the tips of my fingers.

  Anali looked at me oddly. "What's wrong with your hands?"

  I held up one hand, my fingers curled protectively ready to close if someone tried to touch the burnt skin.

  "Sapphire, why didn't you say something? We have a first aid kit in the car," Anali said, frowning at my hand.

  "I noticed it when I was in the bathroom." I reached over the table and carefully took a fried zucchini, dipping it in ranch dressing before eating it. Yum, greasy, salty, fried food and ranch dressing.

  Gavin stood up. "I'll go get the kit."

  "No, wait until after dinner," I said waving him back to his seat with my curled hands. "If you put ointment on my hands it will be even harder to eat."

  "Here we are," the waitress said setting down milkshakes in front of everyone. I picked mine up and let the cold glass soothe my hands. "Your meals will be out in a bit. If you need anything holler."

  "Thank you," we said.

  "Look how polite you all are," she said her bright red lips curling into a smile. Her ponytail bounced as she walked away.

  "So we're headed to San Diego?" I asked, when I could no longer stand the uncomfortable silence that fell over the table.

  "Yes," Gavin answered, faking cheerful excitement again. "We'll switch cars a couple of times, check into a hotel and have fun in San Diego."

  "What about credit cards?" Taliesin asked between bites of onion rings. "Won't they be able to trace you by your credit cards? We'll have to have one for the rental car and the hotel room."

  "I have a second set that is attached to a private trust fund. They can't get to me or my name from those cards." Gavin dripped cheese on his sleeve as he ate some nachos.

  "That seems well thought out," I said.

  Gavin raked a hand through his hair. "I grew up knowing the Sons of Belial are dangerous. I always have escape plans."

  "So what are we going to do while we're there?" Anali asked, turning the subject to something happier.

  They began to plan. Or plot, depending on how one wanted to look at it. All the popular tourist spots were mentioned, plus the botanical gardens and a few museums. I stayed quiet, eating my food and replaying what happened in the circle. I almost killed someone. If Pasha Yilmaz had been in contact with the magical fire any longer, he would have died. I knew he stole his life from other magical beings, but still, I didn't want to kill anyone. I didn't want to hurt anyone. Would I have to kill someone someday, in order to protect my family and friends? Would I be able to? What if it were a magical creature? Could I kill to save one of my grandfather's people?

  "Sapphire, are you okay?" Gavin asked.

  "Hmm? Oh yeah, just tired," I said, it was half true. "Do they have pie?"

  Gavin looked unconvinced but called the waitress over.