Phoenix Rising

by Erica Stevens

  CHAPTER 16

  "This is it?" Cassie muttered.

  "Yes." Julian's forehead furrowed as he leaned forward in the seat to study the passing town. Lights were strung across the streets; the reflections from them sparkled in the windows of the darkened stores. A few people meandered down the sidewalks and snowmen decorated numerous yards. They passed a pond where people were skating by lights strung up within the trees.

  It was the last thing in the world she had expected this town to look like. It was homey with a sense of camaraderie and friendliness that amazed her. She'd expected it to be like Cedarville, dead and barren with an aura of death permeating the air.

  "How do we find them?" Melissa inquired.

  "We'll interact with some of the people and hopefully one of you should be able to pick up something," Luther answered.

  "Do you think the children are even still here?" Cassie asked.

  "We won't know till we look."

  Devon pulled into a parking spot on the main road and Liam swung in behind him. A tug of homesickness pulled at her heart as she studied the quaint store fronts. The town may not look a lot like hers had, but there was something about it that reminded her of home. She piled onto the street with everyone else and huddled deeper into her jacket as she clapped her hands before her.

  "Where to first?" Devon inquired.

  Julian nodded toward the skating rink. "Seems like there are a fair amount of people over there."

  The frozen pond had numerous children, teens, and adults gathered around it. It reminded her of a Norman Rockwell painting. "There was a library back there with a decent amount of cars in the lot. There might be some kind of reading or town meeting, we'll go check that out and see what we can find." Joey volunteered.

  Julian's eyebrows shot into his hairline as a sneer curved his mouth. "That sounds like a good idea," Melissa shot Julian a dark look and shook her head.

  Joey actually offered up a small smile as he nodded. Dani grinned and slid her arm through his. "We'll go with them," Annabelle assured them. "We'll meet you back here when we're done."

  "He's trying," Melissa said to Julian when the others had moved out of earshot.

  "He could sprout wings and become an angel and I still wouldn't trust him," Julian retorted. Melissa was right but Cassie had to agree with Julian on that one.

  Devon slid his hand into hers and pulled her close to his side. "Let's get this over with."

  Laughter floated from the rink as they moved toward it. A feeling of hope and wonder filled her, along with an aching sense of longing that caused her chest to constrict. It was all so simple and she didn't want anything within the town to change.

  A few of the children glanced at them as they approached, but they hastily returned to their hockey game. The adult's expressions were far more questioning and guarded as they approached. Two girls about her age became riveted on Devon as they openly ogled him. Her jaw clenched as she relentlessly stared back at them.

  "I don't like it much either," Devon murmured in her ear.

  She gave him a questioning glance, but he simply nodded toward the group. Cassie was unnerved to find more than a few lustful stares directed her way from both the teenagers and the adults. "Not used to the attention Buttercup?" Julian questioned.

  "Buttercup?" she inquired in surprise.

  "You said not to call you princess anymore." He gave her a quirky grin that left her briefly disarmed. "So I thought Buttercup would be the next best thing."

  Melissa chuckled and Chris snorted as he shook his head. Cassie rebounded quickly from her fleeting surprise over Julian's choice of nickname, and his dazzling grin. "Nice," Chris murmured.

  "I never took you for a movie fan," Cassie remarked.

  Julian's smile only widened, Chris was struggling not to laugh, and Melissa looked as if she were about to burst. Devon and Luther frowned as their gazes flitted between the four of them. "You stay on this earth long enough and you find you require things besides blood and death to entertain you," Julian replied with a wink.

  "What are you talking about?" Devon inquired.

  "The Princess Bride," Cassie told him. "Her name was Buttercup in the movie," she elaborated at his confused look.

  Devon shook his head as he slid his arm around her waist. "I see."

  Cassie was trying not to laugh as she folded her arms over her chest. "I like Buttercup better anyway," Julian continued. "Suits you more."

  Devon shot Julian a furious glare. Julian only smirked back at him as he turned his attention back to the skaters. "Let's meet the locals," he happily announced with a clap of his hands.

  Before any of them could stop him Julian moved ahead of them and briskly down to the pond. Julian was introducing himself, and shaking hands with as many people as he could when they reached him. He already had a few of the women eating out of the palm of his hand as he flirted outrageously with them. Curiosity finally got the best of the teens as they came closer.

  Julian spun some story about visiting relatives that had them all enrapt. Even Cassie was half convinced he was telling the truth by the time he was done. The teen girls had completely vacated the pond and would have made a bulldog proud as they ogled Devon and Julian. Cassie rolled her eyes and turned back to the children. Most of them had chosen to ignore the strangers in favor of their game, but there were three of them standing off to the side watching the group.

  Releasing Devon's hand, she made her way carefully across the ice as Julian inquired about the best restaurants and bars. The children were completely still, their eyes eerily fixed as they watched her. "Hello," she greeted. Cassie could sense a silent conversation being exchanged amongst them as they exchanged a look. She extended her hand toward the tallest one in the middle. "My name is Cassie."

  "Hey Cassie, we have to go."

  She turned back to Julian, surprised to find him only steps away and gaining ground. Though he was smiling, there was a stiff set to his shoulders that undermined the smile. She turned back as the child took a step toward her and extended his small hand. They were mere inches from touching when Julian seized hold of her hand and pulled it down by his side.

  She opened her mouth to protest but Julian shot her a stifling look. "We have to go, aunt May is cooking dinner for us."

  "Aunt May?"

  Cassie tried to keep her surprise hidden at his words, but she knew she'd shown some sort of reaction. She could only hope that no one else had seen it. Images filtered across her mind as his hand squeezed hers even more forcefully. Cassie didn't look back at the children as Julian turned her away. She could feel the children staring after them, their children, and yet Julian was pulling her onward.

  "Why are we leaving?" she demanded. "It's them."

  "It's three of them," Julian corrected.

  Devon's eyes were hooded as he stepped in front of them. She was briefly reminded of just how volatile and dangerous he could be as his eyes flashed briefly red and he stared relentlessly at Julian. There was a tense moment where Julian kept hold of her hand, and she was certain that was Devon going to punch him as he took a step closer to them. Julian finally smiled at her and released her hand.

  "The others..." she started as she clasped Devon's hand.

  "Are at an orphanage down the street," Julian informed her.

  "They still have those?" Chris blurted.

  "That's why the children from Cedarville are here," Julian explained as he took the keys from Chris. "It was established by The Commission after The Slaughter. They knew if there ever came a time when they had to send the children from Cedarville they would be safe here, yet easily retrievable."

  "So The Commission is here?" Melissa glanced anxiously around.

  Julian shook his head. "Not from what I can tell. They established the orphanage, and they donate money to it, but from what I've gathered from Patrick's mind and the minds of those here, they are not within this town. Cedarville was their hometown; this was only a fall back in case of an emergenc
y."

  Cassie's shoulders slumped in relief. It was bad enough having to deal with The Elders she didn't want to have to deal The Commission again on top of them. "Why didn't you let me touch them?" she asked.

  "As of right now we know what they are, but they don't know what we are. Its better we keep it that way. We don't know what any of those children may be capable of," Julian explained.

  Cassie settled into the back of The SUV. "Aunt May?" she asked.

  Julian flashed his cocky grin at her in the rearview mirror. "I'm a fan of spider man too."

  Cassie rolled her eyes but she was unable to stifle a laugh at his teasing tone.

  ***

  Cassie stared around the entry way of the orphanage in awe. She had expected something old and run down, but this place was modern, sleek, and spotless. The young woman standing across from them had her hands folded into the sleeves of the voluminous black robe she wore. She bowed her habit covered head briefly to them and introduced herself as Sister Anne. Luther stared at her for a moment before lowering his extended hand back to his side. Cassie cocked an eyebrow, but she wasn't sure how things worked here, perhaps nuns weren't permitted to shake hands.

  She wasn't even sure she should touch the woman anyway. Crosses had never had an effect on a vampire, but she was already having a strange reaction to the sunlight, she was a little hesitant to take her chances with holy symbols. She would have to find another way to touch the woman without seeming overly suspicious or possibly bursting into flames.

  Though Julian didn't think anyone from The Commission was at the orphanage they had still staked it out for a day before coming here. Luther hadn't seen anyone that he recognized from his old life. No one that they had encountered within the small town had any association with The Commission. She wasn't going to let her guard down until she knew anything for certain though.

  "I'm pleased with your interest in Mount Oak Orphanage," Sister Anne said as she led them down a hallway that was decorated with the crayon artwork of the children. "Unfortunately too few people are willing to help, and many of these children will not find homes."

  She led them into a large sitting room with two couches, beanbag chairs, and a small kids table with chairs. There was a larger table with crayons, pencils, and coloring books on top of it next to the window. A handful of kids were gathered around a TV in the corner. Though they seemed content, Cassie's heart went out to them. If it hadn't been for her grandmother, she would have been completely orphaned too.

  "How many children are here?" Luther inquired. A few of the kids looked over from the TV when he spoke, but the others remained riveted upon the cartoon on the screen.

  "There are seventeen here right now," Sister Anne answered.

  "I see," Luther murmured as he stepped closer to the kids.

  "We're trying to offer the best services we can to them, but we can only do so much. Children grow like weeds; we always require clothing and food. Toys, books, and other learning tools such as computers are also accepted. We hold fundraisers often, but we had a recent influx of children so we're in more need than usual right now."

  Luther had told the nun that he was looking to make a donation, but would like to see the orphanage first in order to gain entrance to the building. A twinge of guilt tugged at Cassie at the thought of lying to a nun, but it was for a good cause so she thought they'd be forgiven.

  "Why is that?" Luther inquired.

  Sister Anne shrugged, but her eyes were troubled. "We don't know why or where they came from, but we recently had ten children dropped on our doorstep."

  "How sad," Cassie sympathized.

  The young nun smiled but her dark eyes were cheerless. "I can show you the kitchen and the pantry, but the bedrooms are off limits."

  "I understand," Luther assured her.

  They followed the woman past two bathrooms and another playroom that seemed mostly for the teens. Cassie stepped into a large, gleaming kitchen. Three more children were in the room, one was eating at a small corner table with his back to them, and the other two were washing dishes as they conversed quietly.

  They all stopped to look at Luther and Cassie. The two washing dishes appeared to be in their early teens and were the oldest Cassie had seen so far. "Lisa, Lou, this is Luther and Cassie Walsh. They're here to take a tour of the orphanage."

  Though Luther had given their real first names, he'd made up the last name. The two by the sink nodded to them, but they didn't return to their chore as Luther and Sister Anne strolled around the well equipped room. Cassie kept her head bowed beneath her hood as she listened to the woman talking with Luther.

  A stillness that reminded her of a meadow on a midsummer day settled over her. Everything within her slid to a halt at the same time that everything around her seemed to speed up. A whirling vortex surrounded her, but within the vortex she was as peaceful as a Buddhist garden. Then, a tiny hand slid into hers and squeezed with surprising strength for someone so small.

  The world skidded to a grinding halt as the gentlest brown eyes she'd ever seen stared up at her. It was the little boy that had been sitting at the table eating his dinner; he still had a bit of ketchup in the corner of his mouth.

  It was also the boy from her dream with Zane.

  His blond hair hung in thick curls to his shoulders and gave him a cherubic appearance that would have robbed her of her breath had she any left. Beneath the cherubic persona, she sensed something more, something different. In fact, she could feel it seeping up her arm and filtering into her system. Knowledge burst rapidly through the synapses of her brain as she not only absorbed the boy's power, but also how to use it.

  Cassie's mouth parted as she stared down at him. He had been making the world spin around her. It was a strange ability used to disorient and stagger the prey in order to make them easier to kill, or easier to escape from. However, upon touching the boy Cassie realized that he hadn't been doing it to her. In fact, he was so young that he didn't really know about his ability, he only knew that he was different. Instead, as he'd gotten closer to her, Cassie had somehow started to absorb his power without having to touch him.

  She shuddered as she tried to deny what she already knew, but she was unable to do so. She may be able to lie to the others and tell them that she'd regained control of herself. But she couldn't lie to herself, and she couldn't lie to Devon and Julian. Devon saw inside her every time they renewed their mating bond, and Julian saw inside her every time he touched her. Chris may sense something was wrong, and Melissa and Luther may suspect it, but she would never confirm their reservations to them. They had enough to worry about without her adding to it.

  But here, now, she knew that she was in trouble, and she wasn't sure she could stop it anymore or if she even wanted to. She would require as many of these powers as she could get if they were going to keep the children alive and survive The Elders.

  She suddenly recalled the pond and the children she had come so close to, but none of them had affected her in this way. She tilted her head as she studied the boy more carefully. It wasn't her powers that were growing, she realized, but something about this child that was different. Something about this child that called out to something inside of her and allowed her to pull him into her dream.

  His eyes were far beyond his years as he watched her unblinkingly. "Are you here to save us?" he inquired in a lilting voice that tugged at her deadened heart.

  Cassie frowned at the small boy. "Save you?"

  "From the bad people. I dreamed of you, you're an angel aren't you?"

  "The bad people?" she choked out.

  The boy anxiously glanced around before tugging on her hand and gesturing with his small finger to her. She bent closer to him and he nearly pressed his mouth to her ear. "The ones keeping us here."

  Panic jolted through her as she wildly looked around. For the first time she realized that Luther and Sister Anne weren't in the room with them. Luther! Rage and terror blasted through her as she burst into mo
tion. Releasing the small boy's hand, she flew down the hall as if the hounds of hell were on her heels.

  CHAPTER 17

  Devon shifted uneasily against the vehicle. All of his attention was focused on the house and his every molecule was fighting against the urge to go knock on the door. He was still unhappy that Luther had been adamant about only the two of them going inside in order to keep things as casual and low key as possible. Cassie had insisted upon being the one to go in there with him. Though she'd touched him last, she still felt she could pull up her other abilities if necessary, but she highly doubted they would run into any trouble. She was also a lot less threatening looking than either himself or Julian.

  Chris had walked closer to the building; his head was tilted to the side as he studied the brick front. Devon had stopped him the first few times he'd tried to get close, but this time he decided to let Chris go. If they noticed him outside, what could they really do about it besides call the police? But as long as the whole force didn't show up, Devon felt fairly confident he could change whatever memories needed to be changed.

  "Does he sense something?" Julian inquired gruffly.

  "I don't know," Devon answered. There was no reason for them to suspect anything off about the orphanage, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right either, and apparently neither could Chris. Devon was beginning to wish he hadn't told the others to stay at the motel to get some rest.

  Devon stepped away from the vehicle and headed toward Chris as he tilted his head to the other side. The glow from the rising moon and streetlights illuminated the building against the darkening twilight. "Chris?"