The Professor and the Starlight Phoenix

by Nathan David Ward

  “We don’t have much time, so if you will…”

  The Enforcer looked alarmed as he carefully took out his wand from his pocket and began to draw out the message in the air, similar to the message that Yuri had received in the stone room. He proceeded to construct the sentence, waving his wand, spelling out the message to the effect that the Institute was still a war zone, and that it was unsafe at this time. While the Enforcer finished and signed off his communication with the Minister, Emily had begun to climb down the ladder with Arlie.

  The bodies didn’t seem to distract her as she hit the ground, which was quite worrying for Robin as he made his way over to his daughter with wide, open arms.

  “You’re a very brave girl, you know that?”

  Emily nodded, but she looked worried, and so did Arlie for that matter, standing side by side.

  “Mr Occamy, Emily shared with me some important information,” said Arlie, clenching his hands together and stepping forward.

  “What is it? Is something wrong?” Robin panicked.

  “It’s Vinemoore. The Count is attacking both human and Morient homes. It’s how he found Emily, and your partner, Kirsten.”

  “Is Mummy ok, Emily? Do they need help?”

  Robin took out his wand and held Emily’s chin as he raised her innocent gaze.

  “I think Mummy is hurting,” she whispered, as worry grew in Robin’s face.

  His hands had started to shake from all the anger and frustration - it didn’t help that everyone was overly tired by this time, haven been on their feet all through the night and early hours of the morning.

  “You were right, Magenta…” glancing over his shoulder to where she was stood, “- I should have…” he paused, then stood up to look her in the eye, “- would you come with me?”

  Magenta remained silent with a blank expression, but she came across to stand beside Robin as he turned back to Arlie and his daughter.

  “Arlie, please just keep an eye on my daughter.”

  “You needn’t ask, sir. Arlie is already Emily’s friend,” he smiled, flicking the springs on his headband, which he knew would get a giggle from the young girl. Robin also chuckled, then blew Emily a farewell kiss as he moved to the opposite side of the battle scarred foyer, to join Grimtale, who was finalising with the lone Enforcer, exactly what he expected of him.

  “If you’re done, please do send it.”

  The Enforcer reluctantly waved his wand and the message dissolved. There was no real way of telling if it had arrived with the Minister of Defence, only time would tell if he would prove to be a trusted informant, but until then, it wasn’t safe.

  Grimtale knew the risk the Enforcer posed, so as he looked away to the approaching Robin and Magenta, he threw a right hook, knocking the Enforcer to the ground, unconscious.

  “He went down easier than expected. Young lads these days - posers, the lot of them.”

  Robin was shocked to see Grimtale throwing punches, but he understood why it had to be done. Grimtale knelt beside the unconscious body and began to filter his memory, wiping the past few hours so he wouldn’t have anything further to report back when called upon to do so. The bruising on his brow would only add to the story when Grimtale was asked to recall the turn of events. It was simple really, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He couldn’t argue, afterall, he had no memory of it.

  “Professor Grimtale, I need to go home. Emily told us some worrying news. The town is under threat, Kirsten might be hurt.”

  Grimtale froze from shock, then forced his head around to look into Robin’s eyes, “Go now, waste no time, my friend!”

  Robin nodded, he then pulled his collar high around his neck and began to cross the foyer, climbing the rubble back to Emily.

  “Robin. Make sure you return, because the Minister will want that Phoenix. We have to make sure it never happens, okay? I can help with the next steps, just get your family back.”

  Robin tensed as he raised his hand to Grimtale, who then turned back to the unconscious Enforcer. Memory wipes weren’t so simple, they took time - time they may or may not have. But there was still no sign of the Minister, or any reinforcements, which had to be a positive, to ensure Robin and the Phoenix’s safety.

  Emily would always smile when she saw Robin, even though they were not blood related, she knew no different, he was her father, her Daddy. She made him proud, growing up with an unwell Mother and a Father who worked long days. She deserved better, in Robin's eyes.

  “I love you, Em. I’m now going to get Mummy.”

  “Ok, please don’t be long,” she replied, holding on to Arlie’s spindly hand.

  “I’ll try not to be,” he smiled, climbing back to his feet with Magenta waiting patiently beside him.

  “You definitely up for this? You don’t have to come, I’m just a little worried, It’s okay to be scared.”

  “Oh, shut up!” Magenta remarked, swiftly opening a Senteer charm and pulling Robin by his larger than average, ear. “Be good!” he added, waving as he disappeared through the charm and reappeared on the streets of Vinemoore.

  He was home now, he realised instantly as he held his collar across his mouth. The air was far colder here, and the snow that had fallen overnight was no longer fluffy, instead it had turned to solid ice, set along the window ledges like slugs.

  Both of them knew that something wasn’t right; the town was silent - they expected chaos, but it was eerily quiet as they peered down the alley ways, looking out for those in need of help.

  CHAPTER 22

  Family

  There were no Reapers in sight as they stood on the slippery sidewalk. Robin didn’t like it one bit. It made his stomach churn as he discreetly peered up towards the hillside to his family cottage. It seemed to look the way he left it, at least that’s how it seemed, but Magenta wasn’t so sure.

  “Is this a trap? Do you feel like we’re wandering in to something here?”

  Magenta kept her eyes peeled, panning the street as they crept along, fighting to retain their balance.

  “I hope the Count has learnt…” but before Robin could finish what he was saying, a front door creaked open, nearby. They scrambled into the closest alley and pressed their bodies against the wall. Hidden by shadow, they listened closely as leather boots crunched against the ice at the side of the doorframe. A cloaked figure scoured the street high and low, then proceeded back inside - the house belonged to Kenneth Brown. It was the family home they were looking for.

  “The Reapers are here…” Robin glanced around the corner, “Kenneth was telling the truth, that was his front door. They’ll have his family, and I need to get home to mine.”

  Magenta looked down at the ground, reaching for Robins hand.

  “We can come back for the Browns.”

  Robin agreed, but he wasn’t quick to respond. He didn’t like the fact he was being selfish, but there was nothing more he wanted than to be reunited with Kirsten and Mrs.Jillings, who were far more important to him.

  “I can meet you on the hill,” said Robin, expecting Magenta to take her animal form, but she didn’t want to leave him - especially surrounded by Reapers that were hiding away behind the village walls.

  “I’m staying on the ground with you,” she informed him.

  Robin didn’t argue, instead, he smiled, knowing there was no time to waste trying to convince her he would be okay. They both glanced back around the wall.

  “Why is it so quiet?” he muttered under his breath, carefully stepping out in to the open.

  Magenta followed, watching the doors and windows for movement.

  The sound of the wind was whistling between the alleys, distorting the sound of their boots as they crunched on the ice.

  “We’ll go under,” Robin pointed to the window where the Reaper group stood watching. They had their backs turned, but they were still too strong for just the two of them, Robin assumed, as he peered through the glass before leaping past the door that had been left
ajar.

  “There’s at least four of them in there. I wonder why they’re hanging around?”

  “Maybe we’re still playing the Count's game? Maybe he expects us to be here, I mean, they’re the perfect bait. I’d do the same in his shoes,” Robin agreed

  As he stood hunched against the wall, he began to wonder just how bad the Count's injuries were. It wasn’t the prettiest sight, but even in his defeat, he was still dictating the turn of events in the town...

  “I think they’ve targeted Morient families. Look here,” he pointed, observing a man across the street as he pulled apart his curtains, “- they don’t have a clue. And what’s so strange about people in long dark robes?”

  Magenta watched the man in the window as he smiled and waved, recognising Robin - the local pharmacist.

  “This pink coat seems to be attracting more attention…”

  “And you thought it wouldn’t?” Robin sniggered, “- come on, watch the windows, most seem to be drawn.”

  “That’s because it’s dawn.”

  Robin looked back, curiously.

  “What? You think I didn’t notice?” he remarked, glancing at his watch, which pointed to the seventh hour.

  The sun had risen, but clouds kept rolling in as their journey to the cottage unfolded. The first stop was the market: then the stone staircase that led to the upper streets, and finally the stretch that Robin took each day on his travels to work. They could see the cottage far clearer now. The windows glowed orange from candle light flickering on the walls. But on the hillside, something - or someone - curiously stood, watching over the land, observing the collection of humanoid bodies - all of which were still and silent as ghosts.

  “Who is that? Do you recognise them?” asked Magenta, as they arrived at the bottom of the hill.

  “Probably a Reaper,” Robin replied, climbing the icy paving stones with urgency.

  As he got closer, the Phoenix was growing more and more agitated, flapping around inside his pocket as he neared the figure.

  “Hey, it’s ok, you’re safe in there…” whispered Robin, lifting the flap of his pocket to inspect the Phoenix. It was staring back at him with its beady black eyes, each curious as it sensed the presence of great darkness. Robin glared at the figure, which was stood in the same black robes that the Reapers wore. As they got a little closer, both Robin and Magenta were relieved when the bodies on the ground were blatantly not who they had feared - they were also Reapers.

  Their wands were freshly simmering with the residue magic that had torn them from their owner's hands. Robin had noticed that the mysterious figure's wand was at their side. All but their eyes were still, focussed on the bodies beneath them, watching for any rising chests, any sign of life, or any means to warrant further aggression.

  Robin turned to Magenta, “Are you also adding two and two, and getting four?”

  “I’m getting three,” she muttered, looking at the bodies sprawled across the snowy hilltop.

  “I thought as much,” said Robin, cautiously stepping closer to the robed figure, yet, still completely unarmed.

  “Good morning…”

  “Good morning?” Magenta sighed, which was met with a shrug of the shoulders as Robin took another careful step closer.

  “We owe you our gratitude. I assume you handled these - these…”

  “Monsters.” the figure added, lowering her hood to reveal her long blonde hair and soft, fair skinned face.

  “Wait a second, I know you…”

  Magenta looked surprised, eager to discover how he had recognised her.

  “I saw you before, you were having a difficult time with your comrades, here.”

  The woman looked at Robin as if she had been reunited with a very old friend. Her eyes glistened like stones of sapphire, and her hair was bound in curls, much like Magenta’s, but far more wild.

  “You wore their mask, the mask of the Reapers. But I don’t understand what brings you here. This is my home,” Robin explained, as if he thought she didn’t know.

  “My name is Sapphire, I…” her eyes fell in to Magenta’s gaze as she looked away, then reverting back to Robin, she stuttered, “- I owe you a debt. I couldn’t let them carry out their orders, I did what I could, but it wasn’t enough.”

  Robin’s attention suddenly fell astray, to his family who were still inside the cottage.

  “I’m sorry -” but before she could finish what she was going to say, Robin had already pushed past.

  “Keep an eye on her, Magenta. She might be able to help with the other Reapers. Then she can answer to a higher power. The ruby guy, or whoever it is who deals with criminals.”

  Sapphire looked fearful, watching Robin run across his front yard, towards the heavy wooden door of his home.

  “I doubt you'll remember me, but I know who you are. Don’t you even think about telling him,” Magenta warned, drawing her wand from her coat.

  “He’s better off without me.”

  “Too right, he is!” claimed Magenta, trying to make sense of it all, “Come, help me. There’s a family being held against their will. If you help me, you’ll be free to go. You’d be wasted imprisoned inside the Ruby Citadel.”

  Sapphire breathed a sigh of relief.

  “How - how many are there?” she asked.

  Magenta held up four fingers, “no more than four - maybe five?”

  “Then let's take them,” chirped Sapphire, stepping beside Magenta like equals. But there was something else urgently burning away - a question that was most important.

  “The Human, his fiance - is she ok?” Magenta asked, as cold blue eyes fell upon the cottage door, looking on with uncertainty.

  “She might be, now,” said Sapphire with welcomed optimism in her tone.

  “Come along, before the Enforcers begin their clean up.”

  Magenta let the cottage out of her sights and lead the way back down the hillside, headed back to the high street, with Robin in her best interests as she hoped he would be ok.

  * * *

  The floorboards creaked and groaned as Robin stepped foot inside his home. The passage was dark, and the furniture was barely held together. Wallpaper was torn and there was a slipper loosely perched on the foot of Mrs.Jillings. Robin’s weary eyes had widened as he leapt down the passage, pushing aside broken panels from under the stairs.

  Mrs.Jillings was laid across the kitchen floor. Her head had taken a fatal knock as she fell. And her wrists had been bound, Robin concluded as he carefully examined her.

  “Mrs.J, can you hear me?” he panicked as he tried to find a pulse. But there was nothing he could do for her, no matter how much he wanted to, she was beyond help. Her skin was cold to touch, and her fragile bones were broken. The result of Monsters that had found themselves part of the furniture as their robed bodies laid limp against the floorboards. It was evident that Mrs.Jillings did what she could to protect the family, but she was overpowered. Her sunken eyes told a devastating story of the fear that had consumed them, as Robin gently moved her hair behind her ear, and then lowered her eyelids to a close. The terror that shaped her final expression was haunting. The way her skin had stiffened and the absence of colour and warmth just left a vessel that had housed the most sincere of souls. Robin removed the pale tablecloth and covered over her body. There was no magic that could return the dead, but there was something that the realms sought in the Phoenix:

  Its ability to open a channel to the afterlife, where rare souls were believed to wander.

  The world's passion for loved ones had driven many of them insane, unaware of right and wrong. Until Robin could understand it a little better, he swore to protect the bird, no matter who or what he would lose in the process...

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he looked down at the covered shape of Mrs.Jillings.

  The Phoenix had climbed from his coat pocket and was now perched on his shoulder, also staring down towards the body with an understanding of what she meant to the Occamy fa
mily. It chirped, and nipped at Robin's ear as a means of showing affection. It kind of hurt, but Robin knew she meant no harm as he rubbed his ear and looked in to all four of her remaining eyes.

  “I wish you could stay that size,” said Robin, holding out his finger, then gently stroking the Phoenix’s neck, trying to suppress his swelling anger, while avoiding eye contact with the crippled Reaper bodies that were staring at the ceiling in the corner of the kitchen.

  He was glad they suffered, and even more grateful that Mrs.Jillings seemed to have passed rather suddenly. Not that it made it any easier to come to terms with... Robin eventually stepped over the body and re-entered the hallway, running his hand along the wall as he neared the bottom of the stairs.

  “Kirsten? Sweetheart?” he called, fearing the worst.

  “Kirst -” He couldn’t complete her name as he tried to call out again. His hands were trembling and his legs had gone weak as he turned to the living room, where his eyes fell abruptly on Kirsten, who was lodged at the side of the sofa, facing the fireplace.

  “What did they do? What did they do to you?” Robin's face was a flood of tears. He leapt over the christmas tree and fell at Kirstens side, wasting no time to check for a pulse.

  “Kirst, can you hear me?”

  There was no immediate response. She was still and cold while Robin held on to her. He had noticed a wound similar to Mrs.Jilling’s, where a curse had torn a path through her chest. It was no secret, the Reapers had been sent with one intent - to kill his family, and use his daughter as bait before killing her, too. Even though it hadn’t gone to plan, Robin could feel his heart tearing in half as he buried his head against Kirsten's hair, holding on to her like there was still hope of something - anything but death.

  He repeated her name tearfully, his voice muffled as he buried his face in her hair. He then began to tell the story of his travels, before apologising, realising it was all essentially his fault.