Phoenix Ashes Master

by Anne, Melody

  “If he promised not to interfere, why would a protector be needed? Why not just let the planet destroy itself?”

  “If the battle on Earth was strictly a battle of man against man, the protector wouldn’t need to be called upon. We all know this war isn’t just brothers killing each other, or one nation attacking another. This battle is Vyco and his demons doing everything they can to claim all of the lost souls, to create an army of destruction that can move through the worlds.”

  “This is interesting, Devon. It truly is, but I don’t understand what I have to do with any of this,” Phoenix said as he turned to face her again.

  “Have you honestly not figured this out, Phoenix, or are you too afraid to ask the real question I see burning in your eyes?”

  Phoenix’s gut clenched as nausea rose in her throat. No! It wasn’t her. She was just a girl, a simple girl who barely knew anything. She wasn’t the one chosen to save the planet. She refused to have that placed on her shoulders. She was just a girl!

  “Yes, it’s you.”

  Devon didn’t add anything further as turmoil engulfed Phoenix from the inside out. He was wrong. If the planet were in her hands, they’d all surely die. She couldn’t fight Vyco. She couldn’t be held responsible for the lives of her parents, her friends, and all of the lives of strangers praying every day for a savior. It wasn’t her. She refused to believe him.

  “I don’t want this. You’re lying.”

  “I don’t want this for you, Phoenix. Never would I want you to go through the pain you’re about to endure. This gift, and it truly is a gift, has destroyed many before you, and it wasn’t as powerful as what you’ll receive. The difference with you is the passion I see in your eyes. I see your will to survive. I know you’ll do what has to be done in order for this world, and all of the people counting on you, to make it out alive.”

  Phoenix threw her covers from her as she stood and approached her small closet, grabbing a robe and angrily stuffing her arms in the sleeves. She was so agitated that it took a few tries before she was able to get the simple robe around her body and belted. She then paced the small space, needing to relieve some of the building tension in the room. She walked to the window and threw open the latch, raising it high so the cold morning air could come in and blow away the words Devon had spoken. She couldn’t possibly hear more of what he had to say.

  “What does Sadie have to do with this? And Brian?”

  “You can’t do this alone, Phoenix. You have to have protectors, those who are concerned about your safety, who can talk to you when it all gets to be too much. You are still human, after all. You’ll have to band together and have powers strong enough to fight the enemy.”

  Phoenix turned to her best friend, who was leaning against the wall with a shocked expression on her face. She was thinking the same thing Phoenix was — that the whole thing had to be a mistake. Josiah had gotten the wrong girl — the wrong group of people entirely. They couldn’t possibly be the chosen ones.

  “So really, all of us here on Earth are nothing more than aliens — outcasts from other planets?” Phoenix challenged him. Devon had the nerve to laugh, which earned him glares from both Phoenix and Sadie.

  “I guess you could look at it that way, Phoenix. The human mind is limited. Like I said earlier, it’s hard for you to comprehend what you can’t see, feel, hear, or touch. There’s so much more out there than you can imagine, and as you grow into your powers, you’ll figure it out a little more each day. Unfortunately, we’ve waited too long to train you properly, but you have a strong group surrounding you, and together, you’ll know what to do.”

  “Just like that, you tell me I’m supposed to save the world and I’ll just . . . what? Figure it all out?” she exclaimed, exasperated.

  “When the moment is right, your powers will flow through you. They’re already inside, waiting to be let out, waiting for your time. When that happens, your entire being will change; you’ll no longer be a fragile human. You’ll be an unstoppable force.”

  “Can I turn this down? I don’t want it,” Phoenix pleaded.

  “It’s part of you. Your path has already been chosen, and no, you can’t deny it. If you fight it, you can, however, slip to the dark side. Vyco wants your power — he wants you on his side. You must embrace this, Phoenix. You have to — for your sake and that of everyone you love.”

  “Will you stay with me?” Phoenix walked to Devon and placed her hand on his shoulder, closing her eyes as she felt a peaceful calm settle over her, like a warm blanket fresh from the dryer being wrapped around her body. She swayed where she stood, so humbled by the pureness coursing inside her.

  Devon turned and pulled her into his arms, his hands stroking her back as Phoenix’s mind blanked and she let herself fall into the warmth he offered. Her body slumped against him as she let Devon’s words process, choosing to accept rather than fight the full responsibility of her destiny.

  “Let her go, Devon,” Sadie said, suddenly gripping Phoenix’s arm and pulling her away. “I don’t know what the heck that was, but it raised all kinds of alarms.”

  Phoenix opened her eyes, her vision a bit blurred as she looked at Sadie, who was slightly shaking her.

  “No, Sadie, it felt right . . .” Phoenix said.

  “I love you, Phoenix. My death hasn’t lessened that feeling. I’ll be here whenever you need me — just call out my name.”

  With those words, Devon disappeared, taking the warmth and peace with him. Phoenix’s muscles instantly tensed as she looked to her friend for answers.

  “I don’t understand any of this, Sadie. I can’t do what he says I need to do — certainly not alone. We can fight against this together — we have to.”

  Phoenix began shaking so hard she couldn’t stand so Sadie led her to the bed and they both sat.

  “Phoenix, I don’t understand any of it, either, but you can’t be alone with Devon. I think he’s on the cusp of good and bad.”

  “No! I only felt peace in his arms. It was good, Sadie,” Phoenix insisted.

  “You weren’t even in the room anymore, Phoenix,” Sadie said. “Your body was here, but the look on your face was scary — like you were here, but not here. Are you listening to what I’m saying? If we don’t do what we’re so-called ‘destined’ to do, everyone we love will die. Vyco might be coming after you, wanting to use your powers for evil, but I think Devon wants you too. I think he wants to take you away from it all, not caring if the planet dies. If it was just us, I wouldn’t care either, but it’s not just us, is it? No. Our families are here — our friends. Beyond that, there are people who have been to hell and back. If we can be a part of ending this war, then we will step up and do what has to be done.”

  “You should be the chosen one. They messed up choosing me.”

  “No, Phoenix. I’d never have these convictions if it weren’t for you. Everything I believe in is because you’ve always believed in me. We need to find Brian and talk to him. You need to send out your telepathy, or whatever the heck it is you do to tell Jayden you need him, because he needs to be here with us as well.”

  Phoenix in no way wanted to accept Sadie’s words, but she was left with little choice. Her friend was right. She had a decision to make. She could either grow up and do what she was destined to do — or she could slink into the pits of hell and save only herself.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  *** Drake ***

  Drake stepped outside through the front door and glanced down at the bones still on Elise’s front porch, pieces of clothing clinging to some of the remains. He couldn’t imagine how she’d felt in those last moments of her husband’s life.

  Watching the man she’d loved for so long die in such a horrific way had to have been the worst moment of her life. Then she’d had to walk away, leaving his remains for the animals to fight over, and that would’ve been heart-wrenching. Having to put up a good front for her children, and not getting time to gri
eve, had to have taken a piece of her soul away forever. Drake was in way over his head, not knowing how to deal with the situation.

  If he told her he’d been a soldier who’d served the enemy for the past four years, she’d hate him. She’d have every right to do so. He should make sure Elise and the children were set up and then leave. It was the right thing to do. So why couldn’t he do that? He’d give himself a bit of time. He needed to make sure the kids were going to be all right. If he left right away, he’d always wonder if they’d made it.

  With a new resolve, Drake climbed down the stairs and went to the garage. It didn’t take him long to find a shovel. Walking around the backyard, he found a perfect burial place. There was no way for him to know which of the bones the animals hadn’t carted off were her husband’s and which were those of the soldier who had killed him, but Elise didn’t need to know that.

  Working up a sweat, Drake had a deep-enough hole dug within an hour. Quietly, he slipped inside the house and found a thin blanket, took it to the porch and gently wrapped the bones. Taking care to be respectful, he carried them to the hole and gently laid her husband to rest. Next he went and gathered Mikey’s blanket-wrapped body in his arms and carried his stiff form to the grave. He laid him beside Elise’s husband, and began filling the hole.

  Since he didn’t want to leave markers, letting the enemy know a fresh grave had been dug if they happened to come this way, he carefully laid the grass back on top of the fresh hole, then went and found a young tree, only a foot high. He carefully transplanted it over the grave, then bowed his head and said a few words.

  Once Elise woke, he’d bring her to the place to say her final goodbyes. Maybe knowing her husband and the young boy she’d cared for over the last several months were at rest would help her healing process. He hoped she’d finally have a little time to grieve the great losses she’d buried deep inside her heart.

  Not wanting to give himself any time to think about what he was doing, and the risks he would take by adding Elise and three children to his escape plans, Drake walked out back to the hidden bunker she’s told him about.

  He was impressed with what her husband had created. He took a ladder down to a small room where there were shelves filling the space from floor to ceiling. There were enough supplies to feed her family for at least a year, along with medical supplies and survival items.

  Drake knew many people had prepared for the worst, making sure their homes were stocked full and had alternative heating and cooking fuels — sustainable items in case of a crisis. Whenever a disaster had struck the country, Drake had always thought he should do something like that: prepare an area where they could survive if the world came to an end. Once the initial trauma of the situation went away, so did his survival thoughts.

  Never had he thought the world would actually come to an end. He’d believed the United States was an unstoppable force, but then he hadn’t considered how fragile the world truly was — not until the moment he’d looked up and found his former vice president standing before them swearing that killing millions of people was the right thing to do.

  With a heavy heart, he started taking inventory. He’d have to go over a plan with Elise later. If she wanted to stay in her home, she’d be fine as long as she didn’t do anything to attract attention, like building a fire. She was far enough out of the way that she should be okay.

  He shook his head, knowing he was just trying to convince himself of that. It would only take a couple of men, like the ones who’d attacked her the morning he'd met her, stumbling into her home. She couldn’t fight them off. She and the kids would be sitting ducks.

  He heard a noise alerting him to a presence, but he knew who it was. He only tensed for a moment while he waited for her to speak.

  “My husband spent years preparing this room,” Elise said. “I’d complain sometimes when he’d buy certain items because they were expensive and I thought it was nothing more than a silly game of playing war. I never thought we’d use any of it. That’s why it took him years instead of months. He was emphatic that this was important. Now, the items he so painstakingly collected over so much time will be what keep his children and me alive.”

  Drake turned to find her standing at the bottom of the ladder, looking around the dim room with tears in her eyes. It had to be torture for her to be in a place her husband had spent so much time creating.

  “He must’ve loved you and the children very much.” Drake didn’t know what else to add.

  “Yes, he did. He was one of the good ones. I remember watching as my friends went through divorces, their spouses cheating on them, or drinking too much, one even having a serious gambling problem. The only thing I had to complain about was this room”—Elise choked on a sob—“the room that will save our lives.”

  She was quiet again for a little bit, and he didn’t speak, knowing she needed a moment to collect her thoughts. He always hated it when he was trying to say something and people continually interrupted him.

  “I was so afraid of coming here, so when I was chased away from the cabin by hunger, instead of coming back to the place my husband had built for us, I went to the city where I nearly got us all killed. I will have to live with that for the rest of my life,” she finally said, a sob ripping from her.

  “You also helped two children who wouldn’t have made it for another day without you,” he reminded her. She sobbed harder.

  “I didn’t protect Mikey.”

  “Yes, you did. And you protected his sister. That’s so much more than most would do in the same circumstances. You have a lot to be proud of. And though it was truly difficult for you to come here, you did it when you knew the time was right. You are the bravest woman I’ve ever met,” he assured her. She sobbed harder as he spoke those words.

  Drake slowly made his way to her, not wanting to frighten her, but knowing she needed emotional support. His arms came around her, and her sobs deepened as she laid her head against his chest and cried. She must’ve been holding it in for a very long time. As he rubbed her back, feeling the bones just beneath her skin, he realized the embrace was just as much for himself as for her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually held another human being.

  “I can’t imagine the life you’ve led over the last four years. I’m sorry you’ve done it all on your own,” Drake said, trying to soothe her, but not knowing the right words to say.

  “I haven’t been alone. I’ve had my children, and then we found Mikey and Cheryl. I thought we’d all die and was starting to give up, but then we found you — and now we’re home. I can take care of them now — except for poor Mikey. He was such a good boy, so kind and happy, even in the face of all of this evil. As I hold my children each night, my heart breaks a little more just thinking about all of those other kids out there — alone, scared, not understanding what is happening.”

  “This will end. It has to. People are fighting back, not willing to stand by and let their friends and family be slaughtered or tortured. Someday, none of us will have to hide anymore. It might never be the same as it once was, but I think the country — the world — will be stronger when it’s over, because the living will know they survived hell, and they’ll be grateful.”

  “I truly hope that’s the case. My children need a better future than to hide in the dark and run any time a stranger comes near. We need to all band together.”

  “We will, Elise, we will.”

  “You don’t have to stay with us, Drake. You’ve done enough by getting us here safely. You can take supplies to sustain you on your journey,” Elise told him, her voice hitching on the last word.

  He reached down and lifted her chin, looking into her eyes. He realized she didn’t want him to leave. He didn’t want to become anyone’s savior, but he was her hero. It was too much weight for him to bear. He wasn’t a knight in shining armor. He was one of the bad guys — just one who’d managed to finally break free.

  “I won�
�t just leave like that. I’m invested now. I buried your husband and Mikey in the back yard. I think they’d like the spot I chose. I didn’t make a marker in case someone does come. We don’t want them to know anyone is here, or was recently, if we’re gone. Do you want me to show you?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Let’s do that now, and then I’ll bring in some supplies and we can make the kids a nice lunch. I bet it’s been a while since you had a hot meal. With all of this equipment I can make us something great,” he said, trying to keep his voice positive.

  “Drake, I can’t thank you enough. You’re right; it’s been a very long time. Thank you for taking care of my husband and Mikey. It wasn’t your responsibility, but I don’t know if I could’ve done that.”

  “I know you could have. We might have just recently met, but I see strength in you that I haven’t seen in anyone in a very long time. You’re a survivor, Elise, and that’s why you and your children are alive when so many others aren’t.”

  “Thank you, Drake. I’ve really tried. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I’ve done all I can to protect them with all of the odds stacked against us.”

  He watched as she climbed from the bunker, irritation consuming him as his eyes drifted along her backside, and he noticed the gentle sway of her feminine hips. What kind of a monster was he? He’d just buried the woman’s husband, and he was disrespecting the man by ogling his wife. With a shake of his head, he removed his gaze, then followed her from the hole before carefully shutting the entrance.

  “Why are you closing it? We’re coming right back.”

  “We need to assume at all times that the enemy is right around the corner. We don’t leave anything to chance. If they came in here and we had to escape quickly, we need to have the option of coming back and getting supplies. They have enough and don’t need to take what’s yours.”

  “I’m glad you’re sticking around for a while. You remind me of Jed, my husband. He was always thinking one step ahead too.”