Transformation

by Jaliza A. Burwell

  She didn’t reply but I felt the tickle of her magic and knew she did as I asked.

  “What would you like me to do?” Jamal asked, running at my side.

  “Stay out of my way and don’t get killed.” We reached the door, the heat licking my skin. I smashed through the door without a second thought, ignoring the smoke. Reaching out with my energy, I felt for everyone in the house. Two people underneath us in the basement, three more on the first floor.

  “Where is the entrance to the basement?” I asked, guessing that was where we’d find the attackers.

  “Between the living room and kitchen.” Jamal pointed down the hallway. I took off at a sprint.

  Flames were everywhere, and I completely ignored them. They tried to leave a blaze of pain along my skin, but I felt none of it. The hallway broke off to the right and I turned, not even stopping as I saw three shadows through the smoke. They were trying to break through the door.

  I charged and slammed into one of them, using my momentum and their weight to push into the other two. We went down in a pile of tangled limbs, but I refused to stay down for long. I jumped up, unsheathing one of my hidden knives. The man sandwiched between the two reacted first, shoving the first man off and then throwing a ball of fire my way. I barely got out of the way, whirling out of the way.

  We were fighting in close quarters, so it was easy to turn my dodge into an effective attack, feeling the satisfying sting of my elbow hitting them. One of the men grunted and I followed it with a kick, refusing to stop. I was relentless and I needed this. I desperately needed this release.

  When I fought, nothing mattered. Lately, all too many things had begun to matter, so this was my way of getting away from it. I entered my little peaceful zone and stayed on the offensive, attacking with everything I had.

  The not-so-poor souls never stood a chance, and it was over all too soon.

  “Damn, Nyssa,” Cecil said, appearing at my side. My chest heaved as I caught my breath, letting the adrenaline finish rushing through my veins.

  “The door?” I asked.

  “Working on it,” Jamal said. He coughed. “They triggered the wards, so I need to take them down. Can you do something about all this fire? I would rather not burn alive.” He winced. “Not the way I ever thought I’d die.

  “I’ll do it,” Cecil said.

  Jamal coughed again.

  “Maybe breathe through your shirt or something?” I said, pretending to be helpful.

  He glared at me. “You do not seem affected by it.”

  I shrugged. Most likely it was because of my phoenix, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. The vampires did not need that information and telling Jamal a secret was as good as whispering into their queen’s ear. Cecil’s magic rippled through the space, coolness brushing against my skin. The fire died down until there was nothing left but burnt bits and ash all over.

  “Got it,” Jamal said and pushed through the door. I stayed on his heels as he flew down the winding staircase. He paused at the bottom, holding his hand up to halt me. After a glance at me, he knocked on the door and waited.

  When nothing happened, he knocked again. “Sir Eldenario, it is Jamal. I am here to escort you to safety.” More formality than he used in his normal speech slipped in.

  “Is it clear?” a scratchy voice asked.

  “Yes, we have neutralized the threat.”

  The door flung open. “Would you like to explain to me why I woke to my Sarina locking us down here?” I moved to stand behind Jamal and got a good look at the ancient vampire.

  He had milky white eyes, wrinkles digging deep into his skin, and hair nearly gone. His vampire life had not been kind to him. It was hard to tell with his eyes, but I was pretty sure they focused on me.

  His lip curled up, showing off yellowing teeth, his incisors sharp. “And you bring strangers.”

  “She is the reason we were able to get to you,” Jamal said, unfazed by the creepiness of the man. “We need to move you. Queen Isladine has prepared rooms for you.

  The old man harrumphed. “Sarina, we are to move into the queen’s seethe. Grab what we need.” He turned back to Jamal. “If that queen of yours had invited us in the first time as she should have, this whole situation could have been avoided.”

  “I regret saving you,” I said.

  “Nyssa,” Jamal warned.

  I shrugged and left them, going back upstairs. Cecil hovered over the three bodies with a frown.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “They knew. How did they know so quickly? Not many knew about what we were planning.”

  I glanced at the three bodies, thinking about what them being here really meant. “The person supplying him with the information is on the council or at least was in that room when we made the plans.

  “I hate this,” Cecil said. “I hate that he seems to always be ahead of us.”

  “I hate that he won’t die. Don’t cockroaches have that same issue, that no matter what is thrown at them, they survive.”

  Cecil shuddered. “Let’s not talk about bugs. Are they ready to get out of here? I don’t like that Baron knows this location and we’re hanging around.”

  “Ready,” Jamal said, coming up the stairs with Eldenario behind him. As the two of them headed to the front of the house and to Eldenario’s ride, another figure came up. She was gorgeous with dark blue hair reflecting the lights of the house. Her deep green eyes were observant as she slowly followed Jamal and Eldenario with a couple of bags in her hands. “Sarina?” Cecil asked going down a few steps to meet her. “My name is Cecil. Is there anything you need help carrying?”

  The woman froze, focusing on my best friend. She seemed to consider something before breaking into a sultry smile. Her eyes slowly took in Cecil, her eyes lighting with interest.

  Oh. Interesting. I held back the taunting I wanted to send Cecil’s way.

  “I am fine. We go.” Her words were heavily accented as she spoke. She brushed past Cecil, making it as personal as possible, making sure her breasts rubbed up against Cecil’s, before heading up the stairs with an extra sway to her movements.

  I managed to catch Cecil’s gaze after she tore her eyes away from the human servant.

  “What?” she whispered.

  I wiggled my eyebrows. “Better get her number before she disappears forever in the land of the vampires.

  She elbowed me hard before following the drop dead gorgeous human servant.

  Leaving was just as fast as our arrival. We didn’t stick around to grab anything and Eldanario didn’t seem to care. In fact, he looked too excited about his journey into a place he was obviously not wanted.

  The car slowed to a stop at the gate and off to the right was my little car. I didn’t even bother asking how they were able to move it.

  “I’m guessing we don’t get an invite for tea at least?” I asked.

  “No.” Jamal’s reply was brisk.

  “It’s for the best.” Cecil jumped out of the car and made sure to drag me with her. She didn’t even give me time to say goodbye.

  And yes, she did manage to get Sarina’s phone number.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I remember a man with light hair telling me everything was okay. It was normal for my body to do that. I was a growing girl. I remember him smiling, looking so proud as he stared down at me. I was his little queen and one day, I was going to grow up to take over the kingdom.

  —Nyssa’s Journal

  The pounding on the door did nothing to make my morning easier. I couldn’t shake the tiredness and didn’t bother getting up once I woke. Then the pounding began.

  It matched the drumbeat in my head and because I was a complete masochist, apparently, I lay there and listened for a good five minutes. Part of me hoped whoever it was gave up and left.

  No such luck.

  So I reached out and touched them.

  Slade.

  “Damn.” He knew I was there and he was relentless enough to k
eep knocking until I answered.

  Or until his Alpha called for pack business. Pack had always trumped everything else for him. I was of the opinion that he needed to re-prioritize his commitments, but he never asked me what I thought. So when I did tell him that, he brushed me off. The shmuck.

  Finally having had enough, I climbed out of bed and stomped my way to the front door, collecting momentum and anger to toss some drama his way. My lip curled into a sneer as I threw the door open.

  “What?” I snarled, doing a very good job sounding feral.

  He hesitated, blinked in dumbfoundedness, and then averted his eyes.

  “Nyssa, clothes.”

  “No. I sleep naked. You interrupted my sleep. I like sleep.”

  He glanced at my face, taking in all the tiredness I felt. He always saw through the bullshit.

  “You weren’t sleeping.” His frown deepened. “Put clothes on, we’re going for a walk.”

  I looked him over. “You’re wearing your running clothes.”

  “I’m not going to take you on a run, only to have you collapse on me. Just get dressed. It’s time we talked.”

  I forced a grin. “Don’t sound so grim.”

  He growled. “Nyssa, my patience does not exist right now. Get dressed.”

  “Fine.” I stomped my way back, not caring that he got a good view of my ass.

  When I came back, he was just inside the closed front door, waiting.

  “I’m ready,” I grumbled.

  He didn’t say anything and opened the door for me. It was a cooler summer day now, and I took in a deep breath, realizing how hot my house had been. Was it because of me? The air conditioners were running.

  Slade nudged me toward the park. I wasn’t sure what to say or do. Slade and I didn’t have the kind of relationship that had us strolling through the park for the fun of it, and definitely not to “talk.”

  He didn’t say anything so I did the adult thing and didn’t say anything either. If that was all we were going to do, then I was happy with that. Slade finally found his voice and interrupted the peaceful world I was pretending to live in.

  “What is going on, Nyssa? What is really going on?”

  “You’ll have to be more specific. There’s a lot going on. We currently have a madman trying to wipe everyone out. The city thinks the world is ending with all the gates, and you guys are too divided to get together long enough to deal with it.”

  “None of that. I’m not talking about any of that shit, Nyssa, and you know it. You had a bloody nose while we were running. Your energy levels are low, and I heard you had fucking claws when we retrieved the kids.”

  “Maybe I have a sick bug?”

  “You haven’t gotten sick in the four years that I’ve known you.”

  I sighed and focused a little too hard on the kids playing a weird version of baseball. The goal was to hit the ball at a base and if it landed within a certain area, then that was the base they could run to.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m far from okay. I’m just dealing right now.” I shook my head, resigning myself. “No, I’m not even dealing. I think I buried my head in the sand and now I’m too scared to come out and face the truth.”

  “What truth is that?” he asked in a soft voice. I never knew he could talk like that, like he was willing to take in all my problems for me. That he’d listen, and then he’d make it all better.

  “I found out what I am,” I whispered, knowing I didn’t need to say it louder for him to hear.

  He took in a sharp breath.

  “Maura helped. She found an old journal and translated it for me.” I went silent.

  Slade didn’t say anything. He was using that annoying tactic of waiting the person out. It had the disturbing ability to work. He didn’t even have to pry the information from me.

  “I’m a fucking phoenix, a damn bird.”

  That got a reaction out of him. His eyes brows rose in surprise and his mouth popped open.

  “Exactly. What am I supposed to do with that information? I’m a myth.”

  “Shit.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Who else have you told?”

  “Only Cecil.”

  He nodded. “Keep that information to yourself. I have a feeling if others were to find out, you’ll be hunted.”

  My gaze focused on him. “What do you know?” I asked.

  His jaw clenched. “You’re a myth because there used to be hunters who hunted your kind down hundreds of years ago. As far as we knew, everyone was killed.” He shook his head. “Landus knows more about it. He lived through it. I believe he was part of the group who wiped out the hunters. They came from a special family, had a family gift that allowed them to hunt your kind. Landus is definitely someone you’ll want to speak with to learn more.”

  I snorted. “We can’t even hold a normal conversation.” I shook my head to stop him from bringing it up more. “And no, I’m not talking about it to you.”

  “I don’t want to be between a relationship spat anyways.”

  “There is no relationship.”

  “Right.” He sounded like he didn’t believe me. “Being a phoenix, what does that mean?”

  I shrugged. “Not like I have someone to go to to ask. It does explain my sensitivity to energy and gates. Why I tore apart Maura’s living room.”

  “Why you survived the Woodlands.”

  I shrugged. “I’d like to think I’m just that awesome.”

  He grunted. I smiled and poked at him. “Now we know why I’m so hot.”

  That drew a chuckle from him. “Lame joke.”

  “Still worked.” I shrugged.

  “So all the shit happening to you is because you’re a phoenix?”

  “Yes?”

  “Like growing pains? You’ve been getting stronger.”

  “From research. We have a thousand-year cycle before we die and are reborn.”

  “You’re not at the end of it, are you?” If I thought Slade could look panicked, I’d say he did right now.

  “Definitely not. I’ve never shifted, Slade. I’m still a baby.” I elbowed him. “I’m not that fucking old.”

  He winced and rubbed his side. “That actually hurt.”

  “No, it didn’t.”

  “Nyssa, it really did.” He lifted his shirt, revealing his gorgeous abs and his ribs. A bruise was already forming where I hit him. I stopped walking and turned to him with wide eyes.

  “Holy shit.” I grinned and poked it. He winced. “Baby.”

  “It hurts.”

  I couldn’t get rid of my smile. “Do you know what this means?”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “I can kick your ass.” I released a playful manic laugh. “Your ass is going to be hurting now.”

  He didn’t like that, so I kept teasing him. It was better than listening to the screaming in my head. I was fine with change. Okay, that was a lie. Change was hard. I could adapt when I needed—that was the only way to survive the Woodlands. But changes to my person? That was hard to swallow. I’d been an adult for so long, learned all about myself, knew my strengths and weaknesses. Now I had to go through puberty, apparently. I didn’t remember much, but according to my body, I already went through that. Why did I have to go through it again?

  The walk with Slade ended up being exactly what I needed. After he got tired of me laughing at him, he growled, and forced me to head back to my place. We were almost there when there was a loud explosion as the ground shook and rumbled in response.

  We glanced at each other.

  “Please tell me there isn’t a safe house around here,” I said.

  His expression hardened.

  “Shit.” I spun to face where the explosion came from. Billows of smoke reached up into the late-morning sky.

  “We need to hurry.” Slade took off at a sprint and I pushed to stay by his side. He was fast when he wanted to be. The building was about three blocks away. A large crowd had already
gathered as first responders tossed whatever magic they had at the building to put it out. Slade scanned the crowd, but I wasn’t sure what he was looking for.

  Movement caught my eye on the third floor. “There’s someone on the top floor.” I pointed up.

  Slade’s head whipped around to look at what I spotted.

  “Damn.” He dove forward and I followed.

  “You can’t go in there!” someone called out.

  Slade released a growl as he shoved by. I didn’t give them time to block me. If Slade was going to go into a burning building, I wanted to go too. I believed Cecil mentioned this being the epitome of friendship.

  The flames were hot and sweat dotted my skin. Slade looked worse off as the flames tried to eat his clothes. The sound of something cracking and breaking caught my attention. Above us, a support beam decided it was done and gave up on life.

  “Watch it,” I said and shoved him forward, helping him avoid the falling beam.

  Of course, that meant it ended up hitting me since there wasn’t enough room to dodge. Pain hit my arm and vibrated up to my shoulder. I grunted and fell to my knees, remembering to breathe through it.

  “Damn it, Nyssa, what are you doing in here?” Slade snapped.

  He yanked on my arm and checked it. Then blinked.

  “Is it bad?” I asked, refusing to look. Looking at wounds always made the pain worse. “I can’t feel anything anymore, so I’m assuming it burned through all my nerve endings? Is it still there?”

  “There’s nothing there,” he said in a low voice.

  “What? Like my arm is gone, nothing?” I looked down at my arm, expecting to see black flesh and scorched bones or for it to have been amputated. “Holy shit.”

  “The fire didn’t hurt you.”

  I grinned at him. “I’m indestructible.”

  “Only against fire.”

  Something else crashed in another room, reminding us why we stood in the middle of a burning building.

  “How about we argue the semantics after getting whoever is trapped here out?” I asked.

  Slade slipped by, making a run toward the stairs. A blast of flames came flying out of a nearby room, aiming right for us. I did the automatic response of raising my arm to protect my face.