by Unknown
No sooner had the words left the Magistrate’s mouth than Helena was on her feet, squawking like…well, like an angry bird. “Do not lay this miscarriage of justice at my feet. My father was a proud shifter and well respected within our clan. Her father was a…a…human! Nothing more than a worthless piece of meat with no discernable talents. She is the half breed here. Unworthy to share the same air as our kind!”
I had to grab Jax’s arm and squeeze with all my might to keep him from launching himself at Helena. Her words stung, but they also answered a question I had long pondered. You see, there was no father listed on my birth certificate, so I had always kind of wondered about the man that had also left me without a backward glance. Now at least I knew he was human. (Yeah, not really something I thought I had to consider but hey, it was something.)
To my surprise, while I had been making sure Jax didn’t get us thrown out before I could find out where they were hiding the good drugs, Grant was defending me. (Will wonders never cease?) In a low, ominous voice that commanded respect, the one I was sure he used in court, the attorney reprimanded, “There is no need for insults, Helena. Due to dwindling numbers, most shifters have had to take humans as mates to ensure the continuation of the species, no matter what it may be. Aviary shifters are no different. The true test will be which one of you can call your Fire. As I understand it that is what determines the one true leader. The Council’s bid to remove your birthright is but a formality, one easily dismissed when the rightful heir has been proven. You know as well as I, there is no magic that will strip a shifter of their abilities. The true leader of this clan will emerge just as all do, through the Trials of Leadership. And let’s be real here, Phoebe possesses the flaming locks and emerald eyes of a ruler. That is what bothers you the most.” He finished speaking and sat down, directing his attention back to Magistrate Willburn, completely dismissing my half-sister.
I felt like I should say thank you or do something to show my appreciation for his chivalry, but before I could gather my wits, Willburn was once again speaking, “Yes, well that outburst was unfortunate, but to be expected, I suppose. Tensions are high. There is a lot at stake. What other questions do you have, Princess Phoebe?”
Summoning my courage, I asked the question my little voice had been screaming since this whole wacky conversation started. “Do you really expect me to believe that you can change into a bird? That I might be able to do the same? Don’t you think I would’ve known if I could do something so…well….wild?”
Smiling at me as if I was the one with a screw loose, Magistrate Willburn winked, took off his tweed jacket, and whispered, “Athraithe.” For just an instant, it felt like hundreds of butterflies had landed on every inch of skin I had exposed. Then just as quickly, the feeling was gone. In the exact spot where once stood Magistrate Willburn, was a humongous grey owl. He stood over four feet high with a rounded head and a perceptive grey face. Black and amber eyes outlined with circles of dark down, took in every detail of his surroundings with little to no effort. His body and wings were an extraordinary mixture of brown, grey, and white fluffy feathers that only added to his already grand appearance. With a grace I had never given owls credit for having, he spread his massive wings. The impressive span had to be almost nine feet, and showed an underside that held the same pattern as the top, only lighter.
Folding his wings against his body, the bird took one step in my direction, looked me right in the eyes, and warbled low in his throat. After a few seconds, he moved back. The feel of butterflies on my skin came again, and just like that, Willburn replaced the owl.
The Magistrate casually put his jacket back on and leaned back against the desk like nothing unusual had happened. Which I guess in his world was the truth. However, in my world, I was trying to decide between a stiff drink and a trip to the nearest looney bin. Turning to look at the one person in the world I had always depended on to be my rock when everything seemed out of control, I found Jax sitting perfectly still in stunned silence. His wide eyes looked into mine, reflecting the same utter shock and total disbelief that I felt. People really could change into animals and there was a chance I could too. (Stop the world, I want off!)
“Now, you see, my darling, aviary shifters, as well as other species of shifters, are very real. We just do a good job at staying hidden from humans. There are those that seek to destroy our kind, but that is a lesson for another day. What we must do now is determine if you have indeed inherited your mother’s abilities. It is the only way to stop the Council. What do you know of the Phoenix?”
Still in shock, I choked out the answer I had learned in my World History elective several years earlier. “Only that they are mythological creatures that live hundreds of years. Some thought they were connected to the sun deities. There can only ever be one and the newborn raises from the ashes of its predecessor.”
“Very impressive, but not entirely accurate. The phoenix is not a myth, but very real, and most definitely one of the true lights of the world. It is a matriarchal breed, hence the reason they must seek other breeds/species for mating. She derives her power from the sun, using it to keep balance among the dark and light of our kind. It is true that there can only be one, but our Maker, in Her infinite wisdom, added a twist to ensure their continued existence. Mother and child can remain together until the daughter’s Dawning age. If your mother had not been ambushed by a pack of hunters, she would have been with you until your twenty-fifth birthday, preparing you for what was to come, at which time she would have returned to the Maker as ash through the baptism of fire.”
He gave me a sad look before continuing, “We tried to retrieve you after Magdelina’s death, to raise you among your own kind, but our guards were unfortunately remiss in their duties. It was not until Mr. Hollingsworth located you that we knew you had indeed survived. The scribes continued to assure us of your existence, but over time our belief waned, and for that I am truly sorry.”
It was a relief to know that I hadn’t just been left on a park bench by someone that didn’t want me, but my brain was still approaching overload. Sifting through the all the information flying around the room while trying to make sense of the fairy tale come to life that had become my life, I blurted out the first thing that almost made sense. “Grant said something about my hair and eyes. What was that about?”
“The Queen has always been marked by, and I quote, ‘locks the color of fire and eyes the color of emeralds’. It is also written that she bears the winged birthmark. So I have to ask, do have such a mark?”
Thank God, my birthmark was on the inside of my right ankle and not my left butt cheek. Raising my pant leg and extending my leg, I twisted my foot to the side so that all could see the three inch long, inch wide set of wings. I had to wonder if Helena also had the birthmark, but seeing as how she had taken to sulking in the corner during Magistrate Willburn’s transformation, I declined to ask.
“Very well, this is a very fortunate turn of events. The Trials of Leadership will take place tonight at midnight on the cliffs overlooking the shores of the Ionian Sea. I suggest you retire to your suite, eat, and rest. I will have the manual sent up to momentarily.”
Turning to Grant, he added, “I will leave any further questions the Princess may have to you. Make sure she is prepared for tonight.”
“As you wish.”
Magistrate Willburn looked back and forth between Helena and I. “Princess Helena, Princess Phoebe, tonight is a very important night for both of you. One will be Queen, the other Princess, to lead together as your mother intended. This will put all the fears of our kind to rest and restore the faith of the Council. You will retain your birthrights and the aviary shifters will again thrive as they always have.”
He turned and exited through a door behind the desk I hadn’t known was there, closely followed by my half-sister. After a few moments of silence, Grant was the first to speak. “I know it’s the last thing you want to do, but we need to get back to your suite, have lunch
, and review the trial specific to aviary shifters.”
Grant was already standing with the door open by the time Jax and I stood. My best friend and I walked hand in hand through the door, following the attorney until we finally reached the stairs leading to our room.
“I’m going to return a few calls. The maid will be up with your food in about thirty minutes. See you soon.” And with that, Jax and I were left to fend for ourselves, which was the first thing that felt normal in a long time.
Silently climbing the stairs, we made it to our suite and collapsed onto the couch, exhaling in unison. My eyes had just closed when our maid, Cecily, walked in pushing a cart loaded with covered silver trays, plates, pitchers, glasses, and a vase of fresh flowers. Just wanting to be alone for the as long as possible, I stood and said, “Cecily, if it’s alright with you, Jax and I will set this up and eat in just a few minutes. There’s no need for you to go to the trouble when we aren’t quite ready. Okay?”
“As you wish, ma’am,” she answered, then curtsied and exited the room.
“That was easy enough,” I mumbled, flopping back onto the couch.
“What the hell have you gotten us into this time, Phoebs?” Jax groaned.
“Had to wait until I was almost asleep to start, didn’t ya?”
“Well, I know from the marks your fingernails left on my arm, I wasn’t dreaming. I’m pretty sure I haven’t lost my mind, and I don’t remember drinking any Kool-Aid. So, that can only mean you’ve led us down the rabbit hole, and if that’s the case, then only you can get us outta here.”
I laughed, because if I didn’t, I might’ve exploded. The problem was once I got started, I couldn’t stop. I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks and my sides hurt. I realized Jax was laughing along and that made me laugh even harder. At least we’d die with smiles on our faces. It took several minutes, but we got all laughed out. Unfortunately, that meant I had to come up with answers for my best friend.
Turning on my butt and sitting Indian style facing Jax, I recapped. “You saw the same thing I did. The little old guy turned into an owl. He said there are lots of people that can turn into all kinds of birds. And think about it…didn’t he remind you of an owl even before he showed us?”
“I’m so glad you said that. I thought the same damn thing.” Jax sounded relieved, so I pressed on.
“And my first thought when I saw Helena was ‘bitch’ but after Willburn said she could turn into a raven, it all fit, right?”
“Damn straight. I’ve seen some fucked up shit in my life, but this takes the cake. Do you really think you can turn into a phoenix? As cool as that might be, I think you might need to fit me for a straightjacket. And there’s no way in hell I’m bowing to your ass…Queen or not.”
I couldn’t help but laugh…again. Jax may not be the most eloquent man in the world, but he was definitely colorful. I didn’t want to think about whether I really was everything the Magistrate had said I was, so I deflected. There would be time to think about it later.
“I have no clue. All I know is I spent my entire life thinking I was left on a park bench like a piece of trash, and today I found out that my mom did want me and she only left because she was being hunted. Even more than that, there were people looking for me. People that actually wanted me around for more than a government check. That alone lets me know that I have to do this Trial thingy. I have to know if this is where I truly belong.”
There was a sadness in Jax's eyes I hadn’t seen since we were kids. He let his head fall back against the couch and when he exhaled, it felt like someone squeezed my heart. It only took a second for me to figure out what he was thinking and I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. Since I’m a natural redhead and a bit of a brat, I did what I do best…I teased him.
“What the hell is the matter with you? Do you honestly think I’m going anywhere in God’s green earth without you?’ I punched him the arm as hard as I could to accentuate my point. “You better sit up here and give me a hug you big dumb jerk. Cause if you don’t I might kick your ass.”
And the big lug did exactly that. In one fluid motion, he scooped me off the couch, deposited me on his lap, and gave me a bear hug that threatened to crack my ribs. For the first time since Grant appeared in our lives, I felt normal. Jax and I had made it through years of whatever life had thrown at us. We even survived me being in college and him being halfway around the world.
“There is no way a bunch of feathered freaks are going to get the best of us, bub,” I squeaked out while hugging him back.
“Damn straight!”
We hugged for a few more seconds before he leaned back. “Ya know I’m not gonna let anything happen to you, Phoebs.”
“Right back atcha, Jax.”
“Alright, enough of this mushy shit. Let’s eat.”
“All is right with the world. Jax is hungry,” I chuckled, climbing off his lap and moving the cart full of food closer to us.
I was hungrier than I realized, and it wasn’t until I’d eaten three quarters of my grilled chicken sandwich and half my fries that I came up for air. “Wonder what happened to Grant?’
“Who knows? He said he’d be up when he was finished with his phone calls. I’m just glad we had a few minutes alone. We needed to talk and besides, that asshole should’ve told you what we were in for. It was obvious he already knew about the ‘bird people’.”
“Yeah, you’re right, but he made it clear that he was the Magistrate’s counsel and that means he could only tell us what the Magistrate allowed him to, or he would have been committing malpractice.”
“Whatever. Still isn’t right,” Jax grumbled, polishing off his second burger and starting on a plate of onion rings I didn’t even know was there.
“Well, it’s the rules and I get the feeling these people follow rules to the letter. Ya know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Hey, bub, it’s only four ‘o’clock. I’m gonna change out of this suit and grab a nap. Hopefully I can get an hour or two before Grant comes back. Cool?”
“Cool. I think I’ll watch some TV. Will the noise bother you?”
“Not at all. I think I could sleep on a rock in a hurricane right now.”
“Alright, sis,” Jax chuckled. “Get some shut eye. I’m sure tonight’s gonna be a party.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I agreed, heading towards my bedroom.
After changing into shorts and a T-shirt and washing my face, I slid under the covers and fell right to sleep. For only the third time in my life, I dreamed of my mom, but this time was different, somehow more real, and to top it off we were sitting in a tree. I appeared to be a younger version of myself, but it was as if it was happening in real time.
Phoebe, I need you to pay attention. I’m going to tell you of the origin of our people. We are Phoenix. The strongest of all fowl. Our kind came to be many, many years ago, when the gods of old still ruled the earth. Helios, the son of Titan, was given dominion over the sun, but even with his great responsibility, or maybe because of it, he quickly became lonely. He longed for a companion that could fly the skies with him. One night in a dream, he asked his father for such a friend. The next morning he awoke to find to a spectacular bird sitting high above him, whistling a beautiful tune. Her feathers were red, orange, and yellow, reminding him of fire and the sun he loved so much.
As he sat up, she floated to the ground beside him, continuing to sing her sweet song. The longer he watched and listened, the more enamored with her he became. He named her Phoenix, which meant a thing of peerless beauty and excellence; a paragon, because that was what she was to him. As time passed the two became inseparable. They shared a love that transcended all others. Their souls had truly become one.
Helios asked his father to make his phoenix into a real woman so that they may live their lives together as man and wife. Titan told him he would, but on one condition…. that she still be able to call forth her feathered form so that she might fly the skies
and protect the light of the sun with him. Helios readily agreed, and with a wave of Titan’s hand, his one true love–his
phoenix– took human form. She had hair the color of fire and eyes that rivaled the most precious emeralds.
Titan warned that the day would come when Phoenix would need to be reborn. On that day, she would burst into flames, and from her ashes be born anew, just as beautiful and vibrant…a reincarnation of the original. Helios vowed that he would treasure every day of their lives together.
The all-powerful god watched Helios and Phoenix and took pride in their never-ending devotion, not only to one another, but also to their duties as Keepers of the Sun. Titan was so pleased, that on Helios and Phoenix’s two hundredth anniversary, he blessed them with a daughter. He decreed that on her twenty-fifth year she would fall to the earth and live among the humans. He went on to say that she would also have a daughter to carry on her responsibilities at her twenty-fifth year. He decreed that this would be the way of the Phoenix, to lead the aviary shifters and provide them the balance they so desperately needed.
So you see my beautiful girl, you must find your Fire. It is there. I know it is. I saw it from the moment you opened your eyes and smiled at me. Now you must see it. You must find the strength to lead. You are the one, my sweet Phoebe. It has always been you.
Now wake up, my special one. Danger is all around. Wake up…
I floated between awake and asleep, trying as hard as I could to awaken. There were noises around all me, but for some reason, I couldn’t get my eyes to open. My mother’s voice in my head kept telling me to wake. But before I could accomplish what should’ve been an easy task, I was scooped up and unceremoniously thrown over what I could only guess was a shoulder. Pain shot through my midsection as a huge arm clamped my legs to an even larger chest.
My eyes shot open just as we began to move. My upside-down view of the room flew past as I tried to scream for help. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I took a deep breath and tried again with the same, sad results. Summoning all my strength, I finally got my head to turn to the right just as I heard the door to the hallway bang against the wall.