Ana couldn’t help but hope. “Oh, that sounds like an idea. Have you asked him?”
“Yeah, he’s waiting in the living room—c’mon, let’s go.” He held her hand and led her down the hallway, half dragging her.
Mac sat in Ana’s usual spot on the couch. He beamed at them when they entered the living room. “Has Chance told you his idea? He’s a smart one and so young too. Chance, go ahead and get the candle set up—you know how this goes.”
Chance went directly to retrieve the candle and lighter. He set it on the coffee table, lit it and sat cross-legged, prepared for the next step.
Just as he began to relax into meditation, a thought came to him. “What about Ana? Last time we did this she channeled what I was seeing too.”
He glanced at her and frowned. He didn’t want her using her power consciously or subconsciously.
Mac turned to Ana. “Are you aware of yourself when you begin to connect to Chance? Do you think if you focus enough on yourself, you could keep from using your powers?”
“I can try,” Ana said. “I will do my best to keep it from happening.”
Chance paused while he looked at her, discerning her seriousness. He could see she meant it, which encouraged him to hope. Searching for a memory that had the potential to reveal the secret of phoenix form was all he could think about.
He returned his attention to the candle’s flame that flickered only a foot away on the coffee table. He was so anxious it took a little more time than usual to soothe himself.
When Chance’s breathing created a slow rhythm, Mac said, “I want you to think back to a time when you can recall learning of the phoenix, seeing a relic or talisman with your own two eyes. You may have seen a stone that holds the key.”
Chance waited and waited. He tried not to experience each passing moment like a heavy weight, but it was hard when he felt the pressure to get the answer he needed. This had to work. It had to.
He clenched his hands into fists. Damn, why isn’t it working?
“Hold on,” Ana’s voice said with a softness that melted his heart.
Within seconds, he felt her by his side, her loving energy piercing his exterior. Her fingers curled onto his shoulders, bringing warmth with her touch. She squeezed his tight muscles and whispered into his ear, “You need to be more relaxed if this is going to happen. I know you, Chance. It’s obvious you’re not in a meditative state. Why don’t you think about the field where you trained with your grandfather? Maybe that’ll help you—”
When her words sank in, his shoulders dropped and he finally let go of his tension. Skilled and persistent, her fingers relaxed his muscles and he thought of the more innocent times he’d trained with Niyol: soft breezes sweeping across his face as he sat in the grassy field, his grandfather’s steady voice coaxing him into meditation. Breathe, Chance. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to relax.
He sighed deeply. When he exhaled, his shoulders sank down even further and he settled into the carpet. He could feel he was ready, so he lifted his eyes to the candle’s flame. It flickered and moved like a siren dancing. His mind grew fuzzy as he heard Mac’s voice from a distance, “You have seen the phoenix talisman, you know of the phoenix—”
The brightness of the room faded into darkness, but the candle’s flame remained nearby, casting out a ring of dim light. He was standing beside a wooden table covered with parchment. A bed stood only a few feet away.
Chance remembered this room. The last time he’d visited a memory, it was from this place: Nikator’s bedroom and the location where Daemon discovered the secret to attaining the power of a god.
The golden box sat on the table beside a stack of papers. On the top piece, a sketch filled most of the page. A teardrop shape was in the center, with narrow feathers curled around it from the base to the top. His body was arched over the paper as he studied it.
Chance realized he was holding that very piece of jewelry from the sketch. Thin gold feathers wrapped around a large, silver dollar–sized piece of yellow, opaque glass. Its shiny exterior shone in the candlelight. A few dark strands or cracks were woven near the surface, but it wasn’t clear enough for him to see through.
He thumbed to the next sheet of parchment. Another sketch filled half the page and notes were scrawled on the opposite side. The profile of a woman stood tall. Flames rose above her and on her chest was what looked like the same piece of jewelry. Symbols framed the picture in a rectangle. Daemon read the notes to himself and his thoughts filled Chance’s head.
Phoenix symbol found near northeastern point of build site that led to the caved-in chamber. Within the space, my men found the golden box. Deposits of yellow mineral, possibly the same material from the necklace, found surrounding it. When the debris was cleared, I found this depiction painted on the wall. From what I can guess from the surrounding symbols, her title is “star maiden” and she wears the pendant that was contained in the gold box. I could only study the painting on the wall for one day before having to rebury it with crushed stone as the commencement of building the temple could not be delayed any longer without raising suspicion.
The warm metal pendant filled his vision before everything grew bright again. The darkened room disappeared from view and he was nearly blinded from the sunlight that poured in through the enormous windows in Lifen’s living room.
Chance blinked until his eyes adjusted to the change. His eyes may not have sensed any difference, but his brain was confused from what he’d just seen in his head. He heard breathing nearby and he turned to see Ana sitting beside him in the carpet. Her head tilted and her eyes narrowed.
“Well?” she breathed out.
Chance cleared his throat. “Um, I saw something, but I don’t know how it all makes sense. It didn’t look like any piece of a bird.”
Derek and Jordan walked in from outside, talking to each other. After stomping on the reed mats in the entryway, they craned to look into the living room. Derek called out, “What’s up. We missing out on anything?”
Mac leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms out along the back of the couch. “Seems that Chance has some memories to share that might help with the search for a phoenix talisman.”
The guys hurried closer. Jordan sat in an armchair and Derek kneeled on the floor nearby. Derek said in encouragement, “Don’t let us stop you—go on.”
Chance gave them every detail of what he just saw.
“That’s great news,” Jordan said from his chair.
“Yeah.” Chance scratched his head. “I don’t see how this necklace will help Ana achieve phoenix though. Maybe it’s just the symbol of the phoenix.”
Jordan jumped up, beginning to leave the room. “Could you draw it? So we can all see what it looks like?”
“Sure.”
Chance watched Jordan run out into the hallway and disappear. A minute later, he came thumping back with a sketchpad and pencil. He handed them to Chance, who did his best at drawing the necklace and the painting of the woman.
Everyone leaned over him as he worked. Mac got up from the sofa, snatched up the glass orb from the side table and began throwing it in the air as he did to entertain himself. When Chance was done, he flipped it around so they could all see.
“That symbol looks right,” Mac said.
“But how is a necklace going to help Ana,” Chance argued.
The room fell silent.
After a few minutes, Jordan asked, “Can you describe the center stone a little better? Do you know what kind of mineral or gem it is?”
Chance shrugged. “I dunno. I’m not that familiar with different kinds of rocks. I’ve seen amber before and I don’t think this could have been that because it wasn’t clear enough. This stuff was sort of shiny, like glass. It was yellowish and looked like milk was mixed in. It looked like some hairs were in it and that’s about it.”
Jordan sat with his mouth agape while his eyes glazed over. He got this way while he was deep in thought. Chance looked to Mac f
or some kind of feedback, but he continued to play with the glass sculpture, not providing any insight.
“You don’t have anything to say?” Chance asked Mac.
“I can’t think of anything that could help you right now, but if you’d like me to talk to fill the silence, I’m more than happy to.”
“Wait,” Jordan declared while he stared at Mac’s juggling. His eyes were glued to the glass orb. “You said it looked like glass?”
“Yeah, it looked like dull, yellow glass,” Chance responded.
“I need your laptop,” Jordan said and went to the couch where it was sitting. He opened it up and was hidden behind the screen as he typed furiously.
Chance got up from the floor and joined Jordan on the couch, too impatient to wait any longer. When he joined him, Jordan muttered, “Do you know how glass is made? Or what it’s made of?”
“I know heat melts it,” Chance said.
“Yeah, intense heat will melt silica—otherwise known as sand. Have you heard of desert glass? They don’t know if it’s created by lightning or meteorites, but it’s been found in the Libyan Desert.”
A picture flicked up onto the screen of a yellowish stone. Chance pointed to it. “That looks just like it.”
Ana jumped into the conversation with a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there for weeks. “Mac, didn’t you say that a star maiden’s glow is hot and bright? If a star maiden were standing in sand, do you think she could make glass?”
Mac snatched the glass orb from the air. With a grin he said, “And I wonder if that star maiden was in the form of a phoenix and one of her feathers, burning with fire, fell onto the sand, would it be encased, similar to bugs trapped for eternity in amber?”
They all looked at each other. Electricity coursed through the air as they all clung to their first ray of hope.
“Is it too soon to try to look for another memory to show us where it is?” Chance asked, his mouth dry.
Mac folded his arms. “Let’s wait until tomorrow. I know that memory took a lot of energy to locate. Charge up and we’ll give it another try in the morning.”
Gabby’s voice cut through the room. “I am sorry, I did not put this much energy into planning a wedding for the groom to miss it. Tomorrow is Friday—the day we agreed on. Remember?”
They looked up to see Gabriella standing in the hallway with her hands on her hips. Her eyes were narrowed and she appeared to mean business. She focused on Ana with a softened gaze. “That’s wonderful news, Ana. I can’t wait to see you better, but there is no way I’m about to let these boys railroad your special day. Gotta keep them in line or they will walk all over you.”
Ana’s and Chance’s eyes met. Her cheeks grew flushed and she snickered.
His heart squeezed in his chest at the sight of her smile. Thoughts of her consumed his every waking moment. Slowing down wasn’t part of his personality.
Chapter 19
Chance watched Ana sleep through lidded eyes. She’d remained still for hours. Lifen had taken the previous shift monitoring Ana’s energy levels, which gave him a short four-hour rest. He turned off his laptop and set it on the floor, frustrated that he hadn’t found anything resembling the pendant he’d seen in Daemon’s memory.
A soft glow had begun to fill the room from the narrow window at the highest point of the wall. His watch finally told him it was late enough to begin to move around. She’d asked him to wake her at six so she could help out with the day’s festivities. From the sound of soft movement elsewhere in the house, he guessed Gabby was likely getting started.
He leaned in and kissed Ana’s neck. She took a deep breath, then gave a soft groan.
Chance whispered, “Morning, my love.”
Her eyes fluttered open, revealing the green, sparkling gems he treasured. She lifted up on her elbows and said in a gravelly voice, “Time to get up?”
“Yeah,” he laughed, smoothing out her rumpled hair.
“There’s a lot to do—at least that’s what Gabby told me when I went to bed last night. I’m not sure why, since it’s only us today and no real guests.”
Chance got up and stretched. “I’ve got a list of things to get done too. First of all is taking a shower. I’m going to get out of here—I’ve been told to make myself scarce, not supposed to see you until tonight.”
When Ana sat up, the sheets tumbled around her waist. She leaned forward. “Hold on. If I don’t get to see you today, then I want a kiss before you go.”
He wished he could freeze that moment forever: Ana, bleary eyed, beautiful and alive. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. He had to save her.
Chance walked around the bed and sat beside her. Ana’s delicate fingers combed through his hair. There was a time that would have sent chills down his spine, but not today. Not when he was so close to saving her. Nothing could sway him from his purpose. He needed to know she’d be by his side for decades, that her fingers would rake through his gray hair when he was old.
Ana traced her finger over his forehead. “You’re frowning again.”
Don’t ruin this day for her, he scolded himself.
“Sorry.” Chance leaned in to give her the kiss she’d asked for. “I’m going to take off, but I’ll see you later.” He went to the door.
Her voice chased him from the room. “I love you—don’t let Gabby catch you fishing for memories.”
He had to laugh. Ana always sensed when he was up to something. No one knew him like her.
Instead of heading to the shower first, he went in search of Mac. Gabby was in the living room giving detailed instructions to Derek, who looked like he’d rather be somewhere else as he held an armload of cream-colored fabric. Chance zoomed past, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.
Before he reached the kitchen, he heard noises pouring into the hallway: pots and pans sliding across burners and the sink running. Jordan was at the stove, flipping vegetables in a sauté pan with a quick jerk of the wrist. Mac was setting a large baking pan on the counter. A sweet, sugary aroma, as well as steam, rose from the golden brown surface.
Mac’s voice bellowed, “It’s the groom!”
“What are you making?” Chance asked, standing next to him and breathing in deeply.
“Oh, just my favorite cake for the big day,” Mac answered. “I need to let it cool before I start on the frosting. Nothing like eating sweet things on a happy day like this. I suggested we eat only desserts, but the others were against it—party poopers.”
Chance turned around to grab a banana from the fruit bowl. “If you’re done for now, could I talk to you?”
Mac smiled at him as if he knew what he was thinking. “Sure. Want to go to the animal sanctuary, so we stay out of everyone’s way?”
Chance sighed in relief. The last thing he needed was Gabby catching him doing something he’d promised he wouldn’t.
“Great,” he said.
Before they left the kitchen, Jordan announced, “It’s supposed to be really nice today. Cool, but sunny. I have some things to do, but if you need me for anything, just shout.”
Chance rested his hand on the doorframe and shot him a mischievous look. “Are you offering what I think you are? I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”
Jordan sneered, which was a first. “I don’t care. I’m in—whatever it is. Whatever it takes to help Ana.”
“I like this side of you, Jordan,” Chance responded and trailed after Mac.
They slipped from the house as quietly as they could, going unnoticed by Gabby, although Derek gave them a forlorn look before the door shut. When they got to the top of the driveway, Chance glanced over his shoulder to see Lifen perched on the roof of her house on lookout duty. It was a solemn reminder on a day that held promises of happiness.
In the sanctuary, Batukhan was cleaning a horse’s stall. His large, stocky body flexed as he dragged a rake over the ground, clearing away dirty hay. When he saw them, he straightened up. “Just getting some chores d
one before the big night. Anything I can help you with?”
Mac answered, “I just needed a quiet place to guide Chance through some memories.”
Batukhan rubbed his chin. “The sun room would work. I assume the ladies don’t know what you’re doing?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Chance winked.
They walked away to leave Batukhan to his work and let themselves out of the back door. Sunlight poured into the enclosed room. Chance blinked as his eyes adjusted.
“Did you bring the candle and lighter?” Chance asked while he sat on the chaise.
Mac clapped his hands together. “I did.”
From his pocket, he pulled out a lighter and candle and handed them to Chance.
“I think you know what to do from here. Don’t let any of your worries or concerns distract you. Feel your muscles release and let go.”
Chance flicked his finger over the lighter and touched the flame to the candle’s wick. He stared at it long enough that his vision blurred. Mac’s voice sounded distant and seemed to come to him from a faraway place. “Picture the pendant in your mind—call it back to your thoughts. Try to visualize where you last saw it—”
Like playing pin the tail on the donkey, he grappled with the direction he was being led. White noise filled his ears and the land was bathed in light. White snow from outside the windows fell away from view; instead, orange earth lay ahead of him in swirls and ripples.
Wings spread out, he climbed air currents, trying to avoid being tossed around. From the size of his wingspan and feathers, Chance knew wasn’t a sparrow, but something grander, larger. He felt the tug of a weight in his talons. He was carrying something.
In the distance, ribbons of blue water reflected the sunlight. He descended closer to the sandstone and the twisting, smoothed rock. An enormous arched opening loomed before him, a bridge of natural stone cast a shadow on the ground. He flew under it and followed the path cut into the earth. Rings of yellow, orange and tan colored the canyon walls rising above him. After a short distance, the stony floor became obscured by water. He flew above the river causeway, followed the curve and twist of its form until it led into a much larger body of water. Dipping to his right, he flew over the snaky river, turning multiple times, following some unknown path carved from stone.
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