Phoenix Rising

by Anne, Melody

  “And you think you’re top dog?” Jessica finally snapped. “You can’t even control your own emotions. You can’t decide what you want. You’re like a child who needs coddled, who needs a hand to hold. Boo hoo. Poor little Johnathan.”

  He was shocked at her outburst. But then fury made him move. He shoved her into the wall still gripping her throat and stepped up until their faces were inches apart.

  “You have no right to talk to me in that manner. I can rip you to pieces. I can make the rest of your life a living hell. Or I can end it right here and now.”

  “But you won’t,” Jessica spat back. “You aren’t man enough. Can you really bring yourself to murder another individual who embodies your past? Would you murder me like Vyco did to Cassidy? You aren’t man enough!”

  “You whore,” Johnathan snapped, pushing her farther into the wall.

  “Yes, you still want me,” Jessica said vindictively, pushing her hips against his.

  “You will never be what I want!” roared Johnathan.

  Her eyes widened as she looked at him. Jessica realized this might actually be it.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Jayden

  Jayden felt a change in Phoenix before he saw anything. One moment he was telling her they were in danger, the next she was falling, leaving him barely enough time to catch her and the small child she held.

  He felt his throat close as he checked her for injuries. Had they managed to strike without his knowledge? There wasn’t a chance. What was happening?

  Once he knew she wasn’t injured, he quickly glanced back up, knowing the two of them were completely surrounded. There was no way they’d make it out of this alive.

  If he were alone he could possibly have made it, but he couldn’t protect her and the child and fight with all he had at the same time. It wasn’t possible.

  Jayden despised how weak he was in that moment. He was always the strong one with all the answers, now he had nothing. Nothing but the broken remnants of what they could have been. One thing he did know was if Phoenix didn’t make it through the night, then neither would he. He couldn’t go on without her.

  “Josiah. A little help would be appreciated,” Jayden murmured, glancing toward the heavens, hoping his request for help would be heard.

  “Nobody is coming to help you,” one of the people taunted.

  “Why are we being targeted?” Jayden questioned, hoping to keep the minion talking so he could stall for time. The more time that passed the greater chance for help to arrive. If help was going to arrive.

  “Why wouldn’t we target you? You’re a betrayer to the underworld. You’re advocating for peace where we’d be stuck in the dark forever. You deserve a slow and painful death,” the minion of dark responded.

  “And what would attacking us do?” Jayden said.

  “That would make the prophecy null. We know Phoenix is supposed to be the one to stop this. Get rid of her, and there’s nothing left.”

  “Who is with you?” Jayden asked, dreading the answer, but knowing with that knowledge, his chances of getting out alive grew.

  “Why don’t you look around and see?”

  Jayden slowly let his eyes leave the witchy being and wander around the clearing. His stomach dropped. They were surrounded by weak and strong dark magic alike. Three reapers, two rats, a few snakes, a shape shifter, and several others. Even alone, this would be an intense battle. If help didn’t come soon . . . He wouldn’t complete that thought.

  Jayden reached to his side and grabbed his sword’s handle, feeling comfort when the blade shone before him as it exited its sheath. He might not be able to do this alone, but he would damn well try.

  Jayden shifted the burden of Phoenix and the child to his left arm, barely feeling their weight. He knew fighting with one hand would be more difficult, but he could never leave Phoenix unconscious on the ground. The minions would have no qualms about eating her and the child up — literally.

  Phoenix squirmed in his arm and let out a mumble. Jayden glanced down, concerned. He knew he needed to help her, but there wasn’t time. His heart wrenched as he felt her calling to him, but that didn’t make sense because she was right here.

  He hadn’t felt something like this since Vyco had been dragging her into his evil visions. But Vyco was dead — eternally dead.

  Jayden’s attention was pulled back to reality when, to his right, one of the snake beings lunged. Jayden reacted without thinking, dodging the attack before slamming his sword down smoothly, severing the snakelike head from the thin, mobile body. A thud sounded through the clearing as the being fell to the ground lifelessly.

  “You’re going to regret that,” another being hissed, spitting in anger.

  “You plan to kill me whether I fight back or not, why not do the world a favor in the process?” Jayden retorted with an arrogant smirk. He knew angry beings were sloppy. They made mistakes. Their arrogance would be their downfall.

  “How do you plan to fight back when we are all attacking? When we are tearing that little girl of yours apart, making you watch before ripping you limb from limb?” one of the rats taunted.

  “I’ll just have to show you who is better,” Jayden replied calmly. He wouldn’t get overwhelmed.

  A hush fell over the group. Outrage filled his enemy’s faces as they waited for the command to rush him. He’d hold Phoenix and the child and fly, though he’d be slowed down, and several of the minions could also project themselves. But if he could get some distance away and fight them one or three at a time, he would win. He got ready to bolt when a new voice joined the mix.

  “Wow, quite the gathering, and I wasn’t even invited.”

  Jayden could recognize that accent anywhere. The two of them had competed for the top dog position in the underworld for years. Jayden grew cold, knowing against this one the fight was already lost. He could take him alone but not surrounded by other dark followers and while holding and caring for Phoenix and the child.

  “Falcon, fancy meeting you here,” Jayden responded coldly, swiftly turning around to face the new arrival.

  “Now, now, no reason to be so rude. You’re obviously in no position for that,” Falcon chided, shaking his finger at Jayden as though he were a naughty child.

  Jayden felt his blood boil, but he took a deep breath and kept his mouth shut, knowing he needed to stay calm to do what was best for Phoenix.

  “This is our catch,” the witch woman stated.

  “You won’t challenge me, Sheera. Now leave. Jayden is mine,” Falcon demanded. He stared coldly from one minion to the next.

  “You have no jurisdiction over us. You have no jurisdiction over the underworld,” one reaper quietly whispered.

  “Yeah,” another exclaimed, gaining confidence from the shared opinion of the reaper. “Johnathan and Jessica kicked your ass in the underworld. You’re an outcast. If anything, you should die tonight as well as the chosen one.”

  “Gaining enemies?” Jayden asked, raising his eyebrows in amusement. Dissention among the enemies was the best thing that could happen right now. Maybe there’d be a big enough distraction for him to make a quick getaway.

  “Stop being so snarky with me. I came to offer help,” Falcon responded in annoyance.

  “What? You’re siding with the enemy?” Someone yelled in outrage. It was one thing for him to be unwanted and at the bottom of the underworld totem pole, but it was a whole other story when he chose to side with the enemy.

  “I’m powerful and in control. There’s no way I’m working under the emotional mess of Johnathan, or the conniving weak wench that is Jessica. If you’re going to call them master then I consider you below them, something I once imagined impossible,” he shouted to the group of enemies.

  “Can I trust you to have my back?” Jayden asked, cutting to the chase. He needed help, and if it were being offered by a former enemy, he wouldn’t turn it down. Phoenix was more important than a century
-old squabble.

  “It will be like the old days. If we could survive the war in the heavens, we’ve got this,” Falcon responded, creating an angry rumble within the demonic rank surrounding the two.

  “Maybe more than you think,” a light voice responded with a giggle. Light filled the clearing before twelve more immortals appeared, all carrying large blades. “Josiah sent us to aid you.”

  Jayden felt the tension leave his body. They would all make it.

  “Bring it on,” Jayden said clearly, before handing Phoenix and the child to a trusted ally, and then lunging forward, followed by Falcon and an army of immortals with the power of good magic on their side.

  Chapter Forty

  Sadie

  Sadie glanced across the rows of faces wearing expressions of determination. Her heart felt heavy. They were risking their lives, leaving home, and facing unknown terrors. The visit had been difficult, because it was a reminder of how much she missed home, how much she missed her family, and a normal life.

  There were about forty going out this time. That concerned Sadie. What if the large group was too big, and it attracted attention? Brian thought it was an excellent idea. More manpower could be used to get the job done more efficiently, and he spouted the safety in numbers statistic. Of course he would advocate for brute strength, but Sadie preferred stealth.

  Half of the group consisted of people who came with Samantha; the rest had been part of their own team. It was nice to see familiar faces. It added comfort to the journey ahead. She tried hard to be tough and strong, but at times it was difficult. She felt as if the world were caving in all around her, and she was being crushed in the process.

  “Are you all right?” Brian whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m thinking,” she responded. “It’s so crazy to be leaving again after we just got home. And you know it worries me to have a large group of people.”

  “I know, Love. We’re trying our best, and I think this might be the best chance we have at making a dent and changing the tide,” Brian whispered, pulling her closer.

  “I just don’t want to watch anyone else die,” Sadie whimpered. Her throat tighten, as her true fears came through.

  “Look at this group. Take a good long, hard look,” Brian commanded. Sadie did as told, glancing at the men and women, all wearing dark clothing, toting backpacks filled with supplies. “Tell me what you see.”

  “Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, all getting ready to go on a dangerous journey, and aren’t prepared for it.”

  “But you have to look beyond that, Sadie,” Brian explained. “See that man over there?” Brian asked, pointing to a man close by, staring intently forward, a scar over his right eye, a hard line pressed into his lips. Sadie nodded, staring at the man and wondering where Brian was going with this. “That man went on raids with me. He was there when I was injured right before our wedding. But he was also there as a soldier held him in restraints and made him watch as another murdered his little sister.”

  Sadie gasped, feeling tears overflow her eyes even thinking about something that terrible. “How is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Sadie, think about why these people are doing this. The two of us are fighting for our future. What are their reasons? Some of them want to battle with the past. Some want to continue to a better future. Some never want another person to go through the same things they went through. They have their reasons and motivations to fight, and it would be cruel to tell them that they aren’t able to.”

  She squared her shoulders and looked at him.

  “How is it you always know exactly what to say?” she asked with a sniffle.

  “Because we’re soul mates, darling. We’re in this together until the very end. Everyone coming with us feels the exact way we do about this war. They want it stopped; they want a peaceful tomorrow. We can get that.”

  “You realize you’re the true savior of this world, don’t you?” she said with a weak smile.

  “I’m a part of it, just like you are, and just like each of these men and women. Together we win.”

  “Together we win,” she repeated.

  Stronger now, she faced the group. “We fight for tomorrow,” she told them.

  Their voices rose in a cheer, and Sadie’s tears disappeared.

  Maybe they truly were better off with more people. She could feel the energy surrounding her. This war would end. She would come home, and they would all have the life they deserved.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Jayden

  “Thank you for your aid,” Jayden murmured, humbled by the warm glow surrounding each person in his presence. The atmosphere was addictive, and it made him ache to feel more of the warmth, for his own dark soul to gain redemption and feel that once again.

  “No matter what happened, you are still our brother. Both of you,” Sarah responded. She’d always been one of the lightest souls. Never unkind, she had always worked to create an atmosphere of warmth, inclusion, and happiness. Leaving her had been one of the most difficult parts in abandoning the good magic he’d been a part of. Feeling that acceptance now, after everything that had happened made Jayden feel as though there still was a chance, as though he wasn’t as much of a screw up as he’d thought.

  “Thank you,” Jayden murmured.

  “If you ever need help, all you have to do is ask,” Sarah answered with a warm smile. She leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Jayden’s cheek, followed by one on Falcon’s. Sending out a small wave she left in a wave of brilliant light, followed by the others.

  Jayden felt a tug in his soul and glanced at Phoenix. She was reaching out to him — needed him. Closing his eyes, he used his magic to tug her soul closer, feeling her call to him.

  Something fought him, but he kept pulling, feeling her struggle. Finally, he smiled as he felt her nearing him.

  “Phoenix?” Jayden called, feeling her getting closer and closer. “I need you to come back to me. I need you to tell me what’s been happening,” Jayden pleaded.

  He knew the moment she was with him again.

  “Jayden,” she groaned, arching into him, seeking comfort.

  “What happened? Where did you go?” he questioned.

  “Vyco is back,” Phoenix whispered, still feeling as though the happenings had been a horrible dream she needed to wake up from. “He’s supposed to be dead. We were supposed to be past this nightmare.”

  “Johnathan killed him,” Jayden said, trying to deny it.

  He wanted it to be false, but he knew Phoenix wasn’t mistaken. He could see it in her eyes.

  “I don’t know how, but he’s not,” she whimpered.

  “I can tell you what’s happened,” Falcon cut in, making Phoenix jump, unaware there was another person with them.

  Jayden turned. He’d almost forgotten Falcon was there.

  “What do you know?” Jayden asked immediately.

  “I know how he’s still alive if that’s something you’re interested in,” Falcon responded with an innocent smile.

  “Why are you here? Who are you?” Phoenix cut in, not feeling comfortable around someone she didn’t know, someone acting familiar with Jayden. It was a dangerous world, and a lack of information led to injury in the best of cases.

  “What? You haven’t mentioned me before? That hurts,” Falcon simpered.

  “Falcon and I were both followers in Vyco’s army,” Jayden responded shortly, sending a death glare toward the other man.

  “Why are you helping? Don’t you want the underworld to reign?” Phoenix asked, choosing to ignore the animosity between the two.

  “Why did Jayden change sides?”

  “To be a better person. To be with me?”

  “Bingo!”

  “You found someone?” Jayden cut in, shocked. Falcon had never been the same after Evelyn. He didn’t think it possible for him to recover from that loss.

 
“Not someone. I found the one. I found my soul,” Falcon said.

  “Evelyn?” Jayden hesitantly asked.

  “She’s alive,” Falcon responded.

  “Evelyn had been his wife for a millennia. She disappeared during the war,” Jayden explained to Phoenix.

  “Okay, so you plan to help us then?” Phoenix asked. “Tell us what you know.”

  “Vyco could have never been murdered on earth. He was paranoid, and he had a safeguard against that happening. Over the years Vyco experimented with his soul, and discovered a vital trick to eternal life. The body is a doppelganger, and his soul inhabits it. His real body is entombed in the underworld. Destroy that, and he will be gone forever,” Falcon responded.

  “Then why was he gone for so long, why am I just now gaining visions from him?” Phoenix asked, feeling overwhelmed and slightly hysterical.

  “Destroying his body, no matter if it is permanent or not, does weaken him. His powers and his soul had been entwined with that being, so of course when he’s killed that’s all severed. It takes time for him to regain his strength enough to inhabit another body and restore energy and power,” Falcon explained.

  “Why didn’t Vyco ever mentioned this to me,” Jayden asked. “He always acted as though I was his most trusted.”

  “You should know he doesn’t trust anyone. I bet he told you things he never mentioned to me. He was a firm believer in never trusting one being fully,” Falcon answered simply.

  “So what do we do?” Phoenix asked. She firmed her shoulders. There was a task to be done, and she’d do it. There was no use whining about it or feeling sorry for herself.

  “We go to the source, and we destroy it.”