Phoenix Tonic

by Shelley Martin

  His slight smile took effort. “Is my voice too sexy for you?”

  “Oh yeah, baby.” She rolled her eyes at him. “You sound like crap.” She poured a glass of water and shook out two pills from a bottle. “Take this. Hopefully it will help with the fever.”

  He eyed her and the medicine, but drank the pills down anyway. “Those aren’t going to work on me.”

  “I don’t care.” She sat his glass back down. “That was Malachi on the phone. He said he’ll stay on at Eden until you come back from your stupid trip. Oh, and he found the same stuff out about Redding. So, no news there.”

  His closed his eyes. “I’d rather Malachi just quit. Dawn can handle it.”

  “Well, he’s trying to help keep stress off you by working until you feel better. So be happy with his offer and rest.”

  With a resigned nod he settled back into the pillow.

  Hailey hesitated to leave his side. “I’m going to go feed Ian and Sapphire, then I’ll bring you dinner.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  She made a “zip it” motion with her hand over her lips. “You think I haven’t noticed you aren’t eating anything? You just push the food around the plate. You’re going to eat something whether you want to or not.”

  He pursed his lips, but didn’t argue.

  Downstairs, she took the koalas out to do their business. Dark clouds drifted on the horizon, bringing a chilled wind with them. Hailey pulled her jacket closer to her body as the koalas tumbled in the grass. “Come on, guys. Hurry it up. It’s getting cold out here.”

  Almost as if they understood, Ian ambled off to the nearest tree and emptied his bladder. After another minute both little gray fur balls crawled up Hailey’s sides. She tucked an arm around each as the first drops of icy rain hit, and she hurried for the door.

  As the warm lights of the kitchen welcomed them, Hailey put the koalas on the floor. “Can you guys be good for me while I make Kallian’s dinner?” They looked at her inquisitively. “If you do I’ll take you to go see him.” She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a head of lettuce, and an onion. “I know how much you guys like him.” She cut some butter and tossed it in a frying pan, with a few slices of turkey. “He’s the original, after all. I’m just a…” She sprinkled in some chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Then she stopped and glanced as the koalas explored the floor. “Well, I don’t know what I am. Do you?” Ian scratched at a cupboard and crawled in to inspect the pots and pans.

  “Yeah, I just want to hide, too. But guilt has me taking care of your favorite person in the world.” After she had a pair of turkey-and-Swiss sandwiches assembled, she set them both on a tray, open faced. Adding a mug of tomato soup and a half pickle, she started up the steps. “Come on, guys.”

  Hailey’s little companions hurried after her. She couldn’t help but giggle as they climbed one stair after another, almost slipping a few times. Thank goodness these stairs were carpeted. They would have gouged claw marks into the wood of the grand staircase.

  As she reached the top, she waited another moment before heading down the hall, to Kallian’s room. “Here is your dinner, Mr. Markham.” She set the tray on the bed next to him, forcing a tight smile. She didn’t think it was possible, but in the hour she had been busy, he looked worse. Shadows rimmed his now hollowed cheeks, and even his hair seemed to be graying a bit.

  His eyes opened and he smiled up at her. “You’re back.”

  Her knees softened at his gentle surprise. “Yeah, I’m back. I told you I was bringing dinner, which you had better eat.” She shot him an evil look that made him smile again. “And I brought you a couple of friends.” She turned to pick up her two little shadows, but they weren’t there. “Ian? Sapphire?” She took a step back and looked out at the hallway. Ian peeked his little nose around the doorframe.

  Kallian leaned forward to see him. “Well hi there, big man. Are you taking care of your ladies?” And just that fast, Ian turned around and scampered away.

  “Is it that time already?” Kallian frowned.

  Hailey ignored the remark. “Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen him do that to you.” She hurried to the hall to watch both Sapphire and Ian climbing back down the stairs. “Hey, wait, you guys.”

  “They’re smart,” Kallian croaked as she walked back to his side. “You’d do well to follow their advice and stay away from me. Besides, I’ll be leaving tonight—”

  Hailey helped him sit up. The heat of the sheets resembled removal from a super-heated dryer. “You are not.”

  “You can’t stop me.” He slowly took hold of one of the sandwiches and bit into it.

  I can’t believe he’s being so stubborn. “I told your brother I’d take care of you. Besides, I have too many questions that need answering. And if you kill yourself with this obsession to go… where ever, then I’ll just… I’ll kill you. Yeah.” She grabbed her own sandwich and bit into the corner, ignoring his entertained gaze.

  He set the food down and took a little drink of water. Hailey almost grabbed the glass from him. His hand shook so much it almost hit the table. “So you’re gonna kill me if I kill myself?”

  She nodded as she chewed. “I’ll stay up all night, too. If you leave, I’ll catch you. I’ll make the driver take you to the hospital instead of where ever you want to go. You’re just not gonna win.”

  Kallian cleared his throat, but it came out as a rattling cough instead. Jeez, he really does sound like he’s dying.

  “I don’t think anyone can win against you, Hailey. Not even death himself.” She sighed and crunched on her pickle. “But, what I must do isn’t a game. I get this illness all the time. I’ll be like a brand new man in about a week. I promise you.”

  Hailey snorted. She wanted to believe him, but Kallian just looked so bad. “Eat your food. I’ve gotta go down and find the furballs.” She swallowed her last bite of dinner and stood up. “And if you’re not here when I return, I’ll kill you.”

  He picked up his sandwich and took a bite. “Yes, my fair and gentle maiden.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Lightning crashed nearby. Hailey’s heart thrummed as the storm pulled her from the dream, to a pitch-straight position. Her eyes roamed back and forth over the room as flashes blinded her, then died out. But, the rain didn’t let up. If anything, it pounded on the roof with more anger than she’d ever heard. What kind of crazy weather did this place have?

  She slung her terrycloth robe on and peered out the window. That lightning hit close. There must be a huge burnt spot somewhere on the back lawn. She rubbed her eyes as another bolt struck farther away this time. But it lit up the area enough for her to see the flash of red fabric whipping in the wind.

  She blinked and rubbed her eyes again. She couldn’t have seen what she thought she had. After waiting for confirmation from another flash of lighting, she jumped into action.

  "Stupid, stupid man." Hailey shoved her bare feet in a pair of sneakers and reached for her coat. "He's gonna kill himself." She rushed down the stairs, to the kitchen, hesitating a moment when she heard the panicked chatter of the koalas over the storm. "It's okay. I'll be right back, guys. Hang in there." The wind blew the back door from her grasp. The storm raged, welcoming her into its icy caress. Both hands strained to close the door behind her.

  She turned and searched the horizon for Kallian. Only darkness greeted her. She pushed ahead, along the tree line, where she'd last seen his red robe. Lightning flashed in the background, producing a faint red ripple almost beyond her view. She hurried after it, cursing as the stinging rain pelted her face.

  Where on earth was he going in this rain, wearing a robe, in the middle of the night, heading straight out into the Idaho wilderness? She remembered Malachi’s words and narrowed her gaze into the darkness. If Kallian wasn’t in drag, he was gonna be when he woke next. Complete with nails and the most outrageous makeup she could envision. She’d make sure of that.

  Hailey couldn’t believe she was actually chasing
after him in the pouring rain. Play some emotional music and this moment could go anywhere from comedic to romantic. “It’s for his health,” she said, while making her way down a grassy slope. “I’m not going to be responsible for killing the guy.”

  Another bolt of lightning crashed deep in the forest and her eyes caught the sight of the large white circle in the distance. “Is that a building?” As she drew closer, she realized she’d lost Kallian. Her heart sped up as she scanned the area. She could now see that the disc was a huge marble patio in the middle of no-where. She shivered and held her arms around her body as she examined the large crack down the center. Whatever the patio was, it wasn’t important right now. She needed to find the idiot on the brink of death that decided to go for a stroll in a storm.

  As she peered through the rain in all directions a thought shook her. He must have fallen. He was so sick, and with this weather, he was probably passed out somewhere on the ground.

  “Kallian,” she called. But the words drowned in the fury of the storm. “Kallian? Can you hear me?” She walked across the marble until she stepped down the other side. “Kallian?” Brushing the water from her eyes, a flick of red a few feet from her caught her attention.

  She gasped as she realized Kallian’s water-soaked robe flapped on the ground. She ran to it, kneeling in the muddy terrain. Grabbing ahold of the silk, her eyes widened when she saw Kallian had shed the thing. The robe half hung out of a doorway into the ground. The fabric slipped from her fingers as she stuck her head inside. A set of stone steps led deep into the earth, under the cracked marble circle.

  “Kallian?” The word echoed softly in the tunnel. A muted light glowed farther in, and Hailey’s feet found their way down the steps. Slowly, she descended, still holding her arms tight to her chest from the cold. What is this? Your Boy Scout secret base?

  The deeper she went, the warmer the air turned. Tension in her arms lessened as her hand trailed along the rough, stone walls. She paused when she reached the bottom and felt a crack in the wall. Her brow knit as fingertips pried the stone open to reveal a closet with a duffel bag inside. A water bottle with milk hung out from one of the side pockets, along with fruit and other bits of pale fabric. How strange. She left the stone door open, amazed at its thickness. She could even lift a huge chunk of rock? She bit her lip. Whatever. She’d worry about it later.

  Hailey focused on finding the sick guy somewhere in the secret underground passage. Her lips pursed. He knew she wasn’t going to let him go, so he takes the bat-cave? She wondered how many more of these there were. Maybe the house was riddled with them? “He’s got so much explaining to do.”

  As she walked forward, the narrow cave opened to a large, circular stone room. A vaulted ceiling arched several stories above her as she took in the sheer size of the area. Then she saw him.

  Kallian lay curled up in the center of the floor, with his back to her. He had on nothing but a pair of boxers. His body shook as he clasped his hands around his head.

  “Kallian?” She stepped forward to see his aged face whip around.

  He stared at her, eyes wreathed in pain. “Hailey, leave now.”

  She squared her shoulders. “No. You’re sick—”

  “Get out, now!” His voice took on an unnatural roar as he grabbed his head again. Hailey’s eyes widened as he rose to his knees and roared in pain again.

  “Kallian,” she whispered. “What’s wrong?” Her body moved instinctively to go to him, but his gaze snapped to her.

  “Leave!” He gulped air as pain radiated from his reddish-brown eyes. His voice took on a softer tone. “I’m dying.”

  His words stopped her cold. There was something wrong with him. His muscular frame had withered to that of a frail, bony one. His hair, now completely sapped of all color, hung limp and thinning around his deeply lined face.

  The air suddenly super-heated as Kallian’s body went from its sapped pale, to burning red. A frequency inside Hailey’s head suddenly buzzed with a high-pitched warning. She took a step back, then another. The little clothing covering Kallian’s body fell away in ash. Steam drift from the surface of the rocks. Her heart pound against her ribs as she gasped for air. Something is stealing the oxygen from my lungs.

  The cool air rushing past Hailey swirled around Kallian. The current gave her a few swallows of air as she realized the gravity of the situation. Fire needed oxygen to burn. And his heat drew the damp, stormy air, replacing the room of its depleted gases.

  With a heart-wrenching scream, Kallian’s chest heaved and his arms dropped. At the same time, the air exploded with fire. Only, this fire was unlike any fire she had ever seen before. It took the shape of a huge, flaming bird, engulfing Kallian’s body. His scream changed pitch, keening higher and higher, until it became a cry. A raptor’s cry.

  Hailey covered her mouth as she gasped at the sight. Kallian’s body faded into the flaming beast’s form. The creature craned his neck down and locked flaming eyes on her. Pain and pleading reflected in them. The same pain and pleading as in Kallian’s eyes.

  His wings suddenly thrust out, blocked by the proximity of the cave wall. The keening cry pierced the air again, forcing Hailey to cover her own ears. The onslaught of vibration sent her head spinning, forcing her to turn and run. That’s what he had been trying to tell her. He wanted her to run.

  Assaulted by the enormous pressure, she ducked into the first crevice she could find- the stone closet with the duffel bag. Huddling in the corner, the door slammed closed by a wave of golden fire raging through the hall. With hands still pressed to her ears, she sucked in air, panting at the close call. The roar of the firestorm raged for more than a full minute, before it faded away. Hailey didn’t dare move, until silence filled the cave. But she couldn’t wait forever. Kallian needed her.

  She pushed the door open to reveal the steaming red walls of the cave. There was no way she was going to walk on that. Even if she could make her feet fiery, that didn’t mean she could keep it consistent enough not to burn her clothes off. She’d just have to wait.

  “Kallian, are you okay?” He never answered. What was going on? What had she just witnessed?

  He said he was dying. But he couldn’t be dead. She refused to believe it. He was just saying that because of all that fire. And the obvious pain. People said unreasonable things when they were in pain, which she knew all about. There were several times she thought she was dying from pain, yet her body held on.

  But, for a moment, he did seem weak and old.

  As she looked over the glowing rock, her mind wandered. She wondered if the fire storm was similar to what she had put her mother through. Then she remembered Kira and her shield of fire. Could she have reflected all that pressure and chaos? She doubted it. That wasn’t like any fire she had caused before. It was huge. And it was caused by some sort of massive animal.

  She swallowed. That animal, that bird was Kallian. It was Kallian’s fire, huge and dangerous and golden. But how could that be? He never seemed like he had any power before… But it made sense. If his blood caused her to have fire, then her power would have originated from him.

  Dear God, what was he?

  She edged out onto the blackened rock of the floor. It was still very hot, but her shoes weren’t melting, so that was a plus.

  “Kallian?” He had to be done with his little fit, now. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of what he must look like. She knew she always ended up in her birthday suit after one of her blow-ups. She shed her robe and headed for the large room, intending to let him cover himself with it. As her eyes scanned the blackened area, her forehead creased with worry. She didn’t see his bare form. And she didn’t see a fiery bird either. All she could see was ash…

  “Kallian?”

  A slight movement from the center of the blackened room caught her eye. She hurried forward on the charred floor, desperate to help him.

  As her eyes met the source of the movement, Hailey dropped to her knees. In disbelief, she clutc
hed the terrycloth to her body as she took in the sight. Before her lay a sleeping Kallian. He was no longer gaunt and on the verge of death. But healthy, muscular and renewed.

  The scene hit her full force. The old sick Kallian had died in a fiery explosion. Now he was reborn, covered in soot.

  His fire wasn’t Phoenix-like. It was Phoenix fire.

  Kallian was a Phoenix.

  The end of Phoenix Tonic. Continue reading for a sneak peak at the first chapter of Phoenix Monarch.

  Chapter One

  Once again Hailey found herself carrying her captor to safety. Only this time, she did so reverently. I’m such an idiot. She raised her face to the icy rain, exposing herself to the stinging punishment. With the fire ability, she should have thought of Phoenixes. But she didn’t know they came in human form.

  With Kallian piggy-back style, she kicked closed the kitchen door. The koalas welcomed her with silence as she hurried up the stairs and laid him on the marble floor of the shower. She unwrapped her soaking terrycloth robe from his body. Not caring about her own ash-covered clothes, she turned on the waterfall shower. Testing it for warmth, she washed the dark streaks from her arms.

  The revelation that Kallian was a phoenix turned her world upside down. That meant that Malachi, Kira, even herself… they were all the same species. And Kallian had been trying to protect her by keeping her ignorant. But now that she knew, she didn’t want to run anymore. She wanted answers. And Kallian had them.

  After retrieving a washcloth and bar of soap from the cupboards she knelt before Kallian. Slowly, she started at his broad shoulders, running the wet rag down his arm. He moaned at her touch, but didn’t wake. His muscles responded to her, flexing and releasing under the stream of warm water. Somewhere in her heart, she prayed he would wake up and smile at her. But he didn’t. With gentle scrutiny, she scrubbed him free of the blackness, revealing the golden-tan skin she so loved.