by Tricia Barr
The rest of the class was quite basic, and Phoenyx couldn’t help but zone out. Math had never been a particularly interesting topic to her, and the anticipation of going to her favorite class, Mediterranean History, next was enough to draw her attention away.
Her mind wandered to thoughts of Lily. Phoenyx was amazed at how close they had become, after only having met little over a month ago, and then spending the majority of said month states apart. They talked on the phone every other day, and texted each other sporadically throughout the day everyday.
When math class was over, Phoenyx had a half hour break before her next class. She decided to call Lily.
“Hi!” Lily greeted after one ring. “Oh you would not believe the amount of blood a patient squirted all over me this morning!”
Phoenyx couldn’t keep her laugh from bursting out at Lily’s salutation. Lily was in nursing school, and she always had gruesome stories to tell Phoenyx about her nursing internship in the ER. Though Lily was usually a quiet person, she got really excited about her work.
“What happened this time?” Phoenyx asked into the phone with a laugh as she strolled across campus.
“I was giving a diabetic her insulin shot in the belly, and though that spot does tend to be ‘juicy’—for lack of a better word—I never expected the blood to shoot out like it did. I think I even still have some in my ear.”
Phoenyx was half grimacing, half smiling through Lily’s story. Despite how sweet and innocent Lily was, she wasn’t the least bit squeamish, and Phoenyx always found herself mentally applauding Lily for that.
“How are things with you and Sebastian?” Lily asked, her tone suggestive.
Phoenyx smiled and bit her lip. “Dear Penthouse,” was her reply.
Lily laughed, then hummed sweetly. “I’m so happy for you two. I can’t wait for fall break so I can visit you guys. Just two more weeks!”
“Me, too,” Phoenyx said, her heart squeezing at the wonderful thought of seeing her best friend again soon.
“Alright, well, I have to go clean up before my first class, but I’ll talk to you later,” Lily said.
“Later,” Phoenyx said, then hung up and slipped her phone into the right front pocket of her jeans.
Knowing that she still had some time to kill before her Mediterranean History class, she zipped into a bathroom on the way there to check her face and fix her sex hair—although her next class was in a large, dimly lit lecture hall, she hated the idea of showing up to her favorite class looking unkempt.
She entered the bathroom and went straight to a mirror along the wall. She really didn’t look as awful as she had imagined, but she still took a moment to flatten down her hair and rinse her face. She took a paper towel from the dispenser and gently patted her face dry. She looked at the crumpled paper in her hands and felt a twinge of mischief.
She took a look around. The bathroom appeared empty. Emboldened by her newfound self-confidence, she often tried to practice her fire-starting skill. It wasn’t as if she were an arsonist, but she felt she should test her power every now and then in case she ever needed it.
She returned her gaze to the paper towel in her hands. With a sense of authority flaring in her belly, she mentally commanded the paper to ignite. Fire sprang to life at the center of the sheet and speedily radiated outward until there was nothing but ash in her palms.
She smiled, excited at how easy it had become to call on her element since the episode with the Four Corners. Before that, she had only been able to use it once, when she was irrationally and uncontrollably angry, and now she could command her power whenever she wanted. She still couldn’t quite control how quickly something burned, or how much of it burned, but the progress was still encouraging.
A gasp sounded from behind Phoenyx, and she looked up at the mirror to the shocked reflection of a girl standing in a stall behind her. Phoenyx could have sworn the bathroom was empty, and she wondered how she could have possibly missed noticing a closed stall.
Phoenyx wasted no time in approaching the girl before the situation could escalate. The girl’s face was terrified as Phoenyx stalked toward her, and she stepped back as Phoenyx reached for her arm. But Phoenyx latched on and let a warm comfort flow through her touch and into the girl’s forearm.
“You didn’t see anything suspicious in here,” Phoenyx said in a silky, soothing voice. “Everything is fine, and you can continue about your day.”
The girl’s shoulders lowered and her stance relaxed, the tremor of fear on her glossed lips being chased away by a smile.
Phoenyx released her, and the girl went to the sink to wash her hands as if nothing had happened. Phoenyx sighed in relief and frustration. She had to be more careful. No more practicing in public, she declared to herself as she left the bathroom and headed to her next class.
Phoenyx got to class just in time and found a seat in the middle section of the lecture hall. She settled in and took out her laptop, ready to take notes.
Professor Rune approached the center of the stage. Phoenyx idolized Professor Rune. She was the most entertaining and witty instructor of all of Phoenyx’s classes. She taught history with such flare and color, and the assignments so far were actually fun. It didn’t hurt that the subject matter itself was proving to be extremely relevant to Phoenyx after the past lives revelation. The lectures were all about ancient Greece and Rome and China, and the place that fascinated her most of all, Egypt. Their very first lesson of the semester had been on sex in ancient Rome, a topic that was so scandalous it had won the heart of every student in attendance, especially Phoenyx.
“Now before we start today’s lecture, I wanted to announce that applications for my winter archaeology field school are now being accepted. We will be doing a dig in the Valley of the Queens this season. Feel free to come by my office hours to discuss participating.”
A field school? In Egypt! And a chance to work with Professor Rune. There is no way I am passing up this opportunity! Phoenyx thought.
It was a struggle to sit through the lecture that followed, not because it was at all boring, but because she couldn’t wait to talk to the professor after class. The lecture was about the Ptolemaic Era. As Phoenyx watched the images of the Powerpoint flash on screen, she couldn’t help but be reminded of her dream. It was always that same dream. Other small bits and pieces sometimes followed it. She saw Sebastian’s face, skin tanned and bright blue eyes lined in black. Other faces, magnificent columned structures, exotic animals jingling with gold jewelry around their necks. It gave her a chill to know that, everyone else in this room could only study the ancient world, but she had lived it. Now, if only she could remember any of it.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was meant to do something. The urgency of the dream, of getting that wrapped up object to a safe place, the deep dread that someone might steal it, or break it. What could it have been? Why was it so important? She kept these thoughts in the back of her mind while she listened and took notes, riveted by the lecture on the Ptolemys.
Finally, the hour was over. Phoenyx stayed in her seat while the rest of the students filed out so she could talk to the professor without all the collegiate white noise. When the room was mostly empty, Phoenyx made her way to the stage, where the professor was gathering quizzes.
She was even prettier up close, with an angular face like the bottom half of a marquee diamond, piercing green eyes and honey-colored hair in millions of fluffy ringlets. Hers was a classic beauty.
“Excuse me, Professor Rune?” Phoenyx began.
“Yes?” The professor distractedly turned to look at Phoenyx, then her smile—and the quizzes she was holding—dropped.
“Daigra?” she asked in a stunned whisper.
The word struck a chord, causing Phoenyx’s heart to thud, even though she had no idea what it meant.
“I-I’m sorry?” Phoenyx asked, confused.
Professor Rune blinked and shook her head. “Nothing.” She looked down blankly at the paper
s scattered at her feet.
“Oh, let me help you with that,” Phoenyx offered, kneeling to collect the quizzes, hoping the gesture would win the professor’s favor.
“Uh, yes, thank you,” Professor Rune said slowly, getting to her knees as well. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk to you about your field school,” Phoenyx said. “I am very interested in going. What do I need to do to apply?”
They stood and Phoenyx handed her the neatly compiled papers.
Those green eyes were boring into Phoenyx, and she couldn’t decipher the expression behind them. Did Phoenyx smell bad? Oh god, I hope she don’t smell like sex!
“I have office hours right now. Why don’t you walk me to my office and we can talk about it?” Professor Rune suggested, her intense gaze softening.
“Perfect!” Phoenyx said.
Professor Rune led them out of the lecture hall.
“What was your name again?” she asked.
“Phoenyx Blake,” Phoenyx answered.
“Alright, Phoenyx, tell me about yourself. Why do you want to attend my field school?”
They walked out of the building and onto a green lawn, and Phoenyx kept pace alongside the professor as they moved in the direction of her office, Phoenyx assumed.
“For one, I really enjoy your class and would love the chance to work with you,” Phoenyx replied, “and I am deeply fascinated by Egypt. I feel like it’s calling to me.”
Professor Rune nodded in approval of the response.
“Yes, Egypt has quite a powerful allure,” she said. “Tell me about your life, about your family. What makes you you?”
“Well, I moved here from Illinois, where I lived with my mom. My dad died when I was thirteen, so it’s just been the two of us for a long time.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Professor Rune said sincerely. “How did he die?”
Phoenyx looked down as she answered. “A fire.” Although she had finally accepted that she started the fire that killed him, she still didn’t like to think about it. It would be a grim weight on her heart for the rest of her days.
Professor Rune stopped then and looked at Phoenyx as a mother would to her child. “Oh, you poor dear.”
Phoenyx felt a strange intimacy toward her suddenly, as if she wanted to hug her. Was it just the way the professor was looking at her? What a powerful presence she must have to make people feel so comfortable. Still, the feeling confused Phoenyx, and she tried to shake it.
The professor continued walking, and Phoenyx followed her into a quaint brick building and down a hall to a door. Professor Rune unlocked it and led Phoenyx inside.
“Please, have a seat,” Professor Rune invited, gesturing to an empty seat in front of her desk.
Phoenyx sat and the professor locked the door before going to sit on the other side of the desk. Odd thing to do during office hours, Phoenyx thought, a sense of suspicion growing.
“This is always the hardest part,” Professor Rune sighed to herself.
Phoenyx cocked her head inquisitively.
“I have something to tell you, and it’s going to be hard to hear at first, but the longer I talk, the more you’ll understand. Are you aware that your ability to influence people by touch isn’t the only thing special about you?”
Phoenyx’s heart stopped and she felt a hot rush of panic flood to her face. How could she possibly know that?
“Are you aware that you can also control fire?” Professor Rune continued.
Phoenyx fidgeted nervously and looked back at the locked door. So that’s why she locked it. She somehow knew who Phoenyx was and meant to trap her. Not again!
“Please, don’t be alarmed,” Professor Rune said kindly. “I’m not a threat to you. I promise I am only here to help.”
Phoenyx swallowed hard and took several quick breaths before finally saying, “How do you know these things about me?”
“Let me explain,” Professor Rune began. “Phoenyx, you are part of a very old legend, perhaps the oldest legend. You are one of the Bound Ones.”
“Yes, I know the legend,” Phoenyx interjected. “If you are from the Four Corners, I should warn you—”
“You know of the Four Corners?” Professor Rune asked, confusion, concern and intrigue dancing on her face.
“I not only know of them, I destroyed them,” Phoenyx said dangerously, still unsure of what side Professor Rune was on. She explained in explicit detail their abduction almost a month ago, and their escape.
Professor Rune was silent then, just staring at Phoenyx with an unreadable expression.
“I don’t know what to say,” Professor Rune said. “Only that I am so glad you made it out.” Relief lit up her face, a rainbow after a storm of a moment, and Phoenyx no longer felt mistrust. “Wow, all four of you, together again. Amazing.”
“Professor, who are you?” Phoenyx asked.
“I am your oldest friend, and you can call me Ayanna,” she said, smiling so prettily. “I was born a century or so after the original four were bound. It became increasingly difficult to find each reincarnation, as we had to wait until they were old enough to be recognized by the oldest of the village, or until they revealed their powers. When I was seven, it was discovered that my younger sister was Fire.” She gave Phoenyx a warm, loving smile.
“Sister?” Phoenyx asked. “But how is that possible? That was thousands of years ago, and you look no older than thirty.”
Ayanna nodded. “I’ll get to that. My sister died young, before she could marry. It was devastating to me. And even though I knew I would see her again in a decade or so, she wouldn’t be my sister anymore, not really. A few years after she died, a comet fell and landed not far from our village. A soccer-ball-sized chunk of a strange dark gray metal with a murky purple and green gemstone attached. The metal was so pretty that it was made into necklaces and bracelets and even weapons. The stone was placed into the hilt of a dagger that the chief hunter of our village fashioned for himself.
“His first kill was a deer. He pierced it in the heart with the dagger and dragged it back to the village proudly. But by the time he prepared to skin it, the wound had disappeared and the deer climbed to its feet and sprinted away. He brought this to the attention of the village elders, and they used the dagger to kill a squirrel. Just like the deer, a few hours after they had killed it, it returned to life and skittered back up into a tree. They retrieved it and snapped its neck, but not long after it awoke again. The dagger had the ability to give immortal life to anything from which it took life.” Ayanna paused to let Phoenyx process this information. Phoenyx realized that she was on the edge of her seat as she listened.
“That gave the elders an idea, a way of continually locating the Bound Ones and inspiring loyalty to the village,” Ayanna continued. “My sister wasn’t the only one in my family born with powers. I had the ability to affect memory. I had learned early that I could make people forget things. If I did something my parents told me not to, I could make them forget I did it. It took me longer to figure out I could also make people remember. As I grew up, I used my gifts to help people. Whenever something was lost, I helped find it. If someone wanted to forget a tragedy, like a death or an illness, I made it disappear. For the elderly in the village whose minds had begun to decay, I helped them remember their family and their younger years. And when we had found all the Bound Ones, I helped them remember their previous lives.
“So the elders came to me with a proposition. They wanted to use the dagger on me to make me immortal so that I could help the village forever. They knew how much I loved my sister, and I had watched the other three Bound Ones grow up as well, so I knew what they looked like and would recognize them again. I was afraid at first, that I wouldn’t wake up like the deer and the squirrel did. But the thought of seeing my sister again, and of being able to help her remember who she was, finally convinced me to go through with it.
“So they gave me a coronation of sorts, turning my sacrifice
into a grand event. They dressed me in a fine gown, laid me on an altar before everyone in the village and stabbed the dagger into my heart. The pain was excruciating! And the blackness that followed was even worse. But I woke up in one piece, and I was indestructible.
“After they used the dagger on me, it became a target of envy and greed. Everyone wanted to live forever—who wouldn’t? So the elders dismantled it. They removed the stone from the hilt and broke it into three pieces. The dagger didn’t work without the stone, and the stone wouldn’t work with any other metal. They sent the three pieces off in different directions, keeping the dagger in a safe place.
“For generations, I stayed with the village, guiding the Bound Ones each generation. But over time, the village became corrupt, using the Bound Ones as weapons against other villages, gaining power and wealth. So we all fled. That was the last time I saw all of you together. You and Water were the only ones I ever found again.
“After we fled the village, they hunted us, trying to reclaim you. We knew that the only way to keep all of you free of their grasp once and for all was to find all the pieces of the dagger and make you immortal. Because of the link connecting your life-spans, we would only have to use the dagger on one of you to make you all immortal. So every generation, I would find you and we would search for the stone fragments together, and more often than not, you were with Water. You two always manage to find each other.”
Phoenyx heart leapt. She smiled, savoring this further proof of the bond between her and Sebastian.
“It’s been centuries since I’ve seen you,” Ayanna said, brows creasing in sadness. “Usually wherever you last died you were born nearby, but the world has become such a big place… I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see you again.”
When Ayanna was finished talking, Phoenyx sat in silent contemplation. She was so used to listening to Ayanna in class that she had forgotten several times during this story that this wasn’t a lecture. She had so many questions, she didn’t know where to begin.
