Phoenix Rising

by Anne, Melody

  “Do I need a reason to see you, my liege?” Jessica asked, trying to get his attention. “Maybe I just wanted to admire the power that emanates off your very skin, to feel the essence of your glory,” she purred with a pout. She stepped closer and rubbed a finger up his arm, whispering into his ear, “You’re just so intoxicating — so addicting.”

  John sucked in a deep breath, feeling a slight stirring inside at her seduction. The ache inside him dimmed. Maybe that was exactly what he needed.

  “You know you are nothing like Cassidy, don’t you?” he asked, his words mocking. She tried to pull back, and he swept his arm out and grabbed her, none too gently.

  As he knew it would, excitement leapt in her eyes.

  “I’m better,” she said through gritted teeth.

  John laughed. Then he trailed a finger down her arm.

  “You’re forward.” He didn’t let her know if this was a compliment or an insult. “But you’ll never be better.”

  “I know exactly what I want,” she said, almost angrily. “I want you, Johnathan.” Jessica pulled one hand away from him and trailed her fingers down her neck and across her chest. “Don’t you want me?”

  Yes, he did. But was he ready to take that step — that last step that would forever pull Cassidy from his heart? He wasn’t sure about that. Even if the one he’d forever love would never return to him.

  Before he could decide what to do, a loud ruckus from outside the room interrupted them. A shout, followed by another thud, shook the room, causing Jessica to stand up straight.

  John turned his attention toward the door, a hint of curiosity welling inside him. He welcomed the emotion. Let it be trouble, he prayed.

  The double doors leading into the chamber swung open and clattered against the stone walls. Falcon, one of the upper-level minions, and a loyal follower of Vyco through the years, appeared, standing upright in the center.

  “I see the rumors are true,” Falcon murmured, sending pointed glances from Johnathan to Jessica before he allowed his gaze to wander the room.

  Large tapestries hung on the walls, a gaudy stone chair with deep red cushions still occupied the pedestal in the middle of the chamber, and both sides of the entrance housed marble statues of tortured figures.

  Nothing had changed. It was still dark, still lavish, and still Vyco’s style, but the absence of his overlord caused a change he couldn’t overlook: the weaklings guarding the door.

  “What do you want?” Jessica hissed. She was annoyed at the interruption — especially when she’d been making progress with John.

  Besides, she never had liked Falcon. He’d always created problems for her during Vyco’s reign, and apparently that trend would continue. He didn’t mold as easily into her palms as the others in the dark did. She liked being in charge and wild cards weren’t something she’d tolerate.

  “I heard a rumor that two jumpstarts thought they were tough and could take Vyco’s place, so I had to check with my own eyes to see if it was true,” Falcon said with an arrogant smirk.

  “Don’t speak so disrespectfully to your new ruler, you ungrateful swine,” Jessica snarled.

  She took a step forward, feeling the strongest urge to attack, to take her claws and rip out those eyes that stared her down with such arrogance, but she knew Johnathan’s aid would be needed to make a difference, to cause harm to this creature, and she wasn’t quite sure how willing he’d be to offer his help.

  “Why would a new ruler interest you?” Johnathan questioned from his seated position. He didn’t really care what this servant’s answer was, but at least he was distracted from his constant gloomy thoughts.

  “As an upper-level servant, I feel you’re not qualified for this position,” Falcon responded. “You haven’t been around long enough to rule.”

  “My years might not have been long, but I have lived a full life,” John responded calmly. “Believe me, I am more than capable.” His mind flashed to the years of caring for his sister, to the years of surviving, to the moment he’d lost Cassidy.

  “You think just because you lost a woman, you are worthy of ruling? How naïve.”

  “You know nothing of what you speak,” John snarled, rising from his chair, instant fury filling him. “You will not speak of Cassidy. No one in this pit of darkness will speak of her or they will deal with my wrath.”

  “Your love was and is a joke. You are a joke,” Falcon said, remaining calm while fury obviously filled John.

  “You are the joke, Falcon. You were never a worthy server. A second-tier fraud who could never hold his own,” Jessica taunted.

  “I could break you, woman,” Falcon said, finally showing some anger.

  “I was Vyco’s chosen, and now I’ve chosen Johnathan. You are the only one not wanted here,” she taunted. “We will rule the underworld.”

  “You know nothing of darkness little girl,” Falcon snapped.

  She turned toward Johnathan. “We can’t allow this. If we let him to go free then others will think we are weak.”

  “Valid point,” Johnathan murmured, still trying to fight back the anger simmering beneath his skin.

  “Just let it all go,” Jessica whispered. “Release your power. Release your fury.” She reached out a hand and rubbed it down his back, feeling true satisfaction as a shiver raced over his spine.

  With a dark smile Johnathan stepped forward, ready to make his next step into the dark. He’d teach a lesson to any of those who dared defy him.

  Chapter Four

  Allison

  The streets were cold, dark and empty. Not a soul could be seen or heard. But there were rodents, plenty of rats and mice scurrying across the ground. The glowing red eyes seemed to follow her as she moved. Allison could never get used to the horrors no matter how hard she tried.

  Worse than the rodents, though, were the spiders and snakes. With the streets and homes empty, the natural creatures had taken over the area and no place was safe, but Allison didn’t know where else to turn. The city was all she knew.

  Ali didn’t remember anything but war. Thinking back, the only thing she could clearly comprehend from her youth was terror. There was always crying and screaming, so much misery.

  The fires had been terrible, and the smell of burning flesh and hair would forever haunt her. The sight of flames now terrified Ali to the point that she froze, unable to command her limbs to run. She couldn’t imagine the pain those poor souls felt as the flames slowly licked at their skin, melting fat, singeing hair, and charring bones.

  Life in this world had been horrifying. People weren’t to be trusted. There were no friends to be made; no homes safe enough to relax in. It was a world of death, of movement, and of constant terror.

  Ali had always been distressed over the lone people she saw running the streets. They had no one to help them and no one to lean on. They just looked sad and empty.

  Ali hadn’t been alone, at least not the whole time. She’d always had her mother. She remembered her so vividly when she closed her eyes. Her mother had possessed a determination that amazed Ali, a strong will of gold.

  Ali knew her mother had been terrified, but her voice never wavered, not once; her shoulders were set solidly, and she hadn’t halted in her attempts to keep the two of them alive. If the situation hadn’t been so horrifying, Ali might not have known she was in a war-ravaged world.

  Her mother’s plan to keep the two of them safe and alive had worked for several years. It had just been the two of them. Never trust anyone. Never stay in one place too long. Never draw attention. She remembered the lessons her mother implored her to heed on a daily basis, lessons meant to keep her moving and alive.

  Her mother worked hard to feed her. She was always out and about gathering food, helping Ali when she was too tired or hurt to move on. She made sure the two of them were safe from the enemy soldiers.

  But those efforts and lessons hadn’t been enough at times. A few weeks ago the
two of them had been at the other end of the city. They had been visiting new homes in an effort to find food. Food was a hard-to-find commodity, and as time continued to slowly move forward, this commodity became scarcer.

  Survivors were still raiding homes, taking food and diminishing the supply. During Ali and her mother’s search they did find food, but that effort led the enemy soldiers to find them. That moment was so vivid in her mind.

  They’d been walking down the street. No talking, living in the shadows, holding hands. A loud laugh echoed down the street, followed by an eerily cheerful voice shouting, “Come out, come out, wherever you are. We know you’re here.” It sounded like a terrifying parody of the child’s game, Hide and Go Seek. Her mother had frozen. Her eyes widened, unlike anything Ali had seen before. And then she began sprinting through the streets.

  Before Ali could comprehend the seriousness of the situation, her mom had pushed her into a bush near a dilapidated building. Ali felt the cold press of the house siding, shielding her from observation. Her mother put a finger over her lips and held Ali down.

  Her last words would forever haunt Ali. “I love you, baby girl. Stay here, and remember our rules.” Then she was gone, quickly moving forward down the sidewalk and away from her precious child, holding only one of the bags from their food raid, leaving two other bags lying beside Ali so she’d have some aid later when she most needed it.

  Her mother had known the search would be relentless, but she also knew if they found her alone they might be satisfied, and her daughter would have a chance at life. Either way, there weren’t many hiding spots that would effectively fit the two of them. Hiding with her daughter would draw undo attention and could potentially lead to her capture, torture, and death. It was a scenario that was never, and would never be, an option if she had any choice in the matter.

  Seconds later heavy footsteps pounded the concrete. Ali closed her eyes and pressed her face against the cold dirt on the ground. She was terrified. Her mom had never abandoned her like this, and she wasn’t sure what was happening or what to do, but she knew that her only chance, her only option, was to listen to her mother.

  Ali couldn’t see a thing. It was dark, and the only way to view the world would be to leave her leafy sanctuary, but that was out of the question. Ali could hear. She could hear the maniacal questions. The unforgiving sound of skin being slapped, and cold harsh laughter that lacked an ounce of empathy she had grown so used to. She could hear the quiet sobs that came from her mother. She had never seen her mother cry before. It was devastating.

  What stood out most clearly in Ali’s mind was the begging. The pleading. The sound of a gun ringing through the air, silencing all of that. Ali’s world had shattered and those men, those monsters, started chuckling. They walked away as though they had just enjoyed a friendly lunch with their buddies.

  The sound of their voices faded into nothing. They were gone. Ali stayed in her spot all night. She never had enjoyed the night; she didn’t trust it, not when she didn’t have all of her senses about her. When daylight finally arrived, Ali slowly crawled from her hiding place. She moved forward, hoping to find her mother, hoping the fear would leave and everything would be okay.

  She never imagined she’d be forced to witness the still body of her parent. Her mother’s skin was cold to the touch, paler than Ali had ever seen it. Her eyes were empty, and her skin was coated with blood. Ali stayed there with her mother for three days before she had to move on. Her mom had sacrificed everything for a reason, and she wouldn’t waste her mom’s final act.

  Now, Ali was on the move. The food from their last stop was down to the last scraps, and Ali was using everything her mother had taught her to move through the neighborhood to gather more. She would live, and she would make those horrid men pay for what they had done, for what they had taken.

  They would pay, even if it was with her very last breath.

  Chapter Five

  Falcon

  Falcon stumbled through the darkness. Feeling faint, his vision blurred in and out, and the pain racing through his body was making him nauseous. None of that mattered. He had to keep moving.

  In the open, he was in danger — easily taken in his current state. Just a couple of hundred more yards to safety. He could do it.

  He’d been foolish to rush in without all the facts. In his defense, he had thought it best to make a strong stand before that wench, Jessica, had time to fully take the underworld. Falcon hadn’t expected the power Johnathan had used against him. He hadn’t expected the fire.

  He wouldn’t be as easily fooled again.

  Jessica had gotten to Johnathan. Falcon hadn’t come in fast enough. The once fragile human was nothing without her guard, though. Uncontrollable anger filled Falcon at the thought of that little witch. The only reason she had her position of power was she knew how to align herself with those in the highest power.

  Falcon could have easily taken her had she been alone. He probably could have taken Johnathan, if the man hadn’t been consumed with so much rage. But Johnathan and Jessica together had been too much. The stab wound dripping blood down his back was proof enough.

  It had been his vast knowledge of Vyco’s kingdom that had saved his life. He knew every nook and cranny of that throne room, and he knew the escape routes Vyco had created. That minion had been sneaky and paranoid — a life-saving combination on several occasions.

  Vyco had created a hidden tunnel that led to a maze, ending in one of the quieter sections of his vast underground kingdom. That cave would be Falcon’s saving grace. He could rest there, heal, and get food. It was also magically shielded from detection; he himself had helped with that bit of work.

  A sigh of relief escaped Falcon’s lips as he entered the small sanctuary offered by the protective walls of the cave. The second he crossed the threshold, he felt the warm touch of magic as it explored his body, accepting him as one of the few allowed within its perimeters. Without hesitation, he sank down. The burning of his wounds instantly felt better against the chill of the cold stone walls.

  Falcon would recover quickly. He would have his revenge. He would make Johnathan and Jessica regret fighting him. He’d show them true power as he took back what was rightfully his.

  Chapter Six

  Johnathan

  “Did you know about that escape route?” Johnathan questioned, barely holding himself back from stabbing Jessica right where she stood. He was furious that Falcon had gotten away, furious he hadn’t been able to wrap his fingers around the minion’s neck.

  “No,” Jessica stuttered, suddenly terrified of the dark cloud of power surrounding Johnathan, and of her own mortality that he could so easily take away with the simple twist of his finger. “Vyco had never mentioned anything to me.”

  Johnathan slammed his fist into the wall. “Your ignorance is costing us. Now we will be seen as incapable.”

  “Not at all!” Jessica argued, reaching out to grasp his arm, desperate to mend their relationship.

  “Don’t touch me,” Johnathan snarled, his eyes glowing in his outrage.

  “Johnathan —”

  “And if something like this happens again, you won’t be around to whine about it,” Johnathan stated darkly, before exiting the room and slamming the door behind him, leaving Jessica alone.

  Maybe she had chosen wrong.

  Slumping back into a chair she considered her options. Jessica hadn’t gotten where she was by living blind. She had found an opportunity to get to Johnathan and she’d taken it.

  If she’d aligned herself wrongly, then she’d find a new person to do her bidding.

  Yes, she was a bit frightened right now, but she wasn’t giving up. She wouldn’t until she’d taken her last breath. And maybe not even then.

  Chapter Seven

  Drake

  A noise alerted Drake he wasn’t alone.

  Crouching down, he slid behind the wall and became virtually invisible as he l
istened. He never rushed in, a fact that had kept him alive for so long. He took his time, made sure there were no surprises.

  “Seriously, why are we still here? This place is a ghost town. There are no supplies, no people,” a man said.

  Drake tensed. He knew that voice — knew it well.

  As the other man made a comment, Drake felt his head spinning. He had to stay in control, but he couldn’t help but think back to his days as a soldier, the days he’d helplessly watched Americans get abused and slaughtered. And the two men cruising the streets near him were a big part of that slaughter.

  He tensed as he prepared to step out and end their lives.

  But before he jumped from hiding, he stopped himself. Never rush in. He knew that. There might be more men. He had to assess the situation further before he made a foolish decision that could cost him returning home to Elise and the children — to the camp that depended so much on him.

  “Rob, are you guys out there?”

  The crackling of the radio alerted Drake that the other person speaking was coming in over a radio.

  “Yeah, nothing is going on over here in sector H,” Rob replied.

  “Come to sector K. We have a tasty treat for you guys,” the voice said before Drake heard an anguished cry over the radio.

  “Damn, Kyle, you could have waited until we got there. Sounds as if you boys have already been having a good time,” Rob said with a laugh.

  “You’re lucky we called you. We weren’t sure if this one would last for the four of us, let alone anyone else,” Kyle sneered with another laugh.

  Drake fought the nausea rolling through him.

  “On our way,” Rob said.

  The two men walked past Drake’s hiding place and quickened their pace as they moved through the ravaged streets of this once bustling town.