Phoenix Rising

by Anne, Melody

  Falcon slowly stepped forward, wondering what was going on. It was unlike Evelyn to be lax in this desperate time of war and devastation. She knew he wanted her safe and inconspicuous. Of course she liked the fresh air, but she should have realized her safety was much more important than the mere moment of happiness nature would bring.

  “Evelyn,” Falcon shouted as he stepped up to the small building they called home. The echo of her name moved through the house, but not even a shuffle was heard in response.

  “Don’t do this to me,” he muttered.

  Falcon glanced around. Nothing had changed, but there was an ominous feeling in the air. The bright welcome mat rested neatly on the floor in front of the door. Pressed flowers were hung and framed on the wall, spaced between paintings that Evelyn had spent hours on. Even the bright knit throw on the couch was perfectly folded, not a wrinkle in place. With nothing wrong, Falcon wondered why he felt so anxious.

  “Stop playing games with me,” Falcon shouted, angry with Evelyn for worrying him.

  He stomped through the living room and headed for the kitchen. Maybe she was hiding away, cooking a meal to welcome him home. He ignored that she wasn’t aware he was coming back. This was one of the longest periods he’d spent away from her since they realized the love they held in their souls for one another.

  “Love?” Falcon whispered as he stepped around the corner. His heart dropped. There was no reply. There was nothing. The kitchen looked untouched, nothing cooking, no dishes in the sink, and not a crumb on the ground.

  Falcon sprinted through the living room and to their bedroom, hoping maybe, just maybe, his beloved would be lying in bed, waiting for him to take her in his arms. The bed was empty and made.

  There was no note. There was no sign of a struggle. There was no Evelyn. Falcon’s entire purpose had been shattered. His love had been taken.

  Falcon grimaced as memories of his life so long ago surfaced. It accomplished nothing to dwell on the past, only created weakness, yet no matter how far he pushed it from his mind he could never make the memories completely fade.

  Falcon had searched high and low for the other half of his soul. He had checked every dead body he encountered, knowing if he saw her he would at least know what had happened. He’d never seen her again. Every nook and cranny he had searched had come up short. He had no idea what happened to her, and this lack of knowledge had turned him.

  He pressed a hand against the wall for support and pushed himself to his feet, grimacing in pain as his wounded body stretched to its limit. He didn’t want to do this, but he needed to go back to basics. Dwelling on the past, whether with Evelyn or Vyco, wouldn’t change his current predicament.

  Falcon needed to find a new area if he wanted to survive. He needed to get out of the underworld and find a way to heal and nourish his body before it was too late. He had a lot to accomplish before he could think about allowing himself to die.

  Maybe if he back to the surface he could find allies or sanctuary. He could find out if a mortal camp would take him in and allow him to be a part of their life. He was, after all, an asset. It would have to be a rebel group, as the soldiers were all under Johnathan’s command, and Falcon didn’t think he’d be capable of facing Johnathan so soon after their last experience.

  Perhaps Falcon would be the answer the mortals so desperately needed to take back control of their country. He could once again be the hero, the one that people turned to for help and advice. He could be the one to change the tides, and then they’d have to accept him and allow him a place in their world, in their homes.

  Falcon chuckled, thinking how ironic it would be if he were to run into Jayden while making his way around earth. He had been so utterly pissed off when news of Jayden’s deflection from the underworld had reached him, yet here he was, copying his example. Jayden would get a kick out of that, he was sure. How strange that the two highest up in the underworld were the two who ended up helping the mortals.

  He shook his head, needing to focus on the present, the here and now. The future was uncertain, but dwelling on it could get him killed. As weak as he was, he needed to put one hundred and ten percent into his escape. If he couldn’t physically fight, then his mental strength had to be at the forefront.

  Falcon took a stumbling step forward, cursing the uneven stone beneath him, making the task of walking that much more of a challenge. He took in a shaky breath, feeling utterly weak and alone for the first time and absolutely despising both feelings.

  With a deep breath Falcon took one more stumbling step. He needed to focus on his mission and motion, the rest would fall into place slowly and steadily.

  Falcon moved out of the barrier of protection the cave provided. It felt strange to leave the safety of the cavern and to see so much of the underworld once again. He glanced around, hoping he wouldn’t be accosted by one of the many minions wandering about as he made his way up. He especially wanted to avoid the reapers. He might not make it through that encounter in his condition. He needed to get to surface quickly. He knew he was at least stronger than the habitants of the strange planet.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Johnathan

  Johnathan hurried toward the distant city, feeling a need to escape. He’d never lived in a big city, even before the war had started, so cities were a foreign concept to him. This was exactly what he needed.

  Johnathan wanted an escape; he wanted no reminders of the past. He needed to get away from the forest and the memories of hunting and watching over Phoenix while she gathered. He needed to get away from the military base where thoughts of the raids and saving lives had taken place, memories of Jayden, Cassidy, and of him taking the lead.

  Johnathan needed a place to clear his head; he needed a place that was alien, where nothing would jolt a memory, creating an ache through his body, and reminding him just how empty he felt.

  He let out a deep sigh of relief when he finally reached the city limits, loving the sight of house after house, office after office, ignoring the devastation. The cars were stopped sporadically, some wrecked and some empty, some wide open in the middle of the road.

  Houses were filthy and overrun with greenery and weeds due to years of neglect. Bodies littered the ground, both new and old; bodies of the poor souls who thought they could run and make it on their own.

  None of that mattered at the moment. All that mattered was that this was different, this was just what Johnathan needed. He looked toward at the skyscrapers in the distance, awed that someone had been able to create something so massive and amazing. He’d never been as close to one before, and the TV certainly didn’t do the buildings justice.

  Johnathan looked away and continued moving forward, needing something else to occupy his mind. The memories that seemed to constantly assault him as he stalked through the streets, had his temper rising while Jessica’s soft patter continued at his heel.

  Why couldn’t she get the hint and leave him alone, allow him to calm his thoughts on his own? He was so sick of her, Phoenix, Falcon, and every other person who had continued to plague his mood and daily life.

  He was sick of being around people, but this was no better. Johnathan felt burning anger as he walked through the empty streets, the sun fading away. He was angry, seeing the abandoned buildings and vehicles, the overgrown gardens, and the rotten mutilated bodies that had been carelessly thrown about as though they were nobody’s mother, father, or child.

  Johnathan was sick of feeling, of seeing, of living. He had figured the city would help, but the peace that it had slowly brought him at first was fading away, replaced by a steady burning anger.

  Jessica growled, angry that Johnathan wasn’t paying attention to her. He continued at an unreasonably fast pace, not even taking a moment to wait for her to catch up so they could walk together.

  He acted as though he didn’t want her there, which filled her with rage. He would be nothing but a broken soul without her. It was because of
her he had his kingdom in the underworld. It was because of her he had a purpose and distraction from life. He should show more gratitude.

  Why in the hell wasn’t she important enough to give attention to? Why could his dumb sister still rile him up to such an extreme extent? She was part of his past; she shouldn’t affect his future!

  Why couldn’t Jessica get that reaction out of him? Why couldn’t he have listened to her at the battle and rid the world of the bane of her existence? Because Phoenix was picture-perfect, and had plagued Jessica far too long now.

  Jessica sped up, trying desperately to get closer to him, to feel him. She swore if he would give her a chance, she could help alleviate any stray emotions he was feeling. She could certainly make him feel better, make him feel like a new man.

  Really, Jessica was craving any sort of touch; she hadn’t felt anything since Vyco left. She missed the unfeeling time they’d spent together where touch was all that mattered, even if he had been a tad violent.

  “Johnathan, did you hear that?” Jessica asked, thankful to steal back his attention briefly. A loud crash had echoed through the streets followed by a shrill cry. It sounded like a young female child, and Jessica was absolutely elated. She lived for the destruction of mere mortals. She could bask in that and have Johnathan’s attention. This was her moment.

  “Yes,” Johnathan murmured, still not looking back, barely paying attention to her. Without another word he spun toward the right and sped through the streets, toward the origin of the sound, faster than a human eye could track and almost too quickly for Jessica to follow.

  Johnathan felt his chest expand in panic, praying what they heard wasn’t what he thought it was.

  A large house stood empty on the street. It looked like it was once imposing. The home of a wealthy family. They probably hired a gardener to maintain the animal shaped hedges in the yard, and to make sure the fence and landscape were kept up. Years of neglect had left the once-rich land looking like a jungle of weeds and vines crawling toward the roof, consuming the home.

  The front door was thrown open, billowing as the breeze moved through the house, making dust flutter everywhere. Johnathan hurried toward the door and into the home. It looked nearly untouched, affected only by the layers of filth. Three sets of footprints could be seen, two larger pairs and one tiny pair. Johnathan heard the sound of a knuckles cracking, skin being slapped, followed by the harsh wail of a child.

  He hurried past the empty front entrance, knowing he would find nothing there. He moved farther into the house, moving through the living room. It was such a novelty to see the perfect setup. The wide half-moon couch, facing a huge flat screen television that was surrounded by many children’s movies Johnathan remembered Phoenix forced him to watch when they were young. He didn’t have time to dwell on that; he continued through the arched doorway into the kitchen, where the noises that had desperately called out to him could be heard.

  In front of Johnathan was something he’d never imagined seeing, and he certainly never wanted to encounter again. Two soldiers stood, pure evil grins littering their filthy faces, their eyes absolutely oozing pride. One held his hand forward, gripping the long black hair of a little girl in his tight fist.

  She looked no older than ten, in ragged and dirty clothing. She was obviously in pain, judging by how tight her hair was being pulled. She stood on the tips of her toes, trying desperately to reduce the pressure on her scalp. Teardrops rolled down her face over a red mark; obviously she’d been hit.

  “What are you doing?” Johnathan hissed as he stepped around the corner, into their line of sight. Both men jumped, unaware of the spectator, and of the fact that two people had snuck up on them.

  “I don’t have to tell you a thing,” the man clenching the girl’s hair roughly sputtered, going against every instinct within him that was telling him to run, and get as far away as he possibly could.

  He was a soldier. He was strong. He was in charge, and he could absolutely handle anything that was thrown in his direction. This upstart had nothing on him, and if it came down to it he’d show the newcomer just who was boss.

  “You’ll tell me exactly what I want to know,” Johnathan hissed. Stepping closer, he soaked up the fear he could see in the men’s eyes, confirmed by the cold sweat condensing on each of their foreheads. “Let go of the girl and run away, and I might let you live.”

  “You have no right to speak to us this way — to speak to us at all,” the first man snapped. “You have no power over us.” He would have sounded more convincing if not for the squeaking toward the end of his words. Either he was very brave, or very stupid, because he reached for the gun holstered at his side.

  “If that’s your final answer, you leave me no choice,” Johnathan murmured. With movement quicker than the eye could follow, Johnathan shot his arms forward, taking each of their necks into his hands.

  The two of them whimpered, scared by how quickly he had moved, and how strongly he held them. They were utterly powerless, which was exactly how Johnathan wanted them to feel, it was exactly what that little girl they’d been torturing had felt. Their skin felt so soft and pliant beneath his hands, he wondered how he had ever survived as a human.

  They were naturally weak. With a smooth and effortless movement Johnathan snapped their necks, relishing the sound of their life exiting their bodies. He was a bit shocked by how easy the action was.

  Johnathan watched as the small girl dropped when the man holding her released his grip, or as it released in death. He watched as the dead body fell partway onto her. Her sobs increased, and panic continued. She looked terrified. Of course she was. She reminded him so much of his baby sister when she was that age and would come to him for protection when frightened.

  He shook his head. Thoughts like that would get him nowhere. He needed to move forward. He needed to get away from her and away from his old life in general. He would move on and find happiness in his new life. He couldn’t dwell over this child or any child. He had to look out for himself, protect only him, and that included his mental well-being, which had just been strongly shaken. Johnathan needed out and fast.

  “Johnathan,” Jessica whispered. She slithered to his side, pressing her nearly naked body against his. “Kill her. You’d be doing her a favor. Only the strong survive or choose who survives. You are alpha. You rule this world. She won’t live much longer on her own. You’d be doing her a favor while exercising your control.”

  Johnathan shoved Jessica away with repulsion. “Don’t touch me,” he commanded coldly, looking at her as though she were a bug on the bottom of his shoe. “And if you even think about touching that girl, I will find out and tear you limb from limb, skin you, and feed your remains to the lowest regions of the underworld,” Johnathan stated coldly, looking her in the eye to convey just how serious he was about this.

  Satisfied with the flash of terror in her eyes, Johnathan turned. His work here was done.

  “You’re going to just leave?” Jessica asked in a whisper.

  “You are, too,” Johnathan commanded, not even pausing in his steps, his shoulders strong and confident, not showing Jessica how weak, scared, and conflicted he felt. He was finding who he was now. That was all. He kept telling himself he might not lower himself to killing a helpless child, but he was strong, confident, and powerful. He would rule the world.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Drake

  Lying in Elise’s arms, Drake allowed the stress of the day to fade away. This was where he belonged — with the woman he loved, in the house they’d managed to make a home, even in the midst of so much darkness.

  “I need to marry you,” he whispered.

  Her fingers, which had been rubbing his arm, stilled as she turned her head and looked at him with widened eyes. She said nothing for several moments, and his heart stalled in his chest.

  “What?” she finally whispered.

  He sat up and held her face, cupping her ch
eek as he gazed into her deep brown eyes.

  “I not only want to marry you, I need to,” he repeated. “You ground me when I feel as if I’m about to float away. When I’m gone, all I can think about is returning to you. Every breath I take, your name comes out on a soft sigh. I love you, Elise, I love you so much that the thought of not being with you rips me apart. Marry me. Be mine so we can have an eternity together.”

  Her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at him, and he wasn’t sure if they were happy or sad tears. Then her lips trembled as she gave him a soft smile.

  “Oh, Drake. I never thought I’d find happiness again, not after losing my husband and being on the run with my children. But then you found me — you found us — and I’ve felt such tremendous joy, joy I didn’t know was possible to feel again,” she said before sniffling. “I need to marry you, too.”

  His heart exploded with joy. He wasn’t sure how they would pull it off, but he knew he needed to make her his wife. She leaned forward, and he captured her lips, sealing the promise of them staying together forever.

  When he finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered open, and they sat there gazing at each other with silly grins. If only he could freeze this moment and keep it forever.

  There was a tapping on the door, and they turned to find a blushing Evelyn standing in the entryway to the living room.

  “I’m so sorry to interrupt the two of you, but there’s news you need to know about,” she said as she shifted from foot to foot.

  Her injuries had healed, and she was a valuable asset to their camp, so caring, giving, and a wonderful teacher for the children.

  “Of course,” Drake said, before he kissed Elise on the cheek and then stood. “What is it?”

  “Phoenix and the others have control of an airbase. It’s secure,” Evelyn said with excitement.

  “This is wonderful news,” Drake exclaimed. “Did you let the others know?”