Phoenyx Rising (Demigods Duet Book 1)

by Kolleen Fraser

  “Listen, we don't have much time. Stop fighting these people, Phee. This is a safe place,” he whispers. I'm shaking my head, buried in his chest. He can't leave me here.

  “No, take me with you, please. I hate it here. Don't leave me here. I will be good. I won’t use my fire anymore, I promise,” I beg, grabbing handfuls of his suit I won’t let him leave me again. He pulls me back and tucks my hair behind my ears. Staring into his stormy grey eyes, I am pleading with him not to leave me here.

  His answer is slow and clear, “You will stop fighting these people. Trust Dr. Grey and Asher; they are here to help. You will forget you saw me today, and you will get out of this room and live your life. Stay at the Academy; this is where you belong.”

  Standing alone in my cell, I am nodding absently. My cheeks are wet with tears. When did I start crying? Glancing around the room, when did I stand up and walk over here? Shaking my head, have finally lost my damn mind?

  Walking over to the bed, I sit with my elbows on my knees, cradling my pounding head in my murderous hands. What can I do to get out of this room? Even if I did get out, where would I go? Who would I turn to? There is no fight left in me, I am so tired of being alone in this empty dark world; my heart aches with the hollow loneliness. The door creaks open, heels click their way across the cement floor, toward me. Refusing to look up, I’m terrified of where they might put me next. If there is someplace worse than this room, I don't want to see it. If they have come to kill me, I will welcome death like an old friend.

  “Look at me, Phoenyx,” a woman's voice commands, strong and clear. When my eyes meet hers I see a beautiful woman standing across the room. She is tall and thin with short blonde hair styled perfectly, and severe blue eyes that study me. She stands tall, taking me in, her arms folded across her chest. She is wearing an immaculate navy suit and sky high heels that I can’t imagine walking in. She is the picture of perfection and control. She doesn't examine me with hatred in her eyes, she smiles.

  “Are you finished trying to kill everyone?” she asks with a smile. Is she making fun of me?

  “I want out of this room,” I demand weakly, standing up.

  “Well, that's a start. The only way out of this room is by talking to me. So, let's begin, shall we?”

  A man in uniform carries a chair into the room, positioning it directly in front of me. He shoots a look at me and winks. Watching him with curiosity as his massive body walks to the door and stands just inside. His huge arms crossed over his massive chest. We stare at each other for a few moments, sizing the other up, trying to see what kind of threat we are. At least that's what I'm doing; he seems to be amused by my evil death glare, which pisses me off even more. The woman clears her throat, breaking our silent standoff.

  “Phoenyx Ember, this is Jacob Mason. He’s a guard here at the Academy. He has been assigned to as your mentor and will oversee your training and first few therapy sessions to ensure my safety, try to ignore him.” She proceeds waving her hand absently at him as she continues. Ignoring her, I can’t stop looking at this guy, Jacob Mason. Damn, he is sexy, so severe with all his hard muscles barely contained in his black t-shirt and black cargo pants. As my predatory gaze travels up his body, we lock eyes, busted. He smirks at me and wiggles his eye brows. “My name is Doctor Emilia Grey. I'm here to help you.” My eyes lock on hers. Trust Dr. Grey. For the first time in months, I feel a glimmer of something like hope, and it terrifies me.

  Hope is a dangerous thing when you’re locked in a cell.

  Chapter Five

  Marcus

  Leaving Phee in that cell was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Keeping her safe is the only important thing. Even though I wanted us to stay together, it would be easier for me and safer for her, to do this my way. The hatred most normal people have toward Demigods is not something I wanted her to experience. Some of us are the elites in this world. We rule everything, are the richest and most powerful beings on Earth, but with that comes the hatred the humans have for us. The only way we keep the peace is by letting them catalogue our powers and agreeing to lock away anyone who cannot control their abilities on that Godforsaken island.

  That’s the thing about being a Demigod; the whole world is at your feet, until you step out of line. There is no going back if you have committed a crime. Our own people will wash their hands of you. Covering up the deaths of our parents was difficult, but would have been impossible with the mysterious appearance of an unknown daughter with pyro kinesis.

  My life is under constant scrutiny, being the only surviving heir and the fact that I am a proud Demigod. There are enemies of our family everywhere, ready to swoop in and take over where my father left off, I cannot let that happen. This position was earned with blood and tears; it is my birthright. My father may have hidden his limitless powers, but I refuse to bend to the publics will. They may hate us, but we are the predators in this new world, and we will not bow down simply because our powers make them feel inadequate.

  The official story is that I was adopted; it was the simplest answer I could think of to stop any suspicions that my father was a Demigod. Of course, the depth of my mind control is kept secret. They think I can read minds, but they have no idea what I am capable of, and I intend to keep it that way. Appearing harmless to humans allows me to stay in charge. Ignorance is bliss, apparently.

  Father kept Phee locked away. No one saw her or even knew she existed. She was an embarrassment to our existence, not only for being a girl, but for not having his abilities. You see, he and I have a unique set of skills. We can compel anyone to do or think whatever we choose; it is limitless and untraceable if done correctly. There is a small group of people who I have no power over, The Shields. I try to avoid them at all cost. They could destroy everything my father built. With him finally dead, it is me who will lead the world into the future of my choosing. To finally create a world where Demigods are treated as equals.

  I escaped that night with one of my father’s guards before Phoenyx torched the earth. Her fiery explosion made covering our tracks easier. After wipe the memory of all the guards who knew too much, the death of my father was officially deemed an assassination. They reported that some poor girl was brainwashed into killing the royal family, and only yours truly survived the horrible event. Sometimes I’m so brilliant it hurts.

  Phee being charged with the deaths of our parents and a couple of guards was not in the plan. I assumed they’d chalk it up to involuntary manslaughter or insanity since she was ‘brainwashed’. That miserable prick who charged her and branded her skin begged for mercy until his dying breath. I gave him as much mercy as he gave Phee.

  Taking his life was almost too easy. Something broke in me the night I killed my father; I shed all accountability. Surviving in a nature I have grown accustomed to, it’s as simple as that. Call me a murderer if you want. Everyone in my way is collateral damage; I just don't give a fuck anymore. What's done is done, and Phee fighting her demons within the walls of the Academy is safer than being out here. I can’t claim her as family, not after she has been branded a killer for life.

  Tracking down another fire chaser was my main goal after sending her there. It wasn't easy, but he is now in place; knowing I can trust him and Dr. Grey to keep Phee safe when I can't, gives me the peace of mind I need to continue to take over the duties of my tyrannical father. She will lead a happy, relatively normal existence. I need to walk away from her, I have a world to conquer, and the Academy is beautiful and, above all, safe.

  She will make friends and find a way to accept her fate. This is the best life I can give her, protected from the pain of her past. No one will hurt her again; I’ve made damn sure of that. The memory of all the times she was beaten and locked away as a helpless child makes me sick.

  To protect her that night, in my panic, I told her to do everything in her power to get free. I never meant for her to attack everyone who stood in her way. It was reckless and a rookie move that needed to be fixed. So
here I am, dealing with the consequences.

  With everyone in place, I can't be back here for a while. Every time I return, it raises questions I have to either answer or wipe someone's memory. This time, I used the excuse of seeing this year’s trainees, to come here and wipe all traces of her involvement in my father’s death. I can’t erase the murder charges; they are inked into her skin for life.

  With Dr. Grey in place, I will walk away from the one person I swore I would never abandon. It kills me to do it, but my involvement will only bring more attention to her. Phee’s life has been painful enough; I hope she will find some peace here. She will never know the horrors she endured at the hands of Father. She was nothing more than a puppet he toyed with. Every day of our lives was agony, being powerless against Father’s every whim.

  If this power can do one good thing, it will be to secure her a future. I will walk away knowing she is better off without me.

  Chapter Six

  Phoenyx

  After spending a few months in complete solitary, I am assigned to three months of therapy with Dr. Grey before they can be sure I am well enough to join the rest of the kids. The only people allowed contact with me during are Dr. Grey and Jacob, who asked me to call him, Mason. He visits me every day, today he brought me a cup of coffee, which I love him for. As usual he sits down beside me and does all the talking. I speak to Dr. Grey but even though he seems nice enough, I haven’t spoken to him yet.

  “So how does the whole, total memory loss work?” I shrug in response.

  “So, you don’t even know what your face looks like?” he asked, chuckling. I shake my head, confused, what does my face looks like?

  “So, you could be a total freak, a real Quasimodo, all gnarly and gross, and you'd think you were a beauty queen. That's messed up,” he laughs. He’s completely insane! I am just staring at him in shock, when I realize he has a point. I touch my face, seeing if I actually am a hideous freak. His bellowing laugh snaps me out of my thoughts. He is falling over laughing at me.

  “You’re an ass.” are the first words I speak to him, shaking my head, trying to hold back a smile. The struggle is useless; a laugh burst out of me. It is bitter sweet, as I realize this is the first laugh I’ve had since my world was burned to the ground by my own hands.

  “She is beautiful and has a foul mouth! I knew we were going to be best friends,” he says with a huge smile, nudging my shoulder with his. He is kind of an ass, but seeing as he is the closest thing I have to a friend, he called me beautiful, and made me laugh; I let his asshole tendencies slide. As friends go, I think I could do a lot worse than Jacob Mason.

  ***

  Today is the day they are letting me out of solitary, after six months of therapy and sessions with Mason, I am given a clean bill of mental health. The girls’ ward housing assigned to with the other Demigod kids abandoned here for various circumstances and crimes sits just off the main campus. He walks silently beside me as my new home comes into view. It’s a three-story house that looks like it would be at home in a children’s fairy tale rather than on a compound for dangerous children.

  The head mistress is a stern looking woman with mousy brown hair pulled into a severe bun. She gives us my room number and sends us on our way up the stairs to the room I’m to share with two complete strangers.

  Dr. Grey preaches that my life will start as soon as I am willing to live it. The thought of having to face being around people is terrifying. The fear that I could hurt someone is very real. Pulling my sleeves down to cover up the damning tattoos on my arms, I pretend to be a normal person. It’s a joke, I’m not normal, not by a long shot, and neither are any of the other kids here. We are all Demigods.

  I’m terrified of the unknown emptiness in front of me. How will I ever belong if I don’t know who I am? There is a black hole of nothingness before the night at the barn. As far as I know, I was born that night; I belonged to no one, loved by no one, and was wanted by no one.

  As a danger to the world, I’ll be locked away here forever. Afraid to move on, afraid to start my life, I have no idea who I was or where I belong, only that I am a killer. My eyes dance over the room, my room.

  He stands watch as always. He hands me a piece of paper that appears to be my class schedule.

  “Dinner is at six sharp in the dining hall. Your roommates should be back from class soon. They’ll show you the way to dinner and classes tomorrow morning.” I nod absently at his words, still trying to settle into this new reality.

  “What if I hurt someone, Mase?” I ask, looking at the floor, unable to meet his dark eyes.

  “Don't worry so much, you’ll be fine. You didn't explode and kill me, and I tried to piss you off every day for the last three months. You're not going to hurt anyone, babe,” he says, giving me a quick hug and leaving me alone. Him calling me babe made my heart flutter.

  I take in my new surroundings. The room is bigger than my cell. There are three beds all set up with a dresser beside each. Two beds are made neatly and various personal items are spread out over the dressers.

  I will be living and sleeping with two other girls. Taking a deep breath, I try to calm my beating heart before it leaps out of my chest. It will be okay; Mason is right. I allow myself this moment of hope and possibility.

  A huge arched window is set into the far wall. It looks out over the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen, well, I have no memories so that statement holds little value. The garden is massive, spreading out as far as I can see, ending only when it is met by a giant stone wall that wraps itself around the whole garden. Such beauty, trapped in a cage.

  My heart sinks. Don't fool yourself, Phoenyx; this is just a better decorated cell. They will never let you out of here. Danger to the world.

  There is a shared bathroom down the hall, for the first time I can remember, I see my reflection. Funny, I don’t look like a murderer; I look like a lost girl. The stranger staring back at me looks wide eyed and scared.

  My body is small, skinny; I can’t be more than five feet tall. My small frame makes me look fragile, helpless. My deep red hair is in a chaos of curls, falling to the middle of my back in waves. My copper eyes look haunted by all the secrets they hold; secrets I will never know. Attempting to tame my hair by running my fingers feels so normal. Pretending I’m just a girl fixing her hair in her dorm room, but the reflection of my tattoo branding in the mirror reminds me of my crimes.

  The reality of my life feels like a lie. How can the girl in the mirror, who looks terrified, be the evil person they say I am? The room becomes too small and too big all at once. I can't breathe. Bolting for the door, having no idea where I am going, I run through halls and down stairs and burst out into the crisp evening air. The gardens that had seemed so much smaller from my window, now it’s spread out as far as I can see.

  It’s like waking up from a nightmare; I am finally free of my cell. Breathing in the fresh air with a smile on my face, I spin around in a circle. I start running, and run until my chest hurts and my legs give out under me.

  Under a sprawling tree covered in red leaves, I curl into the smallest form I can manage and weep for my freedom from the four walls of my cell and for the finality of this new prison. I cry for the loss of something in my soul I can’t recall, for a family I don’t remember, I cry until I can’t breathe without a sob choking out my air. Grief cripples me.

  Did I kill my family? There is a gaping hole in my heart where something used to live. Why can't I remember anything? The emptiness in my heart haunts me. I killed them; they keep saying that I killed them all but I don't feel like a killer. I feel lost and empty.

  Alone in the dark, I let it all out. Putting every ounce of pain and hurt into that scream. I gasp for air, struggling to calm myself. I was keeping the inferno under control like Dr. Grey taught me, I can’t lose control now; I’d surely be sent back into solitary. I would go insane in there, I know it. Worrying only makes my anxiety worse.

  My skin begins to heat;
I can feel the oncoming flames tickling my skin, “No, no, no, not again.” I’m afraid to be around other people, but I hate to be alone, especially in the dark. It feels too much like solitary. Too much like another dark memory hiding in the shadowy recesses of my mind. In the darkness, I can feel the monster, but I can’t give it a name.

  The snap of a twig startles me back into the present. There is a boy standing in front of me. He looks around sixteen, like me, but bigger and stronger. He has more muscle than any normal teenager should; there is an edge of danger about him. Walking over to me slowly, he sits down beside me, without saying a word. He just sits there. After a few minutes my heart beak and breathing return to normal and a sense of calm falls over me. He sat with me so I wouldn’t have to be alone, but why?

  In the orange glow of the setting sun I watch him curiously, but too scared to say anything. He is hunched over, sitting with his legs crossed, picking at one of his fingernails. His hair is cropped short, I wonder if it is spikey or soft to the touch. His body looks rigid under his clothes, so many muscles, like Mason. Do all guys here look like this? Cause I can get onboard with that. I haven’t spoken to any guys, except Mase. At least none that I remember, I’m sure I would have remembered the feeling that strikes me when he looks at me, like butterflies warming my stomach. Feeling stupid for being quiet but I would feel even more stupid if I spoke. What would I say? Come here often? I am such an idiot, first day out of solitary and I am lusting after the first guy I see.

  The sun disappears behind the walls and the dinner bell rings out, then the curfew bell, but he doesn’t leave my side. I don’t know his name and I have never seen him before, but this stranger feels dear to me, connected to me, somehow.

  He closes his eyes and raises his hands; in the center, I see a small flicker of light in the growing darkness. I gasp; cradled in his hands is a small fireball. I’ve never seen anyone else who can do what I do.