Phoenyx Rising (Demigods Duet Book 1)

by Kolleen Fraser

  He then splits the one fireball into three. He shoots a quick glance at me to see if I’m watching. When his eyes meet mine, he smiles a crooked smile at me, revealing one sweet dimple in his cheek. Then he tosses them up into the air and begins juggling them. I giggle at the spectacle he has made just for me.

  He never takes his eyes off me; I stare at his handsome face. I feel a warmth building in me with this boy. He smiles, showing me that deep dimple in his left cheek. The sight of his smile cracks the hard-shell I have built around my heart. He pushes the fireballs together in his palms and opens his hands. In its place, I see two words forming out of the flames.

  “Asher Blaze,” I whisper softly, “Your name is Asher Blaze?” I ask. He nods in reply. Asher Blaze, what a cool name...

  I cup my trembling hands and manifest my namesake, a small phoenix that flutters from my palm straight up into the sky, disappearing in a wisp of smoke on the wind. This is the first time I have created anything out of my fire, solitary would have been a hell of a lot less boring had I thought of that to occupy my time.

  “A phoenix?” he asks with a curious look.

  “Phoenyx Ember,” I tell him in a voice so small I’m sure he can’t hear me.

  His hand reaches out, cupping my chin, lifting it so my scared eyes meet his strong eyes. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I'm here to keep you safe,” he says, standing and reaching for my hand. Extending a trembling hand, I place it in his warm embrace. At our touch, the world falls silent around us, and the tremors of fear running through my body still. I feel my whole body relax at this simple touch. Oh boy, I am in trouble.

  Hand in hand, he leads me back to the Girls Housing. We stand on the front porch for a few moments; I’m trying to think of something clever to say, some way to thank him, “Thank you, Asher,” I answer quietly.

  He smiles down at me and takes me in his arms, holding me close to his warm body. My arms wrap around him and I lean into him. It doesn’t make any sense, but I love the way he makes me feel, loved and protected.

  “Good night, Phoenyx. Welcome home,” he whispers, kissing my forehead.

  My heart warms at his words. Home, this is my home now. “Goodnight, Asher.” With one last squeeze, we part ways. He disappears into the night and I enter the dark house, closing the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I smile to myself. Things are looking up.

  “Miss Ember,” Headmistress’ voice interrupts my daydream, “We have curfew here and you are expected to follow all the rules. Consider this your one and only warning. Up to bed, now.” As ward housemother, Sophia stands looking stern and impatient. I nod, not wanting to cause any problems, I start up the stairs to my dark room quietly, so I won’t wake my roommates and tuck myself into my new bed, which someone was nice enough to make for me. I fall asleep feeling a sense of peace inside for the first time I can remember. Maybe this place won't be so bad after all.

  Chapter Seven

  It has been a month since I moved into the Girl’s house, and I still have a hard time believing this is my home. I’ve settled into my life here. Though they keep the male and female Demigods away from each other I have seen Asher in glimpses here and there. At eighteen, I will be moved from ward housing to the main campus. It is a rite of passage to move to the main campus where we will be trained to use our talents, unlike the ward housing where the main lesson is how to suppress them. There are certain freedoms we will be allowed when living on the campus, I am both excited at but also terrified at the prospect of freedom What if I cause another explosion? I couldn't live with myself if I hurt anyone; I need faith in myself so I can control the fire within.

  The Academy tries to keep the balance of powers in harmony, which is not an easy task when the entire campus' population is Demigods who all sport destructive abilities. According to our history, Demigods have always existed as pure myth. That is until the awakening occurred about forty years ago, and chaos ensued, obviously. War was declared against us and we fought for decades. Waging war against humans and against each other all but decimated the world’s population on both sides.

  Then one day, the late, great James Warren, the all-powerful, stood up and found a better way for us all to co-exist peacefully. It was decreed that all Demigod children were tracked down and sent here to Elemental Island the moment their abilities surfaced and marked, to ensure the safety of all. Not all Demigod children are sent here but those whose power was stronger than they could control, and children abandoned or if their parents couldn’t afford the training were sent here. The children will stay at the Academy until their powers are can be catalogued and the level of threat they pose assessed. Most are returned to their families, unless of course they are deemed dangerous, like yours truly.

  The Academy sits on Elemental Island, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Northern Union, what was once called, North America. There is only one shuttle off the island, and it is heavily guarded to ensure the dangerous people, like me, are kept far away from the ‘normal’ people.

  The island is a beautiful place, really, with mountains and lakes and beaches. Or so I’ve been told, I haven’t done a lot of exploring. They say this is a safe place for us to live our lives in simple communities and bustling cities without the fear and hatred that comes with being in “normal” society. Demigods who have been sentenced here for violent crimes or for extreme powers have only two options if they ever want off this island: serve and protect in the army as trackers or enforcers, or kick ass and get paid in the Titans—the battles created as a platform to showcase the best and brightest Demigods.

  Peace was reached and a fragile trust was built. We protect them from ourselves and they revel in watching us battle it out, power versus power.

  My roommates in ward housing are Ianna and Endyra. They have become good friends and have helped me adjust. Ianna is gorgeous, with dark, almost black hair and the brightest blue eyes I've ever seen. She’s a water chaser and was sent here last year. She comes from the South; her father wants nothing to do with her since she was sent here, but that’s a whole lot of drama, and not my story to tell. Endyra is an earth chaser with chestnut brown hair and deep green eyes. Both are bubbly and friendly and were in no way able to control their excitement about their new roommate. Dr. Grey thought their energy would be infectious. It was intimidating at first, now I just try to keep up.

  Today, we have agreed, and by we, I mean they have agreed that taking a walk around the campus would be ‘super fun’. Endyra is like a hummingbird, fluttering in front of us, pointing out different places along our walk, and telling silly stories about being chased by bees. She has been here her whole life. Her father is a headmaster of some sort. Warden if you ask me. Apparently, prison is all in the perspective because I am miserable being locked up in here, but Endyra acts as though this is paradise.

  “For a prison, it sure is beautiful,” I say, as we walk out into the courtyard gardens. Every time I see it, I’m amazed, the gardens are so vast and colorful; like the walls of the academy just dropped down out of the sky and sealed off this perfect place, locking away this wild beautiful wilderness behind massive rock walls. If I have to be banished somewhere, I suppose this place isn't so bad.

  Ianna, seeing me get lost in my thoughts, comes over and wraps her arm around my shoulder, pressing her forehead to mine. This small gesture says a million things without saying anything. In the last few months, we have become inseparable. She seems to be able to read my moods and my mind, and is always there to snap me out of my funk. Never forces me talk about my problems; she just lets me lean on her when the weight of the world gets too heavy. Having her in my life makes my life here tolerable. Ianna is good people.

  Up ahead, Endyra is crouched behind a hedge; she waves us over, shushing us. Ianna and I stifle our giggles and sneak a peek. The boys’ ward housing sits on the other side of the hedge. The boys’ and girls’ houses are on opposite sides of campus; we rarely get a glimpse of them.

  The
re are guys scattered across the lawn; playing football, wrestling, and throwing stuff at each other. We watch them in fascination like strange creatures we don't understand. Wards like us are kept under lockdown from dinner to breakfast. We’re allowed to wander the grounds after our studies and before dinner, but being over on the boys’ side isn't permitted, and it gives me a flutter of excitement in my stomach to be disobeying a rule. I don't want to think about the consequences.

  “If they catch us here, will we be sent to solitary?” I ask Endyra, in a hushed voice.

  “No, solitary is only for violent acts. We would probably get chores or something as punishment,” Endyra confirms.

  My whole-body shudders at the word punishment. I rub my hands up and down my arms to warm the chill. Dr. Grey says my scars, memory loss, and panic attacks make the possibility of me being abused skyrocket. I shake off the dark thoughts. A stray football shoots over the hedge, hitting Ianna right in the head; she shrieks like a snake attacked her and falls on her back. Endyra and I collapse in a fit of giggles beside her.

  “And what do we have here?” a deep voice asks, from the other side of the hedge.

  We look up and see two guys standing over us. We instantly stop laughing when one of them reaches his hand out to Ianna.

  “I'm so sorry, beautiful. Are you all right?” he asks, reaching out his hand to help her up.

  Ianna takes his hand and turns fifty shades of red, stammering out a yes as we stand and start retreating, but he doesn't let her hand go.

  “I'm Kai,” he introduces himself with a smile, looking into Ianna’s matching blue eyes. She doesn't speak, doesn't move, just stands there, holding his hand; I laugh out loud at her reaction to him.

  “Phoenyx, is that you?” I startle at the sound of my name, turning slowly, I see Asher Blaze smiling at me. We only spoke that one time, but I could never forget his voice, I just stare at him, unable to for an actual response. That night I have replayed over and over in my head. Having no idea what to say to him I stand and stare as awkwardly as Ianna had just done. Shooting him a weak smile, I wave at him.

  Over the hedge shoulder, I spot Mason; his eyes narrow and he raises his hand pointing a finger at me then slicing it across his throat with his trademark smirk on his stupid ass face. In a show of typical disrespect, I flip him off, quickly grabbing Ianna’s hand, and dragging her along behind me, away from Kai. As we retreat, I can hear Mason laughing across the gardens. We retreat to our side of campus in a fit of giggles.

  “Oh, my God, I can’t believe you flipped off Mr. Mason.” she says, eyes wide and full of mischief.

  “Please, do not call him Mister Mason! He is barely a guard; pretty sure his job description states overbearing ass-clown as his main objective.”

  They just stare at me with wide eyes; they have never really understood my friendship with Mason, not that I even understand it. Being 'friends' with a guard is frowned upon, but Mase and I are a package deal. I guess being a walking powder keg gives me some perks. He isn’t so bad, he’s funny and always makes me laugh, even when I want to cry but showing him respect in public, is not going to happen, like ever.

  “Who was that hot guy, Nyx?” Ianna insists, catching her breath. I'm not sure if her red cheeks have more to do with running or Kai.

  “His name is Asher; we met my first night out of solitary. I don’t know him at all, really,” I answer, glancing over my shoulder toward Asher Blaze. I feel like he sees the real me, through all my darkness and pain, like he knows me better than anyone else; it terrifies me… and excites me.

  “So, what is our mission tonight? Ice cream? Soda?” Ianna asks.

  This is her favorite game, since we became roommates. It's a way for them to get to know me and for me to know myself; because of the amnesia, I don't know anything about myself. Since our game began, I have discovered I hate olives, love pickles, hate cherries, and love chocolate. Also, I have a love for angry-chick rock with a lot of swear words in it, much to Ianna’s dismay. She is a southern country girl through and through, bless her precious sweet heart.

  “NYX!” Ianna shouts, snapping me out of my daydream.

  “Sorry, what?” I reply.

  “Tonight's adventure to celebrate our last week in ward housing will be which heartthrob you love more: Ryan or Zack,” she announces, holding two movies with a huge grin. I love her; she always knows how to have fun.

  Curling up on the couch with her and Endyra, we settle in for a movie night in the common room. A few of the other girls join us, but I have never really made friends with anyone here, except Ianna and Endyra; they are all I need. It’s not like anyone else is lining up to be a murderer’s friend.

  Our last week in ward housing goes by fast. We do our chores and attend classes. We are kept under tight surveillance while in this house. The freedom of the main campus will be amazing. No lockdown curfew means we will be free to explore the grounds, and I'm most excited about the fact that Saturdays we can explore the woods and towns surrounding the campus. I will finally be able to walk out from behind these walls. I have no intention of running away. If caught, I would surely end up back in solitary, I have every intention of following the rules; it's safer that way. This is my home now.

  Tomorrow, we move to the main campus, we will be in classes with boys for the first time, allowed to interact with them, and make friends. The thought of coming face to face with Asher daily, makes my stomach turn. I'm terrified, but Ianna and Endyra are excited. Kai, Asher, and the other guys our age will be living in the main campus building as well.

  Chapter Eight

  On our first night in the main building, the girls go straight up mental. It’s so different here than the ward housing. It feels like an actual college campus. I wonder if it was a campus before the world went to hell in a hand basket. Ianna and I are still roommates, but Endyra is rooming with another girl down the hall. Having her as a roommate takes so much stress off me.

  All the ward trainees are getting together tonight for a meet and greet. There are about sixty of us, boys and girls together, who have turned eighteen and were sent to the main building, all with raging hormones and superpowers. Let the good times roll.

  Ianna is holding my hand as we trail behind Endyra down a maze of corridors, and as usual, Endyra knows every nook and cranny of this place. The music thumping from somewhere up ahead makes my heart flutter and my stomach turn. Walking into a room full of people makes me want to run far and fast, but I promised I would come tonight.

  “What if they ask me why I'm here? What should I say?” I ask Ianna as I pull my sleeves down to cover my tattoos.

  She stops and looks me in the eye, “Look, I'm going to be honest with you. They already know you, or at least they’ve heard about you. I'm sure it will be fine though, just try to relax and have some fun, okay?” she pleads with me, tugging my hand to get my feet moving.

  I reluctantly follow, muttering, “For the record, I think this is a bad idea,” under my breath.

  The hallway opens to a large room where couches line the walls and there are a lot people all talking, dancing, and having fun. Clusters of people spread through the room, but I know no one. As we enter the room, a lot of the talking stops and their eyes are shifting to me, looking me up and down.

  Tugging my sleeves down, again as some kind of barrier, but they know exactly who I am. What I've done. I cast my eyes down to my feet, trying to disappear. It's no good; there might as well be a spotlight on me with a sign around my neck saying ‘mass murderer’.

  “You've had your look, now get on with the rest of your lives,” Endyra states to the room.

  They avert their eyes, looking guilty and resume whatever conversations they were having before I walked in. Endyra gives me a bright smile and hooks her arm in mine, leading me toward the drink table. Ianna stops me, grabbing my arm. I glance up to see what the problem is. Kai is walking toward her, or stalking would be more accurate. He has a triumphant smile and eyes that scream tr
ouble; I’m glad it isn’t me he is locked onto. Leaving her and Kai to continue whatever silent conversation they are engaged in, I keep walking with Endyra.

  Standing in the corner, I try to be invisible. Across the room, a girl stumbles and catches me watching her drunkenly try to appear sober. She's an evil bitch, I can tell just by looking at her. She sneers at me before leading her harem of bitches my way. My heart starts beating double time and I drink the whole glass of punch I'm holding. Immediately coughing at the burning it causes in my throat, I realize a moment too late that the punch has been spiked; of course it is. I am so far out of my element here.

  Queen bitch steps up to me; she is a good six inches taller than me. She points a glittery, hot pink manicured fingernail in my face, “You’re that chick who like, freaked out and killed her whole family or something, aren’t you?” She giggles and so does her intern bitches.

  The drink I just chugged is hitting me; my cheeks feel hot and I have a strong urge to punch her, right in her resting bitch face. Apparently, I’m an angry drunk. Trying to remove myself from a possible confrontation, I move to walk passed them. She grabs my wrist, her manicured talon digging into my skin as she pulls up my sleeve, revealing my wrist brands. I try to pull away, tears stinging my eyes. Her group is on me instantly, pulling at my coat. It's ripped off me, and I stand there in my t-shirt, my tattoos, now on full display for everyone to see.

  “Oh, my God, it’s true! You are a murderer! Why didn’t they kill you?” she announces, pointing to me. I try again to walk away, but her nails dig in deeper. She leans into me and whispers, “You should kill yourself and do us all a favor.”

  That's all the excuse I need to let loose on her. Grabbing her by the throat, I let my hand heat up just enough so she can feel it, but not hot enough to singe her skin. I've been practicing my control.