Phoenix: The Rising

by Bette Maybee

  At this point, Mr. Fredricks decided to play teacher. “Okay. Enough.” He pointed to Lucy. “You. You may sit in the back. And you two,” he glared at Laurel and Hardy, “Mr. Sloan is right. You may not speak of Miss Winters again unless you have something nice to say.”

  As Lucy walked by the Sloan boy, he crooked his finger at her, beckoning her to his side.

  “Thumper and Tiny,” he whispered as he pointed at Grace and Tina. “They’re the cheapest entertainment in town!”

  Lucy looked at the two pitiful examples of humanity sitting up front, then bent over and whispered back to the young man, “They look more like Laurel and Hardy to me.” He flashed her a smile. Hmmm. Either this kid was a kindred spirit, or he had the hots for the new girl in town. Judging from the way he was wriggling in his seat, she figured it was the latter. Poor kid. He didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell with her.

  ****

  “So, I see you survived your first day at White Mountain. Still need a ride?”

  The sight of Eli Sullivan straddling the supple, black leather seat of his pearl blue vintage Harley was enough to set Lucy Temeluch’s blood racing through her veins. It was going to be hard to keep her mind focused on the task at hand with this delicious hunk of humanity sleeping under the same roof. Of course, she supposed she could force herself to take advantage of the diversion. God knows she’d waited long enough. Up until the morning of her birthday, she had spent her life keeping to herself, guarding her virginity as if it were the Holy Grail. Everything changed the morning of her birthday, and it wasn’t just seeing her mother hanging from the end of a rope that did it. She knew she was different the moment she woke. It was like she’d been reborn. The old, human Lucy was dead and gone. The new Lucy, first-generation Nephilim, daughter of a Fallen One, was getting stronger and bolder with every day that passed. Her first experience with Dan had been hurried and rough, falling short from fulfilling the primal urge that came upon her so unexpectedly that first night. He had been merely a physical outlet for her, and a pretty distasteful one at that. But looking at Eli, she knew it would be different. She wanted him.

  “Afraid so. I need time to feel out the natives, as it were.” Lucy smiled at her joke. Being half-Paiute, she felt she had the right. Eli, however, seemed to give an obligatory smile. A man with morals. This should prove to be interesting.

  “Just climb on and hold on to the seat handles.” He shifted forward on his seat as she climbed on, her knee brushing the back of his jacket. Seemed almost as if he didn’t want to be touched. Hmmm. Lucy decided it would be best to play along. Coming off as a demure neophyte might be more effective than jumping his bones the first chance she got. He didn’t seem like the type who would appreciate her being overly aggressive. He revved the engine. “I’m afraid you’ll need to find another way home on Monday. There’s an early out, and I have to go buy flowers for a funeral I’m attending.”

  Lucy’s mind immediately shot to body of the naked redhead Dan had dumped on the side of the road. “Is it for that Winters girl? What was her name?”

  “Charsey, and yes, it’s for her.”

  Lucy settled in on the seat. Everything in her screamed for her to scoot forward and wrap her arms around him, drawing his delicious body close to hers, but she held back and wrapped her hands around the seat handles instead. She blew out a slow, calming stream of air. Lamaze. It does a libido good.

  “I’m sure I’ll be able to convince someone to give me a ride home. Maybe that Sloan boy will help me out. He seemed pretty friendly.”

  Eli adjusted the mirror until she saw her reflection, along with his eyes, settle on her. “As I said, be careful of who you associate with. Sloan’s just a blowhard, but if you set your limits, I don’t think you’ll have any problem.”

  “I tend to adhere to Michael Corleone’s quote: ‘Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer’. It’s a great war tactic.” This statement actually elicited a real smile.

  “Actually, it’s a quote from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War back around 500 B.C. Then, Machiavelli borrowed it for The Prince about 2000 years later.”

  “Wow, a history buff! I may have to use your services. Moen’s World History class is going to be a killer.” Lucy rolled her eyes. Now playing-A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS!

  Eli turned his head to the side and glanced back. “All you have to do is ask.”

  With that, the motorcycle shot out into traffic. Lucy squeezed her thighs against the sides of the seat to keep from tumbling backwards. Regaining her balance, she leaned forward, almost brushing her lips across his ear.

  “Oh, don’t worry, Eli. I will.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Julie had never felt closer to death than she did Monday morning. Too weak to even talk from the chemo that destroyed her bone marrow and wreaked havoc on the rest of her body, she simply watched the display light up on her phone time after time over the last twenty-four hours as Eli tried to call. She knew he’d be worried that she wasn’t answering, so she cajoled her nurse into sending one simple text Sunday evening: I’m fine. Just resting. Talk tomorrow. Then, she hoped for tomorrow to come ... and it did.

  The infusion had been simple and painless. A central venous catheter had been placed right above the scar she had carried the last five years from her first round of chemo, and the marrow was put directly into her bloodstream. Now, all she had to do was wait. Her body had to do the rest. The marrow would migrate to her bones immediately and hopefully engraft within the next ten days or so. Only time would tell.

  That evening, Julie lay silently in the dark, thinking about her future. Would she even have one? Would the transplant be a success? If it was, how could she face the future without Eli? He’d be born again as a child and whisked away to live his life out in some far-away place. Without her. Maybe it was better if she just died. Dying would be less painful than living without him.

  She switched on the light above her bed, grabbed a hand-held mirror, pulled off her stocking cap, and looked at her reflection. Lovely. I’ve now morphed from Beetlejuice to Uncle Fester. If she did live, maybe she’d be a spinster and eventually turn into one of those old cat-ladies and die alone with her cats having one last meal on her.

  “I like the new look!”

  Startled, Julie launched the mirror into the air and watched as Eli’s hand shot out to catch it before it hit the floor.

  “Wha-what are you doing here?” She retrieved the stocking cap lying on her lap and thrust it on her head, covering her eyes in the process. There was no way she was going to allow Eli Sullivan to witness her cry, let alone get a good look at the cue ball attached to her neck. Eli sat on the edge of her bed, careful not to jostle her.

  “You knew I couldn’t stay away.” He reached out and took hold of the edge of her stocking cap.

  “No!” Julie grabbed his hands to stop him and was immediately overwhelmed by the zap of electricity as it traveled up her arms. She moaned and squeezed his hands. “Please, don’t.”

  “Don’t worry.” He bent back the edge of the cap. “I just want to see your eyes.”

  Julie didn’t want to let go of his hands, but she knew she had to. It was better that way. They just weren’t meant to be.

  “I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

  The moment she dropped her hands away from his, a shadow of what could only be described as disappointment flashed across his face. Just as she thought. Eli Sullivan found her disgusting.

  “What? Why? You’re beautiful, Julie, even without hair.”

  Julie blinked trying to stem the flow of tears that threatened, but her tears had a mind of their own and spilled down her cheeks. Before she had a chance to protest, he cupped her face in his hands, wiping them away with a flick of his thumbs.

  She shook her head, languishing in the tingle that raced through her face and down her body. “No. I’m hideous, and I feel like crap.”

  Eli smiled as his eyes darkened and colors began to swirl in them
. “I can help with that, Julie.” He bent down, as if to kiss her, but stopped short. She breathed in his scent, his breath, and smiled as a sense of euphoria enveloped her.

  “Minty fresh, remember?”

  She nodded and closed her eyes as her body relaxed in response. “Yes, I remember. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Julie’s eyelids fluttered, trying to fight the delicious desire to sleep. “Did you remember to put a flower on Charsey’s casket today?”

  Eli nodded. “One for each of us. Yellow roses.”

  Julie smiled and gave in to complete relaxation as her eyes closed again. “Good. I love yellow roses.”

  ****

  Eli watched the tense lines in Julie’s face soften as she slept. He had an overwhelming urge to kiss her parted lips, but settled for placing a soft, moist kiss on each of her sleeping eyes, then watched in wonder over the next few minutes as the darkness covering each seemed to fade just a bit. Did his kiss do that? He knew he couldn’t cure her of this illness, but now that the miracle of modern medicine had been set in motion, could he hasten her recovery? There was one way to find out.

  Eli slid onto the hospital bed beside Julie. Careful not to awaken her, he pulled her stocking cap off. It amazed him how beautiful she looked even in this state, but he also knew that she didn’t think so. It was all too new to her, and what he was about to do would only embarrass her, so it was best done while she lay sleeping. He looked at the clock and knew he had to work quickly before the night nurse made her rounds. He figured he had about fifteen minutes. That should be enough time.

  ****

  Lucy lay in bed, staring at the darkened ceiling of her new room. It was nearly three a.m. again! Where in the hell was Eli, and why were her grandparents letting him stay out this late on school nights? It didn’t make sense. Her mother sure as hell wouldn’t have let her stay out this late with school the next day. A single light darted across the wall, accompanied by the low rumble of an approaching motorcycle. Finally! Lucy popped up out of bed, peered out the door to make sure the coast was clear, and tip-toed across the hall to Eli’s bedroom. Then, she waited. Ten minutes later, the door creaked open and the light popped on.

  “Where in the hell have you been, young man?”

  Eli spun around, nearly dropping the towel he clutched around his waist. Lucy giggled and waved from her spot near the window. “Surprise!”

  “Ah, jeez, Lucy, you about scared the crap out of me! What are you doing in here? Do you know what time it is?” Eli tightened his grip on the towel and marched over to his dresser.

  “I was worried. I thought for sure something happened to you.” She strolled over to his bed and sat, crossing one long, smooth leg over the other. “What are you doing out so late, anyways? We do have school in the morning, you know.” One of the straps of her camisole fell off her shoulder, revealing tanned, soft skin and a hint of cleavage. Lucy didn’t make any attempt to cover up. She knew her body was bangin’, and she wanted to make sure Eli noticed as well. Unfortunately, his eyes landed only momentarily on her legs, barely hesitating on them before he turned and headed towards the closet.

  “I’m well aware that we have school tomorrow, and where I was is none of your business.” To Lucy’s delight, Eli’s use of the flimsy closet door as a dressing screen while he changed into a pair of athletic shorts was about as successful as her own attempt to seduce him. Lucy bit her lower lip as brief glimpses of muscular, naked ass made her blood race in her veins once again. It took everything in her to keep from pouncing on him at that moment. Instead, she rolled to her stomach and batted her eyelashes at him as he approached the bed.

  “I bet you went to see a gir-rl,” Lucy sang, but the taunting elicited nothing from Eli but a dark, exasperated stare. Lucy slid off the bed and began circling him with the giddy anticipation of a vulture about to dive-bomb fresh road kill. “Hmmm.” She tapped her chin as she pushed further. “Let me see if I can guess who it was. You went to Homecoming with that girl. What was her name?” She raised an eyebrow and smiled in self-satisfaction at her game-playing skills. “Julie, wasn’t it?” The muscle in his jaw twitched. Bingo! She stopped her circle of attack just inches from his nose. God, he smelled good! “You are a naughty boy, Eli Sullivan. I thought you said you didn’t know where she was?” Lucy tapped him on his nose, yelped, and pulled her finger back as a small burst of electricity passed between her finger and the end of his nose. “Oh! Must have worked up some static!”

  Eli blinked slowly and backed away. “Where she is, is nobody’s business but her own.” He opened the door to his room. “And as you said, we both have school tomorrow.” An obligatory smile flashed across his face. “Do you mind?”

  Lucy sighed. She was well aware of the fact that Eli hadn’t admitted going to see Julie. He also didn’t deny it. It was evident that he was pretty good at playing his own games, but the conclusion to this particular one would have to wait for another day.

  “Oh, all right.” Lucy yawned in defeat as she exited. “You win.” She turned around just as Eli began to shut the door. “Goodnight, Eli.”

  Eli peeked around the edge of the door and treated her to a small, albeit real, smile. “Goodnight, Lucy.”

  Lucy crossed the hall to her room, closed the door, and leaned against it. He didn’t win, after all! That small, telling smile proved it. She might not have found out where the Fire-Child was hiding out, but eventually, Eli would lead her to her unsuspecting prey. Lucy slid under her covers, flipped off her light, and hugged the extra pillow Liana had placed on her bed. Until then, she’d concentrate on the next most important item on her agenda. Lucy sighed as she wrapped her legs around the pillow and stared at the shrinking lunar crescent outside her window. By the next full moon, Eli Sullivan would be hers, body and soul. She was sure of it.

  ****

  “Hey, wake up, sleepy-head!”

  Head. Why was her head itching? Julie’s hand shot up and felt the softness of the Angora stocking cap masking her newly bald head. She cracked an eye open. Her father sat smiling from a chair beside her bed.

  “You’re looking a bit better. You have some color in your cheeks, and your eyes aren’t so dark.”

  Julie sat up. The dizziness only stayed for a brief moment. “Really? I do feel a bit better. Maybe this transplant is kicking in.”

  “More likely due to the fact that you’ve finally gotten some good sleep. You’ve been sawing logs with a smile on your face since I got here a few hours ago. Plus, Dr. Medford said it would be at least ten days before the marrow would engraft.”

  Julie nodded. Her father was right. Eli’s scent had given her some temporary relief that obviously led to a good night’s sleep, and everyone knew that a good night’s sleep could do wonders for a person.

  Julie looked at the bedpan sitting on the shelf next to her bed. She had to pee, and had no intention of using that contraption as she’d been forced to do for the two previous days.

  “Why don’t you go get us some real breakfast from the cafeteria? I’m starving!”

  The statement prompted an immediate response from her father as he jumped up from his chair. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a week! Maybe the transplant really is kicking in!”

  Julie laughed. “Or maybe it’s due to the fact that I haven’t had anything substantial to eat in a week.” She reached over and gave her father a push towards the door. “Now go, would you? And bring me back lots of goodies.”

  Julie’s feet hit the floor as soon as the door shut behind her father. She took two slow steps, testing out her wobbly legs. Success! She could do this! Six more steps got her inside the bathroom door. She closed it and sat, relieved that the bedpan was now history. There was nothing more embarrassing than having to pee in a plastic container and have someone clean up after you. Well, that, and having the local immortal you’re crazy about see you without hair.

  It was at that moment she realized that her head was still itchin
g. She stopped in front of the sink, washed her hands, and looked in the mirror. Maybe she was allergic to the Angora. She slid the cap off her head and stared at her reflection in disbelief. Eli Sullivan, what in the hell did you do to me?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Well, I don’t believe I’m saying this, but you can be released this afternoon. Looks like the transplant has already engrafted.” Dr. Medford shook his head in amazement as he stood by Julie’s hospital bed. “Five days. Quickest engraftment I’ve ever seen!” Julie looked at her father’s beaming smile and tugged at her stocking cap. If they saw the crop of hair she’d already sprouted, they’d ship her off to be studied under some microscope at Johns Hopkins.

  “Guess I’m a quick healer.” Julie tried to smile, but from her father’s sudden reaction, she knew she’d failed.

  Her father tapped her on the leg. “Now, don’t worry about the hair, Kiddo. It’ll grow back sooner than you think. We can get you all set up with a wig if you want.”

  Dr. Medford nodded. “That’s right, Julie. If you engrafted this quickly, who knows how long it’s going to be before you’re back to a full head of hair? You’re my miracle girl!”

  Julie placed both hands on her cap and twisted it down even farther. Yes, she was worried about her hair, but not for the reason they were thinking.

  “For now, I’m fine with wearing a cap. How soon will it be before I can return to school?” Julie prayed that Dr. Medford would say it would be a few more weeks. “I mean, there are a lot of germs there, and I don’t want to get sick.”

  Dr. Medford walked over to the door. “Well, how about you get your blood count checked next Friday at your regular doctor’s office in Bishop? If the numbers are still going up, I’d say you can start the following Monday. That’ll give you some time to get your strength back.” Dr. Medford smiled and shook his head one more time. “Unbelievable. I love days like this!”