Torn From Stone: The Phoenix Series, #1 19q3q

Torn From Stone

the phoenix series - book one

Sarah Rockwood

Queen & King Entertainment

Contents

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Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

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Bounty of Ash

About the Author

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Sign up for my no-spam newsletter and get a copy of Bounty of Ash, the second book in the Phoenix Series. Details at the back of the book!

A Queen & King Entertainment ebook.

First published in Canada in 2017

Copyright protection is automatic under Canadian and international law from the moment of creation of original work.

All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, store in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Cover Design by STUDIO BUKOVERO

1

I awoke to the sound of heavy breathing: heavy, rattling breaths thick with mucus. They permeated the silence of my bedroom and I lay still as they worked their way in and out of the creature’s lungs. I opened my eyes to the darkness and spoke without a trace of sleep. “Hello, Sid.” “Phoenix! I… I… thought you were sleeping!” “Apparently,” I slithered up to rest against my pillow, “You’ve forgotten that little talk we had. You know, Sid, the one about not visiting me while I sleep!” I turned my cold blue eyes on Sid as he sat in the moonlit corner of my room. And in the half-light his shape was clear. Sid was a Minion, no taller than a fiveyear-old, with dark grey skin, a bowed back and a face that proved Creationists wrong. He moved with a combination of hands and feet so the skin on his palms was always dry and peeling. His only clothing was a small rag around his waist. Minions are not beautiful creatures. They have a moist quality to their bodies, like frogs. They’re always slurping or snorting something and usually leave a damp patch if they stay in one place for too long. They have no smell though, seriously, they are the absence of scent, which is a real help. If they smelt anything liked they looked, they’d never be able to hide, and Minions are very good at hiding. “What do you want, Sid?” There had to be a reason for this. “I? I ask for nothing Phoenix, just a moment’s respite in your presence.” That was the other thing about Sid; he could say the most beautiful bullshit. It almost made up for the slurping. “Come on, Sid. What’s going on?” He coughed and then slurped back whatever had come up.

“Phoenix, beauty, I simply enjoy the sanctuary of your dwelling.” I rolled my eyes but since it was dark the effect was lost. I’ve always been a magnet for weird stuff. Always. Weird people, weird jobs, weird events. And then sometimes I’d see things out of the corner of my eye. Things that I couldn’t quite explain. Most of the time they were just mists or flashes. But sometimes they were more. The first time I saw one of these solid things, happened while I was babysitting. I was 14 and babysitting meant potato chips and Elvira. Since it was my third or fourth time at this particular house, their kid was comfortable with me and bedtime was a breeze. She went out like a light and their little dog curled up beside her bed and was quickly dreaming little doggy dreams. I went downstairs, grabbed a bag of chips and started watching TV. The night went on like any other. I flicked back and forth between some late night movies, went up periodically to check on the sleeping duo, and plowed my way through the chips. I was making money and watching TV, things couldn’t get any better. Around midnight I got this feeling. This weird feeling. The stillness of the house suddenly had an edge to it. I felt cold and instinctively brought my feet off the floor. The hair on my arms and neck tingled and I got this eerie, spacey feeling. I had to look down the hall; something was pulling me there. I got on my hands and knees and crawled to the edge of the couch. The couch was situated so that it butted against the entrance to the hallway. If I leaned over the arm I would be able to see the length of the hallway. So I took a deep breath and, counting on the element of surprise, I dropped forward. Now, up until this point, I had been convincing myself I was crazy, that there was nothing in the hallway and I was being incredibly stupid. But as I shot forward, I saw it: the head and shoulders of a small dark creature, the size of a child, slipping down the basement steps. I froze for a brief beat of time and then threw myself back on the couch. I lay there catatonic. I couldn’t bring myself to look again. I was convinced that whatever it was, it was going to crawl into the living room at any moment and slice me to pieces.

So as quickly and as quietly as I could I reached towards a mass of toys and grabbed a plastic baseball bat. I think it was this first grip of a bat that started my love affair with them; since this encounter, I’ve always kept one handy. Once the bat was in my hand I felt a little more prepared to leave the safety of the couch. I was way too scared to go down to the basement after the thing, but it had to be done. I was the babysitter. I tightened my grip on the bat and headed downstairs. I took the stairs one at a time as quietly as possible, the bat drawn over my shoulder, ready to bestow a beat down. The door to the basement proper was open about a foot. Just enough for something to slip through. I took the bat and gently pushed the door. Well, I thought it was gentle but the door swung fast and hit the wall with a loud crack. I let out a short scream that was echoed by a slightly deeper one from inside the basement. That shut me up. I stood in the doorway, not breathing, for several minutes. Okay, it was more like ten seconds but at that moment time had no meaning. Eventually, I peeled my feet from the floor and began to walk slowly into the room. The cord for the light hung in the centre of the basement and I inched my way towards it, waving the bat in slow circles about waist high. Something hit me in the face and after a moment of panic, I realized it was what I was looking for. I braced myself and pulled the string. Light flooded the basement. I forced my eyes to stay open and spun in a circle searching desperately for the creature. There was nothing there. But you already knew that. Nope, nothing. That pissed me off. I scoured that basement and found nothing, not even a disturbed box. I left the basement, locking the door behind me just in case, and checked on my charges. They were still sleeping. I went downstairs and tried to convince myself the whole thing was just a strange mix of Elvira and potato.

Fast-forward and I find myself swinging a bat at a very similar creature, determined this time not to let it slip away. On the night of my 25th birthday, I found Sid sleeping under my sink. My guests had just left and since I was still pretty wired I thought I’d clean up. I didn’t want to wake up to a new year of life and a pile of dishes. So I went to the kitchen and with an absent mind opened the cupboard under the sink to grab my rubber gloves. As I thought about having completed a quarter of my life, my hand slid across something large and moist. I yanked my hand back and peered into the cupboard. There, curled into a tight ball, was a sleeping ‘thing’. I say ‘thing’ because at that moment my mind couldn’t decipher what I was looking at. Was it a doll? A kid in a costume? Sure, it had a face, but not a normal one. It looked like someone had put human bits on a gorilla’s face with the precision of a 12-year-old. It appeared to be sleeping. Its little chest was heaving in a slightly ragged fashion. I watched it for a moment or two, but that was kind of boring, so I poked. Hard. Its eyes shot open. They were grey as steel. We both screamed. I ran for my bat. Running for the bat was instinct. Like I said, I’ve been doing it since I was 14. My friends like to test my paranoia from time to time, so even though instinct raged for the bat, my rational brain screamed ‘It’s a joke! Relax! Kid in a costume! Kid in a costume!’ Bat in hand, I headed back to the kitchen in time to see him scramble for the bathroom. He moved with a combination of hands and feet, agile and clumsy all at once. I could hear him panting as he made his way. There was no way my friends could rig something this good. I cut across the living room and swung at his back. The bat met flesh and he slid down the hall into the bathroom only to be stopped by slamming into the toilet. I was on him before he could get to his feet, but he wriggled through my legs and into the bathtub. I turned and was about to bring the bat down on his head when he started to cry.

“Please! Please! Lady Phoenix I mean you no harm!” The moment he said my name I froze. He knew my name. This horrible little thing knew my name. “Please! I can explain!” He took my silence for permission and continued. “I am sorry, I did not mean for you to find me like this. I have been waiting for the right moment. Waiting for years to reveal myself, I did not mean for it to be like this.” He sobbed harder, wiping at the streams of fluid that were leaving his eyes and nose. It was as I watched him paw at his face, leaving flakes of skin on his cheeks that the words sank in. “What do you mean, years?” He blinked at me. I could hear the squelch of eyelids slapping together. “Are you going to hit me again?” I thought about it. “I don’t know.” “Well, could you lower the club until you have decided? “ I followed his eyes to the bat. I had my baby blue “li’l' Slugger” in a two handed grip, drawn back over my right shoulder. If I wasn’t going to hit him right away it seemed stupid to leave it there. I lowered the bat. “Now, what do you mean, years?” He cleared his throat, it took a lot longer than you can imagine. “My name is Siddhartha and I am a Minion and a Traveller.” He calmed down as he spoke, the sobbing stopped and a strange formality came to his voice. His new calm soothed me as well and I sat down on the lid of the toilet so he didn’t have to crane his neck to talk to me. A smile came to his face as I sat and he continued in earnest. “I come from The Void and Travel from world to world.”

He stopped talking and looked at me. My mind feverishly tried to decipher the information being crammed into it. I had so many questions and he had barely said anything. I was frightened yet I couldn’t deny that I felt an instant comfort around this creature. In the bright light, he looked totally alien and yet completely familiar. “Okay… what’s a Minion.” “I am.” Cryptic bastard. “Okay…what’s the ‘The Void’.” He looked at me with his moist grey eyes. His gaze was incredibly penetrating as if he were trying to read something on my soul. “It is a place without Time, a gateway to every world, every moment, that has ever existed.” My pulse quickened as he continued as if something deep inside me was waking up. “We who live in The Void are Travellers. We are the amalgamation of the moments of evolution, each species embodying a stage of development seen and unseen throughout the galaxies. From The Void we Watch, tracking the Light of creatures like yourself.” His voice softened. “Your Light is very bright and I was drawn to you, from The Void I felt you. I have been observing you for a very long time, waiting to see what your Light would do.” I had a completely unearthly being sitting in my bathtub saying he’d been watching me and I had not run screaming from the room. Sometimes I amaze myself. “How long have you been watching me?” He closed his eyes. I think he was trying to come up with an answer but the action just caused goo to squelch out the corners, and he quickly wiped it away. “In your World, it would be considered eleven years.” I sat stunned for eleven heartbeats. “You!” It came out much louder than intended and we both screamed, again.

“Sorry…” I panted. “You were the one on the stairs! When I was babysitting! You scared the shit out of me!” He had the grace to look sheepish. “Yes, I am so sorry I frightened you. I had been Watching your world for so long, centuries, and in all that time no one had ever seen me. I underestimated you. I never made that mistake again, although there were moments when I knew you felt my presence.” “Yeah, there has been a lot of that over the years.” I replied dryly. I leaned back against the tank and rubbed my eyes. “If I may say, Lady Phoenix, you are handling this remarkably well.” He smiled at me, saliva pooling at the corner of his mouth. “You should be in my head.” A horrible thought came. “Can you do that? Be in my head?” “No, My Lady, I simply Watch.” We talked through the night. Sid in the bathtub and me perched on the toilet. He told me about The Void: it’s flat, grey land with few trees and deep, cold, streams. He told me about the other Minions, many others, more than any other species in The Void. He alluded to more species, but I couldn’t get any details out of him. Besides, his other stories were too interesting. He had seen so much history. He had been present at so many moments of change that I barely scratched his surface. It was sometime around four in the morning that my eyes grew heavy and my head began to nod. Sid paused in his description of the oceans before man began to cross them, and placed a hand gently on my knee. This was the first and only time Sid has ever touched me. It felt like a warm fluid emanated from his hand and moved through my flesh and bones. The weight of Time was in his touch. The sensation was so strange that I made a small cry and sat up. Sid began to speak: “Lady Phoenix, the things I have told you tonight are closely guarded Secrets. Secrets you must keep. We Travellers have shared our stories with very few of

those we Watch for good reason. There are those in The Void who would not be pleased if you began to tell tales of our meeting tonight. They would be most unhappy with me and they may harm us both.” “Who are they? Other Minions?” “It does not matter who they are!” He raised his voice and the warmth moved more forcefully through my body. “It does not matter as long as the Secret is kept. Promise me, My Lady, that you will keep it.” He gave me his penetrating gaze and I felt a click of understanding. An oath I’d never known fell like a ritual from my mouth. “Siddhartha, I, Phoenix, will keep your Secret.” The warm liquid feeling grew until my entire body pulsed. I felt safe and peaceful. As sleep took me, Sid removed his hand from my knee. “Thank you, Lady Phoenix. I will visit you soon.” I woke up alone, sitting on the toilet. Classy.

2

That was five years ago. After our first meeting, it was months before I saw him again. I was beginning to think I’d been slipped something that night when he popped up. We always had a good time, after I got over the shock of him appearing behind me as I did the dishes or crawling over the end of the couch as I watched a movie. In the last six months, his visits had become more and more frequent and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He had taken to sitting in my room at night while I slept which was okay but he made a wet sucking noise when he breathed. It either gave me really strange dreams about a wet-vac and a mud puddle or woke me up. That was what I was dealing with now. “Okay, Sid.” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “This is the third night this week you’ve been here, even after I asked you not to. It’s not like you, Sid.” I looked at him. “What is going on?” Sid sighed. A deep, mournful, tired sigh. With his eyes averted, he crawled across the carpet and climbed onto the bed beside me. His grey eyes met mine and he spoke quietly, barely a whisper. “The Archer is looking for me.” “The Archer?” “Please! Please keep your voice low. The names Travel. Please, Phoenix.” I had never seen Sid so desperate, fear came off him in waves. Up close I could see that parts of his face were dry. His hands were more whole than I had ever seen, which meant he hadn’t been moving very much. I lowered my voice. “Who is this guy?” “He is one of The Guards.”

I’d learned over the years that sometimes Sid can be cryptic and to just go with it. Things have a way of explaining themselves. “Why is he looking for you?” “Because I did not tell The Guards that I’d found…” He hesitated. “That I’d found something.” “Why didn’t you tell him?” “He will hurt it, he will destroy it.” In all the conversations I’d had with Sid he had never told me about the other species in The Void. He’d told me what it looked like, briefly, and that there were other Minions like him, but nothing else. Every time I pressed him he would subtly move me into another of his fantastic tales. I’d always thought of him as a survivor: yes he’s small and moist, but I thought he could handle anything. Yet here was Sid, sitting on my bed looking frightened. I did the only thing I could think of, something I’d never done before, but he’d never come this close to me before. I gave him a hug. His eyes were down so he didn’t see me move. The moment my hands touched him he went into a terror. “Nooooooo!” He moved like lightening off the bed and threw himself against the wall. “No! You cannot touch me! Now they’ll know! They’ll know where I am! They’ll know everything!” He threw his head frantically from side to side looking for an escape. “I must go. I must go. Far away. Maybe that will throw them off.” “Sid! I’m sorry. I…” His face was suddenly inches from my own. “My Lady.” He hadn’t called me that in years, what was going on? “Sid, call me Ph…” “No!” His hand hovered just inches from my mouth and I was silent. “The names Travel.” He softened. “My Lady. Keep your Secrets.”

The oath fell from my lips like it was yesterday in a voice not completely my own. “Siddhartha, I will keep my Secrets.” “Thank you. I must go before he traces me here. I will be back when I can.” He shuffled away from the bed and disappeared. I was stunned. What the hell had just happened? I lay back on my pillow and tried to dissect Sid’s words. Who was The Archer, and what was it that Sid had found? He said The Archer would ‘hurt it’ which probably meant whatever it was, it was alive. Sid had only ever talked about his time in my world, could this thing come from somewhere else? And why would Sid hide in my room? If my Light was strong enough for him to spot all those years ago wouldn’t others have seen it? These questions chased each other through my brain until, as the sun broke over the trees, I drifted off to sleep.

3

I woke up the next day and tried not to worry about Sid. He had lived for as long as Time, so I was pretty sure he could handle himself. Besides, my bat and I wouldn’t be much help to him, especially not against someone with the balls to call himself ‘The Archer.’ I knew Sid would show up again sooner or later, so I crammed down my worry and waited. But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks became a month, I started freaking out. Sid knew that I’d be on eggshells until he told me he was okay, so why hadn’t he ed me? I started waiting up for him. I’d stay up until the sun was close to waking, reading to keep my eyes open until I fell asleep with the book on my face. One night, around the six-week mark, I finally just went to bed. I was exhausted from all my late nights and had come to the conclusion that Sid may be gone for a very long time so I should probably just sleep. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. I don’t know how much time had ed but I was suddenly conscious. The apartment was still and quiet, and I couldn’t figure out what had woken me. Then I heard it. A soft whisper. “Phoenix… Phoenix…” “Sid?” I asked the darkness. “Oh good, you’re awake.” He flicked on the lamp, and I was momentarily blinded. “Jesus, Sid!” I threw an arm over my eyes. “Sorry!” He turned the dimmer down. “Where the hell have you been?”

I dropped the arm from my eyes and looked at him. He was much greyer than normal, and beads of moisture were visible on his skin. As he wrung his hands, large pieces of skin flaked onto the carpet. He had been moving a lot. His skin spoke of fear and escape, and all my concern came flooding back, but it ceased when I looked in his eyes. They held a burning, a power stronger than the steel they mimicked, that I had never seen in him. I noticed he was standing straighter and instead of the small plain cloth, he wore a wrap made of thick black cotton that hit him at mid thigh. There was also a leather backpack at his side. Taking all this in I asked cautiously: “Sid, what’s going on?” “Worry not, Phoenix. All will be explained, but now we must hurry.” “Hurry wh… Hey! You’re using my name again!” “Yes, there is no point in restraint. They know where we are.” He threw back my covers and beckoned me from the bed. “We must go.” I got up as he walked towards my closet. “You still haven’t told me where.” He called an answer over his back while rifling through my closet. “That I cannot tell you. The Names Travel. I will answer all your questions, and you will have more, very soon. But now…” He paused in his search. “…This is the one… we must go.” He handed me the garment. It was the black jumpsuit I’d worn for Halloween. I went as a “sexy” vampire. Doesn’t every woman go as a “sexy” something? “Sid I am not wearing that! It’s a costume, and it leaves nothing to the imagination.” It really didn’t. It was matte black and made of some man-made stretchy fabric that clung to every inch of me, the dark colour making my pale skin glow. It was a halter style that plunged in the front, had absolutely no back and fitted legs that I’d tucked into knee high boots.

I have long auburn hair that hits me at mid back, and with my height and shape, I looked like an Amazonian Goth princess. Super hot; if I do say so myself. Sid ignored my protest and continued his exploration of my closet. “Phoenix, we do not have time for this. That ‘costume’ is the only thing you have that is suitable.” “But I’ll freeze!” “No, you will also take this.” He tossed me my fur coat. Yes, I have a fur coat. Don’t worry; it’s vintage. It’s from the seventies and is the same colour as my hair. It hits me at the waist and has a beautiful collar that I wear up around my neck. I love the thing; it’s one of the most erotic pieces of clothing I’ve ever owned. The feel of the fur against skin is amazing, I highly recommend it. I try to wear it as much as possible, but I’m always on the lookout for red paint. But seriously, if you’ve ever had a hamburger or worn leather shoes, do you really have the right to be outraged? At least my coat biodegrades. While I contemplated the coat, Sid had found more things for me. “These for your feet...” Black suede knee-high boots, it was Halloween all over again. “…And this I will fill with supplies. Get dressed.” He slithered into his backpack and went for the door with my black leather tote bag in his hands. I looked down at my ‘outfit’, and I’d had enough. “Siddhartha! I am not doing anything until you explain just what the fuck is going on!” I rarely swore in his presence; he found it extremely offensive. He stopped in the doorway and turned to face me. Anger pulsated from him, and his eyes burnt a light scarlet colour. I’d never seen him do that before. His body trembled with restraint, and although he was half my size, I was afraid. I expected him to yell and was shocked when I received a strained whisper instead. “I have Watched you since you were but a child. I have protected you from things you cannot imagine. I am older than your concept of Time. You are most precious to me, and I would never, never, do anything to harm you. Heed my words. We must leave here, now.”

He turned on his heel and left the room. I got dressed in record time. Halloween night I’d taken almost an hour to put on all the finishing touches, but tonight there would be no trick or treating. I’d forgotten how comfortable the suit was. Sure it was skin-tight, but it was also very soft and stretchy, and with the boots on I felt ready for action. I stole a glance in the mirror, I had to know just how crazy the suit looked, but I was surprised. Without the fangs and fake blood on my chin, the suit just looked hot. Too much for day to day, but not for travelling with a Minion. I shrugged into the coat and walked out of the bedroom feeling like a rock star. A frightened rock star, but still. I met Sid in the kitchen. I’m a grazer; I like to eat little bits all day long and get pretty bitchy if I don’t. I also drink a tonne of water. Sid, apparently aware of these things, had filled my bag with packets of nuts, a couple of apples, and some cheese. Judging by the amount in the bag we would be gone for a while. “Good. You’re dressed.” He handed me my water bottle. “Fill this.” He left the kitchen. I could hear him rummaging in my bedroom again as I filled the bottle. I was loading it into the bag along with a few things from my purse as he came back in the room. “Please put this in the bag. You will need it.” He handed me my bat. My bright blue, 'Lil' Slugger, baseball bat. I was shocked and wanted to ask yet again just where the hell he was taking me, but didn’t. After Sid’s tirade, I wasn’t going to push it. Besides, despite my questions, I trusted him. I knew in my heart that Sid would never hurt me. I slid the bat into the bag. It fit pretty well in the oversized tote. If I put it in at an angle, only about six inches of handle stuck out. My ‘Lil' Slugger is just that, little, child size. I just found the grown-up ones awkward and hard to hide. When I had finished loading the bag, I swung it over my head, so the strap lay across my chest. I don’t normally like wearing my bag like that, but since I didn’t know where we were going, it was mobility over fashion. Sid walked through to the living room with me at his heels. He stopped in the middle of the room. He gestured for me to step back then closed his eyes and stretched out his arms. A quick warm flash of power ripped through the space; I

swayed slightly then it was gone. Sid opened his eyes and held out a hand to me. “We are safe to Travel. Come, My Lady, take my hand.” I put my hand in his and felt that warm pulse begin to move its way through my body. “Hold tight to my hand, Lady Phoenix.” I couldn’t keep quiet. “Are we going to disappear? Like you do?” “Yes. Please close your eyes.” “Oh shit.” I closed my eyes. It felt like fainting.

4

The smell of clean, fresh earth and large trees woke me. I felt dirt under my cheek, its moisture bringing me back to myself. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but something told me it was merely an instant. I opened my eyes slowly. I laid sprawled on my side on a forest floor, feeling soft moss and dirt under my body. I looked around and could see large maples and oaks swaying in the mild breeze. Weak sunlight peeked through their branches to mark the ground, and a fine mist filled the void between them. I heard Sid moving nearby. “My lady, are you hurt?” He had stopped using my name. I rolled onto my back and looked up at the canopy. I did a mental check of my body, and everything seemed intact. Physically fine, I sat up. “I don’t think so. Where are we?” “A forest.” No shit. “But where?” He was already moving. I scrambled to my feet and chased after him. Sid took off into the underbrush, moving silently on his hands and feet. I had never seen him move so gracefully. He always looked so awkward when he walked around my apartment but now he practically danced over logs and around bushes. I didn’t do so well. Considering Sid’s silence, I tried to move with as much stealth as possible. I was twice Sid’s height and more than once got my hair caught on a branch that Sid had practically melted around. I was really glad he’d chosen flat boots. The land slowly sloped upwards, like the base of a hill, but the canopy was thick and I couldn’t be certain. We had travelled in silence for about ten minutes when Sid took cover behind a large boulder. Panting, I sat down on the ground beside him. He was still for a moment then gestured for me to look around the rock. I moved onto my knees and stretched my upper body around the cold grey stone. We were definitely at the bottom of a large hill. About thirty feet away, on the side of the forest-covered mound, was a man-sized fissure framed with rubble.

I moved back beside him and we locked eyes. Sid nodded once and was around the rock before I could question him. I followed as closely as I could and within moments we were at the fissure. Sid moved ahead of me into the darkness. Wondering what the hell I was doing, I took what I hoped wouldn’t be my last look at sunlight and stepped through the opening. The fissure opened to a large tunnel. It was much drier than I expected and was large enough for a big and extremely tall man. The tunnel was completely dark, but Sid had produced a lantern from his bag. The lantern was a small round orb about the size of a grapefruit with a curving hook of metal protruding from the top, which he held in his hand. The orb itself looked like pressed metal and the slits cut into it scattered unusual shapes around us. Soon the age opened up into an enormous circular cave. Sid scuttled around the cave lighting torches that were mounted on the rock. He moved without hesitation, he had been here before. As the light grew, I was able to make out more of my surroundings. There was a fire pit in the middle of the cave, with a cooking spit and pot suspended above it. High above that, in the ceiling of the cave, was a small opening, presumably for smoke. A sliver of sunlight peeked through. Around the fire were three stools. Two were of average size and simple construction but the third was enormous, easily five times the size of a standard chair. It was made from a large piece of wood that appeared to be the trunk of an ancient tree. Some of the roots remained and they reached for the ground like thick fingers. It was covered in intricate carvings that I couldn’t decipher in the torchlight. I looked at the giant spit. There were bits of charred flesh stuck to the ends and the handle was well worn. It could easily the weight of a large dog and I’m just a little bit bigger than a large dog. Yay, I’ll make two suppers. In the back reaches of the cave was a large cot the size of a king-sized bed; it was covered with pieces of fur and the headboard had been decorated with antlers. To the left of the bed was a long table so high I could have comfortably rested my chin on its surface. Beside that stood a bookshelf; from where I was I couldn’t make out the lettering on the spines. I just hoped they weren’t cookbooks. Although he had been here before, this was definitely not Sid’s home. “Whose place is this?” I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice. Sid motioned for me to sit by the fire. I took the stool furthest from the giant one,

which unfortunately put my back to the entrance. “It belongs to a friend of mine. You will meet her soon enough.” Her? Oh god, this whole journey was decidedly freaky. Why had I just left my apartment with Sid? How would I get home? I looked at the giant spit. Were all these years some elaborate plan to gain my trust and then squirrel me away and eat me? Oh, I just know I’d be tasty too. I pulled the bat out of my bag and lay it across my lap. Until I got some answers, that was where it would stay. Sid had been busying himself starting a fire and looked up at my movement. He saw the bat in my lap and exhaled the twin of that deep mournful sigh that had started all this. “I am so sorry, My Lady. I owe you a great many answers.” He sounded so sad that I almost put the bat away. Almost, because that’s when they get you. “You have been very trusting to follow me this far. No human would fall so easily into such uneasy things.” “I just want to know what’s going on!” All the fear and panic that adrenalin had held at bay were starting to bubble up. “Why the hell did you bring me here?” I was yelling now. “Whose house is this? And why do I have to meet them?” I jumped to my feet. “Look at the size of that bed!” I jabbed the bat towards it. “And that spit! They could fucking eat me! Is that what this is? Huh? Some elaborate plan to eat me?” I was breathing very heavily, my chest heaving I held the bat with both hands. Sid started to giggle. It was a phlegmy sound. “Eat you?” His giggles grew fuller. “Eat you? Of course, I’m not going to eat you!” I watched him struggle with the thick fluids his mirth created. His laughter rescued me from my dark thoughts. Sid was a third my size, the first time we met I had slammed him halfway across my apartment, and we had been friends for years: there was no way he was going to eat me. Not exactly happy, but considerably calmer, I sat down and tried to regain my composure. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little freaked…” He began stoking the fire, his chest still rattling with silent laughter. “…This is just a lot to take in. I had years to get

used to you and now in the space of an hour, you’ve told me I’m in extreme danger and dragged me to the home of some unknown creature, who’s definitely not a Minion,” I gestured at the big stool. “…In a place I don’t recognise.” I put the bat away. “I think I’ve handled the whole thing pretty well, but I’m nearing my breaking point. I need answers, Sid.” He flinched at the saying of his name and threw his arms out to the side. A brief flash of warm power echoed through the cave and was gone. “My lady, please do not use my Name. The Names Travel and we must not be found.” I opened my mouth to question him again, but he silenced me with the raising of his hand. “I understand your frustration and I will now end it. We are in the home of a very old and dear friend of mine. No harm will come to you here within this rock. The reason for our quick departure comes at the end of a long tale. A tale that I have intended to recount since you found me under your sink. I should have told you sooner, but always thought I would have more time. I now see how futile that was. You accepted my presence with such ease that perhaps the truth would not have alarmed you that night, but I was afraid. I was worried it would break your heart, My Lady.” Silent tears ran down his face. His grey eyes held so much weight. I wanted to say something reassuring, to make his burden less, but before I found the words, he continued. “The story starts in The Void.” The firelight danced in his eyes. He threw his arms out in a gesture I had become familiar with and a blast of warm power, stronger than before, filled the cave. The image of a shield burned briefly in my mind and was gone. He continued. “I have told you of my species, the Minions, who live in The Void. But there are others, many others. Each has a distinct visage and frame, some more human in appearance than others. Their numbers do not run into the hundreds like we Minions, yet they all have a significant presence. We have existed longer than the concept of Time in this fashion. The many species living together, Travelling from world to world and policing ourselves as necessary. We did not fear one another because in groups the power is shared. We Minions have little power due to our immense numbers. Aware of this sharing, the inhabitants of The Void work to keep our numbers so that no one

being may gain control. But there was a solitary Traveller. A creature without a double let alone the numbers needed to share power. No one knew why or how she came to be but there she was, alone. She was graceful and beautiful, indistinguishable from human but for the beautiful wings that grew from her back. The feathers were broad and soft. They held a multitude of colours, purples, greens, blues, and pinks coursed through them. To see her stretch them as she prepared for flight was a beautiful thing. But she was alone. One day she ceased Travelling and took to wandering The Void. She moved incessantly across the grey landscape. As Time ed, it appeared that she had forgotten how to Travel. She had not taken flight through our grey sky in an age. This time in The Void had made her powerful and yet vulnerable. Although she had never acted in malice towards a single being, whispers started. The others grew frightened. They feared her humanness. She so closely resembled those we Watch. What could come of such a creature? A movement formed to rid The Void of her. On a cool dark day, without warning, they charged. Running at her back, they tore her right wing clean off before she knew the bombardment had begun. As she grappled with the many hands attempting purchase, she knew she had one option. To Travel. And it was in those final moments, as she began to hear her left wing tear, that she realised that she could never return. Without her wings wherever she landed would be her new home. It had been so long since she had Travelled, and with no time to twist the proper charm, she trusted to instinct. As the second wing was severed, she jumped headlong into the next world. Aeons and instants dissolved as she ed, screaming, into the bright world beyond. I watched it all: disgusted with the actions of my brethren, but unable to stand against so many. As soon as she ed from The Void, a great cry of joy and frustration emptied from the mouths of the mob. They had wanted her blood not merely her wings. They tried to rip the wings apart but they would not rend. Keeping their shape, they were tossed about, various creatures sucking on what little blood resided in their ings. The blood made them momentarily crazed with a power that was gone as quickly as it came. When the last of them had grown tired and lay dozing on the ground, I grabbed the wings. I secreted them away to other worlds. It broke my heart to separate them but together they were

too powerful. Their Light would pulse, making them easy targets for her enemies. I hoped one day to find her. Without her wings she would have no knowledge of who she was, she would begin her new life as an infant, a babe, in whatever world she landed. She would have no memory of her home. Soon after her departure, The Guards came with a new decree, that she was to be forgotten and that to help her would be a violation of our ancient laws. Anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts was to report it immediately. They said it was too risky to bring a Traveller back in her condition. They said The Void did not need her, that she had no place in our grey home. But I did not believe them. I knew their words were made of fear. Fear of what she would do when she returned. For all her silence, she knew the darkness and anger that had crept its way into The Void. She could feel it winning over the inhabitants. I was sure that in time she would have acted against it. There were a handful of creatures that shared my thoughts and together we made a pact. We would bring her home. We would return her to The Void so she might see justice. None searched as diligently as I. It was difficult work, to search without being seen, always looking over my shoulder and playing the fool with The Guard. It took me fourteen years but I finally found her. The Phoenix.”

5

“Fourteen years until I found you, My Lady.” The cave was so silent my ears felt full with the weight of it. What Sid said made no sense. The thought that I was this creature, that I was one of these Travellers, seemed insane. I tried to articulate this, but no sound would come. “My Lady, it is true. I have Watched you for so long, and there can be no doubt of it. You are a Traveller, The Phoenix.” Something pulsed in the centre of my body and the fire flared, sending bright embers high into the sky. “See!” Sid exclaimed as he gestured at the embers. “Your powers are weak right now, but with knowledge, they will grow.” Watching the tiny sparks, I found my voice. “But I have parents.” “Yes, without your wings you were forced to enter the world through them. It was their love that helped keep you hidden for so long.” “How?” “Their Lights mixed and mingled around you, shielding you from prying eyes. It wasn’t until you approached your teen years and began to pull from them that I was able to find you.” “So all those fights were me trying to find my wings, literally.” Okay, it was a bad joke, but I was trying. It was a mark of how well I was taking this. As Sid pity chuckled, I ran through his story again. As strange as it was, it felt familiar. It held the same sort of familiarity that I had experienced when I first met Sid. And that was the other thing; if Sid was real, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was, why couldn’t the rest of it be real? My parents had never planned on calling me Phoenix. They had a nice normal name all picked out for me. But my Mom said when they saw me she just had to call me Phoenix. Coincidence? And what about the little things: like knowing

the phone’s going to ring or who’s going to walk into the room. And I’ve always had such strong feelings of déjà vu, especially when I travel. Over a lifetime, it all seemed pretty inconsequential, but, sitting across from Sid in this cave and hearing the story of who I really could be, it made sense. And if this story was true, what should I do next? I locked eyes with Sid. “Okay. Now what?” “You believe me?” Good question. “I’m not sure, but I’m willing to move forward. I want to see these wings. Maybe if I touch them, I’ll feel something. Yeah…” I was almost talking to myself. “…Yeah, if I touch them, I’ll know.” Sid nodded. The same proficient nod he gave at the mouth of the cave. His voice took on a decisive tone. “Alright, to action. We must gather the wings. It will be a difficult task, they have been well hidden. I fear that although their exact location is unknown, the worlds that hold them may be watched. We will need help.” At that moment quiet, yet weighty, footsteps began to echo down the ageway. I could hear deep breathing and the sound of something soft rubbing against the rock. “Ah!” Sid’s face broke into a wide grin. “She’s home.” I was about to meet the owner of that enormous bed.

6

The steps grew closer. I stared at the mouth of the ageway, intoning, “It’s not going to eat me. It’s not going to eat me…” over and over again. The age was dark and the cave bright with fire and torchlight, making it difficult to discern just what was coming down the hall. I could see the outline of the creature’s body, at least seven feet tall with very broad shoulders and heavy arms that seemed too long for the gigantic frame. “She is very friendly.” Sid whispered to me as she stepped into the light. I had underestimated her height; she had to be closer to eight feet. She was covered from head to toe in short dark brown fur with the exception of her hands and feet: the skin there was black and leathery. Her head sat directly upon her shoulders, there was no neck to speak of, and her face was reminiscent of a gorilla’s, but more expressive and with softer lips. My fear remained until I looked into her eyes. She had beautiful deep brown eyes, intelligent and warm. Nothing with eyes like that could eat me. She saw the fear melt from my body and came towards the fire. “Hello, My Lady. It is so good to see you again.” I jumped to my feet and offered my hand. “Thanks so much for having me over!” Sometimes I’m idiot. They both laughed at me. The creature spoke. “Lady, it’s my pleasure! I’m afraid I mustn’t shake your hand. Touching sends sparks of Light, something we must avoid at this juncture.” So that’s why Sid touched me so rarely. I dropped my hand. “I am Yeren and my home is yours.” Yeren gazed at me for a moment before continuing. Her voice was as soft as her fur and extremely feminine, the kind of voice you’d want to hear when you have the flu. “You must be hungry. I will prepare our dinner while we discuss the next stage.” She turned towards the table at the back of the cave. Her gait reminded me of

something. I watched her busying herself with preparations before it came to me. “Bigfoot!” They both turned to me. “Or Sasquatch…” They stared at me. I blushed. “I’m sorry, was that offensive? I just wondered where I’d seen you before and then I ed. There’s a movie, from the sixties, of a… a…” I searched for the word. “…A being that looks a lot like you.” “Really?” said Yeren. Then she laughed. “Bigfoot … We choose the word ‘Yeti’ Lady.” “Yeti, much better than Bigfoot.” We smiled and Yeren turned back to the food. “Back to the matter at hand.” Sid’s voice was serious and cold. “We must get the wings. Yeren, have you set the enchantments?” She paused: “Yes.” Her voice held a deeper resonance and the walls of the cave seemed to pulse briefly as she spoke. “The cave will be secure while we plan.” She returned to her work. “Good.” He rubbed his hands together, a glint of conspiracy in his eye. “My Lady please sit, there is much to discuss.” I returned to my seat as he continued. “The first of the wings we shall retrieve is in the twelfth century. I have hidden it…” “Wait a second. The twelfth century?” “Yes.” “Okay…. What century are we in now?” It was Yeren who answered. As she explained she filled a cooking pot with vegetables and a carafe of water. “This cave resides in the tenth. These woods have no human life at this point in Time.” She smiled at me. “I find it very peaceful.” “Of course.” I replied trying to sound nonchalant about choosing to live with or without humanity. “Okay…” My brain was really trying to keep up. Really trying. “We’re in the tenth and we’re Travelling to the twelfth.” “Exactly.” They chorused. Sid continued.

“I hid the wing in a small village in an area you call the Ukraine. It is a forest much like this. The village followed a pagan tradition with many gods. One of the gods, Simargl, is depicted as a large winged dog; they have a statue of him there. I encased your wing in his of stone.” My wing. The desire to see this thing was growing. Not just see it, to touch it also. I could feel my yearning building minute by minute. Did this mean they truly were my wings or was this some modern impulse to keep everything I thought was mine? I’d know soon enough. Sid was still talking and I dragged my attention back to his words. “We will Travel to the village at night. The statue is located a short distance from its centre. The figure is crude and holds no magic; however, it bears witness to their sacrifices so the area itself has some power.” Yeren interrupted. “There is also the matter of the Hag.” “I was getting to that.” Sid’s eyes narrowed with hate. “My Lady, there is a Hag that frequents those forests. They call her Baba Yaga and she has hoisted the head of many a man on the pikes of her fence. She moves throughout the forest’s Time so one can never know her exact location. It is one of the reasons I chose this place.” I gave him my best ‘you’re kidding’ face. “No, I am not kidding. Her presence deters many a visitor and the probability of her being in the exact place in Time where we will land, is extremely low.” I mulled this over for a moment, Sid was gratefully silent, my brain needed to catch up. “Let me see if I’ve got this worked out. We Travel to this village when it will be dark, sneak up on the statue and… smash the stone and grab the wing?” Sid opened his mouth to answer but before he could Yeren jumped in. “Stew’s ready!” She handed us both steaming bowls and hand-carved spoons. “And yes, My Lady, that’s it in a nutshell.” We ate in silence for a little while. The stew was amazing. I’m not a big stew fan, but this I could eat again. The warmth of the fire and hot food was

incredibly comforting. Yeren looked so beautiful upon her giant stool. The firelight bounced off her fur sparking highlights that I hadn’t seen in the dimmer light of the cave. A wave of warmth began emanating from my heart and slid down my limbs. It felt like the power Sid made but it was coming from me. The words left my mouth before I was aware of their departure. “Yeren, you are beauty. Like the river to the mountain, you bend me.” Sid and Yeren dropped their bowls. The dregs of stew hit the floor as they both stared at me. It took me a moment to realize what I’d said. With that realization the power left. It was abrupt and made me sway in my seat, sending my bowl rolling along the floor. I closed my eyes against the dizziness and waited until I felt steady to speak. “What was that?” “Your power is returning.” Sid sounded breathless. “But why did I say those things? ‘You bend me’? I’ve never said anything like that in my life.” It’s true. More than one boyfriend has accused me of being cagey. “My Lady, when you were in The Void you said many beautiful things.” Sid explained, his voice still breathy. Had they felt the power that moved through me? “Beautiful is okay but ‘you bend me’ sounds…” I searched for a word that wouldn’t make me feel even more awkward. “…It just sounds so romantic.” I started to blush. I hoped they would just assume it was the whole new power thing and not the fact that I just hit on a Sasquatch. Sorry, Yeti. Sid saw right through it and gave me a look that was very male. “My Lady, in The Void we have very different views on romance.” He gave romance enough emphasis that I adverted my eyes. This was getting too weird. I’d had my fair share of experimentation in college but hitting on a Yeti was way outside my comfort zone. All this time Yeren was silent. She sat with her eyes downcast, hands loose in

her lap. “I’m sorry Yeren. I…” She interrupted me. “There is no need to apologize, My Lady.” She smiled at me but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You are new to your powers. You have no memory of before.” She gathered the bowls and moved quickly to the table. Her words echoed through me; ‘no memory of before’, what the hell did that mean? I thought Sid said I just wandered The Void but Yeren’s reaction told me I’d done a lot more. Had Sid told me everything? He broke the silence. “We should get some rest before we gather the wing.” “Good idea!” Yeren called all too brightly from the back of the cave. Before I could ask about the sleeping arrangements Sid had materialized some cots for us. We all climbed into our respective beds and the others were asleep within minutes. Trying to fall asleep while listening to a Minion and a Yeti snore was difficult, but I managed. I fell into a deep sleep, scattered with images of wings and stone.

7

I awoke some hours later to the sound of Sid and Yeren arguing in hushed tones. I feigned sleep. “You watch yourself, Yeren.” Sid’s voice was a sharp whisper. “I will do as I please. You have no power over me, Minion.” Yeren snapped. The harsh tone sounded strange coming from her mouth; there was a timbre to her voice that had not been there before. They continued arguing. “It is a poor game to try your glamour on her now.” “I try no glamour, she spoke of her own heart!” “When she touches her wing she will everything, Yeren!” “Enough!” There was a brief flare of power as Yeren spoke. I moved involuntarily in my bed. “She will wake soon.” I pretended to sleep while Sid got the fire roaring, I could hear Yeren preparing food. My mind was positively reeling from their exchange. I thought about what happened last night. It was very strange for me to be so blatant with Yeren, but the words did seem to emanate from me. I was almost positive of that. But that didn’t scare me as much as the thought that Sid was still keeping something from me. Normally I would just confront him and demand the entire picture, maybe swing my bat some more, but this time my gut told me to be patient. Besides, if what Sid told Yeren were true, I’d everything when I touched my wing. I would have it, and my answers, soon enough. Sooner, if I got up. I rolled over in my cot and rubbed the crust from my eye as I spoke to the air. “Good morning guys. Well, good whatever time it is anyway.” I looked at the fire, and the porridge Yeren was stirring. “Wow, you’ve been busy. Why didn’t you wake me? I could have helped.” “You need your sleep, My Lady,” Sid answered. “Until you have your wing,

Travelling will take a lot of energy for you.” “So I’ll be able to Travel with one wing?” That would be cool. “Perhaps.” He paused, thinking. “However, I am not sure what level of control you will have.” “Anything that keeps me from ing out would be a plus.” I took a bowl of porridge from Yeren. “Thanks. You’re quiet this morning.” The only remains of their earlier argument were Yeren’s silence. I gave her my most harmless smile and ate my porridge. When Yeren finally replied, her voice was soft again. “Just thinking, Lady. We must get your wing. It will be good to see you be yourself again.” She smiled sweetly and had I not heard their fight earlier; I wouldn’t have caught the emotion that flitted behind her eyes. When we had finished breakfast, Sid doused the fire, and Yeren tidied up the cave. My offer to help was refused. Yeren produced a large oval mirror and leant it against one of the cave walls. I went to the mirror. I had taken the jacket off in the night, so the pale skin of my arms was startling in the dim cave. The suit had been very comfortable to sleep in and considering what we were about to do Sid had picked the right outfit. I felt totally unhindered in the suit. My hair had gotten away from me a little in the night, but I had packed a hairbrush in my tote, so I had it looking good in no time. It seemed silly to put make-up on, but I like a little bit. I smeared some concealer under my eyes and swiped mascara across my lashes. Sid giggled at me. “Soon you will not need that paint.” I ignored him. I put on my fur, linking the clasps, and slung my bag across my body. I made sure the handle of the bat was in a good place and tried drawing it, fast, a couple of times. I swung it through the air with speed, pulling my arms back behind me and following through with all my body weight. When I was satisfied with my form, I put the bat away. I looked up to see them both staring at me. Yeren looked shocked while Sid’s face held pride.

“Got to smash it with something.” I teased. “Exactly.” Sid voice was curt and belied the excitement his eyes. “Let’s go get your wing.” We walked out single file, Yeren leading the way, with Sid bringing up the rear. When we got to the mouth of the cave, Yeren dashed for the trees, Sid and me in her wake. She stopped in a thick patch of brush just the other side of the clearing. We stood in a circle. Sid nodded to us both once and then grabbed our hands. I hate fainting.

8

I landed hard on my right side, the bat smacking painfully against my left ribs. I hadn’t lost consciousness though, so things were looking up. It was totally dark. Absolutely pitch black. I had a moment of panic before a wind picked up and the trees parted to let in the moonlight. Sid moved in close to me. “Lady, are you hurt?” His eyes reflected the cold light as they searched the trees. “No, but I’ll have a bruise.” Or three. “Good.” He produced a rough brown sac from his bag. “This…” He held up the cloth for me to see. “…Satchel is infused with great power. It will conceal whatever is placed in it, no matter the size.” He handed it to me. “When we have found the wing you must put it in the bag. But please Lady, do not touch the wing itself.” I took the sack and added it to the menagerie in my tote. “Why?” “I do not know what the reunion will trigger. It is best if we are in a safe place for such an act.” It made sense. “Okay. I won’t touch it.” “Thank you. Now follow me.” He took off at a mild trot using his hands and feet as he had before. Yeren was a silent presence at my back. For someone her size, she moved with a surprising grace through the trees. My eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark light of the forest. The wind kept up, allowing the moon to reveal our path. I stumbled on a root and would have gone down if Yeren had not steadied me. With her hand came a pulse of power. Knowing what they had said about touching, I tried to break away. She kept her hold on my arm and did not let go until Sid turned back and hissed at her. The incident lasted mere moments, but I could tell by the hard set of Sid’s

shoulders and his increased pace that Yeren had put us in danger. We finally came to a halt at the edge of a small brook. Sid gathered us in the shadow of a boulder. It didn’t hide all of Yeren, but nothing around here would. “Do you see those lights in the distance?” Sid gestured towards something on the other side. Peering around the rock, I looked in the direction he indicated. About a hundred feet in the distance was what looked to be a small village. I could make out the shapes of a handful of huts and the glow of torches. “We must very close to the village to reach the clearing.” His voice was calm and even. I was feeling neither. “What?” I said in a harsh, screamed whisper. “Why didn’t we just land closer to the bloody thing or at least on the other side of the village!” Yeren spoke for the first time since we’d landed. “We must by the village to diffuse our Light. The entrance to the clearing, where the statue lives, stems from this village. By ing close to it, we will hopefully trick anyone who is paying attention into thinking we’re villagers.” “Oh.” Again, it made sense. “Yes, so stay close to us.” Sid chimed in. “We are invisible to them, but you are not.” I blanched. “Don’t worry,” Yeren cooed. “The villagers are the least of our worries.” Sid did his usual nod and was off. We were about ten feet from the edge of the brook. It wasn’t a very wide stream, but I wondered how Sid was going to cross without getting wet. Apparently, I was the only one, Yeren bounded across like it was nothing. I turned to ask Sid if he was okay and was facing him just in time to see him jump. It was a startling sight. He leapt like a frog, springing from his hands and feet and landing softly on the other side. I made a very human, and very clumsy, run and jump, managing only to get my heels wet. It was Yeren leading the way now, her long arms swaying back and forth at her sides, occasionally rising to gently sweep a branch from her path. Sid scrambled

along behind her, his head dodging the low hanging branches. They were so fast that I trailed behind. I got my hair caught on a branch and after untangling myself, looked up to see them heading left around the perimeter of the village. I was rushing through the trees, trying to catch up, when I heard voices. “Hey, you!” “Where do you think you’re going, huh?” The voices were closer than I expected. I tried to sprint and catch up with Sid when one of them grabbed me. Grabbing me by the scruff of my jacket he turned me, and with one fluid motion, pinned my back to the closest hut. Hard. These guys made solid huts. The shock of it sent stars racing across my vision. When it cleared, I saw two men. One, the guy who nabbed me, was huge. He was easily six foot five and built like a linebacker. The other was only marginally smaller, maybe an even six feet, with an equally wide build. They were both wearing heavy fur coats that hung the length of their bodies. The one pinning me to the hut spoke: “She’s not from around here.” “No. She isn’t.” The other moved in as he answered his friend, putting his face inches from mine as he taunted me. For some reason, even though I knew they weren’t speaking English, I understood every word. “What are we going to do with you, little one?” His breath stank. Absolutely stank. It was the smell that cut through the fear and brought me back to myself. I started thrashing, try to loosen the big one’s grip. “Oh! A fighter!” I had a moment to see the next ten minutes flash through my brain when Yeren appeared behind them. She quietly bopped them both on the head with a leathery fist, and they went down. Unfortunately, I fell to the dirt with them. “Thank you!” I said while bringing myself to my feet. “Wow. You knocked them out cold!” The two men lay peacefully crumpled together. “They are nothing.” Yeren nudged the smaller with her foot. “They’ll wake in a few hours.” Sid ed us.

“Enough pleasantries. We must go! Yeren, you bring up the rear.” We continued our quick march around the perimeter of the village. It was a minuscule cluster of buildings. Some had smoke billowing from rudimentary chimneys, but otherwise, we saw no signs of life. The men we left behind seemed to be the only wanderers in this tiny town. We had walked about halfway around the village when a path, leading straight from the centre of town, appeared. At one end were the dim lights of the village square, the other lead into the dark forest. “This is the path,” Sid said. “Do we just walk down it?” I asked “We must. The power of the forest is strong here. We must take the path.” We stood in the underbrush, side by side along the path’s edge. There was a strange vibe to the whole thing. I could feel the forest watching me, waiting to see if I would step out into the clearing. It was Yeren who led the way. Come was all she said and then she was off. Her legs were extremely long, and she was covering ground before Sid, and I slipped in behind her. The moment my foot touch the path I felt a change, like a small electric shock that coiled around my legs and up my spine. There was a presence here. By the twitching of Sid’s head, I could tell he felt it too. I couldn’t decide if it was good or bad, maybe that’s because ‘it’ hadn’t decided either. The moon burned down on us as we trudged along. The path was smooth and clear; there were no weeds or twigs strewn across it. I quickened my pace to catch up with Sid. “There are no twigs or anything on the path.” “No.” “Well, don’t you think that’s strange? We’ve been hacking through thickets every step of the way and now…” I swept my eyes from side to side. “There’s nothing.”

“Yes, it is strange. I fear someone has tampered with this Time.” “Shit.” That just about summed it up. “Is the wing okay?” “The enchantments I left were very strong.” “That didn’t sound like a yes.” I made one of those weak uncomfortable laughs. “It wasn’t.” He quickened his step; Yeren was paused in the path a short distance from us. When we caught up with her, she held up her arm for silence and pointed at a spot just up the path. There was a quiet rustling, and then a small rabbit hopped out onto the path. It bounced to the centre, sat back on its hind legs and stared at us. Sid took in a sharp breath. “Baba.” He barely breathed the words. I was just about to ask ‘That’s Baba?’ when Sid made a horrible screeching noise and charged at the rabbit. He moved with his belly inches from the ground and was almost faster than my eyes could catch. I blinked, and he had the rabbit by the throat. I blinked again, and it was dead. Yeren and I ran up to him. He held the limp form in both hands. “Baba’s henchmen!” He shook the rabbit and then spat on the ground. “I don’t understand.” I really didn’t. Yeren came to my rescue. “The Hag uses the creatures of the forest to spy for her. Sid has bought us some time.” Sid tossed the dead animal into the trees. He was shaking with rage. “It is not supposed to be like this!” He said to no one but himself. He turned to me. “My Lady, this will be harder than I had imagined. No matter what happens at the clearing, put the wing in the satchel and run for the woods.” “Okay.” I wasn’t going to argue with the bunny killer. “Promise me.” His eyes blazed with the cold blue of the moon. “I promise.”

“Then we have no more time to waste.” He turned and ran.

9

I was positively panting by the time we stopped, but the others looked completely composed. We appeared to be at a dead end. There were tall trees in front of us, and a quick glance left and right confirmed my feeling. It was a wall of trees. I couldn’t see a path anywhere. I bent over, trying to control my breathing and looked up just in time to see Sid disappear into the trees. Yeren merely glanced back at me then followed. I did not want to be left alone on the path so forced myself up as quickly as possible and, matching Yeren’s movements, slid between the trees. Once I had crossed that strange wall of trees, it became dark again, and I nearly ran into Yeren. She heard my stumble and uttered quietly, “Stay close to me and follow my movements.” We moved back and forth through the thick trees, my eyes straining to make out her silhouette in the patchy darkness. It was a jagged path that led to the mouth of a rocky cleft in the forest floor. The crevice continued down, and the trees grew together above it, forming an arch. I followed Yeren down into the crevice. As we descended, the rock became a roughly carved set of stairs and at the bottom was the unmistakable shine of the moon. I stepped out from the stairway and ed Sid and Yeren in the clearing. It was amazing. Huge and round with soft, mossy grass blanketing the entire floor. Judging by the height of the rocky walls, we were about twelve feet lower than the forest floor. I looked up; the trees made a beautiful green funnel to the starry sky above. If I hadn’t been so scared, I would have found it peaceful. There was just one problem. “Um… I thought you said there was just one statue.” Okay, there were four problems. Around the perimeter of the clearing were four statues, each one of a dog with wings. “There was when I left.” Sid sounded pissed. Yeren tilted her head and appeared

to scent the air. “The Hag has been here.” “Yes. She knew I would come back. She has bought herself time.” “Well, let’s get smashing!” I drew the bat from my bag and headed for the dog closest to me. “Wait!” Sid’s quick words caused him to cough up a little something. I waited. “The second…” He swallowed. “The second you smash a statue, she will know, and she will send more of her henchmen.” “More bunnies?” I joked. “Riders,” Yeren whispered. She looked frightened. “But we have to get the wing! You guys can handle them, can’t you?” They looked at each other. Maybe it was being so close to the wing, I don’t know, but suddenly I felt strong, invincible, and angry. It brought a sharp, hot feeling from my feet quickly through my body. It was different from the path, this time it seemed to come from inside me. It was power, like in the cave, and again it brought strange words to my lips. “Siddhartha, Yeren!” I barked. “Look at me!” It was as much my tone as their names that dragged their eyes so quickly to me. “We will fight, and we will retrieve what is mine.” I looked at them both in turn. “There will be no fear here.” They gaped at me for a moment then Sid nodded. “Yes, My Lady.” I gave them my back and looked at the statue. I had thought the power would help me figure out which one held the wing, but it was gone. I seemed only capable of flares at the moment. I hoped that would change. I moved my bag to a

more comfortable spot at my back and took the bat in both hands. Pulling it back over my right shoulder, I prepared to strike the stone. “Here goes nothing.” I swung. The effect was instant. Stone splintered, and the shards flew in a thousand directions. I dropped the bat and held my arms over my face. When I lowered them, there was nothing but stone on the ground and a stump on the dogs back. One down, seven to go. Sid let out a slurp. “It’s not that one.” He had a wicked smirk on his face. “Oh thank you!” I countered. “Shall I try the next one?” Taking up the bat, I walked around the statue and prepared to strike again. I was just about to bring the bat across when Yeren stopped me. “Do you hear that?” She was looking up at the sky. I didn’t hear anything “Guys, let me get on with this.” Sid climbed onto a dog; his left ear pointed to the sky. “I hear them too.” Them? “My Lady,” Yeren looked at me. “The Riders come.” “What do I do?” “Hurry.” I smashed the wing. It was just stone like its sister. I was running for the second dog when I heard a long, sharp scream, coming from the sky. I looked up to see the source of such a horrible sound. It was echoed twice more before they entered the open sky above the clearing, three men on horses floating in mid-air. Each was a solid colour, both man and beast: one white, a pure brilliant white that cut against the night sky; the second was a deep bluish-red, the colour of blood and the third was black. The only thing distinguishing him from the sky was the silver of the horse’s bridle and the lack of stars where he hovered.

They dismounted and dropped into the clearing. They must have been at least thirty feet up, and they landed like cats. On the ground, I could see that they wore hooded tunics and leggings with soft boots that came to their knees. All three were exactly the same, except in colour. Even the skin on their hands was the same exact shade as their clothes. Their horses whinnied and circled overhead, but made no move to hit the ground. Yeren made for the White Rider and began to grapple. Sid raised his arms and shot a bright green ball at the Red Rider. It knocked Red back a few paces, and he responded by running at Sid. The Black Rider turned to me. Luck put the broken dog between us. It slowed him down slightly, very slightly. As he vaulted over the ruined dog, I ran around the second statue and tried to smash a wing. He was there before I could do it, so I angled my swing and sent it into his shoulder. I think the fact that I’d fought back stunned him. He stood swaying just long enough for me to drop and crawl under the dog. Jumping up on the other side, I swung and smashed the wing. Stone went everywhere, but only stone. Mr Black was back in front of me. This time he was ready for my swing and grabbed the bat and pulled. I let him and, trusting that all men are created equal, I kicked him in the groin. He fell back to the ground with me on top of him. He was making lots of pained grunts, yet he was still trying to hold onto me. My leg was right between his so drove my knee up, as hard as I could. He let go. I jumped up, grabbed the bat, and gave him a good smack to the ribs with it. I left him struggling on the ground and smashed the fourth wing. Again, stone. I ran to the next statue. Four down, four to go. As I went, I spared a glance for Sid and Yeren. Yeren was still wrestling Whitey; they were taking turns throwing each other into the walls of the clearing. Splinters of stone and plumes of dust rained down on them with every hit. Sid was in some sort of energy battle with Red in the centre of the statues. Coloured beams of light shot from their hands and clashed in the space between them. Reaching dog number three, I wasted no time in cracking into wing number five: again, only stone. Six was about to go down when the Black Rider grabbed me by the hair. It was so fast and painful that I dropped the bat. I gripped his wrist with both hands to stop him from scalping me. He dragged me away from the statue and across the rough stones. I tried desperately to stay on my feet. He took a few paces and then, wrapping his other arm around my waist, pulled me off the

ground. I went feral. I just started kicking and thrashing around, screaming as loud as I could. I’m not some little thing to be tossed over someone’s shoulder and carried away, as I said earlier; I’m built like a woman. It was this, coupled with the thrashing that thwarted his plan. He dropped me. I landed hard on the broken rock. I could feel blood start to ooze from my cheek. I got to my knees and crawled towards the bat, stone cutting into my knees and hands. The Rider tried to grab my feet, and I kicked at his hands. We continued in this way across the gravelly ground between the bat and me. I reached forward and got my left hand on the thing. I paused to give Black a chance to move. I had a plan. I swear. When he realised I stopped moving, he got to his hands and knees and crawled up my body. I waited until he’d made it up to my back and then I flipped over, quickly driving my right elbow into his gaping hood. He screamed and darted back. I let the movement take me all the way around until I was in a sitting position. I scrambled to my feet; bat in both hands, and approached the Rider. He was on his knees, hands buried in his hood, as black liquid dripped from them to the ground. I pulled the bat back over my shoulder. He looked up as it came at his head. I didn’t wait to see if I’d killed him, I assumed that I had and kept moving. I assured myself he’d have done the same to me. Cold comfort. I drove all my guilt into a scream as I smashed the sixth wing. I got the shower of stones I expected. They looked like crystals against the black fluid pooling on the ground. I wondered briefly if the White Rider bled white, then kept moving. I tore through the clearing to the seventh wing and swung before I stopped running. The stone began to splinter into the air. Just as I was moving to the next one, a piercing light filled the spaces between the stones. They slowed, almost stopped, their fall to the ground. I watched them hang there for the briefest of moments. Then the light retreated, and they fell abruptly, making a sound like delicate broken glass, as they hit the ground. And there, where the stone had once been, was the wing. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Blues, greens, purples, and pinks played back and forth through the feathers. It was huge, bigger than the stone that encased it. Fully extended, it must have been six feet long. I wanted it. My body wanted it. I got a flash image of my naked back with two of these beauties

hanging from it. I reached out a hand to stroke the feathers. “The bag!” yelled Yeren. I snapped from my revelry. She had the White Rider pinned to the rock; they were so evenly matched. “Put it in the bag!” She shouted. I reached into my tote and pulled the rough brown sac from it. I unfurled the fabric and climbed onto the statues back. I began to gently pull the sack over the wing, being careful not to touch the wing itself. It was quick work. The bag did exactly what Sid said it would. As soon as the wing entered it, it started to disappear. By the time the wing was concealed, it looked like I was holding a near-empty bag. “Now run!” It was Sid who yelled this time. He looked drained. He had the Red Rider down on the ground, and the stream of green energy that flowed from the centre of his palms flickered slightly as he drove it into the man. I shoved the sac into my tote, grabbed my bat and headed for the stairs. The White Rider made a grab for me as I went by and Yeren cuffed him in the face. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could, reopening the cuts on my hands as I crawled the last few feet. The darkness of the forest enveloped me immediately. After the bright lights of the fight, it took me a moment to find my sight. When I was pretty sure I could see enough to not seriously injure myself, I ran. Well, run isn’t the best word for it. The trees and underbrush were thick and made putting distance between the Riders and me difficult. I could still hear Sid and Yeren grappling with them. I drove myself into the trees. Many times a branch ripped at my face or caught in my hair. I let them take what they wanted and kept moving. After a while, I realised that the only sound I could hear was the harsh pounding of my breath. I stopped and listened. The forest was quiet now. The sounds of the battle were far behind me. I had no idea how far I had come or where I was. My only thought was not to run back towards the village. The question now was, how were Sid and Yeren going to find me? I decided that staying in one place for a while was probably the best option. I sat down on the forest floor and leaned against a tree. I was suddenly very hungry. I got out my water and a small handful of nuts and proceeded to snack. The nuts had a slight coppery tang from the blood in my hand, and I was very

grateful they weren’t salted. I waited until I’d finished all the nuts to have any water, and then I limited myself to a few sips. I didn’t know how long it had to last. Somewhat satiated, I rested. I could hear no sound of anyone approaching. I considered calling out to them then thought better of it: that might be asking for trouble. It started to feel like forever, sitting there, waiting for my blood to dry, and the fear that they weren’t coming began to surface. When I left them, they appeared to have the upper hand, but what if that changed? What if they weren’t coming because they couldn’t? How was I going to find the other wing? Sid never told me where it was. And how do I get out of this forest? I was about to seriously freak out when a hand reached around the tree. Long elegant blue fingers stretched out towards me. I had enough time to think: ‘oh shit’ before the fainting feeling hit me again.

10

I was so warm, so cosy and warm. The bed was soft, and a thick duvet covered me. I was about to drift off back to sleep when I realised I shouldn’t be sleeping. I sat bolt upright and threw back the covers, realised I was naked and pulled the covers back. I was alone and back in a cave. This one was very different from Yeren’s. The ceiling was much lower, but it was easily three times the size, like a giant bachelor apartment. Everything was built into or around the rock; candles glowed in many of the small niches in the walls. I sat on a bed in the back right corner of the room; it was raised from the main level of the home and framed by stalagmites. Or was it stalactites. I don’t know, the ones that grow up. Light blue gauzy fabric draped from tip to tip of the stone pillars. The linens were plush, and the bed was wide. In front of the raised bed area was a sunken living room filled with soft cushions and pillows: it didn’t look that different from the bed. The other side of the chamber held what appeared to be a cooking area and a large open space where the floor looked most even and was covered by a thick multi-coloured rug. Even with all the rock, it was surprisingly girly. The most startling thing about the cave was the curtain. Curtain seems too plain a word. Drape would be better but still not close. It ran the length of the cave along the wall I faced. It was made of a very heavy fabric that looked like the sea. There were shades of blue and green throughout the piece and as I watched they moved in and out of each other like living tie-dye. I wanted to see just what it was hiding but first I needed clothes. Carefully holding the blankets to my chest, I scooted to the edge of the bed. I wasn’t as sore from the fight as I thought I’d be but my back cracked loudly as I moved. At the base of the riser, sitting on a small wooden chair, were my belongings. My tote bag was on the floor; a little worse for wear, with my bat beside it. The neatly folded clothes in the chair and coat swung over it looked freshly laundered. I looked around the room, it was still empty, I threw back the blanket

and went for my bag. I had to make sure the wing was still there. A few moments searching produced the rough brown sac. I opened the bag and looked inside. In what appeared to be a very large space was my wing. Not a feather was out of place. Reassured, I place the sac back in my tote and turned to my clothes. Whoever had cleaned them did a great job. As with the wounds on my body, all the bits of stone and blood were gone. I had packed extra panties in my tote but didn’t reach for them. My mystery maid had cleaned everything. I had packed a bra as well even though I couldn’t wear one with the suit. It didn’t seem right to leave the house without one. So I shimmied into the panties and pulled the suit on as quickly as possible. I slowed down once my breasts were covered. Although whoever cleaned this stuff had undoubtedly stripped me, I still didn’t want them to see me naked while conscious. Weird, I know. I was sitting in the chair, getting my boots on, when I heard the unmistakable sound of someone approaching. There was nowhere to hide and I didn’t want to anyway. Escaping didn’t make a whole lot of sense because I had no idea where I was. I also needed to know what had happened to Sid and Yeren. So I remained where I was, in the simple wooden chair. I decided to feign confidence and threw and arm over the back of the chair, angling my body away from my captor. The noise seemed to be coming from the open area at the other side of the cave, but there was no door there. In fact, looking around there were no doors anywhere. With a sound like grinding gears, an opening appeared in the rock. Silhouetted by the glittering rock behind her, my captor stepped through. She was the most unusual creature I had ever seen. The first thing that struck me was her skin. Parts of it were human and pink like mine but the majority of it was blue, a light pearlescent blue. Her hands and forearms were completely blue, so it looked like she was wearing very long gloves. The blue coated her legs and moved across her torso covering most of her breasts, but left her neck and shoulders pale. She had no hair, just a crown of this remarkable blue above her startlingly symmetrical face. She had big, round eyes that were a shade darker than the hue of her skin and a wide mouth that looked almost lipless from this distance. She saw me in the chair but did not react. She simply came towards me. As she got closer I could see that the blue was made up of scales about the size of a silver dollar, like a fish. They covered her in perfect rows that bent and flexed as she moved. Her body had the taut stealth of a swimmer and in her naked state I could see the muscles of her

stomach and thighs move. Blushing slightly, I brought my gaze to her face. I could not see it when she entered but in the centre of her forehead it looked like she had a third eye. It was closed and had no lashes but it was definitely an eye. Closer still, I could see I was right about her mouth. She had no lips, just a heavy fold of skin above and below her mouth, the upper hanging slightly over the bottom. On her way across the room she turned towards the kitchen area. She produced two glasses and filled them with water. When she turned her back to me, I could see that the blue continued to mid back. Her spine was very pronounced. It seemed that every vertebra had a boney point, almost as if spikes should protrude from the meat of her back. She walked the remaining steps to me, a glass in each hand. “You’re probably very thirsty.” She held out a glass as she drank from her own. I was thirsty, but had I not seen her drink the water first I wouldn’t have taken it. “Thank you.” I took the glass and drank deeply. “And you’re probably wondering what’s going on.” I pulled the glass from my lips. “Oh, you’re quick.” She winced. “Just where the hell am I? And where are my friends?” “You are in my home, which is very safe. No one ever comes here.” She looked down as she said the last. “And where exactly is home?” These Travellers were so cryptic. “Embedded in a reef in the warm waters of the pacific coast.” I gaped at her. “Here, I’ll show you.” She went to that fabulous curtain and began to pull it aside. I was distracted by the movement of her scales until I saw the view. We were indeed in the middle of a reef. There were thousands of brightly coloured fish swimming past the window. I crossed to the glass and pressed my hand against it. “Ahh!” I stepped back as the view rippled. What I thought had been glass was pliable under my hand. In fact, my hand was wet. “It is only my power that keeps the water back.”

“Wow.” “It is a simple thing, Phoenix.” I looked at her sharply. “I thought my name was not to be used.” “That was before. After your incident in the woods, all the Travellers will soon know that you have returned.” She barely made eye with me, choosing instead to look at my chin or shoulder. It was incredibly unnerving. “Sid had wanted you kept secret until both your wings were recovered. But he underestimated Baba, or overestimated himself, whichever you prefer.” “Where are Sid and Yeren?” She looked at me. “They have been taken by The Guard.” “We have to get them back!” “That is impossible. They are in The Void now. There are too many there that would have your heart before they’d see you return.” “Shit!” I yelled it and the water rippled. “Shit!” The water pulsed and I threw my glass against it. The wall of water held but my glass was absorbed. I watched it float away as I steadied myself. “What’s your name?” The creature had cowered as I raged and didn’t answer right away. “What is your…” “Noiryn.” “You cleaned my clothes?” She stood straighter. “Yes, they were covered with Rider blood.” She must have felt my guilt. “Don’t worry. You can’t kill a Rider.” “No?” “No. They never die.”

“That’s a scary thought.” I shuddered then gestured at my suit. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” She gave me a weak, lipless, smile. “What’s your role in all this, Noiryn?” I wasn’t raging anymore, but I wasn’t happy. “I am one of the few who refused to push you from The Void. I ed with Siddhartha to see you restored.” “Restored to what?” “To yourself.” I was ready to scream again. “Damn it! Won’t anyone give me a straight answer? I don’t know what ‘myself’ means! A few days ago… hell, I don’t even know how long I’ve been here!” I began to pace back and forth across the room. “Before Sid pulled me from my bed I had no idea I was even a part of this place! Noiryn…” I turned to see her on the floor. She had curled into a tight ball with her arms over her head. I softened my voice. “Noiryn?” “Please, your anger… It hurts… Please stop.” She looked so pitiful that I dropped to my knees beside her. “I’m sorry, Noiryn.” She raised her head towards me. A tear rolled from the corner of her third eye. “You need to touch the wing.” Her voice was barely a whisper but as she said ‘wing’ a flash of power moved quickly through my body making me inhale sharply. I nodded and we got to our feet. I got the satchel from my bag and handed it to Noiryn. She gestured for me to sit in the middle of the living room cushions. When I was in place, she took the bag and gently shook the wing out to lie in front of me. It was more beautiful than I recalled. In the extreme of the fight, I wasn’t able to fully appreciate just how exotic and marvellous it was. “When you touch the wing memories will come.” Noiryn knelt close beside me.

Since my apology she was much more comfortable. “Let them. Do not fight them no matter what they show you.” “Is it bad?” I was really scared. “Only you, Phoenix, know what truly happened. This is the only way to find out.” I gave her one of Sid’s patented nods. “I will be here when you emerge.” She got up and left me alone in the centre of the cushions. I stared at the wing and was afraid to touch it. We had worked so hard to find it, but now the moment was here, and my friends were not, and everything was riding on me ing. They wanted me to be ‘myself’ again. What if I didn’t like who that was? The wing was no longer willing to wait. It began to pulse, waves of power emanated from it and moved into my body. They were warm and felt like home. The tension left my body. I reached both hands out in front of me and lowered them onto the wing. The moment my hands touched the feathers it began.

11

At first, it was only images. Flashes of beings and places I had never before known moved through my mind. As they slowed, a feeling of recognition grew in my body. I could feel the soft texture of the feathers under my hands, but I was blind to all but these memories. They became a steady pulse, changing like the movement of the second hand on a clock. I saw Sid smiling up at me, Yeren at his side. A deep gaping wound devoured her left shoulder. Her beautiful fur was peeled back and matted with blood. I had her kneel in front of me as I place a hand on either side of the wound. A deep pulse of energy began low in my body. It grew and grew until it poured down my arms and into Yeren. I felt her back arch with a mixture of pleasure and pain as I drove my hands, hot with power, into the folds of the gash. I pulled the skin together and watched it . As my wings unfurled, Yeren let out a final howl, and the healing was complete. She collapsed and gazed up at me with heat in her eyes. Sid sat beside her, pulsating with his own energy. I felt their joy and shame of the forbidden thing that had just transpired. I heard the vow of secrecy I made them utter. In another vignette was Noiryn. I took her face in my hands as I laid a gentle kiss on her closed third eye. A tear rolled from it, and I used my lips to wipe it away. Keeping with my hands, I moved around her body. A thick gold cord was looped tightly around her neck, and a long gash crossed her back. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed my face to her shoulder. I listened to the rhythm of her breathing, letting my body rise and fall with it. I felt power grow deep within me causing her breathing to slow. As the power moved through my flesh, I ran a hand along the wound. I felt it knit and mend under my touch as the movement of my wings sent a gentle breeze across our bodies. When it was done, I gently removed the cord from her neck, caressing the flesh underneath with my clean hand. Then I washed her blood from my hand in a cool stream. She stared at me with a mixture of awe and apprehension. Again there were vows. There were others I healed, but the images came too quickly to identify them all.

They were not many compared to the vast numbers I knew inhabited The Void. I felt their joy in the Healing, I could taste it on my tongue, but it always ended with fear. Once they realised what I’d done, the power that it took, they became frightened. I knew what I was doing was forbidden and strange, it went against our ancient laws. No one before me had been able to heal across the boundaries, to cross the species. Then everything stopped. A complete world engulfed me. I was in a dank and dark cell. The floor was covered with a thick layer of mouldy straw. The place smelt of human waste and death. In the centre of the room was a man in a brilliant red robe; he sat at a small wooden table. The only light in the room was from the fat candle in front of him. To his left stood a man in simple dress with a board and quill, he appeared to write down everything said by the man in red. At first, from my place against the wall, I did not see her. It was her sound that drew my attention. A pitiful whimper, like a beaten dog, came from the corner of the cell. I slid along the wall, feeling the thick dirt smudge my wings. I stopped moving when I saw her. She huddled on the floor, naked from the waist up. Her skirt hung in rags that barely covered her lower half. Her hair had been roughly chopped off down to the scalp; the blade used had left weeping sores on her skin. Her back was a river of dirt and blood. I couldn’t count the number of whip strokes that had found her. But still, her face held a beauty. Even with the swollen eye and bloodied lip, this human was beautiful. The man in red asked her a question I had no ears for; my attention could not be torn from this ravaged, yet beautiful, creature. Under her wounds we looked so similar, with wings, she would be my sister. She reached out a pleading hand to the man in red, and I saw that her fingernails had been ripped out from the root. The man in red spoke again: “You must confess to your crimes, my dear. It is the only way to salvation.” He was so calm it made my blood boil. The candle flickered. When the woman could not answer, he turned to his clerk and smiled. “I think we must press her further. The evil has not yet left her body.” He turned his gaze to the darkest corner of the room. “If you would please continue.” A man stepped from the darkness. He wore simple clothes like the clerk, but his were covered in blood and other things that leave humans in the face of fear. As he moved across the room, the woman on the floor began to cry. At first, it was a

small sound, but as he drew nearer, she pulled herself against the wall and let out long ragged screams. Her torturer smiled. The rest of the scene unfolded like a horror show. I watched the man do unspeakable things to this innocent woman. His determination to degrade her was unstoppable. I tried desperately to heal her, but the full strength of my powers could not cross to her world. In the end, I crawled as close to her as I could and whispered soothing words, trying on some level to lessen her pain as her blood splattered across my face. This close, our likeness was unavoidable. I had never before noticed how much I had in common with the female of this species. After what seemed like days, as the torturer rose from her body, her head rolled towards me, and we locked eyes. Her pain cut through the shield of power that keeps us Travellers invisible. Gazing deep into my eyes, she whispered ‘angel’ and died. Her torturer wiped his hands on her tattered skirt and followed the man in red and the clerk out of the cell. I sat there for some time with my wings draped around the woman, weeping. I wept and wished I could have done something for her. The shield between our worlds was too strong. I wanted desperately to cover her body, to provide her with a modicum of dignity in this terrible place, but I could do nothing. I couldn’t even close her eyes. After a time, knowing I could do no more for her, I pulled my wings back from her body. I stared down at her fragile form, wishing again that I could cover her, but my hands were useless here. I exited the cell and walked through the halls, witnessing a myriad of similar scenes. There were so many women here, all held like animals and treated with even less respect. As I walked through the dungeon, I tried to send my healing powers to the women but could do nothing. Rage and impotence prickled my skin. I had always thought I was so powerful, but outside The Void, the ancient laws were too strong. My powers meant nothing here. As long as the laws remained, I could do nothing. I needed to make The Guard understand. We could help these people. They had the power to change the laws. I was raw by the time I walked out into the courtyard. A group of people had gathered around a burning pyre. They were yelling obscenities and hurling rocks. The smell of burning flesh was overpowering. Rage filled me until I

trembled with it. It coursed through my veins, filling me with a red glowing power. The power grew until it crackled like lightning along my skin. I stood there in the courtyard hearing the screams, my skin sparkling with the same colours of the flames. I had never reached this level of power before, and I rode it without fear. When I had spun the energy to a fevered pitch, I poured all the power I had into the poor soul writhing in the flames. Her screaming stopped, and I collapsed back into The Void.

12

The blackness turned to grey as I found myself before The Guard at their meeting place deep within The Void. The ground was smooth and sloped slightly back and forth which gave the horizon a tranquil line, its grey only a few shades darker than the translucent sky. We were in a circle of sparsely branched trees. They were leafless, and their dark grey branches grew up towards the sky, swaying gently in the ever-present breeze. Everything here was a shade of grey. The only colour came from the inhabitants of this strange space. The six beings that comprised The Guard each sat upon a high dais draped with grey silk. The daises were arranged in a circle like the trees, and the fabric wrapped around them blended with the colour of the ground. In the breeze, it looked as if the very soil had moved to them. They were an impressive group and had been in power longer than anyone, including themselves, could . Together they were law for The Void, each one representing the largest groups. It was rumoured that they were the originators of all life in The Void. Seeing this memory, I knew I did not believe those whispers. I stood in the centre of the circle and turned slowly to take them all in. Starting at my left sat Cosima. She was scaled, like Noiryn, but hers were the colours of fire and gold. She sat tall on her dais and as I stared she twisted her body so I could see the beautiful golden quills erupt from her back. The movement emphasised the smooth line of her torso and ample curve of her chest. Her third eye was open wide. I could not deny her savage beauty. Shielding my reaction to her form, I gave my eyes to the next Guard. On Cosima’s right was Windiga, a Yeti with light blond hair and a long braid that hung from his chin. The braid was fastened with a small piece of steel that matched the elaborate plates covering his shoulders and shins. The plates were formed to fit his body, each engraved with a rolling scroll of vines, and even in the indirect light of The Void, they shone. He played absently with his braid as I observed the group. Next in the circle was a being new to my modern memory, but that my past knew

well. He had the body of a man, long, lean and prepared for movement, but his skin was that of a snake’s. He wore no clothing, so the smooth pale texture of his belly was obvious. And like a snake, the parts of his body that identified his gender lay hidden beneath his scales. The rest of his skin was mottled with black and green scales. He had solid black eyes and only a slight bump where the slits of his nostrils were located. Heavy folds of scales sat round his neck. They made his head look as if it was oscillating directly on his shoulders. I grimaced involuntarily, and he flicked his forked tongue across his slit of a mouth, taunting me. They called him Mastyx. Beside him sat Silverwood. His flesh was rough and cracked. It looked like the bark of an old oak tree. His body was very long and narrow and bent awkwardly as he sat on the dais. From his head grew leafy branches that reached two feet into the sky and his hands were a gnarled collection of twigs that hung from the ends of his arms. His toes were fleshy roots, pinkish and moist; they slithered on the dais looking for soil. I could hear the wood of his flesh creak as he breathed. Next came Ganaraj, the Minion. He looked like all the other Minions except he wore a red sash around his waist. Whereas the other of The Guard sat in chairs, Ganaraj sat on the dais itself. He lounged on his side, propping his head up with his right arm. He looked totally at peace, dozy even, but since Minions are known for speed, it did nothing to quell my uneasiness. The final member of The Guard was the most mysterious. Most of his kind never spent time in The Void, preferring the solitude of Travel. So, although there were many of them, he was the only one The Void saw. He had a low chair on his dais, and he sat back into it, his legs spread slightly. He wore black leather pants, nothing else. My eyes trailed from the pale undersides of his bare feet, up his leather-clad legs and across the deep platinum-hued skin of his muscled torso. His long black hair hung around his shoulders and fell in sections across his face. It did nothing to hide the bright silver of his eyes. He was a beautiful man, lean and graceful, yet trembling with power. His kind drew that power from the slivers of bone they pulled from their ribs. They wielded them like swords and used them as conduits for their power. This member of The Guard could shoot them from his hands with unrivalled precision. He was called The Archer. Our eyes locked and I found it hard to turn away. Luckily Silverwood spoke. “Why have you come here, Phoenix?” His voice was deep and slow. I turned to him quickly.

“I have come, Guard…” I turned to include them all. “To ask for change.” Ganaraj and Mastyx chuckled. The combination of slurping and hissing was disturbing. Windiga stopped playing with his beard and Silverwood looked shocked. Cosima smiled and moved forward in her chair as she spoke. “Oh, dear Phoenix, how misguided you are.” She talked to me like I was a simple child. It was totally infuriating. “You cannot ask for change.” I opened my mouth to respond, but someone beat me to it. “Why not?” It was The Archer. The attention of the whole group snapped to him. You could almost hear their necks twists. Hope had begun to grow in my heart, and then he spoke again. “We don’t have to say yes.” He looked at me. “Besides, her question might tell us something.” He said the words like he knew that ‘something’ already. My heart was in my throat. I had bound everyone I had Healed to keep the secret. I had used my strongest enchantments. There was no way he could know what I had done. “Yes, I agree with The Archer.” It was Silverwood who spoke. “Let Phoenix ask.” “What! We break with millennia of tradition for her!” Cosima pointed at me. “The Archer has a point, Cosima.” Ganaraj was also in favour. “Perhaps her request will tell us something about The Void we do not know.” He shifted to lotus position while he talked and rested his chin on tented fingers. “What are you afraid of, Cosima?” It was evident unspoken tensions were creeping in. I really didn’t want to get in the middle of things; however, if it meant they would hear me out I would try to use it. Before Cosima could answer, I spoke. “Cosima fears nothing,” I said the one thing I could think of that would both insult and Cosima. They all looked at me, the power of their gaze was almost too much. “Do not speak for me, bird!” It happened so fast. Cosima jumped down from her

dais and came at me. I threw my hands up to protect myself; my wings spread wide from my back. I was sure I was no match for her. Before she could reach me Mastyx was beside her, a nimble hand locked around her wrist. His hold held and he swung Cosima around until they were face to face, their bellies pressed together, various scales sliding against each other. “Cosima, be calm.” He stroked her face like a lover. “She is not worth your distress.” He ran his hand over her neck and down her back. “Let us hear her and then she will be gone.” He moved his fingers lightly over her spines, and she shuddered. “Alright, Mastyx, for you.” She beamed at him and broke from his embrace. She came very close to me and whispered. “You are very lucky, Phoenix. Perhaps not eternally.” She plucked a single feather from my wing. It stung, and I inhaled sharply. She sneered with satisfaction and leapt onto her dais, taking my feather with her. “Right!” shouted Mastyx, rubbing his hands together as he began to circle me slowly. “Enough entertainment! Phoenix…” He crossed his arms over his chest and with mock-seriousness said: “What would you like us to change?” “Do not insult her, Mastyx.” It was the first time Windiga had spoken. “Phoenix may not be a member of this Guard, but as the only one of her kind, we must show her respect. It is law.” He directed the last of his words at Cosima, who sat pouting, twirling my feather in her hands. I hadn’t known about the law Windiga mentioned; perhaps it would come in handy. “Oh yes…” Mastyx flicked his tongue as he drew out the word. “My apologies.” He bowed to me and returned to his seat, his body undulating gracefully with every step. Silverwood’s body let out a loud creak as he moved to speak. “Now Phoenix…” He had such sad eyes. “What is it that you would like to change?” He spread his gnarled hands wide to indicate I had the floor. I tried to calm the frantic bird that was my heart. I took a few deep breaths and shook out my wings, partly because I was nervous and partly to remind them of what I was. No other creature in The Void had wings like mine, as Windiga had said, I was the only one of my kind. For a long time that had saddened me and finding my mate had been my main quest. But that changed when I discovered I could heal across

the species. Suddenly I could connect with other hearts. Although that skill must always be kept secret, I would try now to have the limits on me lifted when I Travelled. “I wish to use my power in the worlds I Travel to.” “You already do.” Said Silverwood. “Let me rephrase. I wish to use all my power in the worlds I Travel to.” “Ha!” Cried Cosima, “and you thought we would grant your wish?” She laughed. “Not even The Guard has that right.” I didn’t know that, and apparently, I wasn’t supposed to. “Cosima, your impulsiveness harms us again!” Shouted Ganaraj. “That is a Guard secret, you childish Siren!” The others began shouting at her; only the Archer sat quietly. The cascade of noise and power was too much for me. My wings started to pulse as a great warmth grew inside me. I locked eyes with The Archer as the heat grew and grew. His silver burned into me as the others raged. Finally, it was too much for my body. Wings spread wide, the power broke from me and pulsed through The Guard, touching each of them, then out into The Void. Everyone was silent, our fear palpable. No one had expected such strength from me. I was frightened. In the rush of power, I had collapsed to the ground and covered myself with my wings. I spoke from my position on the ground to the silent group. “I will keep your Secret.” There was a long stretch of silence. “But will we keep yours?” The Archer spoke, and I rose up onto my knees. “I have no secrets.” Drained as I was, I still knew enough to lie. “Really?” He raised an eyebrow but otherwise remained motionless in his chair. Only the tension in his hands belied the seriousness of what had just occurred. “Why do you want all your power when you Travel?” Again his words held knowledge. Cosima jumped in. “You cannot be serious! After the display, we’ve just witnessed…”

“Silence!” bellowed Windiga. “We have had enough from you.” Cosima fell silent. “Answer me Phoenix.” The Archer spoke calmly. “I wish to help those I Watch.” A tear of memory rolled down my cheek. “I cannot bear witness and do nothing.” Tears flowed freely down my face as the memory of the tortured women flowed through my mind. “Have you tried?” asked Silverwood. “No.” I lied. “Good.” His relief drew a sigh from the branches above his head. “That is an ancient law that will not be changed, Phoenix. To go against it is to go against The Guard and that would mean your banishment. You don’t want that, do you?” “Banishment?” I was shocked. “I have never heard of any in The Void being Banished.” “We have never had to.” He stared at me, and I did not look away. Some of the sadness seemed to have left his eyes. They almost glittered. Perhaps my power had given him something. “Hopefully that will not change.” I looked away, and he took it as an answer and smiled. “Then it’s settled.” “There is still the matter of our Secret.” Ganaraj was sitting up straight, his legs dangling over the edge of the dais. “I will keep your Secret.” “Yes, you will. The Archer will see to that,” said Windiga. “I think…” chimed Mastyx. “that she should not Travel for a while. That little display of power, which we are so carefully not discussing…” He smiled wickedly at the other Guards; some shifted uncomfortably in the seats. “… Coupled with her request is troubling. Perhaps some time Bound to the Ground is necessary.” “Please, no!” I rushed to my feet, my wings beating to help the movement.

To be Bound to the Ground meant exactly that. I would not be able to Travel or fly, a part of my body always in with the ground. Only an act of extreme power would make Travel possible, and such an act would bring The Guard with an even harsher punishment. “Please, Guard, please! It is not necessary! I will keep your Secret!” “Mastyx is right. Although her swell of power tasted unfocused, it was still impressive. Even now I can feel it swirling below her surface.” said Ganaraj. “A vote will make it official.” crooned Mastyx. “Then we vote.” Silverwood sighed; the light in his eyes had dimmed again. “All in favour.” Six green balls of light moved into the air. They formed a ring around me. “It is done.” Silverwood sank back into his chair as much as his course flesh would allow, his branches trembling as he moved. “Archer, her silence and the Binding.” The Archer nodded and in one fluid movement leapt from his dais to land beside me. The judgment was final, and there was no escape from The Guard. I collapsed to my knees and folded my wings behind me. The Archer crossed his arms and drove his hands into his flesh. It gave like butter, and I watched as The Archer, digging with his fingers, pulled two ribs from his body. I heard them crack as he pulled them free of the flesh leaving ragged holes in their wake. The wounds bled thickly but in an instant were healed. “For how long?” I whispered. No one answered. The Archer stood in front of me, a piece of bone in each hand. When I made no move to stand, he dropped to his knees. We stared at each other. I had never been this close to the Archer. A pulse of energy crackled between the open plain of our bodies. His eyes widened. “Hurry up, Archer.” hissed Mastyx. He placed a piece of bone on each of my temples. The moment they touched my flesh I started to feel cold. I felt my wings go limp at my back. The silver in his eyes grew brighter as my world went black.

13

I opened my eyes and found myself back in Noiryn’s cave. My hands left the wing. “Noiryn?” She let out a yelp. “Phoenix? Are you okay?” “How long was I out?” “Out?” She was halfway across the room but hurried back to kneel beside me. “Out? Phoenix, I’ve barely made it across the room!” I let the knowledge sink in. “So it was instant,” I spoke the words softly as I watched the fish swim in the clear blue water in front of the cave. “Instant?... So you had a vision?” Noiryn asked, then as an afterthought she said. “That was fast.” “No shit.” I started laughing, a full-throated sound. As the horrific parts of the memory came flooding back, my mirth gave way to tears. As I sobbed, Noiryn slid her arms around me, resting her face on my shoulder where my wing would have been. “We live for so long, Watching all the time, the things we see can break you if you let them.” There was sorrow in her words and an emptiness that brought another image to my mind. “I healed you.” She stiffened. “Yes.” I pulled from her embrace and took her face gently in my hands mirroring the memory.

“The wound was so deep; it took so much power to heal it. How did it happen?” As I held her a single tear rolled from her third eye. I leant towards her and wiped it away with my lips. She sighed and sagged into me, but the eye remained closed. Her body was limp, but her voice strained, the words sharp. “You don’t ?” Noiryn asked. “No, I’m sorry.” She sighed darkly. “I was trying to help some whales. Fishermen had harpoons. They were shooting at them. I was swimming amongst them. The harpoon cut across my back and into a whale. I wanted to do more, but I was losing a lot of blood. I woke up in The Void, and you were there.” Her voice relaxed. “Thank you.” Noiryn smiled broadly at me, and her third eye blinked. The two that remained open were full of gratitude and devotion. It had been hard for her to tell me that story, even with omissions, but now she had such joy on her face. I couldn’t bring myself to ask about the golden rope I had unwound from her throat. I had seen the vision, and although I knew I really was Phoenix, as these Travellers had known her, I hadn’t totally embraced it. But I would try. I kissed her on the cheek and pulled away. Her arms trailed after me. “No thanks necessary.” I got to my feet and began to pace. “I have some questions, Noiryn.” “Ask me anything.” She was still smiling. “In the worlds we Travel to…” She nodded. “If they don’t know we’re there how did you get hurt?” “We are only invisible to them. We still can feel the happenings of their world and be affected by them. We are powerful creatures though, so most of the time our gifts keep us from injury.” ”Can you clarify that?” “If I touch the whales they sense a slight pressure or presence but do not see me.

If I swim near their tails as they swing, I will be moved by the current, unless I use my power to stabilise.” “Oh... So the blood…” I continued the thought silently. The blood I had felt against my hands, had splattered across my face in that terrible place, was not my imagination. “Blood… What blood?” Noiryn looked scared. “Don’t worry; it wasn’t mine.” I squashed the memory down. “Did you see why they forced you out?” Noiryn asked cautiously. I assumed from the memory it had to do with my meeting with The Guard, but I couldn’t be certain. In the visions I was sure that my healing was secret, but The Archer seemed to suspect something. Until I knew more, I decided to keep it to myself. “No. I didn’t get the whole story. I think I have to find the other wing for all the pieces to this puzzle.” I sat down on the cushions. “But I don’t know where to look.” “I know.” “What!” I must have looked frantic because she scrambled away from me. “Not where specifically but I know who does. Sid told me after you touched the wing to take you to Benyst. He knows where the second wing is.” She looked pleadingly at me. “Sid knew we would be separated?” “He had his suspicions.” I turned away from her. The wing lay between us. After seeing The Guard, I knew they could be harsh. I was so worried about Sid. I didn’t think they would physically harm him and Yeren, but I was worried they would put enchantments on them I couldn’t break. Hell, I didn’t even know how I broke the whole ‘Bound to the Ground’ thing they put on me. The wing hadn’t coughed up that particular memory.

“Phoenix?” Noiryn had crawled closer. “I’m okay, Noiryn,” I touched her arm, and she relaxed. “Just worried about Sid and Yeren.” Involuntarily my touch became a caress, a spark of power flared in my hand. I had just become aware of it when my stomach growled loudly. I broke away. “And hungry by the sound of things!” We both laughed, breaking the tension. “I’ll make dinner!” Before I could comment that I didn’t know what time it was let alone what meal I ‘should’ be having, Noiryn was on her feet. She made a few long strides towards the water and then dived through the film of power that held it back. Once on the other side her quills shot out of her back and, acting as a dorsal fin, helped her slice through the water. She was more graceful than a dancer. She moved like lightening through the schools of fish. I could barely track the movement of her hands as she plucked fish from their schools. Within minutes she had enough and dived back through the field of power. She tucked into a roll as she did it, her spines retracting as she rolled over her back and then on to her feet. She turned to me with a huge smile on her lipless face, a giant fish in each hand. “Wow.” I was stunned. “Thank you.” She bowed and went to the kitchen area of the cave. It didn’t take long for her to prepare the fish. She cooked it and a few vegetables on a small grill she kept at the back of the cave. I didn’t feel like talking during dinner, so I asked her questions about the water. It didn’t take long to get her going on a long story about following migrating whales. She also told me a great deal about sharks. Apparently, it’s hard to swim with them, which seemed obvious to me, but she explained further. Because they are such an old species they can sometimes see Travellers and, naturally, want to eat them. Yet another reason to be afraid of sharks. By the end of her story, I had cleaned my plate and set the empty dish down beside me. “You look tired,” Noiryn observed. “I am tired.” I let out a huge yawn.

“Then let us sleep and when we wake I will take you to Benyst.” “Okay.” I wanted to know more about this guy but was too tired to question her. I yawned again, groaned, and got to my feet. I stretched my arms high over my head and tried to work the fatigue from my back. I could feel Noiryn’s eyes on me. When I looked down at her, the third eye was blinking but still did not stay open. She blushed a light blue and dropped her eyes. I began the delicate process of wiggling the wing back into the sac without touching it. I had a feeling that would bring more visions, and I needed a good night’s sleep before I did that again. Once the wing was inside, I tucked the sack back in my tote. I turned around to find Noiryn standing behind me. We stared at each other. “You can take the bed.” Noiryn’s voice was hushed. “Where will you sleep?” “I…” She looked so beautiful; her scales gleamed in the candlelight and, as she cast about for an answer, I felt power rise in me like it had in the cave with Yeren. I closed the distance between us and cupped her neck in my hand. I could see the golden cord in my mind’s eye. She closed her eyes as I slid my hand across her shoulder and down her arm, taking her hand. I led her to steps before the bed and drew her up behind me, the warm pulse of power moving through my body into her hand as we climbed. I went to my knees and brought her down beside me. We settled into the cushions, her back pressed to my chest with my arms around her. The nubs of her quills felt very present against the patches of skin my jumpsuit left bare. I brushed my lips along her neck, and she nuzzled into me. I shifted my arm and brought the full length of our bodies closer together. The created a comforting wave of energy that flowed slowly up and down our bodies. Noiryn sighed. “Goodnight, Noiryn.” “Sleep well, Phoenix.” I was asleep in minutes.

14

I awoke on my back, looking up at the dancing light on the roof of the cave. The curtains were open and the sun was rippling through the water to create the beautiful images above me. We had moved in the night. Noiryn now slept on my stomach, her head nestled just below my breasts, her arm draped around my waist. I lay there for a moment, peaceful. There was a time when waking up like this with anyone, let alone a being with three eyes, would have sent me dashing from the room. But today it felt good. The curve of her body wrapped around me, trusting me, seemed natural. I didn’t know who I had been to her, to all the people I had known in The Void, and as I watched her back rise and fall with her breath, I knew that I had to get to the bottom of this. The wing had more to show me. I could feel it like a faraway voice in the back of my head. I would find its twin, and I would go back to The Guard. Maybe the old Phoenix just did what The Guard said, but this Phoenix, me, had lived in the real world. And in the real world, you don’t just roll over and do whatever people tell you to do. That thought brought a lot of anger with it. Cold, hard anger, the type that makes you get in a guy’s face even though he’s twice your size. An image of a sword went through my mind and with it a quick kick of raw power. Noiryn sat up. “Phoenix?” “Sorry, Noiryn.” I sat up beside her. “Power flare.” I ran my hands vigorously over my face trying to dissipate the crackling feeling. “They’ll probably be hard to control for a while. Maybe both wings will help.” She put a hand on my shoulder. I could feel my power stir at her touch. I scooted away from her as casually and as quickly I could. “Yeah… So let’s go talk to Benyst.” I got to the edge of the bed and, ignoring the steps, dropped to the floor. I went to my stuff and started pulling on my boots. “Do you want something to eat before you go?” Noiryn was getting slowly from the bed. Her words got my attention.

“What do you mean ‘before you go’? You’re not coming with me?” She had come down from the bed and was taking sad, languid, strides across the room. “I’ll help you Travel to his world… then I’ll have to leave you…” She continued pacing around the cave. “I have trouble being away from the water, from my cave.” She had made her way to the wall of water. “Besides, Benyst scares me.” She trailed fingers across the water, sending ripples along its surface. “I’m sorry.” The memory of Healing her blazed through my mind. She had been so helpless, so needy. I had felt her sadness under my hands. Last night I knew how much comfort it had brought her to lie beside me, to feel safe and protected. Even if I still had no idea what I was doing, looking at her standing there with the light of the ocean playing across her sad face, I knew I had to go alone. Even someone as exotic and amazing as Noiryn could be paralysed by her fears. “Hey…” I crossed to her. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve done so much for me already.” I put a hand on her shoulder, and she turned quickly and slid into an embrace. “I am not as strong as you, Phoenix.” She whispered into my hair. Warm power grew in my belly, strengthening me. “I’m not so much strong as ignorant. Hard to feel scared when you don’t know what’s going on.” I rubbed her back. “You sell yourself low, Phoenix. When you find all your pieces, you will know.” “I don’t know Noiryn…” The power had responded to her words and fanned out into my limbs, calming me. I pulled back and looked her in the eye. “I could never swim with sharks.” “Well, wings aren’t made for water.” She pulled away, laughing. “Before you go I will prepare some more supplies for you.” She went to the table at the back of the cave and began placing food in a bag. “Where am I going exactly?” “Benyst lives deep in the jungle of the Congo, I’m not sure exactly where, but deep.” She took the small bag, now full of food, across the room and loaded it

into my tote. “There is a waterfall nearby. That is where we will Travel to, from there you will have to walk. Do you have a lantern?” I had been busy picturing hiking through the jungle by myself and missed the question. “Sorry?” “A lantern? Do you have one?” “No, Sid was handling that.” We both paused for a moment, worrying about our friends. “I have one you can have.” She pulled it from a cubby built into the bed riser. “Okay…” She blew on it sending a cloud of dust glittering through the air. “Let me show you how it works.” I crossed the cave to get a better look at the lamp. It was strange and beautiful just like Noiryn. It was about twelve inches high and maybe five inches in diameter. It had a curving handle from which the body of the lamp hung. The handle, top, and base of the lamp were all made of brass and engraved in a similar fashion to Windiga’s plates. The brass was quite tarnished, but the markings were still clear. Three small feet protruded from the base of the lamp, they were carved in the image of small webbed toes and allowed for a few inches of space between the bottom of the lamp and the surface on which it was placed. The main body was a fantastic glass cylinder. One side was fabricated from strips of sea-coloured glass layered like a barber’s pole; the other was an intricate pattern of interlocking swirls. The blues and greens of the glass looked striking moving in and out of each other. I knew when the lamp was lit it would look sensational. “Noiryn, it’s beautiful! I can’t take this with me.” “Oh don’t worry, it’s tougher than it looks.” She swung the lamp by its handle, letting the cave light play on the glass. “This lamp has seen many things.” She said absently. Then coming back to herself she added. “It doesn’t need oil or flame and will work under water.” She handed me the lamp. “Really? Then how do you light it?”

“You grab the handle and say ‘No More Darkness’, and it will light. Try it.” I took the lamp by the handle and held it high in the air. “No More Darkness.” Instantly the room was filled with a clear bright light. There was no colour to it. “The light is clear.” “Yes, it would be hard to find your way with coloured light.” “Oh.” “Don’t worry; the lamp is sensitive. I’m sure you will see the coloured light eventually.” She smiled at me. “Sensitive lamps?” I shook my head. “Crazy. How do you turn it off?” “’Darkness Required’” “Darkness Required.” The lamp went out. “Thank you, Noiryn.” My bag was getting full. I went through it and tossed out the old food and made room for the lamp. Since I was going to a jungle, I packed the fur coat in there too. The bag was heavy, but across my body, the weight would be fine. I slung the bag over my shoulder and made sure the handle of the bat was in a good grabbing position. When I was satisfied, I turned to Noiryn. “So. How do we get out of here?” She smiled. “Follow me.” She turned and headed towards the wall of the cave she’d entered through the night before. As she walked, an opening emerged in the rock. I followed her through into a narrow ageway. The age was cool and damp, and the rock on either side was worn smooth, Noiryn must have lived here a long time. At first, it was dark but soon small lights set into the rock started to glow. The light refracted off the minerals in the rock, creating an elegant shimmer. It was soft but adequate. Watching Noiryn’s delicate frame move and flex as we went I

became aware of a small flow of energy swirling around my heart. I was becoming less uneasy about these flares, and it became a pleasant constant as we moved. The age climbed steadily higher as we walked and soon the unmistakable glare of sunlight could be seen at the end of the tunnel. Noiryn stepped out into the light, and I followed. For a moment I was blinded by the brightness, but quickly my vision returned. The view took my breath away. We were standing on a small ledge on the side of a high cliff. The ocean waved and surged below us, birds flew in the open sky, and the sun was warm on my skin. “Noiryn, it’s beautiful.” “Perhaps you’ll get to see it again.” She smiled at me and held out her hand. “Awesome.” I took her hand and fainted.

15

I came to my senses on my feet. The sudden consciousness was disorientating, and I swayed but remained standing. The sound of rushing water filled my ears, and the air was hot and close. Thick, leafy trees stretched overhead. I could smell the jungle: green, growing, living, all around me. “Are you alright?” Noiryn called, raising her voice. “Yeah,” I shouted. “Where’s that noise coming from?” She smiled and pointed to something behind me. I turned around and discovered we were at the base of a waterfall. A big waterfall. It rose from the canopy to be absorbed by another at its peak. Vines stretched across it at varying heights, crisscrossing the blue-white of the water with a vivid green. It felt so alive and vibrant. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Noiryn came to stand beside me. We stood in silence for a few moments. “Well, you’d better get going.” She pointed to a clump of vegetation downstream of the waterfall. “The forest elephants have made a wide path just through those trees. Follow the path to the right and continue along it.” She stopped talking. “Until what?” “Until Benyst finds you.” That didn’t sound good. “How long will that be?” “I don’t know.” That really didn’t sound good. “What if someone sees me?”

“Don’t worry, there is no one here to see you.” A howl broke through the trees. “Okay.” I shuddered. “What about that?” Her words quickened. “Just keep walking, and Benyst will come along. He will feel your presence.” Noiryn looked uneasy. Another howl. “I don’t think the animals will see you. You have a wing with you. That should give you some protection.” “‘Should’ is not comforting.” Then, ing my last journey, I added. “What about other Travellers. Last time there were those Riders.” She put a hand on my shoulder. I was too scared to feel any power surges. “Don’t worry, nobody likes Benyst. Sid is the only one who can deal with him. Benyst will not have told anyone of your coming.” Apparently, she thought that was the end of the discussion. She wrapped her arms around me, one across my shoulders and the other around my waist. Holding her face inches from mine, she breathed her words across my cheek. “I will see you again.” Although it felt like she was speaking more to herself than me, I wanted to reassure her. I turned my head towards her. Before I could speak, she pressed her lips to mine and then disappeared. I stood there stunned as a cry soared through the air. “Phoenix!” I spun round to see Noiryn standing at the top of the falls. She waved gracefully at me and then drew her arms above her head. She leapt from the rocks in a beautiful dive, the sun shimmering on her scales. Just when I thought she would crash into the rocks, she disappeared. As I stood there contemplating her departure, a rustle on the opposite bank caught my attention. Emerging from the underbrush was a group of chimpanzees. I had only seen chimps in zoos, to see them like this was amazing. I was struck by how much happier their faces looked. As I watched, another howl ripped through the jungle. Two more followed on its heels; each seemed closer than the last. The chimps on the bank all froze. There was a moment of eerie silence then a chorus of howls bellowed through the air, triumphing over

the sounds of the falls. The chimps on the bank began to scramble amongst themselves in fear and confusion. Then the pounding started, like many hands beating on the trees. It was quickly getting closer. I made for the path. A scream broke into the clearing. Fear moving me, I turned around to see the source of the sound. Another group of chimps were rampaging across the clearing. Swinging on the vines, they moved back and forth across the water, screaming all the while. The other chimps had regrouped and made for the safety of trees, the new group on their heels. I kept moving towards the path. In my haste, I tripped and landed sprawled out on my stomach. As I lay there panting a large mass hit the ground a few feet from me. Trusting that they couldn’t see me, I got to my knees, slowly. To my right, a large chimp sat on his haunches, a clump of wet fur in his hand. The battle raged on, the howling heartbreaking. The chimp beside me began to scent the air, sniffing as he moved forward. I got to my feet as smoothly as I could. He started to go past me, towards the bank, so I made my move. I ran full out. I don’t know whether it was the sound of my steps or that he could see me, but the moment I ran the chimp screamed. His cry brought two more. I really didn’t want to hurt a chimp, but I did want to get out of the jungle in one piece, so I drew the bat. I had just reached the underbrush when a chimp dropped from the canopy in front of me. I swung the bat at the trunk of his body, hoping it would cause the least damage. I used the force of the swing, and a quick side step, to move me around the chimp and throw him into the one at my back. Luck was with me, and the move worked. Refusing to look back, I pounded through the underbrush. I could see the path in front of me and hear the chimps gathering behind. I had no idea what I would do when I reached the open space. How do you outrun a chimp? You definitely can’t climb a tree. Short of digging a hole, I was screwed. With a fresh howl came tiny hands grabbing at my legs as I, screaming as well, threw myself onto the path. I hit the ground screaming and shielded my head. It took a few moments for me to realise I was no longer being attacked. Not only was I not being attacked, but the path was also silent. Absolutely silent. So I stopped screaming. I sat up and looked left and right down the path. It was empty and quiet. It felt like a wall of energy, much like the one in Noiryn’s cave, contained it on both sides. “Interesting,” I said to no one in particular. I got to my feet, brushed

myself off, took a couple big swigs of water, shook off the chimp fight, marvelled at how strange my life had become and headed down the path. The path was pale and sandy and housed the odd elephant footprint. It was completely clear of leaves and debris much like the wooded path I’d taken with Sid and Yeren. I mulled over why all these paths had to be so creepy while I walked. And walked. And walked. And walked. The path seemed to go on forever. Time doesn’t matter to Travellers and I didn’t have a watch but it I felt like I’d been walking for hours. Sweat was streaming down my back, and my face glistened in the moist heat of the jungle. My hair clung to me in damp locks, and it was at this point I realised, to my horror, I hadn’t packed a hair tie. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I came to a fork in the road. Literally. Two paths stretched before me. One angled sharply to the right and became dark and misty. The other age sloped gently to the left and was bright and sunny. It was fooling nobody, they both looked pretty sinister. Taking off my bag, I sat down at the mouth of the fork and pulled out a snack. I munched slowly on an apple Noiryn had given me and some mixed nuts I’d brought from home. Home. Looking at this rock and a hard place my desire for the simplicity of my bed was overwhelming. “At least when this is over I can Travel right back to my bed.” If it’s ever over, I finished silently. I didn’t know what to do next. Noiryn had said to head right down the path, but I don’t think she knew about the two paths in front of me. She would have mentioned it. I could keep heading to the right, but that path had a whole horror film thing going on. I could not in good conscience walk down a dark path by myself in the middle of the jungle. The other one didn’t look any better. Although it was bright and clear something about it didn’t seem right. I was feeling pretty desperate when something fell out of my bag. I don’t know how it did it because it was at the bottom of my tote, which wasn’t exactly open, but there beside me was the sac with the wing. It lay there on the ground, a tight ball of burlap. It didn’t move again once I saw it but I could feel it. It pulsated. Waves of energy from the wing were hitting me, calling me. “Okay…” I said out loud, needing to break the tension. “You can come out.”

Forcing a laugh at my own dismal joke, I picked up the bag. I felt calmer the moment my hands touched the rough cotton. I gently shook the bag open and then carefully eased the wing onto the jungle floor in front of me. Its beauty hit me again. It was unreal to think that something this gorgeous used to be attached to my back, that at one time I had two and, once upon a time, I could fly. “You are so beautiful,” I whispered to it, running my hands down the length of the wing, just inches above its surface. It felt so alive. “So you have something else to tell me.” I glanced up the path to confirm I was alone. “Alright. Let’s hear it.” I placed my hands on the wing. Suddenly there was pain all over me. And noise, so much noise. Yelling, laughing, breathing, and words, words I couldn’t make out. Hands and many things that resembled them grabbed at me. I fought and kicked; twisting in their grip but there was too many. They had me. Searing pain drew my attention to my right wrist. I looked down to see Ganaraj sinking in his cruel teeth. He pulled back to show me his blood covered mouth. My blood. The wound healed as quickly as it was made so that with every bite he tore fresh skin. I tried desperately to hold him back with my free hand, but my attackers caught it and pulled it away. Soon he had had enough of my flesh and fell back laughing, drunk on my power. Another Minion tried to lick his face, and he shoved them roughly to the ground. A woman’s voice shouted above the din. I looked to see Cosima standing back from the crowd, satisfaction painted on her face. I made out one word. “Wings!” The word scared me; it could mean only one thing. They dragged me down, belly first, to the ground. Many bodies pinning my legs and arms. Fur, scales and skin intermingling. I could barely breathe under their weight. I flapped my wings fiercely to try to stop them from finding purchase. They jumped into the air to grab them, cracking the delicate bones. More pain. They caught hold of the right wing, and together they pulled. I could feel my shoulder begging to leave its socket. The pain brought bile to my mouth. More hands. More effort. It pulled me off the ground. Pain stealing my sound, my back bowed as I felt the tendons snap, the flesh pull, blood spurt and my precious wing was taken from me. A shower of feathers fell to the ground as a cry went up through the crowd. Wet tongues licked my back, the wound oozing. I could hear the voices of Cosima and Ganaraj but could not make out their words. Weak with pain, I did not fight

the crowd when they pulled me to my feet. They threw me against a tree. The branches quaked as my body struck it. I feverishly flapped my remaining wing as I pushed away from the trunk. The action of my wing made my attackers retreat slightly. Agony blazed through me as my single wing raised me just high enough to grab a lower branch. With my hands wrapped around it, I stilled my wing, and the weight of my body tore the branch free. I fell clumsily to the ground but in a moment was on my feet swinging the branch. I managed to hold the mob at bay for a moment, seriously injuring a few of their number. Finally, Ganaraj’s voice sounded above the din, and as a unit, they rushed me. I swung the branch one last time and watched its splintered end lodge in the flesh of the mob. They grabbed my limbs and attempted to hold me still as I thrashed. Ganaraj appeared before me, my blood drying on his chin. The sight of his bloody rage stilled me. “It must hurt so terribly to live in such a place. To hate so much,” I thought as forgiveness filled my face. The crowd continued their chaos, but Ganaraj felt my pity. Fear flitted across his face. He saw me it and was consumed by a new rage. He shouted to the crowd. “Finish her!” I knew then that there was no hope. I had to flee if I hoped to survive. Even if they didn’t kill me, I would be a slave, little more than carrion. But without my wings, I could never return to The Void. I would never see my home again. This last Travel would be just that. My last. Wherever I landed, I would be reborn with no memory of this place. My choice was obvious. I would not become their slave. As they began the tug of war with my body, I prepared to Travel. I could not choose a place without my wings. I would have just enough energy to break my Binding and leave. I felt the wing rip from me and screamed. It was blood curdling and long, a scream filled with pain and grief they would never comprehend. Everyone froze. As they did their hands loosened. In the silence, a sound drew my gaze over my shoulder. I saw The Archer grappling with Siddhartha for my right wing. Not even my scream had stopped their combat. With that final image, I willed myself to Travel. For the first time, it felt like fainting.

My hands sprang back from the wing. I was back in the closeness of the jungle. A memory of pain ripped through me, arching my back and wrenching a cry from my mouth. I began to sob. Once I started, it was like a seal had been broken. I sat in the middle of the path and cried. I looked down at my wrist, surprised to find it whole, Ganaraj’s teeth no longer imprinted there. My shoulders ached with need. My wings. Those beautiful objects that were a part of me of which I had no memory. I wept for those horrible creatures living with such rage that they had sought to destroy me. It hurt so much to be the recipient of all that hatred. Through the mist of my tears, my jungle path seemed more impossible than ever. “Why am I stuck here?!” I screamed to the sky. Despair took me, and I fell to my side, sprawled across the path. I lay there, head heavy on my arm, my chest convulsing around my sobs, with the wing in front of me. As I gazed across the wing into the bit of jungle between the two paths, tiny globules of colour started to float up from the wing. At first, it was just a few small drops of blue, green, purple and pink, then more and more flew off. I sat up and stared at the clump of them hovering above the wing. They began to fly around my head and torso, wrapping me in colour like a swarm of Technicolor aphids. They gathered above my head then flew forward into the jungle. As they glided and swelled the trees began to move. At first, it was a slight swaying, but soon they appeared to be straining away from what was rapidly becoming a path. As quickly as I could, I shimmied the wing back into the sac and got it back in my bag. Slinging my tote over my shoulder, I approached the growing opening. The trees had now bent back on either side to create an oval. I could see a path just through the trees. The coloured lights flew through the air and gathered behind me. They gently pulsed at my back, ushering me through. Once I was on the other side, the trees began to close. The lights danced around me. “Thank you. Thank you so much!” I turned on the spot trying to speak to all of them, tears drying on my face. They gave me a short pulse of light in response and then faded away. “Wow. That was so cool.” And it was. After what the wing had shown me I needed something to pick me

up, and the light show had definitely done the trick. Now that they were gone it was nearly pitch black on the path. I rummaged in my bag and pulled out the lamp Noiryn gave me. “No More Darkness.” And the lamp lit up. It provided a clean white light that easily showed the way. The path was narrow and bounded by trees bent as they had at the opening. I held the lamp high and set off, down the path. It was time to see Benyst.

16

It was a relatively short walk down the path. Soon I was looking at a thatched hut in the middle of a vast clearing. The roof was made from large palm leaves, and smoke was rising from a small chimney. The walls were composed of twigs intertwined with vines and packed with mud to keep them in place. There was no natural light in the clearing. The canopy was completely solid overhead. Flaming torches were placed at wide intervals around the perimeter of the clearing, giving the place an eerie, flickering glow. The hut had a man-sized opening at the front that was covered with a dark blanket, and there was windows either side covered in the same. “Darkness required.” I put away the lamp and approached the door. I was just about to knock on the wall when a voice called out. “Don’t stand on ceremony, come in.” The voice was gravelly and deep. I gingerly pulled the cloth aside and stepped into the hut. It was very dim inside. And surprisingly cool considering the only light came from a small fire in the middle of the room and two window openings at the back of the hut. Their curtains had been pulled back to let in the torchlight. I looked around in the halflight. The hut was one room and set up much like Yeren and Noiryn’s caves. These Travellers had a penchant for open concept living. I could make out a table to one side and what appeared to be a cot tucked away in a corner. Around the fire were two chairs with a small table between them. The chairs were covered in blankets and looked deep and comfortable. I still had not seen my host, but some shuffling steps behind me rectified that. I spun on my heel to find a man standing in the shadows. I could tell that he was about my height, maybe a little shorter. His silhouette revealed an ample stomach and thick arms, but beyond that, the shadows were too deep for me to see more. “Benyst?”

“That’s me. You’re Phoenix.” It wasn’t a question. “Yep.” He still hadn’t moved from the shadows. Now that I was here the adrenaline and pain from the journey were dissipating, leaving me testy. “Nice place you’ve got here…” I gestured to the path. “…Great location.” I thought better of it the second the words left my mouth. Not a good plan, offending your jungle host, especially if that jungle host is the only one who can get you out of the jungle. Very stupid indeed. We stood in silence for a few agonising heartbeats, then he laughed. “Damn!” He continued laughing. “You have changed!” His laughter sounded a bit like stones tumbling over one another. It was an ugly sound but not entirely unfriendly. “Well…” He abruptly stopped laughing. “I hope some things haven’t changed.” And he stepped from the shadows. The light from the fire walked across his face. It was such a shock that before I could school my reaction, a small gasp escaped my mouth. You would think that after the things I had seen of these Travellers that nothing would faze me, but Benyst did. His face was a mass of large red growths. They grew from his features distorting them into a clown mask of blood filled tumours. His lips were huge and yet barely contained his tongue. The flesh around his eyes was so engorged that the sockets became deep wells. The gnarled red flesh continued around his skull, misshaping his ears and the back of his head. “It’s okay, it’s only a shock the first time.” He grimaced bitterly, and those giant fleshy lips bent upwards. “I’m sorry. I…” I looked away, embarrassed. “Not to worry Phoenix, not to worry. You did better than most.” He eased himself into a chair. “Please, have a seat.” I dropped my bag on the floor beside me as I sat down next him. The chair was even more comfortable than it looked. Benyst leant forward and began stoking the fire, his belly hanging down between his legs. In the flickering light, I began to grow accustomed to his face.

“May I ask a question… about your face?” He stiffened slightly. “Ask away.” “Does it hurt?” He looked at me, his dark eyes twinkling in the firelight. “You’re the only one who’s ever asked me that…” Thoughts crossed his face, and then he smiled. “No, no, it doesn’t.” “Good.” I smiled back. “I’m sorry for your trouble getting here, but I had to be sure.” He sat back. “Sid was against it, said the fork would be too much, would discourage you. Good thing he didn’t know about the chimps!” He laughed that stone tumbling sound. “But I said to Sid,” He puffed out his chest. “I said ‘If she’s the real thing it won’t be a problem.’ And I as you can see, I was right. Beer?” Without waiting for my reply, he drew two from a bucket under the table. He put them both in his enormous mouth and with a twist and a hiss, they were open. He handed one to me. “No bottle opener.” He grinned and began to drink deeply from his own. I tried to surreptitiously wipe the bottle on my jumpsuit before having a sip. As weird as the opening was, the beer tasted great. We drank in silence for a few moments, it was surprisingly companionable, but I needed information. It sounded terribly cheesy, but I had to find my wings. “I understand you know where my wing is.” “Right to business then.” He took a big swig and put the empty bottle down on the table. “Yep, I know where your wing is.” “Excellent. Where…” “Well, that is to say, I have information that should lead you to the wing.” “Damn it!” I slammed my bottle down, a bit of foam escaping out the top. “Would it be too much to ask for a straight fucking answer in this place?!”

“You never used to talk like that,” Benyst said in a small but firm voice. “Hey, Benyst! We’ve never met before! And maybe that girl you knew never talked like this, but maybe she should have!” I sat forward in my seat. “Maybe if she’d gotten angry once in a while, she would have been better prepared! Maybe she would have been able to fight off all those assholes! And then maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here trying to find these infamous wings that everyone insists I need! And you know what, Benyst?” “What?” His voice was neutral. “They’re right! They’re fucking right! Never had them, but I fucking miss them.” The tears came quickly. I dropped to my knees in front of the fire seeing the memory in the flames. “I saw it, Benyst. I saw it all. They pinned me down…” I felt my tears hit the dirt floor. “He fed on me. I can feel his teeth tearing through my wrist. She’s laughing and shouting for them.” I hunched forward angling my shoulder blades towards the sky. “My wings. I can feel them. I can feel them stretched out behind me. I’ve never had wings …” I looked at him, tears streaking my face. “Why do I miss them?” “Oh, Phoenix…” He cupped my face in his hand, like a father to a child. They were misshapen and rough but filled with affection. My power flared briefly and was gone, leaving me there alone with his hands. “You always felt so much.” He looked like he wanted to say more but merely patted my face. “Please get up. The ground is no place for you, Lady.” He helped me back into the chair and put the beer back in my hand. “I said I had information for you and I wasn’t having you on.” Benyst got to his feet. “Before he went to get you, Sid came here with a package.” He began rummaging throughout the hut. “Not a package, a letter. Yes, and if I could only where I… ah! Here it is!” He walked back to me and swiftly took the beer from my hand, replacing it with the letter. With a groan he eased himself back into his chair, his fleshy face wobbling as he settled in. The letter was a single large sheet of parchment paper folded in at the corners to become its own envelope. At the centre it was sealed with a blob of purple wax, a thumbprint filling in for a crest.

“You open that, Phoenix,” Benyst said kindly. I slid a finger inside one of the folds and drew it down slowly towards the seal. It cracked evenly along the four points of the paper. I unfolded it, and another folded piece of paper fell into my lap. I ignored it for the moment and stared at the letter, taking in Sid’s handwriting. It was a simple print, unadorned and written in all capital letters. The letter read: My Dear Lady Phoenix, I sincerely hope you never read this. I am so very sorry. I have failed you. Please do not worry about my safety at this time, wherever I am, I will be fine. I have lived too long to let the perils of The Void triumph over me. We will see each other again. I know it. You have been a great friend to me, My Lady, and I had always hoped that we would go on this quest together, that I would be there to help you draw your power back from your wings. Alas, your quest will be a solitary one. By now you have met Noiryn and Benyst. They are both willing to help you to the next step of your journey, although neither has the fortitude to Travel very far with you. They have their own reasons for never straying far from home. Ones I am sure you will in time. Do not despair! You will retrieve the other wing. I have hidden it in the great moment of civilisation that was ancient Egypt. It is the night before Queen Hatshepsut is to be entombed and her burial chamber will not yet be sealed. Slip into the chamber, and you will find it. It is contained in another magic sac, in a large vase in the corner of the room. I have included a map of the temple, examine it carefully and refer to it often. The Egyptians were excellent at confounding thieves. Once you have the second wing, you will be able to Travel. Hold the sacs close to you and will yourself back to Benyst’s hut. Your wings will do the rest. Please be careful! I trust the people I have I put you in with, but our

enemies are powerful. Go as quickly as you can. Always your servant, Siddhartha I folded the letter back into place, hiding its script from Benyst. I picked up the map as I mulled over the rest of Sid’s words. I was sorry he wasn’t here with me; I could have used the guidance. “Okay Benyst, I’ve got a map here.” “Let’s take a look at it.” I drained my beer as Benyst opened the remaining curtains to let in more light. He then turned his chair and pulled the small table in front of it. I started to get up to move my seat, but he placed a heavy hand on my shoulder and pulled the chair, with me in it, around to face the table. “You’re stronger than you look.” I teased. He ignored me. “Alright, get that map on the table.” He sat down. “Another beer?” “No thanks.” “Suit yourself.” He pulled one from the bucket and jammed the bottle in his enormous mouth. I unfolded the map and placed it on the table. As I smoothed out the creases, Benyst leant in. This close, in the newly bright hut, his face was distracting. I was ashamed of the amount of concentration it took not to stare. “Ah…” Benyst stretched out the word. “So he went with Hatshepsut.” He continued as I turned my gaze to the map. “Sid had some places in mind. I guess so no one, save him, would know the actual location.” “Smart guy,” I said absently. It looked like Sid had drawn the map by hand, not that that had affected his

precision; in fact, it looked like he’d drawn it to scale. The temple was huge, with two giant courtyards and large inner rooms. Sid had marked the burial chamber with an ‘X”, and it looked to be the smallest room in the place. “I think the hardest part will be not taking a wrong turn here.” I pointed to the spot on the map where it looked like four large hallways stretched off the main aisle before you entered the room that led into the burial chamber. “I think you’re right.” Benyst sipped his beer. “Might I suggest a bit of string.” “What?” I looked at him. “Well if you attach it here…” He pointed to a spot just before the four paths opened up. “And drag it behind you, it will make getting out again much faster.” “Right, but that’ll take a lot of string, and my bag is getting pretty full.” “I think I can help you there.” Chuckling, Benyst got to his feet. “Yes, I’ve got just the thing.” He got down on his hands and knees and groped blindly under the bed, the skin on his face obscuring his eyes. After much grunting and mumbling, he came back to the table. “Here you go.” He tossed a small spindle of thread to me. The thread was the colour of silver and incredibly light, and small. There couldn’t be much there. “Thank you Benyst, but I don’t think this will be enough.” “It will grow as you need it.” “Really?” “Really.” I looked at the thread. “Cool!’ “Yes.” He smiled. “Cool.” I sat back in my chair, running my thumb across the spindle, the beer fizzing in my belly. Benyst clapped his hands together sharply. “Well! I guess you should get going.”

“You’ll take me to the temple?” “Of course Lady Phoenix.” He dropped his gaze. “I’m sorry I can’t take you any further, it’s just…” “No explanation needed.” I reached across the table, and he took my hand. “Just get me there.” He squeezed my hand briefly then got to his feet. “Well, out into the yard then.” As Benyst walked out into the gloom I quickly, yet carefully, folded up the map and tucked it down the front of my jumpsuit. It was scratchy against my bare skin. I let the letter fend for itself in my big bag. I walked out to find Benyst standing a short ways from the hut. He was looking up at the canopy. I stood at his side and followed his gaze. “Do we have to go through that or something?” “Sorry?” He looked at me. “Oh no! I just… it will be nice to see the stars again.” “How long has it been since you’ve left your clearing, Benyst?” The folds of his face contracted as he thought. “Let’s see…The last time I left was right after they took your wings.” “Benyst, that was thirty years ago.” “Oh? I don’t care much for other places.” “What brought you out then?” He looked me straight in the eye. A tear made its challenging course from his eye and down his cheek. “I had to know if it was true.” “What?” “That you were gone.” He reached one hand out to me as the other tried to wipe the tear from his face. “Let’s be off.” “Yes. Let’s.”

I smiled and took his hand, instantly losing consciousness.

17

It was the pain in my ass that brought me back to consciousness. I opened my eyes to find that I was sitting in the sand. I could already feel it trying to sneak down my pants, so I got to my feet quickly and began brushing the sand off to prevent further inroads. I could hear Benyst grunting as he did the same. “Argh…so sorry. I haven’t done that in a while.” “No problem, nothing’s broken.” I shivered. “It’s cold.” “Yes. The desert at night is so different.” I put my bag on the ground and pulled out my coat. As I slipped the fur around my body, I was taken aback by my surroundings. Everything was quiet and still, Benyst and I the only observers. The moon shone high and full in the sky, bathing everything in a cool imitation of daylight, its eerie silver dripping over the scene before me. We were facing an enormous cliff, its jagged surface reaching high into the sky to form a perfectly straight line on the horizon. The light of the moon coated its face, and I could see the individual layers of rock, each a moment in time, shimmering slightly in the cold blue light. At the base of the cliff stood the temple. There were three rows of columns stacked on top of each other like the tiers of a wedding cake. All of the columns were extremely precise, the deep black space between them completely uniform and just a little bit frightening. A long ramp rolled like a tongue down to the sand, a grove of trees framed it on either side. We were about a hundred paces back from the gaping stone maw, and at this distance, the white of the stone and rows of columns looked like the grill of an eighteen-wheeler bearing down on us. “Oh boy.” I breathed. “You’ll be fine.” Benyst was even quieter than I was. “I think I should be going.” He looked pale.

“Thank you for your help.” “You’re welcome.” He forced a smile. “I’ll see you soon enough.” “Yeah, I’ll get the wing and then head back to your place. I hope I can Travel on my own.” “The wings will know what to do.” “Funny, that’s the same thing Sid said.” He smiled furtively and was gone. He really didn’t like leaving the jungle. I picked up my bag, throwing it over my shoulder, and turned my attention to the temple. It was hauntingly beautiful. The way the three stories came out from the cliff like a giant stairway played tricks on my eyes. I made my way to the base of the first ramp, the only sound my footsteps in the sand. The craftsmanship and detail were impressive even at this distance. It was really inspiring to think that every inch of this colossal structure had been made by hand, thousands of slaves and artisans working to the point of breaking to create what was essentially a giant coffin. I couldn’t help but feel guilty about my grandparent’s ashes. Scattering them didn’t really compare. I got to the base of the ramp. It very broad; at least two cars could have driven up it, side by side. At its mouth were two massive Sphinx statues; they had round ears and long beards. They were beautifully carved and very life like. Looking at them I had the sinking suspicion they were watching me. I smiled meekly at them and hurried forward. It was a steep climb. I stuck to the edge, one hand on the stone railing, hoping that if anyone were looking, I would be mistaken in my dark clothes for a shadow. The trees were huge, their scraggly and twisted branches reaching almost to the very top of the ramp. I had never seen trees like them before, the topmost branches looked like gnarled finger clawing at the air. The ramp opened onto a massive terrace. There were more of the strange trees here defining a clear path to the second ramp, which led to the third and final level. Yes, a very clear path indeed. A very clear, freaking long path. It was easily more than two hundred feet, and the next ramp started at what looked like the halfway point. My legs were beginning to get that well-worked tingle, but there was no turning back. I gave them each a quick shake and started forward.

The trees were heavier on this level, and they rose far above my head, breaking up the moonlight and sending strange shadows across my body. Their density also created deep pockets of shadow just a few feet from the path’s edge. Deep and dark enough to conceal the trunks of the trees and anything, or anyone, hiding amongst them. A shiver ran up my spine, and I pulled my jacket tighter, quickly returning my arms to my sides, as I looked left and right. Everything was quiet and still but I felt as I had when standing before the sphinxes, like there were eyes on me, lingering over my body as I walked. The only sound was that of my feet softly hitting the stone, but I could feel something there with me, keeping pace with me on the darkened path. I was at the base of the ramp when I heard it. A light crack. Like a foot gently stepping on a twig. I froze. I didn’t even breathe. The acoustics of the space made the direction of the sound hard to pinpoint. As my heart tried to beat an escape from my chest, I slowly turned my head to the left and scanned the trees. Nothing, only darkness and ugly tree branches ready to rip my hair out in chunks. Breathing again, although very rapidly, I started to turn back when the crack sounded again. Louder. Closer. Without conscious thought, I took off like a bullet up the ramp. It was long and uphill, but I ran it. I was panting like a dog and sweating in my fur when I reached the top. I threw myself down on the ground behind the stone half-wall of the third story. My heart pounding, I crawled right against it, trying to hide from anything coming up the ramp. Once in position, I forced myself to take even breaths as my ears strained against the night. I knew any second now I would hear footsteps. When my breathing had returned to a relatively normal state, I peered around the corner to watch the ramp. I stayed there kneeling on the cold stone until the sweat on my body had dried and I was once again cold. Nothing came up the ramp, and I didn’t hear another sound. I turned away from the ramp and stretched my aching legs in front of me. “Well, this is getting me nowhere,” I whispered. Staying crouched in a corner was not going to get me my wing, and getting it back was the only thing that

mattered right now. Without it I couldn’t help Sid and Yeren, I couldn’t get back to Benyst, and I’d never know the truth about myself. I’d never know my wings. “Get up,” I said sternly and clambered stiffly to my feet. Brushing myself off, “Where is all this sand coming from? Right, desert!” I stared at the massive columns of the third level. From a distance, they had looked to be merely columns. Now that I was in front of them I could see that in front of every row was a massive statue. Enormous, easily four times my height, each one stretched the full height of the terrace. And they were all the same, a very feminine looking man with a tall hat and beard, his crossed arms holding a sceptre to his chest. This was the level where the wing was hidden. It was time to go hunting. I dug the map out of my jumpsuit. It had slid a little further down and required a bit of wiggling to free it. I spread the map over the shin of the closest statue and looked at Sid’s handy work. He had indicated the two ramps clearly and then followed them with an arrow forward. “Oh, very clear Sid,” I said dryly to the night. The place was huge, and he gives me an arrow. Nice. I folded the map up and tucked it inside my top. The only way forward was between the columns, so that’s where I went. As I stepped out of the moonlight, I was engulfed by the darkness between the columns caused by the roof above me, but I didn’t want to light my lamp yet. I held my arms out at my sides and followed the silvery patch of moonlight that lay ahead of me. My hands rubbed along the massive columns as I walked and their fluted edges felt both crisp and smooth under my fingertips. The roofed portion of columns wasn’t very big; maybe four deep, and soon I came to a large doorway that leads to a courtyard of more columns. I stepped out into the courtyard and looked up at the stars. They took my breath away. They were so much brighter and clearer than in the city. There was something so welcoming about them. I felt like I could leap off the pavement and swim amongst them. It took me a few breaths to bring my attention back to the task at hand. The courtyard was huge with more columns around the perimeter. I walked forward and could see that scattered amongst them were beautiful statues of what I assume was Queen Hatshepsut. In some, she was standing looking calm and serene. In others, she was sitting or kneeling with crossed arms. Some of them looked so life like in the blue moonlight that I had to run a hand over them to be sure they were stone. There were more sphinx statues here; they encircled an open area in the middle of the courtyard. I stepped into the space and felt

uneasy. They were staring at me again. All those eyes, carved with such precision, seemed to track my movements. Trying not to meet their eyes, I hurried across the yard. Built-up walls formed a ageway that led to a very dark doorway. I swallowed audibly and dragged the lamp from my bag. I approached the entryway and could smell cool, stagnant air on the other side. I held the lamp in front of me and stepped into the darkness. Once through the door, darkness wrapped around me like a blanket, I whispered the lamp’s code. A circle of light grew from the centre of the lamp. I thought that it would fill the age, but instead, it stayed contained in an orb that stopped about three feet above my head. It felt like I was in a womb of light. Everything beyond it was black. I could only see what my light touched. I moved the lamp with me as I turned left and right trying to get my bearings. I was in a hallway of some kind. I couldn’t see the ceiling from my bubble of light. As I moved the lamp back and forth, I found that the walls held large reliefs of a man with a tall hat, holding a staff. The ebony of his eyes and hair shone in the lamplight, and the terra cotta of his skin glowed. I had seen carvings like this so many times in museums but faded and chipped by the ravages of time. I felt so lucky at that moment that I almost forgot where I was. Almost. I kept walking forward. The ageway widened out as I went. Along the walls were more pictures of the regal man who had been at the mouth of the hall. The decorations coated every inch of the place. Each one was perfection, whether it was the sharp precision of a vulture’s eye or the gentle slope of a woman’s belly. And the colour! Alongside the deep terracotta and bottomless black were yellows, oranges and bright piercing blues. I touched as much as I could, running my fingers along each sharp edge and sliding my palms over the smooth expanse of the Pharaoh’s thigh. I sighed as my light played and sparkled over the reliefs. I was living out my museum fantasies, and there were no security guards around to ask me to step away. I was pulled from my merriment by a door. It was set back from the wall and the alcove surrounding it was again covered in carvings. I could clearly see the outline of the frame. I put the lamp down and rushed forward to push it open. I hit the stone with a smack that sent a vibration running up my arms, sticking

both funny bones. For a few moments, all I could do was stand there shaking my arms and cursing whoever named said bone. When the sparks had stopped flying, I approached the door and gently pushed against it. Nothing happened, the stone refused to give under my hands. I put my back against it and, bracing with my feet, pushed as hard as I could but still it did not move. I picked up the lamp and brought it close so I could inspect the frame of the door. There was the problem, it was not a door. Just something carved to resemble one. “Damn it.” The lamp seemed to pulse, almost in response to my exclamation. I gave it a puzzled look. Lifting it higher, I headed further down the hall. As I walked, I encountered more false doors, each one a carving that lead to nowhere. There seemed to be no way out of this age, and when I came to the end of the hall, a frightening thought hit me. I was lost. “Oh shit.” I hissed. I tried to keep myself from hyperventilating as I shoved a hand down my jumpsuit. I groped around like a bad date but no map. I put down the lamp and my bag and stripped off the fur. In the interest of modesty, I turned my back to the age entrance and then slipped out of the top half of my suit. I shook out the fabric and foolishly patted down my bare chest, but there was nothing there. Well something, just not the map. I looked down my pant legs. No map. Nothing. I stood there stunned and topless in the middle of a burial temple. “Double shit.” The lamp pulsed, clearly this time. “Okay, okay,” I said as I slithered back into my top and coat. I swung the bag over my shoulder and grab the lamp. “I guess I head back to the courtyard,” I whispered. For some reason, I suddenly felt like keeping my voice down. It didn’t take much time to get back to the courtyard. I kept my eyes flitting around the floor as I walked but the map didn’t turn up. When I could see the opening to the courtyard, I doused the lamp. I stood in the doorway for a moment trying to the map. The burial chamber was supposed to be on

the left side of the complex. Since I was now coming from the other side, I needed to head to my right and check every room I came across. I slipped out the entryway and hugged the stone wall. I worked my way along the wall, running my hands across it as I went. The moon shone brightly overhead, but the columns in the courtyard cut up the light, making ugly shadows. It was dim, but I didn’t dare light the lamp. Something didn’t feel quite right. I came to another ageway and quickly slipped down it. I lit the lamp and discovered a small empty room. I felt along the walls in wide sweeping circles. When I was satisfied there was nothing to the room I doused the lamp and was on my way. The next wall was at a right angle to the back wall of the courtyard. “I must be getting close.” I thought to myself. I didn’t dare say the words out loud. I caught glimpses of the sphinxes in the courtyard; I could feel their eyes on me. It wasn’t long before I came to another opening. Again I slipped inside a few feet and lit the lamp. What I could see from my circle of light took my breath away. The carvings here were even more beautiful than in the hall. I walked along the chamber taking in as much as the lamp would allow. It was definitely a story. There were images of a queen in all sorts of scenes. Some featured the man with the large hat I’d seen earlier, and some had bright green snakes weaving through them and beautiful yellow orbs that had to be the sun. I stood there wishing I knew more about Ancient Egypt. Again the lamp pulsed and I was reminded of my task. “Thanks,” I whispered. I walked back to the beginning of the chamber and started looking for rooms. I found one almost immediately. It looked like a storage locker. A gilded storage locker. There were shelves and shelves of tiny mummified cats and birds, mini pharaohs in their tiny sarcophagi, furniture, clothing, shoes, and beautiful brushes and combs. I took a closer look at some of the intricate jewellery, touching the tips of my fingers to the delicate gems. They were beautiful, and I wanted them, but I wanted my wing more. I left the room. I continued deeper into the chamber and found another opening. I stepped through. This had to be it. Apparently, the lamp thought so too because it suddenly abandoned its tiny circle and flooded the room with light. The sanctuary was huge; easily four times the size of the last room. In the middle was a large stone plinth the size of a coffin. Nearby were a table and chairs, home to what appeared to be a board game, ready to be played. There was also a large chaise

dressed in clean white linen. Another table held more jewellery and cosmetics, and there was another, near the plinth, that was empty. I put the lamp down on this table and began looking for the vase in which Sid had hidden my wing. There were only two that matched his description. The first was filled grain, a snack for the afterlife. I walked towards the second vase with excitement growing in my belly. A trickle of power moved through my body. I put my hands on the lid, hoisted it off and placed it on the ground. I leant over the vase. It was empty. I was about to let out a curse when a sharp hiss filled the room. “Poor Phoenixsssssss.”

18

I spun around to see Mastyx standing on the other side of the plinth, blocking the doorway. Without thinking, I drew the bat. “What the fuck do you want?” My voice was way more in control than my heart, which was currently trying to chisel its way out of my chest. “Ooo! Phoenix, when did your beautiful mouth learn such distasteful things?” He had sashayed up to the plinth while he talked. With outstanding fluidity, he hopped onto it and sat, crossing his legs with flare. “Please don’t be alarmed, I‘m only here to talk.” He leant back on his hands revealing the smooth pale scales of his belly. “Then talk.” I did not lower the bat. “Oh please, Phoenix, don’t be so mean.” He pulled his legs up, going to his hands and knees on the plinth. “It has been so long. How have you been keeping?” He started a masculine crawl towards me. “You still look magical. A little rough, but still magical.” I lowered the bat slightly and took a step towards him. His eyes flashed with triumph, and his sinuous crawl sped up. He got to the end of the plinth and stretched his torso out towards me. “Greet me,” he whispered. I don’t know what he was expecting, but I smiled sweetly and took a step in. He closed his eyes. This made hitting him with the bat even easier. I put my whole body into it and visualised the wood going through his scales as I swung. He screamed as he flew into the table the lamp was resting on. I ran for the entrance leaving the lamp behind as it spun on the floor, strobing on and off in distress. The light stopped once I was through the entryway, and I ran headlong into the wall. I peeled myself from it and scrambled for the courtyard. I caught my shoulder on the doorway as I made it to the open air.

I could hear Mastyx behind me, so I slid into the mass of columns. I zigzagged through them as I crossed the courtyard, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. Once on the other side, I hid behind a statue of the queen. “My, my, Phoenix, you’re much feistier than I !” Mastyx laughed: a hissing, sliding kind of sound. “Perhaps your Time with the humans has done you good!” His voice was coming from the other side of the courtyard but was getting closer. I dashed to another statue. “Oh please come out. It will make things so much easier.” Something moved in my peripheral vision. I hurried to another statue. “I don’t want to hurt you, Phoenix.” His voice sounded closer. I thought I saw something moving on the other side of me. I could see the clearing of sphinxes in front of me. “Phoenix…” I ran for the centre as two shadowy shapes darted at me from either side. I had just cleared the stone forms when a body hit me from the left. I fell to the ground, the bat clattering across the stone, as another came at my right. I felt strong, scaled hands grab my arms. The memory of my wings being torn from me came flooding back. I began to thrash and scream. I was kicking and snarling, my head down when Mastyx appeared in front of me. “Truly, Phoenix,” He spoke softly. “I am not here to hurt you.” He held an open palm up to me, and a soothing warm breeze emanated from it, caressing me. I sagged in my captor’s arms. “Release her.” They lowered me to the ground. On my knees, I bent over and placed my hot forehead on the cold stone floor. I took a few deep breaths and willed the nightmare away. When I was confident I was back in control, I sat up and wiped the tears from my face. I grabbed hold of the sphinx next to me and used its strength to help me up. I sat sidesaddle on the statue’s back, placing my bag at my feet, and looked at Mastyx. He looked exactly like he had in my vision; even the darting action of his tongue was familiar. He stood away from me, to the side

of the exit, giving me no reason to run. He had gotten smarter. Behind him were the guys who grabbed me. The two of them looked just like him, except Mastyx’s neck was thicker. “Well...” I let the weight of my weariness fill the word and then let it hang there. “My apologies, Phoenix.” He bowed, ornamenting it with a flare of his arm. “I did not realise you would be so afraid of me.” He smiled at his polite dig. “I am not afraid of you, Mastyx.” “No?” “No.” He walked closer and leant in, his face inches from mine. “Why not?” I looked straight into his eyes, holding his gaze. “If you wanted me dead you would have killed me by now.” He stood up quickly and laughed. The slithering and hissing irritated my flesh. “True.” He swung himself onto the Sphinx beside mine like he was about to ride it away. “Actually, I’m here to help you.” His tongue darted across his lips. “Help me?” It was my turn to laugh. The cynicism of the sound seemed to annoy him. “Yessssss. I know that your quest for your wings and that the one that was supposed to be here…” He gestured to the temple at large. “..is not.” “And why would you want me to have them back?” Anger bubble in my gut, a red glow began to form visibly around me. “Peace, Phoenix, peace!” Mastyx held up his hands but did not try to counter with his own power. I knew it was a gesture of goodwill so I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. Soon the red mist had faded away. “Thank you, Phoenix.” He ran a smooth hand over his skull, his tongue flicked wildly. I heard his two lackeys exhale forcefully and could feel their fear recede.

Although I had only seen snippets of my life in The Void, these little moments were beginning to paint an interesting picture of my previous life. Everyone seemed pretty surprised when I swore or got aggressive, yet they all tensed at the very smallest displays of my power. So far the flare-ups were involuntary. Sid had told me I would gain control with my wings, but maybe he was the only one who knew that. Maybe everyone thought I would come back to this world with as much control as I had when I left it. This coupled with the assertiveness I’d gained ‘with the humans’ was making quite an impression. If only I knew how to use it in my favour. “I always found you intriguing.” Mastyx continued. “I had no desire to see you cast from The Void.” “You had me Bound.” The memory made me momentarily sick. “Yes. I thought with time you could be made to see sense. Your desire to help the mortals was naive but your power…Ah!” He threw his arms into the air and stretched backwards along the spine of the Sphinx, his pelvis drawing closer to the head of the stone beast. He gazed at me from this position. “Your power was intoxicating. We received just a trickle of it that day, a tiny drop to melt on our tongues. It tasted so good.” He closed his eyes and let his slim tongue play across his mouth. “I thought that if we could just get you to release your ideals, you would be a formidable tool.” The thought of being this creature’s Lackey made me want to draw blood. I focused my attention on the cold stone under me. I let its solid presence move through my body, cooling my rage. I had to play this conversation carefully. Perhaps if Mastyx thought I would work for him, he would help me get my other wing. He might also know how I could free Sid and Yeren. As he lay against the stone revelling in the memory of my taste, I could hear his servants on the ground, entwining their bodies as they shared in his memory. I had to choose my next words carefully. “Help me get it back,” I whispered. His eyes shot open. “Please.” I put just a little bit of heat to the word, trying desperately to flare my power. A faint beam of blue light coursed from my heart to hit him momentarily in the chest and then was gone. Mastyx took it in with a moan that was chorused behind me. He arched his back into a deeper stretch before he sat up and swung

around to face me. “I know where your wing is.” I had to swallow my tension before answering. “Will you take me there?” “Oh no, not yet.” His mouth widened into a grin that showed fang. “First you must do something for me.” I gave him my best ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ face as I took in the smooth expanse of his groin. He followed my eyes. “Oh no! No, no, no, Phoenix!” He shivered. “No!” He made a gagging sound. “You sure know how to flatter a girl,” I said dryly. “My apologies, I simply prefer the feel of scales under my hands.” His eyes travelled to his servants. I looked over to see them sliding over and under each other, emulating the snakes they so closely resembled. I watched Mastyx as he looked at them, tongue flicking, and was reminded of my memory of his hands on Cosima. Scales it was. Thank god for that. “Then what?” My words broke his revelry. “Hmm?” “What is it that you want me to do?” “Oh yes…” He pulled his eyes away from the show. “I need you to collect a very precious item for me.” “Go on,” I said dryly. “Well, don’t sound so excited about it.” He replied equally deadpan. “Another member of our Guard, Cosima, you her I’m sure.” He cocked his head to the side and smiled. “Well, she has my First Moulting, and I need…” “Your what?” I interrupted. “My First Moulting, the first skin that I cast off. It has amazing intimate…” He emphasised the word, and I tried not to visibly gag. “Properties and I would like it back.” I stood up, my back had become stiff sitting on the stone, and I paced to

loosen it. “Why don’t you just ask her to give it back?” “I have.” He made an impatient sound. “But our affair has cooled, and she wishes to keep it for herself. I would take it from her, but we have a sticky little rule about Guards homes.” “Which is?” “I cannot enter without her permission.” “Like a vampire?” I joked. “No, once a Vampire has permission they are free to come and go as they please. Besides, they are not Travellers. To protect our sanctuaries we Guards require invitation every time.” “Shit,” I whispered. “Vampires do exist. I don’t know why that surprises me.” I shook my head like a dog, trying to remove the thought. “So you can’t enter and I can.” “Exactly.” He smiled. I thought about all the visions my wing had shown me. Cosima played a large, and violent, role. “No way. No fucking way. She’ll kill me. Get one of the snake boys to do it.” I grabbed the bat from the ground, rammed it in my bag and made for the exit. “But how will you find your wing?” He called in a singsong voice. I stopped walking. “And further, how will you leave this Time? Without your wings, you cannot Travel.” He had me there, but he also told me that he didn’t know I had lefty. I turned around but did not advance. “She will be alone, and Cosima is nothing without a gaggle of creatures to do her bidding.” He looked me up and down taking in the fur coat hanging haphazardly around my body, my wild hair and dirt-smudged face, worn knees, and baseball bat. He smiled. “You can take her.” “Fine. I’ll do it.” I stalked towards him. “But first I need some answers, a little

insurance.” He nodded. “Why did The Guard cast me out?” He looked at me with true sorrow in his eyes. “I may be devious, my dear Phoenix, but I would never have engaged in such an act. I was not there the day The Guard took the vote…” Under his breath, he added, “…And I was not the only one. Had we all been present I believe things would have been different. But fear is a powerful thing, and it was working against you.” “So you don’t know.” He just looked at me, silent, I tried another angle. “Who else wasn’t there? Who was missing from the vote?” Maybe they would help me. He gave me dark eyes. “The meetings of The Guard are secret, only our rulings are spread throughout The Void.” His voice softened playfully. “We should be going.” He walked towards me. “One more question.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “What about my friends?” “Friends? Oh, the Minion and the Yeti.” He smiled. “All in good time.” I groaned. “Will you at least tell me where my wing is?” “Not now…” He ran his hand up my arm. “…Later.” “So I get nothing.” His hand continued up my body until he was caressing my face. I worked really hard not to pull away. His servants slithered their way to stand behind him as he hissed his words. “I have to know you’ll come back.” He grabbed me by the neck, hard. The three of them hissed, fangs bared. Then everything went dark.

19

Mastyx still had me by the neck. The light around me was dappled but bright. Wherever we were, it was morning. “Here we are, my darling.” He released me, and I dropped to the ground, rubbing my neck. I could feel tiny drops of blood where his claws had pierced my skin. Mastyx crouched beside me turning his next words into a macabre nursery rhyme. “This is the island where Cosima lives. To get back my skin, you’d better be quick.” He laughed at his own game. I looked around me. We were in a thick grove. The trees were thin and twisted with sparse foliage, and scrubby grass grew in the loose dirt. Through the trees, I could see a beach covered in coarse white sand and beyond the sand was the most beautiful turquoise water I’d ever seen shimmering in the sunlight. “We’re in the Mediterranean.” I mused. “Very good!” He clapped his hands in mock praise. “The island of Lesbos to be exact! A fitting place for a Siren such as Cosima.” “Siren? Like a ‘lure people to their death’ Siren?” “Don’t worry; the song only works on humans.” He continued so quickly that I didn’t have time to question his assessment of my humanity. “You’ll find it just as ghastly as the rest of us.” He laughed, and his attendants chorused him. Mastyx slithered closer and pointed through the trees. “Do you see there, just off shore?” I followed his instruction and peered through the trees. If I leant a little closer to the ground, I could see it. Cosima’s compound. I would say home, but that’s too weak a word. It was a three-building complex that protruded from the water like a giant’s hand reaching for the sky. Each building was raised on stilts and connected by short bridges. The one nearest to shore faced the beach and was closer to the water’s surface

and had broad wooden steps that disappeared down into the surf. It was an open circle with a fluid roof that looked like the sail of a ship. This was connected, via rope-bridge, to the first floor of a two storey cylindrical structure that I assumed was the main house. Only the bottom half of the walls were solid. The tops were open to let the ocean air breeze through, and cream curtains billowed in the cool wind. Pale grey tiles covered the pointed roof. The second storey of this main house had yet another rope bridge that draped across to the third and final building. This building stood as high as the main house but was only one floor. The room sat atop very long posts, and when the sun glinted in your eyes, it gave the illusion that the building was floating in the air. It was a similar structure to the others yet protruding from the roof was a small lookout tower. No doubt the place where Cosima screamed to her prey. If I didn’t know that she lived there, I might have found it beautiful. A glint of red caught my eye. Cosima was walking up the steps, out of the ocean. I quickly threw myself, belly down, on the ground. “Do you see her? There, on the sun deck.” Mastyx hissed softly, gracefully placing his body beside mine as we watched her towel off. “Why do the hot ones always go crazy?” “Yeah, I see her. Damn it, Mastyx! You can’t expect me to go out there while she’s home!” I spit the words in his face. “Calm yourself, Phoenix. She will go out again soon, and then you will strike.” “So I swim out there and rummage through her house until I find a man-sized snake suit.” Hiding my distaste for his ‘First Moulting’ was proving difficult. “No need to rummage, my darling. The skin will be in her bedroom.” “Her bedroom?” He opened his mouth to answer, and I held up a hand to silence him. “Nope changed my mind. Don’t want to know.” “Suit yourself.” He chuckled. The hissing was answered by his two henchmen who lay in the grass somewhere nearby. “The bedroom is located in the third tower. The one with the lookout. Just wait until she has gone and you’ll be fine.” He got to his feet. I jumped up too. “How will you know when I have it?” “My servants will call me.”

“Your servants…wait! You’re leaving them here with me?” I looked over at the two snake people entwined in the shade of a tree. “Yes, they will be my eyes and ears. Tegus.” One of the creatures lifted his head. “Boaca.” The other followed suit. “Come.” They came crawling and slithering across the grass to kneel at his feet. “You keep an eye on the Lady and keep her safe.” “Yesssss master.” They hissed in unison. “And please, don’t pester her.” He sounded like an exasperated father pleading with his children to be good for the babysitter. “Yesssss master.” They turned sinister smiles to me. “Good. I’ll be off then.” He winked at me. “See you soon.” He ran his scaled hands over the smooth skulls of his servants and disappeared. The two snake boys stayed where they were; heads bent back with pleasure. When it became obvious that they weren’t going to move, I cleared my throat. “Okay.” Their eyes snapped open, and they stared at me. “I’m going to sit over here and watch for Cosima to leave. You two can go back over there.” I pointed to the tree they had been lying under. “And do whatever it was you were doing. Quietly.” “As you wish.” Tegus, or was it Boaca, hissed and they slithered back to the tree. The sound of their scales in the grass was grating, and I shivered as I turned towards the water. It was so blue and the sky so clear. It would have felt amazing to strip down and lie in the warm sun, but no! I had to wait for the crazy Siren to leave her home so I could break in and steal the skin of a snake man. Wow, my life is strange. The air was warm, so I dropped the bag and took off my fur. I found a place where I could sit with my back against a tree and watch Cosima’s lair. I folded the coat and buried it in my bag and then pulled out some food and water. There were still some nuts, a good apple and quite a bit of water left. I ate the nuts first and then took a few slow sips of water. I crunched the apple down to the very essence of the core, tossed the remains into the trees and, after taking one last swig, put the water bottle away.

I settled back against the tree as the ocean breeze played against my skin. It felt so good as it pulled away the tension of the tomb. As I watched Cosima’s red silhouette meander around her home, my mind wandered to Benyst. He would be very worried by now, and if he returned to the temple, he would find the lamp on the ground of the tomb, and the table smashed. That’s if he came back to look for me. The strength he had in his hut was dowsed by fear when we got to the temple. Whether he stayed at his home or went back to the tomb, he would be safe. Without my presence or the wing, there was no need for my enemies to be there. Once I had both wings, I would go back to his hut and let him know I was okay. Hopefully, by that time I would know where Sid and Yeren were, and we could rescue them. But first I needed my wings, without them I couldn’t get back to Benyst let alone go rescuing people. I watched Cosima cross the bridge to her bedroom. She did not continue up to the lookout but walked across to the other side. She bent down, and the half wall hid her. I didn’t take my eyes off that spot, I stared at it till I thought my eyes would melt, but she did not reappear. I assumed she was taking a nap or doing something on her bed. I shuddered as I tried not to go through the possibilities. I mean, to each his own, but used snakeskin? That’s a new one. The sun grew brighter overhead. It bounced off the ocean almost blinding me. I closed my eyes to give them a rest, felt my head nod and forced them open again. It had been so long since I’d slept. I heard a soft hiss and turned quickly to check on Tegus and Boaca. They were fast asleep in the shade of a tree, their sleepy hissing soothing. I turned back to the water and closed my eyes again. I tried to fight the pull of sleep, snapping my already sore neck, but it was no use. The sound of the ocean was too soothing and the breeze too comforting. I fell asleep.

20

The Archer marched through my dreams. He said nothing, but I could feel him at my back, following me. I turned periodically to look back at him. He was beautiful and dark, his platinum skin shining in the grey light of The Void. I could not read his expression, but there was something, a kind of spark when our eyes met. Silver and blue colliding. I kept moving forward, knowing in my dream world that he would always follow me. As I explored The Void, I began to feel something moist dart across my face. It left a shimmery line like a snail in its wake. I looked around for the source, but there was only The Archer, ten steps behind me. I looked at him, and he said my name. It came out like a screaming hiss. “Phoenixxxxxxxxx!” I cried out as I woke, sitting up and swatting the air. My hand made heavy with something before I opened my eyes. “Ow!” Followed by a sibilant giggle. “I told you not to touch her.” My eyes finally open, I surveyed the scene. Tegus and Boaca were huddled around me. The one that I had hit was curled into a ball holding its chin; the other sat back on its heels giggling. I could feel moisture on my cheek and wiped at it to come away with a palm full of snake spit. “Ewww, guys!” I wiped my hand on some shrubs. “Couldn’t you just poke me or something?!” “I told Boaca not to, but he wanted a taste.” “Not true!” cried Boaca. “I thought it the most soothing way to wake you.” “Liar.” Tegus teased. They began to move close to each other again. Before they could get too into things, I interrupted.

“Uh, guys?” I snapped my fingers between them, and they turned to me. “How long have I been asleep?” The sun had moved, it wasn’t as blinding, but we were definitely nowhere near sunset. “A few hours, no more.” Boaca cooed. “Good.” I pushed Tegus out of my line of sight. His skin was cold and smooth; he ran as much of it as he could along my hand as he moved. “Did you see her? Did she leave?” “We were also…” they exchanged a look, “…asleep, My Lady.” Boaca inched closer hoping for his own feel. I peered through the trees. “Shit.” There was no sign of her anywhere, and I needed to get this done before sundown. “Well, I’m going across.” “What if she’s still there?” whispered Tegus. “I don’t know. But thanks to our brilliant siege I have no choice.” I gathered my bag to me. “Stay here and out of sight. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” “Yesssss Mistresssssss.” They chorused. I shuddered, something one does a lot around these creatures and headed off into the trees. I stayed amongst them for as long as I could but soon the beach butted against a rocky cliff, from here I would have to swim out to the compound. Now I had to find a place to hide my bag. I had considered leaving it with the gruesome twosome for about half a second, but they would definitely riffle through it. So now the question came of where to hide it. I looked around me. I could jam it in a crevice in the rock face, but that didn’t really appeal. What if something crawled inside my bag? Ew. Burying it didn’t make any sense like I’m going to dig a hole. That left the trees. But how could I get it to stay up? If only I had a bit of string. Then it hit me. The string! I had totally forgotten about the string Benyst had given me! It was a good thing I’d forgotten. It would have given Mastyx an even clearer line straight to me. I rummaged through my bag and found it quickly. I put my boots

and socks in the bag and then tied the open end of the spool tightly around it and then wound it around a few more times. Once I was sure the bag would not open, I tossed the spool over the strongest and highest branch I could find. I pulled on the string and hoisted the bag high above the ground until it was obscured amongst the branches. I tied the spool off to a tree nearby and stepped back to survey my work. Since the thread was fine silver it became practically invisible and, unless you were looking for it, I doubted you would see the bag. The only thing I hadn’t put in the bag was my bat. I knew I couldn’t swim with it, but it seemed like a good idea to have it within reach when I got back. I worked a small hole in the ground behind the tree with the end of the bat and then jammed it in. It would be easy to pull out when I got back. I looked out at the water, it looked so clear and inviting. It had no idea what dangers lay ahead of me. All it knew was it was warm and clear and would feel great on my body. I didn’t want to wear my jumpsuit as I swam, but I really didn’t want to end up at Cosima’s half naked. I rolled the pant legs up to my knees, folding the material carefully so they would stay up and not hinder me, and then I stepped out onto the sand. It felt so good to have the warm grains of glass move between my toes and around my feet. I rushed to the edge of the ocean and let it lap over my toes; it was cooler than the sand but still pleasant. I ventured into the water taking giant steps in an attempt to cover a lot of ground. It was quite shallow, and I had taken a good hundred paces before the water reached my waist and I was able to swim. I had kept my eyes focused on Cosima’s home looking for any flash of movement and still there was none. It was harder to keep an eye on the compound as I swam. The buildings weren’t too far from shore but the farther out I got, the stronger the waves grew. They were the type that made you grab a flutter board. Not rough enough to knock you around, but enough to bob you up and down. After taking a few mouthfuls of salt water, I gave up watching and focused on swimming as quickly as possible. In no time I had reached the steps The steps went down into the water, so when I climbed on the first one, I was waist deep again. My ears strained for a sign of life, but the only sound was that of the waves slapping gently against the wood. I stayed where I was and scanned the buildings, searching for Cosima. Still, I couldn’t spot her, even the lookout was empty. I took a deep breath and started up the steps. I had made it up two of them when I hit a patch of algae. Before I could throw an arm out to stop myself,

I had fallen hard on my side. I cried out briefly in pain and then squashed it down, hoping that the splash had covered the sound. I sat on the step and rubbed my hip trying to loosen the bump that was already forming. I had also scrapped my right calf as I fell. It was pretty bloody, but I could do nothing about that now. Fearing another fall, I crawled on my hands and knees, the rest of the way up. I really hoped that Tegus and Boaca weren’t watching, I looked like an idiot. I could just picture the two of them hissing away, crawling over each other with mirth at my expense. I made it to the top. Fortunately, the buildings were on solid s, so I got to my feet easily. This first structure was incredibly tranquil. It was around open space about the size of an average living room. There was no roof, but a large sail had been draped to shield half of the space from the sun. In this shady spot about half a dozen man-sized cushions were scattered, ready for lounging. I quickly crossed the platform and headed for the bridge. It was a series of broad planks lashed together with heavy rope and attached at each end to a platform. There were no handrails, and the thing bowed in the middle towards the water, looking like some sort of fun house ride. After falling on the stairs, this bendy structure was not appealing. Fighting against instinct I put a foot tentatively of the first plank. The bridge groaned softly. I brought my other foot to the first. The bridge sighed. I started to walk forward, staying as close to the middle as I could. With every step, the bridge made a slight moan that was barely audible over the movement of the water. As I shuffled across, the ropes bent to my weight, making wherever I was the lowest point on the bridge. I had seen Cosima dash across this thing, barely making it move. At first, the universal reflex of ‘I’m bigger than her!” reared its ugly head. This was quickly followed by ‘if I’m bigger, I can kick her ass’ which won out. Let the skinny bitch have the bridge, I could rough her up if necessary. Although in a fight it’s usually the craziest person who wins and Cosima made crazy look like a lifestyle. I grabbed the half wall on the other side to help me off the bridge and onto the next structure. This was the largest of the three, a two-storey building, each storey having a half wall that wrapped around the entire floor. Each level was shaped like a giant doughnut, the centre being open to the ocean below. One could dive from the second floor straight down into the water. A stairway wrapped around part of the atrium connecting the two floors. The décor here was an extension of what I’d seen on the deck, more sumptuous pillows and mats, ornate side tables and woven chairs that twisted and turned, suspended from the ceiling. As I looked closer, I could see lengths of ribbon and fine gold cord, as

well as sleeping masks and small paddles, stashed discreetly amongst the chairs and cushions. It looked like a posh S&M lounge, the perfect place for a large group to get comfortably kinky. I crossed to the stairs, trying to ignore the luxurious scene. Some of it looked rather inviting, under the right circumstances. I took the stairs slowly, bringing each foot onto the stair before I proceeded to the next. It was tedious, but I needed to be sure the wood wouldn’t creak. There were still two more areas to check before I knew I was alone. I stopped as my head broke through to the second floor. I turned quietly on the spot and looked around. This level was sparse like no one really spent time here. A table and chairs and a couple of cushions were the only furnishings. Silent as a mouse I crept onto the second floor and located the next bridge. The distance between these two buildings was smaller than before, but the structure of the bridge remained the same. Not wanting to repeat the drawn out agony of my first crossing I decided to take a page from Cosima’s book. I took a deep breath and dashed across. Surprisingly the bridge did not bend as much, and the only sounds were my soft footfalls against the wood. I arrived on the other side with a big grin on my face that was quickly smacked off. Cosima was here. She lay sprawled across her bed in a deep sleep. I could see her clearly through the open spiral staircase that stood in the middle of the room and led up to the lookout tower. Her bed was built into the curved wall of the building; the head of the mattress bent to accommodate it, and the end was round. Cosima’s lovely red body was a languid splash against the creamy linens that covered her bed. She was partially on her side, the curve and swell of her hips draped gently with a sheet. A twist at her waist allowed her back to fall against the mattress. Her arms stretched above her, arching her back and emphasising her firm, ample, chest. She really did have an amazing body, like Noiryn’s blue, her shimmering red scales accented all the right places. It’s strange; she spent most of her time naked but slept draped with a sheet. I pulled my eyes from her and scanned the room for the skin. I was hoping it would be out in the open, but when I couldn’t immediately spot it, I began to carefully search. There was a small chest on either side of the room. The first contained more of the items I’d seen downstairs, it seemed that Cosima was very into tying people up. I suppose she could have liked being tied up, but somehow I didn’t think so. I moved to open the second chest. It had a lid as well as interlocking doors in the front, and I fumbled as quietly as possible with its

many parts. It opened like a three petal flower, the lid rising and the doors opening wide like waiting arms. The inside was lined with a padded cloth, more burgundy, like blood by moonlight. There were beautiful pieces of jewellery hanging from delicate hooks mounted on the doors of the cabinet, strings of pearls and links of heavy gold. In the body of the chest were larger pieces. A sword lay on its side, the ornate handle glittering. Beside it, a broad-brimmed hat made from dark felt, and an old-fashioned pistol. There were two traditional sailor hats, each embroidered with the name of the same ship. Next to those, covered in a fine layer of dust, lay an eye patch and hook. Here were the many trophies of Cosima’s conquests. I was very tempted to run my hands over these objects. Inanimate though they were, they each radiated a palpable story. I knelt there and swayed with the desire to touch, but before I could wrap my hand around an ivory boned corset, I saw it. It lay on its side just behind the sailor hats, had I not made a move for the corset I would never have seen it. A lavender feather. My feather. It was the one she had taken from me before The Guard had Bound me. I reached for it with greedy elegance, careful not to damage the delicate thing. The feather was about ten inches long and almost as broad as my hand. It was a beautiful shade of lavender, and I trailed it down my arm absorbing the softness of the plume. I definitely wasn’t leaving it behind. I tucked it down the front of my suit, deep, so it rested in the waistband of my panties. It wasn’t perfect, but at least I could save it from Cosima’s horrible hands. I stood and closed the chest. I closed it more quickly than I had intended and the wood made a sharp clack as it shut. My body froze as I cast a hasty look at Cosima. She made a soft moan and rolled completely onto her right side. I let out a silent sigh of relief and assessed the situation. I had not found the skin. I had looked everywhere, and I had not found the skin. ‘Well’, I thought, ‘that’s not true, you haven’t looked everywhere.’ ‘Oh yeah?’ I replied to myself. ‘Where haven’t I looked?’ ‘You haven’t looked under the bed.’ Sometimes I hate being right. The bed was higher off the ground than a normal mattress would be, so there was probably storage underneath. I got down on the ground and tried to see under the bed. The covers had moved around as Cosima slept and I could not get a clear look underneath. I crawled slowly to the end of the bed. I figured if

Cosima did wake up she wouldn’t see me immediately, I might have time to crawl under the bed and hide. When I got to the foot of the bed, I gingerly lifted the sheet and put my torso as low to the ground as possible. There was nothing under the bed. Nothing. Not even a dust bunny. I rested my forehead on the wooden floor and let my heart sink. Mastyx had said it would be in the bedroom, but it wasn’t here. I had had a pretty good look around the rest of the compound and hadn’t spotted it. What if she didn’t have it anymore? Or worse, what if Mastyx just sent me here to get my ass kicked. That thought sobered me up. If the skin wasn’t here, then I’d best be getting the hell out. Cosima let out a long snore. I straightened up. Sitting on my heels, the bed was at eye level. Cosima was still; the only movement was her ribs fluctuating with her breath. Relieved, I began to turn. As I moved to my right, I caught a shape on the bedspread. It was almost the same colour as the sheets so I would only have seen it this close. The skin. It looked like a child-sized translucent plastic suit. I reached out for it, barely letting my hand touch the sheets as I moved to grab it. When my fingers made purchase, I pulled it towards me as gently as I could. It was much softer than I imagined, it had the move and feel of rough silk. I pulled it from the bed and folded it; my hands began to tingle slightly as I worked. Gently I manoeuvred the skin into a shape resembling a thick postcard. I didn’t want the skin touching my feather, so I slid it down my back to rest snuggly in the strap of my thong. As I manoeuvred things, the feather shifted and tickled but remained in place. I wiggled, making sure the skin was secure, and my low-back began to tingle. I ignored it and started crawling away from the bed. I waited until I was half way across the room, at the foot of the stairs, before I stood. From here it was a clear run to the bridge. I was almost out of there, and I had the skin. I started to feel a bit cocky as turned around to survey Cosima one last time. “Hi, Phoenix.”

21

She was sitting up in bed, smiling at me. Her curvaceous body was a naked red slash against the sheets. The shock was so big I screamed. “Ahh!” Wow, so much for cocky. “I’m afraid I can’t let you leave with that.” “With what?” When in doubt, play dumb. “Tut, tut, sweet Phoenix.” She began to move languidly towards the end of the bed, her third eye moving up and down my body, independent of the others. Instinctively I took a step back. “You have one of my trophies pressed gently against your ass, and I must insist you return it.” She smiled. It was a lipless twist of her face. “Or I could take it.” I took another step. “Yes. That’s what I’ll do.” She leapt off the bed towards me. I was already at the bridge by the time she ed the stairs. I was half way across when I felt the whole thing buckle as Cosima cackled. “No wings to help you now!” She had loosened the ropes that held the bridge to the bedroom. As the bridge swung down like a pendulum, I struggled to stay on. I managed to get hold of the wood rungs and ride the painful jolt as the entire concourse smacked against the main building. My body snapped forward and back, hitting the boards with the force of my weight and a downward trajectory. I could feel fresh scrapes form on my forearms as the bruise on my side got worse. From the structure above, Cosima’s dumbfounded screaming filled the sky. I had to keep moving. I inched my way along the boards and got one foot on the half-wall of the bottom floor. I moved both feet onto the ledge and looked back at Cosima. Rage burned in her three eyes. She took a deep breath and jumped into the water. I jumped down from the wall into a pile of cushions. Cosima had not yet

emerged, but there was no way I could get to the stairs before her, besides, I didn’t fancy my chances against her in the open water. I scrambled into one of the suspended chairs and disappeared into it. My weight kept the solid wicker side turned to the room. When Cosima broke from the water of the central atrium to land on the worn wooden floor, I was well hidden. “Come out, come out, where ever you are!” She was barely out of breath. Shit. “Dear, sweet Phoenix, did Mastyx charm you? Did he convince you that you were up to this task?” I could hear her footstep as she made a circuit around the room. She had chosen to walk away from where I was, but the circle would bring her back to me. “No one takes from me, Phoenix. No one. Not Mastyx and not you.” Her voice got wild as she bellowed. “I have heard men scream my name as they drowned! I have felt flesh tear under my hands! I move with the cunning of a shark and you! You! The one we Banished! You think you can escape me?” She was getting closer now. I could hear her smacking at the other chairs suspended around the space. “I have tasted your blood, Phoenix.” She was right behind me. “And I will taste it again.” I couldn’t resist. “Fuck you.” She screamed and spun the chair around. I was ready for her and kicked out as she dove towards me. The kick caught her right in the mouth, and she rocked backwards leaving a spray of blood in the air. I threw myself out of the chair and slammed down on top of her, straddling her. I was in a perfect position to punch her. So I did. Several times. As I swung for the fourth, she recovered and grabbed my hand and flipped me. We rolled over each other a few times and ended up in a pile of cushions. She was on top of me, between my legs, her pelvis pinning mine, my arms caught above me. She held me still as she drew back to look at me. “Such a pretty thing. I like you better without the wings.” Her third eye travelled down my chest. “It’s much easier to put you on your back.” She ground her body into mine and lowered her face towards me. As she moved, her grip on my hands loosened. I didn’t hesitate and was able to flip us again. Once I was on top, I wrenched my arm free and punched her in the solar plexus. The force of it made her gag. I crawled off of her as a spurt of

saltwater spewed from her mouth. I scrambled forward on my hands and knees trying desperately to put space between us. Before I got too far, she was on me again. She used her body to hold me down against the pillows. The skin began to tingle, sending waves of pleasure along my spine. “Can you feel it?” I was not going to answer. “The skin? It’s against your bare flesh. I know it is. I can feel it pressed against us both. Separated by a thin bit of cloth.” She undulated her frame along mine. “Let’s see if we can wake it up.” The tingling from the skin increased. A warm sensation began to pulse out from the skin to my pelvis. I could feel its energy move and caress the deepest parts of me. Cosima’s body rocked against mine as the skin reached out to her. “That’s why he wants it back. Can you feel it? Who would give up such an amazing trinket?” She moaned. “Give into it, darling. Let me show you the edges of pleasure.” Images flowed through my mind. Snapshots of the two of us, of what could be. In her bed, in the water, under the full sun, here on the padded floor. Ropes, blindfolds, paddles, pain, joy. Through our bodies, we would ride the knife-edge of endless pleasure. I couldn’t help but arch into her body. Cosima laughed. “That’s right, Phoenix. First your wings and now your body.” She whispered in my ear, “I will make you my slave.” That one word sliced through all the images, through my body, to my heart. The place where my wings once were blazed with pain as my power flared. “No!” I used all my strength to throw her off. She flew back into the cushions, dazed by my sudden outburst. I got to my feet and kicked her in the gut. She vomited saltwater. I could smell the brine hit the floor. I stepped back from her and watched her writhe on the ground. I was so done with this. “Get up,” I whispered. She made no move to get to her feet. “Get up!” I bellowed at her, but she continued to grope around in the salty mixture she’d spewed on the floor. “I’ve had enough of this.” I moved to pick her up off the ground. I wanted her on her feet before I knocked

her out. I swept my wet, salty hair off my face and put one hand on her shoulder, the other went to the base of her neck. I gripped and had started to pull when she released the spines. I had forgotten they were there, but the pain quickly reminded me. I screamed, and she retracted the spikes. “Did that hurt?” She mocked me. Laughing as she got her feet. The pain made my knees threaten to buckle; I placed my good hand on a table for . I looked at my injured hand. The spike had gone clean through the centre of my right hand, leaving a hole the size of a pencil in its wake. It was bleeding profusely and throbbed like mad. “Careful! You’re getting blood everywhere!” She laughed and took a few steps towards the opponent she thought she’d defeated. “Let me dress it for you.” She said with false care. “I’ll lick it clean.” “Sure,” I said through clenched teeth. Still leaning on the table, I took a breath and closed my hand, the blood flowed faster. “Really?” She sounded genuinely surprised but moved closer. “You’re an idiot,” I told her as I picked up the table with both hands and broke it over her head. She went down and didn’t get up. I kicked her leg a couple times to be sure she was out. When she didn’t react, I quickly grabbed a sash from the ground and bound my hand as best I could. It was difficult tying it with my left, but I managed to get the bleeding down to a trickle. Then I pulled the skin from the back of my suit and put it on the ground. It had been pulsing since Cosima activated it and I needed to be away from its pull for a little while. I set about the room gathering all the rope and ribbon I could find. When I had a huge pile, I began to tie Cosima up. I tied her hands behind her back, wrapping three ropes around them and tying each in as complicated a knot as I could muster. I did the same with her feet. I then set to wrapping long lengths of golden cord up and down her body. I needed to make it near impossible for her to get out. If she woke up before I got back to shore, I needed her occupied. She moaned a couple times while I worked but all three eyes stayed shut. When I was satisfied with my work, I grabbed the skin from the floor. I shoved it back into place as I walked to the bridge. After riding the collapse of the last,

this one held no fear for me now. I crossed it and was back to the stairs in seconds. I started down the steps and forgot about the slippery patch. I hit it, and my legs went out from under me. Stupidly, I brought my hands down to break my fall. The wounded hand hit the wood and salt bringing tears to my eyes. I cried out and wrenched my hand from the water. I sat on the stairs and got my feet on a step below me. When I stood up, I was waist deep in the water. I didn’t fancy trying to swim back with one hand in the air, so there was no way around it. I had to submerge my injured hand. I checked to make sure Mastyx’s skin and my feather were securely in place, took a deep breath and set out for shore. With every move of my arm, I could feel the water pump through the bleeding hole.

22

The swim to shore seemed shorter than the trip out: maybe the pain was distracting me. My hand throbbed as the salt water swished in and out of the wound. Finally, I got in close enough to get to my feet and walk to shore. I was exhausted by the time my toes left the water, and I collapsed to my knees in the sand. “I smell blood,” hissed a voice in the trees. “Me too,” came a sibilant reply. “Think she’ll give us a taste?” One of the snake men slithered from the trees. “We could always take one.” Its twin followed. They kept their bellies low to the ground as they moved towards me, flanking me on either side. “Fuck off, guys.” I glared at them. “Just a little taste?” The creature’s tongue flicked rapidly in and out as its body stretched to meet me. “Yessssss. Just a little,” its partner chorused. They kept moving down the sand. My heart started to beat faster. I didn’t have much strength left. If these guys jumped me, I was screwed. “Tegus! Boaca! That’s enough!” Suddenly Mastyx appeared in our midst. “I told you not to harm her!” he shouted at the two snake men. “Ssssssorry, Master!” They whined in unison. “She just smelt so good!” One offered. Mastyx grabbed it by the neck and pulled it off the ground. “I don’t care what she smells like…” he murmured through gritted teeth, “You do not disobey me.”

“My apologies, Master!” With his hand around the creature’s throat, the sound was strangled and hard. Mastyx looked at me as he tossed the creature to the ground. “They have not harmed you.” It was a statement. “No. This…” I held up my injured hand, “is thanks to your ex.” A wide grin broke across his face. “She can be feisty.” His face changed. “She was there?” “Oh yeah.” “Then why did you…” “We fell asleep. Well, I was asleep. I don’t know what they were doing.” Tegus and Boaca bowed their heads in unison. Mastyx gave them a hard look then turned his attention back to me. “When I woke up there was no way of knowing if she was there or not. So I took a chance.” “How brave.” He didn’t sound impressed. “More like stupid. She really didn’t want to give it up, as you can see.” I raised my hand to him again. Blood was soaking through the bandage and scratches and bruises stood out on my arms. “You have the skin?” “Yep.” I pulled it out of the suit and tossed it to him. I retightened my bandage as I got to my feet. “So. Where’s my wing?” Standing, we were eye to eye. He looked up from the skin he was pressing to his torso and gave me a devilish smile. “The Archer has it.” “The Archer!” My dream suddenly made sense. “Yes.” His servants gave a sibilant giggle as they drew closer to his body. “Okay, where is he?” Again his servants laughed.

“I don’t know.” He said plainly. “What do you mean you don’t know?!” “He stopped attending Guard meetings a long while ago. Right around the time he took your wing.” He sighed. “And I haven’t the foggiest idea where he could be.” His words hit me like a fast moving car. I could feel bile rise in my throat. I was an idiot to trust this asshole. I had let him bring me here, to a place where none of my allies knew to look for me. I was screwed. “Don’t look so sad, Phoenix.” He cooed. “I’m sure you’ll get them back someday. But we should be going…” “Wait! How will I get out of here?” I reached out for him, and his servants reared up at me, hissing, I recoiled. “Maybe…” He scolded. “Maybe, you should have thought of that before. Hmmm?” All I could do was stare as he and his cohorts laughed violently. Their bodies shook and twisted with the hissing scraping sound. The snake men at his feet began to twist around his legs, winding their way up his frame. The grotesque display continued until they disappeared. Despair took me back to the ground, and I lay there for a while crying big drops self-loathing. I was repeating a mantra of ‘I am so stupid’ when something pinched my injured hand. “Ow!” The pain was sharp and made me sit up. I looked down to where my hand had lain and saw a tiny crab sitting in the cranberry coloured puddle my wound had made. The tiny thing reared back on its legs and clicked its claws at me. The courage of the minuscule warrior, coupled with the pain in my hand, brought me back to myself. “Right. Up.” I got to my feet and moved into the trees to find my hiding place. The trees all looked the same, and I was glad I’d marked the spot with my bat. I freed the baton easily from the dirt. I wished I’d had it when Mastyx had arrived. A good smack to the ribs might not have got me anywhere, but I would definitely feel

better. The problem now was the knot. My right hand was becoming more and more useless, making loosening the knot a problem. After a few minutes of worrying at the knot, I was pissed. “Ahh!” I yelled at the knot. Not able to articulate my rage, I had to settle for animal like sounds. I grabbed the cord that stretched to the tree and pulled on it. I thrashed around trying to use the leverage of my body to snap the cord. Finally, words came. “Just fucking break!” The cord broke. I fell on my ass, hard as my bag dropped from the tree to land at my feet. The cord was still wrapped tightly around it, but I had an idea. “Unravel.” Instantly the cord began to move. The silver glinted in the fading light as it retracted the spiral of itself that was wrapped around the bag. After a few moments, the bag was free, and the cord lay in a newly formed spool on the ground. “Wow.” I picked up the spool. “Thank you.” The thread twinkled. Using my good hand, I pulled my bag towards me and dropped the spool inside. I had to do something about my injury. Blood was seeping quite steadily from it now. A thin crimson line was beginning to trace a path down my wrist, and I was starting to feel light-headed. I took a few swigs of water then continued to rifle blindly through my bag until my hand brushed against rough burlap. “Ah ha!” I pulled the canvas sack free and put it in my lap. I worked it open with my left hand and looked inside to see my wing, whole and perfect, lying gently at the bottom of the hidden space. “I hope this works,” I said the words out loud to comfort myself and then I spoke to the wing. “Please, help me heal my hand.” Using my teeth, I ripped off the bandage, spat it into the trees and looked at my hand. I could see sunlight through the perfect oozing circle in its centre. I took a deep breath and plunged my hand into the bag. Drops of blood fell onto the feathers. I could see them blaze bright red before they were absorbed by the wing. Just before my fingers touched the feathers, I said softly. “Please, help me.” Fingers touched feather and a great jolt of energy coursed through my body. Like licking your fingers and sticking them in a socket, it tore a gasp from my throat. Instinctively I tried to pull my hand away, but the wing held it tight. The initial rush of power dissipated, becoming a warm throb that moved up my arm and dispersed through my body. I could feel the skin re-knitting and the small slivers of bone reform. These were not painful sensations. The wing didn’t cause me pain, just made me aware of the changes. When the healing was complete, it released me. My fingers slipped from the feathers, and I drew my arm from the

bag. The blood was still there. It had dried to look like a sticky red glove. I wiggled my fingers and opened and closed my hand. There was no pain and the place where the hole had been was now filled. I put the canvas sack back in my tote and quickly dashed to the water. I went to my knees at the shore and scrubbed my hand clean with the sand and salt the beach provided. I held my clean and whole hand in front of my face, marvelling at what the wing had done for me. Then I heard it. A sound like an angry cat fixing for a fight cut through the sky. Cosima was up. I had to get off the beach. I ran back to my bag and quickly put on my shoes. I could still feel sand between my socks and skin, but there was no time for more. I shouldered my bag, grabbed the bat and headed deeper into the trees. I needed to put distance between Cosima and myself. I tried my best imitation of Sid as I moved through the sparse forest. The land sloped upwards, and I ran as best I could. I had been moving for about ten minutes when the hill crested, and I stumbled into a clearing. “This seems like a good spot.” I figured if the wing could heal me when I asked it to then maybe it could get me out of here. I sat down in the centre of the clearing and put the bat and bag in my lap. I reached into my tote and pulled out the familiar rough sac. Sid had said if I held both wings, in their sac, to me, I would be able to travel. I was hoping with enough concentration I could do it with one. I held the bag to my chest and spoke to the wing. “Thank you for your help earlier.” It felt a little silly but what about this whole thing didn’t. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing my mind on two images. The wing, and Benyst. “Please take me to Benyst.” The bag became very warm, and I could feel the wing’s energy trying to connect with my body. It seemed to be struggling. The power was growing and fading, never quite getting big enough for Travel. In the distance, I could hear something crashing through the trees.

“Please take me to Benyst.” Again the rise and fall of power but no Travel. I thought back to my hand, the slightest touch had healed it. I opened the bag. “Please take me to Benyst.” I dipped my right hand into the canvas sack. I could feel the wing pulsing with growing power. Cosima’s screams of rage were getting closer. My fingers brushed against the soft feathers. “Please.” The wing locked on to my hand and we were off. I had never been aware during Travel before. I had thought it was instantaneous but now, with the wing as my guide, I knew differently. We moved through a plain of bright greyish light. I could feel wind against my body indicating our extreme speed. There was nothing but grey light and wind everywhere. Soon in the distance an even brighter spot appeared. We seemed to be barreling towards it. I kept my image of Benyst strong as we hurtled towards the blinding light. When it became too much I shut my eyes, the light burned through the thin skin of my lids. There was a loud crack, and instantly all was dark. The wind stopped, and I landed hard on the ground, my bag and bat on top of me. I struggled to open my eyes as Benyst yelled. “She’s back!”

23

“Oh! Thank you! Thank you!” Noiryn was here too. “I thought you’d never come back.” She sputtered through sobs. “Calm down! Let me get a look at her.” My eyes were finally open. I could see the thick jungle canopy above me. “It worked,” I to myself. Benyst’s large misshapen skull appeared above me, the folds of his skin quivered as he spoke. “How you doing, girl?” He didn’t wait for a response. “She’s fine. Come on, let’s get you up.” He slid one meaty hand behind my neck and helped me to sit up. He crouched down beside me; his raw face inches from mine, and whispered to me so Noiryn wouldn’t hear. “I thought you were done for.” “I love proving you wrong.” I chided. He laughed as he hauled me to my feet. Noiryn was standing a few feet away looking very tentative. I smiled at her and opened my arms. “Phoenix!” She flung herself at me, and I wrapped my arms around her. She clung to me for a few moments then relaxed in my arms and stepped away. “You must be hungry.” “Food can wait!” growled Benyst. “What the hell happened?” “Let her sit down!” Noiryn countered. “She can eat while she talks!” Noiryn seemed to have gotten over her fear of Benyst, they were bickering like an old married couple. “First…” They both turned to me. “I need a shower.”

I looked like hell. My hair had been tossed about by the salty waves one too many times, and Cosima had had a good grab at it. Half of it stuck out at odd and angles, and the other half was flat to my skull and matted. I had a fine layer of salt and sand all over my skin and inside my jumpsuit. The suit itself was becoming stiff with embedded grime, and the sand in my shoes was making me mental. Not to mention the dried blood I hadn’t been able to get off my arm and the scrapes and bruises that were beginning to make me look like a relief map of the Rockies. “And second… I need this suit cleaning. Then I’ll tell you everything.” I smiled at them. “While I eat.” “Fine,” Benyst said reluctantly. “There’s a shower round the back of the hut.” He gestured with his thumb. “I can clean the suit!” added Noiryn. “Fine. I’ll go make some dinner.” He picked up my bag and bat then stomped off into the hut. I followed him with my eyes, wary of parting from my wing. “Come on, I’ll show you the shower.” Noiryn smiled at me and walked around the back of the hut. The shower was a simple and sparse structure near the tree line. A huge bucket sat at the top to catch rainwater and by pulling on a rope the water poured into a large funnel and was forced to slowly through a showerhead, forming a steady rain. At the same height as the rope handle was a large shelf, perfect for soap. There was a small platform beneath it to get your feet off the ground and out of the mud, and that was it. Not very private. Since Benyst lived alone, I guess he didn’t see the need for a curtain. He was inside, and Noiryn had already stripped me once, so the no curtain factor didn’t really bother me. “If you give me your suit and shoes I’ll go clean them for you.” “How?” I asked as I sat down to slide off my boots. “I can do a few helpful things.” She closed her eyes and seemed to gather in on herself. Energy pulled from the air around her into her body. She then fixed her eyes on a rip in my knee. She

blew out a long thin column of energy that hit my knee with gentle pressure as it mended the suit. “Wow.” I breathed. Noiryn giggled. “Are you decent?” Benyst’s voice came from the hut. “Yes!” answered Noiryn. “Good! Stay that way.” We could hear him walking around the hut. “I’ve got a towel and some soap and things.” He appeared carrying a large basket. He walked over and set it down beside the shower. “Thought you might like the soap…and some warm water.” I felt it as he threw a ball of energy at the bucket. We could hear the water slosh around inside. “That should be about right.” “Great, thanks,” I answered. “No problem.” He went back inside. When he was gone, I pulled the halter strap over my head. It took a bit of peeling to get completely out of the jumpsuit. As I rolled the suit over my hips the lavender feather, I’d rescued fluttered to the ground. With lightning speed, Noiryn caught it just before it touched the jungle floor. “This is one of yours.” She remained crouched where she was, gazing at the feather. “Yeah.” “But where did you...” “It’s a long story.” I interrupted. “I’ll tell you after I shower.” The mention of the water brought her out of her reverie. She straightened up and stepped back from me. As I peeled off the rest of my clothing, she continued to stare at the feather, running her finger gently along it. “You can have it if you want.” She locked eyes with me. “Really?”

“Sure.” “Thank you.” She walked up and kissed me on the cheek. Normally, not a problem, but at that moment I was completely naked, so it felt a little weird. I stepped back and handed her my disgusting clothes. “Sorry about this.” “I’ve seen much worse.” She smiled as her eyes flicked quickly over my body. She blushed, a gentle pink showing through the blue of her cheeks. “Take your time.” She took her time walking back to the door of the hut. I had the feeling she was putting a little extra swing in her hips as she sauntered around the building. Within seconds she was gone, and I had the clearing to myself. “Shower time!” I said to myself. I turned greedily to the shower. I had lost track of time while Travelling with these wonderful weirdoes and I couldn’t when I’d last bathed. I explored the basket Benyst had left for me. It was like something from a spa, a strange collection for a hermetic old man to have. There were two fluffy towels, one bath sized and the other small, perfect for drying hair. A beautiful cotton robe was tucked behind them. The stitching was impeccable, “Where the hell did he get this?” I whispered to myself. Two bowls were nestled in the bottom of the basket, each filled with a creamy homemade soap. One bowl held a wide toothed comb in addition to the lotion, so I assumed it was for hair. It smelt like fresh coconut, and I desperately needed the comb. I had a small brush in my bag, but it was no match for these post girl fight tangles. “Hey,” I paused, talking to myself again. “I won a fight! An actual fight! Nice.” With a big grin on my face, I examined the second bowl. It had to be for the rest of me. It held the aroma of tropical flowers and had fig seeds in it, excellent for getting the crusty blood off one’s arms. I put the two bowls on the shelf and pulled the rope. I could hear water moving along metal as it made its way to the shower-head. When it finally fell it was like a perfect rainfall. The water was just a shade warmer than my body making it relaxing and refreshing all at once. I bowed my head and let the water beat down my back taking with it all the stiffness I had acquired wrestling with Cosima. I got my hair good and wet then dug a hand into the bowl of shampoo. It felt so

good to coat my hair with the sweet smelling soap. With only the odd curse word, I pulled the comb through the saturated locks until there were no more knots. I left the mixture in my hair as I covered myself in the figgy concoction. I scrubbed all the blood off my arm and from under my nails. I soaped all of my scrapes, which stung, but was necessary, and picked up each foot and scrubbed the black from the bottom. Once I was covered head to toe in bubbles, I stepped under the water and let it do the work. Its gentle pounding made quick work of the rinsing, and soon I was squeaky clean. Man, it felt good. I pulled the rope, and the water stopped. The small towel wrapped up my hair nicely, and I patted the rest of me dry with the big one. They were both so soft and fluffy it was like drying with kittens. Not that I’ve ever done that, but if I had, I imagine it would have felt like those towels did. Meow, meow, oh so dry! That kind of thing. The robe was equally soft and fit me pretty well. It hit at the knee, so I didn’t have to worry about it dragging on the ground or hold on to it to make sure my ass was covered. I sat down on the edge of the riser and rubbed my feet until they were as dry as paper. Satisfied they wouldn’t pick up too much dirt, I walked around the hut towards the smell of cooking meat.

24

My clothes were hanging on a makeshift line near the warmth of the fire. Benyst was pointedly avoiding it while he busied himself with cooking. There were now three chairs around the fire. I fell into the nearest one, and Benyst had a beer in my hand before I had a chance to ask. I chugged it. Well, I swallowed a lot really fast; I got nowhere near the bottom. “Your stuff’s over there.” Benyst looked me in the eye and nodded to his cot. My bag and bat were on it. I nodded a silent thank you. Noiryn spoke as she adjusted the clothesline. “Your clothes should be dry soon. I have your socks if you want them.” I put down my beer. “That was quick.” She tossed me the socks. I know it sounds silly but having clean socks at that moment was unreal. Noiryn had made them incredibly soft and fluffy, again I was reminded of kittens; it was so soothing to have my feet wrapped up. I shifted in my chair so I could get them a bit closer to the fire. “Thank you,” I said lazily. Noiryn simply smiled and took a seat beside me. By this time Benyst had finished the food, and he handed out plates of it in silence. There was a huge pile of something that resembled beef, which Benyst had cut it into pieces so we could eat it with our hands. There was also a vegetable soup that we drank from the bowl. I tucked into the food without mercy. I was starved, and this was good. I could feel Benyst and Noiryn exchange glances as they tried to silently decide who would start questioning me. I decided to kill the anticipation. “I didn’t get the wing.” “What!” Benyst yelled which made Noiryn yelp and slosh her soup.

“Nope. Wasn’t at the temple.” “Where did you go? We went back to the temple, and you were gone.” “You went together?” “Yes,” Noiryn interjected. “Benyst came to me and said you had not come back yet and he was worried. So we Travelled to the temple and looked for you.” “Yeah, we searched everywhere!” Benyst bristled. “We found the lamp but couldn’t locate the string.” “No, well, I forgot about the string.” “Forgot about the…” “Benyst!” Noiryn interrupted. “Forget the string!” She looked at me. “Start at the beginning.” Benyst opened his mouth to speak, but Noiryn jumped on him. “Stay quiet until she’s finished.” I took a deep breath and launched into the tale. I told them every detail, from losing the map to my conversation with Mastyx, and finally tying up Cosima, only to be left for her on the shore. The only part I left out was what the skin had felt like. I didn’t want anyone to know what I had seen at Cosima’s hands. When I was done, they both looked shocked. “You tied her up?” Noiryn asked quietly. “Yep. Knocked the bitch down and then tied her up with every bit of gold cord I could find.” Gold cord. Noiryn had had the same rope wrapped around her throat when I healed her. We locked eyes, and she gave a small nod, it had been Cosima and not whalers who had hurt her. Why had she lied? Had I known that when I healed her? Benyst broke the moment. “The wing healed your hand?” “Yep.” I held it up for them. “See.” “Amazing. And then it brought you back here?”

“Yeah, I didn’t think it was going to work at first but as soon as I touched it things got going.” “Amazing.” Benyst sat back in his chair and sipped his beer. His empty plate lay discarded at his feet. Noiryn spoke. “What do we do next?” There was fear in her voice, but I appreciated the words. “Mastyx said The Archer has my wing.” Benyst harrumphed his disapproval of the man. “But he didn’t know where to find him. He also wouldn’t tell me anything about Sid and Yeren.” I was thinking out loud, trying to formulate a plan. “Noiryn, when we first met you said they had been taken to The Void, right?” “Yes, Baba Yaga would have taken them to The Guard.” “Right…” I rubbed my face with my hands as I talked. “I have to go to The Guard.” “What!” Benyst yelled as he jumped from his chair. “They cast you out once, and you go waltzing back in! They will never let you leave, they will have you forever!” He reached across the fire and grabbed my hand, holding it above the flame. The heat was painful, and he did not let go. He spoke quietly. “Just go home, Phoenix. I’ll take you there, and then you can forget all of this. They won’t hold them forever. You’ll be safe.” I pulled from his grasp and spoke with hushed intensity as power grew in my belly. “I will not put my tail between my legs and run home. I will not have people I care about treated this way. I have seen what was done to me.” Tears brimmed in the edges of my eyes and my body began to tingle with power. “Not all of The Guard wanted me gone, and those that did not me will answer for it.” I looked into the fire, the red and gold flames mirrored the sparks that grew in my heart. “I will not give them the satisfaction of my retreat. I am going to The Void, I will confront The Guard, I will see my friends released and what is mine returned. And then…” I showed them a grim smile. “I’ll think about going home.” The tingling in my body simmered as the power reacted to my newly formed plan.

“It’ll never work,” Benyst said gruffly, I could see a shimmer of tears in the cracks of his cheeks. “You don’t have to come with me.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I’ll go with you.” Noiryn’s voice was clear and decisive. It sounded so different from her usual wounded cadence. “Are you sure?” “Yes, well, I don’t think I’ll be much help with The Guard, but I can help you Travel to The Void.” “You don’t have enough power!” Benyst bristled. “It will take at least both of us to get you there, and even then I’m not sure.” I smiled at him. “So you’re coming?” “I’ll do my best to get you there.” He looked me in the eye. “It’s a difficult thing, crossing into The Void, it might not work.” “He’s right, it might not,” added Noiryn. “It’ll work.” I was sure it would. “How can you be so sure?” asked Noiryn. “Because I’ll be with my wing.” Noiryn’s eyes got as big as saucers. “You mean?” “Yep, it’s time to reattach this wing.”

25

I got dressed, the clean suit felt taut and smooth against my skin. It hugged every curve, and as I slid into my boots, I felt the original sexiness of the outfit return. Benyst’s shampoo had worked wonders. I ran my hands through my hair feeling the soft waves cascade over my shoulders. I no longer looked like a halfdrowned rat that had chewed its way out of a dumpster. I looked like a Traveller. Well, I would in a few minutes. I grabbed the burlap sack that contained my wing and went out to the clearing behind the hut. I left Noiryn and Benyst debating the best place to land within The Void, we needed somewhere that would put us near The Guard, but still allow me to make an entrance. This task was made more difficult by the ever changing elements of The Void. The sac felt weightless in my hand as I circled the clearing trying to decide on the best place to begin my transformation. I had no idea what I was going to do. How the hell do you attach a wing to your back? This wing hadn’t been some sort of costume; it had been a physical part of my body, as intimate and connected as my arms and legs. Short of a staple gun, I was fresh out of ideas. After much circling, I knelt down in the grass between two of the torches. The spot didn’t particularly call to me; I was just tired of stalling. I placed the sack on the ground in front of me, it looked so small. As I looked down at it, my now clean and dry hair fell in my eyes, obscuring my work. I ran my hands through it and tied it up in a loose knot. It wasn’t pretty, but at least it wouldn’t get in my way. I turned the bag on its side and shook the wing free of its prison. It unfurled to its full glory, nearly as long as I was tall. The colours shone brightly in the torchlight, highlighted by the deep green of the grass. Holding my hand inches away, I ran it along the length of its beauty. “Are you ready?” I asked, more of myself than the wing. I knew the wing was ready; it had been questing for its home longer than I. “Okay.” I held my arms out in front of me, my hands hovering above the ends of the wing. I whispered, “Please come home.”

Bright green lightening shot from the wing into my hands making the air crackle around us with energy. It felt sharp as it burrowed into the centres of my palms. I could feel it move into my veins, filling me with green fire. It coursed through my body bringing stars to my eyes. When at last the fire had reached the crown of my head, and my vision swam green, the wing called to me. I answered. I drove my hands down through the lightning to grab the wing itself. The feathers gave under my hands. The stars in my vision were replaced by memory. I could feel flight in my bones. I saw the world so small below me. The edgy green energy broke through my pores to become a purple film that encapsulated the wing and me in a large orb. It did not stop at the ground but continued beneath my body so that we resided in the centre as we sat on the ground. I could feel it throb as the surface of the orb began to cycle through the colours of the wing. Energy crackled, sending my hair around me like a halo. I brought my face to the wing; I ran my cheek along the soft feathers, moving my hands along it as well. The wing seemed to return my caress, and we continued that way as the flashes of flight and grace blew through my mind. The orb turned red as the memory of our dividing blazed to the forefront. The wing showing me the violence it had experienced. Tearing of tendons, ripping of skin, breaking of bone. I would not allow us to suffer so ever again and I spoke my intention to the wing through thought. I showed it memories I had never before known. I showed it how we would be whole. I showed it how we would fly. The colour of the orb turned to indigo as the crackling sound grew, magnified by the completeness of the orb. I felt the green fire form again. This time it originated from my heart, and as it pumped through the four chambers, it became magnificent lightning once more. I pulled my face from the wing and sat back on my heels. Everywhere lightning sprung from my skin, ricocheting off the interior of the orb. I grasped the head of the wing and lifted it from the grass. It felt so heavy in my hands. I drew it around my body towards its home at my left shoulder. I arched my back to hold it away from me and focused my attention on the place of ing. I drew all my attention and power into that one spot. I let the power build and pull between us. My flesh began to sizzle and my arms to shake. I felt the cold burn of the fire grow and, when I could stand no more, I pressed my wing to my back. Instantly flesh and feather began to re-knit. Bones and tendon snapped and

cracked as they reached for each other. Pain ripped a scream from my throat. Deep and long, it held the hurt of aeons. Loneliness, fear, and darkness purged from my mouth. There was a final blinding flash of light as two became one, then everything went dark.

26

It was so quiet. Nothing moved in the clearing, even the torches seemed not to flicker. The jungle held its breath as I lay motionless on the ground. I could feel my hair hanging around my face, the knot long forgotten. I opened my tightly closed eyes and lifted my head from the ground. There were no more colours dancing and swirling around me, and my body was no longer electrified. It felt like nothing had happened to me at all. “I wonder if it worked?” I thought to myself. “Guess I’d better get up.” I moved to rise. A soft whooshing sound filled my ears, and I was lifted in a lopsided, yet effortless, fashion to my feet. “Shit.” I breathed as my wing folded behind me. I stood there stunned for a few heartbeats. Then it hit me. “It worked! It fucking worked!” I let out a triumphant cry and jumped for joy. The wing gave my usually tiny jump an extra kick. Unfortunately, it was only a kick to the left. I rose three feet off the ground, missed the landing and ended up on my ass. “Holy shit!” Benyst shouted as he rushed towards me, my bag slung across his body, his breath ragged, Noiryn on his heels with my bat in her hands. “I knew she could do it.” Noiryn sang as she sprinted past him, her body a graceful blue ribbon as it cut through the air. “Pretty cool, eh?” I answered as my wing stretched long and flapped. Its movement took me to my feet. I fought for balance, my arms out at my sides. “It’s still kind of awkward.” I smiled at them. “You look beautiful.” Benyst was roughly wiping his cheeks. “Gorgeous!” Noiryn added. “Try moving around a bit. See what you can do.” “Okay.” I shrugged, my wing unfurling slightly, and took a few steps away from them and stopped. I had no idea what to do.

“Flap around a bit!” Benyst offered. “But how?” I looked back over my shoulder, and the wing flexed. “I mean, do I have to say ‘flap’ or something?” In an effort to observe my wing I had started to resemble a very slow dog chasing its tail. “Don’t think about it so much,” Noiryn said. “This wing has always been a part of you. Just let go, be spontaneous!” “Spontaneous?” I asked, scepticism plain in my voice and Benyst’s face. “Run around and think ‘up’.” She answered dryly. “Testy, testy…” I chided. “Alright, here I go.” Now, although I’d been doing a lot of it lately, I don’t normally run, not because I’m out of shape, but because I just don’t like it. If it isn’t life or death, generally I’m not running. But today I was willing to try. I set off in a light trot around the clearing, making a circuit of the torches that surrounded the hut. At first, it was just a tedious jog then I felt the wing move. It sort of angled itself down and towards the midline of my body like a rudder on a boat. This new angle made turning sharply much easier, and I revelled in it as I weaved in and out of the torches, gathering speed. “Fly!” cried a joyous Noiryn as I rounded the hut towards them. I just thought ‘okay’, the wing began to flap and I was in the air. I only came a few feet off the ground, and I couldn’t sustain it for very long. This time I was ready for the pull to the left and nailed the landing. I continued around the clearing getting better and better at weaving in and out, getting more height and soaring for stretches of five feet or more as I leapt, letting the soles of my shoes kiss the torch flames. It felt amazing. “Okay! That’s enough!” Benyst called gruffly from across the clearing, his earlier tears dried and gone. “No sense wasting any more time. Let’s get going.” I came to a running stop in front of them. “I’m ready.” “Well, you look the part, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed if you don’t mind.” He

held up his hand, showing me two of his pulpy and misshapen digits intertwined. “Here, you’ll need this.” Noiryn handed me my bat. “I’ll look after it while we Travel.” Benyst pulled the bat from my hands and shoved in my bag, which he wore across his body. “Thank you guys.” I looked at them each in turn. “Thank you for everything.” “It was our pleasure.” Noiryn beamed. “Alright, let’s get out of here. We’ll do the focusing; you just throw your energy into the mix, okay?” Benyst stepped forward with both his hands outstretched. We each took one. I looked down at Noiryn’s blue hued fingers grasping the fleshy redness of Benyst’s hand, my own sweaty palm absorbed in his meaty grip. Reality sunk in. I was about to go to The Void. The place where this had all started; a place more foreign to me than any other I had visited, and I was going to pick a fight with some very powerful beings. Me, with my lonely little wing. I paled, and before I could stop it, a tiny whimper left my throat. “Don’t be scared,” Noiryn whispered. “You’ll know what to do.” “Bah!” Benyst snorted. “Oh, course she will. She’s The Phoenix!” I smiled wanly at them both. Noiryn took my hand, and we Travelled.

27

Everywhere was lit with a bright grey tinted light and the wind was ridiculously strong. I could feel my hands wrapped around Benyst and Noiryn’s, but I couldn’t quite make out their faces in the trembling atmosphere. The wing made it much easier to endure, more normal somehow, and I think I would have landed on my feet had I not been attached to my companions. We land in a heap. Benyst on the top, me on the bottom. It was a Noiryn sandwich with my wing as the bottom slice. Fortunately, the wing is pliable and alive, and it moulded to my body. After much groaning, mainly on Benyst’s part, we finally got off the ground. I stretched the wing a couple times, and no damage had been done. Once I had decided the wing was all right, I could focus on more important things. I was in The Void. It was exactly as it had appeared in my memories. The sky was a shade of grey only a few shades lighter than the ground, making everything feel like it was far away yet close enough to kiss. The dark grey earth was smooth and appeared to be hard packed yet gave under my feet like it had under-padding. There was a light, ever-present breeze that caressed my face and set the tendrils of my hair in motion. A few tall and skeletal trees broke the rolling skyline, and in the distance, I could see a stream. There was very little sound, and I could see no other life. An intimate solitude reigned here. “Welcome home.” Benyst’s voice broke my reverie. Neither he nor Noiryn looked happy to be there. “Here.” He ed me my bat. “We’ll wait here with your stuff. You’ll find The Guard that way…” He pointed off into the grey. “Just two rises over.” I couldn’t see anything out there. Noiryn read my mind. “Looks are deceiving here. It will reveal itself to you when you are closer.” I nodded my reply and stared out at the grey place I was to explore. “If I’m not back soon, head home.” I looked over my shoulder and smiled grimly at them. “Bye.” Noiryn waved meekly, and Benyst grunted. I started walking. It was hard, but I walked for about five minutes before I looked back. They were

my only friends here, and the landscape was making me feeling increasingly alone. When I finally looked back I expected to see tiny figures of Noiryn and Benyst, and perhaps get another wave, but all I saw was grey. The rules of distance seemed not to apply here, and I wondered how long I had before I would be at The Guard’s meeting place. They could be miles away, or they could be just over the next hill. I couldn’t decide which was more frightening. I had to go forward; I needed to finish this for my own sanity. I needed to know the truth about who I had been. Feeling scared wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I flapped my wing and floated a few feet forward. Looking out at The Void I spotted a cluster of trees that shimmered like birch bark sometimes does, a stream wound its way around them and then headed off into the distance. It was beautiful in an eerie sort of way. It seemed so strange that I had lived here, that this had been my home. That thought brought a new peace to my bones. I had been comfortable here once, and I would be again. I just had to think positively, and possibly fight some Travellers with untold supernatural powers but I could handle it, right? I chuckled at my ludicrous situation, gave my wing a few good flaps and continued walking. I focused on my task as I walked. I pictured the circle, imagining each of The Guards’ faces in turn. I could see Windiga, his armour shining as he spoke of the respect I should be paid, Silverwood’s sad eyes as I was Bound. Perhaps they would me. I went through the memory of my attack and drew strength from the images of Cosima and Ganaraj orchestrating the onslaught. I went over the things Mastyx had said as his slithering companions writhed at his feet. I pictured The Archer as he grappled with Sid. He had my wing. Power began to hum in the centre of my body, and I instinctively tried to rub my wings together. The move was incomplete, and the reminder of my missing limb turned the power in me to a deep red. I could see it in my mind’s eye, feel it in my flesh, a spinning red orb residing in my pelvis. It unravelled to become a blue flame that moved through my torso and crackled down my wing. A new kind of fluidity came to my flesh; I felt more in my body than ever before. I could feel every inch of my flesh, every molecule aligning and moving as one. With this new sense of movement came a resolve. “I will have my wing.” I continued this mantra as I got to the top of a gentle rise. In the valley below

was a large circle of trees, obscuring what resided in the centre. Cosima’s harsh laughter crackled through the valley. I had found The Guard.

28

I paused as the cold cackle of her laughter grated across my skin. Even laughing she sounded like a bitch. I took a few deep breaths and smoothed back my hair. Cosima was not alone, I could hear other voices rising and falling on the wind. I grabbed my bat in a two handed grip and swung it a few times. My wing undulated with the action giving the twist of my body extra power. I whispered to the air. “Alright, it’s ass kicking time.” Feeling strong, and a little reckless, I started down the hill. I had no idea when they would my presence or what they would do when I arrived, so I moved as silently as possible. As I got closer, I could make out more of the conversation and began to piece together exactly who awaited me in the circle. “I told you to find her!” Cosima shrieked. “Cosima, calm yourself.” A steady deep voice that I recognised to be Ganaraj rolled across the circle. “We have looked everywhere. We cannot find her Light.” A third voice, old and frail. I had no idea who it could be. “Perhaps she has had help.” “Oh we know she’s been helped.” Cosima’s voice dropped to a low growl as she spat out the venomous words. “Don’t we, lover.” “Just a few corrections, my dear.” Mastyx drawled. “One, I did not help her, and two, you are no longer my lover.” “You brought her to my home!” Cosima shrieked. “To retrieve what is mine!” Mastyx bellowed in return. The rise in volume made the sibilance of his voice more pronounced. “Perhaps if you were not so weak she would not have bested you.” “I should rip out your throat for that.” Cosima hissed. Ganaraj spoke.

“Wouldn’t you rather tear at Phoenix?” Silence. “She’s right outside the circle.” I froze. “What?” The surprise was plain as Cosima and Mastyx chorused their response. “Yes, right outside the trees. Phoenix? Please us.” I was a good ten feet from the circle of trees, and unlike the others in The Void, these were thickly branched. I thought they had obscured me. I was wrong. Honestly, running crossed my mind. I seriously considered it for about five heartbeats, then my wing flapped, and I knew what I had to do. “Sure!” I called out. “Sounds like a party!” I could hear Mastyx’s hissing laughter as I sauntered towards the circle. A break in the trees appeared as I got closer, not like the gentle bending the trees did on Benyst’s path, these trees just disappeared leaving a gaping hole in their wake. I walked through the opening into the circle of The Guard seats. They had all rushed onto their daises, Ganaraj sitting in lotus, Cosima draped provocatively, and Mastyx feigning relaxation. God, they were so full of themselves. The person whose voice I didn’t recognise turned out to be an old woman, super old, like two or three centuries. She wore many shawls around her shoulders and had a large scarf over her head. Her face looked like an apple doll, and she held her gnarled hands clasped in front of her. A long shapeless wool dress skimmed the ground at her feet. She stood off to the side of Cosima and seemed to sway a little on her feet. I wondered briefly why they didn’t bring her a chair. I waited until I had walked nearly to the centre of the ring before I unfurled the wing. I opened it to its fullest length and let the power of a few flaps float me to the centre. I landed and gave them all a low curtsy, stretching my body forward and letting my wing point gracefully to the sky. When I rose from the bow, Cosima had a look of pure rage on her face. “Well done,” Mastyx said gleefully. “It looks beautiful on you.” Cosima hissed at him. “Yes, you always were a beautiful creature,” Ganaraj spoke, he looked so imive. “Where did you find it?” I smiled broadly at him.

”I have great friends.” “Ha!” Cosima snorted. Ganaraj glanced sternly at her, silencing the outburst. “Where are my friends?” I asked in a low voice. “Friends?” Ganaraj raised a hand to his chin. “She means the Minion and the Yeti,” Mastyx said. “I know who she means!” spat Ganaraj. He quickly regained his composure as he turned back to me. “I am just surprised you call them friends.” “What do you call people who help you?” I countered. “I prefer allies.” He began to rub his chin. “So you think they have helped you?” He stopped rubbing and looked me plainly in the eyes. Okay. Things were starting to get sticky. I could feel it. That question was weird and what was going on with Cosima? I was sure she was going to rip me apart when she saw me. But there she sat, completely still, over in the corner with Grandma Scary. Yeah, scary was the right word. Anyone that old and hanging out with Cosima was not going to be making cookies. “Yes. They have helped me.” “Hmm… Now perhaps, but have they always?” Cosima grinned at his question, her fishy mouth stretching to its limit. “I wouldn’t know.” “And why wouldn’t you know?” Ganaraj painted concern on his face. I wasn’t falling for it. “Because you bastards…” I pointed at him with my bat and shot my naked palm at Cosima. “Stole my wings and thus, my memory.” I smiled sweetly at him. “They were not stolen.” He countered. “Oh? You came up on me with an army, pinned me down and ripped them from my back? ‘Stolen’ not enough? Okay. Give me a second… How about snatched?

Is that a better word?” I can be really sarcastic when I’m pissed. “They were not stolen because their removal was decreed by The Guard. No action of The Guard is wrong.” He crossed his hands in his lap. “The Guard? Really? So everyone was there? Everybody voted?” “The minutiae of the meeting are none of your concern.” “Where are the others now, Ganaraj?” I shouted the words at him. “Where is the strength of The Guard now?” “You question our strength!” He jumped to stand on his dais. “Yes! The entire Guard did not vote that day! You rigged it in your favour!” “How do you know these things?!” Cosima howled. I could see her turn to Mastyx in my periphery. “I know what you did to me, Ganaraj! What both of you did!” I held both my arms out to them. I could feel power welling in my belly, my wing trembled with it. “Now call your ally, The Archer and have him bring me my wing!” Ganaraj began to laugh. At first, it was a small chuckle, but it quickly grew into a full-bellied sound that rocked him back and forth on his dais. It was just as wet and nasty as Sid’s. I stood in shocked silence as he rolled, wiping tears from his eyes. He seemed to be saying ‘The Archer’ under his breath. Soon Cosima caught the joke, and the two laughed openly as they sat on their grey thrones. I tried to make eye with Mastyx, but he only glanced at me, refusing to meet my gaze. He looked ruefully at Ganaraj and then made to slip off the back of his dais. “Where do you think you’re going?” Ganaraj and Cosima fell abruptly silent. “Just stretching my legs.” Mastyx grinned. Cosima arched her body towards him. “But you still have a job to do.”

“Yes.” Ganaraj chimed. “Let’s put her out of her misery.” What the fuck does that mean? “What the fuck does that mean?” I get sarcastic, and rude, a thrilling combination. “Relax, darling, I’m just getting your friends.” Mastyx slid off his dais and walked towards the tree line. I kept the other three in my sights as I watched him go, and let the bat rest loose and ready at my side. Granny in the corner was staring at me with her dark beady eyes. She was slowly rubbing her hands together and every once and a while her thick tongue would crawl across her lips. I was about to tell her to take a picture when a familiar voice cut through the silence. “She will be back! She will make you all pay for your injustice!” Mastyx entered the circle dragging Sid and Yeren in his wake. They were imprisoned in large orbs of magenta energy, and although they visibly fought against them, the orbs bounced into the circle like children’s toys. “Sid! Yeren!” I would have run to them had Mastyx not stepped between us. I made to move past him, but he whispered to me. “Not a good idea, darling.” “Are you guys okay?” I asked from where I stood. “I knew you would come!” Sid cried. “Where is the other wing?” “With The Archer.” “I told you!” Yeren spoke to Sid in a harsh whisper that travelled throughout the circle. “She will not help us!” Cosima began to laugh. “Oh don’t worry, little one, she still thinks you are her friends.”

“And we are!” Sid pressed himself against the side of the orb. It swayed with his weight. “No matter what they tell you, we are! We have always been there for you, My Lady! Always!” I looked at Sid, tears streamed down his face. Yeren had all but turned her back to me, her head hanging low. I looked at Mastyx, but his face offered nothing. This entire time Cosima had continued to chuckle. It grated like broken glass against my skin and was pushing me closer to the edge with every breath. I couldn’t take anymore, and I let her know it. “Shut your fucking face!” There was no burst of green power, no flash of red fire, just me and my lungs. And they shut her up good. She sat there opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water evidently trying to come up with some witty response. Ganaraj beat her to it. “Well said.” All eyes turned to him. “We must move on. To return to your earlier statements, the entire Guard was not needed for the vote, Phoenix. You broke one of our most ancient laws. And breaking this law carries with it a swift and final punishment. Banishment. No more, no less.” “And what law did I break?” I spoke through gritted teeth. “You Healed.” “You have no proof!” My visions showed me I had Healed without leaving a trace of my energy. There was no way they could prove what I’d done. “We did not need proof. We have eyewitnesses.” My blood ran cold. He looked over at Sid and Yeren. Yeren had curled into a ball at the bottom of her orb. Sid closed his eyes as I looked at him. “No!” I shouted. “I don’t believe you! Sid! Sid! Tell me it isn’t true!” He wouldn’t open his eyes. I rounded on Cosima. “You must have tortured them! You did, didn’t you, you fucking coward!” A smile spread across her face. “There was no need. They sang like birds.”

She worked the word like a curse, and my wing reached for its absent partner. I could feel my power flare to a burning red in my belly. It rolled like a giant cat through my torso, turning to an icy blue as it stretched through my arms and down to the tip of my wing. The pain was too much. Sid. My friend for years, lifetimes, and he had betrayed me? I flashed back to their conversation in the cave. Sid had warned Yeren that I would everything. Is this the information they were afraid of? “Sid?” I whispered. “Is it true?” He nodded. I collapsed to the ground, the bat rolled from my hand. “Oh! It’s better than I thought it would be!” Cosima clapped her hands. “Look at her face! She’s completely broken! Let’s kick her while she’s down! Baba?” “My pleasure.” The old woman spoke quietly with a voice that held every one of her innumerable years. “For my Riders.” She moved like lightning. I had just ed the quick exiting shuffle of Mastyx’s steps, and she was on me. Her gnarled hands grabbed the edge of the wing and made to tear it off. But the wing and I were one now, and the familiarity of the tug brought a quick fury to my flesh. I stretched the wing out sharply, catching her off guard and sending her hurtling across the circle as its tunnel of wind brought me to my feet. I braced for another onslaught as I checked the ground for my bat. It was near the base of an empty dais, too far for a quick grab. Baba came at me with clawed hands scratching wildly at the air. I caught her at the wrists, and she screamed a long ragged howl. The scream had substance, the sheer weight of the sound threatened to take me off my feet. I planted my back leg and kicked the front one into her gut, releasing her hands as I went. The action knocked her to the ground. Which is where I would have gone had the wing not sprung into action and lifted me up and back. As Baba wrestled with her many shawls, I made a dive for my bat. I flew forwards, the wing providing the lift as I stretched my arms towards it. My feet left the ground, but within seconds I felt strong hands wrap around one of my ankles. I fell forward onto my hands, landing in a push-up position; if I hadn’t had the wing, I would have broken a wrist. I twisted onto my butt pulling my attacker with me. Cosima had my foot in an iron grip, she was screaming with

laughter. I could hear Baba getting to her feet in the distance. I tried to kick out at Cosima, but she dodged all my attempts, pulling up on my ankle every time I tried to get to my feet. A heavy grunt drew my eyes, and I saw Baba start to run at me. She had almost closed the distance when a large body slammed into her, taking her to the ground. “Benyst!” I shouted to him, hope returning to me. “You still have me to deal with me, bitch.” Cosima showed me a lipless smile. “Time for a little one on one.” “I thought you preferred three?” Both Cosima and I snapped our attention to the new voice. I had a moment to Noiryn’s calm face before she cracked my bat across Cosima’s back. Tossing my bat to the side, she fell on Cosima and began to grapple. As I moved for my bat, a voice filled my ears, staying my hand. “It is right that it will be the two of us,” Ganaraj spoke quietly so that only I could hear him. I replied in a conversational tone. “I your fear that day, Ganaraj. I felt it. You had me, had tasted my blood, and still, you were afraid.” I rose to my full height and let the wing unfurl, its glory undeniable. I could see him fight the urge to recoil. “You are mistaken. I am not afraid of you.” “Only one way to find out.” I made a little ‘come on’ gesture at him. Okay, it was corny, but how often do these kinds of situations come up? “Oh, your time with the mortals has limited you. You think only of brute force, but there are so many other ways. So many ways I may hurt you.” He made a quick gesture with his hands and suddenly fire boiled through my veins. My vision darkened and I was sure that I screamed although I could hear no sound. It stopped as quickly as it had begun and I found myself panting on the ground. “Poor little Phoenix. You were so strong. You could have taken us all.” Another flick of his wrist and I was back in the land of pain. This time my vision stayed clear, and I had front row seats to his sanctimonious parade around me. “You my fear, do you? Well, let me show you what I .” The pain was unbearable. It felt like my skin was going to split from my bones. I

screamed again as my mind clouded with images. I was back at that awful day. I could see Ganaraj as he tore into my wings. I could taste his pleasure as he feasted on my flesh. His maniacal laughter pulsed through my brain as I felt his tongue licking at my back. I could feel his arousal as he drank in my power, his joy as he degraded me. “Do you see now?” I snapped back to reality. I was on my back, my wing pinned beneath me, his face inches from mine. Cold sweat beaded and pooled down the front of my jumpsuit. “You are nothing. I have bested you. I have owned you. You will always be mine.” He stood up and from his minuscule height, spat on me. The spit hit my cheek and began to run into my hair. I could do nothing. I was so weak. So cold. He had destroyed me once, and now he had done it again. My body was broken, used; the pain he had brought was as real as that fateful day all those years ago. I rolled to my right side to wait for his next onslaught. As I did my wing came round to meet me. In my dulled state I was mildly shocked to see it there. The feathers curled before my face obscuring the scenes of anguish that were scattered across the circle. The colours of the wing began to dance before my eyes. The blues and greens swirling, the purples pulsing in and out of the shades of pink that streaked through the wing. I began to feel a similar sway deep in my body. In my mind’s eye, I could see the colours form and mingle within me. They moved in and out of each other filling me, strengthening me. Soon the swirl became a steady pulse, and I felt my power begin to return to me. It grew, forcing the wing aside as it drew me to my knees. I wiped the spit from my cheek. I could see Ganaraj on the opposite side of the circle, near Sid and Yeren in their colourful prisons; he turned to me as my power grew. An orb of my own creation began to form around me. At first, it was clear and shimmery, but soon it held the deep colours it had back in the jungle. The orb pulsed and I felt my power grow stronger in my bones. It filled me. Every molecule of my body and soul began to fill with my own clean power. I let it build, held it in my vessel, tending it like a fire. Through the rainbow-hued film that surrounded me, I could see my friends in turmoil. Their battles almost lost. It brought the taste of rage to my tongue. My wing flapped, and images of my attack flittered across my eyes fanning the angry fire that brewed within me. I rose to my feet, and the orb expanded its shape. I stretched out my wing, and it grew larger still. I turned until I faced Ganaraj, the power nearly ripping me apart. I waited until his face met mine. There was fear in his eyes. I let go.

29

It was a blur. There were lights and screaming. I felt my body expand in every direction. I felt my power seek out my foes and strike through them while flowing gently around my friends. The power did not stop at the circle. It pulsed onward out into The Void, and in the distance, I felt the gasp of every inhabitant: the communal realisation that The Phoenix had returned. Even incomplete I was a force to be reckoned with.

30

When it was over, I lay on the ground panting. Everything was still. My body ached. I felt vulnerable, frail. I struggled to my hands and knees and, with great effort, lifted my head to survey my surroundings. My bat lay just out of reach, broken. Only the handle and part of the shaft were whole. The rest lay in big chunks scattered across the ground. To my far left were Noiryn and Cosima. They were both unconscious, I could see their chests rising and falling as they breathed. On the right side of the circle were a sleeping Baba and Benyst. Their heads close together as they lay in a pool of fabric and limbs. Sid and Yeren were stretched out on the ground, the magenta orbs gone. Ganaraj was near them, equally unconscious. I was sitting there trying to understand what was before me, trying to calm my fearful heart, when I felt a presence behind me. I stiffened as a voice whispered my name. I turned quickly on my knees. The Archer stood behind me. His platinum skin gleamed in the diffused light. He spoke my name again, and as he did, I saw it. My wing lay on the ground behind him. He tracked my eyes and turned to look at the wing. As he took his eyes off me, I quickly grabbed the broken bat, fear instructing me. He spoke my name a third time as he turned back to me. I moved with him, standing to drive the broken shaft of the bat deep into his belly. With a soft shocked sound, he grabbed the handle, covering my hands with his, the pearly white of my skin a beautiful companion to his silver. A look that I could not read touched his face, and with an anguished cry, he drew the bat deeper into his body. I pulled my hands from it and watched him collapse to the ground, his eyes closed. I stepped over his prone form towards the wing. I had eyes for nothing else now. Its sister twitched and flapped at my back, eager for reunion. I thought of nothing else as I knelt before it. It was as beautiful as the first, more so with extra longing. I held my hands inches from it and ran them along the length. Energy crackled between us. This time there would be no lingering. Too much power pulsed in me to require such a thing.

I grabbed it with both hands and lifted it from the ground. It was heavier than the first. I hoisted it above my head, switching my grip so I could lower it to my back. A spark of blue lightning flashed between us, and I pressed the wing to my flesh. Instantly the bones and sinew began to re-knit. It was a pleasurable pain that bent me forward until my forehead rested on the cool ground. Quickly I became whole again. And with that wholeness came the memories. Time moved backwards as the gap between who I was and who I became, mended.

31

It felt like being sucked through a straw. There was bright light all around me. I was cold and naked. I could feel large hands, giant, holding me. There were voices, muffled and hard to understand, and above them, a baby cried. The sound held the unmistakable cadence of a newborn. As it continued I realised the cry came from me. I screamed at my new life as Time pulled me back to show me more. I was energy. I felt like flesh, but when I looked at my form, I could see only stars. I was floating in an ocean of stars. The universe stretched out before me. There was no up or down, only space. I could see planets and their moons; galaxies twisted and flowed in their infinite beauty. I was nothing and everything. Real and imagined. Flesh and light. Simultaneous. The place where my heart would beat became a small star. It began to pulse with a clean bluewhite light, filling me. I became a star. I gazed at the others around me and watched the seemingly random flashes of light become a pattern. I watched the stars unify as I took my place. I felt the oneness of the cosmos as my energy-self drifted through oblivion. In this vastness there was love. There was creation. I could feel it. The pulse of life changing and growing with every moment, every granule of Time, its light reflected by the millions of stars. I wept and was comforted. I had no need to fear the next part of my journey. There was good everywhere. The image twisted itself, drawing me further back through Time. I returned to the pain of that final battle. I lived yet again the tearing of my wings. This time was the most terrible, the most complete. I saw details that had been previously hidden from me. The feel of coarse hair against my back. The sharpness of claws as they bit my skin. The smell of sweat and blood ripe in the air. All these things made worse after the beauty of the stars. The anger of those around me hurt deeper after experiencing such unity. The last thing I saw before Time took me again before my tortured self had sought oblivion, was The Archer. He stood a short distance from the crowd and was trying to wrestle my bloody wing from Siddhartha. I saw him grappling, and sadness came over me like a wave. My

memory-self craved one last look in his eyes, but he did not turn, so intent on his battle. Then I found myself in the circle of The Guard. I stood in the centre of the circle, but it was a struggle to stay upright. My limbs felt extremely heavy, and my wings dragged down my back, brushing the ground. I looked around at the daises, two sat empty. Mastyx and The Archer were the only ones not present. Fear bathed my skin like sweat. “You can’t do this!” I pleaded, fighting the pull the ground had on my limbs. “You don’t have the votes!” “We do not need votes, my dear, we have witnesses.” Ganaraj looked smug as he smiled down at me. “Impossible!” My shocked body could only manage a whisper. “Impossible…hmm…improbable, yes, but not impossible. You covered your tracks rather well, again your powers surprised. I thought I would have to carve away at them however our witnesses were eager to share their information. In fact, they came to us.” The ground pulled even harder at my bones as I absorbed his words. Who could have betrayed me? Who would have handed my enemies my downfall? In my haze, I saw Ganaraj gesture to Cosima. She slipped from her dais and out of my sight. All this time Windiga and Silverwood were silent. The great warrior gave no glimmer of emotion while the tree man sat with tears brimming in his eyes. “Ah!” Ganaraj broke the silence. “Here they are.” I followed his gaze with my body, moving my entire frame against the pull of the Binding. Cosima sauntered into the circle trailing a long golden cord behind her. Her hips swung suggestively as she moved around the circle to my back. I watched her, marvelling at the battle between cruelty and grace that coursed through her flesh. Heavy footsteps sounded in the circle, and I followed the cord with my eyes. At the end of the elegant rope was Yeren. The rope was tied around her wrists, but no pulling was necessary, she entered the circle of her own accord. My heart did not sink when I saw her, in fact, my shock was mild, her appearance made sense in a strange way. I had not chosen to Heal her; I had

done it at Sid’s insistence. I had Healed her to help an old and dear friend. Yeren met my gaze briefly. “I am not surprised,” I spoke quietly, even my voice strained against the pulling forces around me. “Give it a minute.” Cosima chided. It took less than that. As I continued to stare coldly at Yeren, another, struggling against the cord, shuffled in behind her. It was Siddhartha. Concentration left me as my blood went cold and I crumpled to the ground. I struggled to lift my head. “Siddhartha?” He opened his mouth to speak, but Windiga’s voice rang out. “Let us not drag this out. Let them confirm their testimony and then we can be done with this unfortunate affair.” “Yes, make it quick.” Silverwood quietly echoed him. Cosima circled her two captives untying their bindings as she drew closer. She purred in Yeren’s ear. “Tell the lovely creature what you told us.” She pulled hard as she untied the knot. “And make it brief.” Yeren’s words were even and held no emotion. “I saw her Heal.” “And who did she heal?” Cosima whispered. Yeren swallowed before answering. “Me.” “Good girl.” Cosima petted her fur before turning to Sid. “And you Minion, what did you see?” Sid did not answer. Cosima wrenched on the cord as she pulled the knot free, but still, he did not speak. She exchanged a look with Ganaraj, and as he nodded, she struck Sid across the face. Still, he did not speak. With an impatient huff, Ganaraj flicked his hand, and suddenly Sid was on the ground writhing in agony.

When Ganaraj had released him, Cosima leant down over his prone form and spoke calmly to him. “What did you see?” “I…” He lay on the ground breathing heavily, his eyes half closed. “I saw her Heal.” Cosima stood as she turned to me, her lipless mouth opened in a grotesque imitation of a smile. “That’s all we need.” “Yes, it is settled,” Windiga said. “She must be Banished.” The word brought me to my knees. “No! You can’t do this!” “I am sorry, dear.” Silverwood’s sad voice moved softly from his mouth. “You must be punished. It is an ancient law.” “An archaic law!” I spun about as wildly as the Binding would allow me. “Archer! Where is Archer? He will not let you do this!” “Archer, is it?” said Ganaraj. “How interesting.” I ignored him and crawled towards Sid. Reflex sending me to an old friend turned betrayer. He was still on his back with his head towards me. He tried to roll over, but did not have the strength; he angled his head back until his eyes just barely met mine. “I am sorry, My Lady. Now please, run.” He breathed. “Run.” Ganaraj bellowed over us, his power sending his voice across the circle and out into The Void. “The Phoenix has broken the Ancient Laws. She is to be Banished. Let the tearing of the wings begin!” He leapt off his dais. “Run!” Sid shouted.

Adrenalin filled my veins as Ganaraj’s muscular and compact body approached me. I summoned every last ounce of power I had and threw it out at the circle. It left me in a blast of purple and blue energy. I didn’t wait to see the effect. Pumping my legs as hard as I could, I ran from the circle. My wings tried feebly to flap and send me into the air, but I could not completely shake the Binding. If I could get far enough away from the circle, I might be able to Travel. It was as I saw the screaming crowds gather in the distance that the vision changed.

32

I was alone in The Void and had been for many days, either fear or boredom keeping friends away from me in my Bound state. This parcel of land looked like any other; everywhere was grey, cool, and smooth. The Binding clung to my skin, and my movement was slow and laborious. I had not flown in days and longing for the sky was tearing at my heart. I came upon a single tree; it matched my loneliness, so I took a seat beneath its scarce branches. I leant my head back against the trunk and wrapped my wings around me. It was warm within my feathered shell, and I fell into a light doze. I could not have been asleep very long, my head had not rolled from its place against the trunk, but something had woken me. I could feel a new presence in the space. I opened my wings slightly and peered out. The Archer lay on the ground about fifteen feet in front of me. He was not moving. The shock of seeing a member of The Guard in such a way caught the air in my lungs, and for a few beats of my heart, I did not move. When he continued to be still, I sent what little energy I could out towards him. I felt my energy touch his flesh, but I could feel very little life within it. My heart leapt into my throat, and I got to my feet as quickly as I could, my wings dragging behind me as I made my way towards him. As I drew closer, I could see that he was terribly hurt. The centre of his body and the lower ribs on the left side were burned black. Flesh was peeling from him in little curls, and the middle of the wound was red and wet. I could see just beyond his flesh into the cavity of his body. I knelt down beside him. “The Archer? Can you hear me?” He made no response. I moved my head close to his. “Archer?” Still nothing. I sat up and surveyed his body. The wound was bad, but I could Heal it - if I weren't Bound. I stretched out my energy to him again and felt the pulse of life within him grow fainter, I needed to do something quickly. I held my hands delicately above the wound, took a deep breath and tried to send my power into his flesh. Nothing happened. I let out a frustrated cry, and he stirred, moaning slightly. I sat back on my heels and tried to think. When I had been Bound, The Guard told me that only an extreme act of power

could break the Binding, that such an act would be felt by them and considered a breaking of the law of The Void. They would Banish me. I knew what Banishment meant. It meant I would be forced from The Void, that I could never return. And worse still, they would take my wings. The Archer suddenly convulsed and cried out in pain. I placed a hand on his forehead and tried to sooth him as the spasm rocked his body. It ed as quickly as it came and he lay there on the cold ground panting. I watch the beads of sweat form on his brow, and I knew that as horrible as the punishment would be, I couldn’t leave The Archer here like this. I couldn’t leave anyone like this. Resolved, I prepared to break the ancient laws. I knelt beside his body and forced my wings to open. They stretched the length of his body and quivered as I held them in place. I closed my eyes and focused on my heart. My power pulsed there, trapped behind the Binding. In my mind’s eye, it looked like a cage, cold iron bars that surrounded my core. I examined every bar, every seam, trying to find a weakness. I found one. The t between two of the bars appeared weak, so I pushed against it with my will. After a few tense moments, it bent apart, making a small space. I gathered my heart against the space and sent my energy at the gap. I felt my heart pulse and grow as I focused all my power towards it. Soon the bars had bent even further, and I was able, with a raw cry from my throat, to throw them off. The metaphysical cage disintegrated, and I watched the shards of iron float off into the ether. Now that my heart was free, I pulsed with power. My limbs felt lighter and my wings weightless, their fine bones flexing and stretching. A blue glow formed in the centre of my chest. I straddled his body. I lowered my face to the wound and drew in a deep breath. The blue glow of power filled my lungs as the taste of burning meat slid down my throat. I exhaled in a long cool line and watched blue mist flow over the burned coating of skin. It loosened and freed itself from his body, forming tiny black scrolls that skittered across his chest and disappeared on the grey ground. With the dead skin gone I could clearly see the wound. The edges were so very raw and pink, the middle a wet ruin like the gaping maw of an injured animal. Bones broke the surface, their shattered edges leaving splinters to swim in the mess of ligament and tissue. I knew that to heal this much damage I had to start from the inside. I took a deep breath and lowered my hands into the pool of flesh. I could feel it squishing and separating under the pressure of my hands as I

pressed them deeper into the centre of his body. My hands found the deep muscles of his spine and the power within me changed to a brilliant green. I poured it down through my body and out my pelvis. It hit his body like a wave and Travelled the short distance to where my hands were buried in his belly. The power met my hands, and the circuit was complete. I fed the power round and round through his flesh and mine. I lost all sense of place and Time. I thought of nothing but Healing the flesh beneath my hands, under my body. The wound began to heal and as it did it rippled and churned, trying to force my hands to the surface. The Archer cried out beneath me. He began to writhe in pain, I could feel him try to control it but still his back arched, and his legs shook beneath me. When the flesh began squeezing in on my hands, I slid them out and placed them, glistening with his blood, upon the still raw surface. The circuit of power turned from green to a red the colour of his blood, and the air between us grew hot. I could see his skin healing under my hands. I watched the burnt patches be taken over by the deep platinum of his skin. The Archer began to thrash under me. I held him tight to the ground, tightening my legs and pressing my pelvis into him as I drove the Healing forces of my body through him as the last chunks of carbon left his body. He screamed, rearing from the ground with a ragged manly sound. When the cry was finished he fell back, eyes closed, mouth open. I took my hands from his chest. He was Healed. The power receded, making me shiver. With a gasp he sat up, putting his body parallel to mine. He swayed for a moment, rolling smoothly from side to side. Eyes still closed, he explored his torso with his hands. I watched his strong fingers move over the newly formed muscle. Testing his power, he pushed his right hand through the flesh to his ribs. I heard the rib crack, but he did not pull it free. The bones quickly re-knit as his sigh filled the space between us. He brought his fingers back to the surface. They were dry. He let them linger there a moment longer, breathing deeply into his palms. Then he opened his eyes. They were molten silver. I could feel the breeze of his breath caressing my mouth. We were so close; if we breathed together, our bodies would touch.

“Thank you.” I didn’t have time to respond. Fatigue took me with an intensity I had never known. Breaking the Binding and Healing his flesh had taken so much from me. My wings went limp, and I wilted. I would have fallen backwards had he not wrapped his arms around me. He drew me to him and rose to his feet as if I weighed nothing. Scooping up my legs, he carried me to the tree and sat with his back against it, cradling me in his arms. My wings lay still behind me, their colours reflecting against the sheen of his skin. His voice moved softly through the air. “I will not tell The Guard.” The Guard. In the thralls of Healing I had forgotten all about them. I felt panic begin to seep into my bones and I tried to get up, to escape. “Peace, Phoenix. I will not let them harm you.” I could only manage a whisper. “Truly?” “You have my word. After what you did for me today…” He brushed my cheek, raising my eyes to meet his. “…I have never felt that kind of union.” He kissed me, gently, like he wasn’t used to the action but wanted it all the same. His lips were soft, nothing like the cold metal they so resembled. He pulled back from me, and I searched his eyes. They looked like mine. Not blue and bright, their silver glow could not be denied, but alone, and searching. Just like mine. He returned my gaze, and suddenly there was no Void, no Guard, no punishments, just the female of the species in the arms of a man who could know her pain as deeply as she knew his and a union as old and primal as Time itself. A look of understanding filled his face, and our mouths met eagerly. This time his kiss had more weight, and I drew him in with my mouth. Our ions flared, and our arms found each other. His power broke over me like a wave, warming my lips, restoring me, sending sparks through my heart and flesh. Trust broke over my skin, and I melted into him, hope filling me as we moved through each other’s hearts. All this time I thought I needed a mirror of myself, that without it I would always be alone, but here he was. So different, so perfect. And in that kiss, I knew that neither of us would ever be alone again.

He broke the kiss and spoke against my lips. “I will always protect you.” I rubbed his cheek with my hand. He nuzzled against it as his voice grew pained. “But I must replace the Binding, or they will know what has happened here.” I nodded my understanding and moved to my knees. He ed me and, under the lonely branches of the tree, replaced the Binding. As he slid his ribs back into place, my limbs grew heavy, and my wings wilted. “We will find a way out of this.” He spoke as he helped me to my feet. “I promise you.” I brought his hands to my lips and laid a kiss in the centre of each palm. He smiled. Then everything went black.

33

The vision had broken. I was back in the circle. “Fuck.” I wiped roughly at the tears that had covered my cheeks. The Archer. Archer. My Archer. He had been helping me all along. More than helping. “Fuck!” I turned to Archer’s body. He lay on his back, one hand still clasped around the handle of the bat. I tried to get up and run to him, but my body had been through too much, I was too weak to stand. “Fine. I’ll do it the hard way.” I crawled to him. There were splinters of wood all over the ground. I tried to brush them from my path as I went, but they still dug into my knees and hands as I moved towards him. When I finally got to his side, I could see the extent of the wound I’d given him. His chest rose and fell with the shallow rhythm of his breath, and the broken half of the bat was deep in his belly. The edges of the bat were rough and sharp and had torn the surface of his flesh as it entered. Wood and bone mingled in grotesque chunks, blood poured down his sides to create a small pool around him. Starring down at him I felt incredibly guilty. And angry. “Why didn’t you say something?!” I bellowed. “I didn’t know! I didn’t anything!” I began to cry again and shouted through the tears. “Why did you pull the bat deeper!” I pounded my fist on the ground near his head. “Asshole! Why!” He stirred. “I…” The sound was small and dry, but he was speaking. “I failed you.” “What!” The guilt in me vanished. He swallowed and spoke again.

“I failed you.” “Oh, I heard you. It’s just pretty fucking stupid. You ‘failed me’ so you let me kill you! Great! Welcome back Phoenix, here’s a nice big glass of guilt for you!” He raised his eyebrows at me and gave me the look that I’d become so familiar with here in The Void. “Yes. I’ve changed.” He gave a slight nod. “Just lie still,” I ordered gruffly. I surveyed his body. The wound looked as bad as the one I had Healed in my memory. If I did it once maybe I could do it again. “Now let’s see if I can how to do this.” I positioned myself beside him, near the wound, and sat back on my heels. I closed my eyes and stretched my wings out as far as they would go. It felt so good that I had to take a peak. “Cool!” I whispered. And it did look cool. In the initial panic after the vision, I hadn’t internalised that I now had two wings, but here they were, stretched out in all their glory. They felt weightless and strong at my back. Just seeing them there made power pulse deep in my body. I closed my eyes again and focused on the power. It was deep red in colour and formed a tight orb in the centre of my pelvis. I breathed into the orb and felt it expand, I continued to send it my energy, and it rose up through my body and filled my chest. The orb began to spin, sending sparks of electric power through my limbs. I felt it crackle and spark within my body, my wings hummed with it. I opened my eyes and moved to straddle him. This time my wings felt vital, and they moved with me, making the motion nearly effortless. From this vantage point, the details of the wound were painfully clear. The bright blue of the bat looked odd against his silvery skin. He still had one hand on the handle, so I gently unwrapped his fingers from the wood and lay his hand at his side, outside the reach of the blood that had pooled there. I then placed my own hands around the shaft, moving them slightly to get a better grip. I could feel the grain of the wood against my skin. I took a deep breath and willed the red power within me down into my hands. It had the energy of fire and yet felt peaceful in my veins. The wood began to smoke under my hands. I whispered to The Archer. “Take a deep breath.” As he drew in, I pulled. The wood did not move as smoothly as I had hoped and my wings spread to steady me as I threw all my strength into the pull. He cried

out as I yanked: once with the initial movement, then a second time as I jerked the bulk of the wood free. I tossed the wood aside, barely ing the drops of blood that followed it in an arc. Archer panted beneath me, but I ignored his sounds. With the bat gone, a deep hole was left in its wake, it filled quickly with blood. My hands still held their fire, and without hesitation, I plunged them into the wound. The blood felt cool against them. My power reacted without coaxing, and suddenly I was filled with a blazing green light. It covered my sight, tinting everything with its glow, making Archer shine. It crackled in my bones, sent flickers of lightning between the tips of my wings, and flooded into Archer with incredible force. It sought out every molecule of him, caressed every bone. It found the chunks of wood and sent them flying from his body, up through his skin, forcing me to turn my head from the bigger shards. Once the wood was gone, the repairs began. I could feel his veins and arteries become smooth and unmarred. I felt his ribs, his precious tools of power, reform their sensual curve around his organs. I felt it as the blood that had left his body was drawn back to him like a delicious drink through a straw. I felt it all, only dimly aware that it was me that was doing it. It was me. My power. Phoenix. I was Healing him. His flesh began to press in around my hands, a familiar grip, so I slid them from his body and placed them on his belly. They glistened and for a moment memory and reality blurred. As the surface of his skin became whole, my green-hued power began to fold in on itself. It left my vision, pulled away from my limbs, and finally rested, as a tiny orb, just inside my heart. I looked down at The Archer. He was Healed.

34

“You Healed him.” Noiryn’s voice gently broke the silence. Benyst’s a harsh contrast,“Why did you go and do that?” I was silent for a moment, my attention on The Archer. Although he now breathed deeply, he still had not opened his eyes. I caressed his cheek, wiping away some of the splattered blood, as I answered the question. “The wings showed me the truth. He’s my… friend.” I climbed off of him and laid a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Please Archer, wake up.” His eyes fluttered but did not open. “Please,” I asked again. Suddenly a great ragged breath rocked his body, and a coughing fit ensued. It rolled him to his side, and I rubbed his back until it subsided. He spat out a small mouthful of blood and then spoke, laughter in his voice. “That’s twice now.” “Twice what?” Benyst barked. Archer answered, but his eyes were only for me. “That she has saved me,” I responded with a small smile and a hint of sarcasm. “I just can’t stand to see you bleed.” Noiryn laughed first, and soon we all ed her. Even Benyst. The laughter grabbed at the chunks of tension and pain in our little group, flinging them out into The Void. While the others wiped their eyes, I looked at The Archer. There was a levity to him that had not been present in my visions. Gone was the dark and silent instrument of power, he appeared softer now, joy infiltrated his bones. Maybe it was just my energy coursing through him from the Healing, but he looked happier. As the laughter died down, I began to take in the circle around us. Remnants of the battle lay strewn on the ground, some the daises had fallen over, and their silky coverings flowed in the breeze. The surrounding trees had bent as if my power had pushed them backwards when it hastened to leave the circle. Other

than the bits of battle flotsam, the circle was deserted. “Where is everyone?” I asked Benyst and Noiryn. “Oh.” The laughter died in Noiryn’s voice. “They left.” “She can see that!” Benyst added. “They left while you were melding with the wing. Those cowards Cosima and Ganaraj…” He pointed at the spots in the circle where they had been. “Took off as soon as they woke up, dragging Baba with them.” I stared out at the horizon. “Sid and Yeren?” “They left too. Yeren didn’t say anything, took a look at you and ran. Sid said…” He cleared his throat. “He said he was sorry. Then he left.” I thought that would have made me cry, but nothing came. I had seen Sid sell me out in the vision, but I still couldn’t believe he had meant to. There had to be a reason. He’d come back, eventually, and we would sort things out. As for Yeren? Well, honestly, I didn’t really care, but if I happened across her one day, I’d definitely want a word with her. “What would you like to do now, Phoenix?” Noiryn asked gently. My head started to feel heavy, and my eyes lids drooped a little. I caught myself quickly, but I knew Archer had seen it. “Sleep.” He said. “You need to sleep.” “Normally…” I gave him a lazy yet wicked grin. “I don’t like being told what I need…” I yawned. “But I’m too tired to argue.” Archer helped me to stand, he was completely healed and again lifted me as if I weighed nothing. As he helped me, I heard the soft brush of my wings on the ground. They were huge, as long as I was tall. I motioned one around me and ran my hands down the feathers. They were so soft. “How do I go home with these?” I quietly asked the air. “Phoenix…” The Archer responded. “No one will bother you at your home.”

“But my parents, my friends!” Fatigue had opened the gates, and panic rushed in. “They can’t see me like this! I can’t go home like this!” Benyst moved in to calm me. “My Lady, you have a home here, like mine, and Noiryn’s.” ”I do? But… but…” I stammered. “What about my apartment?” “Phoenix,” He let loose a gravelly chuckle. “Time does not exist for us, ? You will be able to go back, to the very moment you left, but first, you need to rest. Go to your home here, and when you feel rested, we’ll show you how to Travel back and forth.” “You will?” Noiryn beamed at me. “Of course.” “Okay.” I steadied myself. “Where is my home?” Benyst and Noiryn exchanged a quick glance. “Well…” She spoke. “We don’t really know.” Before I could freak out yet again, Archer rescued me. “I do.” All our heads snapped to him as we chorused: “You do?” “Yes.” A glimmer of heat formed in his eyes as he looked at me. “You took me there once.” Damn, why didn’t the wings show me that one? I blushed scarlet and managed a small affirmative word. Benyst roughly put my bag in my hands then he and Noiryn bid me a hasty goodbye and disappeared. I was left alone with Archer. We stared at each other for a little while, many questions hanging in the air. I broke the silence first.

“I’m sorry I don’t everything. Maybe it will come with time, I don’t know. I just know what the wings showed me and they showed me that I trusted you, well…” I blushed again. “Apparently more than trusted you.” He smiled and his skin pulsed with a silvery glow. It warmed my entire body, stopping the part of my brain that made intelligent speech possible. “Screw it, just get me home.” He closed the distance between us and as our bodies touched we began to Travel.

35

The Travel was smooth, instantaneous, like blinking. I opened my eyes and found that we were in a forest. The ground was light in colour, and there were large open spaces between the trees. The trees reached high overhead, and their broad leaves covered the forest floor with an undulating pattern of light and shadow. “I live in a forest?” I shook my head. “I have changed.” “No…” Archer smiled. “Your home is this way.” He set off at a light stroll and soon I could make out the path he was following. Trees curved around it here and there creating archways and clumps of forest flowers grew along its borders. I could hear birds singing in the trees. “It’s so beautiful here.” I mused. “You have great taste,” Archer called playfully over his shoulder. We walked for maybe five minutes, but I couldn’t be sure. I was too engrossed in my surroundings. I felt so peaceful here; calmer than I had been anywhere else on this little adventure. There was a light breeze that wafted the pleasant smells of the forest across my nose, and the temperature was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. “It’s just up ahead. You are almost home.” Archer's voice tugged at me gently. Home. My home. Weird. What if I didn’t like it? I’d seen a few dwellings on my Travels and, except Cosima’s, which I reluctantly loved, all of them had been very basic. I so did not want to live in a cave. That being said, what if I loved it? What if I loved it so much I didn’t want to go back to my apartment? So far this forest was a hell of a lot better than my third-floor walkup. I had my head down, thinking about all this when I walked right into Archer. We

let out tiny grunts as we collided. “Sorry,” I said, taking a moment to casually brush phantom bits of myself from his broad shoulders. “We are here.” I was scared, it seemed stupid to be scared in such a peaceful place, but I was. When I made no move to walk forward, Archer took my hand and led me towards a large living archway. It was the biggest we had seen on the path and as we crossed through it felt like walking through a waterfall. I could feel it pulsing with warm, welcoming energy. We stopped just inside the archway and Archer whispered to me. “This is home.” It was beautiful, exactly where I had always dreamed of living. It was like someone had taken pictures of my imagination. We stood on a huge lawn, as wide as it was deep. The grass was dark green and as lush as shag carpeting. Around the edges were raised flowerbeds framed with natural stone that looked like they’d been there for centuries. Near the house, which was made from the same rough stone, was a small pond. It had a waterfall that filled the garden with a soft gurgling, and although lilypads grew on the surface, and stairs leading down into the crystal water. And then there was the house. The house. Yes, a house! Not a cave, not a hut, a gorgeous two-story stone house with a dark tiled roof. It was built in three sections with the central part housing an immense wooden front door. On either side of the door were small stone Gargoyles, grey and worn by time they stood guard over the home. The wings of the house branched from the centre and wrapped around the edges of the garden making the whole area secluded and secure. The wing to my right was made partially of glass, creating a large greenhouse. I could see lush plants inside, some of them brushing the glass roof. In front of the other wing, bridging the ground between the pool and the house was a large patio. A cast iron lounger, matching metal chairs and a stone table completed it. It was amazing. “Holy crap.”

I’m so eloquent sometimes. Archer started to laugh, and I took off for the front door. I just wanted to get there as quickly as possible and see what it was like inside. I had forgotten about the wings at my back, so when they responded to my urgency and threw me into the air, I let out a scream. I actually flew. For the first time ever, I flew. The strength in my wings was overwhelming. They broke through the air with such power and made short work of the distance between me and the front door, much shorter than I had anticipated. I was so caught up in flying that I hadn’t thought about landing, but the door helped me with that one. Once I had peeled my face from it and managed to stop laughing, I looked at the door. Three people could easily walk through it side by side, and if one of those people were ten feet tall, they’d have no problems. It was solid wood, stained a deep brown and the surface was carved in a grid pattern. I ran my hands over it taking in the rich grain before I pushed against it. Due to its size, I thought it would be difficult to open, so I put my entire body into the thrust. The door swung easily. A quick flap of my wings kept me on my feet, and I walked inside. Archer followed, closing the door behind him. I found myself in a large open space with a cathedral ceiling. At the back of the hall, I could see a sweeping stairway that forked right and left to the upper levels of the building. At either side of its base were large doorways leading to the wings lower levels. To my left, leaded windows stretched from floor to ceiling and opened out to the patio. It was a continuation of the outdoor perfection. Again I felt like someone had taken a picture of my brain and that perhaps I had not changed as much as everyone thought. The walls had been plastered inside yet the floor was a continuing blanket of the stone that made up the facade of the house. The furnishings were a mishmash of modern and antique. Here and there the floor was covered with vibrant Persian rugs, a plush leather couch smattered with various cushions, spread out in front of the windows. It was kept company by an ornate wooden chair whose back and seat was covered in rich purple brocade, and two slipper chairs in light green velvet. The windows were trimmed with light blue silk that featured a repeating design, birds and vases filled with flowers, done in shades of ivory. The s were full, and a deep pelmet sat above each window. Just looking at them I knew that if closed they would plunge this room into total darkness.

At the back of the room sat a huge stone fireplace. It was almost as tall as me and was a little wider than the front door. In front of it was another bright rug, piled with floor cushions that centred around a low table. There were other tables scattered about the edges of the room, each one had some beautiful and unusual artefact on it. I spotted a giant seashell, a chunk of rough gemstone, and on one large surface, a giant tusk. There were so many things to see, but I was growing more tired by the second. Sensing this, Archer came up beside me and gently took my hand. With a graceful look, he led me to the stairs. My wings brushed the treads as I began to climb. We didn’t speak as we walked, side by side, up the stairs but the silence was full of understanding. Now that I had my wings, there would be so much Time for words. My eyes were beginning to close of their own accord by the time we reached the second floor. Archer led me down a short hallway, and I didn’t catch a single detail of it. I must have nodded off for a moment because suddenly Archer was opening a door, with me in his arms. Not an easy feat with the wings but he made everything look effortless. I had an impression of distance, and then he lowered me onto a soft surface. My bed. He placed me on my side and my wings folded in behind me. The light in the room diminished, I could hear him closing the drapes. I tried to look around but could manage no further than the thick wooden posts that framed the four corners of the bed. The room was almost completely dark when Archer came and sat beside me. He looked so natural sitting there in his leather pants and platinum skin. I felt like I had always seen him there. I reached my hand out to him, and he took it. I gave it a slight tug, and he slid closer to me, laying his body alongside mine. He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face while he spoke. “You need your rest.” “Um hmm.” Eloquent. “I’ll let you sleep.” He kissed me on the forehead and went to leave. I held onto his hand. “Don’t go. Please.” He looked down at me. The same look I’d seen in my dream took hold of his face, but now I could read it. Love, tempered by the fear I would never it. My wings felt it too and quickly gave me a montage of him. I

saw slivers of the moments we’d shared before I had been Banished, how close we had been. When the vision cleared I looked at Archer, shimmery silver tears streaked his cheeks, he knew what I had seen. I opened my arms to him, and he came to me. We drifted off to sleep under the cover of my wings.

36

No, I didn’t sleep with him. Yes, he’s beautiful. Yes, we had an instant connection. And yes, technically, we had done it before, but in this life I barely knew him. I was also exhausted. Okay, some stuff happened, but we kept fairly PG. Cross my heart. Archer stayed with me for the next few days and told me everything he knew about my exploits in The Void. Which wasn’t as much as I’d hoped, we’d only really met after I was bound. Maybe the wings will keep filling me in, but until then I just have to muddle through. He brought Benyst and Noiryn over, and the three of them helped me practice Travelling. We spent a lot of time preparing me for moving in and out of my former world. Archer’s theory was that because of my ‘mortal birth’, his words, not mine, my wings could disappear to their eyes. If I chose I could fold them into my body, ready and waiting for my call, I would be visible to people and appear totally normal. We tested his theory in a few small villages. I bought some bread, milled around, and chatted about the weather. Nice, normal stuff. We deemed it a success. It’s strange to think I’m not human anymore. Okay, I lie. It’s fucking trippy! I don’t know how I’m going to handle family dinners now; I could barely tolerate them before. That old ‘what have you been up to’ takes on an entirely new meaning when you can fly. Archer. Well, I guess we’re dating. Sorry, that sounds really stupid. Yeah, he’s older than Time, and I have a giant set of wings, but we’re just dating. Right. I don’t know how to describe it; I just know that it’s good. I don’t think Cosima and Ganaraj will forget me anytime soon. I did royally kick their asses even if I have no idea how I did it. Once I have a better handle on my powers, I’ll track them down. Sitting and waiting for them to attack is not really my style. And at some point, I’ll have to talk to the rest of The Guard, but at least I know Archer’s on my side.

I hope Sid comes back. I’ve decided not to be mad at him until I know the whole story. He was such a good friend, and he worked so hard to help me. I hope he comes to visit me soon. I would never have known who I am without him.

37

I had been working on my Travelling for a week when I decided I was ready to go back to my apartment. Archer and I were lounging in front of the fire at the time. It wasn’t a big dramatic conversation. Time doesn’t apply to us, so I didn’t have to answer paranoid questions about when I’d be back, and I’d been Travelling on my own so successfully that he wasn’t worried about the journey. The only worries were my enemies. Cosima and Ganaraj had many ers, and they’d probably be hunting me. Fortunately, my apartment was relatively unknown, only Sid and I had ever been there, so I could go at least once on my own. I’d land with my wings retracted, which would hopefully make me harder to track and I wouldn’t bring them out while I was there. Besides, I can handle myself. So we got up and walked out of the house to the spot in the forest, said goodbye…. a ionate goodbye… and I left. I arrived at the exact minute that I had left. The kitchen cupboards were still open from Sid’s rifling, and there were clothes all over my bedroom floor. I picked my way through them and lay down on the bed, it wasn’t as comfortable as my big one at home, and it felt a bit weird not having Archer there. As I thought about his platinum skin an even bigger thought pushed through. I was lying on my back. “Holy shit!” I jumped up and ran to the bathroom mirror. Although I’d tested this out, I’d never had a chance to look at myself. I hadn’t seen myself without wings in a week. I got to the bathroom, grabbed a hand mirror and turned so I could see my back in the large mirror above the sink. I was still wearing a jumpsuit, so my back was bare. I’d found a whole closet of them at my house, one of the few things that carried through both lives. I looked at my back and gasped.

There was nothing there, no wings, just smooth and clear skin. But I could feel them. I could feel their power pulsing just below the surface. They lay there, waiting to break through my flesh and unleash my power. I knew at a moment’s call I could take to the skies. “Nice.” I smiled to myself, put the mirror away, and went back to bed.

THE END

CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE…

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Bounty of Ash

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The phone was ringing. I tried to ignore it, but it kept on going and sunlight burned through my eyelids making a return to sleep impossible. I tumbled from my bed and made my way to the living room. I pawed at the phone until it came loose from its cradle and pressed it to my face, somewhere near my mouth. “Hello” I croaked. “Phoenix? Sweetie, are you okay? You sound sick!” My entire body snapped to attention. It was my mother. “No mom, I just woke up.” “It’s 11 AM! You just got up?” “Mother, don’t start.” She would anyway. “Don’t speak to me like that, Phoenix.” “Mom, I’m sorry. I…” I stopped cold. I could see myself in the mirror above the sofa. I had wings. Big, giant, multicoloured wings. On my sleepy march to the phone, I’d forgotten all about them. “Whoa.” I whispered.

I reached back to touch them and there was nothing there. Panicking, I looked over one shoulder and then the other like a slow-witted dog searching for its tail. There was nothing there. Nothing. No wings protruding from my back, no beautiful feathers framing me. They were only visible in my reflection. Crazy. And problematic. Going to the ladies room would definitely raise a few eyebrows. “Phoenix? Are you listening to me?” Right, my mother was still talking. “Yes, mom. Sorry, mom. Could you repeat that?” She sighed loudly. “When can we expect you this afternoon?” “This afternoon?” I’d Travelled back to the exact moment in time I had left when I went on my wing finding adventure. Today was my brother’s birthday. Crap. And there was a big family dinner. Double crap. I had to get out of this. “Well, Mom, I’m not really feeling that well.” “Nonsense. You’re fine.” Her voice was like cold iron. My Mom definitely had some powers of her own. “You want to live a life of big city excess that’s your choice, but I’ll not have you taking that out on your brother.” She had slipped into her big-city evils routine. Although I highly doubted my brother would miss my appearance at his, quote un-quote, party, Mom was gearing up for an epic rant and there was only one way to defuse this ticking time bomb. “I’ll be there at 6.” “You’ll be here at 5.” “Yes, mother.”

“Love you sweetie.” She hung up. I dropped the phone back in its cradle and turned to the mirror. I looked at my big winged reflection. They were huge. The multicoloured feathers gleamed in the sunlight that streamed into my apartment. “Well this complicates things.” This was shaping up to be a situation of craptastic proportions. There was no getting out of this party, if I didn’t show up my Mother would hunt me down, and I still had to pick up a present, showing up empty handed was a big no-no in my Mom’s world. But the first thing I needed to do was figure out what was going on with my wings. I made sure the wings were just in my reflection with nothing periodically protruding from my back. This involved a five minute game of peekaboo between me and the mirror. Oh, if my Traveller friends could see me now. I won the game, the wings were just in my reflection, but the funny thing was that the Phoenix in the glass had rips in her shirt where the wings had broken through, but the Phoenix standing in my living room, me, her shirt was intact. Another level of weird in my already strange life. “Maybe it’s just mirrors.” I said to myself and then ran to the patio doors to check my reflection there. I live, well I lived, in a medium sized loft in an ‘up and coming’ part of town. FYI, up and coming just means artsy people have moved in and that eventually, one day, it will be a nice place to live. One day. My building was okay, except for Tuesday nights when the apartment below hosted a drum circle. The bedroom and the bathroom were closed in but the rest of the place was a wide open space. An island separated the kitchen area from the living room and I’d tried to create more separation by placing a large complicated looking, bookshelf thing in the middle of the room to house my TV and mass quantities of books. The sheer size of it made a hallway between the kitchen and living room. But the real reason I fell for this place was the balcony and amazing patio doors I was currently running towards. I rushed up to the large stretch of glass and tried to see a ghost of my shape. It was there, or rather, I was there, wings and all, starring back at myself. A pale blue silvery self with gossamer wings.

“Ah, crap.” I was saying that a lot today. This seriously complicated my life, and seriously didn’t happen last night when I got back. I’d run straight into the bathroom to check and the mirror was wing free. Why was this happening now? How was I supposed to go to my parents’ house when every time I ed a reflective surface my wings were right there in the glass? “Ah, double crap,” I said with feeling as I threw open the French doors and stepped out into warm midday sun. This was my sanctuary in this world and it went a long way to explain the massive green house in my Traveller home. The patio ran the length of the apartment and then wrapped around the corner towards my bedroom window and the fire escape. Over the years I had turned this south facing strip of concrete into a verdant jungle. Bright flowers cascaded from boxes along the entire railing, and a trellis running up the walls of the building was covered in vines and climbing roses. Gigantic clay pots played home to large trees that broke up the constant sun that streamed down on the balcony. I’d even set up a mini fountain in the corner, a pillar with a sphere of stone that spun gently on a spray of water. The air was filled with the soft sound of water sliding over stone. It was a little piece of paradise. My chaise was calling to me and I laid out, the sun touching my face dappled by the trees and shrubbery above me. I closed my eyes and thought happy, calming, no-wings-in-my-reflection thoughts.

-2-

It was around the third... ‘Ohm, no wings in my reflection, ohm’ that I heard the sound of breaking glass coming from my kitchen. Every inch of my body was immediately filled with a buzzing energy. I felt as if I could spring into flight and yet, incredibly, I remained perfectly still. I was calm, deliciously calm and totally alert. I became aware of a warmth at my back and looked over my shoulder to discover my wings had appeared beneath me.

They were as soft and strong as I ed and folded easily against me as I lay on the chaise. More sounds of destruction filled my ears and I rolled from the chaise to the floor, my wings tight to my back. Crawling as lithely as a cat, I moved to the French doors and peeked inside. There was a large creature rummaging through my kitchen drawers. The fridge door was open and I could see a jar of what looked like mustard, smashed and smeared on the ground. Gross. That was going to take forever to clean. “Was that really necessary?” I whispered to myself as I reached for the doorknob. I stopped. Do I really have to reach for the knob, I asked myself. I’m a creature from another dimension, with voyeuristic intentions… I stopped myself from humming the entire Time Warp song… Surely I can get this door to open on its own? I quickly glanced at my intruder, I still couldn’t make out who it was, but the big creature was busying itself in my cupboards and seemed fairly preoccupied. I had a little time to experiment. I moved back from the door and, making sure I wasn’t visible to the creature in the kitchen, knelt facing the knob. I stared at it, hard. Then I stared at it some more, harder. Nothing happened. Zip. Nada. “Come on, Phoenix,” I sighed and took a deep breath, shaking out my wings like a bird in a bath. The movement sparked a little flame in my heart and their weight was so comforting I wondered how I ever lived without them. This time, as I looked at the knob, I focused on fanning the flame of the little spark of energy deep inside my body. I had felt how immense it could become weeks earlier back in the Void. Not only had I blown apart the circle of the Guard, I had brought Archer back from certain death. Yes, I was the one who had tried to kill him, but we worked it out.

I focused on that little spark of power and I breathed life into it. I used my will to make it grow and very quickly it was swirling inside me. The green flame coursed through my veins and my wings, soon I thrummed with energy. I rode the vibration. I let it swell and flow through my body until it felt solid in my bones, until it felt like a state of being, always present, woven into the fabric of my soul. From this place of calm and power I asked the door to open. It did. I rose to my feet. Feeling no fear, only readiness, I stepped through the doorway. In the shadowy kitchen the creature continued to gorge, stuffing slices of smoked salmon into its mouth. I took a few silent steps forward and called out to it. “Hello, Yeren.”

-3-

She choked on the salmon. I smiled. “Phoenix! You’re here!” She was wiping her hands down her hairy chest, trying to get the mustard and salmon bits from her hands. She merely succeeded in mashing them into her fur. I felt calm and cold as I spoke. “Of course I’m here. This is my apartment.” The last time I had seen this yeti she was selling me out to my sworn enemies. I wanted to rip her apart with my bare hands. I wanted to launch myself across my apartment and close the fridge door on her head over and over and over and, you get the idea. But she might know where Sid was, and I needed that information before I kicked her ass. “The real question, Yeren, is how did you get in here?” I opened my wings slightly, she gulped. “I thought Travellers couldn’t enter another’s home without permission.” I cocked my head to the side. “I don’t giving you

permission.” She smiled. “Well I guess that means this isn’t your home.” I hadn’t thought of that. My wings twitched, her smiled grew broader. “Why are you here, Yeren?” “I thought Sid might be here.” “You don’t know where he is?” Shit. “No, I’ve been looking for him everywhere.” She was inching her way across the kitchen as she spoke, she didn’t realize that I’d noticed this. I wanted to keep it that way, so I turned easily with her, keeping eye . “I thought maybe we could work together and find him quicker.” She smiled again, with teeth this time. It was a gruesome sight, bits of salmon and mustard clinging to her bearlike jaws. “That’s if you can accept my apology.” “Apology?” I asked quietly. She was up to something, I could feel it. Yeren was trying desperately to shield her energy, but I could sense it welling up inside her. “Yes, apology. I’m really sorry about how things went down.” She held out her hand, as if to shake mine. “Friends again?” I know bullshit when I see it. Fortunately for me, Yeren still thought of me as my former self. The me I was before my time in the mortal world, when I just lived in the Void, quietly healing those who came to me, never making a fuss, keeping to myself. But that was before the inhabitants had come together and banished me in a bloody attack. That was before they sent me screaming into the unknown, before I had clawed my way to hell and back to find my wings. That was before. This was now. And Yeren had forgotten all of that. I slapped an innocent looking smile on my face and began to walk towards her. “I’d like that.” “Great.” She took a step towards me; her smile didn’t meet her eyes.

Two things happened at once. Yeren made a grab for me and I threw a ball of energy at her face. It shot from my hand, a blue-green orb the size of a soft ball, and hit her right in the nose, sending her slamming back into the kitchen cabinets. She hit them with a big crack and the doors fell off the upper units. Blood spurted from her nose, mingling with the mustard and salmon on her fur. “Bitch! You broke my nose!” she yelled at me. “Now I am really pissed!” I was already moving, I needed to take cover. Although my place was small there were a few spots that provided shelter. I dashed behind the big unit that divided the living room from the kitchen, instinctively tossing another ball of energy over my shoulder as I ran. It hit the island in front of Yeren, bits of Formica rained down on the apartment. I looked down at my hands. “How the hell am I doing this?” I whispered to myself. I had no clue, I had sensed the rising danger in the room and before I knew what was going on, I’m tossing softballs of destruction all over my apartment. Yeren yelled something incoherent and a ball of black energy struck two feet above my head. “Two can play at this game!” she cackled. “In fact, I can do this all day! You’ll tire soon enough and then I’ll have you.” The black energy oozed like oil, slimy and thick, down my entertainment unit. It hit my television and it began to sizzle. It continued to drip down and I watched as my tv melted. She melted my tv. My beautiful fifty inch HD television. She melted it. The bitch must pay. I leaned around the unit and quickly retaliated. This time I sent two balls of energy at her in quick succession. One hit the microwave, the other finished off the upper cabinets that Yeren had already smashed up. Yeren laughed. “You do realize you’re just destroying your own place, right?” Damn, she was right, I was trying to force her out of here and meanwhile I was just tearing my place apart. There had to be a better way. “What do you want from me, Yeren?”

She answered without hesitation. “There’s a Bounty on your head, Phoenix. A big Bounty. Every low-life in the Void will be looking for you, but I’m going to be the one that collects.” What the hell was she talking about? As I tried to process her words a light whooshing sound filled the air and a large ball of black crud sailed over the entertainment unit and landed near my feet. I scuttled out of the way as it melted my carpet. This was getting bad. My carpet was melting and a Bounty was on my head. I had to get out of here and get back to my home, my one true home as it turns out, and regroup with Archer. An experienced warrior like him was just what I needed right now, but first I wanted to get a bit more information out of Yeren. Even though I could smell my carpet burning, I kept my voice light. “So is it a ‘dead or alive’ kind of thing?” “Oh, they definitely want you alive. Very alive.” “Well that’s comforting. And who is ‘they’ exactly?” “No idea.” “That doesn’t sound very legit.” “That’s how Bounties work in the Void. When I bring you to the meeting place they will reveal themselves and I will get my reward.” “What if they don’t give you your reward?” “Then I kill them and you as well for the trouble. How do humans say it... It’s a win-win situation.” She laughed. This bitch was seriously crazy; I had to get out of here. “What’s the reward?” I tried to sound blasé even though the patch of black ooze next to me was slowly spreading closer. “Why do you care?” “Well, if it was really cool, like a dirt bike or something, maybe I turn myself in and we split it.”

She laughed. “You can’t split power.” “Power? That’s it?” The disbelief was plain in my voice. “More power?” “Not just power,” she scoffed. “That would be meaningless. The creature that brings you in gets a share of your power.” “Seriously? You guys already tried that.” I sighed heavily, dramatically, letting boredom coat my voice. “? You ripped off my wings and sent me flying?” I could feel my wings reacting to the tale. Power rippled through my feathers. The air around me felt charged like the sky before a lightning storm. “Nobody got a piece of me then.” I called out. “And nobody’s getting a piece of me now.” My power was growing. Yeren was forced to shout her retort above the rushing winds of energy that now filled the apartment. “Not this time, Phoenix! The news has Travelled through the Void like wild fire! There is a creature who has figured out how to strip you of your power! They have mastered how to take all that you are! You cannot stop them! They will take your precious wings for good and I will share in the spoils!” Seething with rage, I burst from behind the cabinet as Yeren threw a giant ball of pulsating blackness towards me. I threw up my hands to shield me from the evil tar hurtling towards me. As the word shield flitted through my mind a shimmery wall of energy materialized before me. The ball of darkness hit the shield and rebounded towards Yeren. I watched through the shimmering veil as it hit her full on in the chest and began to eat away at her fur. She screamed. I Travelled. Keep reading…

About the Author

Sarah Rockwood is an author of urban fantasy for modern humans. She likes tea, loves her cat, and enjoys overthinking almost everything (including this bio). You can learn more about her here: sarahrockwood.com

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