The Phoenix

Back to business

      Graham was happy to be rid of the cane he was hiding from Peyton until he was 100% again. That was stronger and harder on him than he thought it would. His father was kind enough to help him hide it lying about teaching him to run the camps, so he had an excuse to be on desk duty all week. Now that he was better they had to go into a mission stimulation with his new team even though they haven’t taken their test Sara and Rebecca have been added since Hunter and Rebecca want to let one go on a mission without the other. He wishes they would admit it, so he’s isn’t risking his best team on a silly crush. Sara fought well enough that he’s hoping this will work out and they can get ready for their tests next week. Everyone except Hunter and Rebecca showed up early to practice. Graham had to stop them from talking about Hunter because he knew Hunter had a class and Rebecca isn’t used to this so she’s probably in the library waiting. They shouldn’t say anything he doesn’t have to come early no one else had anything beforehand.

      Sara jumped up when Rebecca came in pushing Hunter away from her Graham didn’t know why since she asked what she asked loud enough for the whole room to hear. Graham looked right over to Hunter wishing she never said anything as Rebecca blushed and now Hunter will be distracted for the simulation.

      “Come one tell me how the big date went.”

      “It went now let’s focus okay?” Averie said looking about as annoyed as Graham felt.

      “So, was it bad then?” Sara asked looking up at him. Averie looked at Rebecca and back at Hunter from the corner of his eyes and then to Sara.

      “Now isn’t the time.” Rebecca said looking up at Graham. “What is this box supposed to be anyway? It’s not even bigger than our rooms.”

      Graham nodded up to his father in the room and the lights went out and back on but this time they were all in a plane and her pony tail started blowing hitting Sara in the face making Graham laugh for her trying to start waves before this. Rebecca took a step back in shock maybe but almost fell out he plane, and Averie reached down grabbing her waist pulling her into him backing up back into the plane. Graham looked at Hunter and hoped no one would do friendly fire that’s not a good way to prove they are all ready for missions.

      “This is the stimulation room. Its magic and if you die you feel it. Get shot in the face and you’ll have a massive headache for the rest of the day and the entire time you are blacked out until the rest of us fish the mission. It’s as real as missions and once you’re in it more than we are now.” He said having to shout over the wind sound. “Please just do your best okay? And for your sake try not to die.”

      He read the mission and sighed putting it back in his pocket Telling everyone to hold on as the plane nosedived down. Peyton’s feet lifted off the floor and he reached over with one arm grabbing her pulling her into him. Even though he knows its fake he felt his blood boil wanting to stop it to save her. He looked up at Peyton’s eyes the green looked like it was glowing, and he was shocked for a moment looking into them that he didn’t notice the plane stabilize and land a little hard, but everyone was already on the floor from her abrupt move to stop the fall. That was part of hi dads plan according to the paper he has in his pocket. Graham was quick to his feet jumping out the plan rushing everyone out into the woods telling them there was a book in the castle library that has the key to Seaton’s death. He rolled his eyes saying it knowing that’s never going to happen. He sent Averie up a hill telling everyone else with him making Brad and Jack take point while he and Peyton took the back telling everyone to pair off and go down the alley ways trying to stay hidden. He looked up realizing it wasn’t like last time with just the 4 men it was an odd number now. Hunter took an ally by himself and Graham allowed it next time he will think of something before their mission he can’t let Hunter do that next time. Graham heard something behind them and pulled Peyton behind hi turn around feeling a sword through his arm. She pulled out his gun shooting the man close range right in his gut, that was a sight to see, a very disgusting sight. He did like watching her fight she was great. He pulled out the sword swinging it into an oncoming attacker decapitating him pulling Peyton into the building as they started to get surrounded. He turned on his communicator hearing Averie tell him he saw what was happening it was with all of them.

      “I had to cover Hunter more for a second, he was alone.”

      “Everyone else okay?” he asked walking up the stairs amazed at Peyton checking out the windows shooting and checking before turning to continue running up. She was amazing and beautiful.

      “Yeah we are good.” Jack and Brad said together.

      “We are okay.” Sara shouted he could hear shooting.

Graham waited for Hunter to reply but nothing not even when Peyton and Rebecca asked for him. They both asked Averie at the same time.

“I lost him in the building I can’t answer accept that he was okay before a crowd of them chased him into it. Rebecca, stop!” Graham wanted to yank out his ear piece when the heard the gun go off in it. “Okay go.”

Hunter saw all the men coming from both sides and watched a lot of them fall backwards with blood splatter all over and ran into the building kicking a bigger hole in the wall to crawl in through. He looked around seeing a stair case that had a hole in it all the way through. He walked over leaning over the4 hole seeing the sky above and rocks below. He didn’t have much time to plan so he jumped in watching all the soldiers balance running up killing themselves as they fell. He looked over at tunnels leading towards where he last saw Rebecca and when he last saw Jack and Brad. Seeing as they were trained better he decided to take his chances hearing men falling down the stairs behind him echoing in the quiet tunnels. His ear piece started to squeak so loud he yanked it out tossing it to the floor still hearing it go off and heard a lot of shooting above him and footsteps. He saw a stair case and shot the door handle when he heard Rebecca shout his name. Hunter shot men as they tried to come after him pushing one down the stairs underneath making a domino effect with about 4 others then he shot at the roof and walls until it cracked and fell stopping anyone else from coming in after them. These buildings were like the ones in that last mission falling apart but these were just a little bit stronger. Now it’s moving, and he heard Rebecca or Sara scream something they didn’t know what was going on.

Hunter rushed up the steps tossing men out the window feeling the bundling drop a little here and there not enough to scare him just the girls. He heard them closer at least and felt good about not having anyone on his. As he got closer he felt a shot hit his hand making him drop his gun. When he did he saw a hurricane of bullets go through the window. And he crawled down under it trying to keep his gun in his hand, but it hurt too much he couldn’t. when Sara screamed smething about Rebecca getting shotHunter grabbed his gun with his left hand putting it in the holster swinging his rifle around as he crawls up the store aside as he could. Until the bullets stopped, and Hunter stopped looking up at the little blood droplets but those could ne the soldiers that didn’t see the bullet hurricane. He rushed up the stirs wrapping his hand up as he ran up the steps the building getting shakier now, he looked at the window for a second as he ran past it seeing the other buildings were too.

Sara turned with her gun at him as he came around the corner and back up around the corner hearing the gun go off.

“It’s me Hunter put it down!”

“Oh, thank god, grab her we have to get out of here.” Sara said running down and he grabbed her arm pushing her back up. “We have to leave we can’t leave going up.”

“In sort of barricaded both ways out that way so up is the only option.” Hunter said looking down at Rebecca’s shirt covered in blood trying to see where it stated. “Are you okay what happened?”

“I’m fine I just got shot in the back and arm.” She said and then slapped him really hard and he was sure there was a blood hand print on his face. “Why didn’t you respond when we called for you? I thought you died!”

“I think this is best discussed outside of the simulation where I can’t die, die just feel like it and you shouldn’t feel that.” He said outing his arm under her scooping her up and running the stairs with her.

He put her down when they got to the top because Sara shot he lock on the top doo rot the roof and it came back into his leg. These simulation missions are amazing he must say this really feels like his leg got shot.

“throw me out the window. Rebecca said holding her side looking out at Peyton’s building, Hunter looked out at it up right perfectly and then the instant,

“not a chance in hell I can’t throw you that far.”

“Okay ill jump.” She said starting to climb out the window and he yanked her back in. “we can’t get out there this is the best chance. Graham?”

Hunter looked at the door and ran full force into it feeling it crack a little then he did one more falling to the floor as the door fell down. “Now ill toes you on their roof.” He said as the building tilted and draped a little.

Sara jumped off the roof 1st somersaulting on the roof and turning back with her arms out as Hunter heaved Rebecca over watching her land into Sara just as Graham and Peyton came out. Hunter was ready to jump when he heard Brad and Jack shouting and shooting lie crazy. He looked back at Rebecca safe and over to building at them unsafe and didn’t think twice. He ran and jumped off the roof grabbing the edge having to pull himself up with one hand because of the bullet wound he forgot about. Peyton shouted for him making Rebecca shout too, but he pulled up rolling over in the building forgetting about the hole until he almost slid in and then lost his hand gun not hat he was using it anymore anyway. Men started shooting up the hole, so she rolled around rushing to the edge not stopping just trusting he could make it as she jumped off of the roof towards Jack and Brad shooting men coming out their door. Hunter felt the building shake and looked back at the wire and Graham at the bottom telling the jump now. Hunter let them go before following seeing Graham shot something up in the air and felt Graham and Peyton yank him down as a bomb exploded and the building chunks flew down at them. Peyton smiled when none of them hit them because she stopped it all ad then they ran into the castle and he felt revived like he can finally catch his breath it was so calm and quiet.

      Graham looked down the hall ahead suspicious that everything was so quiet and didn’t like it. this close to the end and its quiet after all of that? That’s not good something is up. He stopped everyone then Sara pulled out a rock from her pocket pressing something and ducking down covering her ears and eyes. Graham covered Peyton who covered everyone else from what he felt. The men in the building seems to be dragging out like zombies and she leaned up telling Peyton to keep it up while she was shooting them. they were going to keep going with Peyton like that and the room went black and showed the real room not the castle.

      Graham looked back at Rebecca who was holding her side and let go confused looking perfectly normal same with Hunter undoing his bandage. Graham looked up at Averie who was getting up off the floor when his father opened the door coming in looking at Sara.

      “What the hell was that?”

      “It was something I took for my bag just in case.” She said walking up to him bending over to pick it up turning to him and Graham wanted to run over to stop her, but she’s already started, and he can’t help. “And look that silly test didn’t actually use it just simulated using it I love that.”

      “Is this a real thing?” He asked snatching it from her.

      “Its toxic more of a gas bomb but that was a fun twist the test made it.” She said getting close and Graham started to walk up to stop her before she gets kicked out the camp or he barfs at her hitting on his dad. “did you like the idea of slaves? You into that?”

      “I suggest you stand down and joining your team.” Capitan Ryanns said getting angry and Graham walked up a little to stop her, but he was late.

      “Why you want to cuff me?”

      “I’ll take care of her, sir.” he said yanking her back-feeling Peyton grab her too. “how about you tell us how we did.”

      “Mr. Nikos was amazing accept pulling out the ear piece going up to save them then running back to save his team it was a good show of his abilities. Ms. Masterson was good up until she was wondered she needs more training before nay missions outside of town. All and all your team was exceptional. No funny business like that in your test Ms.…. What’s your last name?”

      “Whatever you want it to be?” Sara said with a wink and His father rolled his eyes and walked out, he was surprised at how quickly his father didn’t yell. Graham wanted to when she turned pinching his cheek saying, “I’m going to be your step mommy.”

      “Until that never happens I’m your commanding officer and I can make you run laps all night long without a break.” He said walking out the room.

      “I can go all night.”

      “I can’t talk to you.” He sighed leaving the room hearing Peyton whisper to her before running to catch up with him apologizing for her, but he just shook his head. “I’m not mad, Capitan Ryanns might be, but I could care less how she talks to everyone.”

      Doyle sat at his desk once he got Amethyst down opening his laptop to get the news from all over the world pulling down the map from his drawer pinning up to his book shelf feeling like it’s been forever since he started to work on this again. Joshua walked in with his grey eyes open smiling as he looked over the map with little red dots and black dots all over the place. Can he even see like that or is he just pretending and seeing with his mind’s eye? They both have been spending every second of everyday together catching up for lost time. Doyle keeps feeling like he doesn’t have enough time with him but he’s sure it’s more like he hasn’t had enough time with him. His mother has been coming over all the time as well spending time with Amethyst and Peyton. They are all like one big happy family, it only took him what 38 years? Well Cameron has been great but it’s not the same as his own mother not his best friend’s mother. The only strange thing about his mother is how she talks like they’ve know each other his whole life but he hasn’t he didn’t even know she was there for all the big days of his life. Joshua has looked into his past to do the same and whenever they go on about his life that they weren’t around for he thinks to himself what a strange family he has. He’s had to look into theirs as well, so he isn’t far behind them.

      Joshua sifted through the papers he’s had printed out from news articles and looked up at Doyle his grey eyes pen as wide as his mouth.

      “You can’t.”

      “I haven’t but I will once I have it planned out.”

      “It could be considered suicide.”

      “So, could joining a war against a power-crazy psychopath that no one can figure out how to kill. At least this is against something we have more of a fighting chance.”

      Peyton looked at Graham reading over the test results and smiled to herself, at how wonderful her life has been since she met him. She’s happier now bowing at home without crowds following or the threat of death, they can relax for a little and come up with a great plan to stop Seaton without fear he’s going to drop in.

      “Stop it.” he said not looking up from his notes. She looked at him confused and he smiled that perfectly imperfect smile still not looking up, as he spoke with a laugh. “I can feel your eyes burning holes not my face and I’m very busy.”

      “If you know I’m looking then you are too and you aren’t working anyway.” She laughed looking back down at her book.

      “I love you.” He said turning the page. “One more hour and I’m all yours.”

      “Lies.” She said leaning in to kiss him. “I’m kidding. I love you too but I’m going to sleep so you can have all the hours your need to finish that.”

      He looked up from his papers finally as she leaned in to kiss him and put them down sliding his hands into her hair pulling her in. between kisses he said he can finish tomorrow making her smile. Peyton stopped him when she heard footsteps coming up and he sighed rolling over as Hunter walked in complaining about Sean and Sara jumped in the room landing on the bed by their feet. Never a second alone it seems. Graham threw his arm over her neck pulling her in as Hunter put on a movie and Rebecca walked in with Averie.

      “When did my room become a bloody circus open to everyone on the floor?” Graham asked making Peyton laugh a little.

      “Oh, I didn’t know everyone was invites,” Sara said leaning towards the open-door shouting, “Jack! Brad! Come on in everyone invited!”

      Sean popped his head in with a smile ear to ear and Hunter sighed walking out quickly as Brad walked in asking why they called him. Peyton got up of the bed pushing everyone out saying Sara could keep Peyton’s room as long as they all leave.

      “Did I mention that I love you?” Graham smiled as she turned around with her back to door once everyone had left. He got up kissing her lips and forehead. “I’ll let you seep I need to shower, long day planed tomorrow.”

      “No more surprises?”

      “Nothing planed yet.” Graham laughed. “Just getting back to classes and working with the Capitan.”

      Peyton woke up alone wondering how he woke up earlier than 6 without an alarm or how she slept through it. She pushed herself up in bed wondering what to do today other than training Sara and Rebecca later she doesn’t have any plans her classes aren’t today like Graham. Peyton decided to talk over to the dragons with a bag full of tricks for training.

      Peyton wanted to practice a few magic tricks with the dragons while she waited, hoping that her dad didn’t come to see them. He never likes her doing anything that’s she wasn’t taught, he thinks she isn’t ready for anything they don’t show her.  He thinks she’s a little girl and unable to do anything at all it seems. Problem is that they won’t prepare her for the constant threat she’s in. Seaton is getting more focused on her and they won’t teach her anything. She needs shields and defenses that they refuse to show. How do they expect her to fight Seaton and not only win but survive it if they can’t teach her basic defensive magic? By reading a few books Peyton has been practicing her shield more and not just a regular shield like she accidently puts up in fear, a real one that should help against anything Seaton can throw at her and if she can figure out how to perfect it she will be able to cover herself like they did the town without making herself pass out.

      Sara came in with her bag of tricks and Rebecca had all of the weapons in a bag around her shoulder carrying it all like it was nothing. Peyton started to set up targets and letting them know the dragons would be coming in slowly not full speed but just another line of attack and not to kill them. She made sure to focus on Sara when she stressed the no killing her dragons part because of all her jackets its clear Sara not only knows how to kill them but also knows how to make something out of the impenetrable skin. Sara rolled her eyes saying it wasn’t as easy as it looks, and she couldn’t do it just like that in training. Peyton wanted to ask to explain how but the dragons all landed around them, and she felt asking how to kill one might sound bad, but it was for the dragons like the one that killed their mother. They won’t care she knows it, so she should ask but it can wait for another day.

      Peyton tossed the demon dummies around pulling out the control panel for them all trying to set up it but accidently hitting buttons when she pulled it. Peyton looked up as it pulled a sword out from the bag swinging it at all of them. Peyton was ready to hit the stop button when Rebecca pulled out a sword blocking the sword before it hit her. While she was fighting two of them Sara stepped back and started to make the fight harder as they both watched amazed at how well she was fighting. Sara seemed to know her way around the board making another demon come up while Rebecca was fending off the two and to Peyton’s surprise Rebecca didn’t get phased at all she kicked off one pulled a knife from her leg tossing it backwards pinning the demons head to the tree target Peyton set up. When they all started to come at her after its head melted and came back around the knife Peyton turned it off watching them drop to the floor walking up to the target amazed. Not only did Rebecca throw a blade without looking fully she hit the target and the head and in the center target pretty deep that must have been a hard toss.

      Rebecca turned looking slightly out of breath and then looking just a little nervous stepping back from them. “What?”

      “Where did you learn all of that?” Peyton asked putting the control panel down.

      “Hutch was an amazing fighter I watched him and when I talked him down to filly teach me for safety he did, and I perfected it I suppose.”

      “Don’t ever use a gun again just knives my god woman you are-” Sara started to say when Peyton fell back.

The feeling was familiar but also very new. It felt like she passed out 1st then all of the sudden she was living something hectic and scary. Peyton got up off the floor looking for Sara and Rebecca but couldn’t see them only what she could describe as a war zone worse than anything she’s seen. demons of all kinds running about killing people and soldiers from camps along with the king’s men it’s like they don’t have a chance to fight arrow were flying out of nowhere and it went right through the protection spell she tried to cast. She saw the shield go up but nothing and the things were moving so fast she couldn’t catch enough in time to kill them, how is she supposed to stop it? Hunter dove in front of her getting run through with a spear along with Averie pinned to the wall behind her as she ran towards him to see what was clearly both of them dead. Jack tackled her to the ground, and she wondered why he felt so heavy looking u ta the collection of arrows on his back. Peyton rolled him off her seeing a bomb coming at Brad and she raised her hands exploding it before it hit him but still left him badly burnt. She dragged him over behind a wall looking back up falling don wot he floor starting to sob. Peyton saw Graham dead on the floor and picked him up off the floor with is eyes open wide closing them as she hugged him. Then she heard her name looked up and saw an arrow coming for her and threw her arms up to stop it feeing the sharp blade touch her chest before falling backwards onto the ground. She opened her eyes relived to be back to the floor looking up at Sara and Rebecca looking worried for her and looking all around. She gasped crunching the laves in her hands to make sure she was where she was this time asking what happened as she felt her chest wondering why she still felt the pain.

“I have to go.” She said running back to camp hearing them describe what he just saw but how they weren’t there when she was looking.

Getting into camp she ran past Hunter who tried to stop her and rushed up the steps swinging open Graham’s door catching her breath when she looked up from his desk with papers all over it. She ran over to him squeezing him so tight starting to sob, that thing felt so real she could feel his blood on her hands even now it felt like it was there but here he is alive and okay? What was that? Peyton didn’t care she was just happy to have him here and alive. She started to kiss him, and he was trying to ask between kisses what was the matter but then he stopped asking kissing back pulling her onto his lap in his desk chair. He grabbed her legs standing up laying her on the bed and she wanted nothing more than to share this with him especially now after whatever that was. She loves him and now fees right it feels like the only chance she’s ever going to have really. She forgot all about everything accept him it was amazing.

Graham took his shirt off going back to kissing sliding his hand under her shirt starting to pull it off while her heart was racing. When his phone went off on a loud alert sound and her heart dropped remembering what she was scared about saying they can’t go before he even answered. Graham looked at her confused as he answered.