The Phoenix

Recovering

      Peyton woke up in the hospital bed with her father in the bed to her left and Graham in the one to her right. She rubbed her eyes feeling lightheaded pushing herself up feeling a sharp pain in her chest she pulled the blanket up and saw bandages wrapped around. Everyone else was okay for the most part and didn’t need more surgery just her that’s good at least. Dr. Nikos ran in and laid her back down telling her they haven’t been able to get all the shards out, yet they had to heal other parts or something before opening her up again. She had old pipe pieces and marble inside, but she was bleeding too much. Everything felt like it was spinning even the words he was saying an it felt like she was still using magic and she couldn’t stop it was a little scary feeling like she might not wake up if they put her out again. She tried to tell him and tried to stop him from grabbing something, but she couldn’t even lift her arms anymore really. He walked up pressing a button until she drifted off.

      Sara woke up in the waiting room again with the little Quinn girl in her lap they have been like this all week waiting for them to wake up or be able to be seen at all. Dr. Nikos say they are fine, but she sees how Captain Cutie reacts when they whisper, and they would be able to talk to them by now if that was the case. Hunter and Rebecca seem to be enjoying cuddling all night in the waiting room that they don’t even see what’s going on. They healed up and went on with their training just come by in free time. Sara isn’t officially training to be part of this “camp” as they call it so all she does is babysit. The good doctor tried to say he would but no she can do this and this girl the only thing that will grantee Sara will know when they are better. That family is the only hope for the world, and she won’t leave her side until she knows Peyton and Doyle are okay, plus Amethyst is probably the cutest little girl Sara had ever seen. Peyton is the 1st friend Sara ever made as well maybe she wants more than just the safety for the world, she isn’t used to friendship yet so it’s hard to tell what she cares about more right now.

      She put the girl down slipping past Rebecca and Hunter all snuggled up thinking for a small moment about how they can be so out of touch with themselves not to see that they like each other. Now isn’t the time for that. She walked down the hallway sneaking past the nurses gossiping at the desk. She walked over to the room pulling her hand on the door closing her eyes if ever she’s going to tap into that now would be a great time. It only worked that one time at the Main City but now would be helpful. Nothing.

      “what are you doing?” Rebecca whispered making Sara jump, that was close.

      “They are lying, there’s something they aren’t telling us, and I was trying to see what it was.” Sara admitted to one thing. “Doesn’t it seem iffy to you?”

      “It’s the spell.” Rebecca said sounding 100% positive. “The Gods performed a spell and it managed to kill them. This wasn’t close to the type of spell that was done but it was strong and took a lot, remember how it blew you? It tossed all of them up in the air and I’m guessing its taking its toll on them.”

      “If you’re right then the other sorcerers should be out for the count, too shouldn’t they? And Graham should be better by now he didn’t actually use magic.”

      “That’s not true he used more magic than anyone because she had to have everyone’s magic in him and double it. From what I read that gift uses a lot of magic more than even he knows. One day he will be able to touch a magical being and use their powers for a moment until they take control again. He will have to be advanced for that like training his whole life I doubt he will be able to do that. Either way he is worst of all, I’m sure. If What I’ve read is right, on the brink of death 2 big spell after each other than getting run through with the statue’s sword, that’s why Capitan Ryanns is so angry these days.”

      “You know more than you show.” Sara sad in surprise suddenly really liking her. Who knew this quiet girl would be able to surpass Sara in magic? “So, do you know how to fix it? We will need them all ready for this. This will work for a time but once Seaton can’t find us, he will try to draw us out by hurting other towns.”

      “Maybe, but we need to find a way to get into that library above the library and the secret library in the den Hunter was talking about, so I can learn more everything than what the schoolbooks here teach.”

      “Breaking rules is what I’m good at is a goody two shoes like you ready to break rules?” Sara smiled. Rebecca nodded looking slightly uncomfortable like any goody two shoes would with breaking rules. Sara pulled off her ring handing it to Rebecca. “Here’s your ticket up to the library above the library.”

      Hunter woke up smelling Rebecca’s shampoo, smiling looking down then jumped up seeing Rebecca gone and Amethyst alone. Sara and Rebecca hanging out won’t lead to anything good. He got up and carried Amethyst to his parents laying her down in Keith’s room going to Joshua to see if he knew what was going on. Joshua will know.

      He ran down to the sorcerer’s den surprised to see the guard was missing he flung the door open and ran down the steps hearing nothing. And that’s not too weird for here but it is weird not to at least hear footsteps and whispers or book pages. HE opened the small door with all the books and went to check for Joshua there 1st but there was no one and some books looked like they were missing. He went to reach for one but stopped himself thinking how weird it was he wanted to stop and read crawling out and rushing towards the dark hallways preparing his eyes for the bright white rooms. When he swung it open, he found it empty but heard a rattle in the corner. He was on his way to check it out when a guard came down the stairs probably from seeing the open door. Hunter was quick to reprimand him as to hide that fact that he was down here without permission. To Hunter’s surprise that works and why guy was trying to explain it but couldn’t think of a good excuse. Good Hunter didn’t have one either he just walked past him and up the steps to Joshua’s house.

      Rebecca crawled out from behind the bookcase after Hunter crawled out and grabbed the book he had in his hand. She knows what this room does its why she can read anything. He shouldn’t be reaching for anything, but he was there’s something in this book about him that he’s hiding, possibly even from himself. The prophet came in and smiled feeling like he was looking them down with is eyes closed, it was really awesome how he walked around like that she wished she could see the future.

      “Did you get what you needed to get?”

      “I think so, possibly more than I needed.” She said holding the book Hunter pulled out. “Did he see me?”

      “No, he was too entranced by that book you have there, I suggest you don’t read that unless you’re ready for anything.”

      “Do you know why he grabbed it?”

      “I do, he doesn’t, and I don’t think he’s ready. He will find it out on his terms, I suggest you wait until then as well.”

      “I supposed you’ve seen what I do already.” She sighed ready to hand it to him.

      “No, you haven’t decided yet.” He lifted his eyebrows and reached out his hand. “I stand corrected you did decide.” She put the book in his hands, surprised how fast that happened because she had just decided once he said that. “You will see soon enough no need to rush anything.”

      Rebecca crawled out with the books happy she didn’t’ actually break the rules and asked them to pretend with Sara. If not, she wouldn’t have been warned about Hunter coming in and he wouldn’t like this plan at all. Sara reminded her of Hutch, it was pretty funny and it’s nice to have that energy around again. Problem was she never liked breaking rules, she did for her brother but not a stranger, plus how can anyone get anything past the prophet? They all should know all about these books and how to help, so why don’t they?

       Sara had a bag full of ingredients and Rebecca had the books opened to specific pages all over Peyton’s room. She was flipping making notes in her notebook when something important stood out to her, luckily Sara lived in here for now with Peyton otherwise someone would have wondered what they were doing. Rebecca liked it; it was like chemistry but everything in here was magical. She wondered if she was the 1st non-magical person to practice with magical potion like things. All she needed to do was understand the gifts, the spell and their power to factor it all into a cure and right now it felt really easy, she was flying through.

      A knock at the door made her jump and her glasses almost fell off, she was so lost in thought that she lost track of time.

      “Rebecca are you in there?” She heard Hunter ask and Sara jumped off the bed and Rebecca wondered if she was reading anything or trying to help me than stealing what they needed.

      Sara opened the door keeping it closed only pocking her face out. “We are naked having a mud bath spa day thing to relieve stress, no boys allowed.”

      Even just the thought of that made Rebecca uncomfortable she’s never been naked in front of anything since she was a kid, she wouldn’t do it with an almost stranger. Rebecca looked back down to her book thinking Hunter would walk away after that but then she heard him fake laugh opening the door and quickly shouting jumping back. Rebecca looked up and looked away immediately, Sara was dedicated to this lie and they weren’t close enough to see that. Rebecca heard the door slid on the carpet, so she assumed Sara held the door like before because it didn’t close yet. From the tone of her voice Sara was smiling as she went on talking to Hunter. “Now go masturbate while we relax here naked, nighty night kid.”

      “Did you just tell him to-.”

      “Yes, I did I’m sure the idea of you naked is going to lead to that.” She shrugged with her nightgown back on as he hopped on the bed. “Has he seen it?”

      “Me? God no.” Rebecca laughed a little more embarrassed than anything it wasn’t funny, she had to change the subject before anything else embarrassing came out. “I think I’m close to this cure I just need a few more things.”

      “Have you thought about him like that when you’re all alone?” Sara asked making her wished she would drop it; it’s embarrassing to talk about it.

      “I need all of their blood and someone strong and healthy that can help heal them. looks like it should be something immortal like a mermaid or maybe the dragons.”

      “I can get mermaid blood and I’m sure we could talk to the dragons into it just for an extra boost they are crazy powerful.”

      “How are you able to get mermaid blood?” Rebecca asked looking up at her.

      “I have a lot of things saved for a rainy day doesn’t matter how I get it just be glad I have it.” She said not looking up from her book moving her hair out her face showing the scar across her face. “Sorry about pushing it I didn’t realize you were still a virgin.”

“What?” Rebecca asked nervously though it was true it was embarrassing. “I’m not still-”

 “It’s okay to be one. I wish I still was still, you’re lucky.”

      Hunter laid in bed looking up at the room happy his mom took Amethyst off his hands it’s been a long time since he was able to lay in his bed and not a couch or the hospital chairs. Sean leaned up in the bed in the back corner of his room and asked if Hunter thought they were really naked, and Hunter threw his pillow so hard Sean hit his head on the wall and Averie came over asking if everything was okay. He was silly to think he could relax. Sean went on to tell Averie all about it and Averie looked like he might hit him too for talking about girls like that. Hunter told Sean to go to Mr. Quinn’s since it was just the family right now anyway, he needed space. He knew they weren’t doing anything Sara said they were despite her commitment to the lie; he should be proud it was the 1st time in his life that he walked away from a girl who took her clothes off for him. Rebecca was classier than that she wouldn’t be naked in front of a stranger they are doing something, and Sara knew he’d walk away.

      He wanted to see what they were doing he didn’t like all the alone time and sneaking around or lies. Rebecca acting weird and Peyton on the hospital not getting up he didn’t like it one bit. He heard a tap at his door, and he rolled his eyes think Sean was too lazy to walk across camp, so he could have alone time. Hunter swung the door open ready to yell when she saw Rebecca standing looking suddenly scared with her glasses on the edge of her nose and her hair twisted up like when she was at school actually learning something or drawing. He was hoping she was studying because drawing in a room with Sara and the memory sadly burned into his brain made him cringe a little.

      “Do you still have the rocks from the spell?” She asked looking confused, he might have actually cringed without her knowing why, he should explain but he can’t really have explained that.

      “Where have you been all day?”

      “Mud bath.” She shrugged looking uncomfortable and she was clearly lying. He just looked at her rolling his eyes a little. “It’s not important, do you or don’t you have the extras.”

      “I do.” He said turning towards his dresser. “You’re not playing with magic right?” He turned to look at her with e stones in his hands and she looked at him stunned or confused. “If you going to try sneaking around and lying try not doing it around someone who’s known you your whole life, I know what your hair up like that means. You came in here for magical stones, so it cleared up any questions I had.”

      “You watched me enough to know exactly what this look meant?”

      “Watched sounds creepy.” HE laughed stepping up to her placing the stones n her hands holding them a little. “It’s not hard to notice little quirks if you know someone.”

      “If you know me so well then what am I thinking right now?”

      “Hmm” He said leaning in a little making her start to blush a little. “Thinking is harder because you’re so secretive but those rosy cheeks at our proximity makes me think you’re thinking about putting those rocks down and ki-.”

      “Rebecca did you,” Sara started making Hunter roll his eyes a little and making Rebecca jump back while Sara laughed a little, “Oh my bad I’ll just leave you two alone.”

      “No, we were done just handing her the stones for your ‘mud bath,’ she’s all yours.” Hunter said stepping into his room holding the door as she started to walk towards the room stopping at the door. “I was right, wasn’t I?”

      “I’m not answering that until you admit it’s what you were thinking.” She smiled and then he heard Averie’s door open as she smiled up at him waving. It hit Hunter at once what Averie was talking about before all the chaos and he wanted to stop them from talking but he was late. “Did you need something?”

      “Um yeah but I can wait until you two are done if you’d like?” Averie said, and she smiled at Hunter repeating what he said to Sara minus the mud bath part. Averie looked at Hunter who felt frozen at the door watching not knowing how to stop it and Averie looked confused an awkward. “Oh, good well I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me.”

      “A date?” she asked looking at Hunter confused and then back at Averie, now his chance to just say no, she was waiting for it she could see it in her blue eyes under her glasses, nothing. “I guess yeah we can go on a date.”

      She said yes, he thought she’d turn him down because he thought they were in the same boat right now. She could say no weather he stops it or not, but she didn’t she wants to date him. Of course, she does he’s got bigger muscles, he’s taller and his dark skin is probably more appealing than Hunter’s since it’s so rare and he’d assume attractive he’s never seen a woman with dark skin like that she he can’t say whether or not he’s like it as much as Rebecca clearly does. Hunter rubbed the back of his head unsure what to say or do not wanting her to see what was going on in his mind not that she cares or noticed them before. He was that good at pushing them down, that he didn’t even really think it was for sure until she agreed. He’d better go to bed; it’s been a long day.

      Sara stood there awkwardly between the two of them talking about everything but the date that they both want to talk about. Rebecca was ranting all night that he stood there doing nothing and he didn’t care, from the way he’s acting Sara wondered what was going on in his mind right now. He looked mad and sad and annoyed with the plan. She decided to break the tension by explaining the plan and how it’s going to work if he just gets them into the room that his dad has on lock down. She held out the three rocks carved into cups and the bottle Rebecca mixed up they each needed a drop of their own blood in the mix and in Graham’s case he needs Peyton and Her dad’s blood in his because he had both of them in him. It wasn’t going to be easy if the doctors and guards were coming in every two seconds like they are right now.

      Hunter just shrugged agreeing like he was annoyed but wanted to do anything that will help and walked away from them starting up Rebecca’s rant. Sara stopped her saying she would see what’s going on and ran after him yanking his arm over behind a building making sure Rebecca didn’t follow them.

      “What got shoved up your butt?”

      “Classy.” He sighed walking off before she grabbed his shirt slamming him back onto the wall. “What do you want from me I have to go get my dad out the room so you two can sneak in, I agreed didn’t I?”

      “You really hurt her f-.”

      “She agreed to the date she didn’t have to I didn’t hurt anything.” He said pulling her hands off his shirt and she was stunned at how stupid people could be.

      “You could have stopped her too. “She said standing where she was smiling in the inside the he stopped looking like he was ready to report her fact and she stopped him. “You care about her like that tell her stop the date win her back or let her go in a date because you to chicken s**t to step up. Your choice but don’t say it’s all on her when you wouldn’t even admit it to yourself. Call us when we can go in to save lives.”

      Sara didn’t know why she was so mad at him all of the sudden, but she didn’t blame Rebecca at all like he seem to, he was the stupid on. She walked up to Rebecca putting the stuff into her bag as they walked down to the hospital. This better work.

      Sara walked up to the guard at the door while Hunter was talking to his dad needing to tug down her shirt a little to really get his attention. Its best they look there than her face with the hideous scar. He couldn’t take his eyes off and got the attention of another guard; it was enough to get Rebecca in at least. Sara had to lead them away, so she could get in there too before she and Hunter kill each other so she whispered to both of them to meet her in a different room. they both might think she went with the other when she doesn’t show up, but it’ll give them some time those outfits can’t be easy to get out of and put back on.

      Rebecca double checked her notes again after she got everything together and while they waited for Sara in silence. Looking at anything other than him was a good idea right now, she’s not mad anymore, sad she was wrong but not mad. She shouldn’t have expected anything ore from him he’s always had eyes for Peyton she was just 2nd place, still it was something.

      “You sure this is going to work” Hunter whispered peeking out the window.

      “I can’t be positive of anything but yes this has the best probability of working.”

      “What happens if it doesn’t work?” He asked looking up at her then quickly looking away out the window again backing away from the door pretty fast after as Sara rushed in.

      Rebecca looked own at them Graham looked dead already, still muscular but not as muscular or maybe just the pale skin and sunken in eyes made him look weaker. She leaned in seeing what looked like a few grey hairs too that sucks hopefully this will help fix that. Peyton and Mr. Quinn looked better but not normal. Peyton’s hair looked darker no grays like Graham had just browner weirdly. Out of all of them she looked the healthiest but still not healthy, it was hard to put her finger on what made Peyton look so sickly.

      She walked up to Graham holding the rock cup of potion trying to not shake and hoping they didn’t see it. Yes, she read every book on the spell and every book about healing, she got actual magic potions and blood from magical creatures, but she worried not having magic and mixing it wouldn’t work. This is scary because the fate of the world rest on this because Peyton is the fate. Sara walked up smiling and Rebecca could see she looked nervous from the look in her eyes. Hunter didn’t notice because she was running his fingers through Peyton’s hair and that hurts to watch. He is doting over her like he always does it shouldn’t be surprising at this point.

      Hunter felt weird opening up Graham’s mouth, so Sara could pour that weird stuff in and he trusted this because Rebecca made it, but he also didn’t trust it because it was magic and if men who studied magic all their life couldn’t find a cure why will she?

      “She is smarter than you think don’t worry, I can see it all over your face it looks very ugly on you.” Hutch’s voice said. “Who’s that blonde chick? What’s with the scar? Blue hair is interesting.”

      He talks too much.

      He lifted Graham’s back up a little holding his mouth close after it was all in and waited to hold him like that. He started let go when Graham’s started coughing slightly then it sounded like he was choking a little, so he pulled him up to hit his back unsure of what else to do. All the sudden Graham started to convulse maybe like he was having a seizure, so hunt flung him back down trying to pin him down, but he was still strong and huge no matter how sick he’s been. Hunter looked up and saw Sara shake herself off like she was nervous and needed a second before helping him and Rebecca started to flip through the notebook again.

      “I told you not to play with this magic stuff, what did you do?”

      “What did I do?” Rebecca shouted back at him slamming her book shut. “I did everything I could to try and save your friend, your girlfriend and her father while you waited patiently for them to die!”

      “Because I knew there was nothing we could do we aren’t sorcerers we are humans who should be playing with magic and stuff we don’t know anything about.”

      “They were on the brink of death if anything we just speeded up the process so shut up.” Sara said looking at him with her eyes wide open when she said, “shut up” like she was telling him something else he didn’t know what.

      Before he could reply to her Graham shot up in bed sitting up right taking a deep breath before falling back down and opening his eyes like he just heard gunshots or took shots of caffeine. He jumped out of bed yanking the needle out of his arm somehow Hunter missed that part. He rushed to Peyton and

Sara had to grab him saying to hold her up a lite n open her mouth. Hunter tried to tell him what was going to happen before Graham freaks out, but Rebecca started to leave, and he ran to catch her hearing Graham freak out, he looked back and didn’t care grabbing her arm before as she grabbed the door. She shook of his arm and he said the 1st thing that came to mind getting cut off before he finished. “I owe you an ap.-”

      “just don’t, she’s going to wake up better not wait a minute to let her know you helped otherwise she might not ever fall out of love with him and in love with you.” Rebecca open the door as she finished and walked out. “I have a date to get to.”

      “You are so stupid.” Hutch and Sara said at the same time. Then he heard Hutch laugh topping it off with “I like her, she’s funny.”

      “Go after her or help us.” Sara shouted holding Peyton down, he didn’t know where to go so he stayed in the room and held her down looking at the door wondering if he made the right choice.

      They did the same thing for Mr. Quinn and Hunter got pushed back all it surprised at how strong he was even after a mini coma he was unbelievably strong. After the 1st push Hunter caught his footing and held his ground until all of them were up and alive. Graham’s grey hair has halfway gone away, and Peyton’s weird hair is bright again so he’s sure they are all going to be great, he really does owe Rebecca an apology.

      Doyle sat there flipping through her notes that all looked like gibberish to him. He handed it over to the sorcerers asking if they understood and why they didn’t think of it but all of them all seemed as befuddled as he was. They didn’t seem to connect everything like she did, and she seemed to add different things from every book they had in the spell and a couple extras. They took the books back from her and had them laid around open to pages she had post its on with more gibberish words on it. How did she figure this out?

      That Sara girl slid onto the counter tapping her fingers loudly smiling like she knew they had no idea. She takes some getting used to but oddly fits in everywhere. She handed him another note book saying it might help it was what she started before Rebecca took it to add more notes to it. He looked over and it was just the same more gibberish. He never took those kinds of classes in school his science stopped at biology and he barley passed it.

      “We should consider making a class like this she could be a great teacher if we let her.”

      “Seaton has men out and about everywhere if we start a class and his men see and tell him I don’t like the outcome it’s better to wait until his threat is over. Until then don’t discourage this side of her she is a genius, she did this in a day?”

      “I don’t know I was asleep.” Doyle said looking up at Sara who was looking into the cabinets lifting potions up and vials of stuff.

      “You should get dragon blood now that you have an abundance of it, clearly comes in handy. I can give out some of the left-over mermaid blood I have but I might need it so maybe not definitely add it in.” She said turn around looking at them smiling ignoring the question. “She did do it in one day read all the parts of the spell and make a cure he was up almost all night doing it among other things but yeah she’s awesome. Teaching isn’t good yet your right but of course you are Mr. Prophet Man. If that’s all you needed id better be going I have plans.”

      He can see it to, the world isn’t ready for her class, thinking of making it permanent makes him see a darker world if that’s possible and waiting on it makes it back to the world ha can see with Peyton kill Seaton. If only he could see her living in it. He’s never been able to see her to in the future without help and its never deep into the future. It worries him.