Magic Vs Science

Nineteen

It didn't take long before other Phoenixes started coming around looking for their elder. I told them the truth on where he was and what he had done. None seemed to mind that he was in a cage. Apparently, he had done much worse to the twins that were taken back to their homeland. "I'm not kidding. Those poor children were tortured until they finally gave up. They are still with the healer. They haven't grown at all."

"How horrible." I held my hands to my chest. "How could he do that to them? They were just babies." I looked at Aalto, who had a sad look on his face. He remembered his siblings, but never once asked to go see them.

"They have been asking about their brother. Kaven and Roland are their names. They want to meet Aalto. Triplet boys, the hardest to raise. There is a bond between them that makes us fear them. The know when one is hurt or where they are or even if one has died."

I stopped listening to the bird and focused on Aalto. "Baby, do you want to go meet your brothers?"

He looked at me, but didn't say anything for a few minutes. "I do, Mama. I want to meet them. I can feel their pain and sadness. I feel as if I were there with them, even for just an hour, they would get better faster. If they haven't grown at all, than that means they are in danger of ascending early. That could mess everything up in the Phoenix race."

I nodded. "Alright. You can go. Your brothers need you, and you need them. Just don't forget about us." I smiled and gently stroked his wings.

"I'm not leaving without you, Mama. You're coming with me. Besides, we can bring the fool in the cage. Maybe they would be more willing to join us if we show them that we have the terrible one in a cage."

I couldn't help up pull him close for a gentle hug. He may be made of water, but touching him, didn't leave and wet marks. It was still odd for me to see this, even after raising him for three years. Yes, it had been three years since he was born. "Mom?" I turned and looked at Ben and Ellie. They had grown so much as well. "Mom, we want to go too. Maybe we can make up for what we did three years ago."

I looked at Aalto. He looked at his brother and sister and I swear he smiled at them. "You can come. If the stories are true, My birth brothers and I are the ones who will become the next leaders. The stories were twisted by the fool, and everyone was made to believe that threes were bad. The next born triplets, are meant to become the next leaders." Yes. Aalto was very long winded. He could talk someone to death if he really wanted to.

"Are you sure, Aalto? We don't want you to make rash decisions." Ellie said.

"Oh I am quite sure. In fact, I'd love it if the whole family came with me! I want you all to experience the homeland of Phoenixes for the first time with me! Oh it would be so lovely! I can picture it now! Each and everyone of us staring in shock at just how beautiful it is!"

I smiled. "Alright. We will go with you. All of us."

The rest of that day, we spent listening to Aalto go on about how he was going to remember each of our faces, and packing for a night or two. Adonis often toned Aalto out, but this time, he was entranced in everything that was said by the visiting Fire Phoenix, Ronan, and everything that Aalto added in from the stories that he read about. According to Ronan, the place wasn't as great as it used to be. With everyone piled into cars, we were on the road.

There was only one place we could park the cars, and from there, we had to walk. Everyone but Adonis chose to change their forms. Ursis carried the elder in the cage, with I gave Adonis a lift. There were some other Phoenixes around that happily took our bags on ahead of us. As we ran though the thick forest that surrounded us, I began to hear the sounds of the other birds. Each one had a different call, even if they were from the same element. It was like their call was specific to them and them alone. No one had a similar call.

We kept on running to the point that none of us could tell where we were going or where we were anymore. It felt like hours had passed. Kade and Ellie were getting tired. I could tell that Cora, Ben and Nikki were too. They didn't have the same stamina that Ursis and I had. I looked up once again and Aalto looked down at me. He knew what I was meaning. It looked like he spoke to Ronan and then Ronan took a quick turn to the left. Everyone followed suit and within moments, we were entering the Phoenix lands. It was very beautiful, but there seemed to be a gloom in the air. It didn't feel right. I felt my fur stand on edge.

"Adonis." I spoke low, so only he could hear me. I felt him lean closer. "Something doesn't feel right here."

"I know. I can feel it too. Beast or not, something doesn't feel right about this place." He whispered in my ear.

"Keep your eyes open. You know the signal if you see anything." He didn't say anything back to me, but I felt him sit up. I knew he heard me. Even if he wasn't a Beast anymore, I could give him one if he really needed it, plus, he still bowed to me as his Queen.

Everyone slowed to a walk. It seemed like everyone could feel that something was wrong. The elder was screeching like crazy, trying to get help from the others, but none helped him. They just turned their heads away from him. So it was true that he was cruel to his kind. We kept walking and entered into a large cave. I looked around, taking in my surroundings and making sure that we had a way out if something happened.

Being a Queen wasn't easy. People wanted my place and so, I had to make sure that I was always on guard. I had to be ready for a fight at any moment. I even had to drop out of school and take my courses online because of all the fights. Beasts were known about now, but there was still the rule that Humans would not be involved if they chose not to be. "My Queen." I looked up slightly to see a phoenix landing in front of me. They bowed to me. "I am temporary leader, Mason."

I bowed my head in respect. "I am Queen Ixora. My family and I have come for two reasons. My son, Aalto, wishes to meet his brothers, and I have come to speak about an alliance between us."

"Of course, My Queen. The bothers are in with the healers. They are in a very bad condition because of that fool there." Mason glared at the elder I had locked in the cage. "Please, Leader Aalto, this way." Mason turned to take flight.

"Wait. I wish for my Mother to come with me. She is the one who gave birth to us after all. She deserves to see her sons as well." Aalto looked at me. I could see the glint in his eyes. He was both afraid and smirking.

"As you wish, Leader Aalto." Adonis slipped off my back and I followed Mason and Aalto to where the healers were. It looked like an actual healer room. The lights were low, healing crystals hung from the ceiling, beds were lined against the walls. "This way please. Royalty have private rooms up ahead." We followed Mason through some curtains and there, by the window, where two small water phoenixes. The same two I gave birth to, but there hadn't grown at all. It looked like they were starving, and the water their bodies were made of, looked almost like muck.

I couldn't hold it back. I whimpered and headed right for them, but I was stopped by a couple fire soldiers. "Move out of my way now!" I yelled, using a lot of force in my voice, but they didn't move.

"Move away from Queen Ixora right this instant!" Mason yelled. The two moved away from me with their heads low to the ground. They had no idea who I was.

I ran right up to my boys with Aalto on my back. "Oh my boys." I whimpered. "Kaven, Roland, please my boys, open your eyes." I gently nuzzled both of them.

"Brothers, I am Aalto, use me to help heal yourself. I know it will be hard, but it will be alright. Mother and I are here for you."

Kaven slowly opened his eyes. "A-Aalto. W-why are you here? E-Elder Caine will k-kill you."

"He can't hurt anyone anymore. He's locked in a cage until the day he dies. He can no longer control us. We are the Leaders now. The three of us. Please, use me to help heal yourself. Mother is here with us."

Roland opened his eyes slowly and looked at us. I changed to my human form and gently touched his wings. "Mama's here. I'll take care of you both, I promise."