Phoenix's Destiny

The Moon Witches

Everything smelt sweet, and was warm again. I was dreaming I was in a ginger bread house eating the house till I was round and chubby. I woke on a bed made up on the floor to the two women bickering.

“She stinks of… b-burning hay and mud. What is she Grandma?” The girl was pale as paper and bald headed. I sat up to everything spinning again.

“Once she is cleaned up all will be well… Oh darling not to fast. Help her Lilly.”

The girl I’m assuming is Lilly groaned and laid me back down on the cot “just lay here please.” She said holding her breath. She pinched her nose and ran back to the kitchen, gasping for breath.

Their home was made up like a small log cabin, with potted plants everywhere, dream catchers dangling from the ceiling. The cot laid in the corner by a small stove like fire place, then a small table and chairs, then a kitchen.

“Darling what is your name? I’m old and forgetful, my apologise” The old woman smiled at me. Her kindness made me want to cry…

A sniffle escaped before I mumbled out “Phoenix.”

“Well Phoenix lets get you clean up, then have dinner.”

It was dawning on me, that where ever I am is so far away from home. The house was not out of the stone age, it was out of the no age- as in no idea what is going on age. The woman were wearing these white laced ankle length dresses, looking like ghosts. There house was more like a gardening shed. The bathroom had running water but the tub looked like a cooking pot. I thought I was going to be eaten, but Grandmother filled the tub with bubbles and left out a white laced dress for me to wear, with my own brush, and tooth brush to used.

I took my time, the girl made it very clear I smelt bad to her. I couldn’t tell since I was use to it, but I knew this was the dirtiest I think anyone in my family has ever been. I scrubbed my skin raw, and even then just kept going. I washed my hair three times, cleaned under my nails and in my ears. I even drained the water and cleaned myself again. I brushed my teeth till my gums bled, then brushed again. My skin was red from the disinfecting, I ran my tongue over my now clean mouth. All I could think about were the things I ate that I hope to touch again….

The food smelt amazing, I did know what I was going to see. Just as long as it wasn’t bugs and dead rodents. To my amazement it was bread, cheese, fruit, and what seemed to be baked carrots and squash. My body was craving any food, even a carrot would bring me to tears.

“You still smell like firewood.” Lilly said bluntly.

“Shush child,” Grandma snapped, she looked at me and smiled “You look radiant darling.” I was wearing a matching lace white dress with lace white socks. It was actually very comfortable, I was happy to be out of my mud coated pajamas.

“Thank you.” I sat with them at the table. Lilly groaned and began poking at the food. I felt out of place, an intruder in Lilly’s life. My hair was long, waving down my back.

“I love your hair. How’s it that forest color, what spell did you use?” Grandma asked serving me a plate with everything.

“Spell? I used lime crime.”

“Lime, crime?” Lilly repeated

“Yes, its hair coloring… From Sally.”

“Must be a sea witch. Are you part of the Ocean coven?” Their violet eyes beaming with curiosity. “How did you get this far from the sea?”

“I’m from Vegas.” I said shrinking in my chair. I suddenly wasn’t hungry anymore “where am I?”

They looked at my in horror “what’s a Vegas?” Lilly asked.

Grandma waived her hand and suddenly all the windows shut and locked the door double bolted. Blinds snapped, with the fire going out. Grandma’s eyes glowed, she mumbled something under her breath and I felt the air shift around me, wind blew sending the plants leaves to the side. “Phoenix, tell me. How did you end up in those caves?”

“I was brushing my teeth. My mirror started smoking, then all of a sudden I was falling in a hole and woke up in the caves. I-I’m not a witch, or a cave monster, I’m human.”

Grandma stood up her hands on the table, with her eyes still glowing purple she looked at me, sending shivers down my spine. “Darling if you ended up here, you are definitely not human-” She reached her old liver spotted hand out finger and inch away from my forehead “now don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.” She poked me right between my eyes. I was falling back in my chair and suddenly the world held still. Little purple stars hung around me sparkling in random configurations. A mist rolled in slowly, and purple trees hung low. I heard a low growl shake the air, I looked up seeing a long winged animal fly, it was large and was so close I saw its thick claws. It roared again causing my throat to close up.

“Phoenix?” A male voice whispered by my ear. I turned to see in the thick purple forrest a shadowed figure… “Phoenix,” it repeated. It was shifted the shadowed figure was growing taller and wider. “Phoenix.” It’s voice became more huskier and monster like. I panicked and screamed.

With a thud on the ground, I was back in the cabin. Sweat was all over me, I felt my body tremble. “Sh, sh, you’re safe. You are safe dear.” Grandma and Lilly were by me.

“What the hell did you do to me?” I said in a gasping voice. “Who were they?” I demanded.

“What did you see?” Lilly asked

“I saw, I saw monsters. Two monsters. But I didn’t make out what they were. It was all shadow like.” I put my face in my hands, gasping. Tears forming in my eyes.

“Was one like a dragon?” Grandma asked.

“A dragon?” I asked looking at her. She was standing but so small I didn’t need to look up much.

“Yes dear, a dragon. Please sit back at the table.” Her and Lilly picked back the chairs in place. “Please though, be quiet. I don’t want anyone to hear this conversation. The boys might be wondering around.”

“The pack you mean Grandma?” Lilly asked

“Yes. But let’s stay on track child. Phoenix, do you think one of the monsters was a dragon?” She motioned to my plate “eat, you must be hungry.”

I picked up a cube of cheese and placed it in my mouth. The taste was almost new to me, my senses went wild, but not able to distract me. “A dragon, dragon. A large flying fire breathing, thing?”

Grandma did that hand waiving thing and a small purple translucent flying dragon flew in circles around the table. I swallowed the cheese without realizing, almost choking. I coughed radically taking a sip of the tea that was in front of me. “Was that what you saw?” Grandma asked, I just nodded my head.

“What does this mean Grandma?” Lilly asked. Her face read concern now.

“Phoenix darling. You were sent here for a pur-” knocking came from the door. Grandma waived her hand, and before I knew it Lilly was rushing me in a hall closet. She shut me in and once again I was trapped in darkness.

“Hello boys!” I heard Grandma from the other side of the closet door.

“Hi Granny, just checking on you, we caught a scent of something unusual. Alpha told us to track it.”

“Really? Must be one of those cave insects, I thought I saw something scavenging around my garden again.” Her voice didn’t miss a beat.

“We also smelt something burning though-?”

“Oh, Lilly burnt the bread again-” she chuckled

“Sorry.” Lilly chipped in, my heart started beating rapidly. I didn’t know who was on the other side of the door, but if I’m in a closet hiding from them, there has to be a reason.

“Well nothing to suspect here.” One said

“Sorry Granny; Alpha has been on edge since that smell popped up.”

“I understand. He’s a good Alpha, we are lucky to have him protecting us all.”

“Let us know if he needs any help!” Lilly offered.

“We got it from here. Enjoy your night ladies.” Good nights were exchanged then I heard the door shut.

Lilly opened the door and gave me a face of a scowl, as if I was a mess she needed to clean up. I felt small under her gaze, if her grandmother had some weird mystical magic, I’m sure she does too. I crawled out of the closet and back to their cottage living room. Grandma was smiling at me, her wrinkles bunching at her eyes.

“No worries honey. They mean no harm, but I’d like for now that no one knows your new here. Tensions are high already.”

“What do you mean?” I walked back to my seat, just like they did. I folded my hands in my laps feeling nervous.

“You see dear, things in our world is different from yours by the looks of it. Right now our world is shifting, you were sent here for a purpose; some of the magic in this world was dying and to save it, they reached out… to those who had magic hiding in them, that lived in your world.” Magic that is dying? By the looks of these two, and the monsters I lived with for weeks- the magic is fine here, it doesn’t need me.

“I’m lost, what am I doing here?”

“You were brought here because darling you are apart of a beautiful magical people.”

“What people is she apart of Grandma?” Lilly asked for me, scowling again. “I don’t recognize anything in her.”

“Well child you’ve never left our coven. You’ve only met whose passed by here.”

“What am I?” I felt tears begin to come to my eyes, my nerves felt like vine growing inside of me…

“The Dragons.” The translucent purple dragon began floating around the food again. It was small and flew with grace. “Their people were going extinct… Their magic dying out, then you all appeared saving them. Then with this came darkness, there is trouble coming Phoenix. We must be careful.” The little fake dragon disappeared, I didn’t believe her. This was a weird dream, this dream just needed to end already.

“Is that why she smells like firewood?” Lilly asked scrunching her nose

Grandma chuckled “yes, her people do typically smell like fire. Don’t worry you’ll adjust to it Lilly.” Lilly mumbled something under her breath.

“This has to be a mistake? Why?”

“Why what dear?”

“Why me?”

“You’ll learn why. Once you are with your people, it will all make sense why Phoenix.”

“So other people appeared here like me?”

“Yes.”

“Where are they?” My heart was racing in my chest like a drum.

Grandma sighed. “They are in trouble…”

“What do you mean?”

“Phoenix, I will help you. This will make sense soon, but I can’t take you to them. Not right now.”

“Then where is going to go? She can’t stay here!” Lilly seemed upset.

“The tavern.” Grandma smiled, she stood up going to the closet. She grabbed a black cloak.

“That old, drunk place were the mercenaries go? Perfect!” Lilly sprung up and went to the closet and grabbed a lilac cloak.

Grandma walked over and handed me the black cloak. I felt my insides mix around from these strung up nerves that never seem to end. “It’s not for drunks and mercenaries. Bert has been using it as a hide out for the past year for refuges.” She swung around her shoulders a baby pink cloak.

“How do you even know this?” Lilly asked

“Because I own 15% of the Tavern.”

“What?” They were in their own little conversation, getting ready while I remained seated. I didn’t know what was happening, my mind was going a million miles an hour while my body remained dormant.

“Did you hear me Phoenix?” Grandma asked me.

I looked up at them not realizing I was staring at my hands. “Sorry, what?”

“The cloak I’m giving you will hide you as an elf. Anyone that sees you will think you are a domestic elf.”

“Domestic elf?” I asked

“Yes, put it on. I’ll show you.” I stood up and spun the cloak on me. It felt lighter than it looked, just matte black material reaching down to my ankles, with a large hood. Grandma motioned to the mirror hanging above the cot I was sleeping on. I looked and saw me, but not me. I saw my thick dark green forest curly hair, my green eyes, and pale skin. But I didn’t see my tattoos anymore decorating my shoulders or arms. I didn’t have almond shaped eyes, now they are tilted up with high cheek bones. I didn’t my cupid bow lips, instead they were thin and straight. Two pointy ears poked out in my hair as well, I reach up and felt nothing though, just my ears but in the ear it looked as if I was touching the elf ones.

“It’ll keep you safe while we look for the refugees that can take you to their camp.”

I turned to them “but-” refugees, camp, dragons, I don’t here the word home. All I want is to hear home. My home. My apartment with my two roommates, how we all share that tiny little bathroom. My small room, with my clothes laid out everywhere with my hundred bottles of green hair dye. I want that again, I want my mother calling me seven times a day, my dad sending me dumb pictures. I want it back, it finally rang to me how long I’ve been struggling to stay alive, hiding in those caves- that being all I knew. “I-i need a moment please. Just a minute.” I sat back down on the cot. Them probably not knowing that has been the most comfortable thing I have sat on in weeks. Lilly scoffed and sat back down at the table poking at her food.

“Forgive her. She’s only seventeen.” Grandma said pulling a chair next to me. “You’ve been through some things dear. It’s okay to admit to it.”

I felt my breathing go uneven, as I pull my knees to my chest. “I just want to go home.” Green curls fell to my face. The lines of my tattoos dancing around my skin was all I could focus on…. “I don’t even know you guys, and you’re being so nice to me. Why?” Well Grandma is, Lilly is treating me like a chore she is trying to get out of the way.

“I know you are good. I can feel it. Us witches sense those things we are in tune with peoples auras.”

“Witches?”

“Yes, we are part of the Moon coven- that sits with the Moon pack. Those were the gentlemen that were here a minute ago.” Her explain this to me was easing my nerves. Grandma, even with her shaved head and glowing eyes looked like once of those glass dolls that sits in an antique store. It’s fine petite features looking into my soul with all it’s wisdom. I felt I could trust her, as she says now how she can trust me just by looking at me. “I am skilled in concealment magic. That little spell I did on you was a destiny concealment spell. Showing you, what your destiny here is...”

“It didn’t show me that I’ll being going home.”

“My magic doesn’t work beyond my world dear.” Her face showed pity. “But people from your world are here. If you try to help them, I think you all can put your heads together and find a way back to your world.”

I nodded my head, her words did make sense to me. People like me are here, they walked similar steps to mine. I’m sure some of them also want to return like I do. “Okay.” I whispered. She patted my arm smiling at me in a way only grandmothers can. I felt a sense of reassurance wash over me. I know she wants to help me, she isn’t setting me on a path that she isn’t sure about.

“Now. Let’s get going.”