Phoenix's Destiny

The Alpha

I didn’t sleep last night, it was hard, with the three of us on the floor even though Grandma used her magic to make it as comfortable as possible. Jace and Axel were out like a light, neither of them snored but I could tell their dreams were rough by how much they tossed and mumbled. I was nervous I was traveling with two strangers, nervous I was crossing the world I don’t know, nervous to being thrown into possible anarchy happening in this world. I thought maybe I can just stay with Grandma and Lilly, become a faith witch or something, grow strawberries in their garden. Stay working at Bert’s and maybe just pray one day I’ll wake up back in Vegas.

Have you gotten your egg yet? Since you don’t have your dragon yet… Will I get an egg or a dragon? Do they really exist here, and I’m apart of this world? Can they tell by looking at me? I did smell the camp fire on them but it diminished now, I just smell boy… Hopefully I’ll just sleep in the hay. The thoughts of my family helped me go to bed for a small moment till Grandma’s cooking rustled me awake. Axel and Jace were gone already with their cots neatly rolled up and put away, Lilly was squeezing orange juice the normal way, and seemed irritated by it as usual. Grandma likes cooking with her hands not magic, she says magic leaves a weird taste in food. Lilly strongly disagrees, the food at Bert’s was cooked with magic, and I thought it didn’t taste different. Then again Lilly is seventeen and knows if there is an easier way to do something, she rather do it that way.

“The boys are getting the horses ready dear. If you want to start eating something I made plenty since I didn’t know when you’ll be eating next.” Grandma and Lilly are good cooks, they don’t eat meat though. Bert does, he said the Moon Goddess was vegetarian so a lot of people in the coven are as well. But the pack that protects these lands are not and they worship the same goddess. Thinking about it sometimes hurts my head.

Grandma made French toast with home made syrup and fresh fruit. It was delicious, I’ll miss Grandma while being gone. She gave me the motherly love I needed after leaving the cave. She took me in without a second thought, fed me, dressed me, and maybe even liked me enough to call me friend.

Her fragile hand touched my shoulder, showing its many wrinkles and thin clean nails “I’m happy your journey is starting dear. I sense good things from the princes. Axel is open, and will guide you so much through this. Jace is tough but he will keep you safe. They have been through their own hardship, just like you.” If she trust them so will I.

“I just cant say thank you enough-”

“You don’t have to.” She cut me off and squeezed my shoulder. The boys came in smelling of outside. “Eat up please boys. A full stomach needs to be met for a long journey.”

Axel popped down next to me, giving his big smile to Lilly and I. Lilly blushed so hard, even her shaved head turned pink. She rested the orange juice down and returned to the kitchen doing the dishes. “Thanks, I haven’t had French toast in so long. It smells amazing.” I poured myself juice, it smelt so fresh.

“Eat up, I want to be well passed the trolls before the sun goes down.” Jace said making a plate for himself

“Trolls?” I said with some food in my mouth, My heart rang in my chest. The way he said trolls meant something dangerous.

“Don’t worry dear they never leave the forest they are scared of even a small candle light.”

“We aren’t going through their forest. A law was made to never cross into their land, even a fence was put around it showing where their land is. We are though going by it, and it smells awful.” Jace described.

“Trolls have a thick odor, and live disgustingly.” Axel said.

“As long as we stay on the neutral path we will be fine.”

“So happy I’m not going. I don’t want to know what ogres small like.” Lilly said eating in the kitchen.

“Yeah, about that dear,” Grandma started “I asked Jace and Axel if you can accompany them, and they said that will be fine.”

“What!?” Lilly was so shocked she dropped her plate. “No, no! I’m not going!”

“It will benefit you greatly dear. I started going on adventures when I was your age.”

“That was over a hundred years ago! Atlantis was above water then!” Lilly’s glowing eyes were dim down with fear. “Who will take care of you?”

“Darling, that’s what magic is for. You’ve been afraid of Cosmos since your parents passed away. You need to go experience life.”

“I have not even mastered my craft, or know what I want to be skilled in Grandma.” Tears flooded her eyes. The boys just dove into their food, I completely forgot about mine.

“This will help you dear.” Grandma comforted her grandchild for a moment till switching to tough love “I already packed your bag. You’re going.”

Lilly groaned loudly with irritation, stomping outside.

“Well this will be fun!” Axel chuckled

“She wants to go, she was looking through my photos last night of when I was around your age. The only thing that kept her from crying about her parents when she was a child, was that book.” Grandma sat down with us “She’ll be eighteen soon, this will be good for her.”

The horses and carriage were packed, grandma even gave a backpack bag with things for myself, since I came into this world in only my pajamas. Lilly sat on a corner in the back with a white cotton dress and her lilac cloak. Only a small wrist bag carry with, she had her arms crossed and wore a face of irritation.

“Don’t worry, once you guys get off the Moon territory she’ll get out of her shell.” Grandma was holding my hand in hers. I was worried about her, being all alone in this little farm cottage. “Watch over her, I know she likes you. She just has all that teenage pride in her.” I know there is more to Lilly than meets the eye by how much she loves her Grandma. But I just don’t know how to relate to her…

“I’ll look after her. I promise.” I hugged the sweetest Grandma this world has, Feeling warm tears mix up in my eyes. “Thank you again.”

“You’re so good child. Stay good.” I got on the carriage, Jace and Axel had two separate maps in front of them.

“Don’t worry boys, traveling with a witch makes travels a lot easier. She is very bright, thank you again.” Grandma said to them.

“We are proud to have her in our group.” Axel said over Jace.

Grandma walked around to her grand daughter, who didn’t bug. Tapping her cane into her, she motioned for Lilly to lean over the wooden railing. Lilly did and Grandma whispered something in her ear, which brought warm tears to Lilly’s eyes.

Lilly was quiet, looking out to the passing trees as we trotted along the path to take us to the refugee camp. Jace and Axel were chatting away Dragon people stuff, peoples names getting mentioned, The General also, but most importantly when we will possibly get there. Grandma gave me a new cloak, saying I don’t have a true reason to hide now that I’m with Jace and Axel and off the moon territory. It’s forest green, like my hair, it smelled of her strawberry garden and chocolate.

“Where are your dragons by the way?” Lilly asked. Her voice stayed irritated though, but I was happy she broke her vow of silence. “They don’t just follow you everywhere?”

“They are close but no, dragons prefer mountains. So when they are not with us they go to the closets mountain.” Axel explained.

“Wont you get a dragon Phoenix?” Lilly looked at me now. Her glowing violet eyes were still dim, but her face was showing now more softness.

“Will I get one?” I diverted the question to the boys.

Axel turned himself to us now, smiling with an eagerness to share “all the people who came here like you didn’t get there eggs right away either. The egg appears to the person when it feels it’s ready.”

“It appears?” I was confused

“Yep, appears. When it feels like the person is safe, and ready to take on the hardships of raising a baby dragon.”

Jace actually chuckled to that “oh its hard alright.”

“How long have you been here again Phoenix?” Axel leaned his chin on his hand. Lilly brought her knees to her chest, also interested.

“I don’t know, a month or so maybe.”

“And no egg?” Axel asked

“No,”

“Didn’t you wake up in the crawlers caves?” Lilly asked

“You woke up there? How did you even get out?” Axel asked horrified “how long were you in there for?”

“A few weeks.”

“And you’re still alive?” He covered his mouth, I nodded to him “I’m happy you made it out alive.”

“One of the things down there found me, and took pity on me and saved me.”

“Must have been the jumping spiders. They lay closer to the mouths of the caves, steal food from the farms at night…” Lilly explained

“I guess. I was down there for so long… I didn’t think anything down there would take pity on me. Lots of those spider things wanted to eat me, hunted me until my scent diminished.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” Axel said not pressing for more information. I wouldn’t have shared anyway. “You are with us now. You’ll be a strong dragon, and never go into a cave again, unless you want to of course.” He smiled at me, and I returned it.

“Your egg probably sensed the danger, and didn’t come. It will though, once it senses you are safe.” Jace added, that made me nervous. My ‘egg’ that makes who I am feel that much more real.

Lilly was looking at the woods again, the trees now stretching miles high, light getting harder to see. Her body facing the forest, hands on the rail. “I sense something,” she said, Her voice serious.

“What is it?” I asked, I crawled to her unsteadily from the cart moving. Axel also tried to look at the forest passing by, in Lilly’s direction.

“There is so much in this forest Lilly. Don’t worry, you are safe with us.” Jace said, not taking his eyes off the road.

“I know, but… It’s not danger I sense- it’s more like- ahh!” She rubbed her eyes in frustration. “Sorry, I’m not like grandma. My third eye isn’t strong like hers, maybe I am just sensing the animals or forest nymphs.” She sat back down in the hay rubbing her arms. She looked to me with an apologetic “I just miss her.”

I sat next her “she misses you too.”

“Let’s grab lunch! I’m hungry!” Axel suggested.

We looked on the map and saw a pond near by on the none troll approaching side that wouldn’t take us off course. For princes, they knew how to fish with a large net to grab us lunch. Lilly found her own lunch, with safe berry bushes that grew in the area. I helped her pick her lunch, and more for dinner. Her small bag was actually enchanted and held so much in it, like food containers, kitchen ware, cooking pots, a blanket. I was baffled by her magical preparedness. She used her magic to start a fine, while the boys prepared lunch.

“I think I want to grow out my hair.” Lilly stated “I don’t know what it looks like, I’m curious.” Using a stick to move the logs around.

“Oh, really?” I didn’t know that she could.

“It’s not required to have a shaved head, our goddess doesn’t have a shaved head. Just having it shaved makes it easier for us to use our magic. A lot of our leaders have hair, my parents did too in their photos.” She looked at me. Her pale skin made her baby pink cheeks and lips look like rose petals. She was a beautiful young lady, hair would make her look more beautiful, with her thin petite face and timeless energy.

“I think that will be fun. Grow it out.” I smiled.

Lilly smiled back, then her eyes glowed again. She looked out into the forest, pass the boys gutting the fish, on to the other side of the pond “I sense it again.” My stomach sank to her words.

“Like others?”

“Like others, but not in a dangerous way or a suspicious unfamiliar way…. I don’t know- it’s just like something is watching us.” She shook her head “Grandma would pick it up so easily. Maybe I shouldn’t grow out my hair if my magic is this bad.”

“Grandma sent you with us so you learn who you are though. I use to cut and color hair for money. Hair helps people feel more like themselves.”

“Really? That sounds a little dumb to me.” She said then covered her mouth “not to be rude though. Sorry.”

“Ha, its fine. But honestly if you think it gets that much in the way, just shave it again. Hair always grows back, it can always be fixed.”

“True… The last thing Grandma said is that I remind her so much of my mother, and if mother had long hair then, I want long hair too...” She poked the fire again. “Maybe my nerves are getting to me, and those are forest nymphs being curious.” I looked back to our surroundings. I thought being out here, we would be surrounded by forest creatures. But the most I’ve seen is birds.

After lunch which Jace kept short, we were back traveling. The food and motion of the carriage caused me to drift off to sleep. I cuddled the blanket grandma gave me that smelt of lavender, and eucalyptus. I dreamed about my home, my messy room, pillows and warm cups of coffee, the sound of friends laughing. Feelings of being safe washed over me, being warm and home. In my dream my roommates said the toilet over flooded, I walked to the bathroom and saw s**t and piss covering the floor as the toilet melted into green sludge. The water kept rising into the hallway and I felt like throwing up. I turned in the dream to see my room mates turn into the green sludge and melt into the rising s**t water. The smell was burning my nose and making it hard to breathe.

I was shaken awake to Lilly wearing a scarf around her face. “Here!” She handed me a scarf as well and hurried and wrapped my own face. I looked around to see the thick woods, that let in no light. On the left the trees were green and un touched but to our right, the trees looked rough, a good number were broken, there looked to be no happiness ever touching that side. A red fence was beware signs repeating down the road. The fence was taller than me sign after sign for miles, some said beware, some say troll land, some say death on other side.

“Trolls are known to be in the top five most territorial creatures in Cosmos.” Axel stated “If they see you, they go by a kill first ask questions later.”

“What’s all five?” I asked

“First is Trolls because they will kill you on the spot, second centaurs they will kill you if they deem you as unworthy of entering their land. Third wolves but they share their lands with witches, and known for being able to make peace need be.” My mind flashed to those two pack members inspecting my scent, what if they found me first? “Fourth is Nordics but no one ever goes to the cold lands.”

“But if you somehow wander in there, you’ll probably die from the cold before even seeing a Nordic.” Jace added.

“Fifth is Atlantic people.”

“But unless you breathe under you’ll die from natural causes before seeing them.”

“Interesting,” I said

“The wolves are not as bad as everyone thinks though. That was back in the day before they became apart of our culture, they were very territorial. They are very modern now, but people still tend to think lowly of them.” Lilly informed me.

“When did they join witch culture?” I asked

“When my grandmother had my mom. Wolfs were getting into relationships with witches some packs more than others,” She laughed “The Sun coven and pack huge on free love.”

“They still are hard to get along with though.” Axel said “wolves don’t like socializing with others.”

“Guys let’s be quiet till we are in the clear. The fence can only do so-” BOOM BOOM BOOM. A large sound shook the ground, the stench grew more horrendous trying to return back to my nostrils.

Lilly was making gagging noises “let me light a candle please,” she cried

Jace shushed her. Voices were coming from our right, but I could not understand what they were saying. Jace slapped the reigns and the horses picked up spead. I tightened my scarf to try and cancel out the smell. Once we got pass what I assume were troll steps, I let out a sigh. The smell was still there but back to being stale.

I blinked and large rock came flying out from the right, causing scare to the horses. They now ignored the proper control of Jace and ran faster. Lilly and I gripped the rails for safety, my scarf wiping in the wind. With a thick root in the ground our carts wheels broke causing destruction. I loss grip of the rail and went flying over. Pain echoed throughout my body. My scarf loose now exposing the disgusting air to my nostrils. I almost threw up instantly, the dust in the air choking me. I was on back, luckily nothing felt broken, only bruised. I rolled over covering my face, and saw the cart still up right.

Lilly went flying out too. She was right next to the fence on her side, looking dizzy. Jace and Axel though were still in the cart seeming fine. Booming came again, making the ground shake beneath me. Instead of a rock a large branch came crashing down, the ground shook violently. I ran to Lilly, luckily she was not far, I pulled her limp but living body away from the fence, she moaned in pain. A large disgusting hand reached out for us.

“Lilly, Lilly Wake up!” I yelled.

Wind can rustling us, making my hair fly in so many directions. The leaves and grass went crazy. A roar broke the sky, and I saw two red burning large bodies flying just above us. Lilly stirred, looking up from the ground, Jace picked her up in his arms, while Axel guarded us between the fence.

“Hear that? f**k with us again and our dragons will ignite your f*****g asses!” Axel yelled “want your forest burnt down fuckers? Stop breaking the Laws and reaching over the f*****g fence!”

The two large red dragon landed on either side of us. Their scales glistening like rubies, wings stretching on stretching up into the sky till they plopped down. The tales breaking the trees to make space for them. Their talons digging into the earth, legs being the size of me. One dragon had tick large horns that pointed up into the sky, while the other did not. These must be their dragons, I felt my legs go limp, if there was a moment to wake up from this dream, it would be now.

“Th-th-th,” I turned to Lilly who was shaking her violet eyes shinning so bright, I thought they would explode.

“Lilly, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Jace tried to calm her down, but she jumped in his arms like a fish. “No one is going to hurt you Lilly.”

I wanted to help, but my eyes were glued to the mystical creatures. I didn’t realize I fell to my knees till Axel picked me up to my feet. I strolled over to the none horned red dragon, it looked at me showing radiant golden eyes with cat like pupils but their eyes were almost as large as my hand. I wanted to reach out but something pulled back inside of me.

I felt a small body crash into me “Ph-ph-ph Phoenix. They are huge….”

I was surprised how calm my voice was “I know.”

“It’s okay Lilly. If we trust you, so do they. That’s how our bond works.” Axel said resting a hand on hers.

“Okay…” She whispered into my back.

“We need to fix this wheel.” Jace said “or both wheels. God, this must be where they pick off travelers.” I turned and saw that both wheels were broken.

“How long will it take?” I asked. Even though these dragons are here stopping the trolls from attacking. I still feel creeped out in these woods.

“I got it!” Lilly lifted her hand up and whispered something in a foreign language. The carted picked itself back up with perfect wooden wheels. “Let’s go please, this smells is hurting my stomach!” She ran back into the cart hugging her knees to her chest. “Come on guys!” She looked like a frightened child. The smell was coming back though, I jumped next to her.

The dragons took off, and the boys jumped back in there spots and we went back on course. By the time the sun was about to set we were out of troll territory, far up wind from the smell near a beautiful lake. Lilly used her magic to build a fire and pitch two tents. The boys caught some fish again, and Lilly ate her berries and almonds. I felt bad she had snacks while we each had a whole fish.

“I’m just happy to being smelling lake water and not that s**t stained dead carcass crap.” Lilly hummed, she did seem better and less shaken.

“Yeah, is that how I smelt after you found me wandering out the caves?” I asked laughing

“Oh you reeked but not that bad.” She punched my arm laughing. I was happy to see this new side of her. She seemed relaxed now, able to open up.

“We warned you two.” Axel chuckled “even flying over it is disgusting.”

“But helps, takes only minutes to keep by, on foot it takes hours.” Jace stated. Jace is still showing no emotion beside this.

“Tell us about your world?” Axel asked.

“Oh, its um different than this one. No magic, no covens or dragons- boring world.” I stated.

“What about your family?” Lilly asked.

“I had two parents. They were great, cared about me raised me. They are probably worried sick.” Hopefully they don’t think I’m dead.

“No magic. I can’t even imagine such a world.” Lilly said.

“They probably wont stop looking for you.” Jace said, looking at me from the other side of the fire. “If my parents went missing, I’d tear apart each mountain till I find them. I’m sure they are doing the same.” My heart broke hearing that from him, I almost saw something soften in his face as the light from the fire moved shadows across his eyes.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him. We all heard a branch break and turn to the noise. “What’s that?” I asked

Lilly’s eyes glowed “nothing harmful. Maybe an animal.”

“It’s really nice having a witch in the group. You’re saving us so much time.” Axel said nudging her arm. Lilly blushed to her shaved head again.

I dreamed of my parents, at thanksgiving. Dad smoking a turkey, and mom asking for help to make the mashed potatoes. The house so warm, and my mom played 80’s music the whole day. I felt my heart go warm but then my parents turned purple and translucent. Phoenix a voice called out. Phoenix, I was trapped in Grandma’s spell again. In her purple woods, feeling my body floating. The Purple figure was shifting again, growing bigger.

I startled awake to see eyes, a dozen eyes looking at me in the trees. The fire was low, I felt my heart stop in fear. A petite naked red headed girl walk out from the trees. She waved at me, she was cute; her long red hair covered her breasts with freckles dancing across her cheeks. She motioned me to come to her, showing the pleading sign with a finger going to her lips. I felt stumped, I didn’t know what to do. I slowly got up not waking Lilly. I walked over to the mysterious girl staying a safe distance away.

“I’m Ivy.” Her voice was a whisper. “My alpha is waiting for you.” She motioned for me to follow her, but I stayed in place.

“I don’t know you.” I said.

“We are part of the Moon Pack-Lilly trusts us.”

“Then why can’t she come?” I asked.

“Will it make you feel better if she came?”

“Yes.” I replied

“She can come. But not the dragons.” Ivy said with a stern expression. Ivy walked to Lilly not waking the boys.

Lilly woke and said “Ivy?”

Ivy motioned for her to be quiet and got her off the ground and over to me “come, he’s waiting.”

We walked a few feet away from Jace and Axel into a small wooden clearing. A tall strong man stood with pants on that were very tethered and barely hanging on to his strong hips. He was Jace’s height but more muscular than him. He had black hair coming down like midnight waterfall around his face and dripping down his collar bones. He had dark eyes, but was far from me (and with my astigmatism) I can’t tell what color they were. He had a tattoo on his left bicep of something tribal, I could just see it had a moon crescent in it. He had pale skin that seemed to shine in the moon light. He was a bit older looking around Jace’s age. He watched us as we approached the clearing, shifting weight and pulling his the barely passable pants.

“Alpha?” Lilly said surprised. We stopped two feet away from him, I grabbed her hand before she got any closer. “What are you doing here? Is Grandma okay?”

“Yes, she is fine Lilly.” He looked at me, then looked at the grass. “I regularly have one of my men checking on Blair.” His voice was deep. He looked back up at us and crossed his arms over his chest. He had some chest hair that descends into a happy trail. I felt my stomach knot up, he was very attractive. Ivy the naked ginger walked by me and before my eyes she shifted into an animal- a large massive red wolf, that trotted happily to the Alpha. “Thank you Ivy.”

A few other wolf like pack members appeared in the clearing. I used both hands to grip Lilly’s arms now whispering her name.

“It’s okay, they are the Moon pack, we are safe.” She reassured me.

“Alpha, is everything alright?”

“Yes Lilly, nothing is wrong. I’m not here for you, even though I am happy you are alright.” He stepped forward creating less space between us. I took half a step back, now being a foot away from us. “I’m actually here for your- friend.” He looked at me, and pointed

Lilly looked at me “For Phoenix?”

“Yes.” He bit his bottom lip pushing his hair out of his eyes.“Phoenix-hello. I’m Adrian, alpha of the Moon pack and you are my mate.”