The Phoenixs lost beginning

Till death do us all part, now die

 O’Maiya

I was angry, I couldn’t go back to my pack right away. One wrong move and they could be injured or worse. There was only one place I could go that would cater to my dark needs. My portal tossed me out on the correct side of town which is good if I did it too close no one would fight me. I glamoured my hair and facial features. Can't be too noticeable or others would try to hunt me down again. With my now brown hair thrown up in a high ponytail and baby blue eyes I should be unrecognizable once I switch back to my original features. I started heading to the safe place but the exhaustion dragged on me. So I hit up one of the warehouses that were nearby to sleep in. Once I've gotten enough sleep I will continue on. As the sun rose so did I and decided that now was the time to go to the fights. I marched in the general direction to the underground fight rings. As I passed a*****e window I checked my facial features to make sure they were all plain and there was nothing noticeable about me. I had to blend in after all. The stadium was hidden in a pocket dimension that you had to have some form of supernatural blood to enter and a desire to go there. If not you'd end up in a gym. The fighting rings were notoriously known for being run by the mob and used for shows of power. Best way to make you pay up is through throwing people to the wolves. After awhile they found it more beneficial to let others in the ring and make dough with bets. I could never come here twice with the same features. They would either kill me or make me their b***h. I'd prefer neither. 

With a slight of hand I stole someone's wallet and grabbed a few hundred before dropping it on the ground. It's always possible that they upped the entrance prices again and have to be prepared. I saw a glimpse of the building and started to head to the other side, the one with fewer people that looked more scrappy. A security guard was standing there explaining how it worked when I stepped into line. Quitting an eyebrow at me he continued, "okay so everyone of you are aware this is the fighting line. You only win a small portion of the bets on the fights you win. You're more likely to die then walk out with bundles of cash, capish? Also," he stared directly at me "once you enter this door you don't get to leave until after one fight. Enter if you so wish". With that being said a few took a moment to make sure this is how they wanted to go about earning some quick cash, but most just muscled their way in paying a couple hundred hoping to earn more than double it. I just followed them, slipping the fee into his open hands as all the others before me did. I couldn't seem too eager or they would question what I can do. Let them think I was just in a tight spot with cash and no one would question me.

 I slipped my headphones Lexi enchanted to never fall into my ears as we entered the waiting room that we would use to warm up for our challenges. I flipped through the songs meant to ramp me up for the fight. And landed on Glory and Gore by Lorde that will work perfectly. I hummed through the words as she sang them. 

"There's a humming in the restless summer air

And we're slipping off the course that we prepared

But in all chaos, there is calculation

Dropping glasses just to hear them break

You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)

Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure)

It's clear that someone's gotta go

We mean it, but I promise we're not mean

And the cry goes out (ha)

They lose their minds for us, and how it plays out (ha)

Now we're in the ring and we're coming for blood"

What a fantastic song to get in a fight. After a while they started to herd us down a tunnel probably leading to the stadium. We made it through the tunnels to the stadium which was packed with viewers and fighters. At least tonight will be a good night for me and I guess whoever was running it tonight because I will vanish before they are able to 'give me my money'. They take the best of the fighters and make them into their lap dogs and what can I say I don't do leashes in any form… well I guess I have one now, well two but I'm holding them. That has to count for something.  I spent the next hour or so assessing my combatives; some looked like they slept in this ring while others wore desperation like it was a perfume. Constantly searching for what I could hope would be the biggest threat, the one I could fight to the death if I was lucky enough. A handful of the fighters were snickering off to the side while judging everyone who walked in. They seemed average but not much of a challenge if you ask me. They did look the part of working under the mob which would mean they are seasoned vets here and probably win through others marking them as harmless. Better keep my eye on them. 

"Welcome to tonight's game, it seems that no one else is willing to fight tonight. At least we will get some amusement out of this bunch. As we said last night tonight will be different in honor of our visiting father. Instead of one on one fights we will work our way through a free for all between any five contestants. Feel free to start the picking of who you want to fight first!" Cheers went up as I just stood there confused. I know I hadn't been here in a few years but them changing the fights from us pick to the viewers picking was rather shocking.  "Okay," his piercing voice dragged me back to reality. "You have spoken, the only female in the ring vs two of our guards and the winners of last night. Place your bets now as the others clear the scene." 

 I heard quite a few of our 'beloved' guests murmuring about how they can't wait to see me be eaten alive. The three men I thought worked under the mob all stayed so they must have been the winners. Two burly guys that must have been hiding in the shadows stepped up and I wonder how I could've missed them at all. They all seemed to circle around me probably because I stood in the middle and wasn't willing to move towards any of them. They were trying to size everyone else up and probably waiting to see which one I'd make my protector. Little did they know they should be begging me for protection instead. I've been fighting powerless for as long as I can remember, and couldn't accidentally show the humans the magic strumming through my blood. I won't be able to take them all on but some of them I should be fine. Can't show too much power or I will become their new pet, but can't show none or I'll still end up their pet.

"Hello, sweet thang, why don't you come hide over here with me and my brother we will take care of these imbeciles and then take such good care of you" one of the three guys tried to say seductively. Talk about making my skin crawl, just eww. The only thing hot about him would be his flames if I was reading him properly. So that would mean a demon, vampire, warlock and two dragons. At least it will be interesting. So what powers would be good to use? The fucktard called me a shapeshifter and I know I played with flames so either I'm a dragon or a phoenix. Both have too much power but let's see if I can make them think I'm a witch. I guess the demon didn't like me thinking as he rushed me. Instincts took over and I flipped him over my shoulder straight into the two dragons. The vampire started running too fast to really track, so why try. Instead I closed my eyes to concentrate. Someone grabbed my hair and yanked it showing my throat. I was about to grab what I thought was a hand when I felt the metal start to cut and panicked. I created a portal to right behind the warlock and snapped his neck. Then rubbed at my throat that's gonna leave a mark.. So much for not showing what I can do. I was bleeding now which meant the demon and dragons would have to wait, the biggest threat to my life now would be the blood crazed mosquito. Well at least it was personal now he should screw up now. Right there, he faltered as my blood's aroma met his nose. I'll have to be fast or I'll be dead. My hands were as steady and light as I grabbed the dagger coated with my blood. 

He went around me going for my back like I expected. I bent as his cold fingers ran along my neck and launched myself around cutting his head clean off. His blood splattered all over me, probably making me look deranged. I stood up straight to figure out what the others were doing, and show that I wasn't too bothered by them. The crowd was going beyond wild, I swear they will make me go deaf. Looks like they were playing till knock-out from the looks of one dragon still breathing on the floor though unconscious. The other two looked slightly pissed and scared as they looked at me. Wish I could understand how bad I looked to get a demon to look slightly scared. The dragon took a step to his brother to check on him or to give the demon a fair chance at me. Though for a fair chance they should attack together not like I will tell them. I gave my best deranged smile some of the crowd faltered while others got louder. At least some had the decency to bet on me winning.

"You f*****g b***h, he was my mate." Seethed the demon. At least now he would go for a kill with me and not go easy with me since I'm a girl. Such a shame about his mate. That's supposed to be painful. He didn't charge at me, but only stood still watching me. Probably trying to figure me out, good luck. I took a deep breath, testing my glamour to make sure nothing has slipped, especially my tattoos but at least the blood would help cover them. I blinked and he was gone. I slowly crept through the ring looking for any clue to where he was. I tried to recall what I could from class about demons. They hadn't gone through much just touching on them but she had said that the more powerful demons could teleport almost anywhere and had two extra powers also instead of just teleporting and one more. So yay seems I'm actually getting to have my challenge. The dragon looked slightly terrified at what he must have been realizing but I just felt at ease. Let him try and attack, it will let me know about his other two powers. I want his blood to run, to bathe in it and to let everyone here know who the true monster is here. 

I wasn't fast enough to dodge the demons fire from hitting me dead on. The heat was scorching but insteading of hurting it felt like it was revitalizing me. I soaked it into my bones and turned to face the demon who looked likely to piss himself. I just withstood demon fire, maybe I'm a demon and my extra powers are glamour and fire. Makes some sort of sense. I went to try and summon flames but it wasn't wanting to appear. Okay fine there is more than one way to end his life. "No mercy" I growled as I advanced. He took the challenge and advanced slowly. As I advanced to take his heart I was met with blood in my mouth. I cringed as I spit it out with a grimace. Tastes like ash and iron, not a taste that I've acquired nor one I want to. It seems that the dragon decided to help me. 

"Please, don't kill us. Just knock me out if you can. I will do the same for you and protect you till you can once again". The fear was written in his eyes as he stared behind him at his blood brother. "If not for me then for him please he's my younger brother. He needs me to help guide him. He got indebted to the mob and has to fight to pay it off. I offered to help him…" 

I couldn't take the begging anymore so I threw him in a choke hold and pressed as hard as I could. "You better not be lying. I accept your surrender" I whispered into his ear. He struggled to get air in probably making it hard to process my words. The light filled in his eyes and his struggles a little more than a twitch. A few seconds later I dropped him. I  looked into the crowd trying to find who was in charge after all pocket dimensions were always moving at different speeds last time I was here it felt like days but was only hours. The time before I could've sworn it was two hours instead it was a full day. 

"More" I shouted out. "Give me more". The crowd went wild with my declaration. I needed to know the amount of time that had passed but I wasn't ready to go back.

"More, more, more" the crowd was chanting. I finally found the one in charge looked a little impressed as did the older man sitting next to him. I've got to be careful not to get escorted to one of them once I decided I was done. 

"You heard the girl send out the next group of four to the ring. Can't wait to see how this goes." Stated the younger man who I believe is a jaguar. The guards shuffled the next four out while transferring out the dead bodies and the unconscious ones. The looks of horror I received when their eyes landed on me made my skip a beat as excitement flooded my blood. I needed to get control or I could lose a lot more than my pride. I took a few deep breaths to get rid of the excitement. It's not a game, it is a chore one that I must stay level-headed to do properly. 

They must now let the other fighters watch the matches because it seemed they had all decided to team up to get rid of the biggest threat first, me. They transformed as they entered the pit deeming me worth enough to die by their claws not their hands. The dogs and cats both jumped towards me at the same time. I portaled out and watched them clash. I laughed as they fought each other thinking it was me. Which got their attention as they stopped, and cleared the hate from their eyes. Guess its true dogs and cats don't like each other. I couldn't help myself and laughed again. What can I say I'm hilarious. Which seemed to just piss them off. I looked around for the knife, it will be helpful to take them all out since they are set on attacking me as a team. I couldn't find it, the f*****g guards must of grabbed it when they 'cleaned up after my mess. The laughter I heard at my confused face just confirmed it. They didn't want a fair fight, they wanted a blood bath. Must not be too happy I killed two of their coworkers. I straightened my back and strutted towards the fight. They can take whatever they want away but I have turned myself into a finely tuned weapon and they can't touch that. This was a gamble that would pay off, I might not be Death but I'm pretty sure I am his right hand man. After all I am covered in tattoos that take the shape of those I kill. I might be daft but I'm not entirely stupid. I do like everyone else to think I am though makes it easier for me. As I reached them some had the nerve to growl and others flinched. This will be fun. I lashed out slamming one into another. I was going to do the same to the other two when I felt his presence, I looked into the stands and there sat Exos looking like s**t and relieved. That cost me as one wolf and lion jumped at me tearing into my arms causing me to scream in pain. My blood was boiling and I just know that if I decided to call upon the flames now they would surface and only leave once they were dead. I wouldn't let them out though I don't want an easy fight and I got one. I won't waste it with a fast death. I ripped my arms out of their mouths before the other two could get me too. My arms were shredded at some spits you could see the bone. I opened a portal and jumped ending on the far side of our cage. I closed my eyes as the world started to spin. I opened them up with the fierce will that I wouldn’t die now but they would. My arms and throat began to itch but I couldn’t betray that it was bugging me. I put my arms up fighting through the immense pain and heard solid gasps as I was progressively feeling better. I stepped forward and slugged the first wolf hard enough I heard a solid crack as he slumped over in the corner out cold. What really held my attention was that my arm was slowly knitting itself back together. All three of the others went to pounce on me as I portaled to behind them and grabbed their tails and threw them into each other, knocking out the poor cat that landed on the bottom. Such a pity I wouldn't kill an unconscious person. Even I had some standards little be they. The other two started towards me when jets of fire appeared out of nowhere incinerating them both.

 I staggered to the middle and yelled "again" the two men were on the edge of their seat and instead of answering just waved at a guard to comply. The guard looked a little pale as I watched him. I turned to see if I could find Exos again, sadly I couldn't challenge him since he was in the crowd. The least I could do is shoot glares at him though, but he wasn't where he was before during the fight.

 At the sound of a commotion my gaze snapped to the doors that my next fight would come from, but nothing happened. I looked up at the 'boss' and saw him looking furious about something the guard had whispered to him. "It seems that almost everyone has decided to knock themselves out to avoid you, my dear. All except a late comer so this will be your last fight. We come here to have fun and no one will fight you besides him." He shot me what he must have thought was a stern gaze, but he seemed too pleased with me to have the desired effect he was probably going for. "At least this is a champion who might even be more bloodthirsty than you. I do hope you survive this fight".

With that the doors finally opened and much to my surprise out stepped Asher. Who looked just as surprised as I did. He got close to me seeming to check that I wasn't hurt without touching me, smart move. "Mia" he whispered as if I was the answer to his prayers. 

"This is who you send to challenge me claiming he is dangerous" I laughed. "The only danger I am in is getting nipped for not giving him belly rubs fast enough". The 'boss' looked confused for a moment before it dawned on him that I know Asher from elsewhere. Ash must have gotten upset with my statement because he tackled me switching to his lithe fox form. Going for a pinning it seemed. He would be too slippery in his animal form so it seems I would have to cheat a little. I grabbed some dirt that was by my hand and gripped it tight as I tilted my head up to show my throat. I felt his weight shift as he went for the bait and made my move tossing dirt into his face, only noticing after the fact it most likely more blood than dirt. My bad. He staggered to the side to keep his balance while trying to clean his eyes. Perfect time to pounce. I went to grab around his waist but as my hands connected he wasn't in between my arms anymore. I turned as he went to pounce and just went with it. I let him hit me but turned us before I hit the ground so he landed first. He whined in pain as a few bones had to have cracked on impact. I moved my hands to his neck and applied pressure. "I actually like you, so sleep well. I will see you again." I whispered carefully into his ear. His body slumped into the ground and I removed my hands immediately not wanting to damage him anymore than I already had. The guards came to take him away apparently with the same sentiment that I seemed to have. I growled low and full of threat to prevent them from touching Ash. I gently scooped him up and took him into the room that we use to wait and get healed up for. I couldn't stay for long before they send someone for me, I could also feel my glamour slipping. I had to leave and fast but wouldn't be able to with Ash. 

As I was debating just leaving him here alone Exos walked in. "f**k, did you have to break him" he sounded in pain causing me to do a double take as he pried Ash out of my arms. "Hurry, you have to leave now. Good job getting the attention off of him though, but now they are going to want you." After a minute he added "not that I'm sure that's any better. Actually it's not, it's so much worse". I started to follow him because he was right. I came in looking for a few fights and trying to stay under the radar at least I got one of them right. He started jogging through a passageway I had never noticed before throughout any of my previous times here. A few feet into the tunnels I felt my glamour fall away and exhaustion creeping up onto me. I slowed myself to a walk, Exos must have been paying close attention because he stopped right away and looked towards me in panic. "You can't stop now, you're still in the building and they can track you". When I still didn't speed up he continued on. "I can get you somewhere safe. Somewhere only Ash and I know of but I need you to get out of this building now. I can't help you with how badly you beat him… please you can trust me and if not for me for him". I slowed to process his claims. Receiving an aggitated sigh in return. Then I heard it. The footsteps pounding on the floor, causing my heart beat to kick into overdrive. My feet started going of their own accord. Soon I was right behind Exos trusting him to keep his word. I guess if he doesn't I will just kill him. He turned towards a wall and ran straight through it and I took a deep breath and did the same. It spit us out on the opposite side of town.

 He started to walk into the warehouse right in front of where it spit us out at. I tried to follow but couldn't move. "Exos" I panicked. He turned to look at me and muttered something I couldn't quite make out and I fell forward as whatever was holding me released.

 I wasn't able to catch myself in time and blacked out as my head hit the concrete and distinctly heard "s**t". I awoke in a bed with the fluffiest stuffed animal cuddled into me. Absent-mindedly I began to stroke the fur and received a purr in response causing me to jump. I opened my eyes to see Ash in his fox form staring at me. 

"How long have I been out, and where am I now?" See I can be civilized.

Ash changed into his human form and all I know is that where a fox was laying a naked guy was lying currently and it seemed to be a very compromising position. "Good you are awake. I've got a bone to pick with you, well a few. Why the f**k did you have to break three of my ribs and an arm? Do you know how long it's going to take me to fully recover and yet you just sleep like a baby without a scratch. How rude!" 

I couldn't help but laugh at him, which must have been what he was going for because his eyes lit up as he smiled.

"To answer your question before you attempt to run. You are in Exos home. It is heavily warded and you have to have received an invitation to even move a muscle in his yard. He's getting us food so you could eat when you finally woke up… To answer the question you haven't asked it's been a day and a half since we fought, and you had been fighting for three days straight before you left. Do you have any clue to how worried everyone was, when no one had a f*****g clue where you were. We thought you had been kidnapped! Instead we find you fighting covered in blood and everyone else willingly knocking themselves out so they didn't have to fight you. Only to realize that you were draining yourself dry in the fights… You have to be careful that you don't drain yourself too much my little phoenix, you could've died." He scolded me, he actually scolded me like I was a child. As I was about to retort what he said sunk in… I'm a phoenix, he knows what I am. He has answers to questions I need answered. 

Before I got the chance to ask anything Exos walked into the room. He looked relaxed and at home. Guess it would make sense this is his home after all. "Asher what the f**k did I say about your naked ass being in my bed. Go put some f*****g clothes on. Good morning Mia, you need to eat and drink. You can ask us whatever you want to know afterwards. He pointed to one of the three doors in the room "that leads to the bathroom, the other is a closet, go ahead and raid it for clothes. Obviously the one I entered through leads to the rest of the house." With that he left the room and Ash sent me a cheeky grin and followed after grabbing some clothes. 

I looked at myself as I stretched noticing they kept me in my blood soaked clothes and didn't even attempt to wash any of the blood off my skin. While I was grateful they kept me in what remained of my clothes they shouldn't have destroyed the beautiful dark purple bedding. My shoes were sitting by the door. At least they cleaned my black boots. I stood up to go shower when I got a whiff of the breakfast that Exos whipped up and suddenly I would rather be eating then clean. He had made me a full plate of breakfast, with eggs bacon and steak. How did I get so lucky? I ate with passion and everything was beyond delicious. Once my plate was empty I felt bloated. Time to take a shower so I can be clean and then could demand answers from those two boys. The bathroom was spacious but empty. I was expecting clothes or even hygiene products but all that I could find was some clean towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste and a brand new toothbrush still in its packaging. I inhaled the smells of the body wash and hair wash it smelt… calming, I have no clue how to explain it but it did. I flipped the water on and put it halfway between hot and warm as I stepped out of my jeans. I threw my mid back hair up unto a tight bun before pulling my shirt off. I walked to the mirror to see if my bra was at least acceptable to put back on once I was clean. It was bloody to say the least so not acceptable to continue wearing but a few washes it should hopefully be fine. I finished stripping and stepped into the water and I felt like a weight dissolved off my shoulders. I yanked my hair out of the bun letting the water run red and gray with the remaining evidence of the people who died. I tried to muster up a care but I physically couldn't. After all it's the circle of life, it was either me who killed them or someone else. Why should I care?

After a few minutes of standing there rubbing my scalp and combing my hair with my fingers the water started to look like a clear blue again. Time to start the cleaning portion of this shower. I started with my hair, I shampooed it and immediately rinsed it. Next was putting the conditioner in and pulling my hair onto my head and just letting it sit there. I scrubbed my body rigorously, I hated feeling utterly dirty and I mainly felt that way when I was covered in others remains. It's disgusting. After a few minutes I felt like I got it all off and sighed as the water ran the conditioner down my body. I turned the water to cold and stood under the water recalling all that I could remember. It's almost time for confrontation and I need my clarity around me for that. 

I dried myself as best as I could with one towel while I wrapped my hair in the other. I stopped in front of the mirror and turned around to look at my back now. Might have taken a few years to realize more appeared with deaths I helped deliver. My back was full of them and I looked so random I couldn't see why they appeared in the way they did. Kinda like building a puzzle without knowing what it was, I'd have to wait to see. I almost walked out of the bathroom naked and decided that I shouldn't walk around an incubus's room naked. He might get the wrong impression. I wrapped the other towel around me as I headed to his closet. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there were clothes of both sexs and a lot of different styles and sizes. I hope they are clean. I grabbed a front clasping sports bra and a pair of boxers so I would be covered. Maybe I could strike a truce with these two and get some answers and ask some questions. I opened the door to leave and Ash fell in blushing like a school boy which was cute and when he saw what I was wearing his blush deepened.

"Will you be my escort Ash, we have lots to discuss?" I asked politely.

His shocked look faded fast into understanding. "Of course this way, lovely." He said while giving me a bow causing me to lose my s**t. I wiped tears from my eyes. I think I will keep the little fox. He looked pleased with himself as he walked me to the living room that looked comfortable but expensive. On the single chair sat Exos who looked like he was going through his mind trying to come up with the best answers and/or questions for me.

"Please, take a seat. We have much to talk about, and many questions that need to be answered. As I presume you do also." He waved me over with the choice of where I could sit. I noticed how he was avoiding looking at me. Well that is after he stared for what was probably inappropriate amount of time.

Instead of sitting on the couch or loveseat I choose to sit on the floor by the fire that was roaring. What can I say it calls to me. "Let's begin… actually can I trust you, trust you both with my life?" Ash shot with a dirty look while Exos maintained a perfect mask. Looks like I'm off to a perfect start.