Ascension

5

Dace marched up, something he didn't show Phoenix was that he was capable of using basic spells, but he used them sparingly. Lazarus was aware of it, he had told her years before about it.

Following the invisible path his locating spell had lay out before him, Dace carried the box and the red bird inside of it. Threats were not going to be tolerated. He knew how far these girls would go, seen it even. "Dace, I appreciate the concern but its just a bird!" Phoenix called after him.

"It's a death threat i***t," he told Phoenix.

Dace reached the girl, grabbed the bird and dropped it in front of her. She gasped and stood up, whirling around. "Uh, excuse me?!" She shrieked.

"Uh, excuse me, yes I just did that b***h," Dace said. "Before you go squealing off to Lazarus, know this, death threats? Unacceptable, not to mention, they're so damn basic, oh wait, just like you are!" Dace said as he clapped his hands. "Run along Barbie!" He called after her as the girl stomped off in anger.

"Since when were you so damn sassy?" Phoenix asked, he had expected her to eat Dace alive.

"I've always been sassy? Were you living under a rock last night or did you just get that drunk? Although, I do suppress the sass, otherwise I would've gotten in trouble with that police officer last week." He said.

"Gray! Hanover!" Lazarus called, both of them rolling their eyes before going over to her.

"What's this Ashley told me?" Lazarus asked.

"Damn, that was fast," Phoenix said.

"She left a bird outside our room, clearly a death threat, and it's not a gift from any cat," Dace told Lazarus.

"I don't give a f**k who or what left the damn bird, it happened, it's done. Phoenix, no more drama from you or your new friend here or you'll be sleeping in the stables and responsible for mucking them out every day for the next month," Lazarus said, pointing at him, her cigarette perched between her fingers. "Am I understood?" She asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Phoenix said.

Lazarus walked away, as she did, Phoenix looked across the yard to find a man in a black cloak standing there. Shivers traveled down his spine. "Dace, let's go," Phoenix said, a deep feeling of foreboding filling him.

It didn't ease until they were out of his sight...

***

"Ihella, esir. Ihella, esir!" A woman chanted as candlelight flickered and danced inside the tomb.

Laughter that sounded as beautiful as wind chimes danced around her tauntingly, a breeze ruffling the hood of her cloak. "Ihella, sevlesruo nosirp ruoy morf uoy pir nac ew dna tsenniht si elav eht nehw noom lluf eht litnu, ssertsim ruo, uoy ot ecifircas ot eunitnoc llahs ew, txen eht ro thgin siht esir tonnac ouy fi. Htgnerts uoy sevig ti sepoh ni, gnireffo ym tpecca!" She shouted as someone cut the throat of the man kneeling before the sarcophagus, hands and feet bound, eyes blindfolded and mouth gagged.

His blood poured out and into the carvings on the sarcophagus, the candles went out and everything around them shook violently. "Ihella, esir!" The woman shouted as she held her arms out, allowing the magic in her veins to take complete control over her.

A black mist slowly poured out of the cracks of the sarcophagus, taking the shape of a woman, inky black tendrils around her, writhing and mistlike. Her clawed hand slowly reached towards the woman and a pure, all-consuming pleasure filled her as the woman grasped her face with her clawed hands. "I...have...arisen...but I am weak...I need more than blood...I need...a soul..." She rasped, a clicking sound coming from the back of her throat.

The woman shuddered as Ihella's other clawed hand grazed against her throat, her claws leaving burn marks where they touched. "I'm all yours, Mistress..." She gasped.

Ihella released the woman before slitting her throat with a claw, latching onto the woman and feeding off of her blood, drawing out her soul as well.

Ihella slowly went from mist into a solid, entering the woman's body. The other witches in the catacombs dropped down, praying to her. "Rise, I have work for you..." She said as her body and power slowly adjusted to each other, the glamour would take time to complete itself and stop fighting with her true self.

Her disciples rose, meeting her eyes, had they not, she would have known they weren't serious about her. Looking a goddess in the eyes was a death sentence, it immediately sold your soul to them. "What do you boys say to finding me Deotz's most powerful witch b***h?" She asked with a huge, menacing grin. The terrifying, dark light that appeared in her eyes when she smiled sent shivers down their spines.

"How will we know who that is?" One of them mumbled.

"Are you really that damn incompetent?" Ihella hissed. "Whoever is being trained by Lazarus to become the next head witch is the most powerful as her power will be enough to surpass her when she dies!" She shouted, she hoped not all of her followers were idiots, otherwise, she may have just killed the only smart one, then again, any witch who turns from her sister to her is an i***t for thinking she was any better.

Ihella had a long ways to go before she was strong enough to move on with her plans, but if you could corrupt or steal the soul of Lazarus's successor?

She'd be more than strong enough, she smirked, her sister thought their war was over, oh was she so wrong in her belief...

***

Lazarus. That was the name given to her at birth after the midwife discovered a long scar over her right cheekbone, her mother had used a glamour to hide it since that day, until Lazarus's power manifested and she learned to control it. Ever since then, she's kept it hidden. The scar was considered Death's Mark, those who had the scar often had extreme influence over Energy and Spirit, two of the most vital and difficult elements of magic to balance or control.

In the Bible, Lazarus was killed by disease and then resurrected, since she had Death's Mark, the midwife suggested to give her a fitting name.

So her mother named her after a holy man.

She was far from holy.

"Laz..." Vance moaned breathily, Lazarus silenced him, climbing over him in her bed. She remembered Phoenix's vision, but she had known Vance for many years, had even loved him once.

"Hush, Vance, what have I told you about speaking?" She asked him as she trailed her fingers down the side of his face, his stubble rough against her fingers. "Silence, or the fun ends, you know how important this is for me." She told him, her eyes drifting to his chest, she placed a hand over his heart.

Bracing herself against the headboard she leaned in and kissed him, breathing deeply, transferring his Energy and Spirit into herself. She continued to draw from him until she felt his hand on her throat, pushing her back. Lazarus rolled over, closing her eyes as she felt her power in it's full once more. For the past hundred years it had been slowly declining, she was still powerful, but overall, she was but a shadow of herself. In her prime she could raise an entire cemetery, some had said legions, but that was all nonsense. The most people she could raise from the dead at once was about 38 people.

Now? She couldn't even raise a single one without fearing to lose her own life.

"Lazarus dear? I hate to disturb you, but I have troubling news." Jessie said as she knocked, allowing a few moments to pass as Lazarus sat up, covering herself before the door opened.

"What is it, Jessie?" She asked her.

"Dace's parents are here, they're demanding to see him. They have reason to believe he is here." She said.

"Deotz this best not be them coming to collect that poor boy!" Lazarus growled as she lit a cigarette.

"I believe they are here with a pastor, they are here to talk with him about his...lifestyle," Jessie said.

"Bring him and Phoenix in here, those two have only been in each other's company for the past two days and they're about to drive me insane. I wonder what would happen if we could put Nix's 'I don't give a s**t attitude' plus Dace's knack for going against everything his parents see in a man together." She said as she stood, slipping her arms back into the sleeves of her dress, smoothing it down.

"We're already here, wasn't aware you had a love life," Phoenix said as he casually waltzed in.

"Speak of the devil..." She told him, he smiled sarcastically.

"How are we gonna get my s**t parents to f**k off?" Dace asked as he crossed his arms.

"Either you act straight," she said, pointing at Dace before pointing at Phoenix, "or you act gay, decide, now." She said.

Dace and Pheonix shared a look, Phoenix shrugged his shoulder. Dace raised an eyebrow, his head tilting just slightly, Lazarus watched as Pheonix leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Dace nodded is head, as if suddenly understanding so much more about Phoenix. "I'll be the one acting, shouldn't be too hard." He told her, stepping forward. "On one condition, other than for my new best friend's sake." He told her.

"What condition?" She asked, already grating her teeth.

"Keep Pandora the hell away from me. You said no drama? Does that not go for the others? If so, I guess I'll be leaving, you did say cause trouble and I'd be gone." He said.

"You are one person, you expect me to keep hundreds of girls from bothering you?" She asked him.

"Not hundreds, just one in particular. Or you find out just what all may happen when I get pushed too far. Few have, it never ended well. I tell you now for her sake, not mine. Get her under control, or I go out of control, and I won't be able to stop it. It's magic, after all." He told her.

"For two weeks." She said.

"A month," Phoenix said.

Lazarus sighed, "fine, but do not bargain with me again, Phoenix Grey." She warned him.

He dipped his head, Lazarus was surprised at the gesture. She had expected him to argue with her. Lazarus stood on long, elegant legs, tossing her blonde and grey mane over her shoulder. "Act like a couple, boys, put on a real show. The Hanover's don't take no for an answer, Dace, you know what to do to drive them away." She said as she blew smoke out the side of her mouth.

Phoenix pulled out a coin and tossed it to Dace. Dace tossed it back, Phoenix catching it easily, Lazarus watched curiously as they continued to toss the coin back and forth, only stopping when one of them failed to catch it. Dace grinned, Phoenix rolled his eyes. Were they deciding something?

As soon as they entered the room that Mr. and Mrs. Hanover were waiting in, it was as if Phoenix had flipped a switch. He went from being distant, uncaring to his entire body language changing, the look in his eyes shifted whenever he looked at Dace, he was a good actor, scarily good. Even Dace was good at pretending to have affection for Phoenix beyond that of a new friendship. Phoenix still remained more reserved but he made sure there was more life in him than usual. He smiled when he looked at Dace, was slightly less rude than usual.

"Dace, you are coming with us." Mrs. Hanover said.

"Why, so I can watch you two be miserable together? I'm f*****g 23 years old, I don't have to do anything, not to mention, I'm bound to my boyfriend here, Phoenix Grey." Dace said.

"I've heard of him, he's only been here three days!" She shouted.

"We've known each other longer, one of the reasons my mother requested I go to this school, so Dace and I could finally meet in person and not over Skype," Phoenix replied.

"We brought the reverend here, to talk to you about your...sinful ways." She said.

"You did not bring me here, you dragged me here. I want no part in this." He said.

"Sinful ways? You mean using magic? If he has magic, that means both you and your husband do too." Phoenix said.

"Not magic, they own up to that one. They mean who I'm attracted to." Dace said.

"What, problem with him finding love with someone who will treat him well? I can tell you right now, your son? He's in good hands..." Phoenix said, flashing a devious smile as he pulled Dace closer to him. "Found out just how good of hands last night." He suggested.

Lazarus suppressed a smile as Mr. Hanover suppressed a gag. "Here at the Lazarus Academy people of all walks of life are welcome. We do not discriminate. You would do well to learn that. Reverend, please, leave." Lazarus told him, shooing him away. He dipped his head before walking out, taking his Bible with.

Lazarus had known since she first met Dace's parents a year ago just how much they hated the fact their son was gay. They had first come here when Lazarus contacted them, when she found out how horrible of a family they made, she immediately dismissed them from her sight, keeping Dace behind to save him from his parents bombarding him. Now, now she was curious as to what these two pains in her ass would do together to disgust and even drive them away.

"How exactly is this Phoenix a witch?" Mrs. Hanover asked.

"You really wanna know? I'll look into your future and tell you whose sperm we use to make your grandkids." Phoenix told them. That was the Phoenix that Lazarus had been waiting to see in this. He was peeling back the facade.

"We already decided if we got married we would use yours since you have the most power, remember?" Dace said.

"That's right, we did, didn't we? I remember now, my mother was thrilled about the idea of being a grandmother." Phoenix said.

"Phoenix?" Lazarus asked as his eyes began fluttering, she felt his power shift, the lights flickered and dimmed, the shadows coming alive.

Dace pulled back, an understanding alighting in his eyes. "Can Kelpie fit in here?" Dace asked as he gave Phoenix space.

"No horses inside." She said.

"Well then, here goes nothing..." He said as he took both of Phoenix's hands, closed his eyes and focused on him. Lazarus felt, and saw, the shift of magic go from Dace to Phoenix.

Lazarus stepped forth, placing her hand on Phoenix's forehead. "Phoenix Grey, what do you see?" She asked.

"Blood." He whispered. "So much blood...something...like her, I felt it the other night, only this is...this is so much darker." He continued, his breathing had grown heavy, sweat had broken out over him, his nose was bleeding.

Suddenly the boy flinched as if he were stricken, tears of blood falling from his eyes, his face showed great pain. "What is it?" She asked.

"My mother..." His body and voice trembled with the words. "It wasn't just cancer that killed her." In his mind, he saw a needle, a hospital, a bed. A frail, weak woman, clinging on to life.

Lazarus was confused. How could it be that she could have possibly been murdered? She remembered the few times she had come to see her, Phoenix was in a chair in the corner, sleeping at the time, but he had stayed there day and night.

Lazarus jumped back as Phoenix dropped to the floor, Dace managing to catch him and gently set him down. "Is he breathing?" She asked as she knelt down.

Dace held his fingers against his wrist, feeling for a pulse. "Nothing, how could it have been so fast?" He asked.

"The vision was taking too much of a toll, I've seen this happen. His visions are dangerous, many die during one." She said.

"Can you bring him back?" Dace asked.

"No."

"Why not? It's literally what you are known for." He pushed.

"I can't because of my age! My power? It takes more out of me than I can handle. It could kill me and not even work!" She said, her voice raising. "But...Philis may be able to. Now I've never seen her reanimate a person, but I've seen her reanimate a dog." She told him.

Suddenly Pandora stepped through the door and halted when she saw Lazarus and Dace on the floor with Phoenix. "Go get Philis, now!" She commanded her.

Pandora ran off, down the halls. Where would she be?

"Philis!" She called. "Philis, Lazarus really needs you!"

"Philis? She's at a doctor's appointment. She won't be back until later." Scathach said.

"What?!" Pandora shouted in disbeleif.

"Pandora, what's wrong?" Scathach asked her.

"I-I don't know!" She shouted. "Lazarus is freaking out though, something about Phoenix!" She said.

"Where are they?" Scathach asked her.

"In Lazarus's office, down the hall and around the corner." She said.

"I'll go, just...sit here, take a breather, ok? I think I might be able to help, I've been experimenting with things." She said before taking off, leaving Pandora in the hall.

Scathach pushed the doors open to see Lazarus brushing the hair back on Phoenix's forehead, holding his hand tightly. Dace was performing CPR on Phoenix. Scathach pushed him away, taking Phoenix's other hand, the one Lazarus wasn't holding, and leaned in. Her other hand hovered over his body, it was as if everything moved in slow motion except her as she breathed deeply before exhaling.

Lazarus watched as Scathach breathed out, into Phoenix. It was as if an imaginary force pulled his chest upwards towards the ceiling, his eyes glowing a bright golden, as did Scathach's, a golden stream of Energy and Spirit flowing from her to him out of her mouth. Scathach's power pulsed out of her slowly and calmly, Lazarus found herself grabbing her hand, joining her magic with the much younger witch's. When Phoenix's eyes opened they had the same golden speckles as Scathach's eyes. His chest began to rise and fall before slowly the golden stream faded and died. "Phoenix! Phoenix, can you hear me?" Lazarus almost shouted, her hands hovering over him, unsure of what to do.

The old witch had been crying, Phoenix could tell by the tears that still lingered on her cheeks and the way her eyes were rimmed with red. Phoenix felt a soft purr vibrating through his chest and saw Dace setting Cherokee on him. "Where am I?" He asked.

"Still in my office, you scared the s**t out of us," Lazarus said.

"What did I do?" He asked.

"You went into one of those freaky visions of yours, collapsed, apparently it killed you," Dace said, he looked extremely uncomfortable with the situation. "Lucky I caught you, or you'd be having a migraine from hell."

"Do you still remember what you saw?" She asked Phoenix.

"No, other than my mother, nothing. Just...something about me feels...wrong." He said as he slowly sat up, shaking his head lightly. "Someone...something saw me." He said, closing his eyes tightly, rubbing his temples, shaking his head again, blinking rapidly. After a moment of silence, and him staring off to the side, his eyebrows drew together in thought. "It's still there..." He said, looking straight ahead. Phoenix reached for Dace who helped him up, supporting him when he stumbled, grabbing onto the sofa.

"Still here..." He whispered as he walked to the old, wallpaper covered wall. "Still watching."

With that, Phoenix slammed his fist into the wall, Lazarus shouting before an entire section of the wall caved in, revealing a dark tunnel...inside, a pair of eyes stared back at him from the darkness. He stepped forward, and when he turned around, Lazarus's office was gone.

Just darkness, as far as the eye could see.

He was trapped, and this thing was approaching, letting out a low, eerily humanlike snarl.

It would devour him, and not even his magic would be able to save him.