Ascension

3

Pandora sat on her bed. Dinner had been a disaster tonight. When Phoenix started having his vision it scared her, she thought her being in his head while he slept had done something to him until Lazarus asked him what he was seeing. It had taken almost an hour to calm the girls in the room, Lazarus and Jessie almost had to use a spell.

Pandora had been sent to find Phoenix and make sure he was fine, it hadn't taken long. He was sitting on the wall around the school, smoking a cigarette, writing in a notebook. "Phoenix, you alright?" Pandora asked.

He glanced at her before going back to the notebook. "I'm fine, just...need to be alone." He said.

"I wasn't planning on staying anyway. Lazarus said something about finding a stronger familiar, I can take you to the stables, horses are strong. Wise. Calming." Pandora said.

"Cherokee is fine." He said.

"No, she's not. She'll always be your familiar, but most witches need more than one. I have three of them. My first one, a little songbird, my cat, Charlie, and my horse, Pegasus." Pandora told him.

"Fine, I'll humor you." He grumbled.

Pandora led him past the dining hall and to the stables. "Here we are." She said. "The horses in the pasture are unclaimed. Come on," she told him.

Phoenix and Pandora ducked through the fence. "Close your eyes, feel their energy, follow the one that stands out to you the most." She told him.

Phoenix closed his eyes and opened his mind, he touched on each flare of energy around him he could envision. This one was purple with what seemed like stardust in it, another was black and empty, deep and when his mind touched it the black void rippled as if it were water. That was the one.

Phoenix followed that void, followed it to where it was calling for him. He felt something touch his hand as he reached out, soft and warm, the void was right there. Phoenix opened his eyes to see his hand resting on a horse's nose, his fur was as black as the energy he had felt. "What is your name?" Phoenix asked the stallion.

" Kelpie is the name, magic is the game, I like you. You are looking for a familiar, yes?" He asked.

"That's the plan," Phoenix told him.

"Good, like calls to like. We are alike. I will be your familiar, you and I are one of a kind." He said.

Phoenix grabbed the halter from Pandora and Kelpie allowed them to slip it over his nose and ears. Pandora clipped the lead rope to his halter and handed the rope to Phoenix. "I thought Kelpies were a myth? Aren't you supposed to be a water spirit? A shapeshifter?" Phoenix asked him.

"I cannot shift, I am a strange one for my kind. I am stronger around water, these witches found me wandering. I figured serving as a familiar would be better than trying to not seem unnatural to humans." Kelpie said. "What is your name?" Kelpie asked.

"Phoenix, or Nix, either one is fine by me," Nix said.

Pandora opened the gate for Phoenix and Kelpie before closing it again. "Let's brush him out and see if he'll let you ride him. If so, I'll get Pegasus out." She said.

As Phoenix and Pandora brushed Kelpie, Phoenix noticed the horse's eyes were a very bright, unnatural blue, almost glowing. His energy was comforting to Phoenix, the empty void of his soul felt almost like home to him, home in a way nothing ever had before. As Phoenix brushed Kelpie, he noticed Pandora getting closer, she had moved around to his side of Kelpie. Phoenix tried not to act like he noticed her, but it was hard not to when she obviously kept doing things to get his attention. Thing is, none of it turned him on like she was probably hoping, so when she kissed him, he stood still.

Pandora pulled away from him and looked at Phoenix in confusion. "No," he said.

"Why not?" She asked him.

"I'm not really into anybody, and even then, usually I make an emotional connection first. Pandora, you can bump and grind against me all you wanted and I wouldn't care. Not to mention, you really think I'd be stupid enough to get involved with you when Lazarus is breathing down my neck already as it is?" He asked her.

"I don't understand, how can you not even be a little bit into it?" She asked him in exasperation.

"It's called I'm asexual love, sure, s*x is nice, but it's not as appealing as it is for you. You're used to getting want you want, and of guys hanging on your every word, finding you irresistible. Pandora, I am neither finding you irresistible or hanging on your every word, I also am not giving you what you want, which is for you to be at the top, no competition. It's been a long time since there was another witch here as strong as you, then in comes me, not only am I a strong witch but I am also the first male witch ever. You only want me so you can control me. Find someone else." He said before walking off, Kelsie following him.

Pandora stormed to her room, her body shook, her head pounded in anger. "For someone named after the bird of fire he sure is cold as hell..." She growled as she sat on her bed.

The tremors wouldn't go away and the humming of her blood continued to strengthen. If she let out the spell ,so what, it would handle the problem of Phoenix in another way. Pandora had been hoping he would be all over her, she could keep him under her thumb and manipulate him that way. No, it seems Phoenix Gray would require more wit to control. Pandora felt the heat in her palms, saw the flames erupt and run up her arms. Suddenly remembering herself, Pandora jumped up and ran to her box, grabbing the key from around her throat and unlocking it, resting her hands on the inside of the box. The only time she could open it without all the rogue magic escaping and dealing the damage they were intended to do was when she was about to have another rogue spell attack whoever or whatever had upset her.

Pandora felt the magic flow through her and into the box, as soon as the spike of magic had left, she pulled her hands out and closed the box, locking it before putting the key back around her neck.

Pandora sat on her bed, looking down at her hands. A spell like that could have killed Phoenix if she had let it build any longer. The trail from her magic would be traced back to her, the feel of the energy would match hers and she would have been burned at the stake for the murder of another witch.

Her family would be shamed, shunned for her treason.

Her hateful mother would disown her the second she heard of it.

She would disown her if anybody surpassed her in ranking within the Academy.

Demetrius would be left alone with their mother, who would treat him worse than she did her daughter.

Only magic Demetrius had was being able to predict the weather. A skill their mother employed every time she left the house because she didn't want her precious hair and makeup ruined.

Pandora scoffed at the thought. If only she had Demetrius, her older brother with her now. He was her best friend, she could confide him when she needed...

He was the only one who knew about her magic taking over the way it did. "Doolb ym htiw em tcennoc, Deotz. Demetrius deman eno eht ot kaeps em tel, evol I eno eht ot kaeps em tel." Pandora knew she didn't have long, but so what if she was a few minutes late to the seance, she's been early since the day she got here.

Immediately heavy pressure formed around her body, forcing her lay down. When she closed her eyes and opened them again, she was no longer in her room. "Demetrius?!" She called out into the empty black void.

"Pandora?" She heard him ask in confusion.

"Oh thank Deotz!" She said as she threw her arms around her brother. "I've missed you so much..." She whispered.

"Pandora, what's wrong?" He asked as he pushed her back, his brown eyes searching her hazel ones.

"It's happening more." She said, her hands shaking.

"And you haven't told Lazarus?!" He said in exasperation. "What triggered it this time?" He asked her, folding her fingers against her palms as he took her hands. She looked away. "That male witch everyone is talking about? Mother has been furious, she says if it makes it into the human news she was going to pull you out of the Lazarus Academy." Demetrius told her.

"She will do no such thing, if she tries she'll find out what real power f*****g feels like!" Pandora said, Demetrius saw the blue flecks in his sister's eyes flare to an almost white color.

"I know, if you tell Lazarus about your rogue magic, mother won't be able to do anything, Lazarus won't let you go. Mother will have to listen to Lazarus, especially if Lazarus has a reason to keep you there." He told her.

"Keep mother distracted, I'll find a way to keep Phoenix below me." She said.

"What, you haven't seduced the poor man yet?" He asked her jokingly.

"No, he's not into it. He's a type of asexual apparently." She told him. "Don't worry, my girls will be more than willing to help me make his life hell." Pandora said with a devious smile. "I must go, it's almost time for the ritual." She said before hugging Demetrius once more who hugged her back.

"Go raise hell, little sister."

"I will," she said before closing her eyes.

When she opened her eyes she saw her ceiling was much closer than it should be. When she didn't automatically fall back to her bed, she sighed but said the words anyway. "Deotz, dnats llahs I erehw ot llaf ot em wolla, ytivarg ym nruter!" Pandora slammed back down onto her bed, bouncing back up before coming to a rest atop the comforter. After looking at the time she swung her legs over the side of the bed and took off running down the hall, she still had time to make it to the ritual in time...

***

Phoenix led Kelpie back into the stables, he still wasn't sure what to call him. "So, am I supposed to call you a creature or a horse?" He asked Kelpie.

"Horse is fine with me, after all, I can't shapeshift like our kind are believed to. Not sure if we do, never met another Kelpie." He said.

"Kelpie doesn't sound very original for a name, after all, isn't that what you are?" Phoenix asked.

"Some say there is only ever one Kelpie in the world at a time, I guess maybe that is why I have never met another? Doesn't matter. I like being called Kelpie." He said.

"I gotta go to this ritual," Phoenix said as he rolled his eyes, "but I'll try to come by afterward, not to mention, there's someone you need to meet."

"I look forward to it," Kelpie sid s Phoenix walked away.

That's not fair!" Phoenix heard Philis yell, he stopped and pressed against the corner, peaking around. He spotted a girl with red hair and sea green eyes, freckles all over her face.

"What, for you not to be in the ritual? When you cast spells you practically yell, it's f*****g annoying." The girl said.

"Maybe you should stop using that bitchy tone, it's quite annoying," Phoenix said as he stepped out from where he was, resting a hand on Philis's shoulder. "Go on Philis, I'll be there in a few minutes." He told her, making sure he spoke loud enough for her to hear.

"You'll be late for the ritual!" She said.

"Tell Lazarus I was dealing with something, tell her if she has a problem with it we can talk about it after the ritual." He told her.

"Be quick! The longer you make her wait the angrier she'll be!" Philis called as she ran up the path.

"What's your name?" Phoenix asked the woman.

"Scathach, now if you'll move, I need to get going." She said, but Phoenix grabbed her wrist.

"Scathach, well, I don't know about you, but if I was someone as pretty and clearly as strong as you, I can tell because I can sense your magic, I certainly wouldn't be concerned with Philis. She can barely f*****g hear, she is aware of that, but don't ever make her feel less than she is. You really think she asked to be the way she is?" Phoenix asked her.

Scathach looked away, Phoenix could see the shame as redness climbed up her pale neck. "Don't ever treat her that way again, or Lazarus will be hearing about it and I may not know much about the way things are run here, but I can guarantee Lazarus will be on your ass." He told her, releasing her wrist and continuing on his way, leaving Scathach to deal with her shame alone.

"Phoenix! So you decided to grace us with your presence I see!" Lazarus said from where she was kneeling, the hood of her black cloak drawn over her head, obscuring her face.

Phoenix ignored her, he had stopped at the dorms on his way to the main part of the school to grab his own cloak. Phoenix could see Pandora watching him from across the circle, "can anybody tell me why we drew this pentagram?" Lazarus asked them all.

"The pentagram represents the five elements of magic: Energy, Focus, Persistence, Spirit, and Nature." Pandora listed off, not missing a beat.

"Very good Pandora, before we begin, can anyone tell us about why we worship such an ancient, unknown deity or why we wear these cloak?" Lazarus asked them all, her gaze focusing on Phoenix.

"We worship Deotz because she is the very source of our power. Witches protect the natural world through unnatural means, thus serving our inner nature and our goddess. The cloaks protect us from her gaze, because as wonderful as Deotz is, she is also a wicked being, and would not hesitate to take advantage of us when using our magic to summon her." Phoenix explained.

"You are correct, now, let us begin." Lazarus said.

Phoenix watched as she pulled a small jar she had hidden behind her cloak. From what he could see, something dark filled the jar. "Summoning Deotz is exactly what we shall be doing tonight. It is the night of the new moon, our power will be strongest and hers weakest. That does not mean you all can be slacking, I need all twelve of you to be as focused as possible tonight. This is no joke, if something goes wrong, if one person slips, she could very well take your soul and your life." Lazarus said.

She held each one of the young witchs' gazes, each one nodding in turn. Phoenix noticed a cloaked figure walking around the circle, lighting candles. He had never taken part in any ritual, they seemed very archaic to him, out-dated.

He would soon learn they are not.

Lazarus stood, opening the jar, she dipped her fingers into it, drawing lines on her face, passing it along to Pandora. "Do exactly as I did, it is important she cannot tell the difference between our faces easily. If any of you have angered her in the past month, now is not the night to be facing her wrath. Phoenix, come here. She will recognize you instantly, your magic has a slightly different hum then the rest of us." Lazarus commanded.

Phoenix walked over to her before kneeling before her. Lazarus took his face in an iron tight grip, breathing in. He watched as a fiery flow of energy passed from him into Lazarus, before she breathed out, allowing the energy to pass back into him. "That should do it for now, if she speaks to you, do not answer her call. Do not gaze upon her face, she is known to be alluring even to men who do not see women as appealing. I say this for your own safety, whatever you do, don't look into her eyes, once you do, there's no going back." Lazarus whispered to him. The force of her voice was what scared him.

"Don't look her in the eyes or be seduced? Got it." He said.

"Good, here." She said, drawing the lines on his face before he went back to his place in the circle.

Lazarus took out a pouch and poured what appeared to be ashes into her hands, she then took a deep breath and blew them all around the circle. "Repeat these words: Deotz, ouy ot wob ew sa, su ot wob dna, cigam ruo leef, sdrow rou reah. Rewop on dloh uoy thgin no, sruo era uoy thgin siht no. Su yebo, su raeh, su ot emoc." Lazarus said.

The words intrigued Phoenix, he knew the phrase, it was an ability of all witches to understand a spell, all the words were just their language spoken backward. Deotz, come to us, hear us, obey us. On this night you are ours, on this night you hold no power. Hear our words, feel our magic, and bow to us, as we bow to you. He never imagined they would be commanding the goddess. Tonight was going to be interesting...

"Deotz, ouy ot wob ew sa, su ot wob dna, cigam ruo leef, sdrow rou reah. Rewop on dloh uoy thgin no, sruo era uoy thgin siht no. Su yebo, su raeh, su ot emoc." All of them repeated, unfaltering in their words.

As they continued to chant the phrase, Lazarus changed her voice, rising to her feet and beginning to dance. Her voice was more lyrical, rising and falling as a black mist slowly appeared like a fog, filling the room and drawing inwards to Lazarus. The black mist continued to swilr and dance around Lazarus before gradually taking a form. Phoenix averted his eyes 'Do not gaze upon her face,' the words drifted through his ,ind, but too late, Phoenix found his eyes on the figure's face, but not her eyes. It took a lot of effort, but he managed to close his eyes, turning his thoughts inwards, towards himself and not on his surroundings.

"Phoeeeniiiix..." A whispery voice called out, drifting alluringly around the cirlces, curling around him. Phoenix felt a shiver travel down his spine at the unnatural sound of the voice.

'If she speaks to you, do not answer her call,' again Lazarus'svoice drifted through his mind. He closed his eyes tighter, focusing on the chant, making sure he didn't answer her.

"Phoenix, why do you not answer your mistress? Are you afraid, Phoenix? Is that it?" That voice continued to wrap itself around him. "Perhaps this is a voice you are more comfortable?" She asked, her voice suddenly sounding like his mother's. Phoenix's eyes flew open, he felt his blood humming more than it was before. "Where are you, my darling? I can't make you out, I am easily confused in a weakened state. These witches do not play fair, why don't you want to meet your queen? Let me see you, my dear Fire Bird." Deotz continued to speak.

Suddenly, Phoenix found his gaze fixed on two black voids, the claws of her fingers digging into his jaw, the cold burning into him. Suddenly Phoenix felt terror fill him, some of the chanting ceased. "There you are, my precious, you cannot hide from me, my little Nix, I am the one who made you what you are! You will be mine." She hissed, revealing four rows of teeth, two on bottom, two on top, eight long, curved and sharp fangs glinting in the light from the candles.

"No!" He said, the power he felt humming through him echoing through his voice. He could feel the cold spreading, turning him to ice, immobilizing him.

"Phonix, you did not look into her eyes willingly, she does not have your consent, she can't do jackshit with you unless you accept her." He heard Lazarus say, the circle had gone quiet. "I know you don't want to, but do not let her in or she will have full control over you. Would your mother want you to become some consort?" Lazarus said, but he couldn't look away.

The silence continued to grow as Deotz continued to freeze him, gazing into his eyes, willing him to accept her. "It g-goes both ways bitch..." He said, his hand grabbing her wrist, his vision flashed a blinding white, he heard her cry out as she backed away as if burned. Phoenix watched as every sharp object in the room lifted, on shaky legs he stood. "Why the hell do you want me so badly, huh?" He asked her, he could feel it, her very being was writhing under his control just as his had been moments before.

"You will either bring about annihilation or you will bring salvation. Come with me and you will bring neither and you will never know pain. Accept me, and be mine, forget about everything you have ever cared about or lost." She said.

"f**k off..." Phoenix said before releasing the power that had been building inside him. The room filled with a flash of white light as power from all of them who had made up the circle rushed forth and when the flash disappeared, Deotz was gone.

Lazarus turned to Phoenix and watched as he dropped to the ground with a thud. "Pandora, go see if her energy is truly gone. Whoever slipped, congratulations, you almost got not only him, but everyone killed if it hadn't been for Phoenix. On this night, we prepare for the wrath of a goddess, not her benevolence." Lazarus growled as she knelt by Phoenix. She felt for his pulse.

"Please let her be wrong about you, or I fear what we saw will only be the beginning of our troubles..." Lazarus whispered as she lifted him into her lap, using her magic to chase away any traces of Deotz's touch. "But at least I know now, you are strong enough to resist her, maybe you are what this coven needed. Maybe you will be the key...but you are not ready," she said.

Phoenix Gray could not, would not rise to his truest potential. Not yet...

Not until Lazarus was sure he was ready, as was the world. She wasn't a fool, she knew Pandora would be up to no good after feeling his power that morning...

At that moment, Lazarus didn't care what Pandora did to Phoenix, it couldn't be any worse than the hell, the doom she had seen coming his way.

Pandora would help beat him down without knowing, so when the time came, he could truly rise. Lazarus smiled, despite the bad, today was a good day.