Ascension

2

"Remember what I said Phoenix," Lazarus said as they approached the gates of Lazarus Academy.

"How could I? It was a touching moment." He told her from the backseat. Jessie was in the passenger seat, Lazarus was driving and the cats were on his lap. His mother's gray tabby was sleeping, Cherokee was eagerly looking out the window.

"Hand me Winston, I'll take him to the day room where he can rest peacefully," Jessie said. Phoenix lifted him, he protested, complaining he had taken the entire three-hour drive from the airport trying to fall asleep.

As Phoenix watched the gates open, the Lazarus Academy slowly coming into view as a massive school. The main house where the witches conducted more professional business was way up on the top of the hill. On the grounds all the witches were gathered, one stood out to Phoenix, she had silver/grey hair and hazel eyes. Lazarus stopped the car, cutting the engine. "When you're ready." She told him.

"No point in waiting." He told her.

"Good, I wasn't in the mood for it anyway." She told him.

Phoenix held onto Cherokee as he opened the door, stepping out. He could see many girls trying to get a look at him in the crowd. Phoenix felt Cherokee's claws dig into his chest and he looked down, meeting her eyes...

Lazarus turned around when she didn't hear Phoenix walking. When she turned around his eyes had blue flecks in them as he stared into Cherokee's eyes. She watched as he blinked slowly, the cat jumping down as the blue flecks intensified. "Lazarus..." He said, looking at the sky.

"Yes? What did you see?" She asked him.

"Does this school have a protection spell on it?" He asked.

"Yes, why?" Lazarus asked.

"That explains what I saw..." He said, Lazarus, followed his gaze, her one blue, one green eye both widening as she saw the water rising up the sides of the invisible barrier. The water was running in rivulets upward, the water at the top of the barrier was crystallizing into ice.

"Shit..." Lazarus said as the water stopped flowing, what was on the sides of the barrier collecting.

Phoenix lurched forward, jerking Lazarus to him, forcing her to meet his eyes and breathing deeply. A golden stream of energy flowed from her to him. The ice cracked and began to fall, some of the girls screamed, others making barriers around themselves. Phoenix reached out first to Lazarus's mind, then expanded his outwards, he felt Lazarus's following him. "Deotz, lirep siht morf su dliehs!" They shouted at the same time, Phoenix gasped and watched as their magic projected outwards, expanding over the witches. The ice shattered on impact, Phoenix and Lazarus falling. Phoenix almost let go of Lazarus, but she gripped his hands tighter, pressing her forehead against his as they continued to chant.

Phoenix could feel himself weakening, the shield groaning under the weight of the ice. Even Lazarus was tiring, he could feel it...

But then a hand slipped into his, replacing Lazarus's hand. He looked out the corner of his eye to see the witch with silvery-gray hair and hazel eyes. Bright blue flecks were in her eyes, he felt her reach out to him and only once he and Lazarus had both let her in did she begin chanting. "Pandora! Focus all you have! If we fail we'll die!" Lazarus shouted at the girl.

Phoenix felt the change immediately. "Phoenix!" Lazarus said, she sounded like she was in pain. "I know you have more in you! I saw what happened to you during that vision last night! Let your magic take over you, don't take over your magic!" She commanded him.

Slowly he closed his eyes, breathing deeply, slowly letting it out. Then, he let his mind wander, focusing on the humming of his blood. "Dleish rou eb thgnerts ym tel." He said, Lazarus saw the blue flecks glow even brighter, turning almost white. "Diuqil otni kcab dilos si tahw nrut, regnad eht yawa nrub." She heard the boy say before fire erupted from his hands as he released Lazarus and Pandora, the fire scorching the ice, the ice melting to water which ran down the sides of the shield harmlessly.

Lazarus, Pandora, and Phoenix all released their magic, untangling their minds and letting the shield go. "He really is a damn witch, isn't he?" Pandora asked Lazarus.

"Un-f*****g-fortunately," Phoenix told her.

"Pandora, I trust you know where Phoenix's room is. Get him there, Phoenix, you must rest, I will go rest and Pandora, you go rest as well. Phoenix, some of the girls will help get your stuff inside, if there is anything you don't want being messed with, tell me now so I can tell Jessie and you can take care of it when you awaken." Lazarus said.

Pandora glared at Phoenix, but she could see he had turned pale, dark circles were under his eyes and his hands shook. "When you awaken, we will find you a familiar fit for your strength, the cat is fine for small things, it eventually, a stronger animal will be necessary," Lazarus said as she stood on shaky legs. "Jessie, figure out who that was, we need to get her power under control, immediately," Lazarus commanded.

***

In his dreams, Phoenix was sitting in a great forest, reading a book. "HELLO!" He heard someone yell. Phoenix closed his eyes, slowly letting out an annoyed breath.

"Anybody in this smelly forests?" She asked. Phoenix stuck his foot out as Pandora passed by him.

"Yes, now get the hell out of my dream," he told her.

"Your dream? You mean you just sit in this forest, reading, not bothered by anything? Not the bugs? The dirt?" She asked.

"We're witches, nature is our greatest connection. We are supposed to protect it. I feel rather at home here. Reminds me of my mother," he said as he went back to reading.

"I'm a witch. You're a...a...whatever you are. Get me out of here," she demanded as she crossed her arms.

"You get yourself out. Let me enjoy the peace and quiet and not you acting like a spoiled b***h," Pandora watched as the corner of his mouth turned up, that smile made her want to scream.

Pandora stomped off, she felt her blood boiling, humming with power. "I don't know how to get out," she said, coming back to Phoenix, she can't stay here, not to mention, she knew what came next with the way her power felt. She needed to get to her box, which she can't do if she's dreamwalking, she had heard about it, but never experienced it.

"Are you asking for my help or demanding it?" He asked her.

"Needing," she said.

"Ask me nicely and I will wake myself up," Phoenix told her. He watched in amusement as her hands clenched, her jaw twitching in anger.

Pandora sighed, "please help me get out of your head."

Phoenix snapped his fingers, the scenery instantly changing, Pandora disappearing and his eyes opening to his new room. Phoenix sat up, rubbing his head. He actually hoped Pandora being in his dream had been a part of the dream.

Phoenix swung his legs over the edge of the bed, groaning as he held his head in his hands. The strain his magic put on him yesterday had gone from exhaustion to a headache. "There's some painkillers on the table!" A girl practically shouted.

Phoenix looked up quickly. "Here!" She said as she picked something up and held them out to him in her small hand, she held a glass of water in the other.

"Thank you," he said as he downed the painkillers and water.

"My name is Philis! I brought your stuff up, Ms. Lazarus wanted to make sure you had someone in here when you awoke, to tell you supper is at 7, if you get down there late you don't eat and then we have a seance with our professors at 9 to thanks Deotz and banish evil spirits from the grounds of the school!" She continued to say.

"What time is it now?" Phoenix asked, his face turned away as he searched his phone. He didn't hear an answer.

"Philis, I asked, do you know what time it is?" He asked as he turned back to her.

"I couldn't hear you, you were quiet. Usually, I read lips when people are quiet, I couldn't see your lips. I can't hear very well." She said.

That would explain why she talks louder. "Does it help when I speak up then? In case you can't see my lips or I talk too fast?" Phoenix asked.

"Yes, very much!" She said. "It's about 6:30, I can show you to one of the bathrooms where you can shower," she said.

Philis showed Phoenix to the bathroom on that floor before leaving him alone. He entered the bathroom, he had grabbed his shampoo and such on his way out the room. "Lock the door," Cherokee said from where she lounged on the back of the toilet lazily.

"What are you doing in here?" He asked her.

"We need to talk," she said.

"While I'm in the shower? Sure, why the hell not," Phoenix said as he locked the door and turned the shower water on, stripping down.

"What Lazarus said about a stronger familiar, you don't believe her, do you?" Cherokee asked.

"Of course not Cherokee, but if she says it's necessary then it's necessary. I won't forget about you if that's what you're worried about," Phoenix said as he enjoyed the hot water.

Cherokee curled up and slept until Phoenix was booted her out of the way so he could grab his towel.

By the time Phoenix reached his room, he found a black vest with a white, buttoned shirt. It was long sleeved. On the breast pocket of the vest was the silver embroidering of a phoenix. He grunted but put the shirt on anyway, buttoning it up before putting on the vest. Phoenix walked over to the mirror and combed his hair, he had already put on pants before leaving the bathroom. When he looked over himself one last time he was impressed at how the more formal attire suited him. "Handsome, just like your mother always knew you would be in formal witch attire," Cherokee said from where she lay on his bed.

"You really think she'd be proud of me?" He asked her.

"I don't see why not. Now go, dinner begins soon." She told him.

Phoenix went to put his phone in his pants pocket and a cigarette in his breast pocket when he felt a folded piece of paper in his breast pocket.

I had it made specially for you. Thought the phoenix would be perfect, you are no ordinary being, Phoenix Gray, the first male witch in our history. Embrace it, you clearly are going to have no choice in future events.

~ Lazarus

Phoenix tossed the note onto the desk before continuing on his way.

Phoenix managed to find the dining hall on his own, when he reached it the room was huge. Many tables were around the room, but one long, rectangular one sat in the center. Phoenix spotted Lazarus at the head of the table in a fancy chair. She raised her glass to him before tilting her head to a seat next to her, on the other side of the table sat Pandora. Phoenix headed over and sat down. "Good, Philis, the sweet thing, showed you where you can shower," Lazarus said. "You are a few minutes late, but tonight you are a guest of honor since it is your first day with us," Lazarus told him.

With that Lazarus stood. She tapped against her wine glass with a spoon. The talking ceased and all eyes turned on her. "Tonight, we welcome the witch, Phoenix Gray as one of our own!" She began, gesturing to Phoenix. He stood. "Phoenix is the son of Marian Gray, she was a very powerful, very well respected witch. When the news came to me she was dying and requested Phoenix be accepted into our school, I had no choice but to agree to a meeting with him. As you all saw today, Phoenix is, in fact, a male witch, the first one in our thousands of years of history. Long may he live and strong may he grow, and shall he ever falter, we shall be there to lift him back up!" Lazarus shouted.

With that Lazarus gestured to Phoenix and they sat down. Somewhere in the room, a band began playing as food was served. Once everyone had food and had started eating, Lazarus began speaking to him and Pandora. "Pandora brought up something interesting while you were in the shower." Lazarus said, cutting a piece of steak.

"About her dreamwalking into my dream? I wasn't very happy about that one." Phoenix told her.

"It wasn't my fault!" Pandora said, her hazel eyes flashing.

"Did I say it was?" Phoenix asked her, his grey eyes meeting her hazel ones.

"It does not matter, what matters is that it happened. Maybe it is an after effect from you two joining your minds, you are young, only way she would have been able to enter your dreams is if you let her. She called, you answered, she was there. Witches crave power, you are both powerful, you were calling for that power each other has, got a taste, your subconcious wanted more. I already have taught Pandora the spell to keep herself from dreamwalking, but later tonight, I want to teach it to you so you don't jump into her head." Lazarus told them.

"Am I supposed to add this to my nightly routine? If so, no way. I'll have Cherokee make sure I'm not using magic in my sleep. She does it all the time. She always wakes me up." Phoenix said.

He watched as Lazarus closed her different colored eyes and sighing. "Phoenix, I am not asking you to learn it I am telling you. Something you should learn in my academy fast is that I don't take anybody's bullshit. I'm not about to start with yours." She said, an angry flash in her eyes.

"You all act as if I asked to born this way. Well let me tell you something: I didn't f*****g ask for shit." He said.

As Lazarus watched him, she saw him growing uncomfortable. "Phoenix, what's wrong." She demanded.

He hunched over slightly, eyes closed tightly. She looked to Pandora who was just as clueless. "Phoenix?" She asked him, reaching out.

"Don't touch me!" He said, his breathing had grown rapid, his eyes were filled with terror.

Suddenly his head snapped back like it had in the house, the lights flickering and dimming. "Oh dear!" She heard Jessie say as she stood, walking towards Lazarus.

"Phoenix, what are you seeing?" Lazarus asked. He didn't answer, but it was clear it was terrible for him. As the vision continued sweat broke out on him. Lazarus took his hand, Pandora sat there with wide, scared eyes. "Phoenix, uoy otni em tel, ees uoy tahw em wohs." Lazarus said.

The connection was immediate. As soon as she entered his mind she felt only terror. It took a minute for what she was seeing to become clear. They were seeing through the eyes of somebody, she couldn't hear anything but a loud river and shouting. "Please! No!" Lazarus felt her heart stop as she heard Philis's voice come from their mouth.

"Philis!" Pandora screamed as they were thrown into the icy river, held there.

"You witches are the devil! The world will be a better place without you!" Someone was shouting.

Lazarus gasped as she was thrown out of the vision, Phoenix was shaking, his forehead against the table. His breathing was heavy, his hands were clenched tightly. It took a minute for Lazarus to get her head straight. "No witch leaves this academy without my say." Lazarus said as she jerked Jessie down to her. "Am I understood?" She asked.

"Yes, Lazarus." She said.

"Phoenix, are you alright?" Lazarus asked him. When he looked up his eyes were bloodshot, blood rand down from them and his nose. Pandora pushed her napkin to him and he took it, wiping at his eyes first, then at his nose.

He sat there for a minute, motionless before getting up and leaving.

As Phoenix walked past her, he set a hand on Philis's shoulder. "Don't listen to anything they may say about you, you're a beautiful person with a beautiful personality. Your hindrances do not change that. They only make your talents more admirable." He whispered in her ear.

"W-w-w-w-w-why?" She stuttered.

"Just remember, don't listen to what they say." He told her before walking out, lighting his cigarette and wandering the grounds trying to forget the feeling, the fear of that vision. He wasn't going to let that happen to Philis, usually, Phoenix doesn't give a s**t about other people, but Philis, he could tell, was a ray of sunshine in this school. If she died...

The witches would go on the war path.