Fallen Fury

“Nix, Nix, Nix” dared the crowd. Phoenix stood at the edge of the balcony that hung over the pool table, skimming the trim with her barefoot. The Flay’s house was pervaded with inebriated guests all dressed for a pool party. A beautiful house, there wasn’t much The Flay’s couldn’t have and, lucky for Phoenix, her best friend Trista was the daughter of the house. Black ceilings and white walls, Parties weren’t uncommon in this household. Mommy and Daddy Flay often traveled and left the house for Trista to have her fun. “Phoenix, Get down”, her thoughts interrupted by her friends screech, “you’re going to fall! You have nothing to prove. Please get down!” Nix bypassed her friend’s worries. Listening to the girls from town whispering while staring right at her was fuming enough. She wasn’t going to step out of this dare. This dare that Liliana assigned her, claiming “She won’t do it. She has never stepped over boundaries. She has never been bold. Everyone thinks she’s so wonderful. But in reality, she is still a scared little girl hiding behind the lights.” Lia smiled, rolling her dark eyes and twisting her red curls between her fingers. “Nix, please. Dim isn’t going to be happy, rather you make it or not.” Trista was right, and Phoenix knew that. Trista’s brother, Dimitree, always had a strong, over-casting control over Nix. She was tired of the gossip circling around her. She was tired of being expected to do everything she was told; by her mother, her father, Dim. She was showing the town she made her own decisions. She stood on the edge looking down at her cheering crowd. She just had to jump to the center beam, then jump to the other balcony, and she was just drunk enough that she didn’t have any nerves over the cascading of 10 feet under her. Nix skimmed the crowd, smiling. Her gaze fell to Dim, who looked irate. What is he doing here? He’s supposed to be gone. Nix hiccuped with surprise by his appearance. Her foot slipped and the crowd gasped before cheering at her safety. Dim made his way up the stairs and to her side. “Down. Now,” he pressed his lips in a solid line and his eyes were black. She rolled her eyes. He raised an eyebrow. “Phoenix, I am not playing. Get down, now, or I will throw you over my shoulder and take you down”. She looked at him daringly. “You wouldn’t! I don’t need your help. W-why are you here? You’re suppose to be with your father.” “I could tell you weren’t making good choices from your call”. She had already forgotten she called him. Drunk and annoyed, she wanted him to feel angry that she was drunk and having fun. She wanted him to think she was making bad choices. Dancing with the guys there, drinking, smoking. She didn’t care, but she thought he was engaged in other events enough not to come back. She thought she would be able to annoy him while he was away. Dim held his hand out for her to join him, but she shoved it away. She took the shot she had been holding in her hand. A slight burn traced her throat, the shot had warmed in her grasp. She braced herself to jump. With one leap, she connected her feet to the center beam. She stumbled, as if the beam was a thinned tightrope. She knew she had to get a running start to get the next jump, but there wasn’t much room to do so. She leaned back, bending her knees enough to create the next leap. What the hell. Her thoughts prevailed. Dim stood at the other side, already waiting for her to jump. Why is he so annoying? Nix saw the amusement of her thoughts in his eyes, although annoyed with her, he smirked. Nix furrowed her brows and gave a big jump landing just on the edge. The crowd screamed with excitement. She smiled at the enjoyment she had caused. Dim had his arms crossed standing in his black suit jacket and jeans. “Satisfied?” he said annoyingly. She climbed her way over the railing, and before she met her angered ending, her foot caught in the wood and she fell to the ground. Dim was lifting her before she even realized what had happened. Nix started laughing, “Is this amusing to you?” Dim said, pulling her into his arms and cradling her like a small child. His eyes were dark. Pissed. “Yes, actually,” she giggled “and put me down.” She tried to push away from him, but his grip was strong. Her already short skirt inched up as he held her tight. His jaw tightened as he noticed. “Damit, Phoenix. Why do you defy me? Why do you defy our elders? Why can’t you just do what you’re told? Shit..” he finished, before she could question him, she felt warmth running down her knee. She looked down to see the blood flowing from the wound created by the fall. “s**t,” was all she could manage before fainting into darkness.