The Last Phoenix

Chapter 4 - The Gardens

She went to her world, where she felt the most grounded. Now the front of the house looked like a fortress. It had all the modern looks, and a solid metal fence surrounding their entire place. If someone drove by, they would be completely unaware of the beauty hidden behind.

As she opened the French doors, she could hear children laughing, all types of creatures, the wind chimes and various mechanisms.

In front of her was a pond with a small dock; the children were playing in and around. The willow and oak trees were shading the entire left side of the pond. There were various tables and chairs in the shaded area. To the right of the pond was a slight slope and a vast vegetable garden. The garden was self watered by the pond and the irrigation system Lilith had created. To the back of the pond was a fruit and nut garden. The trees held various fruits and the vines of the berries wrapped around the trees and lattice. Her gardens alone were enough to keep their clan fed, but just past the tree lines on the back side of the pond was where her brothers tended the cattle, sheep and poultry.

Through the willows and oaks, lay a beautiful walkway to several huts of their people. There was roughly a thousand people living in harmony. Their school system was set up on the second floor of the large house, our family lived on the third floor, the sick were treated on the lower right side of the house. The left side was a large industrial kitchen, this is where they canned and cooked.

Each hut has as many rooms as needed for their family, a living space and a small kitchen. Each family had their own tasks to help keep the clan running smoothly. Their families had been running their specific tasks and teaching their young how to perfect it. Some welded metal, some glass, some clothing and some shoes. It was a barter system, and no one ever went without. We did not need the outside world or their money, but we had such a stockpile if we ever ran short we could supplement everything we had. We did use the money we received or invested to send kids to colleges, to other clans and for vehicles and maintenance.

The outsiders believed it to be just our family living on the grounds, in the heart of nowhere. Miles from any suburban areas. We would attend various gathering outside to keep up with the modern world. Our father rarely came, mostly because he refused to partake. He did agree that his children should be immersed; for he knew the same thing we all did, our lives would not always be this simple.

She checked on the flowering gardens off the patio, they were growing in nice and lush. They would be beautiful once they bloomed. She watered each of the gardens, speaking loving words to her beautiful plants. Once she finished strolled through the vegetable garden, picking what was ripe and checking on new growth. She would run her fingers over the leaves and tell the plants how thankful and beautiful they really were. Just like with the first two gardens she finally moved to the fruits. Touching the bark on the trees and picking the berries that were ripe.

After her rounds through the gardens she made her way to her favorite willow tree, where she sat between the large branches and let the cool wind relax her. This is where she was the happiest, surrounded by nature.

She had lost all track of time, her mind drifting off to the noise of the bees, the children’s laughter and the sound of the wind through the leaves. She had been so engulfed in the sounds that she had not heard her mother come up behind her.

“Lilith, it’s dinner time. You need to come in and eat, you missed lunch.”

Lilith turned and smiled, “yes mother.”

They began walking slowly to the house, her mother unsure where to even begin the conversation.

“I know without Lyla, you’re going to be in a bit of a rut for a little while. However, I think you need this space, you have neglected your powers for too long child.”

“Why am I different?” Lilith stopped and turned towards her mother.

“My child, you were blessed. The amount of gifts you were bestowed is frightening and beautiful. You need to focus on honing your powers.” Her mother was uneasy with the topic. There are just some secrets best left alone for the time being.