The Last Phoenix

Chapter 2 - Departure

Their mother was smiling, as if this was a big day for Lyla. She had been accepted into a prestigious coven that would create a bond between them. It wasn’t something Lyla was fond of, and Lilith was even more against it. Lilith hated the thought of her big sister being sold off to the highest bidder. This coven had promised wealth and their eternal bond for Lyla to marry the leaders son. This agreement had solidified their family and their coven a position of power in a world that seemed to be at war consistently.

Lyla was packing the rest of her belongings, their mother talking nonsense about how this would be a wonderful new adventure and how Lyla would learn so much. Lilith was observing her sister, she knew that this was a terrible idea. Her visions had foretold her about her sister’s struggles in acclimating to the new coven and environment.

“Mom, can I please just have a few moments to myself to continue gathering my belongings? You have already picked out my entire life.” Lyla muttered.

Kana, their mother, crossed her arms ready to scold. She had already argued with the two of them more times than she could count about the way things were going to be from here on out. However, she knew it would be a waste of her time.

“Fine, you have thirty minutes. Be ready!” She turned and left the room.

They stayed silent for a few minutes, each one grabbing one of Lyla’s belongs and placing it in boxes. Neither one wanted to speak. This would be the last time they would see each other until the union and celebration.

Lilith stopped, frozen in time as another vision began to take over. Holding her sister’s shirt, her thumb began caressing the material. A small smile beginning to dance across her face and her eyes began to flicker different colors.

“What do you see my dear sister, why are you smiling?” Lyla came closer placing her hand on her sister’s cheek.

“Finally,” Lilith sighed, “my nephew will be the most handsome. He will be strong and smart.”

Lyla groaned, never wanting children. The thought of a creature sucking her life dry sounded terrible. How their mother had put up with 7 children she would never understand. She didn’t even like her siblings, except for Lilith, she would always be the exception. She couldn’t even stand her own twin brother, but something about her sister was home.

“More terrible news, how could you even smile at that? You know I do not like people, children being the worse,” Lyla turned back to packing.

“You will love him, you will protect him and so will Pira.”

“Nope, you can keep the little demon,” Lyla threw her brush into the box.

Lilith chuckled, her sister would be such a wonderful mother. She could see his bright blonde hair and big blue eyes. That little boy would have her sister wrapped around his little finger.

“You shall see when the day comes, you have time to adjust. You know nothing will be easy, but this gives me hope that you will be happy sister,” Lilith walked to stand beside her.

“Please tell me how long I have,” Lyla sighed.

Lilith lifted her hand and began twirling her sister’s curl, “ I cannot say, it did not give me a time line. I do know it is not soon, and that I will be beside you.”

Turning towards her and Lyla saw the twinkle in her eyes. Whatever she saw, she knew it was blessed. She still would take every precaution to push the damn prophecy as far out as possible. The thought of her being a mother, and even worse barely knowing the father was sickening to her. She could hear Pira chanting in the depth of her mind though. Pira liked the idea of a little human to love.

“So shall it be,” Lyla grabbed Lilith’s hand, “now help me finish packing before father comes up. We both know he will be so much worse than mother.”

Lilith nodded and they both began silently packing again. They would never speak of this vision, not to anyone. Lyla was the only one who knew how accurate the visions were. They were never wrong.

Several more minutes passed and their mother stroll back into the room. Pleased to see the shelves and vanity empty, the closet bare and the bed stripped. Kana grabbed one of the bags and started to head downstairs, both girls following in her tracks. She led them to a large suv, and they began slowly packing the rest of the boxes and suitcases.

After another thirty minutes had passed, the suv was loaded and their father came outside. He was an unattractive man, with a pointy nose, thin lips and squinty eyes. His hair was long and scraggly, his clothing could be mistaken for mid-century. Which was more than plausible, their father was ancient. No one knew his true age, and he often was mistaken as their grandfather. How their mother had ever agreed to the marriage no one knew.

“Lyla, bid your farewells so we can start our journey,” he hobbled to the drivers side.

Tears began streaming down Lilith’s face, and Lyla was already fidgeting with her clothing. Kana wrapped her arms around her, telling her how proud she was and how this would be a wonderful new beginning. However, Lyla only focused on her sister. Once their mother released her, both girls ran to each other. Lyla trying to calm her sister, while tears began falling from own her eyes. This departure would be what broke the family, but their parents were too greedy to even care. It was a shame, all their parents saw was security and each time Lilith had brought up the pain Lyla would go through they shot her down.

“I love you forever and a day, try to stay out of trouble,” Lyla squeezed her little sister.

“Trouble always finds me,” Lilith chuckled trying to wipe the tears from her face; “but it’s okay because I love you to the ends of the earth sister and I know you’ll always be there when I need you.”

The girls gave each other one last squeeze and Lyla turned to the car. When she was finally loaded, she waved from the window. All her siblings and mother standing and sending well wishes for the new adventure.

And the end began.