The Last Phoenix

Chapter 5 - Secrets

A losing battle, every single time. She knew her mother would never tell her why she was different. Maybe she honestly did not know, but there was a time she had left her block down. It was just for a second but it was enough to know her own mother feared her. From that moment on she just wanted to know why she was not like her siblings. All six of them had some kind of gift, but none had more than one. In their clan, no one had more than one gift except her. She didn’t look anything like any of her family. Her eyes would change color, and even the colors they changed did not look like anyone else’s. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the house.

When they arrived, she could hear the chatter inside and out. They never had a problem with families dining at the house, and more often than not there was usually a large crowd. Today was no exception, there were people already gathered outside. You could smell the roasted pig from outside, already being cut to perfection. The families that were attending brought dishes to supplement the group.

Lilith loved to be part of the world, even if she stayed to herself. Seeing everyone smile, laugh and enjoy their lives was the best thing. She always surrounded herself with Lyla though. The one who kept her calm in the most chaotic situations, and she had not even been gone a full day and she already missed her.

The tv was playing in the back ground

“Another bombing today in the capital, this one a direct attack on President Karlzie. They are reporting live now”

Screaming was echoing from the television, a mother holding her limp child. A older gentleman was crying and holding a bloody older lady. The scene kept playing out and everyone had gone silent. Watching and staring at the screen.

And a vision began forming, one that the child was just in shock. Releasing the tension that had been building in Lilith’s chest. She watched the scene in her mind as the medics were tending to the injured. In the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of the man who set the bomb, he was missing a tooth in his crooked grin. He looked deformed for a human, with a yellow tinge to his skin and red eyes. She had never seen a creature like him before. She was focusing in on him, when his eyes snapped to her. He could see her! He c****d his head to the right and mumbled something and it felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. She was lying on the ground panting when she came to.

Eli had her head cradled in his lap, and she could only hear muffled sounds coming from everyone. She was unable to move her arms and legs. Her brother looked down and noticed she was awake. He kept trying to ask her what was wrong, but her lips were not working. The last thing she noticed before she passed out again was him gasp and mouth “her eyes”.

Several hours later, and Eli was becoming increasingly more worried. The only thing that had changed was her breathing, it was no longer erratic. Her vitals were all over the place, blood pressure would sky rocket and then suddenly drop. Her heart rate was the same. This had never happened in all the times she had been having visions. He kept pacing, watching his dear Lilith. That was his baby, the little girl he had helped raise. His father never wanted anything to do with the children in his home, and their mother was frightened of Lilith.

It broke his heart, he had been the one to find her on the door step wrapped in her little white blanket. The note left only a few words, “from the beginning Lilith, until the end Phoenix”. Her name became Lilith Phoenix, and we never could find out where she came from. We never would tell her the story, she already had issues with her powers. It was hard enough to control one gift, but to have many and worse to control fire. An elemental power was almost extinct. We knew she came from something powerful, but where was a mystery.

He looked down as his phone continually rang.

(Answer your phone bimbo! I want to know where my sister is)

(Lyla, would you please refrain from the name calling?)

(Where the hell is my sister!)

(She’s not doing good, I’m here in the med bay with her. Her vitals are abnormal)

(I’m not gone a full day and she is in the med bay dying?!?!?!?)

(She is not dying dramatic ass! She had a vision and something happened.)

(Yeah Lucas called me, why didn’t you call me first?)

(Because I’ve been beside her the entire time! Her eyes, the way her eyes looked… I’ve never seen her eyes as yellow as they were. What’s worse is they were dull. Like when a bulb starts flickering before it gives out.)

(What the hell happened?)

(I don’t know Lyla, I will let you know as soon as I know something)

He set the phone down, knowing Lyla would never give up. She never had an issue when Lilith’s hands would get hot. She would curl up next to her. When her eyes would change color, Lyla would giggle and say “pretty”. Maybe Lyla felt the same comfort from her that he did, like she felt like home. There was something so peaceful in her chaos, and she was the most beautiful creature he had ever encountered.

When the time comes, how angry will she be knowing the secrets and lies?