The Last Phoenix

Chapter 7 - Powers

It felt like an eternity that she laid there. Her eyes had dried, and her mind had drifted. She replayed the scene in her mind a millions times, when the door slammed open and her father stormed inside. He looked angry, his normally hard face had become creased and his mouth pulled back. She had never seen this side of him, and she coward. She went to hide under the blankets and he pulled them down.

“Lilith, I am not here to play games. I need to know every single thing that happened.” Her father crossed his arms, while Eli had rushed to her side to grab her hand.

Eli gave her a tight squeeze, and she tried to cower back into the bed as far as possible. She began to tell him every single detail from mother walking her to the house until she woke to find Eli in their room. His face became more pulled, his fingers drumming on his arm and his foot tapping on the floor. The more she spoke, the more angry he seemed to get.

When she finished, the only sound that could be heard was his tapping.

Eli gave her another reassuring squeeze and then their father spoke, “I have been waiting for this day, for a century. The oracles were right.”

The anger in his voice had calmed, as he moved to sit on the edge of her bed. He pulled the cover back up to cover her. Frightened, Lilith pulled her blanket up as high as she could with her free hand. They sat in silence as the look of anger began to turn to curiosity. Something was ticking in his mind, and neither Eli nor Lilith were comfortable with the look on his face.

“Father, she has had visions since she was a child. She did nothing wrong.” Eli spoke up, hoping to break the tension he could feel radiating from his sister.

“Indeed she did not, the demon did. Seems they have been doing a lot more than I was aware. Unfortunately with age you miss some key details. You would think I was sharper than I am.” He never looked away from her.

“You said the oracles were right? What do you mean?” Eli let go of her hand to pull a chair closer to her side.

“Lilith will start full training tomorrow. Her powers are strong and without her being able to use and master all of them she is vulnerable.”

“I am so tired of riddles father, can you please just tell me what is going on?” She finally built the courage to speak.

“Oh my dear, you have no idea how important you really are. You are not one of our kind per se. You are so much more. You are the beginning and the end.” Her father reached to touch her face. “Now I must make arrangements, you will start training with the best sorcerers I know, myself included. I must also make sure there are no holes in our cloaking spell since the demon was able to hex you. We do not need him trying to find his way here to make sure he killed you. Seeing as he could sense your power, he just might.”

“But I am still confused, I did not just have a vision? I was there?”

“What you did was Telepresence, the only things that would be able to detect you are those who are more in tune with their surroundings. Another witch, a human with supernatural background grounds, demons, fairies, ghosts are all types of beings that would notice you. That power, is rare and must only be used when all of your others are more skilled. You will need to learn to fight in that form, to block and to shield. There are only about a hundred sorcerers left who can telepresence. What powers have you come into so far?”

She looked at him with her big grey eyes, emotions swirling and recognition starting to take form. She was not just a witch, he had said that already. However, he kept mentioning sorcerers. Did that mean she was one of them? She had heard they were elite fighters. The ones who defended their covens and other supernatural beings. They could wield magic in multiple forms and had unfortunately become rather rare from the battles years ago.

“Visions of the future, I can hear thoughts, I can sift through memories, I can wield fire and I guess that new one… telepresence?” She tilted her head towards her brother, looking for comfort.

Her brother was quick to notice and shifted his arm more for her to lay on him. His mind racing with everything he was learning as well. There were more powers she had, she just did not remember them.

Eli sat a bit straighter, “ telekinesis, she probably does not remember using that one. She is also empathic, she can change moods around her and her mood will adjust depending on situations and the people around her. She can also siphon energy.”

Both of them turned towards him, he had been her keeper. The one who had watched out for her from the day she was found. He knew every detail of her life, noting her progress in journals. Would she hate him when she found out the truth?

“Did you do as I asked?” Her father needed to know.

“I have, and I do believe it is time she knows her origin.” Eli reached down with his free hand to hold hers.

“You know the cost?”

“I do,” Eli sighed.

“Then you will be the one to tell her, you are the only one who can handle her tempter.”

Lilith looked between them, “I should know what? You both realize I am sitting right here?”

Eli hung his head for a moment, taking a deep breath before her turned towards her. “I found you on our door step almost 21 years ago, your birthday is the day that you came to our home.”

And the world froze, realization dawned on her and the fire in her veins began to surface.