Phyre Sparks

Chapter Three: Rayla

An elderly man dressed in a classic black suit and tie, checked his watch for what seemed like the upteenth time. His tapping foot went still as his bent forward in his seat as he clasped his hands together. He couldn't help but rub them together as the nerves sunk their hooks in, not that no one could blame him. It has been three years since he last saw his master's family. To hold the young children who would hold up their tiny hands, begging to be held as the young miss watched on with love and pride beaming in her eyes. Thinking of the young miss, she should have grown up into a fine young woman now. Just the thought of it brought a small smile to his stern face. Time had not been kind to him but the experiences that came with it were more than enough to make up with it.

When he first met the young miss, she was shivering underneath an alleyway staircase, covered with newspaper and ripped clothes, soaked from head to toe from the falling rain. Dangerously skinny to the point that her ribcage was skinny, bruises popping out against her pale skin that spoke of years of trauma, her clothes told an entirely different story. Made of nice materials with a designer brand logo, one could see that she was from a wealthy family of some kind. While the clothes were torn in some places, they were made of pure silk that only those of the upper echelon were able to afford. He remembered wondering just what kind of family would just toss their child out into the streets. Whoever they were, their actions were beyond despicable. It was possible that she was a servant that was kicked out because she stole from her employer. That was a reasonable explanation as to why she was wearing experience clothing with a starving appearance but some part of him told him that wasn't the reason.

His eyes glimmered with disappointment while shaking his head at the thought. As sad as it was, it didn't involve him. He was here on orders from his master to retrieve a young female foxphyre who was in dire straits. To think that his master still has relatives even though they weren't his direct descendents, head been a wonderful discover. The morning that they got a phone call from a number that they hadn't seen in a long time, they almost couldn't believe it. The master's sister left the main family upon discovering her mate, leaving behind her past to start a new life among those who had no clue about what she truly was.

Before leaving her old home, the master slipped her a phone just in case something happened but she never planned to use it. Years went by until that one morning when the call happened. Ecstatic, the master answered the call, only to find out that it wasn't the person he was hoping for. Instead, it was a young girl who was scared and frightened, saying that she was the granddaughter of his sister and that she needed help. After getting all the details of her situation, he was sent to retrieve her and now here he was, but no one was here except- The man walked past the crouched female only to pause mid-step.

That smell, while it was similar to that of a human, there was something different from it. A sort of undertone that he was familiar with. Turning around, he tried to locate the source, only to find out that it was coming from the young woman. Carefully, he approached her while sniffing every once a while just to make sure that he wasn't just imagining it. No, he wasn't. There was no denying it, this young woman was a foxphyre. A foxphyre who was possibly related to his master.

A shadow cast over the woman, causing her to look up. Hesitantly, she looked him up and down, trying to determine if he was a threat or not. The moment that he got closer, she slipped a hand under her shirt to withdraw an old rusty knife. Standing to her feet, she held up her knife in a self-defense gesture. Determination filled her grease, ready for what's to come.

“What do you want?”

She hissed at him. From her body language and tone, he knew that this wasn't the first time that she was in this kind of situation and wasn't afraid to take action if it was needed. Just what did this girl go through to have this sort of response, to be used to it playing it this way. Lifting up his hands to show that he meant no harm. He spoke calmly to her, trying to defuse the tension.

“Hello young lady, are you the one who called Mister Vulpis from a number that was left behind by a Mary Vulpis?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, she slowly dropped the knife but didn't put it away.

“Yes, I am. How do you know that?”

“That is because I was sent by Master Vulpis to retrieve you, My Lady.”

He bowed to her while holding out his hand.

“Miss, Mister Vulpis wishes to meet you.”

The young woman looked from his face to his hand and back. Her inner turmoil could be seen in her eyes as she ran over her options, not that he could blame her. It was most likely that he would have done the same if he was in her situation. Finally, releasing a sigh, she took his hand.

“Hello Young Miss, My name is Rick. I will be taking care of you during our time together.”

“Hello, Rick. My name is…”

Her whisper died off at the end, struggling on what to say. Having a feeling as to what her problem was, he spoke some age old wisdom that someone once told him.

“If you don't want to say your birth name miss, that is fine. Think of this as a new start. If it means to take on a new name, then make sure that it will be one that means something to you. A new beginning to this new start."

“A new name?”

She asked.

“One that belongs entirely to you.”

This made the young woman descend into deep thought as she thought his advice through. Her eyes, that were once dim, lit up as a fire within blazed with a new light. One that promised strength and newfound determination as she brought up a hand to her stomach.

“Rayla. My name is Rayla.”

Her grip on his hand tightened as she gave him a handshake.

“It's nice to meet you Rick. I will now be in your care.”

"It's nice to meet you as well, Rayla. I believe that it is time to leave, don't you?"

This caused her to chuckle somewhat as she answered.

"Yes, I do think that it is time to leave all this short behind and never look back."

Young Miss, it has peen three years now. I wonder how much you and your little ones have grown since we last met.

As if answering his thoughts, someone called out for him, drawing him out of his musings.

“Uncle Rick!”

Snapping his head up, he turned to find three cute little buns running straight at him, excited to see him. Getting down from his seat with arms wide open, embracing them all into a tight hug. Happiness threatened to overwhelm him as it filled his heart to the point that he couldn't stand it. For three long years, he had been hoping to reunite with these little treasures and their mother as soon as possible. To watch them grow up from little troublemakers to the fine adults that he knew that they would become. It was hard to believe that they were here in front of him. With them in his arms, everything felt right. Looking over the children's shoulders, he found their mother looking over the scene with a small smile as a sense of longing could be seen in her eyes. Letting go of the children -who protested- he walked over to greet her.

“Hello, young miss. You really have grown, haven't you?”

Her small smile morphed into one that held a bit of mischievousness.

“What do you think, Rick?”

She purred in a husky voice. If he was twenty years younger, there would be no denying that he would be a blushing mess. He felt sorry for anyone who caught this vixen's eye. The woman of their clan thought her well over these past couple of years. Clearing his throat, he addressed the question while trying to avoid making eye contact.

“I see that the years have been kind to you, for you have become a beautiful woman.”

“Oh Rick. If I didn't know any better, I would have said that you were hitting on me?”

“If I was forty years younger, I would have been more than happy enough to try.”

“Oh, you are just teasing me!”

“I assure you, young Miss, that I am not.”

No one could deny that the young woman standing before him was attractive. With red-golden locks taking on an appearance similar to that of flames with emerald-green eyes, glittering with mischief. Her figure that was once pale and skinny to the point that her bones were showing, was now filled out, emitting a healthy glow. Considering that she was carrying triplets at the time that they had first met, it was clear that motherhood has done well for her.

“How have you all been, young miss?"

He asked while the woman glanced at her children, finding them playing among themselves. The disappointment from earlier was nowhere to be found.