Page 49 of Phoenix Academy: Madness

I raise my brows at him. "Human experimentation? Given what my powers have done to men in the past, sounds more like torture."

"Ah, no—I should've explained more clearly." Now Mage Auerbach is starting to look like the one who's hot under the collar, which pleases me greatly. "You see, I've been working on something for the past two months that will help you be able to test out your magic freely without consequences. It's called a simulacrum, and it resembles a man in every way, down to the very organs in his body, but it has no soul."

Staring at him, I find myself seeing one thing: a figure with black eyes, dark hair, and a knife in his hand, bleeding me dry. It's been months since the Heretic killed my mother and sister, and sent me down the road that turned me into a vengeful Blue Phoenix, but it still feels like it was yesterday when I'm reminded of him suddenly.

Sometimes I wonder, if I go back to that cabin, will there still be blood stained into the floors and the ashes of a funeral pyre out back, or will it all be gone as if it never happened? I still daydream sometimes about leaving the campus to find Lizzy's remains and bury her properly, but over time I've gotten used to living here, and I'm afraid that if I leave again I'll be injured or even killed—or worse, kill someone on accident.

If I ever see those black eyes again, I know it'll be moments before one of us dies: the Heretic, or me. And I'm not sure that I'm strong enough yet to truly end his life. Physically or mentally.

"A soulless man," I murmur, trying to shake off the image of my blood father, which is stuck in my mind like a spur deep inside bone. "I didn't think you could make such a thing with... magic? I'm guessing. It sounds impossible."

Auerbach beams a little with pride, and I instantly regret my words, which have clearly fed his ego. Damn mages. "I used a little clay infused with magic," he says, "along with some animal bones and a bit of water from deep inside the earth. It's an interesting spell, actually. You can trace its origins back to—"

"You made a man," Reggie says, eyes wide, staring at the mage like he's never seen him before, "out of clay, bones, and... water?"

"Yes." The mage puffs up a bit more with pride, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. But Reggie, instead of impressed, looks deeply disturbed. So Auerbach reassures him, "Don't worry—he has little differences from a man that make it clear he's just a simulacrum. And I'll be able to control him at all times, so there's no chance of violence."

Xavier says, "Fascinating," and sounds like he means it. I get the feeling he's interested in the mechanics behind it more than anything, and about one second away from asking Auerbach if there's a book on them that he can read.

David asks, "So when're we gonna meet this simulacrum thingy? And side note, do I get to beat it up?"

"I bet Fisk wouldlovea bunch of simulacrums," Reggie grumbles, still looking mildly horrified at the entire concept. "He could test out our combat skills for real. With him controlling a whole army of them..." He shudders. "Mage, promise you won't let him have that kind of power."

Auerbach's mouth curls up at the corners in amusement. "The simulacrum process is very laborious, so I doubt I could build an army for him even in ten years. No need for concerns."

Great, so it's just me who has to be concerned, then.

"Now... shall we start?"

This time, the mage is looking to me. It's as if he's waiting for permission—not that I have any real choice. One way or another this is going to happen, with or without my approval.

I might as well do it with a brave face on, rather than be dragged kicking and screaming to the inevitable.

"I'm ready." Pushing the sleeves of my academy blazer up, I tell him, "Let's do this."

Auerbach gives me a short nod, then walks to the other side of the gym. Standing beside a rune I've never seen him use before, one painted in thin lines of light grey, he puts his hands forward palm out and snaps his fingers.

"I call you forth, Gilgamesh. Obey my will and rise."

It takes me a moment to realize that he's named his little clay creation after a historical figure, and this time I actuallydoroll my eyes.

The lines of the rune glow softly, their light subtle but unmistakable in the dim interior of the gym. Then, with a wave motion, the floor inside the rune begins to ripple. I stare in disbelief as the wood practically turns into mud, liquid and flowing, its rapid waveforms staying inside the confines of the painted lines.

"Does anyone else need their hand held?" Reggie asks quietly, in a slightly panicked voice. "Whatever that is, it doesnotlook good."

David grins wolfishly. "You afraid of the big bad clay monster?"

"Hell yeah I am. A soulless man? Count me out."

I'm nearly as nervous myself, but I force it down, curling my fingers towards my palms and tightening my fists until I feel my nails bite into my skin. This is something Ihaveto face, after all, if I'm going to manage to conquer my powers. The only way forward is to keep trying—until eventually, I can leave this school and kill the man who took everything from me.

If I can't face a soulless clay monster made by a mage, there's no way I can face the Heretic. So, instead of backing away from the rune as the ground turns to mud and a figure begins to emerge from the center, I force myself to take a step forward.

Then another.

Until I'm standing at the boundary of the rune, my toes nearly brushing the paint. Mage Auerbach spares me a brief glance, but keeps his palms out and forward, his fingers twitching as if he's pulling at invisible puppet strings to call the simulacrum forth from the bowels of the Earth. The mound of mud-like material in the center of the rune rises up and takes form, slowly solidifying, like something melting in reverse.

I want nothing more than to turn around and run away. I'd love to be anywhere but here right now.

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