Page 123 of Phoenix Falling
Grim came forward, holding a lit torch. The flickering flames played light over his robe as he intoned some words I didn’t really hear, and then, leaning down, he set the stack of logs alight. A gentle yellow glow began, turning slowly to orange and then to red. I had no idea what to expect, what it might look like if—when, please God, when—Sun did come back. How long it would take. Of course, none of those around me knew either. It had been two millennia since the king before Solomon had died. This was all a guessing game, and all we could do was wait.
As we sat beneath the night sky, one by one, the warriors and psychs around me lit their memorials as well. Somewhere behind me, a flute began to play. Haunting music, drifting over the field as we honored our dead.
My tears threatened to return. So much loss. So much pain. It was almost unbearable.
And so was the guilt. Because I was the only one in this field with the possibility of their loved one returning.
We sat for hours, just like that, the fires burning down to glowing coals. It wasn’t until dawn began to break that Basile came over to me.
“We should take you inside.”
The tears I’d held back for so long finally escaped. “That’s it?”
He looked unhappy. “I honestly don’t know.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
He hesitated, then nodded. Around the field, as the fires went out, the clan members gathered together and reentered the lair. And still I waited. When the sun finally peeked over the trees at the horizon, I turned to look at Raine.
She stared back at me, appearing miserable. Scooting closer, she put an arm around my shoulders. Leaned her head against mine. “Whenever you’re ready,” she whispered.
I opened my mouth to respond. With what, I had no idea—I was numb, emptier even than I’d been before coming out here. But before words could escape, a sudden whoosh of flame erupted from Sun’s pyre.
I gasped, shoving my body back from the surge of heat. “Oh my God.”
There wasn’t nearly enough wood to cause such a flame. I searched for Grim and Basile, my heart feeling like it was beating for the first time in hours. And for the very first time since we had exited the lair, I thought I saw a glimmer of hope in Basile’s eyes as they met mine.
Raine squeezed down on my shoulders. “Is that—”
“I think it might be,” Vanessa whispered reverently from my other side.
The flame rose, higher and higher, until we were forced to move away from it. I held my breath, waiting, waiting. Finally, long minutes later, a golden streak shot from the center of the fire into the sky. It grew bigger and bigger as it rose, the golden light expanding into feathers, then wings. A head emerged, raised regally toward the heavens, and the beak opened with a loud cry.
“A phoenix,” I whispered in awe. My tears began to fall in earnest, my heart thumping rapidly in my throat. Would it be Sun? What if it wasn’t?
The animal circled the garden several times, growing bigger each time, gaining power and presence. Archai rushed from the throne room as word spread. I held my breath in anticipation when the phoenix circled back and slowly came to land in front of the fire. I’d thought Sun’s animal was big when I’d seen him change in the alley, but this close…this animal was massive, easily several heads taller than even Basile.
After observing his surroundings for a moment, the phoenix looked down at me, his silver eyes glowing, and tilted his head as if considering the being that waited in front of him. Wondering if it was worthy. He came forward a couple of steps, stopped.
I shifted on my feet.
Raine nudged me. “Go on.”
I’d never met Sun’s phoenix face-to-face. I’d stared into his eyes, felt his presence beneath Sun’s skin. But now, for the first time, we were together without Sun between us.
I approached slowly. “You came back.”
He raised his head toward the sky and let out a piercing cry.
I jerked back but forced myself to still. “I know,” I assured him. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I understood what that cry was about. “I felt it too.” I wanted so desperately to ask, but I was afraid. Finally I whispered, “Is he here with you?”
The big red-gold head dipped once. Relief nearly had me on my knees. I’d wanted to hope, had forced myself to feel it, but the pain had been so strong. Now, maybe…
The animal stepped closer. I held myself still. When he came within arm’s reach, he leaned forward, his beak ruffling through my hair. He made small murmurs in his throat as if comforting me. It was a moment out of time, surreal, this mythical creature so close to me, his feathers brushing my face, absorbing my tears. I dared to reach out, resting my hand on his neck. Stroking the soft down.
More tears flowed.
Finally the phoenix pulled back, and his eyes met mine. I wasn’t certain what he was looking for, but I let him, waiting, hoping. And then my hopes were rewarded when a sudden current of air blew between us and then it was Sun standing in front of me, Sun staring into my eyes.
