A/N: This chapter is a tad Iris-centric, but it was bugging me that she was OOC without any explanation.
Thanks so much to all my readers & reviewers, you guys are teh awesum. XD I'm so glad peeps are loving this story. Makes me wanna keep writing when I should be doing more constructive stuff.
Mina Aino1: I still can't see your pic :(
Ben Keynes: Iris *is* totally hot now huh? Even I'm falling for her! And I'm a chick!
Cynthia: I don't think I'll quite stretch it to 30, but I have a few more in me, and I'm tossing up the idea of unleashing a sequel on your bad selves. LOL
Iris sat in the Inner temple, flicking idly through the latest issue of "Oh Cult!" magazine. She was now on the last four hour watch period, Sister Bikini having taken the second watch. Pearl had stayed back at the main hall this time, but would no doubt return with Sister Bikini to remove the lock. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small silver pocket watch. It was getting close to nine o clock. Given the time, Sister Bikini wouldn't be too much longer.
Turning her attention back to the magazine, she thought about last month's issue. If Sister Bikini had never seen the need to advertise their spiritual retreat, maybe none of this would have happened. Fate had a funny way of aligning everyone and everything, and not always with the best results. She let out a small, audible sigh. Everything happened for a reason and she had learned some things about herself, very important lessons, in the process.
Her jail time in total had been a little less than two weeks, but it had been the longest fortnight of her life. Once she was incarcerated, it didn't take long for her mother to find her. Iris was terrified of Morgan, and unfortunately, Morgan knew that all too well. Knowing that Iris lacked any of the fire that dominated her twin's personality, Morgan subjected her to two full days of scathing emotional and verbal abuse, telling her constantly how worthless she was and how she wished she was never born, without having to worry about any retaliation from the meek young woman. As would be expected, Iris eventually reached breaking point. Unable to take it anymore, she tearfully requested solitary confinement. Despite the unusual nature of her request, the bewildered prison guard agreed.
Sitting alone in the tiny, freezing cell, Iris had wondered if her mother was in fact, right. Was she worthless? Should she have never been born? All she had ever tried to do was help the people that she loved, even if they didn't love her back. Painfully, she realised that by helping those that didn't love her in an effort to win their affections, she had betrayed the one person who really had loved her.
Phoenix.
Thinking about Phoenix and the web of deception she had helped build brought tears to her eyes. He was a good man, and he didn't deserve her lies. No matter what she felt for him, there was no denying that she had given her sister's demands priority over not only what she knew to be right, but also over her feelings for Phoenix. She had no right to claim his love when she had knowingly risked his life simply because Dahlia had asked her to.
Despite what she had done, and despite what was at stake, he'd never stopped believing in her. It made her sick to her stomach to think that her sister's flippant disregard for human life had almost robbed the world of such a caring individual. She remembered her time with Phoenix fondly. He had doted on her, wanting to tell the world about his "Dollie". But that... that was a long time ago. Phoenix had changed. Grown up. He was a successful lawyer now. Smart, serious and driven. Iris knew there was no way she would fit into his life now, Feenie was long gone.
But there was someone else who did fit. How strange that the person in question would ultimately end up being her own cousin. Deep down, Iris would admit to tiny pangs of jealousy over the way that Phoenix fiercely protected his assistant. In his eyes, there was no way that Maya Fey could do anything wrong. They had a bond unlike anything Iris had witnessed before. Phoenix risked his life trying to cross the charred remains of Dusky Bridge that night, just to get to her. He had refused to believe that Maya had died in the cavern, doing anything to cling to that shred of belief that she would be fine. It was obvious to everyone that came to Hazakurain on that fateful day that the attachment between Phoenix and Maya ran exceptionally deep.
She, on the other hand, had spent the last five years of her life leaving Phoenix behind. She could have tried to find him earlier; she could have tried to explain. But she didn't. She knew that the resurgence of feelings that she felt for him now, seeing him again after all these years, needed to be forgotten again, just as they had five years ago. Pushed aside in the same way. Phoenix had moved on with his life, and she wanted him to be happy. When he had done everything in his power to ensure her release from prison, it only reinforced that belief, especially when she had witnessed first hand the look in his eyes when he gazed at his young assistant.
Closing the magazine, Iris smiled to herself. The road they had travelled was a bumpy one, but the final destination was what mattered. Here she was, back at Hazakurain. She was exactly where she needed to be. This was her place. Hazakurain made her happy. She owed her freedom to Phoenix, and if there was any way that she could help him be happy too, then she would do all she could. Even if that meant letting him go.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Pearl's small voice and Sister Bikini's chuckle as they approached. Iris stood and prepared for their arrival.
"Good evening Iris!" Sister Bikini smiled. "No problems here?"
Iris shook her head.
"Both candles are still burning brightly." She said.
After Phoenix and Maya were locked inside the Sacred Cavern, Sister Bikini had performed a small ritual that connected their conscious spirits to a large red pillar candle each, on the outside. This allowed the person on watch to keep an eye on those undergoing the course, without being able to physically see them. If the flame were to extinguish it would alert the nun on watch that their acolyte had fallen unconscious from the extreme cold and required medical attention. Thankfully, that hadn't occurred today.
"Have the recovery rooms been prepared?" Sister Bikini enquired. Iris nodded.
"Everything is ready." She replied.
Following the special course, it was customary for participants to spend the next twelve hours after completion undergoing a special recuperation period in what was known as the recovery room. Hazakurain's Inner Temple had four rooms equipped for such a purpose, each room housing three large fireplaces, one on each wall. The remaining wall consisted mainly of a large wooden door. The rooms themselves were insulated and designed to hold in the heat and the fireplaces could be restocked with wood from a narrow series of tunnels that ran between the rooms. Once retrieved from the sacred cavern, those undertaking the course would be given a change of clothes and placed in one of the warm rooms to rest. It was also required for them to drink a special tea, brewed from an ancient Kurain recipe. The tea helped warm from the inside, while also having numerous medicinal benefits.
"Remember to make sure you put them in separate rooms." Sister Bikini warned. "You know what kind of side effects that tea can have on those that drink it… ho ho!" she finished with an embarrassed chuckle, her round cheeks reddening slightly.
Iris smiled and nodded as Sister Bikini turned her attention back to the large door and set about removing the lock. It was true that the recovery tea had been known to cause those who ingested it to become somewhat intoxicated, much the same as if they had consumed too much alcohol. Iris smiled to herself. She had no intention of putting Phoenix and Maya in separate rooms for their recovery period, but Sister Bikini didn't need to know that.
"A little push in the right direction is the least I can do." Iris thought to herself.
After a few minutes, Sister Bikini had successfully removed the lock. She gathered two enormous looking towels, and headed into the cavern to retrieve the pair, who at this point were no doubt beyond freezing. Pearl clung to Iris's robes, obviously worried for Phoenix and Maya. Moments later Sister Bikini returned, the two in question trailing quietly behind her, wrapped in their towels. They were exhausted, soaked to the bone and pale from the cold, but other than that, they looked to be in good health. Pearl tugged on Iris's robe, smiling up at her in relief once she knew they were both okay. Iris gave her an affectionate pat on the head. After instructing Phoenix and Maya to each extinguish their own candle, Sister Bikini gave them both fresh robes and sent them to separate chambers to dry off and change.
"Iris, I'll leave them now in your care. This cold is terrible on my back…" Sister Bikini said, bringing a hand to the offending area. She cringed lightly.
"Sister Bikini, you should go back to the main house and rest. I'll stay here tonight and keep the fires stocked for Mystic Maya and Mr Wright." Iris said, a compassionate expression on her face.
"Are you sure dear?" Sister Bikini asked.
"Absolutely. Mystic Pearl and I can set up another of the recovery rooms and we'll have ourselves a slumber party." She said, smiling down at the young girl.
Pearl, who had been silent up until this point, couldn't contain her excitement.
"Oh I'd love that Sister Iris!" she beamed. Bikini smiled lovingly at the two girls and shook her head lightly.
"You're such a good girl, Iris." She said, reaching forward to give her hand a quick squeeze, before turning and making her way out of the inner temple. Iris felt bad, seeing as she was about to disobey Sister Bikini's instruction to separate Phoenix and Maya for the rest of the night. But it was for a good cause, she told herself.
Phoenix emerged from the side chambers first, handing Iris the soaked towel he had brought with him.
"Sorry…" he said sheepishly. "I didn't know what to do with this."
She smiled and took the towel from him.
"I'll take it, it's fine." She said. "You should be very proud of yourself, Phoenix. You're the first person to complete the special course with no spiritual background."
He nodded.
"I'm not really sure how I did it to be honest." He said, shaking his head.
"You did it for Mystic Maya!" Pearl piped in happily. Phoenix laughed."I guess I did Pearls." He agreed. Pearl grinned up at him.
"You're her special someone, Mr Nick!" Pearl said, just as Maya materialised beside her.
"Who is whose special someone?" Maya asked.
"Nothing."
"No one."
Iris and Phoenix spoke at the same time. Pearl looked on, a puzzled expression on her face. Grown ups sure were strange. Maya looked at Iris, then back at Phoenix, wondering what they were hiding. That unsettling feeling in her stomach seemed to be returning.
"Anyway," Iris began, changing the subject. "We had better get you two to the recovery room before you catch a cold!" she finished, leading them down a small hallway. Unlocking the door in front of her, she ushered the pair inside the room. It was quite warm inside already. Fires burned brightly in the fireplaces on all three walls. Two futons had been arranged in the middle of the room, while a pot of tea sat close by on a small table, along with two cups.
"Make sure you drink the tea," Iris instructed. "It will help boost your immune system so you won't get sick from exposure to the cold."
Maya made her way over to the table and began pouring the tea, while Phoenix remained in the doorway.
"Thank you, Iris." He said earnestly. She nodded in reply, backing out of the room.
"Sleep well." She said.
"Goodnight Mr Nick! Goodnight Mystic Maya!" Pearl called from outside the room. Phoenix smiled.
"Goodnight Pearls." He said.
"Night Pearly!" Maya called out to her young cousin.
Iris closed the door, leaving the Phoenix and Maya inside. Putting the large red lock and chains in place, she leaned against the doorway for a moment, her expression one of concentration. Something was bothering her. Something she just couldn't forget.
She had made the mistake of trusting the wrong people in the past. Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. She had vowed never to make that mistake again. There was something she had overheard her mother speaking about during a phone call when she was in prison. She hadn't taken much notice at the time, but it kept bothering her. Maybe it was important. She chewed on her lip thoughtfully. If she had any information that might be of help to Maya, Phoenix or even little Pearl, she had to let them know, especially if it concerned her mother. She took Pearl by the hand and led her to next recovery room.
Iris knew she needed more information to be sure, but she couldn't get that where she was. She was under house arrest. Presently, she was not permitted to leave Hazakurain.
There was someone though, who could help her. It was a long shot, but she had to try. And she would need Pearl's help.
Phoenix trudged towards the centre of the room. The warmth in the room was nothing short of delicious. His bones ached and his body was completely exhausted. He barely made it to his futon before collapsing face down on his pillow.
"Nick."
He frowned at the sound of Maya's voice. Turning his head to the side, he saw that she was crouched beside him, a small teacup in her hands.
"Mmmrmph." Phoenix grumbled.
"You need to drink this." She said, holding out the cup.
"I need to sleep." He countered.
"Drink this, and then you can sleep." She said. He grumbled again. "You don't want to end up back in hospital do you?"
This got Phoenix's attention. He most certainly didn't. He pulled himself up on to his elbows, groaning painfully. Taking the cup from Maya, he took a small sip.
"Ugh." He said, his face twisting into a grimace. "This is terrible."
"I know," she said, downing the rest of her cup in one gulp. "Drink it quick, then it's gone." Phoenix did as she suggested, handing the cup back to her. She stood, taking their cups back over to the small table and placing them down softly. Instead of returning to her futon, she walked towards one of the fireplaces. She stretched out her hands, wiggling her fingers, warming them in front of the fire. Phoenix rolled on to his side, leaning on his elbow. He watched her, wondering how she still managed to move so gracefully after the brutal torture she had subjected her body to earlier today. Ten minutes ago every inch of his body had been screaming in pain, but even when they left the cavern, Maya appeared to be just fine.
Phoenix's head felt a little bit fuzzy, but at the same time, his body aches seemed to be lessening so he didn't mind too much. There must have been something in the tea. Maya remained where she was, watching the flames flicker as she warmed herself.
Phoenix continued to watch Maya as the light from the fireplace seemed to give her skin an ethereal glow. The robe she had been given was a little bit shorter than the one she wore every day, affording Phoenix a rather generous view of her shapely legs, which he could admit, he was quite enjoying. Her silky black hair shone in the light of the flames.
Phoenix's brain felt like it was on auto-pilot. He knew he was having thoughts, but they were disjointed and he couldn't seem to make any sense of them. Against what he knew was his better judgement, he stood up and moved towards Maya. His head was spinning a little, and he felt a bit unsteady on his feet. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
She spun around, probably a little too quickly. Her unfocused expression and general unsteadiness told Phoenix that she was feeling a little out of it too. She clutched at his robe to prevent herself from falling over.
"My head…" she said quietly. "It's spinning. Or the room is. I'm not sure."
He could relate.
"We'd better get you to bed." He said, turning around and manoeuvring her towards the centre of the room. He helped her lower herself down to her futon, but lost balance himself in the process. He fell rather awkwardly on top of her, bracing himself with his forearms on either side of her head. He blinked a few times, trying to clear the cobwebs from his head and assess the situation. His thoughts weren't making sense, all he could clearly discern was how beautiful she looked.
"Nick…" she said quietly. "I feel funny."
"Me too…" he breathed.
She brought a hand up, placing it gently on the back of his head, entwining her fingers into his hair. Instinctively, he lowered his head towards hers. Their noses grazed each other lightly, and her eyes fluttered closed.
He could feel her breath on his lips. His heart was hammering in his chest. He could feel her heartbeat too. His head was spinning. All he needed to do was lean forward ever so slightly… and he would be…
But he couldn't do it. He couldn't take advantage of her. Not like this.
"The tea…" he breathed. "You don't know what you're doing."
She blinked, as if unable to comprehend what he was saying. He lifted himself up, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead before rolling towards his own futon.
"Goodnight, Maya." He said tenderly. She said nothing, reaching out to take his hand. Phoenix's head continued to spin as his head hit the pillow. Everything felt unfocused. One thing was clear though. Tonight, he may not have done what he truly wanted to, but he had made the right choice.
A/N: Nyaaaaaahhhh! As if I'm gonna give away a kiss *that* easily! :P
