The Forbidden Love Chapter 21
"I'm sorry that it took so long," said Jinxer, "but some of the preparations were a bit difficult."
We had left my chambers and were now in the place that resembled a great hall. Surprisingly the Queen was waiting there for us to arrive. We all bowed to her when we saw Bansheera standing there.
"Your Majesty," we all said.
She nodded in acknowledgement to us.
In the middle of the room was a large star which was drawn out of some kind of powder. It was inside of a circle drawn from the same kind of powder. On the line of the circle candles were placed on each outside point of the star.
Turning to Jinxer, I asked "Is this it?"
Nodding, he said "Yes."
"If this is all you had to do." I said, gesturing to the scene in front of us, "then why did it take so long to set up?"
Shrugging, Jinxer said "There were certain conditions that needed to be met."
"What kind of conditions," asked Olympus.
Jinxer said "This ritual can only be successful under the light of a full moon which is tonight. This is why we needed to wait a few days before this condition could be met."
"Very well," I said, nodding, now understanding why Jinxer had taken so long.
"Shall we begin," inquired Jinxer. He then directed us to our positions.
Jinxer directed me to stand inside of the circle and the middle of the star. I was careful not to step on or mess up anything in the entire circle. Olympus, Diabolico, and Loki were directed to their spots for the ritual on the outside of the circle. They were put at one of the few points of the star. The whole time Vypra was standing off to the side not getting involved. We all thought she wouldn't have to participate in the ritual so we were all surprised when Jinxer gestured for her to come forward.
"I don't need to be part of this," said Vypra, scornfully.
"Actually you do," said Jinxer, "you see I was wrong before. There must be five demons participating in this ritual not three."
"But you said that all you needed was three not five," she exclaimed.
"I made a mistake," he said, "now please take your place."
Vypra looked like she was about to explode. Her entire face was turning extremely red. "There's absolutely no way," she began, "I'm going to…"
"Vypra!"
Vypra immediately shut her mouth and slowly turned toward Queen Bansheera.
Queen Bansheera had a very cold look on her face. "Get into the circle, Vypra," ordered the Queen.
For a second there it looked like Vypra was going to protest further, but she thought better of it and backed off. She knew better than to go against her Queen. Reluctantly, Vypra went to where Jinxer directed her.
A moment later, Jinxer, also, took his place in the circle. Jinxer looked up at the hole which was made in the ceiling above us. "It's almost time," he said.
A thought came into my head. "Wait," I said.
"What is it now," said Loki, annoyed.
I said "Before we begin I…I'd like the form of the phoenix."
"Very well," said Jinxer.
Diabolico said "Can we please get this started?"
"Will the transformation hurt at all," I asked.
Shaking his head, Jinxer said "No, don't worry you won't feel a thing."
I took his word for it. I looked at Olympus and we smiled at each other. Light from the moon shined through the ceiling landing directly where I was standing. Immediately, Jinxer began to recite the incantation needed for the ritual. As Jinxer was saying it the lines of the pentagram began to take on a glow. Jinxer pointed his hand in my direction. A bunch of energy shot out of it and hit my body directly. Seeing what he was doing the others followed his lead. They shot their own energies at me. It brought on a strange feeling. It felt somewhat warm and something seemed to tingle. Not long after this my body started to change. Frightened I could feel the changes in my body, but like Jinxer said none of it actually caused much pain. It turned out more unpleasant than painful. During the entire transformation I was completely surrounded by light. It didn't take long before the whole transformation was complete. As soon as this happened the light surrounding my form disappeared revealing my new form.
Except for Queen Bansheera everyone around me gasped in astonishment at my new body. Honestly I couldn't blame them I was quite impressed myself. My body had gone through quite some dramatic changes. No one I knew as a human would recognize me at all now.
While Olympus had the body of a humanoid dragons warrior with a white-skinned human face mine was far different. My entire body now had the look of a humanoid phoenix warrior, but without the beak. Unlike the other demons I didn't have any wings. The entire transformation had really done wonders for my form. My new form made me look a whole lot more feminine. There were many more curves on my body now than there had been before. I checked myself out. I looked at my figure and raised my brows.
"Now I can work with that," I said. I wasn't the only one who thought this as a good thing.
Olympus was looking at me with an expression of appreciation on his face. Diabolico and Loki were staring at me with wide eyes while Vypra was working quite hard to hide the pure astonishment from her face. Jinxer was nodding in great satisfaction with the result of the ritual. Like I he had been afraid something might go wrong.
Stepping outside the pentagram instead of going straight over to Olympus I approached his mother. Queen Bansheera was wearing the same expression she had before the ritual started. She didn't allow any change of emotion to show on her face at all. I stood there in front of her and after a few seconds I went down on one knee bowing my head to her showing respect. "I am here to serve, my Queen," I said.
For a few moments there was only silence. No one not even Olympus dared to say a word. Queen Bansheera stared down at me as if she was trying to decide what to do. After a little while she broke the uncomfortable silence. "Arise, my servant," said the Queen.
I did as I was ordered while not taking my eyes off of her face.
Coming over to me, Olympus asked "Are you all right, Kushina?"
Nodding while smiling, I said "I feel great I'm not even hurt."
"Kushina is no longer a fitting name for you," stated Queen Bansheera. We all turned to her when she stated this. "You have left your former life behind you anew in a new body. Therefore you now require a new name."
"A new name," I questioned.
"From this day forth," said Queen Bansheera, "you will be known as Phoenix as shows your new form."
"Phoenix," I said, testing out the name, "Phoenix. I like the sound of that."
Wrapping an arm around me Olympus kissed the side of my head. "Well done," he said, softly.
"Not so fast," said Diabolico, suddenly.
"What is it now, Diabolico," asked Queen Bansheera, impatiently.
"Forgive me, my Queen, but I must protest," said Diabolico, "even with a changed body this girl is still not yet one of us."
At hearing an angry snarl came out of Olympus's mouth. To keep him from getting into another fight with Diabolico I held onto his arm thereby restraining him.
"What is your problem, Diabolico," demanded Olympus.
Diabolico said "Nothing I just think it's still a bit too early to be considering her as one of us just yet."
Queen Bansheera aimed cold eyes at him bearing a dangerous glint, demanding "Do you doubt my judgment?"
"I would never do that, my Queen," said Diabolico, "I only think she should be tested."
"What are you talking about," asked Bansheera.
Diabolico said "We just think she should be tested first."
"We," inquired Olympus, the two of us looking at Vypra and Loki.
These two were a little sheepish, but they didn't look away. Olympus opened his mouth to protest, but his mother cut him off before he could even get a single word out.
"Just what do you have in mind," asked the Queen.
Olympus gave his mother a bit of a look, but he didn't dare speak out against her.
"Here's what I'm suggesting," began Diabolico. "She goes out into Mariner Bay and proves herself to us."
"And how exactly do you expect her to do that," demanded Olympus.
Diabolico said "Cause enough damage and mayhem which will bring destruction to most of the city. If she succeeds in this then there will be no more objections."
Outraged, Olympus said "This is an intolerable insult! There is absolutely no way that I'm-."
"I'll do it," I said.
Everyone turned to me surprised.
"What did you just say," asked Olympus.
"I said I'll do it," I said, simply, refusing to take my gaze away from Diabolico's.
He stared at me right back.
Placing a hand on my shoulder, a shocked look on his face, Olympus said "You're no longer a human. That life is behind you now. There's no need for you to have to prove anything to us."
"Oh, but I want to," I said, softly, shrugging. "If these three idiots want me to prove my loyalty then fine, I'll do it. I already had a plan in mind anyway."
Anger appeared on the faces of Diabolico, Loki, and Vypra when I had called them "idiots" and they would've attacked me if Queen Bansheera wasn't there with us at the moment.
"You have a plan," said Loki, a smug expression on his face. "Ha! I highly doubt it's a good one. Whatever it is you'll probably fail before you've even begun!" Loki barked out laughter and so did Vypra.
"You say this," I said, slyly, "and yet you don't know what I'm even capable of."
"I don't need to," said Loki, "by just looking at you I already know you won't make the cut." Loki laughed again and Diabolico along with Vypra smirked in complete agreement with him.
"You underestimate me," I said, silkily.
Loki was still laughing, but the next moment a huge fireball hit him directly in the face. The impact from the attack threw Loki backwards into a pillar. The force made a very large crack in the pillars structure. Groaning, Loki rubbed the back of his head. Diabolico and Vypra looked at the person who had thrown the attack.
I was bouncing another large fireball in my hand. I had a hand on my hip and a raised eyebrow. I was starting to learn that I had close to the same powers Olympus had. "Don't. Ever. Underestimate. Me," I said, teeth gritted.
All three of them could only stare at me now.
Olympus came over and kissed me. "That's my girl," he said, proudly.
Vypra was helping Loki back up onto his feet while Diabolico was scratching his head.
"So…," said Jinxer, tentatively "what exactly is your plan?"
Smiling slowly at all of them, I said "Listen…and listen well."
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