Phoenix's Legacy
By Mistress Dawnstar
Summary: A kingdom where magic is outlawed, a young sorceress struggling to step up to her mother's shoes, a young girl forced to walk the thin line between life and death, expediency and love. Cinderella with a whole new twist. Please R and R.
Ch. 3 – Heritage of Magic
I got lost again, of course, and asking the servants (all of whom had already heard of my little encounter with his Royal Highness) for directions to my room did nothing to improve my temper.
It was with a sore pair of feet and an even sorer pride that I finally reach my suite. Just when I thought the day couldn't possibly get any worse, there was Khedsa waiting to deliver a blistering lecture.
Well, I had had enough. I had just had a fistfight with an arrogant princeling, been laughed at by the entire loyal court, been snickered at by every servant I encountered, and now my own treacherous nurse was going to stab me in the back. I did the only thing a sensible young lady could and proper behavior be damned. I threw a temper tantrum.
There is a certain art to throwing a truly successful tantrum. You have to start small so that you can build up to the finale. Begin with a bit of sniffling and, if you can manage it, make your eyes fill up with moisture. Don't under any circumstances rub your eyes; that'll only make you red-eyed and spoil the effect of the innocent, put upon expression that you're cultivating.
Next, throw some accusations around. You know – you don't love me, you never care about me, you never let me do anything, etc. It is always expedient to shunt blame onto someone else, especially if you're the one to blame. Be careful to start small and increase both the intensity of the accusations and the volume of your voice. I usually start with a small tremulous sob and build up to a triumphant crescendo of a wail.
The next step would be to burst into full-fledged tears, collapse onto the floor, and start pounding the carpeting with fists and feet. (And if it's not carpeting, I highly advice that you skip this step. However much sympathy limping might gain you, it is not worth the pain. I know.)
And if they have not relented yet, it's time to go into the object throwing stage. Always, always go for the most expensive, fragile, irreplaceable thing you can find.
If they still haven't relented, either they're heartless or they're Mother.
By the way, if any of my children gets hold of this, I'll know where it came from. Be warned! I can still throw a mean right hook.
Back to the story. I had just worked myself up to the item throwing stage. I fixed the first target of my rage, a delicate glass wren, with a furious glare. As I reached for it...
It shattered into a million minute fragments.
I was completely shocked. Tentatively, I glanced at another ornament, this one a ceramic cat. Nothing happened. So what happened the first time? I considered and then glared once more, this time with the full force of intent behind it. The ceramic cat exploded with a satisfying boom.
Amazed at my newfound talent, I gleefully obliterated two more ornaments, ignoring Khedsa's frantic cries for me to desist.
Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed my shoulder and forcibly wrenched me around. A stinging slap landed on my cheek. The furious words died on my lips as I looked into the blazing green eyes of my mother.
"Are you out of your mind?" She hissed. Her fingers on my shoulder dug into my flesh like claws. I was so frightened that I could barely emit a squeak of pain. I had never seen my calm, amiable mother so angry, though on hindsight I realize that the expression in her eyes was not anger but fear.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing? Do you know what could have happened to you if anyone but Khedsa and I saw you? You irresponsible child!" Her tone was the more menacing for its softness. She pointed with her free hand at the fireplace, cold and empty for the summer. A hot orange blaze sprang up at her command though there was nothing to burn.
She dragged me to stand in front of the fire. "You would burn, little fool. Not anyone, not I, not your father, not even the circle, could lift a finger to save you." She grabbed my hand. "Know how it feels? No? Then, learn." She lunged forwards, thrusting our entwined hands into the center of the flames.
Hot, unbearably hot pain erupted in my hand and raced up my arm. I remember screaming, just once, before the darkness took me and I fainted.
The touch of cool cloth on my forehead woke me up from my black slumber. I was in a bed, liberally piled with blankets, down comforters, and plush pillows. My arm and hand had been neatly bandaged and the pain had faded down to a mere throb. I glanced blearily up into Khedsa's calm gray eyes.
"Don't try to speak." Khedsa said, guessing my intent. "You've had a little accident. I found you on the ground with blood running down your arm. I bandaged you up as well as I could, but I you should remain in bed to recover from the shock and blood loss." Her eyes warned me not to raise any objections.
"Your parents are waiting outside. Are you strong enough to receive them?" She asked.
I nodded mutely.
"Then, I will send them in." Khedsa turned and walked to the door. She flung it open and made a beckoning motion to someone waiting outside.
My mother rushed into the room, closely followed by my father. She flung her arms around me and burst into tear. "Oh, darling, we were so worried. Khedsa told us what happened." She hugged me close to her chest and took the opportunity to hiss into my ear. "Play along. Explain later." She continued loudly. "How are you doing? Do you need more pillows? Oh, we were so frightened."
"You gave your mother and I quite the scare." My father said, moving to the bedside and taking my uninjured hand. "What in the ten kingdoms were you trying to do?"
"I...I..." My mind felt like an overcooked noodle. "I don't remember."
"It's just a touch of shock. It's perfectly normal, considering the condition that I found her in." Khedsa interjected before Father could question me more closely. "All she needs is a bit of quiet and rest and she'll be up and around before you know it."
"Then, we'll leave you to it." Father said briskly. "Come, my dear." He gently escorted a still weeping mother out of the room.
A/N: What! Only one review? Doesn't anyone love me?
Thanks to Picchic for reviewing.
The action is picking up. You guys know the drill. Review, review, review.
