~March 25th, x800~
It's still dark, the sun on the cusp of breaking past the horizon as the train pulls into the station at Barberry. Ria hobbles down the steps, and she winces as her wrapped foot jostles a bit. Craish helps her make the small jump from the train to the platform, lifting her by the waist.
"Thanks," Ria sighs. The Ivory Serpent peeks out from her shirt and gives a subtle hiss at the unfamiliar smells and noise. Ria pokes the snake on the nose and watches as Iris tucks herself away.
"Do you really think your dad's gonna let you keep a deadly snake?" Hunter asks, shouldering both his and Ria's bags.
"She's not deadly yet, and he always lets me keep my animals. I'm sure I could get a license for her, anyway."
"Good luck with that." Leflin scoffs as he heads into town. "If anybody needs me, I'll be at the library."
"It won't be open for hours. What are you gonna do, break in?" Ria asks.
"For your information, I made a copy of the key months ago. I don't need to break in."
"Of course you did." Ria sighs. "Well, you could at least drop your stuff off at your dorm first."
"Craish, has anyone shown you to the dorms?" Hunter asks. The armor-clad boy shakes his head. "Leflin, show him where to go."
"And you can't do that because?" Leflin asks.
"I'm gonna walk Ria home."
"Oh, I see." Leflin's face breaks into a lascivious smirk. "Come on, Craish. We'll make sure you're not homeless anymore."
With a bow to Ria, Craish grabs his things and follows after Leflin, who shoots Hunter a mocking thumbs up.
"I'm going to kill him someday," Hunter says.
"He'd just come back as a ghost and haunt you. He's persistent." Hunter huffs out a laugh, and Ria smiles up at him. "Finally. That's the first time you've relaxed since we left Jessamine."
She bumps her shoulder into Hunter's side. He bumps her back.
"Forgive me for worrying about you. I promise it won't happen again."
"Good! The last thing I need is someone else hovering over me. Catie and my Dad are annoying enough."
The town is quiet. It's nearly dawn, but it'll likely be some time before most people get moving. Right now, only the bakery is open, the smell of fresh pastries floating out the open door.
"I'm hungry. Let's stop for a moment." Ria insists. Hunter agrees.
Mrs. Moto's Bakery is tiny, the only seating inside a booth by the large window looking out on the street. They painted the walls a light beige, and the only decorations are a pair of crossed katanas behind the counter and a wall papered top to bottom with drawings made by Barberry's children throughout the years; Ria is proud to see several of her own still hanging.
"Good Morning, Children," Mrs. Moto herself greets, a fresh pan of donuts floating behind her. "What can I do for you today?"
Mrs. Moto is also tiny, her silver hair braided intricately atop her head, and her black eyes lost in her wrinkles.
"I'll take a honey loaf, please." Ria smiles.
"Same for me."
"That'll be 450 Jewels." Mrs. Moto opens her display case while Hunter and Ria race to take out their money. With a triumphant shout, Hunter smacks his down on the counter first. Ria curses.
"I'm paying next time, Hunter! I swear!" She pouts even as she bites into her treat.
"Get faster, then." Hunter grins, thanking Mrs. Moto as she hands back his change.
"You Phoenix Children are always entertaining." Mrs. Moto chuckles. "Enjoy and send my regards to Ajax."
Ria hums a little to herself as she savors the honey loaf. It's been a while since she had one; Mrs. Moto is always sold out by the time she gets to the bakery. Maybe she should start waking up earlier.
"What song is that?" Hunter asks, finishing off the last bites of his loaf.
"A lullaby my mom used to sing. Well, I think it's a love song but she always sang it like a lullaby."
"It's nice." Hunter sighs and tilts his head to the sky. He scratches the side of his face. "So..."
"So?"
"So... What are you going to do with the snake?" Hunter feels like smacking himself in the face.
"For now, I have a spare enclosure she can stay in until I can build something more suitable. She's malnourished, so I need to get some weight on her, then we'll work on training. I'll need to prove I'm more than capable of handling her if I'm going to get a proper license and have her registered. Normally, I wouldn't bother, but if she's discovered, they'll euthanize her without question, so I need to make sure I take all the proper legal steps. She's really gentle, though, so I doubt it'll be a problem. I was also thinking-"
Hunter listens to Ria's rambles the rest of the walk to the Cinerus home with only the occasional grunt as an interjection. The modest adobe building looks sturdy and welcome against the backdrop of the sunrise. In the front yard, Catie's flowers turn towards the sky. Hunter walks Ria to the iron-wrought front door and helps her up the three small steps, setting her down bag on the stoop. For a moment, they stand in silence—Ria tugs at one of her loose curls.
"Thanks," she says. "For everything. I'll see you at the guild later, alright?'
"Yeah. I'll see you later."
Ria hesitates a moment before unlocking the door and going inside. She gives Hunter a final wave before the door closes behind her, and Hunter sighs as he turns away from it.
"Lame," Leflin says, ending the illusion he'd placed on him and Craish, effectively scaring Hunter out of his wits. "She almost dies, and you're not even gonna confess your love to her? Boring."
"Was zur Hölle? You guys were spying on us?"
'I only wished to ensure neither of you came to further harm.' Craish writes.
"I wanted to watch you fail at wooing her." Leflin smirks.
Hunter's eye twitches, but he ends up letting out a breath instead of engaging further with Leflin's teasing.
"I'm way too exhausted to deal with you. Come on, Craish, since he's obviously not interested, I'll bring you to the dorms."
"Aw, don't be like that, Hunter. I'm just a concerned friend trying to look out for both your and Ria's virtue."
Meanwhile, Ria walks through the dark halls of her home. She calls out a hello, but there is no answer.
Dad and Evander must be staying at the guild. She thinks. Catie might not even be back yet.
She hobbles to her room, the one she used to share with Catie until they were both too old and needed their own space. She greets the various insects and reptiles and fish staying with her, happy to note her father and Evander have been taking proper care of them.
She goes to her bookcase and pulls a leather-bound journal off the shelf.
The inside cover reads, "Property of Marcelina Acosta. If found, burn without question."
Ria traces her fingers over her mother's curly handwriting before flipping through until she finds the passage she's looking for. An old photo is taped to a page. Her mother can't be older than twenty, and she embraces a pretty woman with dark brown eyes and fiery red hair, pressing a kiss to the woman's cheek. The woman's shirt is cut low, revealing the Serpent's Nest guild mark resting right above her cleavage.
Ria flips over the photo and reads the curly writing on the back.
"Mi Querido Sirena,
Even as we part ways, I will never forget the time we shared. I yearn for the day we can be together again and count down the seconds.
All my Love,
Kathleen"
On the next page, Ria scans her eyes over her mother's own writing, but it's entirely in a language Ria doesn't know. With a sigh, Ria sets the journal on her bedside table. She'll need to ask her father what he knows of this Kathleen and the Serpent's Nest Guild. Her eyes drift close as her mind drifts. Iris slides out of her shirt again and flicks her tongue out at the room.
"We'll need to set you up with a proper habitat later." Ria flops down on her bed, her ankle throbbing. "I'll need to get Avon back too."
Iris slithers up Ria's neck and curls around her forehead. The snake is a comforting weight over her eyes.
I want to see Apolla, she thinks before falling asleep.
It's about mid-afternoon when Catie, Henry, and Bors arrive in Barberry, with the sun high above them.
Catie's been quiet the whole trip; they all have. She still grips Claudia's beads in her hands. The sunlight lessens their sting.
"Would you like to go to your home to rest?" Bors asks. "Henry and I can give the briefing to the Master."
Catie forces a smile and shakes her head.
"I'm alright. I think it'll be best if we all meet with him at the same time. That way, nothing gets left out."
"He can wait a few minutes more," Henry says. "I want to take a shower, and we should put away our stuff at least."
Bors and Catie agree, and the three split up. Henry goes in the direction of Mrs. Moto's Bakery instead of his home, but Catie pretends not to notice.
Catie arrives home simultaneously to Ria emerging from the front door, hair a mess and clothes askew, dark circles under her eyes.
"You're back," Catie says.
Ria looks her up and down.
"You look like shit," she declares. Catie lets out a sound that could almost be a laugh.
"You don't look much better." Despite the words, the sisters embrace, giving each other a tight squeeze. "So what happened to your ankle?'
Ria winces.
"It's a long story," she says, and Iris pops out of Ria's shirt as if summoned.
Catie jumps back with a gasp.
"Victoria Cinerus! You didn't!"
"I can explain!"
Catie throws her bag into the house, then grabs her sister's hand, dragging her towards the guild.
"We are seeing Dad right this instant!"
Evander is dreaming.
Or at least, he thinks he's dreaming.
Sometimes it's hard to tell; others he knows right away.
But no. This is definitely a dream. It has that fuzzy quality, like opening his eyes underwater, yet everything is so sharp and detailed.
There's a bonfire, the only light in a vast expanse of darkness. The wood crackles as it burns black.
A man and a woman stand in front of the fire, swaying back and forth, bodies entwined in an embrace. A song drifts on the wind from a distant party. Their clothes are askew. The woman's ebony braid is unraveling. The man's hands trace circles around her lower back and waist.
She lifts her face; the fire reflecting in her blue eyes. Her eyelids flutter closed as the man bends down and presses his lips to hers. It's an act of habit, it seems, and they fit together perfectly. They look so happy,
Evander is furious.
How could they betray him like this? Weren't they supposed to be his closest friends? Wasn't she the love of his life? Wasn't their wedding just hours away?
He feels like crying. An awful sound escapes his lips.
The man and woman turn away from each other and face him.
"Cyrus…" The man says.
"How could you?" Evander sobs.
"You don't understand-"
"HOW COULD YOU?"
He releases his fire and watches as it drives to engulf him.
Evander wakes, panting, feeling hellish hot as sweat soaks his hair.
A curious chirp alerts him to Avon sitting on his chest, and a note taped to his forehead flops in front of his eyes. He rips it off.
Watch the bug. He'd just get squashed if we took him with.
-Silver
Evander sighs and crumples the note, tossing it aside. He scoops Avon up in both hands, and the Beetle makes a whining and whirring sound.
"Well, you're looking better. Glad to know Razi didn't accidentally kill you. Ria would throw a fit."
Avon beeps and hops onto Evander's head. He doesn't bother taking him down.
On his lap is the storybook, nearly read to completion. He looks over at the sleeping girl. How many days had it now been with no change? He pokes the girl's cheek, but there is no reaction. Avon squeaks, and Evander sighs again.
He opens the book. There is only one tale left.
"The Beast in the Woods…"
The door slams open, causing the man to fall out of his chair while Avon shrieks in alarm. Catie stares him down with her hand tightly gripping Ria's.
"Family Meeting! Dad's office! Now!"
Evander picks himself off the floor.
"It's great to see you guys again too. No, I'm fine. Nothing new happened here."
"Shut up, Ev!"
"Drink," Apolla commands, shoving a blue vial in Ajax's face.
"Can't I finish my coffee first?"
"Do you want me to start spiking it again?"
Before Ajax can answer, Catie throws open the door and drags Ria and Evander inside. She slams the door closed behind them, activating the silencing charms.
"What's going on?" Ajax asks, setting down his coffee.
Catie nudges Ria forward, and the young woman reluctantly fishes out the Ivory Serpent.
Ajax hisses while Apolla gasps.
"What is that thing doing here?!" Evander asks, sharing Catie's fury.
"She's just a baby! I couldn't just leave her behind! Besides, she didn't even mean to bite me." Ria snaps her mouth shut. She'd meant to hide that part from her family.
"That's what happened to your ankle?" Apolla is on Ria in an instant, shoving the girl into a chair. Iris hisses, but Ria shushes her, and Apolla begins her examination.
"Did it activate?" Ajax asks. Ria nods. "What did you exchange?"
"I don't know yet. I feel fine, but I haven't really tested anything out."
"This is terrible timing." Ajax scrubs his hand down his face. "You're already on the Second Trial."
"There's less than a year until the Winter solstice, though," Catie says. "I doubt she'll reach the Fourth by then. I'm more worried about Evander."
"Why?" Evander asks, offended.
"You're on your Third Trial!"
"With the seal, Evander is the least likely to turn," Ajax says. "As long as it doesn't break, he should be fine even if he reaches the Final Trial."
"The three of you just need to be careful over the next year," says Apolla. Her examination is done. "No putting yourselves in danger, no going on perilous missions, and definitely no going out of town alone. We're in the end game here. I know it goes against your nature, but you can't afford to be reckless anymore."
The office falls silent.
"I'm keeping the snake," Ria announces.
"And what are you going to do if she bites someone else?" Evander demands.
"She won't."
Evander scoffs, stealing the drink from his father's desk and downing it in one gulp. He winces at the bitter coffee.
"You're an idiot," Evander says.
"Evander." Ajax admonishes.
"Henry's back, too, right? I'm off."
"Evander, wait!" Catie calls after him, but he ignores her.
"Just let him go! He's been acting like a brat!" Ria forces Iris to hide in her shirt. "I need to get to the library. If Leflin hasn't already beat me to it."
"Ria! We're not done here!"
"It's alright. They both need a break." Ajax picks up his empty mug. "Damn kid stealing my drink again."
Apolla gently takes it from him and hands him the vial of blue liquid. He downs it in one go.
"That stuff tastes awful."
"Do you want to keep your urges at bay or not? The last thing we need is you bursting into flames."
Catie winces at the thought.
"I hate this," she whispers. Ajax stands up and places a hand on her shoulder.
"Just a few more months," he says. "Then things will start going back to normal."
"But this is going to keep happening until it passes on, right? We're just delaying the inevitable, aren't we?"
"Unless we purge every drop of blood, then yes."
Catie clenches her fists. Whatever she was going to say is forgotten when there's a knock on the door.
Bors enters.
"Forgive me," he says. "But I saw Ria and Evander leave. We need to discuss the mission."
"Yes." Ajax smiles. "Of course. Come in."
"Is Henry coming?" Catie asks. Bors shakes his head.
"He was accosted by Evander."
Together, Bors and Catie go through the Gaius Manor's tragedy and their encounter with the Rune Knights and the Veritas Unit. Ajax and Apolla listen intently.
"I also found this," Bors says, handing over the Cinerus Book.
Ajax opens it. The pages are blank.
"How strange," says Apolla.
"What does this mean, Dad?" Catie asks.
"You said Gaius was an information broker? I imagine he must have intended to gather information on me, but once I retired, it didn't matter anymore." He closes the book. "You've had a rough few days. You should go home and rest. Do you mind escorting her for me, Bors?"
"Of course not," Bors says.
Catie bites her lip.
"Alright. I'll be back soon, though. I think it's time for a proper Family Meeting."
After they leave, Ajax opens the book again. Apolla watches him pick up a thumbtack from his desk and prick the tip of his finger. He allows a few drops of his blood to splash on the pages. The book glows. Rows and rows of names spring to life on the pages, some in red, some black, and some gold.
Ajax finds his own name in red, Ria and Evander in gold right below him.
"This changes things a bit, doesn't it?" Apolla asks, peering over his shoulder.
Ajax slams the book shut.
"No," he says, "it doesn't. "
Adrastus hums over a cauldron, watching it boil and bubble. He inhales deeply, smiling as the color turns from red to green to black.
"Nearly finished," he says to himself. He picks up a glass orb from the necklace his wife once wore and grins.
"It's almost time. Rest while you can, my dear." He sets the orb down and frowns into his potion. "Now, just how should I deal with your brother?"
The Serpent's Nest crest glows in the liquid, then fades away. Adrastus shrugs.
"I suppose I can let him have a little more fun. It's not as though I hadn't expected this."
He sets his potion to a small simmer and saunters over to the bouquet near his window. He blows on the petals of a red lotus and watches the wind carry them away.
Legs crossed, Desdemona floats in the darkness of her home, eyes focused on a single burning candle as its wax drips on her floor. For days, she's sat in this position, unmoving. She can almost feel it, the tickle of the flame sparking to life in her chest. Just a little more, and the spell will be complete.
A strong wind forces her window open, extinguishing the candle and canceling her spell. A twinge of disappointment and irritation rises inside her, but she extinguishes those as well. She watches the red petals swirl around her, landing in a heart on the floor of her house. They spark and burn. She stamps them out and takes a deep breath of the air. Scorch marks are left on the wood.
"So dramatic," she sighs and begins scraping the candle wax off her floor. She'll need to wait till the Summer Solstice to try again, but at least she knows that spell should work. She'll strengthen the wards on her house in the meantime.
Out of the corner of her eye, she notices a flashing light. On her desk, a piece of paper in a blank book sparkles.
Desdemona glides over to read it. The writing fades in and out of existence in a matter of seconds, but the message is clear.
"Mission successful. Book retrieved."
She smiles.
This chapter is a little shorter than I'd like, but it's more of an interlude than a proper chapter. The next one begins the mission for Razi, Silver, and Blue.
In the meantime, feel free to read Phoenix Refuge: Feathers and Embers. There's only one chapter up so far, but more are coming soon.