Chapter 21: The Attack

(Phoenix’s perspective)

I left Teedly, heading east. I accidentally crossed pack lands near Coldwater, Michigan but was out before anyone saw me, or so I thought. About two miles later, I realized I was being followed or rather being chased. I kept running. I was sure the wolves would catch me and tear me apart. I had unwittingly broken the law. Most packs have a fence or wall around their land, that one did not. I used my magic to hide my scent and to better evade them. I hid in a tree and cloaked myself as best as I could. I watched the wolves run past and then stop. They looked confused. They had lost my scent and were trying to pick it up again with no luck. I waited for them to leave and then waited thirty more minutes before climbing out of the tree. I resumed running east at a leisurely but cautious pace.

When I got to Addison, I needed to resupply. I had no idea how much further I would need to go. I still needed to go east, that’s all I knew. I also took the time to stop and eat a real meal at Two Lakes Tavern near Devil Lake. The chicken alfredo was amazeballs! While I was eating, a couple of wolves came in. I quickly finished my meal and paid my bill. I left as quickly as I could without drawing attention to myself. If wolves are eating here, it means there is a pack nearby. I’ll need to stay alert. I continued east. That’s when it happened; a vision so strong it knocked the breath out of me.

Harvard University. Mountains. Blood, so much blood. Vampires. Wolves. Witches. Fae. A small child with a crown birthmark. Chaos and devastation everywhere. Screaming and what sounded like gun-fire and bombs going off.

The vision ended and I had to catch my breath. I have to get to Boston. Just then I was tackled. When I looked up, I saw a wolf standing over me. Then I heard growling all around me. A man spoke:

“You entered the territory of the Pale Moon Pack a while ago. We, the Dark Moon Pack, are their allies and you are now entering our lands,” he said as the wolf over me began dragging me north.

“That was an accident, I didn’t know it was pack land until it was too late. And I have no intention of going into yours.” I yelled.

“Oh but you are.”

I zapped the wolf dragging me with a bit of lightning. He dropped me and fell to the ground. I got up and ran. I didn’t get far as I was tackled again, this time by a much bigger wolf. I’m guessing by his size, he was the Alpha or Beta. He grabbed me with his teeth around my torso and shook me like a rag doll. I thought for sure I would die. I pushed my fear aside and used my magic. I created a howling wind, masked my scent, and cloaked myself. Then I blasted them with a tornado and made my escape. I continued east after patching myself up the best I could, but I had lost a lot of blood. I was not going to make it to Boston like this.

I made it to Manchester before I collapsed from exhaustion and blood loss. I woke up to the sounds of people whispering about what they should do with me.

“You, boy. You have the mark. You’re the next fae king, are you not?” The woman asked.

“I am,” I said in an almost inaudible voice.

“Wolves got you didn’t they?”

“Yeah”

“If you promise not to harm us, we will take you to be healed.”

“Deal.”

They took me to what looked like a college campus and branded my skin with a rune I was not familiar with. Then proceeded to take me to an infirmary.

“My name is Mary Antigonus and you are?”

“I’m Phoenix Ashworth.”

“Pleased to meet you future king.”

“What is this place?”

“It is our coven’s school, Pinus Alba. You are not permitted to roam the grounds. It will take some time to heal you properly, three days at most, then you will leave.”

“I can live with that.”

Mary and her unmerry band of witches left me with their healer. She did some spell and I began to heal. She told me she would come back every couple of hours to do the spell. Then she said she would bring me something to eat. She brought some green spaghetti-like meal for me. It wasn’t that bad; it was actually kind of good. A little less salt would have made it better.

I fell asleep after eating. When I woke up I discovered I had been asleep for two days.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Mary said.

“Yeah, that was some weird spaghetti.”

“It helps with the healing process, as an added benefit, it knocks you out for two days. Now I have a student who is in need of some training. Would you like to help, future king?”

“Sure, I’m healed up enough. What kind of training?”

“Magical combat training.”

“I can help with that. I could use some training myself.”

“Well, let’s get going.”

She led me to a field behind the school. There were two students there already. I was drawn to one, but with them so close together I couldn’t tell which one.

“Phoenix, this is Taylor and Stephen.” Mary said. “Taylor and Stephen, this is Phoenix, the future fae king.”

“What are fae?” Taylor asked.

“Fae consist of all manner of magical beings. From fairies, elves, and pixies to gnomes, trolls, and giants. Most stay in the fae realm as they are not very inconspicuous. Like the gnomes, trolls, giants, and goblins for instance. Fairies and pixies can mask their wings and are generally the only fae to visit this realm.” Mary stated.

“You’re a witch who doesn’t know these things?” I asked. This Taylor must go to Boston with me. I’m sure Taylor is the one.

“Taylor grew up in a human community and is still learning our ways and the ways of the supernatural world in general.” Mary said. “Enough chit chat, let’s get to work.”

We started our training. I started with offensive magic and Taylor with defensive magic. After battling for almost an hour, I realized Taylor had more than two powers. I have never known a witch with so many powers. Taylor was amazing with his defense. At the end of the hour, we switched positions. I was defense and Taylor was offense. I was stunned by all the powers Taylor had. I also could not believe how bad I was at defense or how bad Taylor was at offense. After another hour, Mary asked Stephen to step into the offensive position and Taylor and I to take defense as a team. We were to practice defending each other. I totally sucked at it. Taylor, however, was just incredible. Another hour and we switched again. As hard as we tried, we couldn’t get past Stephen’s defense. And then training was done for the day.

Taylor started to invite me to dinner but I interrupted him knowing I wasn’t to roam the campus without Mary’s express permission. But then Mary surprised me.

“You may go with Taylor and Stephen. But nowhere without either of them.” She said.

“I guess I’m coming to dinner with you guys. Thanks for the invite.” I said. And with that we all went inside the school. Mary separated from us once inside.

“So you grew up in a human community. How was that?” I asked Taylor.

“Normal, I guess. This is all so weird to me.” Taylor said, almost reaching for my hand but then pulling back quickly.

“You’ll get used to it,” Stephen said.

“I’ll help while I’m here. By the way, as future king, I have gifts of my own. I see visions of things to come, either so I can prevent them or prepare for them. I had a vision as well as felt a strong pull to come here. But my journey is not over. I must continue on to Boston. That’s where my last vision is leading me. There is a vampire and a wolf at Harvard that we will need to help us. And when I say we, I mean you and me Taylor. I am getting this strong feeling that I need to take you with me.” I said.

“What? Why?” Taylor asked nervously.

“I don’t know exactly, I just know that with my visions, which are more like seeing snapshots, and this feeling of being pulled toward you, that you are important to the war that is coming. And we all have to prepare.”

“Wait, Taylor is still learning control and can’t leave.” Stephen stated defensively.

“I know it will be hard, but if Phoenix is willing to help me learn control, then I think I can do this.” Taylor responded.

“Great, let’s eat and I will speak with Mary after.” I said.