Chapter 37: Complications

*****Phoenix’s perspective*****

Once finals week started, Taylor and I would train in the mountains with Aria. It’s where my visions showed the battle would take place. On Tuesday, while training, there was a flash of light and we were temporarily blind. When we were able to see again, we were surrounded by wolves. One of them shifted back to human.

“I am Alpha Joshua Seki of the Dark Moon Pack. You crossed our pack lands a few months ago without an invitation. Now you will pay for that.”

“Seriously! It was an accident and as soon as I realized it, I left. Your friends at the Pale Moon Pack already beat me up. What do you want?” I asked.

“You, dead. That is our way.”

“So you left your territory to track me down. And now you’re what, going to kill me and my friends?”

“Exactly.”

“I think they might have something to say about that. See, Aria here is protected by the Hyacintho Lunar Pack. You kill her or harm her and you will start a war with another pack, is that what you want?”

“As alpha, I must protect my pack and our laws state I get to kill you for trespassing.” And with that Alpha Joshua shifted back to wolf.

We used our magic to escape. We went to the Hyacintho Lunar Pack for help. Alpha Jacob was pissed that another alpha dared to come into the area without announcing himself and threatening to harm a member of his pack. We called and asked the Barnettes for help as well. They said they would. The patrols could see the Dark Moon Pack surveying the pack borders. They were trying to surround us. Alpha Jacob put everyone on alert and had the children and elderly and anyone else not fighting go to the bunkers. When the Barnettes arrived, chaos ensued. The Dark Moon Pack invaded the Hyacintho Lunar land on two sides. Wolves were fighting each other. The vampires helped the younger wolves fight them off while Taylor, Aria, and I helped the rest of Hyacintho Lunar.

I tried to stop a wolf as it jumped at Aria, but I was too late. I was knocked over by another wolf and couldn’t stop it from killing Aria. I was able to stop it from getting to Taylor, though.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, King Omelette had sent guards to watch me until such time as I was to be requested. When they saw the fight breakout, they told the king and he sent some reinforcements. When they arrived, the Dark Moon retreated.

“Phoenix, the king wants to see you now.” Alex, one of my former guards, said.

“I will go after we clean up here and bury our dead.” I stated.

“Very well, we will help you.”

Alex was always the reasonable one. The fae helped with the clean up and the burials. Alpha Jacob was grateful for their help. He was also saddened by his losses. Jacob approached Taylor and smiled sadly.

“I know you are new to this world and are from a different coven than Aria, but I think she would agree with me. Would you take her place amongst us?” He asked Taylor.

“I will in her honor and memory. I will do my best to make this pack proud.”

“Thank you.”

That was something I was not expecting and I don’t think Taylor was either. After the burials, I took my leave to see the king.

Upon arrival in Drakmore, I was greeted with overwhelming joy and a celebration I was not expecting. The guards led me through the crowd of cheering fae. I had a feeling why the king requested to see me. He was going to have the Passing of Powers ceremony today. I wasn’t twenty-five yet, so something must be wrong. I was anxious and I was scared. Alex told me not to worry, everything was okay. The king just wanted to get this part out of the way. I had a feeling that was not at all what was going on.

We entered the king’s suite and found him in the middle of his lunch.

“As requested, your highness. Phoenix Ashworth.” Alex announced.

“Why are we doing this today, King Omelette?” I demanded as Alex left the room.

“Must we get into it.” He replied. “Can’t a king spend time with the future king anymore?”

“I guess, you are the king. But I am on an important mission to save all of the supernatural world. If you pass your powers to me and I should die in battle, all of faedom will be lost.”

“If I don’t transfer power soon, all of faedom will be lost anyway. I’m dying, Phoenix. I caught some human viruses somehow. You know the ones covid, the flu, and the pox. I am not contagious any longer, but you know what that does to our kind. I think someone poisoned me. But I have no proof. My body has already begun to deteriorate.

“I am sorry to hear this, your highness. I would be glad to have the Passing ceremony as soon as you would like.”

“It will happen today. You have three hours to prepare.”

Yes, King Omelette. See you again in three hours.”

I left for what was temporarily my suite. I had my lunch: a spinach casserole, walnut milk, and black bean soup; the traditional meal of the Passing ceremony. It’s supposed to ease the transfer of powers. After eating, I took the traditional oat bath. After which, I put on the traditional garments; white silk robes that symbolize purity of heart. It is said that if your heart is not pure, the robes will change color to match your heart. The transfer of powers cannot be completed unless your heart is pure. My robes stayed white which was a good sign. I just needed to fix my hair and put on the owl headdress.

The ceremony itself takes about five hours. While the king transfers his power and knowledge to me, the fae present will sing the songs of Passing, there are three, over and over until the ceremony is completed. I had always wondered why we didn’t add more songs or hire a band; you know, make a concert out of it. But it is what it is. It was time to head down to the staging area.

*****Shawn’s perspective*****

Tuesday morning when we left for campus, Strix wasn’t feeling well. It was odd because vampires don’t usually get sick, but she is pregnant and half human, so maybe it’s normal. I made sure someone always had eyes on Strix, just in case today was the day. I mean, we had no idea when she would give birth, this was all new to all of us. About halfway through my second class, I felt it. Pain so great, I thought I would die. Strix! I handed in my final and ran out. I found her and Ben outside the restrooms.

“What’s happening?” I demanded.

“We don’t know,” Ben said as another round of pain tore through Strix.

“The baby is in pain,” she said through gritted teeth.

I mindlinked Kyle to bring the car around. We had to get Strix to the pack doctor immediately. I mindlinked with Doctor Cheesbro. I told him Strix and the baby were in a lot of pain and to get a room ready we were bringing her in now.

Once the doc got Strix settled in, I began asking questions. Was she in labor? Was everything okay? How was the baby doing? How was Strix doing? Will they be alright? What was happening to them? Doctor Cheesbro told me to calm down, so he could answer my questions. I was freaking out. After I calmed down, he told me there was a complication with the pregnancy, but that he could fix it with a minor surgery. Mother and baby would be just fine. I started freaking out again, surgery? How do you operate on a vampire?

I guess someone called Billy and Elizabeth, probably Ben, because they showed up.

“We have the corpse flower powder and the belladonna, doctor.” Billy said.

“Thank you , Doctor Barnette. Corpse flower will put her out and the belladonna will help with the pain. I will also need your help as you will have to make the incisions with your nails, mine aren’t what they used to be and we know that a scalpel won’t cut through a vampire.” Cheesbro said.

“Yes, doctor.” And with that Billy and Cheesbro went to wash up and prepare for surgery.

The surgery went well. I was a wreck. Everyone kept telling me everything would be fine. But how did they know? I guess Ben could see it in his visions, but everyone else…