Chapter 19

I had been sitting and staring at the wall ever since Stephany left, a storm of shock enveloping me. I barely had the presence of mind to ask her anything; instead, I felt a suffocating numbness clouding my thoughts. The pieces began to fit together, revealing why she had insisted on a place to stay and why he, against all logic, acquiesced to her demands; he did it for his unborn child. The promises he had made to me during my hospital stay now felt like hollow echoes, likely echoed to her as well. A wave of nausea hit me as I realized how vile he truly is. I thought he had changed for the better, but it seems that this was only the beginning of an even darker chapter.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I rolled myself into sleep, wincing at the pain that coursed through my body. I placed my hand over the wound, applying gentle pressure, hoping for any relief. As I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, I felt the pain recede, an unexpected relief. My eyes shot open as realization dawned on me. I sat up abruptly and lifted my pajama top, bewildered to find my abdomen completely healed. Just moments ago, I had a gunshot wound there; now, it was as if it had never existed. The realization sent a jolt of excitement through me: maybe I have multiple gifts. With a mix of joy and sadness, I laughed to myself, feeling elated yet painfully aware that I had no one to share this monumental moment with.

I rose and headed to the bathroom to inspect my reflection, needing to confirm that my healing was real. As I gazed into the mirror, a sense of pride swelled within me at my newfound ability. Happy with my reflection, I returned to bed, feeling a spark of hope amid my turmoil. I didn't want to go downstairs and risk exposing my secrets to Dan's staff, so I chose the safety of my room instead.

Just as I laid my head against the pillow, the sound of the door handle turning sent a jolt of fear through, holding my breath, I glanced up, but the darkness of the room concealed the figure standing at the door. The sheer size of the silhouette convinced me that it couldn't be Dan. I quickly laid my head back down, panic coursing through me. The man who had fired the gun must have tracked me down, which meant I was essentially a dead woman walking. I could try to fight, but what would be the point? He likely knows everything about me. Just as I was debating my next move, a wet cloth suddenly covered my nose, and rough hands seized my arms and legs while the figure loomed in the doorway. There were multiple attackers; this confirmed my worst fears. The last thing I remembered was a darkness swallowing me whole as the world faded away.

A chilling wave of cold hit my skin as someone abruptly drenched me in icy water, pulling me from unconsciousness. I screamed, the shock of the cold water overwhelming my senses. "It's about time you woke up, sweetie," came a mocking voice. Blinking through the water, blurring my vision, I looked up to Sean, an older man with a white beard, likely in his mid-fifties, standing with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of a worn coat. I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh. "So, you're the one who kidnapped me? What do you want?" I continued to laugh, half incredulous and half defiant; I never would have imagined that an older man would be behind this.

Suddenly, he slapped me hard across the face, silencing my laughter and leaving me stunned with disbelief. "Hitting a woman? That's low, even for you," I managed to retort, tasting blood as it pooled in my mouth. Just then, I realized my hands and legs were tightly bound, rendering me helpless.

"Enough," a commanding woman's voice interrupted. I glanced up to see a stern-faced woman in her mid-forties standing at the door, watching me intently. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn't quite grasp it at that moment. "Are you going to keep staring at me, or will you introduce yourself?" I challenged, irritation clear in my voice. Seconds passed in silence, her piercing gaze unwavering.

"That's not important," she finally replied, dragging a chair from the corner of the dimly lit room and settling across from me. "What is important is that we destroy the fetus inside you so we can regain control." My eyebrows knitted together in confusion and anger as I stared at her.

"Whose fetus are you talking about?" I shot back; there was no way I would confess my pregnancy to someone who wanted me and my child dead. I may not have a concrete plan regarding this baby, but ultimately, my decision about it should not be dictated by a stranger.

"Don't play stupid, Emerald. I know everything about you, so don't waste time," she said with cold precision, leaning forward as if scrutinizing my every reaction.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you to deserve this treatment? I don't even know you!" I raised my voice in a blend of anger and fear, frustration boiling inside me. Their refusal to explain anything only fueled my determination to fight for my baby.

"The baby you are carrying is different," she stated, her tone shifting to one of cold authority.

My mouth went dry, and my heart raced as cold water continued to seep into my bones. I feared the weight of her next words pressing down on me.

"The Phoenix," she finally revealed, her voice sharp and unforgiving.

I blinked, feeling a mix of confusion and dread. "The what?"

"The blood of the Phoenix runs in you," she declared, leaning closer. Her eyes were hard and unyielding. "It flowed through your father's veins before yours. That child will awaken it fully. And when it does, our family, my sons, will pay the price."

My mind reeled at her words. "My father…?"

She gave a short, bitter laugh. "You don't know the truth about him, do you? Of course you don't. He hid it from you like a coward. The fire in your veins is no accident. Every generation of Phoenix blood brings destruction wherever it goes. Every time a Phoenix heir is born, the Cross family suffers… or dies."

Images of the SUV chase, the men with glowing red eyes, the flames that had exploded from my hands, all crashed together in my head. My stomach turned. "You don't know anything about my father," I glared at her, feeling annoyed that she thinks she knows who he is.

The woman's gaze dropped to my belly, her voice softening for a single chilling moment. "That thing inside you is not just a baby. It is a curse. It will burn everything it touches. And I will not watch another one of my sons die."

Finally, the pieces clicked. My voice cracked. "You're… Dan's mother." He once told me that his mother never died but ran away from home. I never got too deep with questions.

Her lips curved into a small, humorless smile. "So he does talk about me. Yes. I am Victoria Cross. And I will do what my son is too blind to do: protect him. Even if it means removing this threat before it's born."

Anger surged in my chest, hot and sharp. I yanked against the ropes, my wet skin stinging as the fibers dug in. "This is my baby! You don't get to decide if it lives or dies!"

The man with the white beard chuckled darkly from behind her. "The Phoenix always resists. Your father said the same thing… right before the fire took him." My heart slammed against my ribs. "What… what fire?"

Victoria's eyes glinted. "The fire that always comes with the Phoenix. The fire that will come for Dan, for Tyson, for everyone you care about, unless we end it now." The cold room suddenly felt like it was shrinking, the walls pressing in. My wet clothes clung to me like ice, but inside, my chest felt hot. A flicker of warmth pulsed under my skin, traveling down my arms.

No. Not here. Not now.

They didn't notice. They thought I was just a terrified, tied-up girl. But I could feel it again, the heat, the spark I had felt the night of the car crash. My hands tingled, and a single wisp of steam rose from the wet ropes.