Chapter 19: The phoenix seal

I gasped myself awake, pushing off what I was resting on. Sage held me still, rubbing her hand on my back to comfort me. "Did you see what I saw?"

"No, but you did a good job mumbling it out," she said jokingly. I smiled.

"I'm okay, you can let me go now," she reluctantly let go of me. I dropped my legs and flexed them a little to release the stiffness. The sun set on the statue, charging up it energy. I was facing them, I saw the red glint in the eyes of the phoenix before two beams emitted from it eyes to the tree.

I looked above me, following the mark of the beams, right before it faded off and the whole statue began to glow. I stood on the bench and trailed my fingers on the two spots, trying to feel any slight contour. The glassy nail of my index finger turned red and pushed against something. I gulped loudly, more strange things keep happening.

"I think I've got something," I groaned, it felt like my finger was being cooked. I tried to pry the object out, but the hotness was visibly scorching my skin.

"Let me see if I can get it," Sage suggested. I dropped my hand so she could try. I looked down at my finger, red and smoking of steamed meat. Sage scream made me flinch, almost somersaulting out of the bench.

She jumped on the ground and fell on her knees, cleverly backing the park so no one would see what was wrong, even if her scream attracted them. I jumped down and bent over, a gasp left my mouth. I thought my index finger was steaming, Sage's left palm was entirely burnt.

"I just touched it and the flame spread," she cried, you barely see her cry. Sage was crying, she was in serious pain. The burn was beginning to spread to her wrist.

"Damn it," I cursed and knelt down. I removed my tailed fairy necklace and tied it around her wrist.

Water!… Something shouted in my head.

"Water, get your hand to water in the house, any water at all, as long as the water comes from the house. Can you get a cab?" I asked hastily.

"Yes," she sobbed. Everyone who could see was looking at us. I don't know if it was the anger of seeing my friend hurt, or finding out what Victoria did, but either of them stirred me to action. With angry eyes at the glowing statue, I whispered "glow".

The light increased, I said it again, even louder. The statue glowed brighter. "Glow until none can see, don't blind them but only I should see."

At my command, the statue of Aurora flared up with much intensity. I knew my eyes had changed colour, I could feel energy tingling on the surface of my skin. I glared at the phoenix who had awaken, not moving but daring me to touch what was his again.

I looked at my hands, eyeing them with rage. "Reflect my rage oh ye mortal hands," I barked at my hands. My hands burst up with flame, rising up above my head. "Drop the barrier or I destroy your precious tower," I threatened. It made a loud screech like an eagle, mocking me.

"Don't dare the phoenix

Don't touch it tail

It fears no flame

It seethe all scares

A heart of fire

Wings of the sun

Heat of a lava

See it and run." The song echoed in my head. Of course, it fears no flame, wings of the sun, heat of lava, fire won't work on it.

I smiled and swung my hands, whipping off the fire. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I was doing the right thing. I waved my hand in the air in a circular motion high above my head, my lips moving and muttering words I couldn't comprehend. Sage remained where she was, staring at me with mouth open.

Every single water I could reach rose up to my aid, dancing towards me and following the dance of my hand. The phoenix cried out once more, already knowing what I was going to do, at least what it thought I would do. Instead of directing the water to it, I turned the water on the tree, morphing it into a bigger water version of my hand. It can't burn what can't feel. The phoenix cried more, anger echoing in it cry.

The water hand successfully pulled out the seal, a small gold coin. The coin flipped over to me. I caught it with my other hand and waved it at the phoenix. Flame rose up from it body, burning the stone form out of it.

"This is the part where we go," I said to Sage. I directed the water to the phoenix to slow down it transformation, took Sage's hand and pulled her towards the tree. Following my instinct, I pictured the tree back in our garden and jumped into the tree.

Sage and I fell on the ground of our garden with a thud, I did it! I stood up sharply and dusted my dress while Sage remained on the ground, staring at her surrounding in awe.

"As long as the seal is far away, the phoenix won't be able to awaken. Come Sage, I'll heal your hand." I spoke with confidence, it wasn't me. I then knew what had happened, I should have known from the start.

Victoria took possession of my body.