Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Percival and Leo walked down the corridor which overlooked the glass factory. Percival clasped his hands in front of him. Looking around, he still didn’t feel any sense of familiarity.
Half an hour ago, that would have bothered him. But he was about to see his uncle and cousin, his family, his own flesh and blood! They would know how to help him. Then everything would be all right.
Leo whistled as he looked through the glass down to the factory below. “Pretty impressive factory your family owns.”
“It looks like it.” But Percival glanced at it.
Ines stopped a few steps away from a closed door. “That’s your uncle’s office.” She gestured and stood to the side, allowing Leo and Percival to continue without her.
Holding his breath, Percival took a step forward. Then he paused and looked at Ines. “What is my uncle’s name?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Lord Ignatius Everflame.”
“Thank you.” Percival straightened his shoulders and approached the door. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself mentally to reacquaint himself with his uncle, trying to calm his racing heart.
No need to be nervous. He is family. He is my uncle.
He knocked.
“What is it?” a voice barked.
Percival startled. He glanced at Leo.
Leo stared at the door. His eyes narrowed. Swallowing, Percival turned the handle. An older man sat behind a desk. This must be his uncle. Another man sat facing him. His cousin?
“Percival!” His uncle stood. “I heard you were missing!” Then his gaze flicked up and down Percival’s body. He scowled. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
Percival looked down at himself. He was wearing clothes he had borrowed from Leo. What was wrong with them?
“And who is this?” his uncle barked, looking straight at Leo.
Percival opened his mouth. But he couldn’t find his voice. Was this really his uncle? He hadn’t expected to be greeted with so much…anger.
“I’m Leo,” he said, voice tight in a way Percival wasn’t used to. “Your nephew died and was reborn last night. He has lost his memories and needs help.”
“You died?” It sounded like an accusation. “How exactly did you die, Percival?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.” Percival’s voice wavered. “It could have been thieves or… I don’t know.” He dropped his gaze.
This wasn’t how he’d pictured this going. He’d pictured a happy reunion. He’d expected an uncle and cousin relieved to see him after being worried about his disappearance.
For the first time, he made eye contact with the man who was potentially his cousin. He stared blankly at Percival.
“Thieves? You’d be so weak to allow thieves to kill you?” His uncle scoffed. “And on top of that, you lost your memories?”
Percival fought the urge to take a step back. “I’m not sure how I died. I can’t remember anything before my rebirth.”
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming instinct to turn and run. To hide from the phoenix in front of him. And strangely, that felt familiar, like a memory. It was the first thing that had felt familiar to him since his rebirth.
“How the fuck did you lose your memories?” His uncle’s voice rose. His eyes flashed.
“I… I don’t know,” Percival stuttered. The scent of soot rose in the air. “I’m sorry.”
Then Leo stepped in front of Percival. “It’s not usual for a phoenix to lose their memory after rebirth?” Leo asked.
“Of course not. We don’t forget everything when we are reborn! What fucking bullshit nonsense is that?” His uncle glared at Leo.
“It was simply a question,” Leo shot back.
“My lord,” his uncle snapped.
“What?” Leo asked.
“I am a lord and your better. You will address me properly.” Lord Ignatius Everflame looked Leo up and down, his lip curled.
Leo didn’t speak for several long seconds. “Your nephew doesn’t remember anything after his rebirth, my lord.” The last two words sounded like a whip cracking. “Do you know what could help him recover his memories, my lord?”
Leo’s voice was hard like flint and didn’t show an ounce of subservience. “Your nephew is in need of help. Your great wisdom and assistance would be most appreciated, my lord.”
Lord Ignatius Everflame’s eyes narrowed at Leo. “You arrogant little shit!” Then his uncle looked straight at Percival. “You really remember nothing? Not who you are? Not your responsibilities?”
His skin crawled. And once again, he was filled with a desperate need to flee from the phoenix before him. With force, he kept his feet where they were. Percival shook his head.
Lord Ignatius Everflame walked around the desk and came towards him.
Once again Leo stepped in between them.
But his uncle didn’t even glance at Leo; he just kept staring directly at Percival. “Then what use are you to me, Percival?”
Percival’s mouth fell open.
“I took you in after your last death, when all the rest of our family had suffered their final deaths!” his uncle yelled.
Percival flinched.
“I took you in even though you were soft and useless, like you had been in all your previous lives.” Lord Ignatius Everflame’s voice bounced off the walls. “I spent time and effort moulding you into something better, something tougher, something stronger. I knocked the frailty out of you.”
His uncle sneered. “And how did you repay me? By letting yourself be killed! By forgetting everything I taught you!”
“I’m sorry.” Percival hunched his shoulders.
Uncle Ignatius shook his head. “And look at you now. You’re practically trembling with fear. Just like the first time I took you in. But I won’t be suckered into caring for you again, Percival. You’re weak. You were weak then. You are weak now. And what use is a weak phoenix to me?”
“That’s enough!” Leo shouted.
His uncle turned, walked behind his desk, and sat. He looked at Leo. “I have no further use for him. Take him away. Send him to the sick-house. I am done with him.” He waved his hand, dismissing them. “Now let me and my son get back to work.”
Percival stumbled. He placed a hand on the wall to keep himself upright.
“What?” Leo blurted. “How can you abandon him like that? And you can’t send him to a sick-house! He isn’t sick!”
“Then send him to the workhouse.” His uncle picked up a ledger from his desk. He didn’t look up. “He can’t do what he used to here. He can’t fulfil his responsibilities. The workhouse can no doubt find some suitable position for someone as useless as him.”
“He’s your nephew!” Leo took a step forward, body vibrating with rage. He clenched his fists. “What the fuck is wrong with you? What sort of monster are you?”
His uncle looked up then. His eyes flashed. He stared at Leo.
Despite his terror, Percival stepped forward and gripped Leo’s arm, trying to tug him back. He didn’t want Leo to be killed by his uncle. Because Leo might be brave, but if his uncle shifted and burned Leo alive, Percival would never forgive himself.
And Percival could try to defend Leo, but he realised with horror he wasn’t sure if he remembered how to shift. No doubt he and Leo would just end up dead if a fight broke out.
“Come on, Leo. Let’s go. He won’t help me.” And Percival couldn’t help but feel relieved by that.
He didn’t want to be helped by his uncle. He might not remember anything, but something deep inside him told him to stay away from this man.
For several long seconds, Leo remained rigid, staring down Lord Ignatius Everflame.
“Please, Leo. Please, let’s leave.” Percival glanced at his cousin. He hadn’t moved or spoken. He just continued to stare at Percival. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Finally, Leo let out a breath. “Yeah. Let’s get the fuck out of this shithole.” Then he turned and wrapped an arm around Percival, and they walked away.
“And Percival, you of course are no longer allowed to live in the house I provided for you.” His uncle’s voice followed them. “I am not a charity! If you are unable to work for me, I will not allow you to reside in a residence I own. You will have to find other living arrangements.”
Percival was about to look back. But Leo spoke, “No. Just keep walking. Just keep walking away.”
But as they walked down the corridor, panic gripped Percival’s heart. It squeezed until he couldn’t draw breath into his lungs.
What do I do now?