Chapter 38
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
What the fuck has been going on?
Lord Percival Everflame stormed down the street.
How did I end up working in a bakery?
He’d been killed, reborn, and apparently lost his memories. That much was clear. But why had he lost his memories temporarily? None of it made sense.
Phoenixes didn’t just go around losing memories, even after rebirth. Sometimes the unimportant memories were slow to return, or one felt an emotional disconnect from past life memories. But a phoenix did not simply lose their memories!
Then, somehow, those bakers had ended up putting him to work.
Something had definitely gone very wrong. But he’d worked it out. Now Percival would return to the factory and speak to his uncle. He’d clarify what had occurred. Then he’d punish that Leopold and those bakers for exploiting him.
To think he had been working in a bakery in Hovel Quarter. Like a commoner! It was so beneath him.
I’ll make them pay for this insult!
His lip curled as his blood simmered.
But how did it all come to pass?
Had the bakers found Percival, newly reborn and strangely without his memories? Then had they simply put him to work? He gritted his teeth. They must have used his confusion to get free labour.
And why had Leopold been blubbering like that? Perhaps because he’d been caught and would now face Percival’s wrath.
They would regret how they treated him. He had his mind back now; his momentary weakness and frailty were gone. He was a powerful phoenix. He would punish those who’d crossed him.
How dare they make him bake and clean? He had servants who cleaned for him.
Percival halted. Servants… Ines… Ines, his servant, had told him his carriage could not come to the usual spot. She’d lured Percival to a secluded alley. There the ice sorceress had attacked him.
His fingers clenched into fists, nails biting into his palm. Ines must have been in on it with the ice sorceress! Had she been paid to lure Percival into that trap? Well, she would pay dearly for betraying him!
At least the ice sorceress was dead. That was what those strange sorcerers had told him.
But who were those sorcerers? And why were they helping me?
The last thing he remembered was the fight with the ice sorceress, which must have killed him. The next thing he remembered was those other sorcerers leaning over him, helping him to his seat, and explaining how he’d died. Perhaps his uncle had hired the sorcerers to find him?
Percival kept walking. Clearly, he had a lot of things to sort out. But first he needed to see his uncle.
Then he’d deal with Ines. He could easily handle a lizard woman servant on his own. A prison cell for the rest of her life would be more than fitting.
The guards blinked at him as he strode past them, up the stairs at Everflame Glass Factory.
“How could you be so foolish?” Uncle Ignatius’s voice echoed down the corridor.
Percival’s footsteps slowed. The muscles in his shoulders and arms tensed. The door to his uncle’s office was open. Oddly, he felt a sudden urge to turn around, flee, and never return.
Percival scoffed. What a ridiculous thought! Percival belonged here. And even though his uncle was hard, he’d made Percival into the tough phoenix he was. Lifting his chin, he strode onwards.
“You make mistake after mistake after mistake, Cyprian!” His uncle slammed his hand on the desk. “How can you be—”
His uncle broke off as Percival appeared in the doorway. His eyes narrowed, gaze taking in Percival’s burned clothes.
“I apologise for my terrible appearance.” Percival pulled his shoulders back and stepped forward. “And I apologise for my absence, Uncle. But I can explain to you what has occurred. Although some of my memories are still gone, which will make this difficult.”
“Some of your memories?” his uncle repeated.
“Yes. I was attacked and killed by an ice sorceress…recently.” Percival did not know how much time had passed since the attack.
“I managed to kill her. But it seems I temporarily lost all my previous memories. I have them back now.” He scowled.
“But several individuals exploited my memory loss and put me to work in a bakery. That is why I assume I did not return here.”
“I see.” His uncle rose from his seat. He took a step around the desk, walking towards Percival. “But you remember everything before this attack?”
“Yes.” Percival nodded. “But my memories from my death until a few minutes ago are still gone.”
His uncle gave a tight smile. “Well, I cannot imagine there is much useful information to be gleaned from working in a bakery.” He paused. “So you are exactly who you were before this attack?”
“Yes,” Percival answered.
“Good.” Uncle Ignatius nodded. He turned to look at Cyprian, who sat on a chair facing the desk. Cyprian glowered at Percival. But that was nothing new.
After a moment, his uncle looked back at Percival. “Good. Then we can continue as things were.”
“But, Father. I—”
His uncle held up a hand. “Silence, Cyprian. You are just upset because he is more competent than you and because”—he looked at Percival once again—“I am going to leave him in charge of Everflame Glass Factory.”
Cyprian’s face flushed red. His eyes flashed.
“Leave, Cyprian.” Uncle Ignatius returned to his desk and sat.
Shoving himself to his feet, Cyprian strode from the room.
“Percival, get changed.” Uncle Ignatius’s gaze flicked over Percival’s burned clothes. “We have much to discuss. Your absence has caused innumerable issues and complications.”
“Of course, Uncle. And I apologise once again.” Percival paused. “But I will also need to deal with Ines, a servant. She lured me into the ice sorceress’s trap. I imagine for money. Like I said, the ice sorceress is dead. But the servant needs to be swiftly dealt with.”
“I’ll have several of the factory guards sent to find her immediately. Now go get changed.” Uncle Ignatius reached into a drawer.
Percival walked to his office, an action he’d done every day for years. He stared down at the factory below. The workers filed towards the doors, finished for the day. It all felt so familiar to him.
But still, his skin itched, like something wasn’t right. Percival paused. He glanced back at his uncle’s office.
Percival had been missing. He’d been killed, almost permanently. And his uncle hadn’t even cared. He’d just cared about Percival’s role in the factory.
But what had Percival expected? A smile? A hug? A word of gratefulness that Percival was still alive? Percival almost laughed.
He entered his office and closed the door. Percival knew his uncle. He was not one to give in to weak or soft emotions. He wasn’t sentimental.
Still, Percival couldn’t help but feel like something was off. Like he didn’t want to be here.
Which was beyond ridiculous. Percival was happy here. Well, maybe not happy. But this was where he should be. This was where he belonged!
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in?” he answered.
“My lord, I have some tea for you,” a female banshee, dressed in servants’ garb, said. She carried a tray.
Percival frowned. “I don’t know you.”
“I’m Luna, a new servant. I was hired to serve Lord Ignatius Everflame and Lord Cyprian here at the factory.” She smiled. “But after your ordeal, I thought you might like some tea.” She inclined her head.
“You can leave it on the table.”
The banshee did so, bowed, and left.
Percival walked to a cupboard where he kept a change of clothes. Normally, it was there just in case of an incident where he might give off too much smoke. Phoenixes rarely burst into flames unless they were dying, of course.
But why had he burst into flames today?
He sighed. He had far too many questions.
He changed, but he still reeked. Unfortunately that couldn’t be helped. He walked to his desk and drank the tea. He looked around his office. His nose wrinkled. Why did it all feel so wrong?
Tap. Tap. Tap. The noise on the window caused him to turn.
A raven tapped her black beak against the glass. Tap. Tap. Tap.
He sipped his tea. He knew this raven. He’d saved it with his tears when it had been injured on his window ledge. Percival frowned.
Then the raven had saved him. The ice sorceress had trapped him within the sigil. She would have permanently killed him.
He took a step towards the window, sipping the last of the tea.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Then the raven had swooped down and attacked the ice sorceress. The raven had managed to get one of her eyes. It had allowed him to shift and fight back.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Percival took another step towards the window.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ebony. That was the raven’s name.
Because then she’d saved him again. When Percival had been reborn. He’d been scared and hiding behind a crate. She’d led a man to him.
She’d led…Leo to him.
Leo.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The teacup fell from his hand. It shattered.
Shards of memories slid into his brain like glass. He fell to the floor. Ash filled his lungs as he silently screamed. Flames licked along his body. He clutched at his head, nails digging into skin as the pain swallowed him.
His vision burned gold. Then flickered. Flickered with images of Leo.
Warm sheets, legs entangled, Leo grinning as his eager hands stroked Percival.
Leo kissing his cheek as Percival cut pastry into strips.
Leo climbing on Percival’s back, in phoenix form. Flying together.
“I love you.” Leo smiling at him. “My firebird. My phoenix. My Percy.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The pain receded. His memories settled. He panted, staring at the window.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Ebony’s beady black eyes watched him.
He sat up. Smoke lingered in the air. Flames surrounded him. Lifting his hand, he calmed the fire.
“Leo,” Percival rasped.
I have to go to Leo! I shouldn’t be here.
What the fuck was he doing back in this hellscape? He rubbed a hand over his face, smearing soot and ash.
He didn’t want to be back here with his uncle, who’d bullied and yelled at him for years.
He let out a choked laugh. And after his last rebirth, he and Leo had gone to his uncle for help! His uncle had thrown him out. He’d discarded Percival like he was nothing.
And when Percival returned moments ago, his uncle had pretended none of that had happened!
But Percival was glad his uncle had turned him away. Because then he’d stayed with Leo. And they’d fallen in love.
Fuck my uncle! Fuck my life here! Fuck who I used to be! I need Leo!
Percival stumbled to his feet. His head swam. He licked his lips as he took a shaky breath. He had to get out of here.
He didn’t want this life! He didn’t want to be near his uncle.
He wanted the bakery. He wanted Leo!
He staggered forward. He tripped. He leaned against the wall, sucking air into his lungs as the room swam.
Leo!
He’d said such horrible things to Leo. He’d yelled at him. Accused him. He’d made Leo cry.
Percival gasped. He had to get to Leo and fix this!
Pushing himself from the wall, he took two wobbly steps. His legs gave out. He collapsed to the floor.
Face pressed against the ground, he stared at the window, at Ebony.
TAP. TAP. TAP. The taps came faster now. Ebony squawked, flapping her wings, as if telling him to get up.
Percival tried to move, but his body was too heavy. His limbs would not respond.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Heavy footsteps approached his door. It opened.
Percival couldn’t turn his neck to look at the new arrival. But the individual walked across the floor and stood in front of him.
“Good to have you back, cousin. Enjoy your tea?” Cyprian grinned.
The servant who’d given Percival the tea came up behind Cyprian. She smiled.
In the window, Ebony took flight. It was the last thing Percival saw before the darkness engulfed him.