Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
PHOENIX
I return to Vera’s studio before anyone else is awake. With an aching heart, I slip back into my bed and bury myself under the blankets.
I lay on my side, staring at the snowy mountaintops in the distance through the window. The first rays of sun are painting the sky orange and pink, softly illuminating my bedroom.
I’m so shaken by the conversation with Daegel, I can’t fall back asleep even though I’m tired. The Black Night demanded more energy from me than I expected, and all this fighting and heartache is not aiding that.
When I came to Ekios and joined the Ezkai Academy, all I wanted was to become powerful enough to face King Francis and find a way to end his reign. Or ruin his legacy completely. I craved justice for my family’s death’s. For King Francis’s betrayal.
But now…while my heart still wants to claim vengeance, it also craves something else. Something that’s complicating my journey. Love.
An image of my dad smiling emerges at the front of my mind. His face is quickly fading within my memory. The lines of his features blurry. I try to conjure his image sparingly. I don’t want it to disappear completely too quickly.
There’s a knock on my door. Before I can answer, it opens and Vera enters.
I pull myself up onto my elbows. “I know it’s your house, but what if I was naked in here?”
She waves a dismissive hand. “Please, sweetheart, you live in a Caetra studio. Nudity is admired and celebrated here.”
I snort a laugh.
Vera walks over to the window and opens it fully, letting the fresh, cool breeze into the room. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. We have a busy day ahead of us.”
“Don’t tell me there are more political soirees to attend already. For love of the old gods, can we just get into the pit and be done with it?”
Vera’s eyebrows rise. “A pit? What do you think is happening here? An illegal dog fight?”
“Whatever, a pit, an arena, a theatre of pain. You know what I mean.”
Vera crosses her arms and leans her hip against the windowsill.
“Phoenix, your fight is not always going to be physical. Stop thinking like a wild card and start being strategic. All of this will give you a taste of how your life will look once you’re an Ezkai General,” she says.
“We are actually going to visit a friend today.”
Slowly, I drag myself out of the bed. The last thing I want to do is socialize today.
I yawn. “Okay. What kind of friend?”
“A good one. There is a legendary Decarios mentor, Oka Oya. It’s an honor to be trained by her. She’s the only one who will be able to guide you through these trials,” Vera says. “My friend knows more about her, so I want to find out how we can get Oka Oya to mentor you.”
At that, I perk up. “Give me ten minutes and I’m ready to go.”
Vera’s friend’s house is just a few streets away from Vera’s studio, on a small secluded street, farther away from the bustle and hustle of Bussek.
“Is this another one of Caetra studios?” I ask when we’re at the door.
“Yes. Most are located here in Bussek.”
Vera knocks, and without waiting for an answer, enters the studio.
This Caetra studio is cozy, but not as elegant or fancy as Vera’s. The space is smaller, without windows to the backyard, and the furniture is heavy and dark. Velvet curtains drape from the ceilings along all the walls. It makes it feel…stuffy.
Two young fae woman and one old fae leisurely sit at the round table in the middle of the room, playing cards and drinking tea.
“Vera D’Argent,” the girls greet Vera.
Their glances are curious as they eye me from the distance.
“Vera, I see you bring one of the honorable participants of Val’taz Ezkairin to my studio today,” the older woman says. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Vera takes one of the empty seats and I follow suit.
“Hi, girls. Hi, Ri,” Vera says. “Meet Ezkai Lieutenant Phoenix Wildarrow.”
“Hello,” I say. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Ri’s eyes are watery and bright when she looks up from her cards at me. The game doesn’t stop, though.
“Quite a few of my clients favor you already, Ezkai Phoenix,” Ri tells me.
From her expression, and the way she eyes me, I’m not sure if she deems it to be a good thing.
I dip my chin in respect and say, “I’m grateful for everyone’s support.”
Ri returns her attention to the cards. We sit in silence for a while, watching the women play the game I don’t understand or know rules of.
“What business, Vera?” Ri licks her fingers before taking a new card from a deck. “I know you didn’t bring Ezkai Phoenix here to watch me play cards.”
“You’re familiar with Oka Oya,” Vera says.
Ri nods.
“We want to know how to convince her to mentor Phoenix.”
The game pauses. Three pairs of eyes snap to Vera.
“You want to get Oka Oya’s help? That’s ambitious even for you, Vera,” Ri says.
Who is this legendary Oka Oya that her help is so hard to get? I’m even more curious than before to know more. Actually, now I’m burning with the desire to get Oka Oya to mentor me.
Vera shrugs. “Entertain me, an ambitious fool, please.”
Ri clicks her tongue and shakes her head. But she says, “Does Noire approve of this?”
“Noire approves of anything and everything I decide.”
Ri snorts. “That arrogance will be the death of you one day, Vera.”
“I made my peace with it. You can stand on my grave and tell me ‘I told you so’ then.”
One of the doors opens and another young fae woman walks out, laughing. Her cheeks are rosy, and her hair’s messy as if she just rolled out of bed.
A handsome fae man follows her out.
“Jax?” I frown. “What on earth are you doing here?”
A lazy smile spreads on his lips. Only the sight of it enrages me. The girl sits at the table with us, and so does he.
Under one of his eyes rests a very large, very new purple bruise. Can’t say I’m surprised someone punched him. He definitely had it coming, no doubt.
“I’m a loved friend of Ri’s,” he says. “Her studio is my favorite place in Jaakii. And what are you doing here? Pleasure or business?”
I snort. “Favorite place in Jaakii, you say? That says a lot.”
He’s appalling.
“Does it now? It says a lot to people who don’t know the full story. Would you like to know, Phoenix darling?”
I flip him off. He barks a laugh.
“What happened to your face?” Vera surveys his bruise.
Jax shoots me a sideway glance and shrugs. “A guy at the bar didn’t like that I was more handsome than him. He tried to rectify the situation.”
I snort and shake my head. Is Jax ever truthful about anything? Or so only lies spill out of that mouth whenever he opens it?
“You know each other?” Ri looks at Vera.
Vera shrugs her shoulders. “Jax is a new acquaintance. Potential future friend.”
Jax presses a palm in the middle of his chest. “Oh, I’m flattered, Vera.”
“Don’t test my patience.”
Jax flashes her a wild smile, but says nothing.
Vera turns to Ri. “Ri, this is important. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t, you know that. You don’t need to do anything, just tell us how to reach Oka Oya.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you where to find her so you can get rejected yourself,” Ri says. “She doesn’t train anymore. Hasn’t for many decades. In fact, she refuses to have anything to do with Ezkai or Decarios, so be aware that you’ll probably be turned away.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I say.
“For Oka Oya to even consider entertaining the idea of being your guide and teacher, you must prove to her you’re worthy,” Ri says.
I speak before Vera can open her mouth. “How can I do that?”
“You need to bring her a gift,” Ri says.
I almost roll my eyes. Pfft, that’s easy.
“Consider it done.” I wave my hand. “What kind of gift?”
Ri’s wrinkled lips curl into a wicked grin. “You need no ordinary gift, Ezkai Phoenix. A gift has to show Oka Oya that you’re worthy of her consideration.”
I exchange a look with Vera. She purses her lips and hums.
“That’s rather vague,” I murmur. “It could be anything.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have just the right gift in mind,” Vera says after a pause.
“Good luck, Ezkai Phoenix,” Ri says, her old eyes boring into mine. I dip my chin in a silent thanks. She turns to Vera. “A private word before you leave.”
They rise to their feet and Vera follows Ri into another room.
Jax’s eyes are bright with mischief, his long finger tracing a sharp jaw. He says nothing to me, though. But I can tell there’s something he’s eager to share with me. Trying to avoid speaking to this asshole, I rise to my feet and go to stand by the entrance door while I wait for Vera to come back.
Of course that bastard follows me.
Jax is so annoying. He’s sleazy, talks too much, and every time he’s in the room with me, I want to stab him with one of my daggers.
Apparently, my glare gives away my thoughts, because Jax says, “Oh, I see you have lots of feelings for me, darling. It’s okay if you hate me now.
Foster that hate, that anger and rage. Coddle it inside you for a good while, I don’t mind.
Sooner or later, you’ll have to release all those emotions and I’ll make sure to be there so I can help you deal with all those passions in the most… efficient way.”
“Yes. You’ll definitely be there when I finally decide that I’m ready to stab you with one of my knives and release those passions.”
He chuckles. I want to punch him for it.
Standing very close to me, he picks up a loose strand of my hair and playfully twirls it around his ringed finger. His words are merely louder than a whisper. “I didn’t think you were a rat, Phoenix darling.”
I frown and slap his hand away. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I tell you a secret and you run to your boyfriend the moment you have a chance?” He clicks his tongue. I blink. “I’m lucky I have a mouth on me, and the irresistible talent of talking myself out of any situation. Otherwise, you would have lost an ally.”
My gaze darts to the bruise under his eyes. Is this…Daegel’s doing? Oh gods. Of course it is. It’s barely been hours since I asked him about Jax.
“Will you two stop bickering already?” Vera’s voice comes from behind me. “Jax, step away from Phoenix. Until I can trust you, I need you to stay three feet away from her at all times.”
Jax looks like a wounded animal. “I’m offended. We’re playing for the same team. I offered my life to you the other night. Is that not enough?”
Vera arches an eyebrow at him. I’m terrified he’ll tell Vera I met Daegel, that I told him about Jax’s involvement. But when he meets my gaze, he only winks.
It’s dangerous that we share this secret. It’s unsettling that Daegel is trying to get me to drop out. That’s he’s willing to get brutal like this when he’s displeased.
Why are you surprised? The same dark voice awakens at the back of my mind. He ordered to kill Kata Nightingale to keep a secret about us.
Ri chuckles. “Jax’s tongue causes trouble often. That’s why I don’t allow him to hang around my studio for too long.”
“Maybe if I cut that tongue of yours out, you’d be more useful,” I say, glaring at him. “At least, if not more useful, less annoying.”
A dangerous smirk blooms on his lips. “I’m afraid my tongue is my most important asset. I’d rather keep it.”
I refuse to read between the lines.
“Come on, you two,” Vera says with a sigh. “We need to start working on that gift for Oka Oya.”
“Me too?” Jax asks, enthusiastically.
“He’s going with us?” I say at the same time, horrified.
Vera shakes her head as she leaves the studio. “Spirits of the gods must hate me.”
Jax and I exchange a look and follow her.