Ivy #2
Lost in him, I don’t hear the door creak open until the sound of a chair scrapes across the floor. Darting apart, my gaze snaps toward the entrance, where Dr. Holland stands with his tablet in hand, and Mr. Man Bun hovers above him, vibrating with tension as he glowers at the man in question.
Thankfully, Archer clears his throat, attempting to take control of the situation. “Is everything okay, Doctor?” he asks, and the man straightens his jacket as he side steps the beast by the door.
“I’m here to monitor Miss Hayworth, but since she’s awake, a general check will work just as well,” he says with a smile. “Would you like to lie back down?” he offers, and I shake my head.
“I’m good right here, thank you,” I breathe as Archer stands, giving the doctor enough space to take a look at me.
He checks my vitals, just as he did last time, jotting notes down on his clipboard before he settles his attention on me. “How is your memory, Miss Hayworth. Any new recollections?” he asks, and I shake my head. “No sense of familiarity with anything or—”
“Scent,” I blurt, my cheeks heating immediately as he cocks a brow at me.
“What scent?” Mr. Man Bun blurts near the door, hands planted on his hips as he glowers in my direction.
I run my hand over my throat as I try to swallow past the embarrassment. “Archer.”
“You recognize Archer’s scent?” asks the guy beside Mr. Man Bun, who was sleeping moments ago, but has since perked up, leaning forward in his seat, and I nod.
“What do I smell like?” Archer asks, tilting his head. I wave him off with a shrug, but he takes a step toward me, silently insisting, and I cave.
“Like leather and vanilla.”
He nods slowly, like he’s digesting the information, and the air seems to shift slightly.
“That’s great progress, Miss Hayworth. If you’re feeling okay, I would like to discuss your abilities as a phoenix a little more. But only if you are ready,” the doctor adds, and I lace my hands together in my lap as I nod again.
“I’m ready.”
He smiles, glancing down at his clipboard for a second before returning his stare to mine. “I’ve been researching, and from what I can compile, a phoenix can do two things. There are murmurs and whispers of others, but the main two appear in all phoenixes that have been documented.”
“Is everyone documented, or just phoenixes?” I ask, my chest clenching with a hint of panic as he offers me a tight smile.
“All abilities are documented, but when something as rare as this appears, you do tend to find more notes are made.”
I press my lips together in a thin line as I suck in a breath before finding my tongue again. “And what are those two main abilities, Doctor?”
It feels like everyone draws a step closer to me, be it out of curiosity or protectiveness.
Either way, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the doctor taps his board.
“Well, you’ve experienced the first: resurrecting yourself from the dead.
” I gulp, hating how that sounds. “And the second is healing others.”
“How?” I blurt, and he almost grimaces.
“It’s believed the tears of a phoenix have healing qualities.” I balk, but he quickly lifts a hand. “There are no plans to make you cry to see if that works today, Miss Hayworth,” he clarifies, and I exhale as the blond guy, who has been quiet this entire time, steps forward.
“What are the murmurs of her other possible abilities?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed, and I instinctively fold my arms over my chest, bracing for impact from the doctor’s impending response.
“It’s more energy and environment-based. Like naturally controlling the atmosphere around her, keeping negativity at bay, and stopping conflict and corruption. But as I said, those are more whispers; nothing has ever been proven on those accounts.”
Regardless, it’s overwhelming as hell. I don’t know what I felt the moment I stepped onto campus at Neverbound Academy, but I’m pretty sure I know myself enough to know I wasn’t anticipating resurrection and healing tears.
“I think I need to lie back down,” I grumble, my headache niggling once again, and the doctor nods.
“Of course. It’s all part of your healing. It takes time, and the more you learn about your powers, the more accustomed you’ll become to it,” he explains, and I scoff.
“I hope I never have to experience this ever again,” I retort, and he winces as he takes a step back.
“My apologies.”
I wave him off. “What is my recovery time likely to be? Based on your research,” I clarify, and he nods, glancing down at his board.
“Amnesia can last hours, days, weeks, or not even surface at all. It’s been four days for you now.
I’m hopeful that by tomorrow, we’ll see even more progress.
But recognizing a scent is a big step. Now, I’ll let you rest,” he declares, stepping between my fated mates, who don’t move an inch to make way for him.
I slump with a heavy sigh as he reaches the door, but he grabs the frame with his free hand, spinning on his heels to face me before he leaves.
“Oh, Miss Hayworth, not to add more to your plate, but my research does suggest that being a phoenix is a little more than simply being gifted the abilities as such by The Fates.” His eyebrows gather a fraction.
“I don’t understand,” I admit.
“Because you just said you needed to rest, and it seems the doctor can’t listen,” Mr. Man Bun grumbles, and I make a mental note of needing to remember all of their names.
“My apologies, it may just be more food for thought for the four of you while she rests,” he insists, and Archer sighs.
“Spit it out, Doctor.”
He releases the door frame, pressing his clipboard against his chest as he exhales slowly. “The first phoenix was gifted by The Fates in the First Kingdom, but more than that, they have only ever existed within a single bloodline.”
“What does that mean?” My migraine worsens as I shake my head, still unable to piece together the dots.
“It means you’re not likely to be the only phoenix in your family.” Dr. Holland devours my response, searching for what, I don’t know, but I’m shaken to the core.
“I’m not aware of anyone in my family being a phoenix, Doctor. Otherwise, I’m sure I wouldn’t feel as overwhelmed as I do,” I admit, and he nods.
“Of course, but what is even more concerning with the matter, Miss Hayworth…” he starts, rocking back on his heels as he takes a second to glance at everyone in the room, stealing even more of my breath as the silence elongates until his eyes find mine, holding me captive as he speaks.
“You are the first and only phoenix to ever be registered in the Fifth Kingdom.”