Chapter 11

Let Your Hackles Drop

Scorn turns to fully face Phoenix, and I roll to my stomach and get to my feet. Scorn grips his sword a little tighter in his hand and locks eyes with the black cat.

"We are here for the Wolf and the Dove," Scorn says. "I have no reason to fight you."

Phoenix stalks forward another step, tail flicking and ears drawing back.

"Yeah, well, I do have reason, so sucks to be you now, doesn't it?"

When a Guard comes at me with a dagger, I rear up and slam my paws into his chest, biting at his wrist. Blood fills my mouth, and I taste copper on my tongue. He drives a fist into my side. I drop my elbow onto his bicep and jerk my head, yanking on his other arm and dislocating his shoulder. The Guard cries out, teeth baring in pain.

I stand back up when the Guard stops moving. I hope, distantly, that perhaps he's alive since I didn't tear at any vital organs, but I know my heart won't exactly break if he never wakes up.

My tongue lolls from my mouth as I pant. I'm somewhat peeved that Phoenix doesn't even appear winded in the slightest, but at least he's here, and I assume Ky is too. I doubt they're ever apart, and I'm not sure how else the Guard and Soldiers would've stopped and dropped to their knees like they did.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Grey and I wouldn't have stood much of a chance against the Guard and Soldiers.

Now we do.

"Go find Grey," Phoenix grumbles without looking back at me. "I can take care of these fish out of water. Go find your brother, Alex. We will be talking later. I've got a fight to finish."

I do find Grey. He's not far, and his dove form towers a few heads above the Guard and Soldiers.

He's fighting back, but not as enthusiastically as I have seen him fight before. He stops short of damaging anything crucial. Grey lashes out with his wings and shoves down attackers with his talons. Panic seizes his silvery gaze.

Damn it, Grey. Fight for real. They're trying to kill you. You can hurt them. They don't deserve a fair fight.

My muscles protest at the action, but I drag down a Soldier before he can clamber up onto my brother's back. I sink my teeth into the back of his neck, and he goes limp, but not before another Soldier slices his sword through my side.

I cry out and stumble to the side. My legs give out, and I collapse.

Grey lunges in front of me before the Soldier can attack again. He spreads his wings and tenses. He twists his neck to stare down the ring of Guard and Soldiers.

I flash my teeth and growl. I try to stand, but exhaustion and the wound on my side keep me down.

"Let's not."

I manage to turn around and see Ky weaving through the Guard and Soldiers. His red bandana hangs over his chest, and his brown gaze is distant. Considering he hasn't been attacked, I assume he has cast at least one illusion.

"You good, Alex?" he asks.

I nod in reply.

"So here's what's gonna happen," Ky says, turning his attention to the Guard and Soldiers. "Option one is you all leave, and that's my preferred option. We all leave alive, or at least those of us who have not met Lucius, and we go our merry ways. Or, option two: We continue this pointless fight because who here actually thinks the Wolf and the Dove wish to willingly go with you... and Phoenix and I finish you all off. My brother here loves hunting you down like the vermin you are, and I'm not opposed to the idea either. None of us like you."

Grey shifts back to his human form and presses a hand to my shoulder as he kneels at my side.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

I nod. It hurts, but I'll live.

Grey lifts the malachite medallion. "I wish I could heal you."

I give my best impression of a shrug, ignoring how the movement stretches the wound and sends pain lancing up my body.

It's fine, I want to say. I'll be fine. I'm not mad about that.

Ky circles us, a physical barrier. He never lashes out, but he never lets the Guard and Soldiers advance another step. He watches them carefully in a game of wills; who will break first, who will back down first.

I close my eyes against the pain and trust that Grey will find some way to keep me safe, and that since Ky has faced down the Guard and Soldiers, he probably means no harm.

"Give us the Wolf and the Dove, and My Sovereign, His Excellency, His H-."

"I've had a long day," Ky politely interrupts. "Please refrain from using such an obnoxious title in my presence. Don't waste your air. Instead, please let me know which of my two options you have chosen. My brother will not be waiting for your reply, so if you wish to leave with more than a handful of yourselves, I would suggest picking sometime soon."

Someone, perhaps a lead Guard, gasps in horror. "The King of Ragdon-."

"Please," Grey says. "You have injured my sister. You have tried to murder us. You have tried to bring us to our deaths. Fight against Ky and Phoenix if you so desire, but do not make the mistake of believing any of us will be going with you."

"Works for us," another person says. I hear the shing of metal grating against metal.

I open my eyes just in time to see Ky glance at the Soldier. His gaze glazes over for a moment, and the Soldier screams, dropping his sword and scrambling back.

"What have you done?" a Guard demands.

Ky scowls. "It isn't that hard to bring nightmares to life. Now, leave."

I curl my lips and pin my ears when a Soldier draws too close for comfort. Grey ducks his head, tenses his shoulders, and glares. His hand curls into my fur.

"Aww, you're being way too nice, Ky. It's just so funny that any of them think they're getting out alive. Well, except for the one that ran away. Stupid little Soldier turned tail and ran, and some of his friends got to me before I could catch up. I really hate having marks on my record, but there's always next time." Phoenix shoulders his way through the throng, and several Guard and Soldiers fall to the ground, bodies smoking beneath leather and iron armor.

Did Scorn get away?

A Guard manages to nick Phoenix's shoulder with an arrow, and the black cat whirls around with a roar.

"It appears you just made your decision, whoever shot my brother," Ky calmly observes.

"You're not going to help?" Grey asks.

Ky turns around and shakes his head. "No, Phoenix can take care of them and he'd get annoyed if I got in the way of his challenge. There's not too many left. I'd give them a fifty-fifty of their retreat. None want to return to the cream puff without having completed their task, but also some do have a bit of self-preservation buried somewhere deep. Besides, none of the Guard or Soldiers are fireproof, and Phoenix is."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I take a deep breath and steel myself, shifting back as I let ice spread through my veins. The wound on my side screams as I push myself upright with a grimace.

"He isn't gonna get himself killed?" I ask.

Ky wrinkles his nose with a laugh. His whiskers raise. "No, he'll be fine. I'm fairly certain he could be drained of his blood and find some way to survive on pure spite. But on the off chance something does happen, I'll keep him safe. It's not that hard to twist the minds of the Guard and Soldiers."

xxxx

As it turns out, Phoenix does not need Ky's help. He's panting by the time the Guard and the Soldiers decide to retreat and has a few new nicks and scratches to show for it, but he's in one piece.

"Cowards," he calls after them in a mocking, sing-song tone.

The Guard and Soldiers disappear, walking into the trees in the direction of the Sea, and Phoenix snickers and laughs as he watches them go. His face contorts into a sneer, lips pulled back into a smile that's all fangs and bloodstained teeth, and his eyes glitter with a darkness that makes my hair prickle.

Ky leaves us and picks his way over to his brother, avoiding the bodies I know lay in the thick grasses. Droplets of blood drip down the stalks, bright red against green.

Ky stands next to Phoenix, and he's far more relaxed than the black cat. Phoenix is tense, all angry angles and sharp shadows. A predator. Ky is softer and not just that he's covered in shaggy fur. He's cross, but it's dissipated.

I can almost feel Grey's stress emanating from within him. He's kept his hand on my shoulder, as if he's afraid I'll disappear.

"Are you sure the wound is ok? We can find something to help it," Grey presses.

I wave my hand in a vague gesture. "I'm fine, Grey. I'm not going to just keel over. See? It's not even bleeding any more."

I lift the hem of my shirt. The gash has clotted over, leaving behind only crusted blood smeared across my side in dulled splotches of scarlet. I wipe at it, and it flakes off.

"Let's find a place to stay," Ky says. "I think we could all use some rest. You in particular, Alex."

As much as I'd like to say otherwise, I nod. I want to sleep. Finding Arcane and learning what the hell the pewter pendant and the malachite medallion are even meant to do can happen tomorrow.

Or maybe in a few days.

Grey helps me to my feet, and I lean against him as the four of us make our way into the tree line. Phoenix trots ahead, commenting about how he'll find if there are any stragglers lurking. I can easily imagine the flames sparking across his inky pelt, lighting up the forest with reds and oranges.

We find a patch of moss that Grey claims will be comfortable. After he touches it to make sure it's dry, he slowly lowers me to the ground. Ky watches from a few paces away.

"Alex, you stay here," Grey says. "I can find us something to eat."

"I'll go with you." Ky stands up and shakes loose dirt from his fur.

"Who's staying with Alex?" Phoenix asks, padding back to us.

Ky sends his brother a meaningful look, and Phoenix bristles, glaring back.

Ky raises his eyebrows. "Don't be all grumbly about it, Phoenix. You fought the Guard and Soldiers, so I'm getting us dinner. Don't pretend you would've rather hunted down a meal than fight them, because we'd both know you'd be lying."

Phoenix sneers but doesn't respond. Ky tilts his head, and Phoenix lays down, rumbling and irritated.

"You sure you don't need help?" I press.

"I'm sure," Grey replies. "Rest. You need to heal."

"Fine." I pretend to be upset, but in reality I'm glad. My side hurts just thinking about walking. The wound isn't deep, but it stings and any movement sets it on fire with pain.

"You're seriously leaving me on babysitting duty?" Phoenix tries.

"It's not babysitting," I shoot back.

Phoenix huffs, flicking an ear. "Sure feels like it. How'd you even get hurt, anyway? Weren't paying attention enough?"

"I might have taught fighting classes in the Sea, but I was teaching little kids. Most of my time was spent repeating to children how not to impale each other or somehow manage to off themselves. I'd rather not have to explain how someone's kid died during classes ordered by the King."

"Try to keep each other in one piece while we're gone," Ky laughs. "Let's go, Grey. I think I remember a good spot a ways from here."

I watch as my brother keeps pace with Ky, and they soon disappear into the trees.

Phoenix doesn't budge, and I find myself watching him. When I soon get bored, I strip sticks of their bark and then pick at the inner wood.

"You gonna stop staring at me?" Phoenix eventually breaks the silence.

"I'm bored."

He huffs."Shouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Like I asked for it." I frown at Phoenix's back.

"Be faster next time."

"I hope there isn't a next time."

Phoenix snickers. "Like that's gonna happen. Just you wait. You're the Wolf, and the cream puff wants you dead. There's gonna be a next time. I'd bet my life on it."

"I thought you didn't want to babysit me."

Phoenix draws his ears back. "I'm humoring you because it's better than sitting in silence with nothing to do, and I know if I track down Ky he's gonna skin me alive for not staying here."

"Ok," I reply, not sure of what else to say.

"Why'd you come back?" I ask after a few minutes.

Phoenix ticks his head and shifts his forelegs. "I like fighting. I heard there was a fight, and I joined in. Ky didn't want you guys dying either, and he saw how the fight was going."

"Yeah, well... for whatever it's worth, I appreciate it."

Phoenix doesn't reply to that.

Birds chirp overhead, and a breeze rustles the trees. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting mottled patterns on the ground.

"You actually killed today," he says a while later.

"I did," I respond slowly. I don't know what he's getting at.

"Wasn't sure you had it in you."

"I'm capable. Anyone is. I just don't wish to do so without extreme reason."

"They're Guard and Soldiers," Phoenix says, "what more reason do you need?"

"They're people."

Phoenix lifts his head, flashing his teeth with a growl. "They might be in that they weren't born worms or fish, but they're not people in that they're decent living beings. I know I ain't a person, but at least I don't follow a cream puff who orders deaths for those who do not follow him."

I lean back against the tree and toss a rock away when it pokes into my spine. "They've got friends and family. They can pay for their crimes in other ways."

Phoenix rolls over. "What's to say they won't escape prison? What's to say they won't outlive their sentence and find freedom again? Who's saying they're gonna learn their lesson? Death means they're done. It's over. No worries ever again."

I hold his gaze for a few moments before looking away. A bird hops across the soil a ways away, pecking at the ground. "You can kill. I don't wish to take lives gratuitously."

"Damn right I'm gonna kill."

"We'd make a good team," I murmur. "You do the killing, Grey and I will help with the other stuff."

Phoenix scoffs, laughing as he rolls his eyes and shakes his head. He folds a forepaw toward his chest. "You wanna join us? That's sweet. Ky's gonna say 'the more, the merrier' but I ain't gonna say that."

"Why is that?" I keep my voice level, non-confrontational, neutral.

"Your brother won't kill. That's about the fastest way to meet Lucius that I can think of. I won't fight alongside someone like that. And you don't seem all that inclined either."

"I have," I reply. "I'm not proud of it, but I have."

Phoenix stares at me.

"How old are you anyway?" I ask.

Phoenix tilts his head. "Old enough."

"Old enough for what? Are you even an adult? You look like you could be in school."

Phoenix scowls, and I drop my gaze before holding eye contact too long. He stretches out a foreleg, flexing his claws, and they dig into the soil, sharp curves with wicked points. I distantly wonder how many they've brought to the ground, never to rise again, then decide against thinking about it too hard.

"I'm old enough to tear down a stupid reign of a stupid cream puff who's let power get to his head. I never went to school, because I've never lived in the Sea. I mean, why would I? I've got better things to do with my time, like kill the cream puff and make him beg. And yes, I am an adult. You'd say I'm around twenty, but neither Ky nor I have really ever kept track."

"You're twenty?"

"Is that supposed to be surprising?" Phoenix's lip curls.

I shrug. "No, I don't think so. I would've guessed you'd be younger. Neither you nor Ky seem all that old."

"You don't seem all that old either," he shoots back. "You got any other questions to interrogate me with, or are we done here?"

"You ever gonna let your hackles drop?" The words slip out before I can really think them over.

"What do you mean by that?" Phoenix snaps. His question is simple, but his voice has dropped, become the edge of a blade, razor sharp, wicked, gleaming, dangerous. A warning.

"You ever gonna relax? You've got your walls built so high. You ever gonna let someone in?"

"What? Am I gonna let someone in that I've known for, like, hardly twenty-four hours?"

"No, not really that. I wouldn't expect you to, and I know everyone's got their secrets. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're not really the friendliest guy, you know, Phoenix?"

He stares me down through fiery eyes, expression flat and disinterested.

"Would you expect me to be any other way? You want me to be a little princess and sit pretty for you?" He inclines his head, eyes flashing as he pulls his forelegs in and squares his shoulders. His tail curls and flicks.

"No, please don't do that. I don't know you well enough to say, so I don't know if you've ever been something other than who you are now."

Phoenix snorts, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye as he rests his jaws on a foreleg. "Ky is the friendly one, but he has his limits. I'm not the nice one. I fight first, and we'll see about asking questions later. If I kill someone first, they cannot threaten me or Ky. It's a guarantee they cannot do anything. Death is the only guarantee. Meeting Lucius is the only guarantee Erebus had to offer when they created life. It's all going to end, and it's the only permanent thing in this fucked up world."

I hum and fold a leg, stretching out the other. I eye Phoenix's prickling fur and his cross expression.

"I'm sorry if I bothered you," I say.

"Shut the fuck up," he mutters. "You meant the question. I would've told you to piss off if I didn't want to answer. You better have been able to piece that together by now."

I lean forward and open my mouth to reply, but Phoenix beats me to it.

"Oh, lovely. Here comes Ky and Grey. They're back, and now we can eat." He squints at me. "Keep your mouth shut, Alex. If you say I'm sorry one more time, I'm setting you on fire. I don't care if you can't see magic; I will find a way. You meant the damn question, so stand by it."

I settle back against the tree, exhaling and deflating as my brother walks toward us with a rabbit hanging from each hand. Ky strolls beside him with another rabbit dangling from his jaws.

Phoenix stands up and stretches, arching his back. He shakes out his fur and yawns.

"Let's eat!" he announces loudly.