The Phoenix Series Boxset 1: The Phoenix Series, #0

By Sarah Rockwood

Torn from Stone - Book One
The creature under the sink says you're not human, and only a trip into time itself will show you the truth.

After a lackluster birthday party, Phoenix finds a strange creature hiding under her sink.  Doing what any sensible person would do. She pokes it.  And when that little guy wakes up, he rocks her world.

Phoenix isn't human. The little guy under her sink just told her so.  She's actually a Traveller; a beautiful humanoid who moved through time on multi-coloured wings that filled the sky.  So why is she here, sitting on the floor of her tiny apartment with a strange creature named Sid?  Why doesn't she remember any of this? And where are her wings? 

Following Sid into time itself, Phoenix embarks on a wild adventure.  If the Sirens don't kill her, meeting a talking Yeti might. And ancient Egypt is amazing when it isn't so ancient. Although she could do without all the snake-men chasing her. And through all this, the most terrifying man in her home world, a silver-skinned warrior named The Archer, is hunting her down. 

Don't worry, when the stuff really hits the fan, Phoenix isn't afraid to swing her baseball bat at whatever is in her way.  They say you can't get blood from a stone, but maybe you can get wings?  Either way, Phoenix sure as hell is going to try.

Can a city girl travel to ancient lands, do battle with fantastical creatures, and literally find her wings?

 

Bounty of Ash - Book Two

So you've travelled through time, reclaimed your wings and kicked butt along the way.  Now you can relax, right?  Not so fast.

One minute Phoenix is lounging around her apartment, her wings magically tucked away, the next there's a yeti in her kitchen trying to drag her back to the Void. And why, you ask?  Well, there's a bounty on Phoenix's head and the prize is a share of her power; an offer so enticing the entire Void is hunting her down.

Narrowly escaping the yeti, Phoenix starts running.  Her home in the forest is still safe, even if her apartment in the human world no longer is, but she can't do this alone.  If she's going to end this bounty, she'll need help from the most dangerous man in the Void.  A creature who strikes fear into the hearts of yetis, minions and everyone in between:  The Archer.

If Phoenix thought things were going to calm down after she found her wings, she was sorely mistaken.

When every creature in the Void is hot on your tail, what do you do?  Well, first you go to your brother's birthday party, then you kick some ass.

 

Mend the Flesh - Book Three

When you wake up in a strange place with the flesh literally stripped from your bones, what do you do?

When last we saw Phoenix she had just finished exploding.  Literally. She exploded in a blast so big it sent minions and evil warriors running.  Now she's a vulnerable collection of tendon and bone, hiding out in the home of the only other member of her species, a reclusive curmudgeon named Royal.

When her old friend Sid turns up on the doorstep, Phoenix is catapulted into a minion showdown that only a meeting with the Guard can resolve.  Gathering her allies from all corners of the Void, Phoenix attempts to heal her broken body and save as many minions as she can.

When a big tough Traveller has to rely on a pair of gargoyles to cut her out of her pants, you know things are bad.

 

Buy The Phoenix Series Boxset and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Queen & King Entertainment
• Release date: Dec 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386561880

Book preview

1

Iawoke to the sound of heavy breathing: heavy, rattling breaths thick with mucus. They permeated the silence of my bedroom and I lay still as they worked their way in and out of the creature’s lungs. I opened my eyes to the darkness and spoke without a trace of sleep.

Hello, Sid.

Phoenix! I… I… thought you were sleeping!

You’ve forgotten that brief chat we had, I slithered up to rest against my pillow. You know, Sid, the one about not visiting me while I sleep!

I turned my cold blue eyes on Sid as he sat in the moonlit corner of my room. And in the half-light his shape was clear. Sid was a Minion, no taller than a five-year-old, with dark grey skin, a bowed back and a face that proved Creationists wrong. He moved with a combination of hands and feet so the skin on his palms was always dry and peeling. His only clothing was a small rag around his waist.

Minions are not beautiful creatures; they have a moist quality to their bodies, like frogs and are always slurping or snorting something. The little guys have no smell though. If they smelt anything liked they looked, they’d never be able to hide, and Minions are excellent at hiding.

What do you want, Sid? I asked.

I? I ask for nothing Phoenix, just a moment’s respite in your presence. That was the other thing about Sid; he could say the most beautiful bullshit. It almost made up for the slurping.

Come on, Sid. What’s going on?

He coughed and then slurped back whatever had come up.

Phoenix, beauty, I enjoy the sanctuary of your dwelling. I rolled my eyes, which was futile in the dark.

I’ve always been a magnet for weird stuff. Weird people, weird jobs, weird events. And then sometimes I’d catch glimpses of things out of the corner of my eye. Things that I couldn’t quite explain. Usually they were just mists or flashes, but sometimes they were more.

The first time I saw one of these solid things happened while I was babysitting. I was 14 and babysitting meant potato chips and Elvira.

Since it was my third or fourth time at this house, their kid was happy to see me and bedtime was a breeze. She went out like a light and their little dog curled up beside her bed and soon was dreaming little doggy dreams. I went downstairs, grabbed a bag of chips and started watching TV. The night went on like any other. I flicked back and forth between some late night movies, checked on the sleeping duo a couple times, and bulldozed my way through the chips. I was making money and watching TV. Things couldn’t get any better.

Around midnight I got this weird creeping sensation up my spine. The stillness of the house suddenly had an edge to it. I felt cold and instinctively brought my feet off the floor. The hair on my arms and neck tingled, and I got this eerie, spacey feeling. I had to look down the hall; something was pulling me there. I got on my hands and knees and crawled to the edge of the couch.

The couch butted against the entrance to the hallway. If I leaned over the arm, I could see the length of the hallway. So I took a deep breath and, counting on the element of surprise, I dropped forward.

Now, until this point, I had been convincing myself I was crazy. There was nothing in the hallway. I was being stupid. But as I shot forward, I saw it: the head and shoulders of a grey creature the size of a child, slipping down the basement steps.

I froze for a brief beat of time and then threw myself back on the couch. I lay there catatonic. I couldn’t bring myself to look again. Whatever it was, it would crawl into the living room at any moment and slice me to pieces.

So as quickly and as quietly as I could, I reached towards a mass of toys and grabbed a plastic baseball bat. I think it was this first grip of a bat that started my love affair with them; since this encounter, I’ve always kept one handy. Bat in hand, I felt ready to leave the safety of the couch.

It terrified me to go down to the basement after the thing. But it had to happen. I was the babysitter. I tightened my grip on the bat and headed downstairs.

I took the stairs one at a time as quietly as possible; the bat drawn over my shoulder, ready to give a beat down to whatever lurked in the darkness. The door to the basement was slightly ajar. Just enough for something to slip through. I took the bat and nudged the door open; it swung fast and hit the wall with a loud crack. I let out a quick scream, hearing a slightly deeper scream echo me from inside the basement.

That shut me up.

I stood in the doorway, not breathing, for several minutes. Okay, it was more like ten seconds.

Eventually, I peeled my feet from the floor and edged into the room. The cord for the light hung in the centre of the basement and I inched my way towards it, waving the bat in slow circles about waist high. Something hit me in the face. After a moment of panic, I realized it was what I was looking for. I braced myself and pulled the string.

Light flooded the basement. I forced my eyes to stay open and spun in a circle, searching desperately for the creature.

There was nothing there.

But you already knew that.

I scoured that basement and found nothing, not even a disturbed box.

I left the basement, locking the door behind me just in case, and checked on my charges. They were still sleeping. I went back to the couch and tried to convince myself the entire thing was just a strange mix of Elvira and potato.

Fast-forward a few years and I’m swinging a bat at a very similar creature, determined this time not to let it slip away.

2

On the night of my 25th birthday, I found Sid sleeping under my sink. My guests had just left and since I still felt awake, I thought I’d clean up. I didn’t want to wake up to a pile of dishes. So I went to the kitchen and with an absent mind opened the cupboard under the sink to grab my rubber gloves.

As I thought about having completed a quarter of my life, my hand slid across something large and moist.

I yanked my hand back and peered into the cupboard. There, curled into a tight ball, was a sleeping ‘thing.’ I say ‘thing’ because I couldn’t figure out what I was looking at. Was it a doll? A kid in a costume? It looked like someone had put human bits on a gorilla’s face with the precision of a 12-year-old. It appeared to be sleeping. Its little chest was heaving in a slightly ragged fashion. I watched it for a moment or two, but that was kind of boring, so I poked it. Hard

Its eyes shot open. They were grey as steel.

We both screamed.

I ran for my bat.

Running for the bat was instinct. Like I said, I’ve been doing it since I was 14. My friends like to test my paranoia from time to time, so even though instinct raged for the bat, my rational brain screamed, ‘It’s a joke! Relax! Kid in a costume! Kid in a costume!’

Bat in hand, I headed back to the kitchen just as the creature scrambled for the bathroom. He moved with a combination of hands and feet, agile and clumsy all at once. I could hear him panting. No way my friends rigged something this good.

I cut across the living room and swung at his back. The bat met flesh, and he slid down the hall into the bathroom and slammed into the toilet. I was on him before he could get to his feet, but he wriggled through my legs and into the bathtub. I was about to bring the bat down on his head when he cried out.

Please! Please! Lady Phoenix, I mean you no harm!

The moment he said my name, I froze. He knew my name. This horrible creature knew my name.

Please! I can explain! He took my silence for permission and continued. I am sorry, I did not mean for you to find me like this. I have been waiting for the right moment. Waiting for years to reveal myself, I did not mean for it to be like this. He sobbed harder, wiping at the streams of fluid that were leaving his eyes and nose. It was as I watched him paw at his face, leaving flakes of skin on his cheeks, that the words sank in.

What do you mean, years?

He blinked at me. I could hear the squelch of eyelids slapping together.

Are you going to hit me again?

I thought about it.

I don’t know.

Well, could you lower the club until you have decided?

I followed his eyes to the bat. I had my baby blue Li’l' Slugger in a two handed grip, drawn back over my right shoulder. If I wouldn’t hit him right away, it seemed stupid to leave it there. I lowered the bat.

Now, what do you mean, years?

He cleared his throat; it took a while.

My name is Sid and I am a Minion and a Traveller.

He calmed down as he spoke; the sobbing stopped and a strange formality came to his voice. His new calm soothed me as well and I sat down on the lid of the toilet so he didn’t have to crane his neck to talk to me. A smile came to his face as I sat and he continued.

I come from The Void and Travel from world to world.

He stopped talking and looked at me. My mind feverishly tried to decipher the information being crammed into it. I had so many questions and he had barely said a thing. I was frightened, yet I couldn’t deny that I felt an instant comfort around this creature. In the bright light, he looked alien and yet familiar.

Okay… what’s a Minion.

I am. Cryptic bastard.

Okay… what’s the ‘The Void.’

He looked at me with his moist grey eyes. His gaze was penetrating, as if he were trying to read something on my soul.

It is a place without Time, a gateway to every world, every moment, that has ever existed. My pulse quickened as he continued. Something deep inside me was waking up. We who live in The Void are Travellers. We are the amalgamation of the moments of evolution, each species embodying a stage of development seen and unseen throughout the galaxies. From The Void we Watch, tracking the Light of creatures like yourself. His voice softened. Your Light is dazzling, and it drew me to you, from The Void I felt you. I have been observing you for a very long time, waiting to see what your Light would do.

I had an unearthly being sitting in my bathtub saying he’d been watching me and I had not run screaming from the room. Sometimes I amaze myself.

How long have you been watching me?

He closed his eyes. I think he was trying to come up with an answer, but the action just caused goo to squelch out the corners, and he quickly wiped it away.

In your World, they would consider it eleven years.

I sat stunned for eleven heartbeats.

You! It came out much louder than intended and we both screamed, again.

Sorry… I panted. You were the one on the stairs! When I was babysitting! You scared the shit out of me!

He had the grace to look sheepish.

Yes, I am so sorry I frightened you. I have Watched your world for so long, centuries, and in all that time no one has ever seen me. I underestimated you. I never made that mistake again, although there were moments when I knew you felt my presence.

Yeah, there has been a lot of that over the years. I replied dryly. I leaned back against the tank and rubbed my eyes.

If I may say, Lady Phoenix, you are handling this remarkably well. He smiled at me, saliva pooling at the corner of his mouth.

You should be in my head. A horrible thought came. Can you do that? Be in my head?

No, My Lady, I merely Watch.

We talked through the night. Sid in the bathtub and me perched on the toilet. He told me about The Void: it’s flat, grey land with few trees and deep, cold streams. He told me about the other Minions, many others, more than any other species in The Void. He alluded to more species, but I couldn’t get any details out of him.

It was sometime around four in the morning that my eyes grew heavy and my head nodded. Sid paused in his description of the oceans before man crossed them and placed a hand gently on my knee.

It was the first and only time Sid has ever touched me. It felt like a warm fluid emanated from his hand and moved through my flesh and bones. The sensation was so strange that I made a slight cry and sat up. Sid spoke:

Lady Phoenix, the things I have told you tonight are Secrets well guarded. Secrets you must keep. We Travellers have shared our stories with very few of those we Watch. There are those in The Void who would be furious if you told tales of our meeting tonight. They would be most unhappy with me and they may harm us both.

Who are they? Other Minions?

It does not matter who they are! He raised his voice, the warmth moved more forcefully through my body. It does not matter as long as we keep the Secret. Promise me, My Lady, that you will keep it.

He looked deep into my eyes, and I felt a click of understanding. An oath I’d never known fell like a ritual from my mouth.

Sid, I, Phoenix, will keep your Secret.

The warm liquid feeling grew until my entire body pulsed. I felt safe and peaceful. As sleep took me, Sid removed his hand from my knee.

Thank you, Lady Phoenix. I will visit you soon.

I woke up alone, sitting on the toilet. Classy.

3

That was five years ago.

After our first meeting, it was months before I saw him again. I was wondering if I’d been slipped something that night when he popped up. We always had an excellent time, after I got over the shock of him appearing behind me or crawling over the end of the couch.

In the last six months, his visits had become more and more frequent. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He had taken to sitting in my room at night while I slept. It was okay, but he made a wet sucking noise when he breathed. It either gave me strange dreams about a wet-vac and a mud puddle or woke me up.

Okay, Sid. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. You’ve been here three nights in a row. Even after I asked you to let me sleep. It’s not like you, Sid.

I looked at him. What is going on?

Sid sighed. A deep, mournful, tired sigh. With his eyes averted, he crawled across the carpet and climbed onto the bed beside me. His grey eyes met mine, and he murmured.

The Archer is looking for me.

The Archer?

Please! Please keep your voice low. The names Travel. Please, Phoenix.

I had never seen Sid so desperate. Fear came off him in waves. Up close I could see that parts of his face were dry. His hands were more whole than I had ever seen, which meant he hadn’t been moving very much. I lowered my voice.

Who is this guy?

He is one of The Guards.

Sid can be cryptic. I’ve learned to just go with it.

Why is he looking for you?

Because I did not tell The Guards that I’d found… He hesitated. That I’d found something.

Why didn’t you tell him?

He will hurt it, he will destroy it.

Sid never spoke of the other species in The Void. He’d described it to me, briefly, and said there were other Minions, but nothing else. Every time I pressed him, he would subtly move me into another of his fantastic tales. I’d always thought of him as a survivor. Yes, he’s small and moist, but I thought he could handle anything. Yet here was Sid, sitting on my bed looking frightened. I did the only thing I could think of. Something I’d never done before. I gave him a hug. The moment I touched him, he went into a terror.

No! He moved like lightening off the bed and threw himself against the wall. No! You cannot touch me! Now they’ll know! They’ll know where I am! They’ll know everything! He threw his head frantically from side to side looking for an escape.

I must go. I must go. Far away. Maybe that will throw them off.

Sid! I’m sorry. I… His face was suddenly inches from my own.

My Lady. He hadn’t called me that in years, what was going on?

Sid, call me Ph…

No! His hand hovered just inches from my mouth and I was silent.

The names Travel. He softened. My Lady. Keep your Secrets.

The oath fell from my lips like it was yesterday in a voice not completely my own.

Sid, I will keep my Secrets.

Thank you. I must go before he traces me here. I will be back when I can. He shuffled away from the bed and disappeared.

What the hell had just happened? I lay back on my pillow and tried to dissect Sid’s words. Who was The Archer, and what was it that Sid had found? He said The Archer would ‘hurt it’ which probably meant whatever it was, it was alive. Sid had only ever talked about his time in my world. Could this thing come from somewhere else? And why would Sid hide in my room? If my Light was strong enough for him to spot all those years ago wouldn’t others have seen it?

These questions chased each other through my brain until, as the sun broke over the trees, I drifted off to sleep.

4

Iwoke up the next day and tried not to worry about Sid. He had lived for as long as Time, so I was sure he could handle himself. Besides, my bat and I wouldn’t be much help to him, especially not against someone with the balls to call himself ‘The Archer.’ I knew Sid would show up again eventually, so I crammed down my worry and waited.

But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks became a month, I started freaking out. Sid knew that I’d be on eggshells until he told me he was okay, so why hadn’t he contacted me? I started waiting up for him. I’d stay awake until the sun was up, reading to keep my eyes open until I fell asleep with the book on my face.

One night, around the six-week mark, I finally just went to bed. Exhausted from all my late nights, I realised I didn’t know when Sid would be back, so I should probably just sleep.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but I was suddenly conscious. The apartment was still and quiet, and I couldn’t figure out what had woken me. Then I heard it. A soft whisper.

Phoenix… Phoenix…

Sid? I asked the darkness.

Splendid, you’re awake. He flicked on the lamp, and it momentarily blinded me.

Sid! I threw an arm over my eyes.

Sorry! He turned the dimmer down.

Where the hell have you been?

He was much greyer than normal, and beads of moisture were visible on his skin. As he wrung his hands, sizeable pieces of skin flaked onto the carpet. He had been moving a lot. His skin spoke of fear and escape, but when I looked in his eyes they held a burning power stronger than the steel they mimicked. He was standing straighter and instead of his small plain cloth; he wore a wrap made of thick black cotton that hit him at mid-thigh. A leather backpack was at his side.

Sid, what’s going on?

Worry not, Phoenix. I will explain all, but now we must hurry.

Hurry where… Hey! You’re using my name again!

Yes, there is no point in restraint. They know where we are. He threw back my covers and beckoned me from the bed. We must go.

I got up as he walked towards my closet.

You still haven’t told me where.

He called an answer over his back while rifling through my closet.

That I cannot tell you. The Names Travel. I will answer all your questions soon. But now… He paused in his search. … This is the one… we must go.

He handed me the garment. It was the black jumpsuit I’d worn for Halloween. I went as a sexy vampire. Doesn’t every woman go as a sexy something?

Sid, I am not wearing that! It’s a costume, and it leaves nothing to the imagination.

It really didn’t. It was matte black and made of some man-made stretchy fabric that clung to every inch of me; the colour making my pale skin glow. It was a halter style that plunged in the front, had absolutely no back and skin-tight legs for tucking into knee-high boots.

I have long auburn hair that hits me at mid-back, and with my height and shape, I looked like an Amazonian Goth princess that Halloween. Super hot; if I say so myself.

Sid ignored my protest and continued his exploration of my closet.

Phoenix, we do not have time for this. That ‘costume’ is the only thing you have that is suitable.

But I’ll freeze!

No, you will also take this. He tossed me my fur coat.

Yes, I have a fur coat. Don’t worry; it’s vintage. It’s from the seventies and is the same colour as my hair. It hits me at the waist and has a beautiful collar that I wear up around my neck. I love the thing. While I contemplated the coat, Sid had found more things for me.

These for your feet... Black suede knee-high boots, it was Halloween all over again. … And this I will fill with supplies, he pulled out my giant black leather tote. Get dressed.

He slithered into his backpack and went for the door with my bag in his hands. I looked down at my ‘outfit,’ and I’d had enough.

Sid! I am not doing anything until you explain just what the fuck is going on! I rarely swore in his presence; he found it extremely offensive. He stopped in the doorway and turned to face me. Anger pulsated from him, and his eyes burnt a light scarlet colour. His body trembled with restraint, and although he was half my size, I was afraid. He spoke in a strained whisper.

I have Watched you since you were but a child. I have protected you from things you cannot imagine. I am older than your concept of Time. You are most precious to me, and I would do nothing to harm you. Heed my words. We must leave here, now.

He turned on his heel and left the room.

I got dressed in record time. Halloween night I’d taken almost an hour to put on all the finishing touches, but tonight there would be no trick or treating. I’d forgotten how comfortable the suit was. Sure it was skin-tight, but it was also very soft and stretchy, and with the boots on I felt ready for action. I stole a glance in the mirror; without the fangs and fake blood on my chin, the suit just looked hot. Too much for day to day, but not for travelling with a Minion. I shrugged into the coat and walked out of the bedroom feeling like a rock star. A frightened rock star, but still.

I met Sid in the kitchen. Aware of my need to graze and guzzle water all day long to prevent bitchiness, he had filled my bag with packets of nuts, a few apples, and some cheese. Judging by the amount of food in the bag, I would be gone for a while.

Good. You’re dressed. He handed me my water bottle. Fill this.

He left the kitchen. I could hear him rummaging in my bedroom again as I filled the bottle. I loaded it and a few things from my purse into the bag as Sid returned.

Please put this in the bag. You will need it.

He handed me my bat. My bright blue, 'Lil' Slugger, baseball bat. Shocked, I wanted to ask yet again just where the hell he was taking me, but didn’t. After Sid’s tirade, I would not push it. Besides, despite my questions, I trusted him. I knew in my heart that Sid would never hurt me. I slid the bat into the bag. It fit pretty well in the oversized tote. If I put it in at an angle, only about six inches of handle stuck out. My 'Lil' Slugger is just that; little, child size. I just found the grown-up ones awkward and hard to hide.

When I had finished loading the bag, I swung it over my head, so the strap lay across my chest. I don’t normally like wearing my bag like that, but since I didn’t know where we were going, it was mobility over fashion.

Sid walked through to the living room with me at his heels. He stopped in the middle of the room. He gestured for me to step back, then closed his eyes and stretched out his arms. A quick warm flash of power ripped through the space; I swayed slightly. Sid opened his eyes and held out a hand to me.

We are safe to Travel. Come, My Lady, take my hand.

I put my hand in his and felt that warm pulse move its way through my body.

Hold tight to my hand, Lady Phoenix.

I couldn’t keep quiet.

Are we going to disappear? Like you do?

Yes. Please close your eyes.

Oh, shit. I closed my eyes.

It felt like fainting.

5

The smell of fresh earth and enormous trees woke me. I felt dirt under my cheek, its moisture bringing me back to myself. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but something told me it was merely an instant. I opened my eyes slowly. I laid sprawled on my side on a forest floor, feeling soft moss and dirt under my body. I looked around and could see large maples and oaks swaying in the mild breeze. Weak sunlight peeked through their branches to mark the ground, a fine mist filled the void between them. I heard Sid moving nearby.

My lady, are you hurt? He had stopped using my name.

I rolled onto my back and looked up at the canopy. I did a mental check of my body, and everything seemed intact. Physically fine, I sat up.

I don’t think so. Where are we?

A forest. No shit.

But where? He was already moving. I scrambled to my feet and chased after him. Sid took off into the underbrush, moving silently on his hands and feet. I had never seen him move so gracefully. He always looked so awkward when he walked around my apartment, but now he practically danced over logs and around bushes. I didn’t do so well. Considering Sid’s silence, I tried to move with as much stealth as possible. I was twice Sid’s height and more than once got my hair caught on a branch that Sid had practically melted around. I was glad he’d chosen flat boots.

The land slowly sloped upwards, like the base of a hill, but the canopy was thick and I couldn’t be certain. We had travelled in silence for about ten minutes when Sid took cover behind a gigantic boulder. Panting, I sat down on the ground beside him. He was still for a moment, then gestured for me to look around the rock. I moved onto my knees and stretched my upper body around the icy grey stone. We were definitely at the bottom of a large hill. About thirty feet away, on the side of the forest-covered mound, was a man-sized fissure framed with rubble.

I moved back beside him and we locked eyes. Sid nodded once and was around the rock before I could question him. I followed as closely as I could and within moments we were at the fissure. Sid moved ahead of me into the darkness. Wondering what the hell I was doing, I took what I hoped wouldn’t be my last look at sunlight and stepped through the opening.

The fissure opened to a large tunnel. It was much drier than I expected and was large enough for a big and extremely tall man. The tunnel was gloomy, but Sid produced a lantern from his bag. The lantern was a small round orb about the size of a grapefruit with a curving metal handle protruding from the top. The orb itself looked like pressed metal, and the slits cut into it scattered unusual shapes around us. Soon the passage opened up into an enormous circular cave.

Sid scuttled around the cave, lighting torches mounted on the rock. He moved without hesitation; he had been here before. As the light grew, I could make out more of my surroundings. There was a fire pit in the middle of the cave, with a cooking spit and pot suspended above it. High above that, in the cave's ceiling, was a small opening, presumably for smoke. A sliver of sunlight peeked through. Around the fire were three stools. Two were of average size and simple construction, but the third was enormous, easily five times the size of a standard chair. It was made from a colossal piece of wood that appeared to be the trunk of an ancient tree. Some roots remained, and they reached for the ground like thick fingers. Intricate carvings, that I couldn’t decipher in the torchlight, covered the stool. I looked at the giant spit. There were bits of charred flesh stuck to the ends and the handle was well worn. It could easily support the weight of a gigantic dog and I’m just a little bigger than a gigantic dog. Yay, I’ll make two suppers.

In the back reaches of the cave was a large cot the size of a king-sized bed; covered with pieces of fur and a headboard of antlers. To the left of the bed was a long table so high I could have comfortably rested my chin on its surface. Beside that stood a bookshelf; from where I was, I couldn’t make out the lettering on the spines. I just hoped they weren’t cookbooks. Although Sid had been here before, this was definitely not his home.

Whose place is this? I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice. Sid motioned for me to sit by the fire. I took the stool furthest from the giant one, which unfortunately put my back to the entrance.

It belongs to a friend of mine. You will meet her soon enough.

Her? Oh god, this entire journey was freaky. Why had I just left my apartment with Sid? How would I get home? I looked at the giant spit. Were all these years some elaborate plan to gain my trust and then squirrel me away and eat me? Oh, with all those lattes and organic chicken, I just know I’d be tasty. I pulled the bat out of my bag and lay it across my lap. Until I got some answers, that was where it would stay.

Sid had been busying himself starting a fire and looked up at my movement. He saw the bat in my lap and exhaled the twin of that deep mournful sigh that had started all this.

I am so sorry, My Lady. I owe you many answers. He sounded so sad that I almost put the bat away. Almost, because that’s when they get you. You have been very trusting to follow me this far. No human would fall so easily into such uneasy things.

I just want to know what’s going on! All the fear and panic that adrenalin had held at bay were bubbling up. Why the hell did you bring me here? I was yelling now. Whose house is this? Why do I have to meet them? I jumped to my feet. Look at the size of that bed! I jabbed the bat towards it. And that spit! They could fucking eat me! Is that what this is? Huh? Some elaborate plan to eat me?

My chest heaved as I held the bat with both hands. Sid giggled. It was a phlegmy sound.

Eat you? His giggles grew fuller. Eat you? I’m not going to eat you!

I watched him struggle with the thick fluids his mirth created. His laughter rescued me from my dark thoughts. Sid was a third my size. The first time we met I had slammed him halfway across my apartment, and we had been friends for years: there was no way he would eat me. Not exactly happy, but considerably calmer, I sat down and tried to regain my composure.

I’m sorry, I’m just a little freaked… He began stoking the fire, his chest still rattling with silent laughter. … This is just a lot to take in. I had years to get used to you and now in the space of an hour, you’ve told me I’m in extreme danger and dragged me to the home of some unknown creature, who’s definitely not a Minion, I gestured at the big stool. … In a place I don’t recognise. I put the bat away. I think I’ve handled everything pretty well, but I’m nearing my breaking point. I need answers, Sid.

He flinched at the saying of his name and threw his arms out to the side. A brief flash of warm power echoed through the cave.

My lady, please do not use my Name. The Names Travel and we must not be found. I opened my mouth to question him again, but he silenced me with the raising of his hand. We are in the home of a very old friend. No harm will come to you here within this rock. The reason for our quick departure comes at the end of a long tale. A tale I have intended to recount since you found me under your sink. I should have told you sooner, but always thought I would have more time. I now see how futile that was. You accepted my presence with such ease that perhaps the truth would not have alarmed you that night, but I was afraid. I worried it would break your heart, My Lady.

Silent tears ran down his face. His grey eyes held so much weight. I wanted to say something reassuring, to make his burden less, but couldn’t find the words. The firelight danced in his eyes. He threw his arms out in a gesture I had become familiar with and a blast of warm power, stronger than before, filled the cave. When he spoke, I felt something within me had changed forever.

The story starts in The Void.

6

I have told you of my species, the Minions, who live in The Void, Sid continued. "But there are others, many others. Each has a distinct visage and frame. Some more human in appearance than others. Their numbers do not run into the hundreds like we Minions, yet they all have a significant presence.

We have existed in this fashion, longer than the concept of Time. The many species living together, Travelling from world to world and policing ourselves as necessary. We did not fear one another because in groups the power is shared. We Minions have little power because of our immense numbers. Aware of this sharing, the inhabitants of The Void work to keep our numbers so that no single being may gain control. But there was a solitary Traveller. A creature without a double, let alone the numbers needed to share power. No one knew why or how she came to be, but there she was, alone. She was graceful and beautiful, indistinguishable from human but for the magnificent wings that grew from her back.

The feathers were broad and soft. They held a multitude of colours, purples, greens, blues, and pinks coursed through them. To see her stretch them as she prepared for flight was a beautiful thing. But she was alone.

One day she ceased Travelling and took to wandering The Void. She moved incessantly across the grey landscape. As Time passed, it seemed she had forgotten how to Travel. She had not taken flight through our grey sky in an age.

This time in The Void had made her powerful, yet vulnerable. Although she had never acted in malice towards a single being, whispers started. The others grew frightened. She so closely resembled those we Watch. They feared her humanness. What could come of such a creature? A movement formed to cast her from The Void.

On a cool bleak day, without warning, they charged. Running at her back, they tore her right wing clean off before she knew the bombardment had begun. As she grappled with the many hands attempting purchase, she knew she had one option. To Travel. And it was in those last moments, as she heard her left wing tear, that she realised she could never return. Without her wings, wherever she landed would be her new home. It had been so long since she had Travelled, and with no time to twist the proper charm, she trusted to instinct. As the second wing was severed, she jumped headlong into the next world. Aeons and instants dissolved as she passed, screaming, into the bright world beyond.

I watched it all: disgusted with the actions of my brethren, but unable to stand against so many. As soon as she passed from The Void, a great cry of joy and frustration emptied from the mouths of the mob. They had wanted her blood, not merely her wings. They tried to rip the wings apart but they would not rend. Keeping their shape, the wings were tossed about, various creatures sucking on what little blood lived in their joinings. The blood made them momentarily crazed with a power that left as quickly as it came. When the last of them had grown tired and lay dozing on the ground, I grabbed the wings. I secreted them away to other worlds. It broke my heart to separate them, but together they were too powerful. Their Light would pulse, making them easy targets for her enemies.

I hoped one day to find her. Without her wings she would not know who she was, she would begin her new life as an infant, a babe, in whatever world she landed. She would have no memory of her home.

Soon after her departure, The Guard came with a new decree; she was to be forgotten and that to help her would violate our ancient laws. Anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts was to report it immediately. They said it was too risky to bring a Traveller back in her condition. They said The Void did not need her, that she had no place in our grey home.

But I did not believe them. I knew their words were made of fear. Fear of what she would do when she returned. For all her silence, she knew the darkness and anger that had crept its way into The Void. She could feel it winning over the inhabitants. I was sure that in time she would have acted against it.

There were a handful of creatures that shared my thoughts and together we agreed; we would bring her home. We would return her to The Void so she might see justice. None searched as diligently as I. It was strenuous work to search without being seen, always looking over my shoulder and playing the fool with The Guard. It took me fourteen years, but I finally found her.

The Phoenix."

7

F ourteen years until I found you, My Lady.

The cave was so silent my ears felt full with the weight of it. What Sid said made no sense. The thought I was this creature, that I was one of these Travellers, seemed insane. I tried to articulate this, but no sound would come.

My Lady, it is true. I have Watched you closely. There can be no doubt of it. You are a Traveller, The Phoenix. Something pulsed in the centre of my body and the fire flared, sending bright embers high into the sky. See! Sid exclaimed as he gestured at the embers. Your powers are weak but with knowledge, they will grow. Watching the tiny sparks, I found my voice.

But I have parents.

Yes, without your wings you had to enter the world through them. It was their love that helped keep you hidden for so long.

How?

Their Light mixed and mingled around you, shielding you from prying eyes. It wasn’t until you approached your teen years and pulled from them, that I could find you.

So all those fights were me trying to find my wings, literally.

Okay, it was a bad joke, but I was trying. As Sid pity chuckled, I ran through his story again. As strange as it was, it felt familiar. It held the same familiarity I experienced when I met Sid. And that was the other thing; if Sid was real, and there was no doubt in my mind that he was, why couldn’t the rest of it be real?

My parents had never planned on calling me Phoenix. They had a nice normal name picked out for me. But Mom said when they saw me she just had to call me Phoenix. Coincidence? And what about little things like knowing the phone will ring or who will walk into the room? And I’ve always had such powerful feelings of déjà vu, especially when I travel. Over a lifetime, it all seemed inconsequential, but, sitting across from Sid, it made sense. I locked eyes with Sid.

Okay. Now what?

You believe me? Good question.

I’m not sure, but I’m willing to move forward. I want to see these wings. Maybe if I touch them, I’ll feel something. Yeah… I was almost talking to myself. … Yeah, if I touch them, I’ll know. Sid nodded. The same proficient nod he gave at the mouth of the cave.

We will take action. We must gather the wings. It will be an arduous task, I hid them well. I fear that although their exact location is unknown, the worlds that hold them may be Watched. We will need help.

At that moment quiet, yet weighty, footsteps echoed down the passageway. I could hear deep breathing and the sound of something soft rubbing against the rock.

Ah! Sid’s face broke into a wide grin. She’s home.

I was about to meet the owner of that enormous bed.

8

The steps grew closer. I stared at the mouth of the passageway, intoning, It’s not going to eat me. It’s not going to eat me… over and over. The passage was dark and the cave bright with fire and torchlight, making it difficult to discern just what was coming down the hall. I could see the outline of the creature’s body, at least seven feet tall with very broad shoulders and heavy arms that seemed too long for the gigantic frame.

She is friendly. Sid whispered to me as she stepped into the light.

I had underestimated her height; she had to be closer to eight feet. Covered from head to toe in short dark brown fur, only her hands and feet were bare. The skin there was black and leathery. Her head sat directly upon her shoulders, there was no neck to speak of, and her face was reminiscent of a gorilla’s, but more expressive and with softer lips. I looked into her eyes. She had beautiful deep brown eyes, intelligent and warm. Nothing with eyes like that could eat me. She saw the fear melt from my body and came towards the fire.

Hello, My Lady. It is good to see you again. I jumped to my feet and offered my hand.

Thanks so much for having me over! Sometimes I’m an idiot.

Lady, it’s my pleasure! The creature chuckled. I’m afraid I mustn’t shake your hand. Touching sends sparks of Light, something we must avoid. So that’s why Sid touched me so rarely. The creature continued, I am Yeren and my home is yours. Yeren gazed at me for a moment before continuing. Her voice was as soft as her fur, the voice you’d want to hear when you have the flu. You must be hungry. I will prepare our dinner while we discuss the next stage.

She turned towards the table at the back of the cave. Her gait reminded me of something. I watched her busying herself with preparations before it came to me.

Bigfoot! They Yeren and Sid turned to me. Or Sasquatch… Sid blinked. I’m sorry, was that offensive? I just wondered where I’d seen you before, and then I remembered. There’s a movie, from the sixties, of a… a… I searched for the word. … A ‘being’ that looks a lot like you.

Really? said Yeren. Then she laughed. Bigfoot… We choose the word ‘Yeti.’

Yeti, much better than Bigfoot. We smiled and Yeren turned back to the food.

Back to the matter at hand, Sid cut through the merriment. Yeren, have you set the enchantments?

She paused: Yes. Her voice held a deeper resonance and the walls of the cave seemed to pulse briefly as she spoke. The cave will be secure while we plan. She returned to her work.

Good. He rubbed his hands together, a glint of conspiracy in his eye. My Lady please sit, there is much to discuss. I returned to my seat as he continued. The first of the wings we shall retrieve is in the twelfth century. I have hidden it…

Wait a second, the twelfth century?

Yes.

Okay…. What century are we in now? It was Yeren who answered. As she explained she filled a cooking pot with vegetables and a carafe of water.

This cave lives in the tenth. No humans inhabit this wood at this point in Time. She smiled at me. I find it very peaceful.

Of course, I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Okay… My brain was trying to keep up. We’re in the tenth and we’re Travelling to the twelfth.

Exactly, they chorused.

I hid the wing in a tiny village in an area you call the Ukraine, Sid explained. It is a forest much like this. The village followed a pagan tradition with many gods. One god, Simargl, they depict as a large winged dog; in their sacred circle, the villagers have a statue of him. I encased your wing in his of stone.

My wing. The desire to see this thing was growing. Not just see it, to touch it. I could feel my yearning building minute by minute. Did this mean they truly were my wings or was this some modern impulse to keep everything I thought was mine? I’d know soon enough. Sid was still talking, and I dragged my attention back to his words.

With darkness as our cover, we will Travel to the village. The statue is a scant distance from the village centre. The figure is crude and holds no magic; however, it bears witness to their sacrifices so the area itself has some power.

There is also the matter of the Hag, Yeren interjected.

I was getting to that, Sid’s eyes narrowed with hate. A Hag frequents those forests. They call her Baba Yaga and she has hoisted the head of many a man on the pikes of her fence. She moves throughout the forest’s Time so one can never know her exact location. It is one reason I chose this place. I gave him my best ‘you’re kidding,’ face. "No, I am not kidding. Her presence deters many a visitor and the probability of her