Light surrounded her in a flower-dotted meadow stretching as far as the eye could see. Vivid greens, pinks, and yellows danced at her feet, while sapphire blues swirled above her. She'd been here before, and she knew what it meant.

"This is a dream," Phoenix said aloud, twisting around in search of the one she always found there. "Altair? Are you here?" 

She'd had dreams like this for as long as she could remember. Altair would appear, bathed in light so she couldn't see his face. When she was young, he'd play games with her. As she grew older, he presented her with challenges - ways to stretch her mind. He asked her to jump to the sky and bring back a cloud, flatten the grass with one breath, turn the trees upside down.

Her favorite dreams had been the ones where he told her stories. Stories of Guardians and Ancients. She never could remember them when she woke, but they always gave her hope.

She could use a little hope right now.

"Altair?" she repeated his name, studying the meadow. It seemed...different. The trees were on the wrong side, and too close.

"Not Altair."

Phoenix took a step back as a being appeared from behind the trees. Taller than Altair, the new being had a leaner build, and while she'd never seen Altair's face, she had the impression he was a smiler. This one felt very serious.

"Who are you?" Phoenix moved back again as he drew closer. "Why are you here? Or why am I here?"

"I need your help." He approached, and she forced herself to remain. Something about him felt, if not familiar, at least comfortable. 

"Show me your face."

"You know I can't do that."

Narrowing her gaze, Phoenix bit back a retort. She did know. Altair had told her showing her his face would endanger her, and likely this one would be the same.

"Then give me your name."

"Castor," he said it readily, giving it over without a fight. It eased her tense muscles. "As I said. I need your help."

"With what?"

"Eric Lee."

Phoenix frowned. "What do you have to do with Eric?"

"The same Altair has to do with you."

It was more information than Altair had ever given her. Though she knew their connection was special, she'd never known why he entered her dreams. "Which is?"

"Even Guardians need to be watched over." Castor glanced off to the left, and Phoenix saw the faintest glimmer of a strong, straight profile. "His path has darkened. I want you to help him. To reach him."

"Why me?"

"You're the only one I can reach for help. I'd ask Abigail, but mortals can't be reached like this."

Phoenix rolled her eyes. Why did everyone keep talking about Abigail? Who the hells was Abigail? "What do you expect me to do? He stabbed my brother."

"He missed on purpose." Castor sighed. "He's in danger. Something has changed, and I fear you're the only one who can get through to him."

"What am I supposed to do? He left. After his men killed my parents, I might add."

Castor placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt a warmth in the weight of it. "I need you, Phoenix Knight. Braskey will fall without Eric Lee. You will fall without him."

An odd surge of fear and excitement swept through her. "Does everything have to be life or death with you people?"

"Everything is life and death when you're the Guardian of an entire kingdom. Please, help me. If you don't, I fear the ruin of every player in this story. I wouldn't have come if I didn't believe it."

Phoenix considered him, his hand still on her shoulder. When he pulled back, she felt cold, empty. "I'll help you."

Castor's whole body seemed to relax. "You have my gratitude."

An unsettling thought occurred to her. "You didn't...hurt...Altair did you?"

Castor reeled back. "Of course not! But now that you mention him, I need you to keep this secret. He wouldn't be pleased if he knew I came to you."

Phoenix snorted. "Me? Keep a secret? You know that isn't possible, right? I can't lie."

"You won't have to. You won't remember this when you wake."

"How do I help you if I can't remember you?"

"Trust me."

###

Phoenix awoke with her hair splayed over her face, her mouth dry, and a crick in her back from sleeping on the sofa. Groaning, she rolled off the couch and stood. She'd slept through the night, but felt restless, like she had forgotten to do something.

Help him. 

Like a brick to her gut, Phoenix remembered the day before and dropped back down onto the couch. The images of Claire and Norman's vacant eyes, their wounds, flooded her memory.  She closed her eyes, which felt puffy and grainy from crying as much as she did the day before.

Help him. 

"Phoenix."

Phoenix's head shot up, eyes widening at the sight of Selene before her. Before she could speak, Selene descended upon her, settling on the sofa beside her and wrapping her arms around Phoenix's shoulders.

"My child, I am so sorry. How are you? How's Maverick?" Selene pulled back, craning her neck to peer down the hall. "I sense his pain."

Unable to speak, Phoenix leaned into Selene again, allowing her motherly comfort to wash over her. It felt different from Claire's, but soothed an aching area of her heart nevertheless.

"Oh good, you're awake. Will you--" Finny stopped halfway into the main room, brows arching at the sight of Phoenix's birth mother. "Selene? Aren't you supposed to be in the sky? It's not a new moon."

"Hang the new moon," Selene said, still holding on to Phoenix. "My child needed me."

Finny's jaw clenched and unclenched. "Yes, but if you recall, it was for your child's safety that you left her here in the first place. Your being here will call attention to her."

"Look at her. Attention has already been called." Selene stood and gestured to Phoenix's new form. A mumbling groan from down the hall quieted all three of them.

"Maverick." Phoenix launched to her feet and bounded down the hall to her brother's room. "Mav?"

He lay on his back, fists clenched at his sides, his teeth gritted as tears streaked down the side of his face. He didn't open his eyes as she entered. Before Phoenix could do anything, Selene brushed by her, moving to Maverick's side.

Maverick opened his eyes as her light filled the room, taking in the sight of her. Not giving him a chance to say anything, Selene pulled him up into her arms much as she had done for Phoenix. Stunned at first, Maverick relaxed into her hold, dropping his cheek to her shoulder and shaking with his grief.

Phoenix moved to Maverick's other side, putting her arms around him from behind and resting her head against his back. They stayed that way for some time, until Finny cleared her throat from the doorway.

"We ought to change Maverick's bandages." She held guaze in her hand and shoed Phoenix and Selene away. "He'll need to be strong for - for the pyre today."

Phoenix's stomach lurched. They'd set their parents that day, as soon as Maverick was ready. She'd forgotten.

"I will leave you now," Selene said, placing a hand on Phoenix's arm. "I will not intrude on your goodbye to them. Call for me if you need me." She leaned in and kissed Phoenix on the cheek. "You are strong enough to get through this."

At Maverick's side, Finny frowned. "Strange."

"What's strange?" Maverick asked, his tone deadpan and unfeeling. 

"Your wound has sealed itself."

"What?" Phoenix rounded the bed again, peering over Finny's shoulder. The skin at Maverick's side had red, puckered skin of a new scar, weeks older than it actually was. "How's that possible. Is that a royal blood thing?"

"I'm not sure." Finny cocked her head to the side, gently pressing the skin. Maverick sucked in a breath. "I'm afraid you'll have pain for some time, but at least there's no fear of infection this way."

"I guess I'll be able to stand for their passing." He dropped down onto his back. "I can honor them."

###

The town's holy grounds were on the northern side of town. About halfway through the day, Maverick declared himself ready, and though he winced as he straightened, he stood tall. His injury didn't affect his gift, and he carried Norman as Phoenix carried Claire.

At Maverick's insistence, they walked through the center of town where all would see. Life bustled as though the day before hadn't happened, with laughter and bartering happening at the market. When they passed through carrying their parents' wrapped bodies, voices ceased, and a hushed, reverent silence followed them.

They reached the firestone after a half hour's walk. The gigantic, flat stone rested upon four smaller stones, creating a table where they laid the bodies. Out of the corner of her eye, Phoenix saw several had followed them. Mayor Leyera was among them, and he approached.

"Maverick, you have our deepest sympathies." He placed a hand on Maverick's arm, and Phoenix felt the truth in his words. "Your parents were some of the best people I knew. I never would have thought-" He stopped, swallowing hard.

Never would have thought they'd be traitors. Phoenix waited for Mayor Leyera to say something to her, but he just cast her an odd glance and moved away. They don't know who I am. 

She moved back to helping her brother with the rites,  placing Claire and Norman side by side, laying Claire's hand in Norman's, and unwrapping their faces to give their spirits an avenue for release. When they'd finished, they surrounded them with hay and logs for kindle. 

Maverick turned to the crowd, clearing his throat. "Thank you, for coming to honor our parents with us today." He gestured to Phoenix. "We are grateful for your presence."

"Laina?" Aundreya shoved her way to the front of the crowd. "You expect us to believe that thing is Laina?"

"Aundreya," her father hissed, grabbing her by the arm. She pulled away. 

"You see it, don't you? She doesn't look anything like Laina."

"She sounds the same, though," Phoenix said, narrowing her gaze. "She has all the same memories. She hasn't forgotten, Aundreya."

Aundreya took a step back, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "Forgotten?"

"Forgotten how you treated me. How all of you treated me like a pariah." She glanced around the crowd. "Like a disease, shut out for my truth."

"Laina," Maverick said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged him off.

"No. You all watched their house burn. You watched as I went inside. You did nothing to help us. You did nothing to help those who were executed before them." She dropped her gaze. "And neither did I."

Help him.

"But that's over now. We're saying goodbye to our parents." Phoenix glanced over her shoulder at the unlit stone slab. "To Maverick's birth parents. Princess Clarice Tremaine and Norman Knight."

A soft gasp rippled through the crowd at her confession. She saw Aundreya's eyes light up anew, her focus now on Maverick.  Over my dead body. 

Mayor Leyera's mouth bobbed up and down. "You - you mean-" 

"They were executed for who they are, and Maverick was left to die along with them. You will live your sad little lives in this small town, never being more than what you are, but we will go on, for the world hangs in the balance. None of you may even notice the difference."

"Laina," Maverick hissed again. 

She didn't look at him as she backed toward the stone, still glowering at Aundreya. "My name," she said holding up her hand and producing a ball of fire, "is Phoenix."

Aundreya's eyes grew wide, and Phoenix broke away, holding her hand out to her brother. He nodded, taking hold of her wrist. Together, they reached out to the kindling, lighting the flame. With the intensity of Phoenix's blaze, the fire spread. They would remain until the last ember died.

The town, however, would not. Many left in a hurry after Phoenix's display. It didn't matter. The Army was long gone, and no one in Treywick would utter a word that might draw the eye of the throne. Not after what had happened over the last few weeks.

While they stood side by side, watching their parents second lives begin, Phoenix considered her next move. Maverick grew tired halfway through, and Phoenix supported him so he'd remain standing. He wouldn't be capable of traveling for some time, and Phoenix would wait until he was ready. Even as she thought it, the strangest, nagging feeling swept over her.

Help him. 

I'm trying. Phoenix rolled her eyes at the original thought, but almost at once she realized it wasn't Maverick who  needed her help.

It was Eric.

Full circle amIright? Phoenix's dream is seeping into her regular life. Now it's your turn to talk. What do YOU think will happen next? Did you like Selene's motherly side and that she's there for both Phoenix AND Maverick?

And what about Phoenix revealing who they are to the town? Think the secret is safe with Treywick, or are we in danger?

Also, CASTOR REACHED OUT TO PHOENIX!
That's a huge no no.
Tell me Allllll the thoughts. Now!