*Lemmy’s POV*

Alissa kept fussing over me, trying to get me to change clothes, to get my wounds seen to. But they were minor and I couldn’t spare the fucking time. Finally I had to order her away, she was too distracting. I knew where the egg was, I just couldn’t find the damned book! How the Conjurers did this kind of shit all the time was beyond me, it was so fucking complicated!

Oz barged right on in, Mick on his heels, as I was going through the second bookshelf. I glanced at him. His hair was limper than an old man’s pecker, and his face was worn like old leather. “You look like shit. How are ya?”

Oz sighed. “I feel like complete shite. The bloody book is over there, second shelf from the top, for fuck’s sake.” I saw he was pointing to the bookstand directly behind the desk. Oh. I found the antique thing quickly after that.

I turned, victorious, only to get a better view of Oz. His hands were trembling lightly and he had dark circles under his eyes. Shit, not good. “You need to swap out again? You’re looking like crap, man. It’s alright, I can take it.”

Ozzy shook his head as he found a seat; Mick remained standing and silent. “The Wild Ones need their leader, Lem.”

I shrugged; I didn’t have time for a fucking fight about it right then. “Sure.” I handed him the book, then fetched the egg from the bottom drawer on the right side of the desk. It was far heavier than it appeared, and I didn’t dare hand it to Oz in his state, so I gave it to Mick. “Hold that for a sec.”

I went to the fireplace that, until now, I had never bothered with during my tenure as Elder. Seemed like a fucking waste when you could just wear more damned clothes. Besides, most of the time the problem was that it was too fucking hot, not cold.

Setting a few brittle logs on the metal grate, I gathered some kindling from the log box and placed it just in front of the logs on the grate, to give it some air. Taking the flint from the mantel, I hunkered down and started the kindling alight. It took slowly, giving me plenty of time to gather the egg from Mick and set it carefully among the logs.

I went to Oz and got the ancient, thick book. There. Page 138. ‘The Messenger: For use in times of dire need only.’

I stood in front of the burgeoning fire, its flames now licking at the egg, and recited the proper lines:

“Lest the Forest fall,
I call upon thee,
Egg hatched in fireball,
Flaming bird set free.”

At first, nothing happened. I exchanged a worried look with Oz. Was it a dud? I was about to ask him if he thought I should say the words again, when there was a sharp, cracking sound from the fireplace.

I turned about to see a small hole had formed in the shell, and just the tip of a golden beak poked through. As the flames began to burn higher, I watched it chip the hole larger and larger, until I could see its whole head. I took a breath at the sight. I had successfully woken the phoenix.

It took a while, but eventually the little creature, seemingly at home among the flames, freed itself from its shell and came wobbling out over the hearth. I was hot as the hells from the fire and could feel the sweat dripping down my damned sack. The phoenix was clearly just a baby, and I wasn’t sure if everything had worked as it was meant to. I took a step towards it, as it stretched out its wings, “Are you-“

I was silenced as a shower of sparks flew from each feather, and it grew before my very eyes! It had been just a bit larger than a newly hatched chick, but it rapidly grew bigger than any raptor I had ever seen! Its claws were massive and burgundy, its feathers shown like the sun, and its hooked beak was brighter than gold! I nearly shat myself when it spoke with a deep, self-assured voice, “Elders, I sense the Forest is in deep peril. What would you have me do to protect its life force?”

I got ahold of myself quickly and reminded myself not to swear in front of the legendary beast. “The Soul has been taken by an evil entity that intends to use it for some dark purpose. We have sent all we could spare to try and destroy it before it reaches the malignant architect behind its misappropriation. Only a shard of the Soul remains behind.” I gestured at Ozzy, “He carries it in his chest.”

I cleared my throat. “We were warned that the malicious force may yet come for the remaining shard, when it is discovered missing. We have to protect it; it is the only hope of all life in the Forest until the Soul can be replaced. Will you travel to the other Fae tribes, tell them we are making our last stand, that now is the time to join us?”

The majestic bird inclined its fierce head. “No arrow or enchantment will be able to stop me.”

As Ozzy went to open a window to give the phoenix access to the sky, I remembered Councilwoman Tarja. “Could you put Merry Willows foremost on the course of your travel? We have a potentially very powerful ally there.”

The massive bird nodded again. Then, seeing that we had no further instruction, it leaped to the windowsill before somehow taking off into the sky without a running start. I looked out the window to see that it left a trail of fire in its wake.

Notes

yay, first chapter of Night Watch 2 (this is a sequel)!

HERE is a link to the first book.

HERE is a link to the character guide book. (in progress.)

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i recently saw Ice Nine Kills play at the Analog Theater in portland, OR.

check out the videos i took if you like:
I9K play 'proximity mines in the complex'
I9K play 'communion of the cursed'
'bloodbath and beyond'