Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Riddles of The Phoenixes Series

Chapter twenty three: Council meetings

The little girl, only five years old, stood in the center of the empty room. Her mother and father were in a meeting down the hall. They were always in meetings nowadays. With who? She was never sure. Neither did she want to know.

Whenever they’d gone into town one day they’re rode by a dancer in the street, dancing for money. Her mother had scoffed at the sight but her daughter…it had been so intriguing to her. Maybe she could do that too.

Of course she was only five but she tried her best. When her parents weren’t around of course. She pushed back her long black hair and slowly lifted a arm then raised her foot slightly. She spun. And collapsed unto her bottom, giggling loudly.

She jumped back up and tried again. And again. Over and over. It never occurred to her to be quiet, as she was giggling quite loudly and making thumping sounds and she hit the ground.

That is until her mother burst in, eyes dark. “Rowan! What on earth are you doing, you silly child?!” Her mother barked, grabbing unto Rowan’s arm with a grip of steel and hauling her to her feet.

“I wanted to dance.” Rowan whimpered. Her mother’s eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips. “You silly repulsive little child, dancing is for the weak. And you as my daughter will not be weak. You’re old enough to understand not to play around.

Understand?” Rowan lowered her face, tears gathering under his eyelashes. “Yes mother.” She said softly. Her mother gave a nasty grin. “Good. Now come. Your father wants to see you….”

~

“Emma? Emma? Emma?!” Josephina called, half exasperated. Emma started, snapping out of wherever she’d been before. She smiled gently, sensing Josephina’s anxiety and slight bit of annoyance.

“Patience sister. The meeting will be over soon.” Emma said. Josephina frowned and turned to gaze out the window, her eyes narrowed with anxiousness. The royal Phoenixes were in a meeting, all the kings and queens and their advisers. And family. Emma had stayed out because she was always rather quiet and it sort of annoyed her when they all looked to her for advice.

“Just because I can see the future doesn’t mean that I do it for every small meddlesome detail.” She says. Josephina didn’t go in the meetings because they made her nervous. And because she couldn’t bring Brutus in with her. Her brother King Jack had a terrible fear of catlike creatures although he could stand Brutus from afar.

Brutus watched Josephina carefully, probably knowing what she was thinking about. A few minutes later the council was dismissed. The Lightning and the Fire royals left in a hurry, looking worried. The rest of them sat down in the chairs around Emma and Josephina. Cyra’s face was pale, black bags around her eyes from the lack of sleep. Jack was fidgeting nervously, inhaling every minute.

Sylvia rested her head against Jay and he wrapped a arm around her tightly. Nora yawned.

Emma sat silently.

Jaquin sat beside Josephina, Peggie sitting on his shoulder. “So?” Josephina asked, breaking the silence. “How did it go?” Jack scratched his beard. “Not well. The other kingdoms aren’t taking this well. We’re still trying to figure out where all of the kids went.” Sylvia said, pursing her lips.

“And the culprit behind it all.” Jay said. Cyra looked at Emma. “Can you…see anything?” She asked. A brief flick of annoyance shot across Emma’s face then was replaced with patience again. Emma inhaled. “No. Something blocks my vision. Something dark. Some things I see clearly. “The dome” as it is called. Formed by the…Obalisks. A base of some sort.

I see students. Some. I see death. I see…” She trailed off. “What about William?” Nora asked softly. Emma shook her head. “I can’t see him anymore. Something has blacked my view of him. He’s alive though.” She stopped, brow furrowed.

A flash of pain shot across her face and her hands clasped the chair. Emma gritted her teeth. “No. I can’t see him.” Her voice was shaky. “All I see is darkness. Overwhelming cold darkness that lurks…everywhere. Searching. Searching for it’s prey.”

Jaquin swallowed. Josephina changed the subject. “Any news on Willow and the others?” She asked. They had escaped a few days ago. Jay’s face hardened. “No. Not much.” He said. He’d never really liked them, in fact he’d voted for them to be executed. Josephina had stopped that because…well yeah.

“We found one of them dead though.” Jack said slowly, stroking his beard. A shiver ran up Josephina’s spine. “Who?” She whispered. “Daniel. They found him close to the Red Phoenix kingdom, implant torn out. A knife hole in his chest.” Emma said. Josephina gripped her chair. “You knew?” Josephina gasped.

Emma nodded slowly. Josephina lowered his face and stood quickly. “Excuse me please.” She said, rushing quickly toward the door. “Josephina—” Nora called. But she was gone. Brutus slowly got up and began following her. “What’s her problem?” Cyra asked.

“She felt something for him. No Jay. Whether it was platonic or romantic… I don’t know. And it’s not our business.” Emma said. They went silent for a few minutes. “Any news on where Tom is?” Nora shook her head. “No.” She said. Jay frowned. “Just when we need the man most, he disappears.” He said in a scornful voice.

“I don’t blame him.” Jenny said, looking of into distance. “Some people can’t forgive and forget what he’s done.”

~

Josephina collapsed in the castle garden(They were at the Dark Phoenix Kingdom.) on one of the benches. She buried her face in her hands but did not cry. The tears would not come. And why should they?

He was just a man. A man who had worked for the wrong side. She owed nothing to him. Brutus walked up slowly. “Figured I’d find you here.” He said in a low voice. “I feel so stupid rushing out like that.” Josephina said, her voice slightly muffled. Brutus hopped up beside her, batting his paw gently to tuck her long blonde-dyed-different-colors hair behind her ear.

“You shouldn’t. You should have a write to mourn. No matter what they think.” Josephina swallowed and looked up at him. “You think so?” She asked. Brutus nodded. “ I know so.” Josephina’s face contorted with sudden overwhelming sadness and tears began to drip down her face.

“I-I just don’t understand why he had to die..” She sobbed, wrapping her arms around Brutus and burying her face in his soft furry shoulder. Brutus’s ears lowered with sadness, feeling Josephina’s sadness and sharing in it. “I know.” He whispered.

“I just miss him so much..” Josephina cried. “I just wish- I wish he was still alive..” She sobbed. She sat their sobbing until finally the tears faded away.

The sky was darker now. Josephina let go of Brutus, and raised her tear soaked face upward sadly. “I just wish he was still alive.” She whispered, burying her face in Brutus shoulder again but not crying anymore. Brutus patted her on the back gently with his tail and faced the darkened sky. He sighed inwardly and watched as the first star, a shooting star, shot across the sky in a bright beam of golden light and other stars began to appear.

Next chapter coming soon!! :D

-SunnyFox57