Reclaimed (The Phoenix Chronicles Book 1) (6 page)

Chapter 7

Summer groaned loudly as she rolled over. Her eyes slowly opened and took in the familiar room. She was back in the fire wielders dorm except with more people. A lot more people.

“Finally,” said a familiar voice.

Summer dropped her face into her pillow. “Hi Tracy,” she mumbled. “Who did I kill this time?”

“Just almost took off Ash’s arm. No big deal.”

Summer sighed and pushed herself into a sitting position. It felt like she was just getting over the flu. Her head was spinning, her whole body hurt, and she was just plain exhausted.

Mario was the first to approach her. He gave her head an awkward pat.

“Sorry for pushing you so hard, girl. Impressive though.”

Summer just nodded. She could tell the man wasn't used to apologizing. It was almost painful watching him do it.

“How are you feeling?” asked Jasper.

“Sick,” she said, her voice raspy. “Is Ash okay?”

“Fine,” said a voice from across the room. He was leaning against the wall and waved at her. She was guessing the arm she injured was the one he lifted because it was covered in bandages.

“Can't the healers fix him?” She asked.

Petar stepped forward. “I used a lot of energy trying to keep his arm from falling off. The burns will get fixed by his body.”

Summer bit her lip. “Sorry Ash.”

He slowly shook his head. “Don't worry about it.”

Her eyes scanned all the worried faces in the room and she could feel her anxiety rearing its ugly head. It was all too much to take in.

Jasper must have noticed because he pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “Everyone can leave now. Let me talk to her.”

Tracy and Ash didn't budge. Oddly enough she found a small amount of comfort in their presence. They weren't close by any means but, she had spent the most time with them. Just that tiny bit of familiarity was enough to make her feel secure.

Jasper ignored them and sat back down on the bed next to Summer's.

“We won't make you train again until Monday. That's if you stay.”

“How long did I pass out this time?” Asked Summer.

“A day,”, answered Tracy. “I heard you moving around so I called everyone in. You woke up about twenty minutes later.”

“Look,” said Jasper, leaning forward. “I can't force you to stay but, it really would be in your best interest. You could hurt yourself and other people. Let us train you.”

Summer looked up at the ceiling and begged the tears not to fall. She didn't want to run anymore and she was just getting more tired as the days passed. She also didn't want to hurt anyone here with her reckless abilities.

“I don't know. This takes too much out of me.”

“You'll die if you leave. Do you want to die?” asked Ash.

Summer locked eyes with him. Her golden ones burned into his and she saw a sincerity there that she didn't expect. The will to fight left her and she started to cry. Just one small look of compassion broke her.

Tracy sat down next to her and wrapped her arms around her. “Shh,” she cooed. “It'll be okay.”

“Why can't life just be easy?” Summer choked out. “I don't want this. I didn't ask for this.” She pulled back and looked at Jasper. “I need a day and then I'll let you know. Can I just be alone right now?”

He nodded and gestured for the others to follow. Tracy reluctantly did and Ash couldn't leave fast enough. The display of emotions had made him more than uncomfortable.

Once the door shut Summer let out a long breath and sank back into bed. She wished this would all just go away. That she would wake up and be working in some book store, living with her parents, and dating an average guy with an old car.

Her life now consisted of weird magic, mysterious people, almost being killed, and having to choose between a castle in Ireland or the streets.

The logical answer would be the castle. At least she had shelter and basic amenities. However, she didn't know these people at all. It was obvious they wanted or expected something from her. Summer didn't want to disappoint them and running just seemed like the right choice.

There was still that nagging feeling though of not giving up. She was a fighter and a few hard wielding sessions was not going to scare her off.

“I need fresh air,” declared Summer.

She gingerly placed her feet on the ground and pressed down. Her body was definitely sore but, this was a different kind of sore than when she pushed herself too hard. What this felt like was being bruised from head to toe.

“Oh well,” she said and gritted her teeth as she pushed herself up.

The first few steps were brutal. By the time she got to the door her legs weren't so stiff. She pulled it open and was grateful that no one was there to question her.

Summer slowly walked down the hall as her fingertips grazed the grey, stone wall. It felt cold and damp but, something else was there too. It was like the walls were alive.

Lighting was shooting through her finger tips and she continued to follow the current. Her long walk led her to a wooden door that she almost slammed into because she was so focused on the power that the castle was emitting. Either she was suffering a concussion or there was more to this place than people were leading her to believe.

“Whoa,” said Summer, looking at the dark wood. “This seems familiar.”

Summer jumped back as the door creaked loudly and opened.

“Oh,” said Doug. “I was just going to get lunch. You can do whatever in there. I don't really care.”

Summer hadn’t planned on going to the library but, it was quiet and would be a good place to just sit and think. She would also be away from all prying eyes and outside influences. If she stayed she wanted it to be her decision.

“Thanks Doug,” she said, and walked in.

He just waved a hand and didn't bother looking back at her. The last thing she saw was him disappear down the hall as the door closed.

Summer bit the corner of her lip and turned around. The amount of books was amazing and intimidating at the same time. She walked down the aisles in awe as her hand swept the old spines. Some books looked so fragile that she was afraid just pulling them off the shelves would turn them into dust.

“Hmm,” she said, glancing at the different books.

There was a particular one that looked almost new. She decided it would be best to read that, no matter what the topic was.

Just as Summer reached out and grazed the spine, a sharp bolt of electricity shot through her body. She gasped, the pain so unbearable that she stumbled backwards and slammed into the shelf behind her. One single book came crashing to the floor, barely missing her head.

Summer sank to the ground. Her breathing was labored and heavy as she tried to regain her composure. It was difficult enough to be recovering from a wielding power that felt like it was taking a piece of her every time she used it but, to get shocked while she was recovering really sucked.

“Stupid place,” she grumbled.

As her breathing slowed she decided that she would just go sit on the couch and relax. Reading could happen at another time. Everything felt so chaotic and she just needed a minute.

She started to carefully move when her foot kicked the large book that had almost hit her head. She cursed loudly as her toe began to throb. Once the pain had stoppe
d
she sighed in defeat and walked over to where it had slid. A chill shook her entire body when her eyes locked on to the cover. It was a black book with the same Phoenix on it that was in the fire dorm.

Summer gingerly placed her hands on it and smiled when the book didn't shock her.

“Weird,” she said, turning it over.

She cradled the book to her chest as she made her way over to the couches. The small bit of light shining down on the sitting area was barely enough for her to be able to read.

She sat in the comfortable cushions and carefully opened the book; fully expecting something to jump out and attack her. When it didn't, she chuckled at her stupidity and began reading over the first page.

It was handwritten, in black ink, and the only thing it said was,
“Book of Relics.”

She turned the page and was surprised to see that there wasn't much writing. In big, bold letters it read, “
Every 800 years the phoenix is born. With its light, the darkness can be contained, and the balance of power will once again be restored.”

Summer began to play with her necklace as she turned the page and continued reading.

“
In darkness you will find light. In light you will find darkness. There cannot be balance without sacrifice.”

She moved to the next page and furrowed her brow in confusion. It was blank. She flipped to the next which was also blank. Summer went through the entire book until she landed on the last page. The only thing written on it was, “
Geoff.”

The door to the library suddenly opened and in waltzed Doug. He sat down at his desk and didn't even bother acknowledging Summer. She frowned, put the book down, and walked over to him.

“Doug,” she said.

He almost jumped out of his chair. It was the fastest she had ever seen him move.

“Geez. I didn't think you'd still be here.”

“Not that much time has passed, Doug,” she answered with a raised brow.

He kicked his feet up on to the desk and popped a chip into his mouth.

“Well people rarely come here anymore. Anyway,” he said, his attention starting to waiver, “What do you want?”

“I found the weirdest book and I thought maybe you knew about it.”

He pinched his brow. “What is it?’

“It was black and had a phoenix on the cover. Then inside it said a phoenix is born every eight hundred years. It said the phoenix could restore balance and something about dark and light. Then the rest was blank until the last page where it said Geoff.”

Doug laughed. “Geoff, huh? You're telling me you found this book here?”

She pointed towards the couches. “It's on the table over there. The stupid thing almost killed me.”

All the humor was gone from Doug’s face. He stood up but, kept his distance from Summer.

“Show me,” he whispered.

She led him to the couches where the book was still sitting. Doug gasped as his shaking hands reached out to touch it. His fingers almost lovingly grazed the cover while he traced the phoenix.

“Open it,” he ordered.

Summer was very confused but, did as she was told. Inside the message was still the same. She flipped to the back of the book and the word Geoff was still there.

“What does Geoff mean?”

Doug slammed the book shut and snatched it up so quickly that Summer almost didn't see him do it. He held the book close to his chest, all the color gone from his face as he stared at her with wide eyes.

“Not what but who,” he croaked. “Geoff was the original wielder. The founder of this school. There were rumors that he had written some history books but, we were never able to find them.”

Summer's eyes grew wide too. “Until now.”

Doug stepped forward until their faces were inches apart. “Listen to me,” he said, his voice frantic and barely above a whisper. “Do not tell anyone you found this. Ever.”

“Why?”

“They will kill you. They will hunt you and they will kill you.”

Summer gulped loudly. “Who?”

Doug straightened up and looked around the room. “I've said too much. Don't ever come back here.”

“But Doug-”

“Get out!” He screeched.

Summer ran and slammed the door shut. She leaned against it, waiting for her heart to stop trying to pound out of her chest.

What just happened?
She thought.

Everything was fine. She was just browsing the library when a giant book with a phoenix and Geoff written in it made Doug lose his mind.

There was a connection somewhere that she was missing. It had to do with her. She just knew it. The electricity she felt in the walls wasn't a coincidence and the book almost hitting her head wasn't in either.

Now she just had to make the choice if fighting for her life back in Chicago was worth it. It would only be a matter of time until they captured or killed her. She wasn't really sure what they wanted.

Or she could stay at this training camp, learn how to use her power, all while figuring out what that book meant. It was going to bother her until she did.

The only downside to staying was that all of the training and wielding was still so new to her. She was afraid she’d never catch on and then not only disappoint herself but, these people seemed to really need her to be successful.

Summer tried her best to get back to her dorm. It took longer than she would have liked to admit but, she eventually got there.

Tracy was sitting on the bed when Summer walked in. She looked up, not bothering to hide the shock on her face.