Heartbeat of the Flame
Veyrix was standing on his balcony as the wind blew past him, feeling the cold air give him goose bumps across his neck. He closed his eyes as he took in the fresh air. In a slow yet steady movement, he let himself fall backwards. The wind rushed past his face as he welcomed the freedom. For a second, there was only the silence of the plunge before the transformation was started.
He concentrated all of his energy on the centre. His whole body accepted the burning fire that burned at his core. In a few beats, he opened his wings from his back. Gold feathers supported him as his human form gave way to his phoenix until darkness consumed him.
Veyrix opens his eyes, meeting a dark sky covered in stars. Trees seem to surround him when a woman comes into view. She kneels beside him. His mind tells him to move, but there is no response. Gentle light blue orbs stare at him as he feels her hand on his shoulder.
‘’It’s okay. You’ll be safe,’’ she whispers to him.
His mind fights to stay present as the trees around him start to fall away, consuming his thoughts in darkness.
The wood cracked underneath their weight as sparks turned into fire. Green. No, blue. Thalis moved out of his view. Veyrix couldn’t tell which moment came first as Thalis closed the distance between them.
Veyrix took a step back as the green flaming dagger missed his stomach. However, Veyrix was too late as the second blade slammed into his left shoulder, boring through the flesh.
Veyrix let out a grunt as his knees buckled under the weight of the attack. ‘’Mighty Phoenix.’’ He cursed under his breath. He grabbed the dagger, pulling it out as blood drips down his shoulder and let the dagger fall to the floor.
Veyrix looked up from his place on the ground as Thalis was now towering above him. The pain was stinging in his shoulder, causing his senses to diminish as he tried to focus on the dagger Thalis was still holding. Thalis moved the dagger to his throat.
‘’You should’ve walked away when you had the chance. That mistake will cost you your life.’’
A tremble in his body stirs him awake as Veyrix opens his eyes. His head is pounding, and the space he is in is dimly lit. His blood freezes as a knife comes into view, his breath feels ragged as he commands his body to take action, yet nothing happens as the knife cuts a piece of bandage. He feels warm hands on his left shoulder as the piece follows. It covers his entire shoulder, locking it in place. His vision starts to blur again as pain consumes his body, making his muscles ache. He lets out a grunt as the pain creeps up towards his neck and chest.
‘’Easy, you’re okay.’’ It is the last thing he hears before he slips away.
Veyrix flickered with his eyes. His senses were dimmed as he scanned the place he was in. He was in a dark room. The lights were small. A metallic scent covered the dusty room as he could make out the outlines of books.
‘’So what do you think it is? An old legend?’’ A voice behind Veyrix made him look up and turn around.
‘’Sorry?’’ Veyrix focused his eyes on the person in front of him.
‘’Or maybe a prophecy? Or a poem? Maybe about Liontara?! He was a legendary lion, right?’’ The person continued.
Thalis came into his view, his brown-coloured dreadlocks with feathers hanging in a low ponytail as green eyes looked up at him. A confused look covered his face.
‘’Thalis to Veyrix? Hello?’’ Thalis said again.
One moment, they were standing next to each other; the next, they stood across from each other. Thalis swallowed as he remained silent.
‘’Why couldn’t you let this go?’’ He whispered as he looked up. His face was full of regret as his right hand moved under the table.
‘’You betrayed me’’ Veyrix hissed as he let go of the scroll and evaded to his right, avoiding the dagger that went past him, hitting the wall behind him.
Veyrix let out a growl as he jumped across the table, his left leg in the air, trying to kick Thalis. Thalis had the scroll already rolled up in his right hand as he guided Veyrix's leg with his left hand and jerked Veyrix against the bookcase. Veyrix hit his back in the process as all the air in his lungs was squeezed out. His ears were ringing from the impact.
Distant voices were all he could hear, sheards of sentences that came together but did not make any sense. Some were closer than others. Yet, Veyrix stayed in the dark. His body protested as he tried to move.
‘’Are you listening?’’ The words blur together ‘’Rugri means rising, and Mataran… sgolar, I think it is similar to volar, which means flyin....’’ Thalis said.
‘’It´s a part of it. From the ashes of death she will rise, gifted by red wings she will fly, and carry the world to the light.’’
His skin tingled as he felt the presence of someone else next to him. His senses slowly took in the place. A mix of herbs and smoke hung in the air. Between the different scents, a sour smell triggered him. He opened his eyes again, trying to get used to the light.
‘’Easy there.’’ The soft voice was back, but this was the first time he had heard it this close. Veyrix turned his head to look at the person next to him. A woman wearing a soft violet-coloured dress that hung loosely around her belly, but just enough to notice that she was heavily pregnant.
Veyrix swallowed as he tried to speak, but the dryness of his throat prevented that action. He reached out with his right arm as the woman took it. Her warm hands covered his own as he stared at her.
‘’I know… It’s okay, you’re still alive.’’ She said. ‘’Water?’’
Veyrix nodded. The motion of getting up sent pain through his shoulder, but she was already helping him as she brought the cup to his lips. The coolness of the water was a blessing as he felt the cold liquid down his throat.
‘’Where... am I?’’ Veyrix said in a raspy voice.
‘’Our home.’’ She said with a soft voice.
‘’We found you in the woods, well, my husband found you, but we brought you here,’’ she paused. ‘’You’ve been asleep for a long time.’’
Veyrix looked at the woman as he furrowed his eyebrows. ‘’How long, exactly?’’
The woman hesitated, setting the cup down. ‘’Almost six months.’’
Veyrix's eyes went wide ’’ What?’’
‘’Do you remember anything?’’
‘’Parts, just lots of loose ends.’’
Veyrix tried to get up, but pain flared back to life in his left shoulder, but it didn’t move. The blackened skin caught his eye quickly as he followed it from his hand up to his shoulder and across his chest. He swallowed hard. ‘’Sum root.’’
‘’Yes, we tried to stop it from spreading, but with no luck. It is a miracle that you’re even awake.’’
The sound of a door opening and closing made both of them look up at the door from the room. ‘’Falira?” said a voice behind the door.
‘Maelik, I’m in the living room!’’
Veyrix smelled him before he saw him; a faint scent of moss and rain came in the room before the door opened. A tall man with broad shoulders walked in, his dark hair tight back, yet a few hairs got loose.
‘’The stranger is awake, the one who survived Sum root?’’ The man scanned Veyrix with his eyes as their eyes crossed. Before his attention went to the woman, his eyes softened at her sight.
‘’Maelik!’’
‘’Falira, mea mor, why are you not in bed? She can come at any moment?’’
‘’Because our guest is awake and he needs to be taken care of,’’ Falira said. Her voice was stern as she raised her eyebrow. ‘’Besides, just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself and others.’’
Maelik stepped towards her in a hug as he pressed his nose to her cheek before giving her a small kiss. ‘’Of course not. ‘’ He said before turning towards Veyrix as their eyes met again. He stepped forward and reached his hand out as Veyrix took it with his right hand.
‘’Care to tell us your name? I’m Maelik.’’
‘’Veyrix.’’
‘’So, how did you end up here?’’
Veyrix's eyebrows furrowed. ‘’Honestly, I’m not sure. I don’t think I can remember.’’
‘’Do you know where you come from then?’’ Maelik said his voice was worried.
‘’Yeah, I’m from the Tamarainian Kingdom.’’
Maelik's eyes went wide. ‘’Wait, you mean from Vilosa, Land of the secrets?’’
‘’Yeah, I’m a phoenix, from the guard of Cinerarii.’’
‘’Wait, isn’t that the guard of the queen?’’
Falira, who was still standing, looked between the two before speaking. ‘’Then you came a long way.’’
Veyrix looked at her before realising. ‘’Wait, where are we right now?’’
‘’Wakrall’’ Maelik answered.
Veyrix swallowed, looking confused, trying to remember what happened. He heard faint voices but couldn’t place them.
‘’Truth is like a flame, Thalis. If you bury it with coal, it will burn. It will always burn’’
‘’Until it burns back to the surface.’’
‘’It’s a miracle that you made it this far.’’ Maelik's eyes dropped to Veyrix’s arm. ‘’Especially with poison this strong, you should’ve died within days’’
Veyrix followed his gaze. The veins beneath his skin were black, crawling up all the way to his neck. He blinked as another memory flashed across his mind.
Daggers that are lit up by fire, one turning green, the other blue. Thalis closed the distance between them with incredible speed. Veyrix took a step back as the green flaming dagger missed his stomach. However, Veyrix was too late as the second blade slammed into his left shoulder, boring through the flesh.
‘’I guess the universe isn’t done with me yet,’’ Veyrix said sarcastically.
‘’Maybe a good thing, then you can tell us what the roll is?’’
Veyrix's eyes shoot up to Maelik’s.
‘’You still have it right?’’ Veyrix's tone had changed.
‘’Of course, everything you had on you when we found you is still here.’’
‘’Is it something we're not supposed to know?’’
Veyrix remained silent as he thought back. Yavary.
‘’It is complicated,’’ Veyrix said as he averted his eyes from Maelik´s.
‘’Yeah, I figured. At least you honour your name, land of secrets.’’
Falira moved the bucket of water that was standing next to the couch on which Veyrix was lying. ‘’Do not talk too long. He needs a lot of rest.’’ Falira said as she nodded in Veyrix's direction. ‘’I’m going to make some soup so you can heal bette-.’’
‘’If he can heal at all?’’ Maelik interrupted her.
Veyrix swallowed. He was very well aware that sum root is the most poisonous plant on this side of the ocean. Even if he survived the next few days, which he seriously doubted, his arm was useless. The poison kills all the nerve endings.
‘’Maelik!’’ Falira said.
‘’I’m sorry, but Veyrix needs to know that he might not live for very long.’’
Falira looked at her husband angrily.
‘’It’s okay, I understand very well that I have a very slim chance,’’ Veyrix replied as he pushed himself all the way up. He was sitting upright on the couch.
Falira gave her husband a small push as she left the room.
‘’She is strict,’’ Maelik said as he let out a small laugh.
‘’I can see that, but a very caring one. She will be an amazing mother.’’
‘’Yeah’’ Maelik sighed.
Both men sat in silence for a little bit as Veyrix scanned the living room. Veyrix was sitting upright. He had been lying on a dark brown couch that was placed against the wall. On his left side, there were two big windows, and across from the windows was a fireplace that was lit up by a small fire.
‘’Maelik!’’ Falira’s voice was a shriek of fear echoing through every bone as both men got up. Maelik ran out of the room as Veyrix's mind pursued him to go too.
‘’Something is wrong’’ she said as she cried out in pain again
Veyrix and Maelik rushed to the other room.
‘’What is it, mea mor? Is she coming?’’
‘’No, I don’t think so! But…’’ She let out another cry as her knees buckled. She grabbed her belly in an attempt to hold it close.
Veyrix stepped closer when a faint rotten scent entered his nose. There was nothing in the house that had this scent. It came off Falira. Veyrix stared at her, horrified by his discovery.
The baby was already gone.
‘’Veyrix! Help me get her to the bed!’’
Veyrix snapped out of his haze and supported her with his right shoulder, groaning under the weight because of his weak muscles.
‘’Come on, mea mor, almost there.’’
The second Falira hit the bed, the white sheets turned a dark red. Her head was sweating, but her skin was anything but warm.
‘’She is bleeding!’’ Veyrix said as he looked at Maelik, who did not waste another second as he sprinted out the door to get the medical stuff Falira had placed in Veyrix's room.
‘’What do I do?’’ Falira said as tears streamed down her face.
‘’We need to get the baby out, otherwise you will bleed to death’’ Veyrix said.
‘’What? NO! I could lose the baby?’’
‘’Yes, but without you, it will not even survive!’’
Falira looked hesitant as another wave of pain hit her, causing her body to jerk as she shut her eyes. Maelik returned with one of the buckets.
‘’Mea mor. I’m not losing you.’’ Maelik said as he moved to her side.
‘’but…’’
‘’No. I refuse to lose you!’’
Falira sniffled as she gave a small nod.
‘’Okay.’’
‘’We need to see from where she is bleeding and make room for the baby to come through’’ Veyrix said
‘’Have you done that before?’’ Maelik replied as his breathing was unsteady.
Veyrix opened his mouth as he watched Maelik. He may not have done this part, but in all his years, Veyrix stitched more wounds than a doctor. ‘’I can do it.’’
It wasn’t an answer to his question, but the certainty in his eyes gave Maelik a small seed of hope before he nodded.
‘’Alright, I need a knife, a towel, something to disinfect the knife with and something that will block the pain.’’
Maelik nodded and leapt in a hurry towards the kitchen. Veyrix moved to Falira's left side as she was lying half on the bed. Her breathing was uneven as she continued to groan from the pain.
´´Falira, lie on your back so I can remove your dress from your belly.´´
Falira took time to answer before she opened her eyes and nodded.
Veyrix nodded back as he removed her dress, revealing her swollen belly. Maelik came back with a knife, some towels and an old-looking bottle.
‘’It´s Cintea brew, the strongest alcohol I could find. That should disinfect the knife, right? Also,’’ Maelik showed a small cup with a dark blue powder. ‘’Nebula flower. Strongest plant that will block any pain, makes you numb even.’’
Veyrix took the bottle from Maelik, opening it and pouring a small amount on the knife. The liquid was colourless and could be mistaken for water if it wasn’t for the strong scent that filled his nose. Veyrix moved as fast as he could, only with one hand, which slowed him down. He grabbed the knife, putting the handle side of it between his teeth. He grabbed one of the towels in his other hand as he laid it out underneath Falira. Her violet dress had turned a deep burgundy red as the air filled with a strong metallic smell. He put the knife back down. He grabbed a bit of the cintea brew, pouring it on the blue powder. He filled a small cup with the mixture and gave it to Maelik.
‘’Give this to her’’
‘’It’s okay, Mea mor, it’s going to be okay!’’
Maelik took the cup and made Falira drink the potion. Her cries subsided in seconds as her eyebrows unfurrowed.
‘’From the ashes of death she will rise’’
Flashes of memories went to his head as he stared into the distance. Veyrix shook his head and grabbed the knife as Falira closed her eyes, embracing the moment. Veyrix cut her lower belly open as blood dripped down on his hand. The sour scent filled the air as he tried to focus on getting the small child out.
‘’Gifted by red wings, she will fly.’’
Maelik moved next to him with a towel ready to take the child as Veyrix pulled it out. Wrapping it in a grey towel. Everything was covered in blood as Veyrix cleaned the knife with a towel and then disinfected it again with alcohol. He cut a small string to suture the wound. Maelik put the baby down, helping Veyrix hold together the broken skin so that the wound could be closed. Veyrix finished the wound with bandages as Falira opened her eyes. Her eyelids seemed to feel heavy as she could barely hold them open.
‘’Carry the world to the light.’’
A shriek made him look up; his head was throbbing again as he felt the sum root claw its way up his neck.
‘’My baby! NO!’’ Falira screamed as another screech followed.
His eyes were wide as he took in the scene in front of him. Maelik was on his knees, clutching Falira, who had climbed down from the bed. Both of them were on the ground; her body was trembling as her sobs sounded broken. She was holding the child, who was still wrapped up in the grey blanket. She held it close to her big belly, where the child just had been. The blanket had dark spots, leaving a trail of tears behind. Maelik looked up at him, his eyes full of tears.
‘’She is gone. There is nothing we can do.’’ Maelik said to Veyrix.
Veyrix looked at the lifeless child. A child born without the energy to live. He closed his eyes as he inhaled the musky air of the house he had spent some time in. He got down on his knees next to the couple. He heard faint voices in the background as his mind tried to restore his memories.
‘’You should’ve walked away when you had the chance. That mistake will cost you your life.’’
‘’You betrayed me’’
‘’You lived nine hundred and twelve years. Aren’t you tired?’’
‘’Of course I am.’’
‘’From the ashes of death she will rise, gifted by red wings she will fly, and carry the world to the light.’’
Veyrix looked at the couple again. All those months that he stayed in a coma. This is the moment the prophecy talked about.
This is why he survived. To save the prophecy. To save the child so that she can protect the world.
‘’Listen, I owe you my life, and I want to thank you for that. Now, let me return the favour.’’ Veyrix spoke, making the couple look up at him.
‘’What do you mean?’’ Falira whispered between tears.
‘’I will give her.’’ Veyrix nodded at the child. ‘’My life flame. She will live.’’
Veyrix looked at the small bundle that should have been crying normally. Her skin was grey and her small lips unmoving.
‘’But, you…How would you?’’ Maelik responded as he looked at Falira.
‘’Veyrix, no,’’ Falira said as she shook her head. Tears coating her face in colourless paint.
‘’I will suppress my phoenix powers, the sum root will take over my body. When I die, my body will fall apart in ashes, and the only thing that will be left is my life flame. That will go into your daughter.’’
‘’Why would you do that?’’
‘’Because it is the right thing to do. You saved me, and now, I save someone precious to you.’’
‘’Even if you would do that, how would you know it will work?’’ Maelik replied, his expression worried.
‘’I know it will, it was the reason I was guided to you. Besides, she has an important job. Protect the roll with your life. No one can know you have it. She will bring light to the world again.’’ Veyrix said as he let himself lie on the ground.
Veyrix felt a rush of calmness fall over him. He would not leave the world alone. There was someone who would protect the world, just like he did. She will be the light.
‘’From the ashes of death she will rise, gifted by red wings she will fly, and carry the world to the light,’’ Veyrix whispered as he felt the sum root take over. There was a stinging pain that slowly ebbed away. A sea that comes and goes. Deep in his mind, he felt his phoenix.
‘’You’re ready?’’ His phoenix asked.
‘’Yes’’ he replied.
Veyrix looked at Maelik and Falira, who were sitting beside him, when Falira said; ‘’Thank you, mighty Phoenix.’’
Veyrix gave her a reassuring look and turned his head towards the ceiling. The world around him started to disappear. There was a time for everything, and this was his time as he closed his eyes and accepted the sum root to take its place.
Maelik and Falira watched the men they saved get consumed by the blackness, his chest, heart, his arms and legs until there was nothing left. Falira touched Veyrix’s right hand, looking for a pulse. Her eyes watered again when there was nothing to find.
‘’He’s gone.’’ She said.
‘’Should we move him? So we can honour his sacrifice?’’ Maelik asked as he got up.
‘’Yes, he will be forever in our hearts. We must show our gratitude.’’
Maelik nodded as he went to grab a blanket to wrap around the body. When he came back, Falira was already on her feet, holding their precious child close to her chest. Maelik got on one knee to move the body, but when he grabbed the shoulder, it turned into sand. Ashes.
‘’Mea mor, I don’t think I can move him.’’
‘’What do you mean?’’ Falira looked confused. One moment, they were standing next to the body; the next moment, his corpse fell away in dark ashes. Darkness consumed the room, blowing out the candles, leaving them in the dark.
‘’Maelik? What's happening!’’
The room was lit up by a red light that came from the ashes. A tiny flame that flickered in between them, and rose so that it was hanging above the ashes. Both of them went back on their knees as they watched the flame. In a hasty movement, Falira unwrapped the child and placed it in the ashes right under the flame. As if recognising the child, it disappeared into the heart of the child, igniting it with life. The small child opened her eyes, shining bright red as she cried. Falira and Maelik looked at their daughter. That was their hope shining bright in the dark.
‘’Welcome to our world, Feniks’’
Written by Elise J. de Steur