Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire and Water Book 2
Chapter 1

Continually morphing, the phoenix represents the idea that the end is only the beginning. Much like this powerful myth, the symbol of the phoenix will be reborn over and over again in human legend and imagination.

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ancient-symbolism-magical-phoenix-002020

Insert from book 1 (Sofia: Rise of the Phoenix: Fire within!)

Unexpectedly 3 meet they shall. Upon thine meeting, Great Power will awake, unmatched to any for the flame will be able to wield elements unlike windbornes’ before her. This will cause many to search her out, wanting her power as their own, for she truly will be one of a kind. Thereafter, a battle shall ensue, a fight between what is “right” and loves fire light.’

CHAPTER 1

I glare at Ash for running Blake off. “Damn you, Ash. I just wanted some answers! Why did you have to come here?” I cry out to him in frustration. “What if Blake was telling me the truth and he did know where my parents were being held?” I cover my face with my hands as emotions slam into me and the tears begin to stream down, streaking across my cheeks.

“But what if it was a trick to get you to go with him?” Ash wraps his arms around me, trying to comfort me. “I’m sorry that he flew off the way he did without giving you more information, but doesn’t that just show you that he shouldn’t be trusted?”

“I know,” I sob into his shirt which is becoming soaked with my tears. “I just miss my parents so much and wonder if they are okay, where they are, if they are thinking about me too...” Nearly two weeks now, my parents have been missing. However, I cannot go to the police and let the authorities know because they would think I am crazy and want to lock me away in an insane asylum.

Really, I would not blame them because if someone were to tell me that the world of Tenebrosity were real, well, I would think they were crazy too. I mean who in their right mind would actually think that the supernatural world was anything beyond movies and fairy tales? I did not believe that it was real myself. That is, until I met Ash, the new student who moved to my small town in Ohio from Australia and who also happens to be my twin flame which he still has not fully explained to me and Lori who is my best friend and who I just found out is a knower, a human who has knowledge of the supernatural world and protects the secrets they have inherited down through generations.

And if that isn’t crazy enough, I replace out my ex-boyfriend is connected to Tenebrae, too. Shoot, he, and Ash are both shape shifters, but then again, so am I so I guess I cannot really say anything. To top it off, all three of us are mentioned in old scrolls from the 15th century and once we have found my parents safe and sound, I am going to have Ash explain in full detail what he had found a few weeks back when he went to Austin, Texas where the ancient scrolls are kept, hidden.

“How about we head back to your house? We will pick Lori up and then go to The Nest and chat with Charlie. Maybe Charlie can offer some insight as to what steps we should take next.” Ash has gently pushed me away from his sopping wet shirt so that he is able to look at my face as he suggests this to me. I nod my head yes; he interlocks his hand with mine and together we silently walk back to our cars. “Are you okay to drive your car back to your place? I will follow behind you but if you would rather not drive right now, we can leave your car here and come back tomorrow for it.”

“No, I’m okay. I can drive.” I tell him as I have already opened my car door. Plopping my butt on the driver’s seat, I sit for a moment and stare blankly at the grey leather steering wheel. My mind wants to drift back in time, to memories of life before I knew what I was. Honestly, I cannot believe that life before was less than two months ago. Though if I think about it, changes within me had started just a couple of months into the new school year. I was so excited back then, just a ‘normal’ teenage girl thinking about graduating and going to college.

I shake my head, bringing myself back to the present moment. There will be time enough to reflect on ‘normal’ stuff later. Right now, I need to focus on replaceing and rescuing my parents! I lift my right hand and put the key into the ignition, bringing my car to life. Time to head home... if only it felt like home. As we pull into my driveway, I notice that the house is dark next door and wonder where Lori and her parents might be. I will send her a text to replace out and to also let her know that I will be at The Nest.

After driving through the magical barrier of the Nest complex and into the actual Nest, where my mom has a house that I will one day inherit (unbeknownst to me until about two weeks ago). They were told after I was born that I did not have any shifter capabilities and they should go and raise me as a human in the human world. That was eighteen years ago, and I was never once told that there could even be the slightest chance that I belonged to the supernatural world. Heck, I didn’t know my parents were shifters either. They did an amazing job keeping that part of their life a secret. I guess I should be happy that they shielded me, but they should have told me who they were.

The should haves, could haves and would haves of life are hard to decipher until after a situation occurs, I guess. I don’t hate my parents for decisions they made about how I should be raised though, because if I had truly been lacking in supernatural abilities and they had gone and raised me in the World of Tenebrosity, well I would probably have been in danger in that world for being human. I’m just assuming though; I could be completely wrong, not that it matters now anyway. This is my life and I’m dealing with it as best as I know how.

Walking up to my front door, I don’t even have a chance to place my hand upon the doorknob before it is being opened from the inside and I replace myself staring at Charlie. She steps forward hesitating for just a second before she is throwing her arms around my waist because of her tiny stature. Charlie is a shape shifter too. She can change into the cutest little owl but don’t let that image of her in your head fool you. She can be the most intimidating person in the world. She is also a Seer and probably already knows all about my spur-of-the-moment decision. Stooping down a bit, I lean in so that I can give her a proper hug.

“Tsk, tsk, little bird! You are most lucky that I was able to get a hold of Ash as quickly as I had or not just your parents would have been in a dangerous situation!” Charlie pushes herself away from me so that she is able to look me over. “Well, at least Ash got to you before you were harmed. There were others in the shadows waiting for you to leave with Blake. You were in far more danger than you will ever realize.” She causes a shiver to travel throughout my body by saying this to me.

My eyes go wide; “what did you ‘see’ Charlie?”

“Never you mind dear. You need not worry yourself about what did not happen.” Her eyes show that she is contemplating on if she wants to add anything further to what she has just said; “just promise you won’t ever go off on your own like that again child.”

I begin shaking my head no causing my light brown curly hair to bounce around my face. “No, never again. I promise!” Charlie takes my hand into her left one and gives it a pat with her right before nodding her head.

“Good, good. Let’s go into the kitchen. I had just started to brew some tea for you when I hear you guys pulling into the driveway.”

“Okay.” I respond as she leads the way into my kitchen. Hot tea sounds absolutely phenomenal as even though I am no longer in the park, the brisk air that had wrapped around my body caused a chill that has lingered and I’m hoping that a hot beverage will help to lessen the frozen feeling I have.

“Damn that Aussie!” Blake shouted as he hopped up into his big black truck. After he shut his door, he picked up his cell and hit call. A few rings and then the voice message system kicked on. “I was so close, I had her in the grasp of my hand and then that stupid Australian guy showed up and ruined everything. I am heading back now so we can think of another way to lure Sofia to us.” He hit end and tossed the phone onto the empty passenger seat where Sofia should have been sitting at this moment.

Why is she even listening to that dude anyway? Blake thought as he sped down the road. If he wouldn’t have shown up, she would have come with me.After twenty minutes of driving, Blake turned right onto a dirt road that is just barely visible from the main road leading out of the small town of Ontario comfortably nestled in Ohio.

Taking a deep breath, he hopped down from his truck and headed towards his house. At this moment, that last person he wanted to run into was his father; Donovan Tama, the head of the Eagle Clan and the one who had sent Blake on the mission of procuring Sofia. And now he was returning empty handed, a failure.

Donovan had a very reliable witch ‘in his pocket’ who had informed him about the phoenix surfacing and of the phoenix’s immense power! In Donovan’s power-hungry mind, he felt that the best way to take control over the world of Tenebrosity was to gain Sofia as an ally and convince her how the Avian sector of the dark world was far superior to all other creatures of the night and that they should be ruling over everyone else.

Closing the door behind him as he entered the house, Blake heard, “Son, is that you? Come here.” He recognized the echoing affect the den had on voices and started to head towards it, knowing this is where he more than likely would replace his father residing. The door to the den was only opened a crack so before entering it, Blake knocked his knuckles against the dark oak frame. “Enter.” Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open to see his father sitting behind a desk, fingers steepled together and pressed against his sturdy chin and his hazel eyes hooded in the shadows, staring directly at him.

“Look dad, I know I failed the mission, but that Australian shifter showed up and convinced Sofia not to come with me. She willingly obeyed him without a second thought and so I flew off. I swear though, I won’t let her leave next time. I’m going over to Ashley’s house in a little bit to chat with her mother, Makayla and see what she feels I should do next and maybe Ashely will be able to use her magic as well and help me.”

“Yes son, I agree you should speak with Makayla. She is one of the most powerful witches I have ever known, and Ashley has become almost as strong.” As soon as Donovan finished speaking, Blake nodded his head okay towards his father and then a second later, he turned and walked back out the door.