Caged by Damnation (Caged #2)(18)

"Yeah, I think so. I'm just overwhelmed. Whenever I think my life is beginning to settle, something happens to throw it all into turmoil again. I'm not even sure what a phoenix is. I remember hearing about them, but it's all jumbled together. I can't make sense of it."

Aria cocked her head as if listening to something the rest of us couldn't hear. She sighed. "She will be fine, though she will never truly die. She'll experience death for the rest of eternity, but she will also remain in the embrace of life. She's not human anymore, and it is going to take some getting used to. Once she regains her memories, she will need to learn self control. A phoenix is beautiful, but incredibly deadly. Since the birth of this planet, I only know of a single phoenix being created, and Death locked him away. I imagine his fate is much worse than death...."

Her voice trailed off in such a way that was reminiscent of a thought that couldn't be fully absorbed. "Is that going to happen to her?" Aria sent a pitiful look in my direction.

"What happens to Izzy is entirely up to her. All of us have a dark side. She’ll just need to handle the reins a bit."

"But, what will she be able to do? How do I help her? Where should she go? I – "

"Too many questions," she smiled. "I will leave a journal in your room for you to page through. You'll find your answers there. Just … give your friend some time." Aria stood and walked back to her sisters as Willow and Death joined them.

Willow paused, turned, and walked over to me. "I'm sorry, Savannah. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now I'm not so sure. I just figured that if I would be losing my life, I should get Izzy's back."

I reached up to grasp her hand and lightly pulled until she arranged herself on the ground at eye level. "You did. Just not quite the type of life you had hoped." My smile was weak, but I prayed it would be enough to absolve her of guilt.

"I feel guilty leaving you to deal with this, but I made a deal with Death. I know he twisted our deal into a completely different version than I had in mind, but I still feel obligated to keep up my end of the bargain."

"I know. I have Liam and Ash to help me. Besides, I’ve made sure Maye and Josephine will take on their mother hen roles and fix the situation. You have to go." My voice quieted and I squeezed her hand in silent determination.

Our eyes exchanged an entire conversation in the span of a few moments. It was the conversation of two friends who knew each other well enough that they didn't need words. She told me she didn't want to go, she was afraid and worried about leaving behind a mess. I told her I wasn't sure I would really be able to deal with Izzy, that I was already unstable, and that I needed her but knew she had to go.

I sensed our group condense, but didn't watch as Willow took her place among the Hellhounds and entered the portal to her new reality. I needed a few moments of peace, time to allow healing, and find the strength to approach a world in which I continuously lost those dear to me.

I have no idea how long I sat there, leaning against the tree trunk. I just knew that Liam and Ash were wise enough to give me the space I needed. At some point, my tree shuddered, and a small branch dipped down until it covered my body to shelter me from the light drizzle that cleansed the Divine.





CHAPTER 5



WILLOW

Death was the first to enter the vortex. The other Hellhounds followed until I was left with Kali and Aria. I had absolutely no desire to walk into the chaotic world that lay before me. I had never been this close to the Hellhounds’ door, but staring it down somehow made it more terrifying. I couldn't imagine stepping forward into the churning liquid mechanics before me.

The inner vortex was a jumbled mess of scenes within scenes, each dimension coexisting and battling for their right to the space. The worlds were at war and I worried that I might become a casualty.

Aria squeezed my shoulder before going forth into what I now considered a death trap. Once Aria disappeared, Kali wrapped her arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer in reassurance. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."

I plunged forward into the icy chaos. The worlds continued to battle around me, but I remained untouched. While it was comforting that the worlds didn't flatten me like a pancake, I was terrified of the tunnel. It seemed that I descended, while my consciousness ascended. I knew they still had to be attached, because I could feel the ice merge with my bones, leaving behind a tingling numbness. My ears were assaulted by a bizarre mixture of nails on a chalkboard and the whistling sound of the air beating against the side of a building. Finally, everything stopped.

Nauseated, I squeezed my eyes closed, and gave in to my fear. I stood still, trembling and afraid to peek, but my efforts were useless. The loss of sight forced me to rely on my other senses, which was nearly as bad as seeing. I smelled the conflicting scents of lilacs, coal, and apples. I heard the shuffling of feet, and the sound of a leather as it brushed against an object. Ivy had worn a leather jacket in the clearing, which clued me in to where the sound of leather came from. A collage of throat clearing and a high-pitched laugh slipped through the cracks of the Hellhounds’ circle.

Opening my eyes, I saw that the Hellhounds were arranged in front of me. Three held patient and understanding expressions, but Ivy's contained irritation, and Bay seemed amused.

"Are you okay?"