Torn From Stone (The Phoenix Series Book 1) Read online

  “Okay, Sid.” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “This is the third night this week you’ve been here, even after I asked you not to. It’s not like you, Sid.”

  I looked at him. “What is going on?”

  Sid sighed. A deep, mournful, tired sigh. With his eyes averted, he crawled across the carpet and climbed onto the bed beside me. His grey eyes met mine and he spoke quietly, barely a whisper.

  “The Archer is looking for me.”

  “The Archer?”

  “Please! Please keep your voice low. The names Travel. Please, Phoenix.”

  I had never seen Sid so desperate, fear came off him in waves. Up close I could see that parts of his face were dry. His hands were more whole than I had ever seen, which meant he hadn’t been moving very much. I lowered my voice.

  “Who is this guy?”

  “He is one of The Guards.”

  I’d learned over the years that sometimes Sid can be cryptic and to just go with it. Things have a way of explaining themselves.

  “Why is he looking for you?”

  “Because I did not tell The Guards that I’d found…” He hesitated. “That I’d found something.”

  “Why didn’t you tell him?”

  “He will hurt it, he will destroy it.”

  In all the conversations I’d had with Sid he had never told me about the other species in The Void. He’d told me what it looked like, briefly, and that there were other Minions like him, but nothing else. Every time I pressed him he would subtly move me into another of his fantastic tales. I’d always thought of him as a survivor: yes he’s small and moist, but I thought he could handle anything. Yet here was Sid, sitting on my bed looking frightened. I did the only thing I could think of, something I’d never done before, but he’d never come this close to me before. I gave him a hug.

  His eyes were down so he didn’t see me move. The moment my hands touched him he went into a terror.

  “Nooooooo!” He moved like lightening off the bed and threw himself against the wall. “No! You cannot touch me! Now they’ll know! They’ll know where I am! They’ll know everything!” He threw his head frantically from side to side looking for an escape.

  “I must go. I must go. Far away. Maybe that will throw them off.”

  “Sid! I’m sorry. I…” His face was suddenly inches from my own.

  “My Lady.” He hadn’t called me that in years, what was going on?

  “Sid, call me Ph…”

  “No!” His hand hovered just inches from my mouth and I was silent.

  “The names Travel.” He softened. “My Lady. Keep your Secrets.”

  The oath fell from my lips like it was yesterday in a voice not completely my own.

  “Siddhartha, I will keep my Secrets.”

  “Thank you. I must go before he traces me here. I will be back when I can.” He shuffled away from the bed and disappeared.

  I was stunned. What the hell had just happened? I lay back on my pillow and tried to dissect Sid’s words. Who was The Archer, and what was it that Sid had found? He said The Archer would ‘hurt it’ which probably meant whatever it was, it was alive. Sid had only ever talked about his time in my world, could this thing come from somewhere else? And why would Sid hide in my room? If my Light was strong enough for him to spot all those years ago wouldn’t others have seen it?

  These questions chased each other through my brain until, as the sun broke over the trees, I drifted off to sleep.

  3

  I woke up the next day and tried not to worry about Sid. He had lived for as long as Time, so I was pretty sure he could handle himself. Besides, my bat and I wouldn’t be much help to him, especially not against someone with the balls to call himself ‘The Archer.’ I knew Sid would show up again sooner or later, so I crammed down my worry and waited.

  But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks became a month, I started freaking out. Sid knew that I’d be on eggshells until he told me he was okay, so why hadn’t he contacted me? I started waiting up for him. I’d stay up until the sun was close to waking, reading to keep my eyes open until I fell asleep with the book on my face.

  One night, around the six-week mark, I finally just went to bed. I was exhausted from all my late nights and had come to the conclusion that Sid may be gone for a very long time so I should probably just sleep. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  I don’t know how much time had passed but I was suddenly conscious. The apartment was still and quiet, and I couldn’t figure out what had woken me. Then I heard it. A soft whisper.

  “Phoenix… Phoenix…”

  “Sid?” I asked the darkness.

  “Oh good, you’re awake.” He flicked on the lamp, and I was momentarily blinded.

  “Jesus, Sid!” I threw an arm over my eyes.

  “Sorry!” He turned the dimmer down.

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  I dropped the arm from my eyes and looked at him. He was much greyer than normal, and beads of moisture were visible on his skin. As he wrung his hands, large pieces of skin flaked onto the carpet. He had been moving a lot. His skin spoke of fear and escape, and all my concern came flooding back, but it ceased when I looked in his eyes. They held a burning, a power stronger than the steel they mimicked, that I had never seen in him. I noticed he was standing straighter and instead of the small plain cloth, he wore a wrap made of thick black cotton that hit him at mid thigh. There was also a leather backpack at his side. Taking all this in I asked cautiously:

  “Sid, what’s going on?”

  “Worry not, Phoenix. All will be explained, but now we must hurry.”

  “Hurry wh… Hey! You’re using my name again!”

  “Yes, there is no point in restraint. They know where we are.” He threw back my covers and beckoned me from the bed. “We must go.”

  I got up as he walked towards my closet.

  “You still haven’t told me where.”

  He called an answer over his back while rifling through my closet.

  “That I cannot tell you. The Names Travel. I will answer all your questions, and you will have more, very soon. But now…” He paused in his search. “…This is the one… we must go.”

  He handed me the garment. It was the black jumpsuit I’d worn for Halloween. I went as a “sexy” vampire. Doesn’t every woman go as a “sexy” something?

  “Sid I am not wearing that! It’s a costume, and it leaves nothing to the imagination.”

  It really didn’t. It was matte black and made of some man-made stretchy fabric that clung to every inch of me, the dark colour making my pale skin glow. It was a halter style that plunged in the front, had absolutely no back and fitted legs that I’d tucked into knee high boots.

  I have long auburn hair that hits me at mid back, and with my height and shape, I looked like an Amazonian Goth princess. Super hot; if I do say so myself.

  Sid ignored my protest and continued his exploration of my closet.

  “Phoenix, we do not have time for this. That ‘costume’ is the only thing you have that is suitable.”

  “But I’ll freeze!”

  “No, you will also take this.” He tossed me my fur coat.

  Yes, I have a fur coat. Don’t worry; it’s vintage. It’s from the seventies and is the same colour as my hair. It hits me at the waist and has a beautiful collar that I wear up around my neck. I love the thing; it’s one of the most erotic pieces of clothing I’ve ever owned. The feel of the fur against skin is amazing, I highly recommend it. I try to wear it as much as possible, but I’m always on the lookout for red paint. But seriously, if you’ve ever had a hamburger or worn leather shoes, do you really have the right to be outraged? At least my coat biodegrades.

  While I contemplated the coat, Sid had found more things for me.

  “These for your feet...” Black suede knee-high boots, it was Halloween all over again. “…And this I will fill with supplies. Get dressed.” He slithered into his backpack and
went for the door with my black leather tote bag in his hands. I looked down at my ‘outfit’, and I’d had enough.

  “Siddhartha! I am not doing anything until you explain just what the fuck is going on!” I rarely swore in his presence; he found it extremely offensive. He stopped in the doorway and turned to face me. Anger pulsated from him, and his eyes burnt a light scarlet colour. I’d never seen him do that before. His body trembled with restraint, and although he was half my size, I was afraid. I expected him to yell and was shocked when I received a strained whisper instead.

  “I have Watched you since you were but a child. I have protected you from things you cannot imagine. I am older than your concept of Time. You are most precious to me, and I would never, never, do anything to harm you. Heed my words. We must leave here, now.”

  He turned on his heel and left the room.

  I got dressed in record time. Halloween night I’d taken almost an hour to put on all the finishing touches, but tonight there would be no trick or treating. I’d forgotten how comfortable the suit was. Sure it was skin-tight, but it was also very soft and stretchy, and with the boots on I felt ready for action. I stole a glance in the mirror, I had to know just how crazy the suit looked, but I was surprised. Without the fangs and fake blood on my chin, the suit just looked hot. Too much for day to day, but not for travelling with a Minion. I shrugged into the coat and walked out of the bedroom feeling like a rock star. A frightened rock star, but still.

  I met Sid in the kitchen. I’m a grazer; I like to eat little bits all day long and get pretty bitchy if I don’t. I also drink a tonne of water. Sid, apparently aware of these things, had filled my bag with packets of nuts, a couple of apples, and some cheese. Judging by the amount in the bag we would be gone for a while.

  “Good. You’re dressed.” He handed me my water bottle. “Fill this.”

  He left the kitchen. I could hear him rummaging in my bedroom again as I filled the bottle. I was loading it into the bag along with a few things from my purse as he came back in the room.

  “Please put this in the bag. You will need it.”

  He handed me my bat. My bright blue, 'Lil' Slugger, baseball bat. I was shocked and wanted to ask yet again just where the hell he was taking me, but didn’t. After Sid’s tirade, I wasn’t going to push it. Besides, despite my questions, I trusted him. I knew in my heart that Sid would never hurt me. I slid the bat into the bag. It fit pretty well in the oversized tote. If I put it in at an angle, only about six inches of handle stuck out. My ‘Lil' Slugger is just that, little, child size. I just found the grown-up ones awkward and hard to hide.

  When I had finished loading the bag, I swung it over my head, so the strap lay across my chest. I don’t normally like wearing my bag like that, but since I didn’t know where we were going, it was mobility over fashion.

  Sid walked through to the living room with me at his heels. He stopped in the middle of the room. He gestured for me to step back then closed his eyes and stretched out his arms. A quick warm flash of power ripped through the space; I swayed slightly then it was gone. Sid opened his eyes and held out a hand to me.

  “We are safe to Travel. Come, My Lady, take my hand.”

  I put my hand in his and felt that warm pulse begin to move its way through my body.

  “Hold tight to my hand, Lady Phoenix.”

  I couldn’t keep quiet.

  “Are we going to disappear? Like you do?”

  “Yes. Please close your eyes.”

  “Oh shit.” I closed my eyes.

  It felt like fainting.

  4

  The smell of clean, fresh earth and large trees woke me. I felt dirt under my cheek, its moisture bringing me back to myself. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but something told me it was merely an instant. I opened my eyes slowly. I laid sprawled on my side on a forest floor, feeling soft moss and dirt under my body. I looked around and could see large maples and oaks swaying in the mild breeze. Weak sunlight peeked through their branches to mark the ground, and a fine mist filled the void between them. I heard Sid moving nearby.

  “My lady, are you hurt?” He had stopped using my name.

  I rolled onto my back and looked up at the canopy. I did a mental check of my body, and everything seemed intact. Physically fine, I sat up.

  “I don’t think so. Where are we?”

  “A forest.” No shit.

  “But where?” He was already moving. I scrambled to my feet and chased after him. Sid took off into the underbrush, moving silently on his hands and feet. I had never seen him move so gracefully. He always looked so awkward when he walked around my apartment but now he practically danced over logs and around bushes. I didn’t do so well. Considering Sid’s silence, I tried to move with as much stealth as possible. I was twice Sid’s height and more than once got my hair caught on a branch that Sid had practically melted around. I was really glad he’d chosen flat boots.

  The land slowly sloped upwards, like the base of a hill, but the canopy was thick and I couldn’t be certain. We had travelled in silence for about ten minutes when Sid took cover behind a large boulder. Panting, I sat down on the ground beside him. He was still for a moment then gestured for me to look around the rock. I moved onto my knees and stretched my upper body around the cold grey stone. We were definitely at the bottom of a large hill. About thirty feet away, on the side of the forest-covered mound, was a man-sized fissure framed with rubble.

  I moved back beside him and we locked eyes. Sid nodded once and was around the rock before I could question him. I followed as closely as I could and within moments we were at the fissure. Sid moved ahead of me into the darkness. Wondering what the hell I was doing, I took what I hoped wouldn’t be my last look at sunlight and stepped through the opening.

  The fissure opened to a large tunnel. It was much drier than I expected and was large enough for a big and extremely tall man. The tunnel was completely dark, but Sid had produced a lantern from his bag. The lantern was a small round orb about the size of a grapefruit with a curving hook of metal protruding from the top, which he held in his hand. The orb itself looked like pressed metal and the slits cut into it scattered unusual shapes around us. Soon the passage opened up into an enormous circular cave.

  Sid scuttled around the cave lighting torches that were mounted on the rock. He moved without hesitation, he had been here before. As the light grew, I was able to make out more of my surroundings. There was a fire pit in the middle of the cave, with a cooking spit and pot suspended above it. High above that, in the ceiling of the cave, was a small opening, presumably for smoke. A sliver of sunlight peeked through. Around the fire were three stools. Two were of average size and simple construction but the third was enormous, easily five times the size of a standard chair. It was made from a large piece of wood that appeared to be the trunk of an ancient tree. Some of the roots remained and they reached for the ground like thick fingers. It was covered in intricate carvings that I couldn’t decipher in the torchlight. I looked at the giant spit. There were bits of charred flesh stuck to the ends and the handle was well worn. It could easily support the weight of a large dog and I’m just a little bit bigger than a large dog. Yay, I’ll make two suppers.

  In the back reaches of the cave was a large cot the size of a king-sized bed; it was covered with pieces of fur and the headboard had been decorated with antlers. To the left of the bed was a long table so high I could have comfortably rested my chin on its surface. Beside that stood a bookshelf; from where I was I couldn’t make out the lettering on the spines. I just hoped they weren’t cookbooks. Although he had been here before, this was definitely not Sid’s home.

  “Whose place is this?” I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice. Sid motioned for me to sit by the fire. I took the stool furthest from the giant one, which unfortunately put my back to the entrance.

  “It belongs to a friend of mine. You will meet her soon enough.”

  Her? Oh god, this whole journey was decidedly
freaky. Why had I just left my apartment with Sid? How would I get home? I looked at the giant spit. Were all these years some elaborate plan to gain my trust and then squirrel me away and eat me? Oh, I just know I’d be tasty too. I pulled the bat out of my bag and lay it across my lap. Until I got some answers, that was where it would stay.

  Sid had been busying himself starting a fire and looked up at my movement. He saw the bat in my lap and exhaled the twin of that deep mournful sigh that had started all this.

  “I am so sorry, My Lady. I owe you a great many answers.” He sounded so sad that I almost put the bat away. Almost, because that’s when they get you. “You have been very trusting to follow me this far. No human would fall so easily into such uneasy things.”

  “I just want to know what’s going on!” All the fear and panic that adrenalin had held at bay were starting to bubble up. “Why the hell did you bring me here?” I was yelling now. “Whose house is this? And why do I have to meet them?” I jumped to my feet. “Look at the size of that bed!” I jabbed the bat towards it. “And that spit! They could fucking eat me! Is that what this is? Huh? Some elaborate plan to eat me?”

  I was breathing very heavily, my chest heaving I held the bat with both hands. Sid started to giggle. It was a phlegmy sound.

  “Eat you?” His giggles grew fuller. “Eat you? Of course, I’m not going to eat you!”

  I watched him struggle with the thick fluids his mirth created. His laughter rescued me from my dark thoughts. Sid was a third my size, the first time we met I had slammed him halfway across my apartment, and we had been friends for years: there was no way he was going to eat me. Not exactly happy, but considerably calmer, I sat down and tried to regain my composure.