TAMING THE BEAST IN HIM ( His Red Phoenix )

” A red Phoenix ” The bird replied, landing on the floor.

Phoenix immediately forgot she had been crying. She couldn’t stop staring at the bird before her, her lips parted in awe.

” You… are… beautiful ” She didn’t even realize when that left her lips.

” Really Phoenix, that is what’s going on in your mind now? ” The bird scoffed, snapping her out of her awe.

” Oh sorry… I couldn’t help it, sorry ” She apologized.

” What brings you to me, great one? ” She asked, bowing a bit in a way of respect.

” I heard your cry for help and the doubts in your heart ” The bird replied, stepping closer to her. The bird took her hands and before Phoenix could fathom what was going on, the bird turned into a very beautiful woman.

The woman looked exactly like Phoenix except for the fact she was a bit older with her long golden-colored hair which was reaching down to her back knee.

Phoenix’s eyes widened even more as her jaw dropped open.

” You are a human?! ” She exclaimed.

” You are human too, does that answer your question? ” The woman asked.

” Why do you look exactly like me, as if you are me but just the older me? ” Phoenix questioned and a tiny smile formed on the woman’s lips.

” Because… I’m your mother, Phoenix ” She answered and Phoenix immediately slipped her hand out, stepping away from the woman.

” What? ” She asked in a faint voice, her face died down in a deep frown.

” I’m your mother… your real mother ” The woman repeated. Phoenix shot her a hard glare. If her eyes were guns, then Phoenix must have murdered her by now and still murder her spirit.

” You… my mother? ” She muttered in disbelief and the woman nodded.

” Never! ” Phoenix snapped in anger. The woman looked down, letting out a sigh like she was expecting Phoenix to react that way.

” Phoenix..” She called, stepping closer, but Phoenix stepped back.

” Don’t come closer ” She signaled her not to come closer with her hand. She didn’t know how to react to what the woman said. She doesn’t want to believe her, but it’s obvious she is her mother because she is just a replica of the woman.

She didn’t know whether to be angry or to be happy that she finally knew who her mother was. Not knowing which reaction to give, she ran through her hair in frustration.

” You… where have you been all this while? ” She couldn’t hold back the question.

” Where were you all these 25 years of my miserable life?! ” She yelled in anger this time around.

” You left me when I was just a baby. You abandoned me, you left me to suffer all my life. Ever since I was little, even until now, I’ve felt like I was nothing but a failure, a burden to my Mom all because you left me to her and she raised me instead of you. Tell me why?! ” She demanded.

Unlike before, Phoenix would be crying by now, but not even a single tear can be seen escaping her eyes. Maybe because she was tired of crying at everything.

” Answer my question! ”

” Because it was time for me to die ” The woman replied in a surprisingly calm and relaxed tone. Phoenix’s face died down in confusion.

” It was time for you to die? ” She asked.

” I am a Red Phoenix and I’ve lived for 500 years. It was finally time for me to go because my mission here was done. It was time for me to go and let you continue the lineage of the Red Phoenix ” The woman explained.

” Wait. I don’t get you. Are you trying to say that you standing in front of me isn’t actually you but your spirit? ” Phoenix asked, already more than confused.

” Exactly, my dear. I’ve been dead for 25 years now ” The woman chuckled lightly. Everything was now starting to make sense to Phoenix.

” I never abandoned you, Phoenix. Lilly was a good friend of mine when I was alive. It was only thoughtful of me to hand you over to her ” The woman added.

” If you’re truly dead, why are you here then? ” Phoenix asked.

” To help you. I was sent to help you with your mission. ”

” Am I a Red Phoenix? ” Phoenix couldn’t help but ask.

” You still have your doubts, don’t you? ” The woman chuckled. She reached out to her hair and took off the hair tie which was holding it together. She stepped closer to Phoenix and took off her hair tie too.

” Why do you have the same red-feathered hair tie as me? ” She asked and Phoenix immediately grabbed the two hair ties from her. Her eyes widened when a realization was drawn to her.

” I am a Phoenix ” She muttered in shock.

” I was the one who gave you the hair tie when I gave birth to you ” Phoenix looked up at the woman.

” Really? How come I can’t remember anything as such? ”

” Because you were still a baby then. Lilly lied when she said she bought it for you. She did that so you won’t question her about it ” The woman revealed.

” I’ve always doubted myself, ever since I was a child. I never truly believed that anything good could come out of me. Which is why I never believed the possibility of me being a Phoenix ” Phoenix expressed.

The woman took her hands, massaging them gently while staring intently into her eyes with Phoenix staring back. Flashing her an assuring smile,

” You need to believe in yourself, Phoenix…

” But why don’t people believe in me? ” Phoenix cut her off with the question.

” Because of your self-doubt. If you truly believe in yourself and your strength, people won’t help but believe in you too. And I believe in you, Phoenix. ”

Phoenix’s heart relaxed on seeing the sincerity in the woman’s eyes. She felt relaxed and drawn to her like she had known her for a long time. She felt safe and secure staring into the woman’s beautiful red eyes.

” Tell me Phoenix, do you now believe that you are a real Phoenix, a red Phoenix, and not just by name? ” The woman asked.

Phoenix didn’t answer the question immediately. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes.

Inhaling deeply,

” I believe that I am truly a Red Phoenix ” She answered.

” I had my doubts… but not anymore. I believe in my strength, myself, and what I am capable of doing ” She expressed, her eyes still closed.

The woman stepped away from Phoenix as a glow of light started emitting from her palms. The glow slowly and gradually circulated her whole body and before she knew it, she was now shining as bright as the sun.

Her hair too slowly turned half red and golden, flames and fire revolving around her. She finally snapped her eyes open, which were now burning red. Looking at her hands, a smirk crept up her lips on seeing the fiery balls in her palm.

” I am a Red Phoenix and I am capable of anything ” She said in confidence, walking over to the locked door. She held the handle and it melted to the hotness of her hand. Kicking the door slightly, it barged open without any hesitation. Seeing as the door opened, happiness ran through Phoenix and she turned to look at the woman who was smiling broadly at her.

She walked over to her, smiling confidently and her head up high. Soon the fire revolving around her died down and her eyes went back to normal. But her hair color didn’t, it remained half red and half golden.

” You said I had a mission. Tell me what it is ” Phoenix inquired.

” Your mission is… Axion ” The woman answered and Phoenix’s smile vanished immediately.

” Him?! You mean that jerk?! ” She almost yelled.

” Yes, that jerk. And that jerk needs you ” The woman replied.

” You are his Phoenix, which means… you are bonded to him… forever ”

” But why him? Of all people in the whole universe, why bond me to that jerk of a person? ” Phoenix asked with an angry pout.

” Sometimes the universe does play mind games with us. But it isn’t left for us to decide. Even before you were born, you were already bonded to him ”

” And as his Phoenix, it is up to you to protect him. It is your duty to guide him, to tame him. He is nothing without you, Phoenix, and his life is in your hands ” The woman explained.

” I don’t quite understand. Why tame him? Why protect him? Is his life in some kind of danger? ” Phoenix asked.

” I’m not in the position to answer that question. It is up to you to find out ” The woman replied.

” But he hates me. He detests me and… I hate him too. I still don’t know how I’ll be able to protect him. What if he… rejects me? ”

” He is not in the position to… but you are ” The woman replied.

” I think my time here is up. I have to go, but before I leave, I’d like you to keep this ” She added and took out a necklace, placing it on Phoenix’s palm.

” What is this for? ” Phoenix asked.

” You will find out soon, but keep one thing in mind. Never… let it go ” The woman answered and, with that, she stepped away from Phoenix, turning to leave.

” Wait ” Phoenix halted her.

” What is your name? ” Phoenix asked and a broad smile had its way on the woman’s lips. She turned back to a bird immediately.

” Ashley. My name is Ashley ” She answered and before Phoenix knew it, she vanished. A happy and satisfied smile crept up Phoenix’s lips as she stared at the necklace in her hand.

” Thank you… Mom. I needed this ” She said, and put on the necklace. The necklace had a pendant which was the structure of the Phoenix bird.

” Goodbye ” Phoenix added and turned, heading to the door. As she turned, the necklace around her neck glowed and so did the back of her neck. A mark more like a tattoo can be seen printed on the back of her neck.

The mark was the symbol of the phoenix bird, the same symbol as the one on her necklace…