Lucky smiled as he looked over at his childhood friend. The 'ritual' had worked and now... Now Rufus had no Phoenix but hey! He was alive and better.. wasn't that the plan after all?. For Rufus to survive?.
Lucky was sure that Rufus wouldn't take these news in a good way. But who would?. One minute you're almost dead and the next you're miraculously healed only to discover that what defined and made you is no longer there...?. Rufus wouldn't take it kindly.. it was heartbreaking. But they had no other option, it was this way or loosing him completely... chances for his recarnation were slip. Loosing a part of you wasn't easy, how would Rufus survive as human?. Without enhanced hearing and better sense of smell and sight?.
Lucky felt broken as well.
Hamlin embraced Rufus as well at least Aisha and Araminta were considerate enough to give him a chance to touch his son. From the distance where Lucky stood, he felt as if this was not the Rufus he knew... knows ... not the Rufus he grew up with.. this was a totally different person seated on that bed. He couldn't help but be sad, he was going to miss the old Rufus.. He was going to miss Rufus' Phoenix but it was too late, it was gone and gone forever.
Lucky was so sure that Rufus' was going to be angry with him because this was his idea all along. But if he hadn't suggested this, then would he be embracing his parents at the moment?.
Hamlin pulled off of the long embrace he had wrapped his son in. Rufus looked up at Ambrose, his neck flushing up with a blush up to his cheeks since he was almost naked.
"Should I wait till you dress so that I can embrace you as well?". Ambrose questioned, her hands over her mouth as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. She wasn't the only one crying the tears of joy.. Aisha, Araminta and Hamlin were also under the same effect apart from Lucky. He was busy thinking of what to do... what to say when Rufus found out about the lack of his Phoenix. It wouldn't go well and he was afraid of what could possibly happen.
Rufus let out a small smile, "I'll let this one pass for now".
Ambrose lunged forward and pulled him in an embrace. "I thought we had lost you".
"It's good to see you Rose. I missed you". Rufus replied as he took a deep breathe. Lucky's heartbeat fastened. Would Rufus realise now the lack of smelling off the scents he was so used to having around him?. Ambrose pulled off of the embrace giving out a nervous smile.
Aisha seemed to have remembered as well due to the sudden change of her expression, "Son dear, you should rest please for you to recover quickly".
Araminta sat on his lap, "I thought I lost you bro".
"Well you didn't loose me small sis". Rufus responded, wondering why his parents weren't reprimanding him for being in a Hunter's trap or something.
"We found you in a pretty bad state. You almost died son. We were all afraid and scared of loosing you. But now, all that matters is that you're fine". Hamlin answered squeezing Rufus' shoulder a little in reassurance. Rufus gave a slight nod looking around as if he was searching for someone. He looked restless and his heartbeat was uptick until he set his eyes on Lucky who was standing at the furthest corner of the room closer to the door.
"Yo dude!". Rufus exclaimed, his lips curving up in a big smile, his heart beating faster - joys of being in love -
Lucky tried to return the smile but he failed. He was disturbed and worried. All he wanted to do at the moment was run in the safety of his room or get away to some other far place just to try and forget the situation they were now in. How the hell was he going to explain to his childhood friend that he had no Phoenix?. "Dude, you we're almost dead and we couldn't bare that thought of loosing you so I came up with a solution to separate you and your Phoenix.. just for you to survive and live. Long story short, you have no phoenix dude, you're never gonna fly, never gonna produce fireballs, never gonna hear far and smell things and all that...". That wasn't the best explanation. That would only make things even worse than the way they were at the moment.
"Are you okay?". Rufus asked, his smile already gone and face scrunched up in a worried expression.
"Uh, Uh yeah.. yes I'm fine. Just happy that you're fine and all that". Lucky said, dropping his hands onto his sides from his hoodie's pocket.
Rufus' brow shot up, he looked so not himself, his long hair not tied up in that Chinese style he was used to.. him being almost naked on the bed. "You don't look fine to me".
"Where's Alpha?". Rufus asked.
Lucky took a deep breathe, "He's in his room. Not feeling well but he'll be here to see you soon".
"He's ill?. What happened?. Is that why you look worried?". Rufus questioned.
"It happened earlier Son". Hamlin replied. "Just a few hours ago".
"We don't know what's wrong with him yet". Aisha added.
"Uncle Plutonic couldn't move and Father and Mother couldn't carry him to his room". Araminta chimed in.
"Oh I'm sorry about that Lucky". Rufus apologized. Ambrose looked at Lucky wondering why he hadn't told her what Araminta had just said.
"It's okay I'm going to check up on him now". Lucky said as he gestured to the door using his thumb, his eyes flickering from Rufus to his parents. "I'm glad you're fine now".
"Oh go ahead. I'm glad I'm fine as well". Rufus replied with a small smile. "I hope the Alpha recovers quickly".
"Lucky, call us in case you need anything". Aisha said, Lucky just nodded as he reached for the door not missing the way Ambrose looked at him which he just ignored and left.
••••••
"What the hell were you thinking when you agreed to helping out Carl?". Midira asked as she walked in the clearing to join Ninah.
"I'm not helping him out. You have nothing to worry about". Ninah protested.
"What are you doing then?. My sister certainly won't be pleased about this".
"Just say it's helping out my son in an indirect way. This is his enemy I'm dealing with. Whoever is against my son shall not live". Ninah said, turning to face Mirida, her expressions firm.
"So in short you want to kill Carl?". Midira asked.
Ninah's lips quirked up in a smirk, "You didn't hear that from me Midira".
"What's your plan?".
"All I need is blood". Ninah stated, fangs revealing off the corners of her lips as she licked them with her long two crossed tongue similar to that of a snake. It was clear she was a different creature now.. not just a witch but something else more vicious and blood thirsty.
"Be careful with what you do. We don't want trouble with the council". Midira warned.
"Don't worry".
"You should approach Lucky sooner, the world needs him". Midira muttered before she disappeared.
"A witch in my territory?". Ninah jolted to see whom it was.
Shane Wang.
The Chief of the NightWing clan and Carl's father.
He had no idea that there was a witch in his territory and Ninah wondered if the man had heard her conversation with Midira. A part of her was afraid and wanted to run away but the other side of her... the new one, wanted to fight back in case the chief put up a fight.
"Yes there's one. So?". Ninah asked. "My name is Akaya".
"What are you doing here?. Who sent you and what do you want?". Chief Shane Wang asked.
"That matters not". Ninah... Akaya responded. "What are you doing here?".
Chief Shane Wang looked around, brows furrowed. Was this woman crazy or what?. Wasn't he in his territory?.
"I'm in my territory. How dare you question me?". Shane asked as he took a step in front. Akaya remained unshaken and unmoved. She was going to fight back and kill the chief. Carl would automatically become the chief after Shane's death and she would kill him too... the NightWing clan would have no leader. They would have to look for someone to lead them and she wanted that leader, to be her son. This was all for Lucky and no one else.
"Oh right." Akaya replied as she looked down at her long dark nails.
"It's clear that someone sent you here. Was it the wolves or what?". Shane asked almost in a yelling tone as his claws morphed in place where his fingernails should have been. Akaya saw them but pretended to not have to.
"Whoever sent me matters not". Akaya replied thinking of the blood she'd drink from Shane.
She would suck him dry.
"Your living days are over". Akaya whispered.