"There's no need to keep pretending, child. I know who you are."
Anastasia blinked in surprise. "You know who I am? How?"
The headmaster smiled, watching as a beautiful blue bird landed on his shoulder. Almost immediately, Anastasia recognized it as a phoenix. Blue ones were rare, but not uncommon. One was only born every five thousand years. There was only one phoenix in existence at one point, and it would be reborn when it died or when its five hundred year lifespan was up. Anastasia watched as the headmaster lifted his hand to pet it. "For one, you hold yourself differently. Too differently. And two," Alaric leaned in. "I don't seem to recall the Viscount having any blood relations to the royal family."
"It was the hair, huh?" Anastasia crossed her arms. "So what is it that you want?"
"I want your word. That you will never harm the academy or any of its teachers or students."
"No."
"You aren't really in a place to negotiate, hero."
"Well, suppose I agree. What do I get from this?"
"I will tell you how you can become a god."
Anastasia's eyes went wide. Inside of her, the insatiable desire for immortality erupted, pouring through her veins and clouding her mind. All she could think about was learning this specific piece of information.
"Tell me more."
***
"Thank you for your time, Miss Nova," the headmaster said, leading her to the door. "I'm to assume that you will be following Alastair's daughter from now on?"
Anastasia nodded. "I will take your offer into consideration. I can agree to your first requirement, but I'll need to think about the rest of your offer a little bit more."
"I understand. I will be waiting for your answer."
With another hastily fumbled curtsy, Anastasia walked down the hall, not sparing a look back to observe the cunning headmaster of Edritch Academy. She would do as she wanted no matter what he said. He would be with her or against her.
His choice.
***
"How long has it been, four hundred years?" Alaric brushed the blue firebird's warm feathers. "I haven't seen a child this interesting in a long time."
Suddenly, a bright blue glow shone from the phoenix's body. When the light faded, the bird was replaced by a delicate-looking young man twirling his long, sky blue hair around his finger. He wore a white collared shirt with long sleeves and the first few buttons undone. His sharp blue eyes scanned the room.
"You haven't?" He smiled, picking his head up and turning to face Alaric. "Are you sure?"
"Quite sure," The headmaster answered, leaning in closer to Phoenix's face, teal eyes never looking away.
"Then you've clearly never looked in a mirror." He huffed, turning his head.
"If I looked into mirrors all day, then when would I have the time to appreciate your beautiful face?"
Phoenix blushed, cheeks flaring up with heat. He couldn't meet Alaric's gaze. The headmaster let out a laugh, making Phoenix's face burn brighter. Flustered, he spun around, ready to scream at Alaric, but the young immortal was faster.
"Don't blush," he said, tipping the blue-haired boy's face up to meet his. "Red doesn't look good on you."
Phoenix stuttered, searching for words that would not come. "U-um... I-i..."
"Stop mumbling and kiss me already."
Phoenix looked up, meeting Alaric's teal eyes, staring down at him in all seriousness.
"What? Are you not going to do it? This is getting awk-"
The rest of his words were lost to the feeling of Phoenix pressing his mouth into Alaric's. The firebird boy's eyes were closed shut, his hands slipping around Alaric's neck to dig into his hair, brushing through the long, black strands.
"Seductive little fox," the immortal breathed, when their lips parted. "I'll show you a real kiss."
Closing his mouth over Phoenix's, Alaric flipped the two of them into a sideways position on the couch. His hand slipped down to the boy's chest, beginning to undo the next few buttons on Phoenix's shirt.
"S-s-stop!" he cried, trying to push Alaric off of himself. "I-i'm not ready!"
"Not ready?" Alaric asked, menace lacing his words. "I don't know what you mean. You've been leading me on for so long, I thought this was what you wanted. Unless...you were playing me?"
"N-no! I-i...um..."
"You know," Alaric said, breath grazing over Phoenix's skin. "I've never slept with a bird before."
The boy went redder than a tomato.
"A-am I to a-assume that you've s-s-slept with other creatures?"
"Not when you're all I can dream of," the headmaster responded, sweeping a lock of blue hair away from Phoenix's face. "Stalking my dreams and whispering sweet nothings into my ears, have you no shame?"
"Th-then you shouldn't have picked me up from the side of the road!" Phoenix blurted, tension clouding his judgement.
"Then am I to assume that you'd rather be seducing some other man who isn't me?"
"Wh-when did I ever-"
Gently, Alaric placed a thin finger on Phoenix's lips, silencing him. "Shh. I'm not going to do anything to you."
The boy let out a sigh of relief.
"At least not tonight."
***
On one summer day hundreds of years ago, a little boy, known as Al, was walking through the forests of Fancienne when he saw a small, blue bird crumpled on the ground near the foot of an old oak tree. He went to investigate, observing the bird at a distance, then inching closer to touch its glowing, blue feathers. The small creature cooed happily at his touch, flapping its cute little wings energetically. Suddenly, the bird's plumes began to heat, burning the little boy's hands.
"Ah! That burns!" he screamed, stumbling backwards.
The small blue bird stumbled a few steps towards him before a bright blue glow spread from its body, leaving a young boy, no older than Al, where the bird had been only a moment earlier.
"I'm so sorry!" he apologized, running over to where Al sat on the ground in disbelief. "I can't control what happens when I get excited! I'm very sorry!"
"I'm okay," Al replied, getting up and dusting himself off. "I haven't heard of a creature that can transform into a human before. What are you?"
"Um, I'm a phoenix."
"Oh. What's your name?"
"I don't have one," the phoenix said, scratching his head.
"I'll just call you Phoenix then! Is that alright?"
"Yeah, that's fine!"
"Oh! You don't have a place to stay right?" Phoenix shook his head. "You can stay at my place! It's really big."
"Okay!"
The two little boys linked arms, running off down the forest path without a care in the world. It was in that moment that Phoenix swore that he would never leave this perfect black-haired little boy.
One day I will make you mine, he thought, gazing into Al's deep, teal eyes. One day when I'm sure that you won't turn me down.