Phoenix Rising [Eternal Flames 7]

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

"Oliver, where the heck are we going?" Pascal asked for the sixth time.

Oliver stood on a rock, sniffed left then right, stuck out his tongue, then stepped back onto the hard ground, before saying, "I told you, we are going to find that kid and bring him home."

Pascal stopped and placed his hands on his hips in frustration, "But not even the council has been able to find him. What makes you think we can?"

"Because we have more motivation than they do, that's why." Oliver replied.

Pascal quickly caught up to his brother, more confused than when they started on this journey.

"What motivation? I mean, I would think that Angelo and Morgan are pretty motivated. Toby says that they are really looking hard. They both have lost weight and look like they haven't slept since the day their son went missing."

"Which makes things all the better if we find him first. Now shut up and help me look." Oliver ground out.

Grabbing his brother's arm, Pascal snapped, "Damn it, Ollie, stop and think about this. Toby said that we had to watch out for elves in our area. He said that one took off with Manny and he didn't want us to get hurt. So why in the hell are we out here, alone, looking for the guy when there is an elf on the loose?"

Oliver snorted, "Pas, there are always elves on the loose, it isn't like they are prisoners or anything."

"Ollie, you know what I'm saying. We have no business being out here like this. Besides, what if someone sees us? You know as well as I do, when Toby finds out we left our hiding spot, he is going to kick our asses." Pascal said, looking around as if someone were going to pounce on them this very second.

Oliver snapped, "I don't care, Pascal! Go back if you are so f*****g scared. But I, for one, am tired of living in a damn cave eating whatever Toby can dig out of a trash can. I want to live a normal life. He said when we came to Crystal that we would be safe for once. Well, look at us.

We live in a stupid cave on the side of a stupid mountain. Just our luck it's where all the people go to hook up. I have heard more making out noises than any porn star has and I can't take it anymore."

Pascal bit his bottom lip, "But Toby says──"

"I don't want to hear what Toby has to say, Pas!" Oliver shouted again. Taking a calming breath, Oliver replied, "Pascal, while you and I are stuck in a cave, he gets to walk around Crystal talking to people, being a part of a community. He gets to be a part of a town. We get to sit and twiddle our thumbs. I love you and Toby, but honestly, I'm sick of only hearing your voices. I want to sit in a diner and talk to people. I want to listen to them b***h about their lives, talk about

who they want to bang. I want to have my hair done and nails manicured." Tossing his hand in Pascal's face, Oliver hissed, "Look at these things. They are dirty and broken and look like shit."

Pascal stopped Oliver from removing his shoes, knowing that his brother was going to b***h about his toe nails and need for a pedicure. However, he really didn't want to smell what was inside those shoes. They had not had a decent bath in weeks. "I get it, Ollie, and you're right. But I don't see how finding Manny is going to help us."

"Because if we find him, then Illan and Justice will have to accept us into their care. They will take us in as their ajutor." Oliver explained.

Pascal understood Oliver's frustration and need to get out of their situation. Being a Santorini Fox was not easy. To be a part of a pack, clan, clutch, or whatever, they had to be brought in as an assistant or helper. There was no other way. With their gifts and powers being so highly sought after by the paranormal world, it was too dangerous to be on their own as they were now.

If found they would be drained of their blood to be used by those that wished for greater power, just as their own den had been so long ago. As far as Pascal knew, he and his brothers were the last of their kind. Toby had gotten Illan to agree that he could bring his brothers, but for some reason he had not gotten them to agree to be their ajutor. It was disheartening to think that no one would want them. "Okay, Ollie, let's find Manny."

They wandered for miles, until Pascal stopped, "Ollie, do you feel that?"

Oliver stopped and looked left than right, "That's a lot of magical energy."

Nodding, Pascal replied, "Yes and Manny's is very strong in this direction."

Gasping, Oliver replied, "I know where he is! Shift Pascal!"

"Why don't you shift? Why do I have to do it?" Pascal complained.

Oliver gave Pascal that look he hated, it was the one that said do as I say or I'll kick your ass.

Pascal would have argued, but he really didn't like getting dirty and without a shower to use, it left no room to argue. Until Toby could wash their clothing, Pascal was on his last jumper. "Fine, but next time it's your turn."

Pascal removed his clothing and carefully folded each article as he handed them to Oliver.

"By the time you get finished, I am going to be old and gray. Just take the s**t off and give it to me." Oliver bitched.

Pascal continued as he was, saying, "If you wanted fast you should be doing this. Do not wrinkle my clothes, Ollie. I'm serious."

Oliver rolled his eyes, "Wrinkled clothes are the last thing you are going to need to worry about if you don't hurry the hell up."

Finally undressed, Pascal began his shift. The vibration of his body increased along with the loud ringing crystal sound that always came with their shift. Unlike other shifters, a Santorini Fox had to take time to shift. They could not just be human one second and their fox the next. The vibration sounds could kill anyone that was close to them when it is done, just like a tone used to shatter a glass, but instead of glass, blood and guts. It was not pretty.

Oliver leaned down to his tiny form and plucked three hairs from his white fuzzy head. Moments later, Pascal was back to his human form, rubbing his head, "Damn it, Ollie, that s**t hurt."

"Oh, hush and get dressed, I should have the portal ready by the time you're through." Oliver replied tossing Pascal's clothes on a rock.

Pascal growled at his brother being so careless with his clothes. True to his word, Pascal had just slipped his shoes on when his brother yelled, "Come on before it closes."

Following Oliver into the portal, Pascal was amazed when he stepped into a scene right out of Disney. Large grasslands surrounded a beautiful golden castle and a feeling of peace filled him.

"This place is amazing. What is that energy I feel?"

"Pixie." Oliver said, making his way towards the castle.

Pascal tilted his head, "I feel another energy, Ollie."

"Fairy." Ollie said, picking up speed.

"Oliver, damn it, slow down." Pascal hissed.

Shaking his head, Oliver shouted, "I feel him, Pas. I feel Manny. He's here."

"Yeah, well, the damn fairy might be here, too. You can't just run into that castle. What if someone's home?" Pascal replied feeling his breathing increase with the pace Oliver was taking.

"I don't think anyone is here but Manny. The fairy magic signature is low and I think this is the realm the pixies came from. They were all moved to Maddox, if you remember. Toby said so a few weeks ago." Oliver yelled back.

Racing into the castle, Pascal looked around. Oliver was right. there wasn't even a piece of furniture in the place. Unlike the outside that felt peaceful, inside was more desolate and scary.

Feeling Manny's energy, they made their way upstairs and then soon found themselves at a wall but no door.

"He is in here." Oliver whispered. The sound echoing through the hall.

"How can he be here? He can't be in a wall, Ollie." Pascal said as quietly as his brother.

Oliver placed his hand on the wall, then his ear, "This is an illusion, Pas. Someone used magic to make it look like a wall, but there is a door. We just need to find the handle. Help me."

Both he and Oliver ran their hands over the wall when Pascal felt something, "I think I have it!"

Turning the knob, a door opened. The furniture inside was beautiful. Hell, the entire room was really nice. It seemed odd that nothing was in the rest of the palace, but in this room, it was full on suite, fireplace and all. Whoever had taken Manny had not intended for him to be harmed.

Walking further inside, Pascal was so enchanted by what he was seeing he didn't expect a pillow to hit him in the face. "Oomph!"

Pascal fell back and landed on Oliver, "Oomph!"

"What the f**k, Pas, get off me!"

"I didn't do it on purpose, I was hit with a pillow in the face." Pascal snarled struggling to get off his brother.

"Get your ass out of my face, Pas. That s**t is dangerous." Oliver grumbled.

"Shut up, Oliver. I'm doing my best." Pascal said, finally able to roll off his brother with his elbows.

"Mother fucker!" Oliver groaned, "You are so going to die, Pas. I'm going to kill you myself."

"What did I──oh man, sorry." Pascal said as he watched his brother rolling around on the floor holding his balls in his hands.

"Gonna die a slow painful death." Oliver rasped as he tried to catch his breath.

Suddenly a young man with long light brown hair was swinging a lamp high in the air

threatening, "If you come near me your balls are not the only thing you're going to have to save."

"Dude, back off! Is that any way to treat your rescuers?" Pascal asked as he stepped out of the guy’s way.

Manny stopped swinging the lamp around, "My what?"

Pascal grunted as he stood, still gripping his nuts in his hand, rasping, "We came to bring you home, Manny."

"Where's Rune?" Manny asked looking one way down the hall and then the next.

"Who?" Pascal asked.

"Rune, the man that brought me here. Where is he and who are you?" Manny asked.

Pascal shrugged, "I have no idea who Rune is, but if you mean the fairy that attacked you, then we haven't seen him and I’m Pascal and this is my brother Oliver. We're Toby's brothers."

"He didn't attack me, he kidnapped me. Who's Toby?" Manny replied automatically.

Oliver waved one hand around, saying in that sing song voice, "Potato, Potahto. You know him as Ren. We need to go."

Manny set the lamp on the floor, "You mean the reporter guy? I remember him from a meeting at Twixie's."

"Let's go. I really would like to get out of here before that Rune guy shows up. Besides, your dads are beside themselves with worry since you were taken. " Oliver replied, making his way down the staircase.

Manny kept up without any problems, "I don't think Rune would hurt us. He just wanted to talk. I can just tell my dads I spent the weekend with some friends and apologize for my stupidity in not calling them."

Oliver stopped and turned to Manny, "And where exactly are you going to tell them you were for the last month and a half?"

Manny's eyes went wide, "What the hell are you talking about? I've been here less than a week."

Nodding, Pascal replied, "You've been here less than a week. You've been missing for almost two months."