CHAPTER 32 THE SUSPICIOUS OLD LADY
” Axion ” Phoenix chuckled happily, hugging him.
” You remembered ” She sniffed back the happy tears threatening to fall. Axion frowned, a bit confused, and just when he was about to return the hug,
” Axion ” Melinoe’s voice came from outside making his body stiffen and his eyes grew dark again. Phoenix pulled out of the hug, hearing Melinoe’s voice. Fear engulfed her as Axion glared at her, grabbing her neck.
” Who are you and what are you doing here? ” He demanded. Tears flooded Phoenix’s eyes.
She thought he just called her name. He remembered her, didn’t he? But how come he doesn’t know who she is all of a sudden?
As Melinoe’s footstep drew closer, Phoenix knew she had to get out of the room before she sees her. She quickly yanked Axion’s hand off her neck and dashed to the window.
Immediately she jumped out, the door opened and Melinoe entered. Seeing Axion awake, she flashed him a smile.
” I thought you were asleep,” She said, sitting down on the bed and patting his hair. Axion kept glancing at the window. Melinoe frowned her brows when she detected a different scent.
” Was someone here? ” She inquired and Axion nodded negatively.
” Are you sure? Why am I perceiving a different scent? ” She stood up and walked over to the window. She frowned on seeing no one.
” Maybe it’s just my imagination ” She shrugged the feeling off and strode back to the bed.
” You should go to sleep, love. There is somewhere we need to go tomorrow ” She said to Axion, helping him lay back down before covering him.
” Goodnight ” She placed a kiss on his forehead before leaving.
Phoenix dragged her feet to the street that night, having no place to go in mind. Her face was clouded in sadness and disappointment. But remembering Axion calling her name, a faint smile crept up her lips.
Looking over at her necklace, she held it.
” Mom, please I need your help. Tell me what to do, I’m so damn confused ” She mumbled silently but unlike before, her necklace didn’t glow making her let out a sad sigh.
Her mother doesn’t even want to help her out this time around. Maybe because everything that transpired was her fault. She was cautioned not to let Axion take that necklace off, yet she became so relaxed thinking nothing could go wrong. And now Axion is possessed and she’s trying to look for a cure. How stupid she was!
She was still lost in thoughts when someone from behind reached out and held her hand and that made her body jerk. She turned swiftly, about sending a hard punch to whoever it was but withdrew her fist on see beholding it was an old woman.
” Please help me dear ” The old woman’s voice shuddered weakly. She looked dirty with her already worn-out clothes which were covered in mud and unkempt hair. She was trying hard to support herself as her whole body quivered and she stinks, to be more specific, horribly.
Phoenix immediately held her cause it seems like she was going to crouch to the floor anytime soon.
” What happened to you, ma’am? How can I help you? ”
” I… have… no place to stay and… I haven’t eaten anything for two days now. My body is wet and muddy and I’m shivering from the cold. Please… help… me… out my dear ” Phoenix felt pity for the woman instantly.
” You don’t have anywhere to stay ma’am? ” She asked and the old lady nodded weakly.
” Don’t worry ma’am, come with me ” She said, holding her more firmly.
Glinda was surprised to see Phoenix with the dirty old lady as they both step into the house. She quickly rushed to them.
” Phoenix, who is she? What happened to her? ” She asked, assisting Phoenix to hold the woman.
” I found her out there in the street alone. She needed somewhere to stay ” Phoenix answered.
” Oh my. Don’t worry, I will take it from here. You should go get some rest ” Glinda offered and Phoenix nodded, leaving the old lady to her. She signed, watching as Glinda took her upstairs.
Meanwhile, Tamara who was peeking at them rushed off to Kelsey’s room.
” What’s the latest? ” Kelsey inquired immediately she rushed in.
” Phoenix came back with a dirty old lady. I think she’s going to spend the night here ” Tamara reported and a smirk crept up Kelsey’s lips.
” Why do you look so happy, mom? ” Tamara couldn’t help but ask seeing her smirk.
” Nothing really. Just that things are falling into place ” Her smirk grew wider.
× × ×
The door of the guest room Phoenix was in opened and Glinda entered. Seeing her, Phoenix rolled her eyes angrily.
” She is fast asleep now. Don’t worry, I’ve given her food ” Glinda said but didn’t get a reply from Phoenix.
” Where went you? ” She asked as Phoenix sat on the bed.
” To see Axion ” She replied sharply.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
” How is he doing? ”
” I think Melinoe should have told you by now ” Phoenix hissed making Glinda groan lightly, walking up to the bed.
” Can you please believe that I’m not working with Melinoe and Gianna? ” She requested and that made Phoenix scoff.
” Really? Then how was she able to find out about the necklace? You were the only person I told about it ”
” I don’t know. In the same way, I’m still finding it hard to believe Melinoe is still alive ” Glinda answered.
” Why will I want to harm my nephew? ” Phoenix eyed her doubtfully. One part of her wanted to believe Glinda but the other wasn’t getting convinced.
” Listen Phoenix, I’m sure Gianna lied do you. She just wanted you to shift your attention to fighting me while she and Melinoe get what they want ” Phoenix let out a groan of frustration.
” I don’t know what to do, aunt. I’m so dead confused right now. I don’t know where to start looking for a cure for Axion and… my mom doesn’t want to answer me. I guess this is something I have to battle on my own but how do I begin? ” She threw her hands up in a dramatic manner. Glinda sat down beside her and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
” You aren’t alone in this Phoenix, I’m here to help. Just give me some time, I’ll surely find a cure for Axion ” She assured.
” There isn’t much time left, aunt. Gianna said Melinoe is handing Axion over to the King of all Dark Genie and tonight, I overheard Melinoe telling Axion she had somewhere to take him tomorrow. I have only till then to find a cure, how possible is that? ” Phoenix blubbered.
Hearing the King of all Dark Genie, Glinda stiffened on the spot in shock, her eyes widened in horror. She quickly let go of Phoenix’s hand and stood up.
” Aunt, are you ok? ” Phoenix too stood up.
” The King of all Dark Genie ” Glinda mumbled in tremor, her body trembling. Her reaction ended up rendering Phoenix confused.
” Who is the King of all Dark Genie, aunt? ” She decided to ask and Glinda shot her a hard glare.
” The one person you should keep Axion away from at all cost ” She answered and Phoenix gulped down.
” Why? ”
” Gianna said Axion is his possession, why is that so? ” She managed to ask.
” Because Axion is. Axion belongs to him ” Glinda answered and Phoenix’s eyes widened.
× × ×
Gianna appeared before Melinoe who was on the balcony, enjoying the night breeze.
” Mom, what are you doing? ” Gianna glared at her.
” What do you mean, my dear? ” Melinoe smiled with a raised eyebrow.
” Aren’t we supposed to present Axion before him tonight, what are you still waiting for? ” Melinoe let out a short laugh.
” Oh come on, sweetie. Axion is my mate, remember? Can’t I even spend some time with him before handing him over? ” Gianna snorted loudly.
” Spend time with him? ”
” Master is waiting and you’re delaying. If he finds out you have Axion already but refused to hand him over, he will be furious. And he’s going to end you… again! ” She snapped.
” Relax, Gianna. He has been waiting for 27 years. An extra night won’t be that hard for him. Let me enjoy my mate tonight, I promise to hand him over tomorrow ” Melinoe wasn’t giving in.
” But mom…”
” Enough Gianna! ” Melinoe cut her off in an angry tone.
” You’re annoying me already. Leave, now! ” She snarled.
” You know what… just forget it ” Gianna hissed and vanished.
× × ×
Phoenix can be seen tossing on the bed, letting out a groan now and then. She just couldn’t sleep as she couldn’t stop thinking about Axion.
How is he doing right now? Is he asleep now or is Melinoe doing something to him? Is he even thinking about her just like she is?
Her conversation with Glinda came playing into her mind.
How is Axion going to feel finding out the truth about who he truly is? Why did Glinda and Kelsey hide such a thing from him? Will he hate her if he eventually finds out she too hid the truth from him?
Not finding an answer to all these questions, she sighed loudly. She got down from the bed and left to go grab some water in the kitchen since she couldn’t sleep.
She was done and headed back upstairs when she saw the room the old woman she helped was in open slowly and the old woman took a peep. Phoenix quickly hid by the walls.
Seeing no one, the old woman stepped out and tiptoed downstairs.
” Where is she heading to? ” Phoenix couldn’t help but wonder. She trailed behind the woman, making sure to keep a good distance.
The old woman got to the basement and stopped. She looked around to see if anyone was following her and when discerning no one, she placed her hand on the door of the basement and it opened by itself.
Phoenix’s eyes broadened in surprise and the woman entered. Phoenix too, quickly and quietly slipped in, leaving the door open.
Fear engulfed her seeing how dark the basement was and she swallowed nervously. She felt something touch her making her jolt in scare but it turned out it was nothing. When she suddenly couldn’t see the woman,
” I need to get out of here ” She muttered and turned but the door slammed close by itself making her heart nearly bounce out of her chest.
” Going somewhere, Phoenix? ” A voice boomed and she froze on the spot…