reaffirm their allegiance to their Neir and Neiro . Life among humans had been rewarding, but the company of their own kind would enrich it even further.
Fiach kissed her temple. “Are you ready?”
He wrapped his arms tightly around hers, and the other Phoenix shuffled closer.
Their joined power was strong enough to send the small group safely to the human plane and to their mountainous home.
One matter remained unresolved. The thin threads of demon magic still bound Celia and Fiach to Jarlath’s prison. In his eagerness to obtain them, the demon had overlooked their birthright, one they hadn’t known they possessed. He had caged the Neir and Neiro Phoenix, and there was a high price to pay for such disrespect.
Jarlath? Fiach asked. Barely subdued anger simmered below the surface. His gaze lowered to her wrists. The gold burns were long since healed, but the outline seemed etched in his memory. He was eager for retribution.
Yes. Her thoughts went to the small gathering of Phoenix that they had sent to their home without escort. How long will this take?
He pantomimed checking his bare wrist for a watch. We’ll be home in time for dinner.
Good.
Cilia stepped under the protective shield of his wings until her cheek rested on his chest. She closed her eyes and allowed him to flash them to the catacombs and back to where their journey of discovery had began.
His feathers tickled over her skin as his wings withdrew and nestled between the blades of his shoulders. Cilia peered around the same cavernous cell where they had been held. The bed was overturned, and the table and chairs were smashed into kindling against the black rock wall.
Evidently, Jarlath had not been pleased to realize that his pets had escaped him. She had assumed he would realize they had to return and walk clear of the bars before they were free to materialize anywhere else, but the heavy door was propped open. The way to freedom lay clear.
What do you think happened? She asked.
I think someone beat us here. He pointed to black paw prints tracked with the tar of demon blood. The ground beyond the cell was brushed clean except for the few feline paw marks.
Their eyes met, and the name fell from their lips simultaneously. “Kathel.”
“Aye.” A deep purr reverberated down the long tunnel leading out of the catacombs.
“A wee Noce gift for you from the Lady and myself.”
“I thought she said fae magic couldn’t counteract the enspellment on the bars.”
Kathel’s large black body came into sight. The cat’s nine black tails thumped in tandem on the dirt floor; the sharpened silver tips tinkled together. “I see no fae magic here.” His purring laughter bubbled from his chest. “I might have seen a certain cat force demon guards to open a cell door to release dear friends of his.”
“And what happened to the guards?”
Kathel licked his lips. “I’m certain there was only the one, and he left after unlocking the bars.”
“And, Jarlath?”
“The name seems familiar. It could be that he was slightly eaten and sent to the Hall of Lords as a message that the Phoenix had risen and a warning that any attempt to harm them was more trouble than any demon wanted.”
“That’s a lot of information to get from a half eaten corpse.”
The black cat shrugged. “It’s open to interpretation, of course.”
Cilia stroked his thick black fur; the silky strands tickled her fingers. “When we bargained with you to help rescue Stella and Max, you knew all along that you couldn’t hurt me didn’t you?”
Kathel hummed. “I did.” His large teeth glinted in a fierce grin. “But you didn’t and neither did the lad. The price was satisfied; that’s all that matters.”
She rested her face in his midnight fur and hugged him tightly. “You’re a good friend.”
“You and the boy are the only ones I’ve ever had, so I’m in no place to judge.”
“We’ve decided to stay among the humans until we can find our purpose again.
Fiach kissed her temple. “Are you ready?”
He wrapped his arms tightly around hers, and the other Phoenix shuffled closer.
Their joined power was strong enough to send the small group safely to the human plane and to their mountainous home.
One matter remained unresolved. The thin threads of demon magic still bound Celia and Fiach to Jarlath’s prison. In his eagerness to obtain them, the demon had overlooked their birthright, one they hadn’t known they possessed. He had caged the Neir and Neiro Phoenix, and there was a high price to pay for such disrespect.
Jarlath? Fiach asked. Barely subdued anger simmered below the surface. His gaze lowered to her wrists. The gold burns were long since healed, but the outline seemed etched in his memory. He was eager for retribution.
Yes. Her thoughts went to the small gathering of Phoenix that they had sent to their home without escort. How long will this take?
He pantomimed checking his bare wrist for a watch. We’ll be home in time for dinner.
Good.
Cilia stepped under the protective shield of his wings until her cheek rested on his chest. She closed her eyes and allowed him to flash them to the catacombs and back to where their journey of discovery had began.
His feathers tickled over her skin as his wings withdrew and nestled between the blades of his shoulders. Cilia peered around the same cavernous cell where they had been held. The bed was overturned, and the table and chairs were smashed into kindling against the black rock wall.
Evidently, Jarlath had not been pleased to realize that his pets had escaped him. She had assumed he would realize they had to return and walk clear of the bars before they were free to materialize anywhere else, but the heavy door was propped open. The way to freedom lay clear.
What do you think happened? She asked.
I think someone beat us here. He pointed to black paw prints tracked with the tar of demon blood. The ground beyond the cell was brushed clean except for the few feline paw marks.
Their eyes met, and the name fell from their lips simultaneously. “Kathel.”
“Aye.” A deep purr reverberated down the long tunnel leading out of the catacombs.
“A wee Noce gift for you from the Lady and myself.”
“I thought she said fae magic couldn’t counteract the enspellment on the bars.”
Kathel’s large black body came into sight. The cat’s nine black tails thumped in tandem on the dirt floor; the sharpened silver tips tinkled together. “I see no fae magic here.” His purring laughter bubbled from his chest. “I might have seen a certain cat force demon guards to open a cell door to release dear friends of his.”
“And what happened to the guards?”
Kathel licked his lips. “I’m certain there was only the one, and he left after unlocking the bars.”
“And, Jarlath?”
“The name seems familiar. It could be that he was slightly eaten and sent to the Hall of Lords as a message that the Phoenix had risen and a warning that any attempt to harm them was more trouble than any demon wanted.”
“That’s a lot of information to get from a half eaten corpse.”
The black cat shrugged. “It’s open to interpretation, of course.”
Cilia stroked his thick black fur; the silky strands tickled her fingers. “When we bargained with you to help rescue Stella and Max, you knew all along that you couldn’t hurt me didn’t you?”
Kathel hummed. “I did.” His large teeth glinted in a fierce grin. “But you didn’t and neither did the lad. The price was satisfied; that’s all that matters.”
She rested her face in his midnight fur and hugged him tightly. “You’re a good friend.”
“You and the boy are the only ones I’ve ever had, so I’m in no place to judge.”
“We’ve decided to stay among the humans until we can find our purpose again.
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