Blazing Ashes: A Phoenix Reborn Urban Fantasy Novel by Alexa Whitewolf

Author:Alexa Whitewolf [Whitewolf, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luna Imprints
Published: 2020-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

For a moment, all I’m aware of is the water in my throat, clogging up my nose, my eyes, my everything. My body rebels against the paw on my back, jerking and trying to free itself. Claws dig in through clothes, into flesh, and my mouth opens in a silent scream.

Which, if you’re underwater, is practically the worst thing you can do.

“Feel. Listen. See.”

Echoes of the zmeu’s voice reverberate through the water, and my body goes slack against his hold. I close my eyes, forcing my lungs to continue living, and then… I let go.

No other explanation exists. I stop struggling, stop trying to drag air in my lungs, and instead go slack. Only, I don’t die and float away towards the light. And it’s not in the Ether I end up, either, but somewhere else. Somewhere I’ve never been before, yet that feels too darned familiar.

I’m staring up into a kind, weathered face—a priest, if I’m to guess by his collar. And judging by the angle, he’s holding me in his arms. Blue eyes wink at me as he strokes his beard. “Where did you come from, little angel?” He picks me up and shows me to a woman.

She’s also got a wrinkled face, but she’s younger, and looks up at him with hope. “God has answered our prayers.”

“This is much more than that, Elena,” he says. “It is a second chance.”

They can’t be more than fifty, and I’m obviously the baby. But this can’t be real, because it’s not the life I’ve lived… Unless my entire existence has been a lie.

I know I was dropped off at a church, but I was older, a four-year-old toddler. And no kind couple took me in, rather I was thrown straight into the system, bounced from house to house, each one worse than the last.

Images file in front of my eyes like a movie, and then stop. I’m older now, on skinny legs. Running down the stairs, ignoring a woman’s voice warning me to be careful. I emerge into a kitchen, where a massive cake is laid out with two candles spelling out 10—ten years old.

The woman from before, Elena, smiles at me. “What do you think, sweetie? Do you like it?”

“It’s AWESOME, Mommy!” My excited screech makes her both wince and burst out laughing, and she looks so much younger despite the extra wrinkles and grey hairs. Almost like she’s been reinvigorated by having me around.

“Good! Because the bakery almost didn’t deliver on time. Want to help me set up the rest of the decorations? Your friends will be here any minute.”

Friends? I never had friends growing up, unless you count Bebo.

This new me, though, is apparently pretty lucky. It’s like I’m both me and her. I live through all her emotions, her joy, her complete innocence—this child has not suffered. She didn’t go through all the crap I had by the time I reached this age. She’s been sheltered.

Fury fills me, choking me, blurring my vision. Why the hell is the zmeu showing me this? None of it can be real!

Let me out! I shout in my head.

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