TAMING THE BEAST IN HIM ( His Red Phoenix )

Phoenix was already back in the hospital. She was sitting beside Lilly, who was still unconscious, holding her hand with her head resting on the bed. She looked up at Lilly and one could see her already swollen and red eyes, which had resulted from crying for a long time since she came back.

” Mom ” She called out faintly.

” How can I suddenly get married… and worse of all to a man old enough to be my grandfather? I still have a long way to go in my life, but getting married? ”

” I don’t want to do it, Mom. Please wake up and tell me what to do. I don’t want to lose you, but I can’t pay for your treatment and neither do I want to wail away my life by getting married…

” I’m so confused Mom, please wake up, please ” She broke down in tears again, crouching her head on the bed.

Lilly’s hand could be seen moving a bit before she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes started roaming about, trying to familiarize herself with where she was. Seeing someone seated beside her,

” Phoenix ” She called weakly. Phoenix stopped crying immediately after hearing her voice. She swiftly looked up. Bewildering happiness ran through her.

” Mom ” She exclaimed happily. Without thinking twice, she hugged her tightly.

” You woke up ” She chuckled in happiness, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. Pulling out from the hug,

” You scared me, Mom. How could you be unconscious for so long? ” She asked. Lilly gently sat up.

” What happened? What am I doing at the hospital? ” She asked back.

” I came back from the mall and Veronica told me you passed out all of a sudden ” Phoenix answered.

” Damn it ” Lilly cursed under her breath.

” You scared me ” Phoenix muttered.

” Don’t worry, I’m fine now. Let’s head back to the club ” She cupped her face, flashing an assuring smile. She tried climbing down the bed but Phoenix stopped her.

” What are you trying to do Mom? ” She asked, a bit surprised.

” We have to head back to the club now, Phoenix. For how long have I been here? ” Lilly replied.

” We can’t head back to the club now. You especially… you can’t leave the hospital Mom ” Phoenix said, and Lilly glared at her.

” What do you mean? ” She demanded.

” You’re sick Mom. You can’t go back to the club because it’s late already ” Phoenix replied.

” I told you I’m fine. I’m sure I fainted because of stress ” Lilly chuckled, trying to climb down, but Phoenix stopped her again.

” Phoenix! ” She glared at her.

” No Mom, enough of the pretending ” Phoenix snapped. Lilly only frowned at her in surprise.

” Till when are you going to keep pretending you’re fine? Till when are you gonna keep saying it’s just stress… till when? ” Phoenix asked.

” I… don’t know what… you’re talking about ” Lilly shrugged, making sure to avoid Phoenix’s gaze.

” You’re lying again Mom like you always do ” Phoenix said as tears filled her eyes.

” I already know the truth. You’re in pain and not okay, the doctor already told me everything ” Lilly’s eyes widened a bit.

” You can stop pretending now ” She quickly looked down in guilt, finally letting her tears fall.

” Why did you hide it from me? ” Phoenix questioned, her tears falling.

” I’m sorry my dear, I just didn’t want to bother you, I’m so sorry ” Lilly mumbled, looking up. Seeing her crying, Phoenix felt a sharp pain stab her heart. She pulled Lilly into a hug immediately.

” That’s enough, stop crying Mom, please ” She shushed, caressing Lilly, who hugged her back tightly.

” I’m sorry. I was so scared ” She mumbled.

” It’s okay Mom, I understand. You’ll be fine, I’ll make sure of that. You don’t have to be scared ” Phoenix assured, placing a kiss on her hair.

THE NEXT DAY

” Are you sure you’ll be fine? ” Phoenix asked Lilly, who nodded firmly.

” One of us has to go check on the club, we can’t both be absent. Veronica has been calling me since this morning, telling me about customers complaining. You have to go ” She replied, but Phoenix only rolled her eyes.

” They can complain all they want. If they can’t be patient, then they should go to hell ” She hissed.

” It’s our job to satisfy them, they paid for it. This is our only source of income Phoenix. Don’t play with it ” Lilly replied, making Phoenix groan slightly.

” Fine, I will go but I’ll be back soon, OK? ” She said and Lilly nodded.

” Update me if anything goes wrong ” Lilly instructed, and Phoenix nodded.

” I’ll get going now. Bye ” She waved and left.

AT THE CLUB

All the men present were already cheering as the curtains spread open and Phoenix stepped out. Unlike before when one would see a tiny smile on her face while performing, she wasn’t even smiling… not even a bit.

Glaring at all the men staring at her lustfully, made her extremely irritated and agitated. She felt like pouring a bucket of acid on all of them. She didn’t even realize it when she tightened her fist.

Exhaling deeply,

” Calm down Phoenix, you’re only doing this for money, nothing more, nothing less ” She muttered to herself.

Keeping a straight face, she started dancing. She was now minutes into her dance and twirling when her eyes landed on one of the audience, making them widen in shock and she froze on the spot.

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” You’re back ” Glinda said on seeing Axion storm into the house. Looking behind him,

” Where is she? ” She asked on seeing no one with him. Axion stopped and sent her a hard glare. Glinda flinched back a bit on seeing his eyes turn purple.

” What’s wrong, Axion, why are you angry? ” She demanded. Axion closed her eyes, exhaling before snapping back open. His eyes went back to normal.

” Why didn’t you tell me earlier, aunt? ” He threw the question at Glinda, who had a frown on her face, confused at his question.

” Tell you about what? ” She asked.

“That the Red Phoenix was a stripper? ” Glinda’s eyes widened a bit in shock.

” She’s what? ”

” She’s a fucking stripper aunt, how can she be a Red Phoenix? ” Axion questioned, already boiling in anger.

” Calm down, Axion. Are you sure of what you’re talking about? ”

” I went to her house today and her neighbors gave a different address and when I followed it, I found myself in a fucking stupid stripping club, and there she was, stripping half-naked aunt and you think I don’t know what I’m talking about?! ” Axion roared in anger, his eyes turning purple again.

Glinda didn’t even know how to start reacting.

” But how possible is that? ” She mumbled in shock.

” I have the same question, aunt… how is that possible? ” Axion asked.

” You said she was the Red Phoenix… a stripper… how?! ”

” She is the Red Phoenix, that’s for sure ” Glinda pointed out, receiving another hard glare from Axion.

” What are you talking about, aunt? How can a stripper be my Red Phoenix?! ” He thundered.

” Calm down, Axion! ” Glinda yelled at him.

” How can I calm down aunt?! ” Axion yelled back. His angry yell was followed by a strong wind which almost carried Glinda off the ground. Instead, the vase on the table went crashing into the wall, breaking into pieces.

” Calm down, Axion ” Glinda said in a much calmer tone. Axion exhaled deeply, trying to calm his burning anger.

” I’m trying to calm down… but I just can’t ” He said with gritted teeth as his eyes went back to normal.

” Listen to me Axion, she is your Red Phoenix, I’m one hundred percent sure of that ” Glinda repeated.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

” A stripper? ” Axion scoffed in disbelief.

” You know how much I detest strippers, right? ” He groaned.

” I know Axion but it doesn’t change who she is ” Glinda replied.

” Why are you so convinced she is the Red Phoenix? What if she isn’t? ”

” That’s not possible, Axion. Only a Red Phoenix can have that red-feathered hair tie. Let’s not overlook that just because she is a stripper ” Glinda expressed.

” What if she picked it up from somewhere? What if the real Red Phoenix lost it and she took it, what if? ” Axion demanded.

” That’s impossible! ” Glinda groaned, making Axion scoff, looking away.

” The only reason you were able to take that hair tie from her is because she is bonded to you. A normal human can’t lay their hand on that hair tie, not even me. It has so much power in it that only a Phoenix can handle ” Glinda pointed out.

” From what I know, a Phoenix… is supposed to be pure and innocent. So why is her case different? ” Axion wasn’t convinced.

” Maybe she is but on the inside. You don’t even know her yet and you’re judging her already. Come on Axion ” Glinda replied.

” A stripper can never be pure on the inside, aunt ”  Axion said, as his eyes turned purple once again.

” And she… she can never be my Red Phoenix. And even if she is… I don’t accept her ” He spat in disgust and, with that, he barged out.

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After taking a refreshing bath, Phoenix crawled up to her bed to get some sleep since she hadn’t gotten any since yesterday. She had already dropped some food for Lilly at the hospital and wanted to have some time to herself at home.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Monica’s offer.

Should she accept or not?

What about her mother? Will she leave her to die?

Where is she going to get one million from?

She didn’t even know when she fell asleep thinking about all that.

She was having a peaceful sleep when she suddenly heard a loud thud making her wake up.

” What was that? ” She asked, but heard the thud again. She climbed down from the bed, walked up to the switch, and turned on the light in her room.

The noise came yet again, making her grab the bat which was lying beside her door. Grabbing her phone and turning on the touch, she followed where the noise was coming from and was already in the kitchen.

Entering inside, she was surprised not to see anything broken.

” Weird. I thought I heard something fall to the ground ” She mumbled, looking around. The door of the kitchen suddenly slammed close by itself, making her flinch, turning swiftly to the door.

She was about to rush to turn on the light in the kitchen when it turned on by itself. Her eyes widened in great horror at what she saw.

The walls of the kitchen were covered with writings, written with blood as it dripped down.

” Don’t let him find you ” were the words written on the wall.

Phoenix screamed in horror and rushed to the door, trying to open it, but it was locked.

” Somebody help! ” She yelled, banging on the door.

” Phoenix… ” A hoarse and dreadful voice called out, making her turn, trembling in fear.

” Who… are… you? ” She stuttered in fear.

” Don’t let him find you, Phoenix… if you want to live ” The voice commanded.

” Who… are you talking about? ” Phoenix shuttered, confused.

” Don’t let him find you, Phoenix! ” The voice thundered.

” Don’t let him find you Phoenix… don’t let him find you Phoenix…. don’t let him find you Phoenix…”

Multiple voices echoed in the kitchen. Shaking in terror, Phoenix turned, banging on the door.

” Somebody help, please!! ” She yelled at the top of her voice.

A figure suddenly appeared behind her. It was that of a lady whose extremely long and messy hair covered her face. Her body was covered in blood and her head twisted to one side. She was putting on a worn-out gown which was also covered in blood. In her hand was a dagger and blood was dripping from it.

She started approaching Phoenix, dragging the dagger on the floor. Hearing the screeching sound of the dagger, Phoenix slowly turned.

” Goodbye Phoenix ” The lady’s evil laughter filled the kitchen. Seeing the dagger in her hand,

” Please don’t kill me, please ”  She pleaded, as the lady raised the dagger.

” Please!!!! “Phoenix’s scream filled the whole house…