CHAPTER 18 STAY AWAY FROM MY PHOENIX
Phoenix froze on the spot listening to the conversation between Monica and Lilly. Tears flooded her eyes and her heart tightened in pain, making it very difficult for her to breathe.
So Lilly was never sick. She was just putting on an act. Her sickness was nothing but a lie and Axion never really paid the doctor any money.
” Is this a dream? ” Was the question going on her mind. She felt like suffocating and for the ground to open up and swallow her.
” It isn’t being gullible or naive, mom… it’s called love ” She interrupted Lilly, who looked at the door immediately.
The two women sprang up from their seats on seeing Phoenix, who was glaring at them with teary eyes.
” Phoenix… ” Lilly made to call.
” Why mom? ” Was the first question Phoenix asked her.
” Was it a sin or a mistake to love you deeply? Was I stupid and naive to love you more than myself? ” She asked again, not being able to hold back her tears.
” I became a stripper just so I’ll be able to feed and provide for you, even if that means going against myself. I was willing to sell myself as a slave just so I’d get the money to pay for your surgery, so I won’t lose you. Tell me, how is that being stupid, huh?! ” She yelled, glaring at Lilly with every form of hatred in her eyes.
” I’m ok with aunt trying to sell me off but you, my mother, who I’d do everything in this world for, who I loved with everything in me, even though you are my foster mother. How am I naive? Is loving someone naive? Tell me, mom! ” She demanded, walking up to Lilly.
” Yes, it is. You’re stupid and naive Phoenix, accept that! ” Lilly snapped at her, her face not displaying any atom of remorse.
” What made you think I’d ever love you? Your mother abandoned you to me. She left me with such a burden and fool of a daughter and you expect me to love a weakling like you?… Never ” She spat with a lot of disgust.
Phoenix could feel her anger reaching its peak and she couldn’t hold it back anymore. She landed a hot slap on Lilly’s cheek. Shock ran through Monica and Lilly, who held her cheek.
” Did… you… just… slap… me? ” She stammered in shock.
” And I’ll do worse than that if possible ” Phoenix glared at her, her body vibrating in rage.
” My real mother never abandoned me, Lilly. The only mistake she made was thinking you were a human. She made a grave mistake of leaving me in your care. It would have been better to die with her than leave with a monster like you! ”
” Watch how you talk to me Phoenix, I’m still your mother! ” Lilly glared at her in anger, making Phoenix scoff in disbelief.
” My mother? ” She raised a brow at her.
” What made you think I’d still see you as my mother after what you did? ” She asked. Lilly frowned at her deeply. Phoenix wiped the tears rolling down.
” You know what, Lilly, you’re kind of right. I am naive, stupid, and gullible, or else, why would I have loved a heartless being like you? No one in their right mind
would anyways…
” But that’s enough. I’m tired and fed up with shedding tears for people like you who don’t deserve a drop of it. I’m tired and fed up being used repeatedly by the people I care about and you know what I’m gonna promise you two right here and right now ?” Fear can be seen visibly in Monica and Lilly’s eyes.
” I’m going to make you two pay for using me. Mark my words… you two are going to suffer and I’ll make sure of that ” Phoenix threatened, pointing at the two women who were already terrified. They both could see the hatred and anger in Phoenix’s eyes and the rage behind her voice. One thing drawn to them… she meant every word she just said.
” Mark my words ” Phoenix added and stormed out.
×. ×. ×
Axion was just through with taking a bath and stepped out of the bathroom. Though he was still a bit weak, at least he could walk now, thanks to the tea Glinda brought for him.
He was just about to walk over to the wardrobe when the door barged open and Phoenix stormed towards him, glaring at him angrily.
” What? ” He asked with frowning eyebrows.
Tightening her fist, Phoenix tried to fight back the tears threatening to fall by sniffing them back.
” Answer this question, Axion. Was my mother truly sick? Did you pay one million to doctor Maxwell? ” She demanded and a scoff left Axion’s lips.
” So you finally left to visit your mom? ” He shot her a glare.
” That isn’t the answer to my question, Axion! ” Phoenix snapped. Axion pulled her to himself by the waist before grabbing her hair and pulling it back, hard, making Phoenix let out a wince in pain.
” Don’t… you ever… raise your voice at me ” He commanded.
” I instructed you not to ever leave this house but you disobeyed me just because you thought I was weak and sick, right? ” He scoffed angrily, pulling her hair harder.
” You… haven’t… answered… my… question… yet ” Phoenix replied with gritting teeth as she finally let her tears fall.
” Yes, I knew. Happy to hear that? ” Axion answered. The anger Phoenix was feeling only tripled.
” Why did you lie to me? ” She demanded.
” I didn’t lie to you Phoenix, I fucking saved you ” Axion corrected immediately.
” And I did pay Doctor Maxwell one million, but it was only after that did I find out that that liar you called your mother wasn’t sick. ”
” She was the one who lied to you and also to me. She used you due to how gullible, naive and stupid you are. So you owe me Phoenix, have that at the back of your fucking mind ” Axion revealed, pushing her away roughly. Phoenix almost fell to the ground but held herself.
” Now get out. And next time, don’t you ever go against my orders ” Axion snapped.
Phoenix sniffed and gently wiped away her tears. She shot Axion one last glare before leaving the room. She headed downstairs, straight to the entrance door.
Staring at the door, her eyes flooded with tears, she squatted to the ground and hugged her legs before breaking down in tears.
She was still finding it very difficult that the woman who she loved with everything in her was just using her as her money-making machine.
” No Phoenix, stop crying. They don’t deserve your tears ” She said to herself, trying to sniff back the tears.
” But I just can’t stop crying, it hurts so much ” She mumbled, not being able to stop the tears rolling down freely.
Just as she was still crying, a weird, heavy wind started blowing like a heavy storm was about to happen. The entrance door slammed close, immediately startling Phoenix. She stood up, wiping her tears.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
She looked up and her eyes landed on a huge handprint on the wall. Her eyes widened when she realized it was the same handprint she saw on the walls of the mall. And just like what happened at the mall, the walls started cracking. Fear engulfed Phoenix.
” What is happening? ” She asked no one in particular.
” Phoenix ” A voice called and she turned. She was surprised and at the same time relieved to see Axion and she walked up to him immediately.
” Axion, what’s happening? ” She asked and Axion quickly grabbed her hand.
” Come with me,” He said to her and was about to leave when,
” Phoenix ” A thunderous and knee-wobbling voice called and Phoenix’s heart almost popped out of her chest.
” Who are you? ” She managed to ask, trying hard not to tremble in fear.
She turned to look at Axion, who, to her horror, wasn’t with her anymore. The fear inside her multiplied.
” Axion ” She called, looking around. She made to head to the stairs to go check if Axion had left her and went upstairs when everywhere, all of a sudden, started spinning, making her head spin too. She held her head because it felt as though it was going to fall off. The necklace on her neck fell off but she didn’t notice.
” Axion ” She screamed as she felt a sharp pain in her head. Everywhere suddenly stopped spinning. Phoenix was now panting heavily and sweating. She almost slumped to the floor due to how dizzy she felt.
A mirror suddenly appeared before her, making her step back hurriedly, but her eyes widened in horror on seeing Axion trapped inside the mirror.
” Phoenix, please help me, get out of here, please ” Axion pleaded, and Phoenix rushed closer to the mirror.
” How did you get trapped in here? ” She rasped in worry…
” I’ll explain to you later. Just help me out of here, please ” Axion replied.
” Ok. Wait, how am I supposed to help you out? ” She questioned in confusion. Everything was happening so fast.
” Just reach out and pull me out ” Axion answered and, without hesitation, she placed her hand on the mirror, and to her surprise, her hands penetrated the mirror. Axion, who was inside the mirror, immediately grabbed her hands.
And to Phoenix’s greatest horror, Axion started laughing evilly and suddenly changed into a lady. The lady had extremely long and messy hair which 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.
” Remember me Phoenix? ” She grinned and Phoenix froze on the spot.
” Gotcha ” The lady laughed hysterically.
” I warned you to stay away from him, didn’t I? Now you’ll have to pay ” She glared at Phoenix with her bloodshot eyes. Rising Phoenix’s hands up to her open mouth, she dug her sharp teeth inside her flesh and started sucking her blood.
Phoenix yelled out in pain as the sharp teeth pierced into her flesh and bone. She grew weak immediately. Seeing she was weak, the lady stopped and started pulling her into the mirror.
Phoenix tried breaking from her hold but it felt as though someone had used a heavy metal bar and broken her whole bone. Her eyes started closing up.
” You’re being a hindrance to my mission, Phoenix, and I’m going to get rid of you ” The lady grinned in satisfaction.
” Let go of my Phoenix… now! ” A voice commanded. Both Phoenix and the lady looked up. Happiness ran through Phoenix on seeing Axion, despite being extremely weak and her eyes being heavy.
Axion’s terrifying purple eyes met with those of the lady and fear engulfed her. She quickly let go of Phoenix’s hand and vanished.
Phoenix staggered towards Axion with a faint smile.
” Axion…” She made to call but collapsed. And just when she was about to drop to the floor, Axion rushed up to her and carried her off swiftly…