Fallen Sparrow
Chapter 11

Chaos’s mansion was growing in the distance. My mind was racing, small doubt slowing my approach down. When I escaped years ago, I thought I’d never walk through these doors voluntarily, but now I’m about to grasp that icy door handle. It’s a tactical strategy to gain Chaos’ trust.

Surprisingly, his realm is quite peaceful. Over my head, the breeze caught the long, descending branches of the forest. The tree’s pale brown trunks and branches were dressed in mellow, green leaves. Around me, the small birds were performing the morning call. I’d been walking on autopilot but a loud screech made me leap from the ground. Then, I felt the force of the creature’s wings as it landed on a nearby tree. Locked in curious trance, I approached. After one step, it’s eyes snapped to my position. I froze. It stared at me with fierce, black and beady eyes. The bird’s wings and tail were cloaked with gold and yellow feathers, that fell around a metre below the perch. To see a Phoenix was a rare sight and I couldn’t tear my eyes from the phenomenon. It’s body stood around five feet from talons to head. The stories I’d heard didn’t express the true size of the beast in reality. The closer I got, the more details were revealed. I could see the speckles and smaller feathers of blue and green randomly splattered amongst the arrangement. The sight was breath-taking, as if I was admiring a painting. I knew I’d reached my limits when I was a few metres away. The creature flared it’s wings and released a threat that echoed through the trees. A tsunami hit my chest. It was strangely exhilarating. Holding up my hands in surrender, I slowly backed away with my gaze averted. Peering up to check, it hadn’t moved from it’s position. I completely bowed my head. I took a few more steps back before my head was yanked back up harshly.

“What are you doing?” Chaos asked accusingly, “where have you been?” Before I answered my eyes darted back to the Phoenix’s perch. It was empty. It had vanished as if it was never there or as if a gust of wind had blown it away like dust.

“Answer me,” he demanded, snapping my attention back.

I smirked confidently, “death and I are quite chatty.” He frowned and began to drag me back to his lair. Shaking him off defiantly, I snarled, “don’t man-handle me.” Just because I wanted him to trust me, doesn’t mean I’ll submit to him. I marched ahead of him, wanting to avoid any further conversation.

“I’m surprised you even came back,” he said behind me.

“Well I don’t have anywhere else to go. You made sure of that,” I replied passive aggressively.

We made it to the house and up to the room I’d been given when I got here. Even though I’d slammed the door in his face after I entered, when I turned back towards the door he was standing there staring at me. I hadn’t heard the door open or his footsteps follow me in, but he was there.

“What do you want?” I asked, gritting my teeth.

“There is a party tonight. It’s an annual thing, Death is hosting. As you are so chatty with him,” I smirked as he spat the last words, “you are coming.”

“No. I am not here to be presented like cattle at a county fair. I’m going to bed. I’m tired.”

“The dress is on the bed. Be ready,” he insisted.

“Did you not hear me?” I argued angrily, “I said no!”

He appeared in front of me, pushing me against the wall. Standing over me, he held my arms above my head. “Put the dress on and be ready in 20 minutes,” he growled in my ear. I felt his breath on my shoulder. It travelled up my neck and down my spine to between my legs. He saw it. He knew. A devilish smirk grew on his lips. “Well, my beautiful Sparrow, I can help you with that,” he glanced down, “issue later.” He shifted swiftly towards the door. He thinks he won.

“Thank you for highlighting perfectly why we would have never worked.” He stopped but didn’t turn to face me. I rested my head on the wall behind me. “I did love you,” my stomach twisted, admitting it. I watched his head pivot slightly. “I loved the way you held me, the way you called me beautiful and kept me safe. Then I realised it was all artificial. You wanted to possess me like an object that no one could have. My feelings were never considered because I was never important as what you wanted.” After an intense moment, he turned his head back to the door.

“Be ready in 20 minutes.” He slammed the door hard, shaking the walls and knocking a vase of vibrant flowers onto the carpet. My shoulders sagged. I couldn’t be bothered to clean up the mess. I did, however, collect the flowers.

When I was 10 years old, Maddie taught me how to weave flower crowns. At the time, I thought it was silly but I watched her anyway create the most intricate creations. In the times she felt so low, that she couldn’t see an end to the pain, we’d sit in silence and replace comfort in each other’s presence. I’d watch her fingers weave away with the stems.

The off-the-shoulder dress had a plunging, deep neckline that revealed my cleavage. The black material matched Chaos’ style and so did the slit in the skirt, that sexily exposed my bare leg. I curled my hair and placed the arrangement of yellow sunflowers. The colour stood out against my dark purple hair. Exiting the room, I followed the hallway and walked down the stairs. I was expecting to be met by Chaos, but instead a slim man, who I recognised as the chauffeur, greeted me. His hair had started to turn grey and wrinkles had formed in the corners of his eyes. “He’s left already, hasn’t he?” The man simply nodded. “What an asshole.” I saw the twitch of a smile on his face clearly understanding my annoyance. “Would you believe he’s dragging me to this and he didn’t even have the decency to wait for me.”

The chauffeur held out his elbow, “shall we, Miss.” I sighed and took his arm.

Let’s get this over with.