Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire and Water Book 2
Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Even after last night’s adventure, Ash and I both wake up early. After we are dressed, we hop in the car and drive through the invisible barrier of The Nest and into the Nest complex to Charlie’s house. Just as I go to knock on her front door, it is opened from within. “Oh, hello dear. This is unexpected.” Charlie smiles at us pleasantly, “what brings this visit about?”

“Are we able to go inside and speak with you?” Ash looks at her as though surprised he had to ask her to invite us in.

“Goodness me. Of course, come in, come in.” I glance at Ash, eyebrow arched, does she seem like she is acting weirder than normal? I hear Ash within my mind, yeah, a little odd, for sure.

Charlie doesn’t even hug me like she normally does. I really want to question her but decide to worry about her quirkiness later. We follow her into her living room, and all take seats. “Alright children, why do you two look so distressed?”

“Well, I was apparently sleepwalking last night. I found myself standing in the middle of the street, in pajamas and barefoot. I felt like I was being pulled towards something... some unknown destination. The weirdest thing, I wanted to stop myself but couldn’t. I had no control over my muscles. Honestly, my phoenix was the only way I was able to stop moving at all.”

“Hm,” Charlie contemplates my words for a moment. “This makes me wonder who is trying to spell you. I wonder if Donovan has a witch in his pocket?” I can practically see the wheels turning inside her head as she speculates. “Did you say the phoenix stopped you? How was she able to do that dear?”

“She wanted to break free from me and be in control. And like I told Ash, I think because of my internal battle with her, whomever was drawing me to them, couldn’t hold onto my mind anymore. After I won over the phoenix, the pull was just gone, like nothing had occurred at all.”

“Interesting. So, when you and she are in a battle of minds, no one else can connect to you. What about you Ash? Are you able to connect to her if she and the phoenix are battling within?” Charlie turns her eyes from me to listen to Ash.

Ash shakes his head no, “no, I can’t reach her mind. It’s like it is shut down or locked up to outside entities. I can however touch her and help her be the stronger of the two because of our physical contact.” He smiles at me before redirecting his attention back to Charlie.

“What does this mean?” I ask curiously. “Is this a bad thing? Should I be worried?” I look at them both, fearful that they will say it isn’t good, but to my surprise, they both smile at me instead. “What?”

“You two are both insanely strong separately. If you two can unite, you could very well be the most powerful being to have ever lived.” Charlie says excitedly. “No wonder Donovan wants to get his hands on you. I think I may see if Ja-Ja can replace out what exactly he is hoping to gain if he succeeds in acquiring you.” Charlie’s little coo-coo clock chimes and the wee bird pop’s out four times. “Oh dear, I really do have to head out guys. If you wish to chat more later, I should be back home around six this evening.”

Ash and I stand as Charlie does. She ushers us out the door and then hurries to her car and an instant later she is gone, leaving us stare after her and the bit of dust her tires have kicked up from the ground. “Is it just me or did it seem like she was preoccupied by something?” I ask Ash as I place my hand on his arm, sliding it down and into his waiting hand.

“Yeah, something is definitely going on inside that head of hers. Just wish I knew what it was.” He shrugs and gives my hand a little tug for me to follow him back to his car.

“Why do you keep invading my dreams, Blake? What do you want from me? I’m not going to believe anything you say to me anymore. You haven’t told me the truth from the moment you first began talking to me.” I glare at him, waiting for him to give me an answer. What is with the wind being so extreme within these dreams of mine? My hair is flicking across my face as the wind streams in between he and I. The gust that slams into me just about knocks me off of the rocky embankment I am standing on.

“I swear Sophie, I am not here to lie to you.” Blake looks at me pleadingly. His blue tee-shirt is being pulled in every direction by the wind at the same time flipping his slightly shaggy dark blonde hair about on his head and I can hear his jeans slapping against his legs. “I’ve come to tell you where your parents are. It is up to you as to whether or not you believe me.” Blake stops talking for a moment and looks around him. I get the feeling he wants to make sure no one else is near us and I really want to tell him he is being paranoid because this is my dream! Taking a deep breath, he continues; “your parents are being held at the lighthouse located in Ashtabula Harbor.”

Suddenly I am awake. My breathing is haggard, and I move my body into a sitting position. Can it be true? Did he actually tell me the truth for once? I sit and ponder. Finally, I decide to shake Ash awake. Maybe together we can decide what should be done. “...so, what do you think? Should I believe him? I’m afraid not to believe him. I mean, we could at least check it out, can’t we?”

“If we go about checking into it carefully then I say we go check it out. However, since it is three in the morning, can we please go back to sleep?” I squeal in excitement before flinging myself into him, hugging and kissing him. I can see he is struggling to keep his eyes open, so I whisper thank you to him and then snuggling myself against him, we fall back to sleep.

Waking, my eyes snap instantly open. I hop out of bed and quickly make my way to the bathroom. I want to take a shower now because I don’t want to delay our road trip after school by having to take one later. “Hey babe, you want me to make some coffee?” I hear Ash ask as he knocks against the bathroom door.

“Yes please!” I shout out. “I’ll be down in just a few minutes.” Rinsing the rest of the conditioner out of my hair, I turn the shower off and step out onto the pale blue bathmat. Drying my body off, I take a smaller towel and wrap it around my hair and then make my way back into the bedroom so that I can dress for the day. Once I’m dressed, I grab a small duffle bag and toss some spare clothing in it for just in case.

Ash hands me a to go mug of the beautiful hot liquid and with my duffle bag on my shoulder, I scoop up my bookbag and then Ash and I head out the front door and down the cement sidewalk where we hurriedly hop into our cars, before backing out of the driveway and heading off towards the school building.