The Phoenix Released

In the kingdom of Felnor, almost 1500 years since the dragons first claimed their human companions, Princess Vivian sat with the sorcerer Illior brainstorming possible ways to return Vivienne, the girl from a different world, to human form. Having been transformed into a phoenix by the angel from Vivian’s dreams, she would forever be doomed to a cycle of rebirth, unable to meet her dear family in the afterlife. Kaen, having returned to his original form after Vivienne in her phoenix form blew phoenix embers in his direction, aided them in their endeavor.

Vivian, after gaining both men’s attention, pointed to a section of the book she had been studying. “’While a remedy for entire-being transformations does not yet exist in the mortal realm, it is believed the king of demons may wield such a power.’ Could this be true? Is it even possible to travel between our realms to find out?”

“I’ve never read nor heard of such a portal,” Illior answered.

“Kaen?”

He averted his gaze as he gave his response. “Nothing good can come from that volatile place. Best focus your energy elsewhere, Highness.”

As weeks and months went by with little to show for their efforts, Vivian and Illior became convinced that seeking the help of the demon king was their only chance of returning Vivienne to human form. Kaen attempted to dissuade them, but to no avail. Vivienne had been trapped in phoenix form for four years and this was their last hope. They had exhausted all other leads.

“Kaen,” Vivian asked, “why are you against seeking assistance from the demon king?”

“Demons are not to be trusted,” he answered, averting his gaze. Noticing his avoidance, Vivian persisted until he heaved a sigh weighted with exasperation, annoyance, betrayal, and grief. ”He is my brother, and the one that turned me into a dragon. Lasair is the eldest son but our sister Elora was heir to the throne. Lasair always coveted Elora’s birthright and the power that comes with it. When one ascends the throne, their power increases tenfold. Lasair could never match Elora, the heir to the throne, or myself, his younger brother. I believe it the latter that caused his madness. He made plans to… I tried to warn her, but she was overconfident in her abilities. She wouldn’t listen.”

“I’m sorry” was all Vivian could think to say.

Kaen shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Upon taking the throne, Lasair demanded the ring our father left to me. He sought its power to conquer new worlds. This ring-“ he held out his hand, showing a pale peridot framed in silver- “has the ability to open portals between worlds. I thought to keep it from him by fleeing the demon realm. He must have felt I had cheated him. If you go to him with this, I guarantee he will attempt to use Vivienne for her ability to travel between worlds.”

“Then help us persuade him. You know him better than we. We’ve tried everything we could find or think of. It may be a horrible mistake, but it’s the only chance she has.”

He grimaced. He knew only too intimately Vivienne’s affliction, having existed for millennia in the body of a dragon, losing more of himself with each passing day until the dragon was all that remained. “Alright. I’ll do what I’m able, but remember: I warned you.”

Kaen spoke an incantation in a language unknown even to the well-learned Illior. His ring emitted and eerie green light that seemed to float up from the ring and form a glowing green galaxy before the millions of points of light merged into one, revealing a portal to a land barren of life.

“Welcome to the land of betrayal and death.”

Vivian, Kaen, and Illior made their way to the demon king’s palace slowly, Kaen looking around corners before moving quickly and silently to the next building, Vivian and Illior desperately trying to ignore the pungent odor of sulfur. Vivian couldn’t begin to guess why he was creeping across the land like this. They hadn’t seen a single soul. It seemed like a ghost town, abandoned by even the smallest creatures.

After what felt like an hour, they reached the palace. Kaen stopped them before they crossed the threshold.

“From here on, don’t say a word. My brother,” he said the word with endless loathing, “won’t hesitate to kill any of us for the smallest annoyance.” The others nodded their understanding.

As they made their way to the throne room, a feeling of dread crept over them, a sense of malice so powerful Vivian and Illior wanted to flee before they even set foot inside that room. The only member of their group unaffected by the sensation was Kaen. He calmly and resolutely stepped through the doors and greeted the man inside.

“Hello, brother.”

“Little brother.” A triumphant smile sat upon his face. “I must say, you held out far longer than I thought you would. Hand it over, then.” Kaen looked at him, confused. “The ring, Kaen. Unless you’ve changed your mind and wish to transform into a dragon again. My curse will affect you only as long as you continue to oppose me.”

“I’ll do no such thing. I’ve come on behalf of another who was forcibly transformed.”

“Well, brother, the price for my aid is something you continue to deny me.”

Kaen fisted his hands, the ring on his index finger pressing into his flesh. “You know why I can’t relinquish the ring to you.”

Lasair shrugged. “Then I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

Kaen sighed. His guilt over Vivienne’s imprisonment and subsequent transformation was overwhelming, but could he doom countless worlds to his brother’s tyrannical rule for one girl? She would eventually forget her human existence but he knew how it would haunt her dreams even then.

Slowly, he removed the ring from his hand and approached his brother. As the two brothers each reached out a hand, one to give, the other to receive, a phoenix sped toward them and snatched the ring before it fell into Lasair’s possession.

“Vivienne!” Kaen exclaimed. “I must do this to set things right.”

Vivienne gave a shrill reprimanding cry. ‘No. How many will die or be enslaved if he gains the ability to open Passages?’

Lasair gazed in awe at the magnificent creature before him, mesmerized by her fiery plumage. “This is her? Why would she give up such captivating beauty?”

Kaen glared at him. “She was human. She isn’t meant to live an endless life.”

“Endless? She will remain as she is for eternity?”

Kaen nodded. “We’ve searched tirelessly for a way to return her to her original form, but this is our last hope.”

“I refuse. She is far too enchanting in her current form to revert to an ordinary human. Beautiful flame, might you consider staying here as my pet?”

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed in anger and disgust. ‘If you won’t help us, there’s no reason for us to stay. I’ll find another way to become human again.’ She opened a Passage to Felnor, but nothing happened.

Kaen sighed. “Lasair, let us go.”

“You and the humans are more than welcome to leave, but this one will stay here either willingly or-“ a cage appeared, trapping Vivienne- “in a cage.”

“Don’t do this, brother. I don’t want a fight.”

Lasair smirked. “Pity. That’s exactly what I want.” Using his demonic powers, he fired a bolt of lime green lightning at Kaen’s feet.

Disappointed and with some small amount of regret, Kaen took a battle stance. The brother traded blows, both with their powers and with weapons. Where Lasair attacked with lightning, Kaen used fire a red as vibrant as Vivienne’s feathers. The throne room flashed with the light from their attacks. Tapestries caught in the attack filled the air with smoke. The air was thick with the combined scents of the coppery tang of blood, the sulfur of the brimstone and scorched flesh from the attacks they failed to evade.

While Lasair was distracted by his fight with his brother, Vivian and Illior ran to the cage. They tried heating it to melting point but it remained solid. Illior thought for a moment. The cage was intended for a being of fire, but could it withstand extreme temperatures in the opposite direction? Instructing Vivienne to back away as much as she could, he began casting a spell to freeze the bars. The cage frosted over, the temperature of the metal continuing to drop. Just as Illior thought this too would fail, he heard the metal of the bars grow brittle and crack. He stepped aside and Vivienne burst free of her prison to join the fight.

Despite having his powers increased by the crown of the demon king, Lasair was overpowered when Vivienne joined the attack. She struck at him with her talons. One lucky strike slashed his eyes, blinding him. Kaen, taking the advantage, swung his blade, and watched as his brother’s head fell to the floor.

He took the crown from the corpse and placed it on his own head. This was how it had always been. Blood would be shed until only one of the previous demon king’s children remained. He turned to Vivienne as power flooded his body. Placing his hand upon her head, he envisioned a younger version of Princess Vivian.

Tears pricked Vivienne’s eyes as the transformation completed. She had no home to return to. Everyone she knew was dead.

“Vivienne!” Vivian ran to embrace her friend.

“What do I do now?” Vivienne sobbed.

“You can return to Felnor with me. You will always have a place there.”

Vivienne smiled but there was sorrow in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Vivian hugged her friend, knowing it might be the last time she saw her. “What will you do?”

“You can stay here if you wish, though I understand if you’d rather not” Kaen offered. “I give you my word you will not be manipulated again.”

“The world I knew is gone. I have no reason to go back there and Felnor holds so many awful memories for me. Thank you, Kaen.”

Kaen opened a portal to Felnor for Vivian and Illior. As they returned to their world of magic, Kaen gave Vivienne a tour of the Brimstone Palace. They eventually decided to start a family and raised their children to be kind to one another, wanting to end the cycle of violence. The land became fertile without the constant flames of battle. Since becoming the queen of the demon realm, Vivienne’s normal human life was lengthened but not eternal as it had been as a phoenix. She spent several centuries with Kaen and her children in peace, watching the barren wasteland become a lush paradise. The cycle of violence and treachery had finally come to an end.