The Phoenix (The Prophecy #1)

  The Phoenix

  Book 1 in The Prophecy Series

  Jessica McCrory

  Copyright 2016 Jessica McCrory

  All rights reserved

  To the woman who showed me the joy that could be found beneath the cover of a book. I miss you every day Grandma Carme, this one’s for you. Happy Birthday.

  The Prophecy that started it all…

  Seventeen years ago a seer foretold a period of darkness that would fall over a world not too far from our own. She believed that if it were not stopped, then it would radiate and spread to the other worlds, infecting them like a disease. It was her prediction that a girl, possessing more power than anyone who came before her, would be the only light in the dark. She was believed to be the only one who could put an end to the horrors that the Dark one would bring. It was prophesized that this girl, spending most of her life in suffrage, would become a pillar of serenity for her people. She would be known throughout the worlds as

  The Phoenix.

  CHAPTER ONE

  One year ago

  Anastasia Carter sat staring out of her window. The sky beyond it was dark but the raindrops against the window offered her a rare comfort. It wasn’t often that she felt at peace. Her father had come home angry today and she sported the split lip as proof of some slight she knew hadn’t truly warranted his reaction, but she took solace in the fact that she only had one year until graduation. Three hundred and sixty-five measly days before she could hold her diploma in her hand while she fled from this town and everything she had ever feared.

  She held her hand out of the open window and let the raindrops fall onto her palm. The sensation of the drops on her skin brought a rare smile to her face. There was something so cleansing about the rain and since she lived in Seattle, it was good that she enjoyed it. It was one of the things she would miss when she left.

  She knew that this couldn’t be all that the world had to offer her. She had to be meant for something didn’t she? Then again, if her own parents believed she was worthless then what did that mean for her? She had grown up hearing how unwanted she had been, and what a mistake it was that she had even been born, could it be that they were right?

  The light came on in the room of house next door and jarred her from her thoughts. She waited anxiously for the occupant to come to the window just as he did every night. A few minutes went by and then he pulled back the curtains and lifted the glass. Dakota Parker, her best friend for as long as she could remember was always there for her.

  “Hey Ana.” He held out a hand and being cautious because of the rain, she took it and made the quick jump into his window.

  Dakota wiped a raindrop from her face and handed her a towel to dry her hair.

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him and immediately regretted it. He noticed the cut on her lip and he touched it gently.

  “Want to stay the night?” He asked. So many nights she had spent in his room, sleeping in the safety of knowing that she wasn’t going to be attacked.

  She nodded and lay down. He turned off the light and lay next to her, facing her.

  “How are you?” He asked brushing a strand of hair from her face.

  “I'm okay, I was late getting home today.”

  “You had a meeting with Mrs. Callahan didn’t you?”

  “I did but I forgot to tell my parents.”

  “Nothing deserves this Ana.” His thumb gently brushed her lip.

  “How was your day?” She asked pulling the covers up to her chin.

  “Long.” He laughed and rolled onto his back. “We had dinner with dads partner and his family tonight. Their son is just such a jerk.”

  Anastasia laughed, she knew how much Dakota disliked Gage Keesler.

  “Oh come on he’s not that bad.” She said sarcastically.

  “Its good you feel that way since he seems to have taken a liking to you.” Dakota looked at her and winked and she rolled her eyes.

  “Not interested.”

  “Why not Ana? I mean he is a quarterback after all.” The sarcasm dripped from his voice.

  “For a losing team.” She laughed and propped herself up on her elbows. “Not to mention the fact he has an ego the size of the entire field.”

  “He definitely does, but he seems to think he’s going places.”

  “Still not interested.”

  Dakota laughed and they sat quietly for a moment.

  “Do you ever wonder what it will be like when we graduate?” Anastasia asked him, her face growing serious.

  “Sure. In fact, I can tell you exactly what’s going to happen.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?” Intrigued, Anastasia propped up on her elbow.

  “Well, I’ve already decided that I’m going to go to med school and you want to be a writer right? So the way I see it we are going to move further into the city and go to school.”

  “Together?” Her heart leapt into her throat.

  “Of course. Where else would we be?”

  Could life truly work out that way? She wondered. Could she be lucky enough that he might see her as more then a friend?

  “Were best friends Ana, where you go I go.” He looked away and she turned back to the window to watch the raindrops race to the windowsill.

  Best friends. She smiled, she supposed that was pretty dang lucky in itself.

  “Ana?”

  “Yeah?” She turned to face him.

  “I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

  “I know Dakota.” She smiled at him and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. When she pulled away, the look on his face had her heart thumping in her chest.

  “Ana I-” He started and then took a deep breath. “I’ll see you in the morning.

  “Goodnight Dakota.”

  “’Night Ana.”

  When he was sure she was asleep Dakota gently touched the side of her face. Would he ever have the nerve to tell her how he felt? Or would they continue to just be friends? His eyes landed on the swollen part of her lip and his jaw hardened. He wanted to beat the shit out of Mitch Carter. Maybe show him what it felt like to have someone smack him around.

  He had no right to put his hands on Ana and he wished every day that she would just let his dad help her, they could save her from the hell she had to go home to everyday. He knew that she feared the lash back on his family and he loved her for that alone, but inside of him was a deeper fear that he would lose her at the hands of someone she should have been able to trust.

  Dakota placed a light kiss on her swollen lip and lay back down. She rolled over and he pulled her into his arms. They may have been young, but he knew she was it for him. He would walk through fire for her and he knew that someday, he would rescue her from this place. Three hundred and sixty-five days he reminded himself.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Anastasia barely saw the other students in the halls, she felt the breeze as they passed but was careful to not look into anyone’s face. If they stopped and looked to closely, they may notice the dark circles under her eyes and the bruises she had worked so hard to hide beneath her makeup.

  All her life she had been an outcast, not because others didn’t want to be around her, but because she was unwilling to let anyone into her life for fear that they might pity her. She didn’t want pity, all she wanted was to get to her diploma so she could hold it in her hand as she left this town and all of her fears behind her.

  She had believed that things would have gotten better since her parents would soon be rid of her, but it seemed as if her looming graduation had only made things worse. Her father was angered much easier then he had been in the past. He was home more often and that meant she had more opportunities to do or
say something she would regret later.

  She put on a smile and waved at some of the people she passed. They would never know that she fought the urge to scream and run away. To hide in a place where no one would ever find her.

  Anastasia walked as quickly as she could out of the high school and stopped once she reached the sidewalk. Seattle wasn’t normally sunny, but today a ray managed to sneak through the clouds and shine down on her. It temporarily beat back the black cloud that seemed to follow her everywhere. She lifted her head for a moment and closed her eyes, absorbing the warmth.

  “What’s up Ana?”

  A rare smile crossed her face when she heard the voice. There was only one person in the world that called her that. One person she had allowed to be in her life.

  “Hey Dakota.” She opened her eyes and stared into the face of her only friend. Living next door to each other their entire lives, he was the only one who understood her. Knew what went on behind closed doors.

  She saw the concern cross his face but was relieved when he didn’t say anything. He knew she only wore the makeup when it was necessary.

  “How are you?” He knew better then to ask why she wasn’t rushing home. It would only bring up a conversation he knew she didn’t want to hear and she believed that it would do no good to talk about it, she knew better than to believe anything would change.

  “Ready for the end of the year. Mrs. Edwards is wearing me out with all this homework.”

  “Crazy right? We’ve got two weeks and she’s still acting like it’s the beginning of the year.”

  “I’m just ready to graduate.” The sadness in her voice was something he was used to, but it still ate at him every day.

  “Walk home with me?” He asked holding out his hand.

  “Didn’t you bring your car?”

  “I’ll come back for it later. Walking is good exercise.” And it took longer to get home that way.

  “That would be great, thanks.” She took his hand and they began walking.

  She looked down at their joined hands as they walked and for a moment she felt tears burning in the corner of her eyes. She had to leave. She didn’t have any choice and she hoped that when it came time for her to go he would understand, she would make him understand if she had to there was just no other option for her.

  He lightly squeezed her hand and nodded towards the park that they had used to play at as kids.

  “Want to swing?” He smiled at her and she followed him over to the empty swings. She set her backpack down and took a seat on one of the seats. Dakota began to gently push her and she closed her eyes.

  Moments like these were what kept her here. Dakota was the only reason she hadn’t run away. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him any sooner than she had to. She could feel his hands at the small of her back and she smiled up to the sky.

  “I wish I could fly.” She said quietly.

  “I wish that also.” He stopped her and then sat in the swing next to her. “Then we could fly away together.”

  His eyes held something so serious that it had her heart in her throat.

  “Are you looking forward to graduating?” She asked looking away.

  “Absolutely, who isn’t?” Dakota laughed and she memorized the sound. She wanted to always remember what he sounded like, what his face looked like when he was happy. “What are you going to do first thing?” He asked.

  Disappear, she said to herself. “I'm not quite sure yet.” She smiled at him. “I better get going. He will be home soon.”

  They stood together and her breath caught in her throat. He ran his hand down the side of her face and smiled gently. For a moment she hoped he would kiss her, she had always imagined what it would be like. But she knew better, knew that if he did then it would only break his heart more when she left. And she had to go.

  She turned and picked her backpack up off of the ground. “Shall we?” She asked playfully.

  They walked in silence the rest of the way and as they begun to round the corner to their neighborhood Anastasia felt a wave of relief when she saw that her father’s car wasn’t home yet. So she had some time.

  “Want to come over for dinner?” He asked her hopefully. She could hear the fear in his voice and the desperation for her to accept his invitation. She knew his parents would welcome her with open arms and for a second she almost accepted. But she knew better.

  “I can’t Dakota. He is expecting me and will be angry if I’m not home. You know how he hates last minute plan changes.”

  “Screw him.”

  “Dakota.”

  His jaw clenched and he took a deep breath.

  “Call me if you need me. I can be there in a second.”

  He hugged her and they split ways into their separate houses. She could feel his eyes on her and knew he watched her as she walked through the door.

  Anastasia smelled dinner when she walked in. The aromas should have been welcoming to her, but all they did was confirm her fears that he would be home soon.

  “Hi dear, how was school?”

  “It was fine, mother. Mrs. Edwards is still loading us with homework but I think I’ll pull an A in her class.”

  “That’s wonderful honey!” She smiled widely and went back to cooking. “Your father will be home soon!” She practically sung it as if his company was pleasant.

  “I’ll just be upstairs. I have homework to do.” She grumbled.

  “I will call for you when dinner is ready.”

  “No thank you, I ate a late lunch after study hall, so I’m not hungry.”

  “Why the negative attitude Anastasia?”

  “Are you seriously asking me that?” Anastasia felt anger begin to well up in her chest.

  “Don’t you sass me. You will be pleasant when your father gets here. You know how he hates a negative attitude, you will not spoil his evening.”

  “Won’t matter.” She muttered and bolted up the stairs stuffing the anger down in her chest. Arguing with her mother would do no good and it would only make things worse when her father got home.

  As she got to her room she heard him come in the front door. She closed the door quietly and leaned back against it closing her eyes. The all to familiar fear set in when she heard his voice. She took a deep breath trying to settle the panic that had quickly taken root in her. It was the same routine every day when he came home.

  “I’m home.” She heard the irritation in his voice and knew it had been a bad day.

  She heard her mother greet him and then a plate fall onto the floor. He started in on her with the usual complaints. Dinner wasn’t ready soon enough and she wasn’t cooking what he wanted. She heard her mother apologize and prayed that it would end there but it seemed that it wasn’t her lucky day.

  “Anastasia! Get down here!”

  She opened her eyes and headed down the stairs knowing it would be worse if she delayed. For a moment she looked out the window and into Dakota’s room. She could be out of her house and in his within seconds and knew that his parents would help her. Knew that they would take her in and for the moment at least, she would be safe. She pushed the thought away, she knew she wouldn’t be able to escape him that easy and it would only make things even worse. She refused to drag the one family she felt safe with down into her own personal hell.

  “Yes sir?” She asked cautiously as she stepped into the dining room.

  He was seated at the table a brandy already in his hand. “Why is it that when I spoke to your principal today, he informed me that you were a day late on your English paper.”

  She felt the fear induced adrenaline and began to stammer. “I had forgotten it here at the house and Mrs. Drew said that it would be fine if I turned it in late. She didn’t take any points...”

  “Tardiness is unacceptable. How do you think it makes me look when you don’t follow rules?” He swirled the brandy in his glass and stood. “Are you trying to make me look bad? Ed came to me.”

  She knew that her fa
ther and the principal were friends, which is why he looked the other way when her teachers had originally raised suspicion about her home life. After two were fired when drugs were mysteriously found in their homes the others stopped asking questions. He seemed to be willing to do anything to keep her father’s secret.

  “No sir, I am not trying to make you look bad. I will do better next time.”

  “Next time.” He laughed and walked towards her.

  She knew it was coming even before she felt the crack against her cheek. She felt his fingers dig into the base of her neck. Her body began to shake and she held her breath.

  “You are damn right you will do better. You will go up to your room and you will study. You will not come down until it is time for you to leave for school in the morning. No dinner for you until you learn not to disappoint me.”

  He shoved her and she fell scraping her knees. The tears burned her eyes but she knew better than to let them fall. She looked past her mother fearing she may vomit if she saw the look in her eyes. She had always taken his side, it never mattered that she didn’t deserve it or that he beat her as well, Monica Carter always stood by her husband.

  Anastasia curled into her pillow and cried for what seemed like hours. Graduation couldn’t come soon enough. She was going to disappear into the world and never look back. If she had needed one final push out of Seattle, tonight was it.

  She turned when she heard the light tapping on her window. She wiped her face and lifted the glass to let Dakota in.

  “I brought you dinner. Saw you up here, and thought that you might be hungry. My mom made meatloaf and I know that’s your favorite.” He offered her the covered plate and it made the tears that were once again threatening her, break through.

  “Hey Ana you’re fine, I’m here.” He pulled her into a hug. “Let me see.”

  He tilted her head up and looked at her already bruised cheek.

  “You have to tell my dad. He can help you Ana. Please, let us help you.” He begged.