Just Classic

Chapter One

"Pheonix! Where'd he go now?!" I shout, exasperated.

"I think he's on the roof," Mackay informs in a bored tone. "It's okay, he can't get to any mercury; the only other way for his life to end are by snapping his neck or bashing his head in."

"Jesus Christ, who knew Pheonix would go suicidal?"

"He confessed, slipped into a coma, then woke up a month later to see you and Gale joking around saying you love each other and Pheonix should be allowed to die. What do you expect?" Mackay says flatly. I sigh.

"Gale's the one who said that. I gave him a death stare."

"Pheonix thought you had nodded." Mackay informs. I groan and walk into a room, planning to climb onto the roof from the window.

A glassy eyed porcelain doll sits on the windowsill. Before I freeze up I close my eyes and take five deep breaths. "It's just a toy; it can't hurt me; I'm okay." I chant to myself before opening my eyes. The doll still sits there, but I have my fear under control now.

"Are Brennen's sessions helping?" Mackay asks. I nod, opening the window and power kicking the doll out the window. Mackay grins, "I see."

"Pheonix! Come down please!" I call out, climbing up the side of the castle.

"Watch out! Sharpshooter six o'clock!" Leshii yells out.

I drop about six feet down the castle wall to avoid the arrow dripping with mercury. "Thanks, Leshii!" I yell over my shoulder. He nods once and melts into the shadows again, probably off to kill off the sharpshooter.

"He shouldn't be out and about. God gracious these Shadows don't know what the word 'rest' means." Mackay grumbles. I somehow manage to climb up to the roof, spotting Pheonix downing some red liquid at the other side of the huge castle.

"Eww, why'd you come up here to do that?" I whine, my lips curling back in disgust. He beams at me before leaping off the roof. "Pheonix!" I scream, stumbling towards where his body was. Looking down, some Shadows shift into darkness below Pheonix, who lands on the odd cushion with a thump.

"What?! I didn't know you guys could do that!" I yell. Griselda shifts back into her somewhat human form, grinning so widely I can make out her expression from about fifty stories up.

"Yep! That's why we can hide in shadows! We are Shadows!"

Grinning, I slide down the back of the castle, stopping every time my speed hits twenty miles per hour. About four feet from the ground, I jump. Griselda steadies me, and I stomp up to Pheonix.

"What the hell!?" I exclaim at him, my eyes blazing. Pheonix flinches, then falls back. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion "What's wrong with you?"

"Our blood is thin. We have only a bit. Our hearts must pump faster in order to send oxygen to every Vampiric cell in our bodies. Because of this, the mercury that was absorbed in his esophagus into his bloodstream spread throughout his body and overtook his cells. Pheonix did not, however, have time to expel this toxic fluid from his body," Gale informs. "Remember your Vampire biology lesson?"

"The mercury reacts badly with the hormones you guys have. With the hormone that makes you guys indestructable, the mercury turns it into an acid with about the same amount of strength as lemon juice. Pheonix got a burning sensation and he turned human for a little bit. Well, as close to human as he could possibly get without it being permanent. So what? The Shadows saved him from turning into mush." 

"I twisted my ankle though." He grimaces. I roll my eyes.

"You deserve it for up and trying to kill yourself! What the hell dude!?! A twisted ankle? Please, I've seen ten year old human girls walk around with broken ankles perfectly fine without so much of a grimace. Are you that wimpy?"

"I haven't ever felt pain so why don't you shut up?!" Pheonix snaps venemously. I glare back at him fiercely.

"Maybe if you didn't drink mercury like you do blood then you wouldn't have felt pain in the first place."

Looking away with a scowl, Pheonix hops to his brother and the two disappear inside. I deflate like an untied balloon with a sigh. Griselda puts her hand on my shoulder, but Leshii jerks her back.

"Don't be soft." He growls, then turns to me. "Try to keep your Blue Bloods under control, Dom?"

"Right, sorry." I respond briskly, shaking my head. I've been too weak as of lately. Hardening my eyes and cooling my gaze, I stand up straight and march inside. Gale pushes off the back of the castle and follows me.

"So..." He drawls slowly. "The fights have slowed to almost a complete stop. Are you going to go make up some plan with Brennen? Or will you apologize to Pheonix?"

"Brennen is out feeding with Mackenna, and Pheonix deserves what he got. I'm looking into Classic matters myself, calling in the spies and what not."

"Mmhm. How are the Greens with loyalty?"

"High Prince Forrest says he might withdraw from the war. The meeting is at one. This time can you at least try to dress nice?" I glance back at Gale. He shrugs.

"My parents are thinking of having another kid..."

"A baby in the middle of a war with Classics? What are they thinking?!"

"They're thinking they lost their eldest daughter." He replies coldly. I grimace.

Righhhtttt....

"Of course. Please excuse my rudeness."

"No," Gale sighs. "You're right. Bringing a baby into the world now is a very bad idea. I was just-"

"I understand." I interrupt curtly, stopping at a door. Softening my tone, I go on. "Could you tell Pheonix I'm sorry. I was just worried about him so I got angry."

"Of course, your highness." Gale goes on one knee, looking up at me with a silly grin.

"So you're proposing! Aww, look at the happy couple." Pheonix croons with an edge to his voice.

"Pheonix-"

"Save it. I get it." He growls at me. Biting back my frustration, I close the door to our mother's old study. Picking up the picture, I let a solitary tear roll down my face.

"Mommy.."