Trial of Shadows

VII. Essence

The temperature felt as if it had dropped at least 10 degrees as Dice, Jessamine and I stood on the edge of the dark forest.

I couldn't pinpoint what it was but I could feel someone else- something else eminating from within the fog. I could feel my senses alerting to full capacity trying to pinprick the other. My fire within seemed to be burning full blaze. I couldn't tell whether I was feeling dangerously threatened or bloodthirsty. As if this being had killed someone I loved kind of rage.

Dice and the twins were crouched on the ground, conspiring some kind of plan. When did Jason get here? What the hell.
A voice was carried upon the wind as it brushed my face making my heart race out of time. Only just audible the words
Ash will have ash, blood will have blood...
A loud piercing scream struck my ears. I covered them desperately screaming myself. The pain was overwhelming I could feel the girls pain tearing at my chest. I now held for dear life to my chest. Dices hands were on my shoulder screaming at me but no words could be heard. Didn't he hear it too?
All I could hear was the girls  screaming, feel my chest being torn open. Stop! Please stop! Turn off turn off! Leave her alone!
And it was off. Tears fell down my cheek, the ground beneath my hands were scorched. When did I fall?
"Evangeline?! What happened are you okay? Your eye... Evangeline" Dice exclaimed.
My words came out broken and exhausted "help.. w-we have to help her!" I got up off my knees, hands lit red looking like a weak doll. Dice just stared at me his emotion I could not determine. But it didn't matter whoever that was must be someone significant to me. I haven't connected to someone else like that since...since
Moon a cold blank red. My brother drowning. Water filling my lungs, choking me. Where are you?! I had screamed, choking not only on the lake but my own tears. I couldn't find him.. I couldn't fin-
My tears flew behind me, sparks radiating where I passed. I could feel her, I would find her. I was only just aware of Dice and the others following me calling my name out. I'm coming! Hold on!
To my utter surprise a small faint voice replied in my mind
Please..help me..
My pace quickened. I lost track of where I was going...damn it!

"Over here I tracked her down! Her scent could be picked up from miles away with all that blood", called Dice.
What? I sprinted over. How did it come to this?
Dice grabbed my hands. "You're burning up. Gain control Eva" he looked me straight in the eyes. I could feel relaxation burning my adrenaline, control sweeping over me like a wave. My hands dimmed, my sight coming into focus. How did he do that?
A shimmer caught my eye from my left peripheral vision...a long deadly looking sword..? A cloaked shadow with two swords clamped on his back. Eyes with no colour at all almost soulless in their grey. Everyone braced themselves glaring down this stranger. But that wasn't what caught my eye. In his arms was what looked to be an extravagant flaming red bird Just bigger than an eagle.. or at least used to. The bird seemed to be aflame but only just. I urged to get to this limp being. The aura surrounding it seemed to call to me.
"Everyone. This is no common enemy. Back away slowly this is out of our hands. I'm not equipped for this. We mustn't upset him. That's a cloaked assassin. They don't ever come around these parts. He wont hurt us unless we get in his way. ", Dice whispered. "He seems to be looking for someone so we better get the hell out of here while we can".
A grin passed over the shadows face- playful and terrifying. He placed the bird down and it laid unmoving. Raising a finger he motioned come at me. Dice swore under his breath.
Suddenly the shadow disappeared, escaping to the trees as if almost scared. What?!
"Come on Jessamine! Don't let him get away!" Ordered Jasper darting after him. Jessamine ran behind perfectly in her stupid heels. Okay now my mind was blown how in the hell can sh-
'Come quickly we must complete the process before he comes back. He is gone now but he will return! We must do it now!' Came a voice from-from...the bird?
"Evangeline", started Dice. "Impossible. They were thought to be extinct...but then you were too. You don't think that Phoenix  could be your-yours do you?"
"Phoenix? Mine?" I ran over to the crumpled body, Dice stayed a few metres away confused as to what to do.
"Yeah. Yours" he called. "We all have one, our essence animal. But of course the Phoenix is the strongest of them all but believed to be extinct. I noticed from the start you didn't have one."
I bent gazing over the extraordinary feathers that looked like candles burning in synchrony. The eyes of the bird were closed, long blazed lashes curling out. Just as I was reaching out the eye opened revealing a midnight black eye with a red crimson ring in it. Impossible! Suddenly all I saw was flame.
        Fire.
                Ash.
                          Power,
So much power it consumed me, burning through my veins. The world around me blazed from gold to black as darkness overcame me, the world betraying my grasp. Only a faint scream from Dices voice as I faded from my body.