The Phoenix's Mark Book 1: Dogs of War

Chapter 13

Laurence wrapped his arm around Sarah's waist and pulled her closer as they walked through the forest, with Emil following close on their heels. "So while I was in the hospital, you told Emil what happened, and what you actually are?" she asked as they moved.

"Exactly," Laurence assured here.

"And you just believed him? That doesn't sound like you," she added, turning to face her brother.

"Well, sprouting wings is a good way to convince me," Emil answered with a shrug. "And besides, I have a sixth sense about people. I could tell he at least thought he was telling the truth."

"I guess that makes sense," Sarah stated.

"Where exactly are we going?" Emil asked Laurence.

"Just before we went to rescue Sarah, I told my aunt to set up a meeting. That's where we're headed."

"A meeting with who?"

"The other Phoenixes of the area. We have to decide a tactical solution to this problem. We run a democracy."

Emil nodded, piecing together the events of the last few days. It felt as if it were years ago that the attack on Sarah took place, when it was actually only a few days ago.

"So where exactly are we going?" he asked again.

"The meeting grounds." Laurence stopped and turned to his soul mate's brother before adding, "We may go to war. If we do, I know you don't owe me anything, but I'd very much appreciate if you joined our cause. We could used your" he paused, thinking of away to put it,"new-found talent."

Emil smiled. "Of course I owe you. You saved my sister's life," he retorted.

"I would never ask for anything in return for that."

Emil looked curiously at the serious expression on his face. Matching it with his own, Emil straightened his back."I'll assist you in any way I can."

"Good. Now come on, we're nearly there. Remember. Don't come up next to me until I motion for you, too."

"I remember," he assured him.

The group continued towards the lights that lay deep in the woods. Emil looked around as they stepped into a large clearing filled to the brim with faces he recognized from school, around his town, and multiple others he hadn't seen before. The clearing  was littered, as well, with a multitude of lit torches,burning a deep orange flame. There was also a large rock near the end with another two torches on it, though these ones weren't lit.

Emil turned to face where Laurence had been standing moments ago, only to find he wasn't there anymore. He turned his head again just in time to see him land on the large rock with Sarah wrapped in his arms. He retracted his wings and placed each hand on opposite torches. A light flashed as his hands erupted with flames, lighting the torches. The moment the torches were lit, all of the eyes in the crowd turned to him.

"Hello, everyone," he began. "You're probably wondering why I've summoned you all here tonight. A few days ago, I got word that Oria's 'Order' had arrived in town. Later that day, my soul mate was attacked  and taken hostage by the demon known as Kain. We managed to kill him with little difficulty. I doubt Oria's gotten wind that his comrad's dead, yet. For him to figure out on his own is one thing. For us to tell him is to call war to him. A war he already started years ago. I say it's about time we show him we won't line up and allow him to pick us off one by one. But I can not deliver this message without your consent, simply because it may result in your death. Possibly all of you. So what do you say?"

"Why should we?" a man asked taking a step forward to be noticed. "Just because your soul mate was attacked? Our friends and families are attacked daily, andnobody's done anything about it."

"Now's your time to change that," another man said stepping forward.

Sarah raised an eyebrow as she took in the man's clothing and facial features. "Mr. Baker?" she asked, disbelievingly.

"Hey, Sarah," he responded, with a smile, before returning his attention to the matter at hand. "If we don't do something about this demon, it could result in all of our extinction, anyway."

"How is it our fault that he wants to go chase some human tail? He knew the danger he was putting her in before branding her. It's his fault she was attacked," the other man retorted. "And even if we did fight back, we're going against a demon. We'd have to have serious man-power to take him down."

"We would," Laurence agreed. "And that's what I want to show you. We have the man power we need in one man."

A cloud of smoke appeared next to Laurence, with Emil inside of it."This is Emil Louak, the brother of my beloved Sarah," he introduced.

"How is one man supposed to help?" a different man challenged.

"A human, at that," another added.

"It's not about what he is, or even who he is, for that matter. It's about what he can do." Laurence turned his head towards Emil and nodded. Emil pulled his shirt over his head and placed his hands on the floor in a crouch, awaiting the pain he knew was about to endure. He cried out as his skin began to turn grey. His mouth began to lengthen as his teeth became sharp. His fingers, palms, arms, and legs began to lengthen, and his torso widen. His skin got darker and darker until it was pitch black, and his eyes a glowing silver. Everybody gasped and took a step back as they observed the hound that stood in Emil's place. 'Emil' stood on his hind legs and looked out at the fearful crowd.

"Not to worry," Laurence said, raising a hand to quiet the phoenixes around him. "He's in complete control of his actions. He's not like the others."

"I still don't understand how he'll help," someone stated, after a second of silence.

Once again, Laurence looked at him and nodded. Emil raised his head and howled into the sky. After a few seconds, snarls could be heard in the surrounding treeline, though nothing could be seen. After a moment, hounds entered the clearing from every possible direction, the light from the torches revealing their massive bodies.

The sudden appearance caused another gasp to emit from the crowd. With a deep growl from Emil, the army of hounds retreated into the forest, and Emil returned to his normal state and pulled his shirt over his head.

"Now, it is important to know that Oria controls a great number of hounds, but not all of them. Kain is the one with the ability to create them, and has passed his ability to command them several seconds before his untimely demise, though the ones that he already gave power over to Oria will follow only his command. Now back to the question at hand. Which of you will agree to go to war with a demon?" Laurence stared into the crowd. As he feared, nobody agreed with his conquest.

He was getting ready to call the meeting to an end, when a hand rose from the back of the crowd. Slowly, but surely, more and more hands began to rise, until the majority of the population was ready to go to war. With a smile he couldn't control, Laurence whispered under his breathe, "Excellent."

"What did you want me for, Oria?" Griffin demanded as he entered the living room of the demon's house.

"Ah, Griffin, just the person I wanted to see. I have something to show you," he replied, a smirk on his lips.

"And what's that?" Griffin demanded.

"You got a package delivered," he answered.

"From who?" Griffin asked, confusion clear on his face, as Oria gave him an already open box. He accepted the box and peered inside. After seeing the contents, the box fell from his fingers and he collapsed on to his knees with his head in his hands. "Who sent it?" he asked, his hands shaking with anger.

"It was a gift from the phoenixes," he replied.

Griffin moved his shaking hands and lifted the box, pulling his brother's head from inside, and resting his forehead against Kain's.

"So I take it you'll help?" Oria asked, pleased that his enemy had done the persuading for him.

Griffin laughed darkly as he lifted his head to meet Oria's eyes. "Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war," he replied, staring hard into Oria's eyes.

"Good to finally have your cooperation," Oria stated, unable to help the smirk that played on his lips. Not only was he delivered the head of somebody he never liked to begin with, but with it, the key to Griffin's cooperation.