Diabolus: The Lost Phoenix

Chapter Five

AARON DAVIS

Shocked.

That's how I can describe myself right now.

It takes a second or two for the new information to sink in, even though it is right before my eyes, larger than life. Then I feel my lips stretch wider into gaping grin and my eyebrows arch for the sky. He made it. He's here.

I can't believe what's in front of me. It's like my eyes were in a different place than I am; it's like I was in a dream. Brent. Brent is alive.

Kai just threw a punch into his face and went back to the club, so did Beverly, leaving him laying on the wet ground. Brooklyn immediately ran to help him to stand up while I keep standing and watching him, spitting with blood. Still not able to believe. Still not able to tell if it's shock or happiness tickling inside my stomach.

Just as his eyes meet mine and he draws a finger down his lips, clearing the blood I realize it's real. He's back. Smile lights up on my face from pure happiness, there's no other feeling I could have seeing him alive. Not after everything he did for me.

"I guess I deserved it."

"Fuck, Brent!"

I pull him to a tight hug, letting the happiness soak right into my bones. I feel it pass through me like a warm ocean wave, washing away the stress of my day to leave me refreshed inside. I'm not very emotional myself, not after everything; or perhaps I'm just that kind of a person. But it's Brent, the man we thought we lost; the man that changed my whole life.

It makes me remember the first day I met him; back in Los Angeles, six years ago. I remember him and Kai, pretty different back then, being called Max and David; but not less cruel. It didn't matter that Brent was an assassin, he still had a big heart when he saved me. It didn't matter who I was, he still saved my life and became my friend.

I was just a simple thief, it was my only way to survive in this cruel world after I ran away from my parents. My life was literally going nowhere; I couldn't accept the life that my parents gave me back in London, my father, big and bad businessman, beating up his son in his free time because he's different. That's why I left and started my life in the States. Just... it didn't go well.

Not until I met Brent and Kai.

There are a lot of houses in Beverly Hills to get robbed, a simple job for a thief like me. And there was this producer, Trevor Andrews; rumors that he likes to get girls drugged and raped them after were spreading all over the city. But his house was an easy prey; until Brent and Kai entered the house while I was upstairs, collecting things that I thought were valuable. Within seconds, they dealt with Trevor Andrews and set the house on fire, not to leave any evidence.

But I was still upstairs. The fire spread with ease, turning the first floor into a maze of flame. Black smoke went up the stairs and there was no alarm to warn me. Only the sound of fire and my own choking. I could see the orange flame from under Trevor's bedroom door and as much as stressed I am, I know that opening that door would be the last mistake I ever made. My only option was the window and a fifteen foot drop.

But there was asphalt; the only place I could land on. That means only two options; either the fire will eat me, or my life will end as soon as I'll land on the hard ground.

Until Brent saw me; a kid in panic standing by the window. He didn't hesitate, not even for a moment and immediately ran back to the house to save my life. He didn't care that Kai shouted to leave me; Kai never cared about accidental victims. But Brent wasn't like that, though it would've been easier to leave me to die.

But instead, he saved me from the fire. Teached me to fight. Helped me to find my passion about poisons and acids. Later Kai finally let me in; and I became a part of the team. A part of the family.