Page 31 of Phoenix Chosen 2

“You are in for a treat,” he says to him. “This is one of my favorites. A lot of people hate it, but I think it’s completely underrated. You want something to drink? I’ve got beer, I’ve got sparkling water, I’ve got Coke…”

“Coke?” Kalistratos says, perking up. “I would like to drink Coke.”

I sigh and sit next to Kalistratos as Jeff goes to the kitchen and starts making popcorn.

“These men are incredible warriors,” he says, pointing at the screen. “If we could recruit them to our cause…”

“It’s a movie, Kalistratos,” I say, slipping my hand into his. “None of it’s real. They’re just actors.”

“Actors?” he asks, squinting. “Like on a stage?”

“Yeah. It’s all a fancy illusion.”

“Hm.” He leans back into the couch cushions. “Incredible.”

Jeff comes back with a tray of popcorn and drinks.

“Ever had popcorn before?” he asks. “No? Try it. I use butter, a little sea salt, and a little sugar. Perfect movie snack.”

Kalistratos stuffs a handful of popcorn into his mouth as a man gets eviscerated by a gorgon on screen.

“Alyx and I have met some of those,” he says, gesturing to the screen. “We’d found the ruins of a palace of a wealthy and great civilization. We’d heard it told that a clan of serpent women lived deep within its crumbling walls, feeding on the hearts of men who came to find the treasure hidden inside. We figured it was nothing but a legend. Well, we were right. The treasure was bullshit. But there were serpent women.” He chuckles. “Though they looked nothing like that. They were small and adorable and only wanted company. Of course, when we tried to leave, they became very angry with us.”

“What did you do?” Jeff asks curiously, muting the sound TV.

“Alyx turned himself into a hawk and they all ran away. Or slithered away.”

“Hold up, this guy Alyx turned himself into ahawk?”

“He’s normally a cat,” I chime in.

“So can you do all that too?” Jeff asks. “Or are you just a chicken?”

“Nota chicken,” Kalistratos grunts. “I’m a phoenix.”

“Right, right. My bad. I’m still getting a handle on all of this crazy shit. Oh, crap. I just remembered! I got a response to the post I made about that symbol.”

“You did?” I say. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

“Cut me some slack, Ty. I’m feeling like Neo here when he learned about the fuckin’ Matrix. Hold on. Let me get my laptop.”

I sigh and shake my head. “We’re sitting here watching a movie. Ofcoursehe would forget. He always forgets.”

Kalistratos puts his hand on my thigh and smiles. “Tyler.”

“What?”

“You’re tenser than an Erpetosi in a pot of hot water.”

“No shit? If getting caught by the cops wasn’t bad enough, we now have a damn shadow monster trying to get us. Kalistratos, why was that thing here?”

“I told you, I don’t know,” he says calmly. “But I have a feeling it has to do with the Great Phoenix.”

“Because he’s been trying to contact us?” I say.

“Perhaps the being who sent us here knows we are trying to return to Circeana, and has summoned this monster to stop us.”

“That’s a disturbing thought.”

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