Page 4 of Fortune's Ashes
‘It’s the cleaning fluids in here, they’re a bit too strong for me.’ I sat down once more. ‘It’s not a problem. Tell me what’s going on.’
Barnes looked as if she were going to say something else, then shrugged and leaned forward. ‘Have you heard of the name Alan Cobain?’
I frowned; it didn’t ring any bells. ‘I don’t think so. Is he the person who’s complained about me? What’s the basis for his complaint?’
‘Mr Cobain is claiming identity theft.’ Barnes paused. ‘Of a sort.’
I shook my head. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘He says that he’s the phoenix.’ She scrutinised me carefully.
‘Uh…’ I scratched my head. ‘But all the literature states that there’s only ever one phoenix.’
Barnes nodded. ‘That’s what he says.’
I warmed to my topic. ‘I mean, there’s nothing anywhere that suggests there can ever be more than one.’
She nodded again. ‘Yep.’
‘And I’m the phoenix.’ I jabbed at my chest. ‘I die. Ihavedied. Several times, in fact. Then I’m reborn twelve hours later with some smelly fire and annoying scorch marks. It’s happened more than once.’
‘I’m well aware of that fact, Emma.’
‘Other people have witnessed my resurrection,’ I said.
‘I know.’
‘There’s video footage.’
‘I know.’
I couldn’t keep the exasperation out of my voice. ‘Then why are we talking about this? Does Cobain have proof that he’s the phoenix?’
‘He’s got video. If it’s fake, it’s a good fake,’ she said. ‘Maybe he’s related to you in some way.’
‘I’m not the phoenix by birth,’ I reminded her. ‘It was a spell of sorts that a druid put on me when I was a baby. I’m not like this by virtue of blood.’
Barnes didn’t take her eyes off me. ‘Is there any chance that the ritual that was enacted to make you the phoenix inadvertently drew on Alan Cobain’s power so there are now two of you?’
I stared at her. ‘As it seems to bear repeating, I was a baby when it happened. I have no idea how the power works or where it came from. It’s not,’ I said pointedly, ‘something I have any control over.’
‘Mmm.’
I folded my arms over my chest, unsure why I was feeling defensive. ‘Look, I don’t understand why this is an issue. If he’s telling the truth – which I very much doubt – and he’s a phoenix as well then that’s a good thing. There are two of us. I’m not alone.’ I pursed my lips. ‘Neither is he. We should be celebrating.’
A crease appeared between Barnes’s eyebrows. ‘Mr Cobain is not celebrating. He’s quite … annoyed that you have supposedly stolen his glory.’
‘Glory?’ I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. ‘What glory?’
‘I suspect he has designs on being a television presenter, or social media influencer. I don’t really understand it myself.’
‘Is he alleging thatI’mthe fake?’ I asked slowly.
‘Either that you’re fake or you’ve stolen some of his power. He’s older than you, and he says that he’s been the phoenix since the day he was born in 1982. That’s eight years before you. I believe that he plans to sue you for stealing from him.’
‘What? That’s crazy!’
‘And,’ Barnes continued without missing a beat, ‘he also wants to sue the Metropolitan Police for enabling your existence and amplifying it.’
