Page 37 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.” Percival’s voice wavered. “It could have been thieves or… I don’t know.” He dropped his gaze.
This wasn’t how he’d pictured this going. He’d pictured a happy reunion. He’d expected an uncle and cousin relieved to see him after being worried about his disappearance.
For the first time, he made eye contact with the man who was potentially his cousin. He stared blankly at Percival.
“Thieves? You’d be so weak to allow thieves to kill you?” His uncle scoffed. “And on top of that, you lost your memories?”
Percival fought the urge to take a step back. “I’m not sure how I died. I can’t remember anything before my rebirth.”
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming instinct to turn and run. To hide from the phoenix in front of him. And strangely, that felt familiar, like a memory. It was the first thing that had felt familiar to him since his rebirth.
“How the fuck did you lose your memories?” His uncle’s voice rose. His eyes flashed.
“I… I don’t know,” Percival stuttered. The scent of soot rose in the air. “I’m sorry.”
Then Leo stepped in front of Percival. “It’s not usual for a phoenix to lose their memory after rebirth?” Leo asked.
“Of course not. We don’t forget everything when we are reborn! What fucking bullshit nonsense is that?” His uncle glared at Leo.
“It was simply a question,” Leo shot back.
“My lord,” his uncle snapped.
“What?” Leo asked.
“I am a lord and your better. You will address me properly.” Lord Ignatius Everflame looked Leo up and down, his lip curled.
Leo didn’t speak for several long seconds. “Your nephew doesn’t remember anything after his rebirth,my lord.” The last two words sounded like a whip cracking. “Do you know what could help him recover his memories,my lord?”
Leo’s voice was hard like flint and didn’t show an ounce of subservience. “Your nephew is in need of help. Your great wisdom and assistance would be most appreciated,my lord.”
Lord Ignatius Everflame’s eyes narrowed at Leo. “You arrogant little shit!” Then his uncle looked straight at Percival. “You really remember nothing? Not who you are? Not your responsibilities?”
His skin crawled. And once again, he was filled with a desperate need to flee from the phoenix before him. With force, he kept his feet where they were. Percival shook his head.
Lord Ignatius Everflame walked around the desk and came towards him.
Once again Leo stepped in between them.
But his uncle didn’t even glance at Leo; he just kept staring directly at Percival. “Then what use are you to me, Percival?”
Percival’s mouth fell open.
“I took you in after your last death, when all the rest of our family had suffered their final deaths!” his uncle yelled.
Percival flinched.
“I took you in even though you were soft and useless, like you had been in all your previous lives.” Lord Ignatius Everflame’s voice bounced off the walls. “I spent time and effort moulding you into something better, something tougher, something stronger. I knocked the frailty out of you.”
His uncle sneered. “And how did you repay me? By letting yourself be killed! By forgetting everything I taught you!”
“I’m sorry.” Percival hunched his shoulders.
Uncle Ignatius shook his head. “And look at you now. You’re practically trembling with fear. Just like the first time I took you in. But I won’t be suckered into caring for you again, Percival. You’re weak. You were weak then. You are weak now. And what use is a weak phoenix to me?”
“That’s enough!” Leo shouted.
His uncle turned, walked behind his desk, and sat. He looked at Leo. “I have no further use for him. Take him away. Send him to the sick-house. I am done with him.” He waved his hand, dismissing them. “Now let me and my son get back to work.”
