Page 66 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
“I’m afraid not.”
“I see.” Nix nodded. “Well, thank you for your time.” He rose.
Leo and Percival did too.
“I wish you well,” Nix said to Percival.
“You too. I hope conditions improve in the factory,” Percival said. “I really am sorry that I couldn’t be of any more help.”
Nix gave him a tight smile. Then he left, and the bell above the door tinkled. Percival watched him walk through the snow, head down, away from the bakery.
Leo placed a hand on his back.
“I wish I could help him. I feel a responsibility to him and the others who work in the factory, even though I don’t remember them.” Percival sighed. “But how could I even try and help them? I’m not welcome in the factory or anywhere near my uncle. Nor do I remember my role in the factory! I’d be useless.”
“I’m sorry, Percy.” Leo rubbed circles on his back.
“At least I wasn’t all bad in my past life.”
Leo smiled. “No. Seems like you were a decent boss. Does that help you to know?”
Percival pondered that. “I think so. I hated the idea that I was just a terrible phoenix. I mean, I still think parts of me sound pretty unpleasant. But there was some good too.”
It was strange to get a glimpse into his past. But he was glad of it.
It actually made him wish he could find out more about his past lives, his experiences, the people he’d known and that had been important to him. Like his parents.
He wished he could get his memories back.
But what would that mean for him and Leo? Would getting his memories back change him? No doubt it would. Would he take on some of the unpleasant characteristics from his last life? The characteristics that had caused Leo and Percival to hate each other?
Perhaps it was better that Percival didn’t get his memories back. He wanted to keep going in this life with Leo. That was what mattered most.
“Should we start work?” Percival asked.
“Yes. Let’s go bake pies.”
They walked to the back area of the bakery.
Percival had a new beginning now. With Leo. It was a clean slate. A break from his past lives. He had a future with Leo. He didn’t need his memories of his past lives.
Chapter
Thirty-One
“One should always eat Christmas cookies when decorating.” Leo held out the plate of vanilla crescent, cinnamon star, and sugar cookies.
Percival took a vanilla crescent cookie and bit. His eyes widened as he chewed. He licked the powdered sugar from his lips.
“Hot chocolate is always a must too.” Leo put the cookies down on the table and picked up the steaming cups of hot chocolate. “Although, mulled wine is of course also acceptable.”
Percival took the cup and sipped. “I like your family’s Christmas traditions.” He glanced around the main room of the family apartment. “But you must have noticed that your apartment is already decorated, right?”
Leo chuckled. “Cas and Graal came by and, along with those of us who were in the apartment at the time, put up the tree, the garlands, and the rest of the decorations.” He gestured to the room. “We sang carols, ate cookies, drank hot chocolate. It was a lot of fun. But as Cas would say, you can never have too many Christmas decorations.”
Outside, the snow rustled against the window. Ebony sat over the mantel amongst small Christmas figurines. She’d come home earlier than usual, perhaps to escape the heavy snowfall.
Orange and red flames danced and crackled in the fireplace. Candles filled the room with a warm glow. The flames of the candle and the fire leaned towards Percival, as if striving to touch the firebird.
