"The Phoenix Svalrog-part I" by Heather Lauren Medley

In all of his travels, in all of his lives he was accompanied by other magickal spirits that were destined to live as one in all the ages. The spirit of a great priest and lord, the spirit of a gryhpon, the spirit of a sidhe, the spirit of a harpy and the spirit of a dragon. No matter whether they were aware of it or not, or whether or not they remember it, they have always been together in one form or another, to serve one another and relate and live with one another.

It was in this lifetime that this spirit was born into a man. A very powerful being that was unaware of himself, and his powers. This is the story of his life, his journey through discovering himself, and the awakening and sacrifice of the Phoenix within him. Also of his family, the fellow spirits who accompany him in each age and the powers of other worlds that swayed his sacrifice. This is the story of Gavin Illiahd, the Phoenix Svalrog.

I

My life used to be simple, and sweet. Nothing deep to worry about, just a simple teenage life, but it all changed far too soon. Zeke knew. Zeke knew the whole time. I couldn’t imagine how he knew it all and kept it inside for so long, or how he dealt with it in such a manner, but it was no lie, he knew.

I remember I was seventeen when everything started happening, Zeke and Caleb were already out of school, Kheatheriel was three grades under me. I was such a fool then. It was my tenth grade year and I had already been expelled from three high schools for pointless, idiotic reasons. Reasons that I should have known better not to do. I was finally settled at North Atlanta for the time being. Our family has a notorious reputation at that school. My father was expelled for marijuana when it was still Northside, Zeke expelled ‘accidentally’ burning down one of the science labs, and Caleb for starting an un-orthodox club. But I knew the real reason why they were expelled. The house. I guess that school was bad luck for me from the beginning. I didn’t like that place, I had a bad feeling up until the day I left, and I had to leave Kheatheriel there alone.

I couldn’t sleep the night before, and that gloomy, early morn drive in Zeke’s old car wasn’t helping the queasy feeling in the pits of my stomach.

“What’s wrong?” He asked. He didn’t even have to look at me to tell, I guess that’s just the natural intuition of an older brother. But it didn’t matter, he always made me feel better, in my mind at least. He didn’t even have to do anything, it was just his voice. He had the voice of an angel, calm, soothing, deep, almost musical with his pure gaelic accent that could sooth any worries away. He could charm Lucipher to sleep with that voice. It was comforting.

“Nothing.” I replied.

“liar.” He knew me too well.

“I just don’t feel well, and I hate this place” I sighed. He simply nodded, and kept driving, but I could feel his brain churning. None of us could ever hide something.

As we pulled into the upper parking lot, we saw that same old familiar ford pull in a few cars back.

We both slung our heads around and watched every move of the car until it stopped, let the child out, and pulled away. The same as every morning, and Zeke would always seem lower after that. Kheatheriel.

She was the star in our lonely night, something to keep the sanity. Her mother hated us, though, we were never allowed to see her or talk to her unless by some chance she would come by the apartment, or we’d run into her at Little Five Points. Her mother resented us, we were the cursed sons of her ex-husband, she wanted nothing to do with us, or him, and wanted us to have nothing to do with her. It’s a horrible thing, not being able to se or speak to your own sister. Sometimes I thought Zeke would snap and kill them both, our father and her mother I mean, but he never did. He always kept it inside.

I finally gathered my things and got out of the car, seeing Zeke angered and hurt. He would never say anything, just a nod or a wave, and then he’d be gone. Because of that woman, I’d never get an out-right “goodbye” from him, he was always too angry.

“I’ll see you at four?” I asked. He nodded, and drove off. Again that feeling welled up in my stomach.