Chapter 9 The Phoenix Test

Today is the first of the three tests. When I woke up this morning Dylan was gone. He must have woken up before me and taken off to start his duties. He may also not want anyone to know we had consummated our marriage last night. Although we were pretty noisy. Thinking back on our amazing night made me giggle. He may not have known much. But he was a very quick study.

I went over to get dressed and changed my mind. I could not wear one of my finer dresses to walk on the coals. I walked over to my vanity. I thought about my clothing when I was transforming into a phoenix. I let myself go and looked in the mirror. I was wearing my fire clothing. Which was a long piece of fire cloth I made. It is as soft as down, but made completely of fire. If anyone else was to wear it, it would just be a nice warm garment. But when I wore it, you could see the flames. It wrapped around me like a female roman tunic.

Normally I wore it where it just covered my breasts and my nether regions. But I am a married woman now, so I will wear it covering down to the tips of my fingers. I also must think of functionality. I have two other test besides walking on coals. My tunic was one long red cloth. I added a look of gold around the edges to add splendor. But I wrapped it around my waist to make the skirt. Then the left over I brought up and wrapped around my waist then over my breasts. I tied the remaining fabric behind my head. I wore no shoes.

I pulled my hair up with a hair comb that Dylan had given me and walked out the door ready and anxious to get these tests complete. I was escorted from my room by two soldiers. They had never seen me in anything but my palace best. So they were having issues not staring. I could tell they liked how it looked. They kept staring at my backside as I walked. Which made me giggle.

As we came up to the arena Dylan met us by the main doors. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head, "sweetheart, you look beautiful! But isn't that a little revealing." I smiled, "I tried to cover up as best as I could, but the coals would catch my fine dress's on fire." He shook his head, "You are right!" I continued, "Also those big dress's would get in the way of fighting, and would burn up in a fire."

He nodded and leaned in kissing me. "You are right! The first test will be walking on hot coals. Here is a pair of fire proof shoes. You need only to walk to the other side of the court yard." He put the shoes on my bare feet. I smiled and he opened the door for me. I walked in and waisted no time. I untied the sandals Dylan had just put on and before Dylan could protest I walked out on the coals.

I walked up and back again three times on the coals to prove a point and stood in the middle to look up at the dais above the arena. The old man from the neighboring kingdom was sitting on the dais. The old king from the neighboring kingdom. He must be Dylan's father! I never even learned his name! O, Crap! I have a bad feeling about this.

Smoke was beginning to rise from my feet. I still did not feel anything. I walked back to Dylan and he quickly checked my feet. He was nearly in tears with fright. He was so relieved when I did not even have one scratch.

But before he could say anything two soldiers pulled him off of me and back against the wall. Then thirty soldiers entered the arena. I already knew where this was going. Just this time I was not chained to the floor. I closed my eyes and divided myself into six. I had five of me surrounding me and me in the middle. Each of my other selves had a different color tunic on.

As soon as I divided myself I started emanating and projecting a song. It was Down with the Sickness by Disturbed. When the soldiers attacked the drums picked up and all of me went to work. I could see each individual fight like it was just me and my opponent. I ducked and weaved. I took weapons and knocked out soldiers.

Where it took a bad turn though scared even me. There was a group of about five soldiers going around and waking the other soldiers. When the soldiers were awoken they would strip down from their armor to nothing. The soldiers that were rousing there fallen comrades would take their gear and place it by the wall in a neat pile. Then the naked soldiers would stand at the ready on the outskirts of the fight.

As I knocked out the final attacking soldier and the group grabbed him from in front of me is when I noticed what was happening. Now the soldiers were striking poses. I was not sure if I was fighting or if I was supposed to be painting or sculpting or something. I was very uncomfortable!

Now as they were striking poses they were inching their way in closer and closer to me! What was I supposed to do. The weapons they were using, were not exactly in my arsenal. Then it hit me! it was just like a light bulb going off in my head. I let my dress catch fire. I merged back with my other selves, and burned even brighter. My dress was not transparent but very close.

The soldiers had a hard time concentrating on posing and keeping their eyes on me. My song changed to Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys. I began doing an accompanying fire dance to the song. Most of the men froze in place and could not take their eyes off of me as I danced. I began mixing fire dancing with belly dancing. And made the rounds around the soldiers. Not one even tried to touch me. So I took it a step further. I would lean into a soldier. When he put his arm/arms around me I would quickly turn and put my arms around him. Then do a sweet kiss on the cheek. Then quickly head but the sucker knocking him out.

I repeated this until each and every one of the soldiers was out cold on the ground. That is when the group of five stepped forward. They knocked the fallen soldiers out of the way harshly. Then they started to merge into one. They created a greater demon. He was not like the other demons that I had met previously though. This one actually looked human. He wore sunglasses to hide his eyes and a nice looking suit. He was laughing as the men around us were starting to tan due the heat he was emitting.

I encircled everyone with in the arena with my light. I was trying as hard as I could to shelter them. This made the Demon laugh even louder. He approached me and cupped my chin. "You will do! It wont be this life time, but I will come to collect you. You will be my bride. Enjoy this life while you have it. My name is Asmodeus. Remember it, you will be calling it one day." He laughed extremely loudly again. "Since you beat my test I will tell you. The king covets his youth. If you marry him he will stay young longer. Oh, you had better go save your prince charming. He is about to be slaughtered by his father. He knows if you have his sons he will remain king until he dies." Asmodeus laughed loudly again and disappeared.

I turned around to find Dylan in the arms of his fathers soldiers. His father was in the act of slitting Dylan's throat. I screamed out. as the soldiers let his body drop into the arena. I ran over and barely caught him. Falling to the floor in the process. I cradled him to my chest and kissed his lips as he bled out in my arms.

When I looked up at the dais, the old king was de-ageing. He started out looking near his death bed around 100-150 years old. Now he was looking like he was 50! No, 40! NO, 30! He was beginning to slow down now. He looked 25 years old now. He jumped off of the dais and landed inches away from me. I refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him.

I held on to Dylan and cried. I knew one of the rules that I had been place under, was if I accepted the terms to a mate I could not kill that mate. It looked like he knew it too. He leaned down cupping my face in his hand and forced me to look up at him. "That is a shame! I hate to lose such a good son too. But it will be alright. You are mine now. We will make many more sons."

I jerked my head away and hugged Dylan to me. The king grabbed my hand and pulled me to a standing position and away from Dylan. "What no kiss for your new husband?" I looked away. He said, "Alright, well lets go get you cleaned up. I do not wish to have a blood soaked bride on our wedding night. Now get it through your head dear, you are mine. You might as well get used to it." He threw me at the soldiers that were waiting, fully clothed thank God, by the door. They escorted me gently to my room. A couple of them even offering me their handkerchief.