Chapter 13

The hospital doors opened up and out came the brothers into the morning sunlight. The wheezing of car vehicles and chatter of people on the street could be heard in the distance.

"Damn it feels good to be out of that room." Will said as he pushed John who was on a wheelchair.

"Tell me about it, it felt like we'd been there for ages." John said with a satisfied sigh.

"I'm gonna ask Alexander if we can get a burger or chicken wings, I am so tired of hospital food." Will jested.

"Speaking of, where is he? I thought he was supposed to come pick us up." John asked trying to look for him around the parking lot. In that moment, a black limo pulled into the hospital, it was jet black with tinted windows all round and had a phoenix mini statue on its hub. Out of the limo came an old looking man wearing a black three-piece suit and white gloves like a butler out of the English movies the brothers used to watch.

"Good day sirs, you must be Will and John." He said with a British accent to the surprise and amusement of the brothers.

"I am Ron, the chief left hand to the head of house Phoenix, Alexander Vaillant." He stated.

"Alexander?!" the brothers both exclaimed simultaneously. They knew Alexander was pompous but they never knew he could back it up.

"I have instructions to bring you to the mansion as soon as possible." Ron said as he opened the door to the limo for Will and John to enter.

Once he had secured Johns Wheelchair, Ron got in the car and turned on the limo lights and TV. Will and John both marveled at the vehicle for they had never been inside one like this and it certainly wasn't like the family pickup truck they were used to.

"Hey guys!" Alexanders voice was heard from the TV.

"Morning Alexander." John greeted.

"Hope y'all are good? Sorry I couldn't come pick you guys up myself, I had a few things to take care of here but I sent Ron in my place, he's a swell guy and very efficient so ask him for anything." Alexander said with a smirk as Ron smiled at the boys through the rear-view mirror.

"Anyway, I'll see you both soon enough." Alexander concluded as the TV switched to a different channel.

"Woah, just who is this Alexander guy anyway?" Will said in awe and amusement.

"Gentlemen we will be arriving at the mansion shortly. For entertainment, Will, you have the latest in console technology on the dashboard to the left and John there are some comics in the cabinet on the right. Please feel free to take the refreshments in the mini fridge under the seat." Ron said as he drove the car forward and out of the hospital parking lot.

The boys looked out at the city through the tinted window of the limo, it seemed different but they couldn't tell if it was due to the experience and news Alexander had given them or it was just the Limo. They had gone past the church which was closed for some reason, then they came to the site where their former store was but was now a site for the construction of the one of the power wall which they heard about on the news. In a short time, they were at city central where it was the busiest with the casinos and clubs which had a different look during the day, come to think of it, Will and John hardly ever went to Dave's place during the early hours.

"I wonder if he misses us at all?" John asked as he looked at Will who looked back at him and together they laughed at the sarcasm.

Soon they were on a highway which led to the outskirts of the city and right in front of them was a tunnel which was lit up by orange lights. As Ron drove the car into the tunnel, the orange light began to flicker till it became pitch black.

"I advise you put on your seat belts for we are approaching the portal gates." Ron instructed. With immediate effect, the boys strapped in and a blast of light came from the outside of the limo, it was like a stream of colors flowing by. The brothers could both feel a tingly sensation in their guts as they went through the portal.

Soon it was all over as they drove through a bright light at the end of the color stream which seemed to take them back into the tunnel again.

"All that flashy show for nothing?" Will asked disappointedly.

"Yeah, aside the white light and colors, it kinda feels like we're still in the tunnel." John said.

"Welcome sirs, to the realm of Alfostus." Ron said as they exited the tunnel. It was at that point the brothers saw the difference. Instead of coming to a highway at the end, it was a stone bridge which was on top of a wide body of sea water.

"Woah were did THAT come from?" Will asked as he pressed his head against the window trying to see the outside. It was a vast horizon of sea and some fields by the side, all touching the bottom of the sun. There were birds flying in the sky and making a few dips in the water to catch small fish. In the distance, three scaly fins peaked out of the water and out came a large serpent like fish which was ten times the size and length of the vehicle they were in.

"What the heck was that?!" John asked.

"Oh, that would be Shelly, our resident leviathan." Ron said so casually. As he drove off the bridge and into a stony pathway, the brothers could see a fiery bird in the sky.

"Is that?"

"Yes John, that is a phoenix." Ron said again.

The phoenix flew above the car then back into the sky aiming at the sun, a majestic sight that thrilled the brothers.

Soon, they came to a big gate with titan-sized walls which had the flags of phoenixes drawn on them.

"And now it is our stop, the house of the phoenix." Ron stated as the gates opened up and he drove into the driveway of the mansion which was equally as wide as it walls.

Ron got out of the vehicle and propped out John's wheel chair and then opened the door for Will who helped his brother get on.

"Your luggage will be couriered to you by close of day, meanwhile, please head to the front door, Sir Alexander awaits." Ron said before going back to drive the limo away.

The brothers took a moment to allow the view before them sink into their minds. The mansion was a big one with the main building looming large in the center. To the left was a gate that led to the garden and to the right was a separate building which looked like a very big lounge.

Will and John made their way to the wooden front door which opened on its own revealing the interior. A big room which was lit by amber lights hanging over the walls supporting the large chandelier in the middle which reflected off of the marble floor with a phoenix design on it. There were stairs on both sides of the room leading up to the bedrooms of the occupants of the mansion. Across from the door was a dining room which had a long dining table and pictures hung on the walls.

"This place looks too fancy." John said admiring the building.

"Mom used to live here?" Will asked in disbelief.

"Halt! Who goes there!" a voice was heard from above the brothers. It was Olivia coming down from the stairs with Kim and Elliotte.

"Who are you guys?" she asked Will and John.

"Uhm, we are the new here… Alexander invited us here." John replied. Olivia looked at them with such visible disgust which seemed to tick Will off.

"Ever the norm for Alexander to bring in Strays." She said with disappointment.

"Hey who you calling a stray?" Will snapped at Olivia who smirked.

"Calm down now Will." John tried to ease his brother who was already balling up his fist.

"Nah I'm cool, I don't get flustered by trolls." Will said while folding his arms as a show of pride.

"Oh, I wondered how you could look in the mirror with that face of yours." Olivia retorted which made Kim and Elliotte giggle.

"Why you little…"

"Hey guys." Alexander came into the room from the other side of the stairs. He was wearing his usual body hugger and brown coat with a white mug in his hand while smiling.

"I'm glad you guys are here." He said as he walked toward the brothers.

"I see you've met Olivia, Elliotte and Kim." He said gesturing towards the trio.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Will muttered to which John elbowed him.

"Yeah thanks for having us." John said as she shook Alexander.

"I see your legs still healing." Alexander noted to which John nodded.

"You'll be fine, meanwhile, Olivia, Kim, Elliotte. These are our new members of the house of the Phoenix, I expect you all treat them nicely and avoid trouble, understood?" Alexander said to the trio in such a military like manner which made them respond as such.

"I'm off to investigate some things out of Alfostus and I'll be back by dinner to formally introduce you all to the brothers." With those final words, Alexander left the five of them together and headed out the front door.

"Ok shrimp, let's get you to your rooms, shall we?" Olivia said pompously which made Will even more angry. They were led by the trio upstairs to a hallway which was more or less a bridge to another section of the building. As they were on the bridge, Will and John caught a glimpse of the field downstairs where a couple of people were playing volleyball while others cheered them on and took turns entering in sets.

"As you can see, the mansion is a fun place." Olivia bragged.

"Oh, sorry I can't see." Will said sarcastically just to annoy Olivia who looked back at Will over her shoulder and then forward. They then cut to the right and came into another hallway which had doors parallel to each other.

"Well, here it is." Olivia stood in front of the last door to the left. She then opened the room door which revealed the room of the brothers. Inside was a typical boys room but with more sophistication. The walls were painted orange with anime posters on one side and comic book heroes on the other for diversification.

"Woah!" everyone said at the same time, even Olivia, Kim and Elliotte were surprised for their rooms weren't as fun as this. In the corners of the room were beds dressed in black bedsheets with lamps above them. In the far corner was a TV and a console with two gamer chairs which were red in color. A section of the room had a chair and a table with a lamp on it, which was close to the window. Above the table was a cabinet which had tons of updated comics and manga in it.

"This is amazing." Will exclaimed with excitement. He then hopped on the bed that was on the left.

"Dibs!" he yelled.

"No fair, you know I can't wrestle you for it." John laughed.

"Thank heavens for your broken leg." Will jested.

"Alexander has got a lot of questions to answer!" Olivia yelled as she stormed out of the room followed by Kim and Elliotte. The brothers just looked on as she left.

"What's her problem?" John asked and Will raised his shoulders to signify that he didn't know either.

***

The ghoul ran across through the rooftops and dived into an alley, knocking over a few trash cans in desperation to escape his pursuer. It wasn't a big one, it was skinny in stature and no exact ethereal energy but enhanced speed and agility. It cut through building alleys trying to make its way to the busy street but was intercepted by Alexander.

"Leave me alone you human filth!" the ghoul yelled as it took a few steps back in fear.

"Well that goes against my job now doesn't it?" Alexander jested. He then brought out his pocket watch and faced it to the ghoul who kicked some trash bags at Alexander in an attempt to escape but was dispelled on the spot before he could move.

"Another one for the books." Alexander said to himself as he put the pocket watch away. He then exited the alley into the busy street and looked around him.

"Hmm, this would be a good time." He said as he made his way toward city central. Normally he'd use his mage powers to get to his desired location but anytime he was in the human realm he would want to blend in. He decided to order a cab and take it to the very stop he dreaded going to, it was a site that brought back so many pleasant memories and dreadful regrets altogether.

In about thirty minutes, Alexander was at the place he needed to be. He gave the cab guy his fare and made his way to the front fence of the house which originally belonged to Alexis and Johnathan.

"I had to come here at some point." He said to himself.

He looked round at the surroundings, it was a peaceful neighborhood with kids playing street hockey at the distance. The houses nearby almost looked the same if not for some distinguishing features according to owner preferences. The burnt house was now a family home as Alexander saw a mailbox with the name 'The Wilsons' on it and a dog house on the front lawn.

"Let's see what we can find." He said as he took a moment to focus a bit of his sensory energy on the house to see if he could pick up any residual ethereal aura but the environment was clean.

Soon he felt a tug at his trouser, he looked down to see a toddler grabbing at his pants with a pacifier in its mouth, staring deeply at Alexander with awe. Alexander was a bit confused and knelt down to look at the boy.

"Hey little guy." He said as he patted the head of the boy. He was a cute young chap which had only a few of his teeth grown in as he smiled when Alexander pet him.

"Drew!" a feminine voice yelled in the distance. It was a woman running toward where Alexander and the boy stood. She lifted the boy and looked at Alexander who just stood there calmly.

"I'm sorry sir, he's always wandering off from the yard, I've told my husband to install a safety door but he wouldn't listen." The woman said with concern as he looked at Alexander. She then realized how handsome the mage looked and tried to arrange her hair in an attempt to look beautiful.

"It's ok ma'am, I was just passing by." Alexander said.

"Karen!" A more baritone voice came from inside the house.

"I'm on my way dear." She said as she looked back at the house, then at Alexander, then she walked back into the house.

"Who was that?" her husband asked.

"He… was just passing by." She replied which made Alexander laugh as he walked away from the house.