All Chapters of Phoenix Heart: The Last Heir: Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
41 chapters
CHAPTER 31: The Beast Within
Gabriel was flying but somehow, he could tell that he wasn't the one doing it. He was seeing through eyes that weren't his own and below him the world was burning.Cities crumbled into ash, mountains melted like wax and the sky itself seemed to crack and bleed. Everywhere he looked, there was fire, destruction and death.He tried to turn around and see what he was, but his body wouldn't. It felt like he was trapped inside something else. Something ancient, powerful and terrifying.Wings beat against the air and each movement sent shockwaves across the landscape. Gabriel felt heat pouring off this creature in waves that could melt steel and boil oceans.The Phoenix.Gabriel knew without knowing how he knew that this was the entity bound inside the artifact and the thing that had chosen to merge with his soul and give him power.But seeing it like this from inside its consciousness made him understand that what he had been using was barely a fraction of what the Phoenix could do. The f
CHAPTER 32: Unstable
Gabriel dreamt of fire again. This time, the Phoenix was closer and he could feel its attention focused on him like the heat of a furnace. When it opened its eyes, he felt his soul burning.The creature spoke, but not with words. Its voice was the sound of cities collapsing and oceans boiling. It said things Gabriel couldn't understand, but could feel in his bones.Rage.That was the only word Gabriel could make out through the chaos and the Phoenix folded its wings and settled deeper into sleep, but he knew it was less asleep than before and more aware and waiting for something.He woke up with his heart racing and his sheets soaked with sweat with the Phoenix Heart was burning so hot in his chest that he had to press his hand against it to make sure his skin wasn't actually on fire.The clock said it was five in the morning and Gabriel knew he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep so he got up and went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.He looked terrible. His skin
CHAPTER 33: Loss of Control
Gabriel tried to pull the power back, force it down and make it obey, but it was like trying to hold back an ocean with his bare hands. The flames only burned hotter and brighter.The Phoenix Heart was no longer responding to his command. Something else was in control now and that it wanted to burn everything to ash."Gab!" Xavier yelled over the roar of the flames. "What the hell happening?! What's going on?!"Gabriel turned toward Xavier and saw his friend backing away, his eyes were wide with concern and probably fear.He felt panic shoot through him. If he couldn't control this, then Xavier would fall into danger."Get back!" Gabriel screamed and his voice came out wrong and distorted like two people speaking at once. "Get away from me now!""But—" Xavier started."I said get back!" Gabriel roared and flames exploded outward, scorching the wall behind Xavier. "I don't want to hurt you. Please just get back!"Xavier's face went pale, but he nodded and moved away. He pressed himself
CHAPTER 34: Nightmares
The drive back to the mansion felt like it took hours even though it was only thirty minutes.Gabriel stared out the window and watched the city pass by, trying not to think about Kroger's face as he burned.Xavier didn't turn on music, make jokes or try to fill the silence and Gabriel was grateful because he didn't think he could handle conversation right now.When they pulled through the gates, Alfred was already waiting on the front steps and his expression went from concern to alarm when he saw their faces."What happened?" Alfred asked as they got out of the car.Xavier walked up and handed him the box of files. His hands were still shaking slightly."We got the documents," Xavier said. "Everything you need to transfer ownership.""Xavier what happened?" Alfred asked again and looked between them. "Where's Kroger? Were you attacked?""Kroger is dead," Xavier said flatly. "And the building was destroyed. There were bodies. It was bad, Dad. Really bad."Alfred's eyes widened and he
CHAPTER 35: Belief
Gabriel barely slept after Xavier left and when morning finally came, he felt exhausted and hollow. The Phoenix Heart still pulsed steadily in his chest like nothing had happened.He went downstairs and found Alfred alone in the study, going through the files from Whitmore and Sons. The old man looked up when Gabriel entered."Good morning," Alfred said gently. "How are you feeling?""Terrible," Gabriel answered honestly because there was no point in lying.Alfred set down his papers and gestured to the chair across from his desk."Sit," He said. "We need to talk about what happened yesterday."Gabriel sat down and his whole body felt heavy like he was carrying weights he couldn't put down."Xavier told me some of what happened," Alfred continued. "But I need to hear it from you. What happened at Whitmore and Sons?"Gabriel took a deep breath and started talking. Once he started, he couldn't stop and everything came pouring out.He told Alfred about the ambush and the fight and how he
CHAPTER 36: Confrontation
Gabriel spent the rest of the day thinking about what Alfred, Ariel and Xavier had said. Their words gave him strength and made him feel less alone in this fight.They believed in him. They believed he could overcome the Phoenix and Gabriel decided that he wasn't going to let fear control him anymore.He was done running from what was inside him and done being afraid of his own power.If the Phoenix wanted to fight for control then he would fight back and he would win. He had too much to lose and too many people counting on him.That determination lasted until he went to bed that night and closed his eyes. The moment he did, the dream came back worse than ever.Gabriel was flying through the Phoenix's eyes again. He watched as the world burned and this time, the destruction was so vivid and so real that Gabriel could feel the heat of the flames and smell the smoke.He saw cities crumble and heard millions of people screaming and the Phoenix reveled in their suffering. It laughed as it
CHAPTER 37: The Next Target
Gabriel's eyes flew open and he was back in his room and lying in his bed. The knock came again and this time, it was accompanied by Xavier's voice."Gab? You okay in there? I heard you shouting."Gabriel sat up, his heart still racing from the confrontation with the Phoenix and his mind spun with questions that hadn't been answered.Why did the Phoenix hate humanity? What had happened to make it want to destroy everything?"Gab?" Xavier called again and sounded more worried now."I'm fine," Gabriel said and his voice came out hoarse. "Just a bad dream.""Can I come in?" Xavier asked.Gabriel got out of bed and unlocked the door. Xavier came in looking concerned and still wearing pajamas."You sure you're okay?" Xavier asked with raised brows. "Because I was walking past your room and heard you yelling about something. It sounded intense.""I'm sure," Gabriel said even though he wasn't. "Just nightmares again. Nothing to worry about."Xavier didn't look convinced, but he nodded."Well
CHAPTER 38: Old Wounds
After the meeting ended, Xavier suggested they go to the training room. Sitting around, thinking about their next mission would just make everyone anxious.Gabriel instantly agreed because his mind was too full and he needed to do something physical.Ariel came with them even though her arm was still in a cast and she said she could at least watch and maybe give pointers since she had taken self defense classes in law school.The training room felt familiar and safe. Gabriel had changed into workout clothes and he tried to push thoughts of Austin and Vera out of his head."You want to go first?" Xavier asked Gabriel. "Or should I spar with Ariel and show her some moves?""You two go," He answered. "I'll watch."Xavier and Ariel stepped onto the mat and Xavier walked her through some basic defensive positions and how to use an opponent's momentum against them.Gabriel watched, but his mind kept drifting back to the meeting and to Vincent Wyatt's photo. To the knowledge that Austin migh
CHAPTER 39: Into the Fire
The night before they were supposed to take back the Riverside Development, Gabriel had the dream again and this time it was worse than ever.The Phoenix was fully awake and its voice thundered through his mind as it showed him visions of a world reduced to ash and every person he cared about burning while the entity laughed.Gabriel saw himself standing in the ruins with empty eyes and flames dancing across his skin and the Phoenix spoke through his mouth with words that promised destruction."Soon you will stop fighting and accept what you are. Soon you will help me cleanse this world."Gabriel woke up screaming and covered in sweat. His sheets were soaked and the Phoenix Heart was burning so hot in his chest that he thought his ribs might crack.He sat up and put his head in his hand, trying to calm his racing heart, but the images from the dream kept replaying and he couldn't shake the feeling that the Phoenix was right.Eventually it would win.It was four in the morning and Gabr
CHAPTER 40: Violence Ignites
Gabriel stared at Austin and his blood roared in his ears as every muscle in his body tensed. This was the man who had helped destroy two years of his life.This was the man who had manipulated him and used him. He tried to kill him and stood there now with that same smug grin on his face like he owned the world.Gabriel felt the Phoenix Heart burning hot in his chest and it felt like the flames were going to burst from his hands and consume Austin where he stood.He managed to force the power down. Losing control now would be a disaster. But the anger was still there. It was real and it was demanding satisfaction.Austin looked Gabriel up and down and his grin widened."You look good for a dead man," Austin said. "Better clothes too. Finally crawled out of the gutter I see."Gabriel's hands clenched into fists and he took a step forward, but Xavier put his hand on his shoulder."Easy." Xavier whispered."Oh how sweet," Austin smirked. "You brought a friend. Does he know what a pathet