Home / Fantasy / Dead Men Smiling / 1.0 THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX
1.0 THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX
Author: Ziles
last update2022-12-25 04:28:03

You and I both know I was not the villain of our story but if you want to play victim, I'll be the villain you need.

-------

Maximus was usually very peaceful and refrained from doing or saying anything that might make you think otherwise but as he read the letter, he thought maybe just this once he was excused from playing nice. He then scoffed to himself showing his more than obvious displeasure towards the letter he had just received from a good friend of his.

Why was he considered a bad person when he did not go around burning orphanages whenever he was in a bad mood?

Was this some kind of twisted joke to make the rebellion look bad?

"I'd like to see how they pin this on The Rebellion as well."

He let out a sigh when he realized the guilty party was in no way affected by his anger. Heck, they probably did not know of his existence. As far as they were concerned, so long as the majority loved them, nothing really was the matter.

The birds started singing their melodies reminding the male that he had to get his day started and sulking probably was not the best way to accomplish that particular goal.

Talk about joy coming in the morning.

He got out of bed, reached for his glasses by the bedside table, and smiled, as his vision slowly got clearer. He began to hum to himself as he took a pink pill from his container and chewed it, enjoying the strawberry taste.

After a shower and a daily confirmation by a full mirror check that the pill did not randomly stop its magic, he put on a pair of brown slacks, a white long sleeved button up and a pair of brown boots.

His humming got more upbeat as he skipped to the living room and picked up his guitar. Once the instrument was in his hands, he played along to the tune that had been playing in his head for quite some time.

By the time his private concert was over, he heard slow clapping and froze before telling himself that he took the pill and was ok. He turned to face his audience before he smiled.

"Ren," he acknowledged. "What brings you to my humble abode? Didn't you say that you'll have your break next week?"

"Can't I lie and say I came to see you?" the other chuckled.

"No."

"Fine. I came to get His Highness' poem. Epic? Sonnet? Gods know what you call it but I didn't expect a show." He shrugged.

The brunet nodded his head slightly before walking to his bedroom where Nero's poem lay on his desk ready to be signed and handed to the messenger.

Maximus scrutinized the poem before kissing his teeth in slight frustration; his personal opinions of the guy really made it difficult to do so much as write one good thing about his royal pain in the ass.

Better than writing how much of a douche bag I think he is.

He sealed the poem after signing it and prayed to no one in particular that this would be the last time he would so much as interacted that clingy creature.

Sadly, the life of Maximus never went according to plan. "What the heck are you doing reading my things?"

Ren looked up so fast Maximus was afraid his neck had snapped; but when he looked at the other male, all the former saw was fear in his gaze.

"Ren," he tried to reason. "It isn't what you think-"

"So you aren't a member of Dead Men Smiling? You don't want to overthrow The Emperor? You aren't behind anything that happened since they started to cause problems in the empire?"

The brunet shrunk back slightly before reaching out, "Let me explain-"

"Why does everyone always want to explain why they do bad things? We wouldn't need to explain anything if you just didn't do these bad things in the first place. Lay it on me Max, what reason do you possibly have for wanting to overthrow The Emperor?" "Uh... how can I put this?"

"I'm waiting," Ren reminded him when he took too long to answer.

"Nero is a bad person, Ren. You have to trust-"

"I don't want to hear it. You're lucky I respect you enough not to snitch but I never want to see you again."

He furrowed his brow as he wondered what Nero would think. He would be livid if Maximus left without an explanation. The other male sighed, "I'll deal with The Emperor. I'll say you need self-isolation or something like that."

His gaze turned violent, "If I find you here tomorrow, I'll kick you out of the house myself. Goodbye, Max."

Maximus' brain still had a hard time processing what just happened; did he seriously lose a home because he is a dedicated member of the rebellion?

He felt tears slide down his cheeks and did nothing to stop them. He just slid to the ground and sobbed; why did life always have to take a left turn when everything was going right for once?

A sigh left him as he slowly stood, not feeling the essence of being happy. He walked to his room or his former room and took out the things he would need: money, his pills, some paper and pens.

He put the straw hat on his head and looked at the mask in disgust, "This is your fault."

"I know that I'm asking you to do a lot but I'd appreciate it if you kids fought for what you see as right. Remember my loves, stand for what you believe in even if it means-"

"You're standing alone," Maximus finished the thought that kept the team pushing. He was not going to abandon them again because he hit a dead end.

This time he was going to finish what they started even if it kills him in the end.

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  • 9.1

    You know what they say; no pain, no gain.-----Sora was instructed to lay on the table by Wynter, dressed similarly to Hope and Maximus, who attended to the burns on the Angel's back after cutting what remained of the shirt.Dolan was flipping through his book, probably trying to glean last minute information on the surgery he was about to perform. He closed the book and turned his gaze to Rowan. "Does Beast have any idea on this?""Sadly, no."Sora realized he was tense as it dawned on him that he would actually be getting the operation to remove his wings. Dolan glanced at his friends as if asking for one of them to do something.He relaxed slightly when hesitant hands rubbed his lower back and carefully moved to his shoulders. "Relax, Sor. Dolly says it'll hurt less if you aren't tense." Leilani muttered as Maximus continued his ministrations.Rowan stood at his right and griped his hand. "Just squeeze when it hurts, ok?"

  • 9.0 TRUTH BE TOLD

    But the oddest teacher of all is experience for she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards.=====When Hope opened his eyes, he was on the couch facing Dolan so he could see what the Vampire was doing. He then sat up, frowning as the blanket rolled off him; why did he feel warm?He then placed his arm against his neck, frowning at the warmth he was producing which he found odd seeing that he had always been cold-blooded."Dolan?"He cringed at how hoarse his voice sounded before smiling slightly as a tired Dolan handed him a glass of water. "Morning Hope. Are you really awake or are you about to manifest again?" "Whatever do you mean?"Hope then looked around the room and frowned, turning his attention back to Dolan who had wandered to the other side of the room to pick something from the table there. "Dolly, what did you do to me? I'm producing heat." He asked.Dolan didn't face him. "We're about to find out."Hope wa

  • 8.3

    The skeletons are in the closet for a reason.-----Sora didn't need Maximus to nudge him slightly for him to know that it was him that Dolan was speaking to. He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "You know who did it."The gold eyes glimmered before Dolan closed them and took a deep breath. When he opened them, there was nothing for anyone to read. "So the Ring of Power is the random ring you found?"Suddenly, everything fell into place as soon as the name rolled of Dolan's tongue as Maximus realized exactly what was wrong. He remembered an eight-year-old Dolan recounting to them one story night about a power hungry Mage who created the ring with samples from the strongest and most powerful beings short of the gods. He remembered how he explained the Mage coated the ring with gold as a way to contain the ring's vast power and sealed it with her own, powerful magic.The ring worked a little too effectively and gave the bear

  • 8.2

    The devil you know is better than the angel you don't know.--- Leilani hugged herself as she felt her strength finish as Rowan let out another heart wrenching scream. she shut her eyes tight, hoping to escape the haunting memories that took place merely hours ago; it felt like it had happened light years ago.She had just left Maximus after telling him she was looking for Rowan to freeze him and was skipping through the trees, aware that she had the element of surprise n her side when she felt an old yet familiar pain seize her as her senses heightened.She let out a low pain filled moan as she bent, trying to reduce the pain when she remembered the pills Dolan had given her and swallowed two dry, grimacing at the bitter taste.She thanked the gods that she carried the container around and wondered vaguely if her taking the pills earlier than prescribed and in a higher dose would affect her in anyway.A familiar scent reac

  • 8.1

    In fear of you forgetting me, I made sure you'd hate me.-----Dolan let out a sigh as he recalled what he saw the previous night. He agreed with Mira on how he chose to thank him for giving him the strength to kill Jess. If he hadn't used magic to trap Mira, Jess would have been alive long enough for him to have had an idea on what to do to heal the Demon of magic."Brooding is definitely not a good look on you." Maximus snorted. Dolan looked at the Siren and didn't comment at what his friend had said."Are you ok?" Maximus asked after a moment of silence washed over them.Dolan was tempted to shake his head and tell him that he was fine but at the pointed look he received, he simply let out another sigh. The Siren smiled at Dolan as he put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. I want to show you something in your garden.""But I know every nook and cranny of the garden."He was proven wrong.He stared at the pond in aw

  • 8.0 SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET

    Don't misunderstand me when I say that the villain was once the victim.-----Before anyone could blink, Sora pulled Dolan into a tight hug which Maximus and Rowan excitedly joined, careful not to injure the Angel's back. Wynter smiled at the reunion as she leaned against the door frame. She rose a brow at Leilani. "Why don't you join them?"Apart of her cringed at the thought of hugging a Vampire and she wrinkled her nose beneath the mask. She then shrugged. "Too much boy." "oh, I get you."To say she was shocked when Dolan broke out of the hug to stand in front of her would be an understatement. She held her breath as the gold eyes assessed her before he carefully removed her mask from her face and took her in. "You kept taking the pills."Another part of Leilani kicked herself at the sound of the surprise in his voice and she cursed herself for messing up their friendship.Before she could reply, Dolan had turned his atte

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