General Rhys Vermillion: Return of The Dark Phoenix

I

An abandoned, burnt-down mansion stands, with yellow tape cordoning off the whole place, a considerable figure over six feet two inches tall standing over what remains of the building. 

 A striking jawline, muscles that made him look like a god. His piercing hazel-blue eyes and fixed posture made him an intimidating figure. Dressed in a long crimson coat, he stood there with the wind blowing through his jacket. 

“Father, Mother…I'm home,” he whispered, looking around. The memories flooded his mind; it wasn't what he would imagine witnessing at that young age. 

It was twelve years ago, on his sister's birthday, and they were trying to hold on to the joy. 

His father made sure everything was made to make her happy, and then it happened. Flaming arrows came flying in from outside. Hidan Vermillion stood in the way, trying to make sure that no one in his family would get hurt. 

'Alara, get the children out of here!’ 

He roared, pulling his blade out, not trying to make sure that nothing would hurt them. Rhys watched his father cut down everyone trying to cross. He watched him keep fighting till they plunged the Spears into his chest. 

'Father!’ Rhys let out a muffled scream, his mother pulling him and his sister out of the room, heading to the back. 

She pulled out a box, turning to look at her children. 

“Here, Rhys wears this, and Isobel takes this.” 

She gave them necklaces bearing the Vermillion Phoenix symbol. Giving it to them was the only way to make sure that she would find them. 

“Take Isobel and run, don't let anyone—” 

Before Alara could finish, an arrow went through her chest, blood splattering on Rhys’ face. 

“Mom,” he let out a small cry. That day was one of the worst days in his life. Rhys didn't waste time; he pulled Isobel out of the mansion, running. 

He paused to turn to see the mansion slowly going up in flames, holding his sister, trying to hold his head down. 

“Brother, are we going to see Mom and Dad again?” 

His little sister held his hand. Rhys didn't know what to say. Lie to his sister and break her heart like that. 

“Dont worry, they will be with us.” Rhys held her hand, trying to see if he could get them through. He believed there was no way he could lose his sister; she was the last person he knew as family. 

Trying to hide from the men who had raided their home, but Rhys was only a fifteen-year-old boy trying to protect his sister. Full of hope, they lived on food he would rummage through the dumpster and what he could beg, even when he was bullied or kicked around; Rhys wouldn't back down, trying to make sure his sister would smile. 

But then one day, his last glimmer of hope faded. The day he couldn't find his sister, searching for her across the dark alley, he had left her. He stumbled in front of a strange man; he saw a long blade in the man’s hand. 

The man approached him, about to slit his throat, when from nowhere the man was knocked down in the blink of an eye. 

A mysterious man stood over the unconscious man. Rhys couldn't think, crying, trying to find his sister. 

“Isobel, I need to find her…” 

“And what will you do if you find her?” the man asked. Rhys paused, looking at the man. He was filled with fear. “Are you going to cry to them to let your sister go? You think they would respond to a crying man?” 

The man walked toward Rhys, extending his hand with a stern look. 

“Come with me, if you want the chance to take back all that has been taken from you.” 

Without looking back, Rhys took the man’s hand. 

Twelve years passed… 

Tales of the rise of a nation in the continent of Allorian had everyone on the rails. It was a small nation called the Everglades. They were known to produce one of the strongest warriors around the continent. But all hope was almost lost when they were being raided from all angles; they were nearly eradicated. 

Not until a single warrior showed up on the battlefield did the tide of the war turn. 

Rhys Vermillion. 

They called him the Dark Phoenix. 

He fought thousands single-handedly, slaughtering the enemy's ranks like an uncontrollable wild flame. The mention of the Dark Phoenix alone was strong enough to make even the mightiest warrior quit. Suddenly, he disappeared, away from the eyes and lights of men. 

But now, he’s returned and stronger than he has ever been. 

“It’s been twelve years, Father. I dont have a clear memory of what you look like anymore.” Rhys let out a light chuckle, his hand on the burnt-up wall. “Mother, I am no longer the child who would cry to you when I get hurt.” 

He looked up, staring into the city that stood beyond the burnt-up mansion. 

“Zenovia will know that the Dark Phoenix has returned. I will find everyone responsible for this, and I will make them pay.” 

Suddenly, his quiet time was shattered by the roar of engines approaching. He turned to see a car and men on bikes. They were all armed, and from the looks of it, they were there for him.

“Are you lost or something?!” one of the men barked. “The yellow tapes were a sign enough to keep your stupid ass outta here! This is a restricted area, shitface!” 

Rhys didnt utter a word; his eyes went to the men coming towards him, as if they owned the property. 

“Must be one of those people in the city acting up,” another chimed in, “Harvey Bohrs told us to make sure that we would level the remaining blocks here. He said that the Vermillion family was burnt to a crisp inside, and according to him, they were stuck-up and righteous, so it is a good thing that they died twelve years ago.” 

The man turned to Rhys with a smile. “I mean, it is why every year since that day, the Bohrs family hosts a huge banquet to celebrate the death of that stuck-up family, or as Lord Bohrs calls them— a pack of vermin. They earned that fire.” 

Rhys gritted his teeth when he heard the name Bohrs. They were once like their family. He could remember playing with their son; they were always kind. Until the day, Harvey Bohrs brought an idea to his father. To sell his rites to a mysterious man and join them in the Order of Slyth, he promised his father wealth and power that Zenovia couldn't promise him. 

But being one of the strong leaders of the nation, Hidan Vermillion rejected the offer and said that he would rather die than give his people over to anyone who would kill them. 

Harvey called his father weak, telling him that his decision would bring the end of him and his family. But Hidan said to him that the flames of the Vermillion family can never be extinguished by evil. 

Harvey was among the men who gave the order to kill everyone in their family; he had beheaded Hidan and placed his head outside. He was also jealous, wanting Alara, Rhys’s as his mistress, but when she turned him down, he saw it as a push to put her head beside her husband’s. 

There was a manhunt for the children who had escaped. Rhys had managed to survive. 

“That bastard, they will pay for this…” Rhys muttered, controlling his rage. 

The men stood in front of him holding sledgehammers and tools. 

“Now, it would be nice if you’d leave,” one of the men said, walking to Rhys’ face with the sledgehammer on his shoulder. “Or we can bury you here…”

Rhys said nothing; he just stood there looking at them.