Phoenix Heart: The Last Heir

CHAPTER 9: A World Forgotten

Gabriel sat in the passenger seat, watching the city pass by outside the window.

His mind was still spinning from everything that had happened in the last hour and he wasn't sure what to believe anymore except that Alfred seemed genuine, and the watch in the old man's pocket had felt real when Gabriel touched it.

"The Phoenix Heart," Alfred began, his voice steady like he had rehearsed this speech a thousand times in his head.

"Was created by your ancestors over three hundred years ago. The Hale family was powerful even then, but they had enemies who wanted to destroy everything they had built,"

Gabriel turned to look at him and Alfred's eyes were focused on the road, but his jaw was tight like he was remembering something painful.

"Your great, great, great grandfather, Lucas Hale was a scholar. He studied ancient texts and forgotten magics that most people didn't believe existed anymore. He discovered a way to forge an artifact that would protect his bloodline forever, but it required a sacrifice."

"What kind of sacrifice?" Gabriel asked with raised brows.

"His own life force," Alfred replied.

"Lucas poured his essence and his blood into the creation of the Phoenix Heart, binding it to the Hale bloodline through a pact that could never be broken. Only those who carry Hale blood can bond with it, and once bonded, it becomes part of you in ways that go beyond the physical."

Gabriel touched his chest where he could feel the steady warmth of the Phoenix Heart beating in rhythm with his own heart.

"It chose you," Alfred continued.

"The moment you touched it, the Phoenix Heart recognized your blood and accepted you as its host. That's why Siegel could never claim it no matter how hard he tried. He doesn't have Hale blood and the artifact would rather destroy itself than bond with someone outside the family."

"What can it do?" Gabriel asked. He had already discovered some of its powers but he knew there had to be more.

"It grants enhanced strength, speed and healing that makes you nearly impossible to kill. It gives you the ability to create and control fire. Your senses become sharper and your mind becomes clearer. But those are just the basic abilities. As you learn to master it, the Phoenix Heart will reveal more."

Alfred glanced at him, and there was something in his expression that looked almost like pride.

"Your father spent years searching for it because he knew that one day you would need its protection. He wanted you to have every advantage when you took over the family empire."

Gabriel felt something twist in his chest and it wasn't the Phoenix Heart, but something deeper and more painful.

"I don't know anything about running an empire," He said. "I've spent the last few years stealing wallets and sleeping in a tent. I don't belong in that world."

"You were born into that world," Alfred said firmly.

"It's your birthright and no one can take that from you. I will teach you everything you need to know and I will help you reclaim what Siegel stole. But first, we need to get you somewhere safe and teach you how to control your new abilities."

They drove for another twenty minutes, leaving the city behind. The houses got bigger and the spaces between them grew wider.

Gabriel saw gates, long driveways and gardens that looked like parks.

This was where rich people lived. He had stolen from people in neighborhoods like this but he had never imagined actually being inside one of these houses.

Alfred turned onto a private road and they drove for almost a mile before a massive iron gate appeared ahead. It opened automatically as they approached and Gabriel's stomach dropped because he knew where they were going now.

The mansion appeared at the end of the driveway and Gabriel's brain couldn't process what he was seeing.

This wasn't a house. It was a palace and it had to be at least three times bigger than the Siegel estate.

The grounds stretched out in every direction with perfectly maintained lawns, trees and fountains.

"This can't be real." Gabriel breathed, his voice coming out barely above a whisper.

Alfred pulled up to the front entrance and parked, turning to look at Gabriel with a small smile.

"This was one of your father's properties," Alfred said.

"He gave it to me years ago as a gift for my loyalty and service. I've maintained it all these years in the hope that someday, you would come home and we could live here together."

Gabriel got out of the car and stood at the bottom of the steps leading up to the front door.

His legs felt weak because this was too much. It was too overwhelming and part of him still thought he was dreaming or dying in the river or this was some hallucination his brain had created.

"Come inside," Alfred urged him, walking up the steps. "Let me show you your new home."

The inside was even more luxurious than the outside. Gabriel followed Alfred through rooms that were bigger than the entire homeless camp.

Everything was perfect, clean and expensive and Gabriel was terrified to touch anything. What if he broke something or got dirt on the white carpet?

"You can relax Master Gabriel," Alfred said and there was warmth in his voice. "This is your home now and nothing here is too good for you."

They walked through a grand entrance hall with marble floors, and a staircase that curved up to the second floor and paintings on the walls that looked old and important and Gabriel felt like he had stepped into a museum.

Alfred led him upstairs and down a long hallway. He opened a door to reveal a bedroom that was bigger than most apartments Gabriel had broken into.

There was a massive bed with more pillows than any human needed and a bathroom attached that had a tub the size of a small pool.

"This will be your room," Alfred said with a pleased smile on his face.

"I took the liberty of preparing it when the Phoenix Heart's signal activated. There are clothes in the closet that should fit and the bathroom has everything you need. Why don't you take a shower and get cleaned up? I'll have dinner ready when you're done."

Gabriel wanted to argue or say something, but his throat was too tight. He just nodded and Alfred left, closing the door behind him.

Suddenly, Gabriel was alone in a room that cost more than he had stolen in his entire life. He walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Steam filled the space and he stripped off his bloody torn clothes, stepping under the water. It was hot and clean and there was actual water pressure instead of the weak trickle he was used to at the shelters.

Gabriel stood there and let the water wash away days of dirt and blood, and he watched it all swirl down the drain.

When finally stepped out, he felt clean for the first time in forever.

The clothes in the closet actually fit. They were soft and comfortable and Gabriel wasted no time pulling on a pair of jeans and a shirt.

He looked at himself in the mirror and barely recognized the person staring back.

He went downstairs, following the smell of food and found Alfred in a dining room setting plates on a table that could have seated twenty people.

The food spread across it made Gabriel's mouth water.

Real steak, vegetables and bread that looked fresh and a pitcher of what looked like actual juice instead of the watered down stuff from food banks.

"Sit," Alfred told him, pulling out a chair. "You must be starving."

Gabriel sat and stared at the plate Alfred filled for him.

His hands were shaking when he picked up the fork because he couldn't remember the last time someone had cooked for him or the last time he had eaten food that wasn't stolen, expired or free.

The first bite hit his tongue and Gabriel almost cried because it tasted so good and so real.

His body reminded him that he hadn't eaten in days, and that he had been dead and that food was something he had taken for granted before the streets taught him what hunger really meant.

He ate and couldn't stop eating. Alfred watched him with a sad smile and kept refilling his plate while Gabriel ate until his stomach hurt.

He kept asking for more because what if it all disappeared? What if tomorrow, he woke up back in the tent with Vera?

But Vera was gone. That life was gone. Everything was different now.

"Take your time," Alfred said gently. "There's plenty of food and it's not going anywhere."

Gabriel forced himself to slow down and put the fork down. His eyes were burning and he realized with horror that he was about to cry.

He tried to stop it but he couldn't and tears started running down his face.

"I'm sorry," His voice broke as immense embarrassment washed over him. "This is stupid. It's just food."

"It's not stupid," Alfred chipped in quickly, his own eyes looking wet.

"You've been surviving for so long that you forgot what it feels like to live. That's what Siegel took from you and that's what we're going to take back."

Gabriel wiped his eyes, nodding and trying to pull himself together. Crying wouldn't change anything. He needed to be strong and figure out what came next.

"Tomorrow we'll start your training," Alfred said.

"You need to learn how to control the Phoenix Heart before we make any moves against Siegel. He's dangerous and connected and if we're going to take him down, we need to be smart about it."

"How long will the training take?"

"As long as it needs to," Alfred said. "But I promise you, Master Gabriel that when we're done, you'll be ready to face him and reclaim everything that's rightfully yours."

Gabriel wanted to believe him and part of him did, but another part was still waiting for this all to fall apart.

Good things didn't happen to people like him. Happiness was something other people got to have. Not him. Never him.

They finished dinner and Alfred showed Gabriel back to his room, promising to wake him early for training.

Gabriel climbed into the massive bed and sank into sheets that felt like clouds, staring at the ceiling.

He should have felt safe and grateful, but all he felt was empty because Vera's betrayal was still fresh.

His parents were still dead and Siegel was still out there living in a mansion he had stolen and acting like he hadn't murdered two people and destroyed a child's life.

Gabriel closed his eyes, trying to sleep but his mind wouldn't stop spinning. The Phoenix Heart was warm in his chest and he could feel power thrumming through his veins, waiting to be used.