12. Dance

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There's something that has been bothering Siobhan about Phoenix. It was that Phoenix knew a lot about them but they knew little of him. She knew he grew up in Area Fifteen, that he considered himself a helper, even the saviour of this wretched place. Siobhan didn't know his story and that dawned on her when she asked about the pendant.

Phoenix said it belonged to his late mother and father. The golden wings weren't unfamiliar to anyone. Everyone whose apart of the Kingdom of Seridina was sure to see the golden wings hanging in the left hand corner on the flag. Siobhan doubt anyone knew about it except the Royals. Why would Phoenix have such a thing? Something so important and not know what it means. Siobhan has only seen it on the flag until she met Phoenix.

Siobhan decided to ask the one person who would know. Stella had grown Phoenix. She knew his parents and that's how she knew Phoenix. Siobhan was on her way to meet Stella, she had left the house to Rocco and Rebel. Phoenix had wondered off to the book house, even when Siobhan kept telling him to rest his leg. He's as stubborn as always.

The sick house was in view, Siobhan lifted the curtains and entered. The first person she saw was Nevaeh, Stella's wife. She looked up and smiled dearly at Siobhan. "What do we owe this visit?" She said. "Is something wrong?."

"No," Siobhan shook her head, "Everything's fine." she reached up and rubbed her belly.

"Is Phoenix with you?" Nevaeh asked, looking over Siobhan's shoulder.

"He's at the book house." She informed her. "I'm here to speak with Stella, is she here?"

Nevaeh nodded, her thumb jutting to the other room. "She's attending to the baby Phoenix bought a while back. I'm sure she won't mind seeing you."

Siobhan thanked her, receiving a hug from Nevaeh before she made way to the other room. Nevaeh was a nice soul, she was loving and motherly. Siobhan lifted the curtains to see Stella with the baby, small cries filled the room. Stella looked up and gave her an apologetic look.

Siobhan sat beside her, "May I?" She asked, outstretching her arms to take the baby. Stella was grateful, she's been trying to get the baby to calm down.

The moment Siobhan took the baby, she calmed downed. Stella laughed to herself, "Phoenix was always the quiet one when he was a baby. Now, he's all talks."

Siobhan laughed, pressing a kiss to the baby's forehead. "Is everything okay?" Stella asked as she stood and stretched her limbs.

Siobhan nodded, "I'm doing great."

"You should prepare to pop at any moment." Stella said. Siobhan knew the day would come. As the days drew near she becomes even less prepared. "Has that son of mine run off again?"

Siobhan repeated what she said Nevaeh. "I need to ask you about something." Siobhan spoke. Stella turned to look at her, giving Siobhan her full attention. "You've raised Phoenix since he was a baby. You knew his parents, who were they and that pendant he wears, what is it for?"

Stella had to sit down, she wasn't expecting Siobhan to ask such questions. "What bought about such questions?"

"Phoenix knows a lot about us and we don't know anything about him. I only know that he grew up here and only recently he said the pendant was from his parents. I'm sure you know those golden wings are apart of the Seridinas crest."

Stella took a deep breath. "Yes, I did know Phoenix's parents." she began. "I'll tell you who they were only because you care so deeply about him and I know I can trust you." Stella took a moment to prepare herself. "I've only told Phoenix that his father died before he was born and his mother died while giving birth. I did so because I owe him that much."

"What I'm about to tell you, I haven't told Phoenix. You can never tell him." Stella said and Siobhan nodded in agreement. "His father was....."

Siobhan listened to Stella, not missing a word she said. Her eyes widen at the truth of who Phoenix father and mother was and what really happened. Siobhan remembered Phoenix saying he didn't have a story because he grew up inside Area Fifteen. His story was shocking, a story that no one in Area fifteen would expect.

Siobhan had her hands clasped over her mouth by the time Stella was finished. "Then why is he still here?" Siobhan asked, still trying to let what Stella told her settle on the inside. "He could have a better life on the outside."

"He can't just up and leave." Stella said. "They don't know that he exists and I'm doing this to fulfil the last wish of his mother, as a friend. I'll protect him, even if I have to lie."

"What was his mother's last wish?" Stella asked.

"To protect Phoenix from the King."

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Phoenix walked along in the book house. Hopping over puddles of water as he searched for a new book to read. He ran his finger along the broken wood, dust accumulation on his index finger as he moved along. There were lots of interesting books but nothing piqued his interest. He stopped at a shelf that managed to still stand tall. A few books remained, dusty and stained as the rest.

As he tried selecting something, his mind wondered to Siobhan's words. Did he really need a friend? He felt content with what he had. Siobhan, along with Stella and the others were all he needed. Phoenix hasn't had a friend in a long while. Memories he thought he'd forgotten, sunk below the surface was beginning to rise.

It was a slim chance they would meet again, Ace and Phoenix. Siobhan seemed to be fond of him from the first meeting. It was clear she wouldn't mind seeing him again. Did Phoenix want to see him? He admitted he was worried, to venture beyond Area fifteen and not yet return. Perhaps he convinced his family that he wasn't like the fifteens and they welcomed him back. Phoenix thought he was one lucky star if that happened. Their chances of meeting again were slowly becoming nonexistence.

Phoenix decided a long time ago that he didn't need friends. A book caught his eyes. It sat in the far corner covered in dust. Phoenix used a hand to wipe away the dust to see the name. It was a book about dance. A chuckle escaped his lips, there was no need for him to learn the art of dance. That was only for the royals and possibly the people of Pixie Tower for their fancy balls.

No one danced in Area fifteen. The only dance they needed to know was the dance of escape, and Phoenix had mastered it. He flipped through the pages to see what was inside. Women and men dressed in the finest of clothes doing various dances.

"Nix!" Phoenix heard someone called. He looked up from the book, closing it as he walked towards the voice. "Nix!" they called again.

Phoenix came to see it was Gus and to his surprise Ace too. He didn't know how to react, not expecting to see Ace again. "Why are you here?" He asked, looking between Gus and Ace.

"Your friend here wanted to see you. Siobhan was at Stella's so I bought him here." Gus explained. Ace flashed him a smile which Phoenix didn't know if he should return. Still unbelieving that Ace was before him.

"Thanks Gus," Phoenix said. "You can go back home now." Gus gave Phoenix a hug before running off, leaving the two shrouded in silence.

"How did you get back?" Phoenix asked. With what happened the last time he hasn't made any effort to leave. Thinking the guards would triple.

"I used the area you showed me the last time I was here." Ace said, looking around the broken book house.

"There wasn't any guards?" he raised a brow. Ace shook his head. That's odd, he thought.

Ace moved towards a broken shelf, looking at the books. Phoenix watched from the side, the book about dance still hanging in his hands. It was odd to him that the guards weren't on full guard after what happened. There has to be a reason behind it, Phoenix thought.

"Why did you leave before?" Phoenix asked the burning question.

Ace visibly tensed, placing back the book he took up. "I had to meet someone." Did he perhaps have a relationship of that of Phoenix and Axton with someone else. Phoenix didn't press any further.

"Were you thrown in here?" He further asked. Ace hesitated but nodded.

Ace turned to look at Phoenix, spotting the book in his hands. "You're learning to dance?" He asked, shifting the conversation from himself.

Phoenix looked to the book as if forgetting it was there. "There's no need to learn it."

"I haven't danced in ages." Ace said, earning an odd look from Phoenix. Just as he'd expected Ace was different. From just one sentence he deduced that he wasn't from the Garrett district. "I could teach you the basics." he offered.

Phoenix frowned, "There's no need to. This is Area fifteen, dance isn't something we need to know." The look in Ace's eyes made him rethink. He looked excited to show the dance to Phoenix, his arm still outstretched. Phoenix sighed then took his hand, letting the book fall to the stack of books he read before.

Ace smiled as he took Phoenix hand in his own. Phoenix was surprised when Ace rested a hand around his waist, the other holding Phoenix's arm at a distance. Phoenix did as he was told and rest his arm atop Ace shoulder.

"Follow me." Ace said, a smile on his lips for an apparent reason. Phoenix was beyond confused with all the foot work.

"Did you grow up in Pixie Tower?" Phoenix asked after apologising for stepping on Ace's foot yet again. That was the only possible way he could've learned to dance.

"You could say that." Ace responded, giving Phoenix a twirl.

Phoenix balanced himself back on his feet, Ace holding him as support. "I'm not cut out to learn the art of dance." Phoenix frowned.

"With a little more practice, you'll be able to dance without much worry." Ace informed him. With a few more movements, Ace pulled Phoenix close. Phoenix noticed how lovely Ace eyes were up close, his features that gave him a handsome look. He reminded him of Axton. Well kept and had a fancy aura to them. Or was it because they were both from Pixie Tower.

With a few incomprehensive moves, Phoenix found himself thrown back to an unimaginable length. Ace keeping him up, he felt like he was slowly loosing his breath.

Ace looked the other way, hiding the blush that formed on his cheeks. Unable to look in the eyes of the boy that somehow captured him.

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