14. Change

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There was no need to learn it. Phoenix had concluded that the first time he picked up the book. There was no need to learn how to move your feet in the right direction as someone leads you. There were no fancy balls in Area fifteen. The most Phoenix got of it was from the pictures he saw in the book.

They looked to be just like the people of Pixie Tower along with anyone of royalty. Elegantly dressed men and women in the finest and expensive garments. Phoenix imagined Ace in such a scene. Freshly groomed as he held his hand out for a dance. He fitted in so perfectly that Phoenix thought they wouldn't piece together if he considered being his friend.

Phoenix was like an unflourished patch of land while Ace was flourish and had the freshest and juiciest of fruits and vegetable. It was just the same with Axton, his elegant ways irritated Phoenix. Though he rarely showed it. Axton acted like any normal person would, making Phoenix forget that he was from Pixie Tower. There would always be something about Axton that bugged him, not being able to put a finger on it.

Ace was now a fifteen. His ways of growing up would surely show wherever he went. Why did Phoenix suddenly care? Why was he comparing himself to someone he's only met twice. He shouldn't care if he felt like a dirty, old rag to Ace. They were the same. They were fifteens. They now stood on the same ground. Soon enough, Ace will start to wash away, to rip and bore holes. He'll become a rag just like Phoenix.

Taking his hand that day was a mistake on Phoenix end. He was a clumsy mess and his dirty feet stepped on Ace's more time than he could count. The dance was difficult, to stay in such a position while Ace does as he pleased. He didn't need to learn something that wouldn't help him in the least.

The boy was smiling like a fool as if he enjoyed being stepped on. Phoenix recalled Siobhan saying that they were alike. Phoenix wondered if that's how he always looked. A person blindsided by his own kindness. Ace was visibly enjoying himself even though Phoenix was any where near being good on his first try. He had no beginner's luck.

He was grumpy after the dance. He wasn't suppose to enjoy it the least. It gave him a rush of excitement when Ace twirled his body, and that finish was like a burst flames from a single spark. Was dancing supposed to be something fun? Was it meant to let them feel all jolly inside and miss the hold around their waist? It was the first time Phoenix had danced so he thought it was only natural.

It bought him out of his comfort zone and landed him in a mixture of wanting to do it again and there being no reason to learn it. Phoenix had bought the book home, reading through each page as he imagined himself doing the exact move. In his mind, he was the perfect dancer. A master of the art of dance. In reality, he was a conflicted beginner who couldn't separate his left steps from his right. To think people of high class could learn these things in an instant.

It was harder than Phoenix trying to figure out if Siobhan was just angry with him or just worried. He would curse Ace for bringing him into his world. The boy had ran off and Phoenix could only guess he was outside the Iron Fortress again. These walls could never hold him much like they couldn't hold Phoenix.

Phoenix tusked as he swung himself too far and almost collided with the brick wall trying to capture the move he saw. The night was in full swoon, the air cold and biting his skin. He was just to the side of the house Siobhan and him shared. The book rested on the wall as the wind would change the page often enough to irritate him.

"What are you doing?" Siobhan asked as she tried not to laugh at the sight before her.

Phoenix brushed back his hair that was a mess due to the wind. "I'm doing something very stupid." he said, taking up the book and closing it. "I'll be inside when I've calmed down."

"What's so stupid that you're out here trying to hurt yourself?" Siobhan inquired, pushing her hair behind her ears then crossing it atop her belly.

Phoenix sighed, even he couldn't believe himself. "Ace came today and he showed me how to...how to dance." Siobhan just eyed him, a part of her happy that Ace showed up again. And the other was shocked that they danced. "I know, it's stupid."

Siobhan looked at the stars, "Are you trying to learn it?"

"That's what makes it stupid, what makes me stupid." Phoenix responded, wanting to furiously throw the book away. "This is Area fifteen, we don't dance."

Siobhan turned her gaze to the frustrated Phoenix. "Yet, he still danced with you, knowing that there's no fancy balls here." Phoenix allowed the night to take over, the cold wind, the murmurs of the people and the moonlight that shun above. Even with all that Phoenix still wanted to.

"How was it?" Siobhan said when Phoenix kept silence. "How was your first dance? Did you enjoy it?"

"I want to do it again." he said as if that would answer Siobhan's questions. "Doesn't that make me a fool?" he forced a chuckle.

"It makes me happy." Siobhan replied. Phoenix turned to look at her. How does any of this makes her happy? "This is the first time I've seen you try and do something for yourself rather than others. Ace has an effect on you."

Phoenix scoffed, "He doesn't," he denied. "If anything he's a liar."

"Why are you so persistent about that?" Siobhan frowned. Phoenix had always called Ace a liar since they met.

"I doubt his name his Ace." Phoenix spat, recalling how hesitant he was on saying his name as if trying to come up with an alias. "The only thing that adds up is that he's from Pixie Tower. He doesn't acts like he was thrown inside this horrid place." He finished off.

Siobhan shook her head in disagreement. "That's not it Phoenix. Maybe Ace is different from the rest of us who were thrown inside. Why cry and beg when you could just smile and welcome it, knowing that you'll spend the rest of your life here. You're basing him off something else."

Phoenix allowed Siobhan's words to sink in. His mind wondered to Axton, the liar. He was using one apple to spoil the bunch. Thinking that all the people from Pixie tower was the same. "You're right, maybe he's different."

"Give him a chance," Siobhan responded. "And maybe even become friends. You both get along so well already."

Phoenix looked to the book. He didn't need a friend, he didn't want it to end badly again. Those memories are a constant reminder of who he is now. He opened the book to a random page, "I don't know, he reminds me of the wind, he doesn't blow only in one place."

Siobhan took it as if he would consider being friends with Ace. As she looked towards Phoenix, she remembered Stella's words. She wondered what Phoenix would do if he found out the truth. Siobhan worried that if he did, if Phoenix would leave them. The truth was hard to swallow for Siobhan, that was the last thing she expected from Phoenix's past. As she looked at him, he suddenly felt so far away even though he was so close.

"Have you ever wondered what your life would be if you weren't born here?" Siobhan asked as she looked into the distance. Stella's words playing like a melody in her ears. She wondered if it was best she didn't hear it. But she wanted to get to known the person who saved her. Keeping a secret was so heavy on her shoulders.

"I can't imagine that." Phoenix responded honestly. "This is where my parents lived and died. This is the place I was born and grew up in. I met you and the others here. This is the only place I've known as home, the only place I can see myself living in." Phoenix let out a laugh. Siobhan looked at him confused. "If I had a life out there, I'll just be thrown back inside. I'm a fifteen to the very end."

"What about your parents?" Siobhan further questioned, rubbing her arm up and down for some warmth. "Have you ever wondered what they were like?"

Phoenix raised a brow at her. This was the first Siobhan has inquired about his life. "I know my dad is stubborn and my mom is kind. Stella always says I'm a mixture of both. I won't lie, I wish I could've met them, see who my parents were, what they were like. "

"You said you didn't have a story," Siobhan spoke. "Have you ever wondered about your parents story?"

Phoenix never wondered about it. He thought they met here, fell in love and had him. He didn't question how his father died. He knew his mother died while giving birth to him. Phoenix didn't question it. It wasn't like knowing would change the past.

-

He sat in the dinning hall, a glass filled with a generous amount of wine dangling in his hand. Even the dark of the night couldn't hide what lies withing the Kingdom. He took a sip from his glass, looking at the sealed letter before him. A vase filled with white roses sat in the center. It was the only thing that gave light to the room, the only thing that reminded him of home.

He took a deep breath, wondering how things were going on his brother's end. He thought coming here and obtaining the information they needed and the boy would be at its end now. It wasn't a difficult task, neither was it easy. Finding the boy was like finding a needle in a haystack. The boy stood amongst many, he could be anyone, an unknown face. The only thing he had was apart of his name.

He reached for the letter, undoing the seal. It was a letter from the Queen.

Find him before the Prince join hands with the Princess of Laqum. Only then can we stop the waves of war before it crashes to shore. To end this wicked cycle of the King, my husband.

Z.

He reached back for his glass of wine. One person would be able to change the filthy ways of this Kingdom. He stood and took one of the white roses, smelling the fragrance then said, "It's time I start getting serious."

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