"Well, this is going to be fun," Penny purred, her eyes dancing with malice. "Who are you going to save first, Pretty Boy? Lily... or Elisabeth?"
"Don't you dare touch my sister!" Jason roared, his claws beginning to unsheathe.
"And if we do? Then what?" Penny challenged, stepping closer.
Pearl let out a mocking giggle, leaning toward Lily's room. "Oh, look. The big bad wolf actually cares about his little sister. Awww."
"Daddy!" Lily's voice cracked through the house, followed by the sound of muffled sobbing.
Frank stepped forward, his voice vibrating like low thunder. "Do not make me release my rage on you. Lily has nothing to do with this. Let her go. Now!"
"Oh, Franky... you only have Jason to blame for this," Penny smirked.
Pearl's expression went cold. "In other words: you have four days. Bring us the girl, and Lily is yours. If not..." She trailed off into a chilling laugh.
"Ahhhhh! Daddy!" Lily's scream cut short.
"Lily! What did you do to her!" Frank lunged forward, but Aaron blocked his path.
"Chill, old man. She's just sleeping," Aaron muttered, his teeth sharpened to points. "You have four days. And Frank? Don't let your incompetent son cost you your daughter's life forever."
"Byeee," Pearl cooed, waving a hand as they vanished into the night. "See you in four days."
"Dad..." Jason started, his voice trembling.
Frank turned, his face a mask of grief and fury. "I cannot believe history is repeating itself. We need to find Elisabeth now. I'm calling the school for her parents' information."
"Wait, what? Why are we getting her parents involved?"
"Why are you asking me that?" Frank snapped. "You are the one who marked a Phoenix! Do you have any idea how rare they are? Elisabeth and her family are the only ones left. Of all the supernatural beings you could have fallen for, it had to be the one that is forbidden!"
"Things have changed!" Jason argued. "Why is it so forbidden?"
"Don't ask me anything more," Frank barked, grabbing his keys. "Go get dressed while I call her parents and get Lily to a safe place. Move!"
"But Dad—"
"Do not anger me further, Jason!"
Jason let out a frustrated sigh, his heart heavy with a guilt he couldn't name. What have I started?
On the drive to Elisabeth's house, Jason clutched his chest. A sharp, searing pain was radiating through his ribs, a sensation that didn't belong to him.
They pulled up to a house where a man stood waiting on the porch, looking like he was expecting a war. Frank froze. "Wait... Manny? Elisabeth's father is Manny?" He stepped out of the car. "Manny, you haven't aged one bit."
Manny narrowed his eyes. "Could say the same to you, Frank."
Jason stood by the car, completely floored. How do they know each other?
"Oh, Jason," Manny said, his gaze softening for a split second. "It's been years. You've grown so much. I bet Melissa won't even remember you. What brings you guys here? It's been forty years since we last spoke."
"Can we go inside?" Frank asked urgently. "It's a pressing matter."
The moment Manny opened the door, Jason saw her. Elisabeth was standing in the hallway, and the moment their eyes met, that phantom pain exploded in Jason's chest.
"Ahhhhh! Aahhh!" Elisabeth collapsed, coughing violently. "No... no, no!"
"Melissa!" Manny cried out.
What have I done he thought, Jason didn't wait. He sprinted past her father to help her before Manny could even react.
"Don't touch me!" Elisabeth screamed, her voice distorted.
Jason froze. Her eyes they weren't brown anymore. They were a terrifying, brilliant fiery red. A wave of intense heat washed over him, making his skin sting.
"Melissa, what is wrong? Talk to me!" Manny grabbed hold of her, trying to steady her.
"Dad, what is he doing here?" Elisabeth sobbed, her body writhing in pain. "Tell him to leave! Tell him!"
"Melissa, your eyes!" Manny gasped. He didn't hesitate; he lifted her and rushed toward a room lined with cold stone the Phoenix Room designed to cool the flames of an awakening. He locked the door to keep her safe.
He turned back to Frank and Jason, his face terrifying. "You'd better start talking. Either you tell me the truth, or you don't leave this house alive. Nobody hurts my daughter and gets away with it."
"Manny, I'm sorry," Frank said, his voice pleading. "Jason wasn't thinking straight."
"What do you mean?" Manny roared. "Did you see her eyes? Do you remember what happened the last time we saw a Phoenix flare like that?"
"I know," Frank lowered his head. "I'm ashamed I couldn't train my son properly."
Jason stared at his father with sudden anger. He stepped forward, facing Manny directly. "Sir, I love your daughter. I know what I did was selfish, but the Night Walkers were going to hurt her. They were going to take her. I had to do it."
"Do what?" Manny whispered.
"Jason, no!" Frank warned. "Go wait in the car so the adults can talk."
"No, Dad! I'm not leaving until I speak to her."
"Jason!!!"
"I marked her!" Jason yelled. "I marked Elisabeth!"
The air in the room suddenly turned blistering hot. Manny looked like he had been struck. "You did what? Hahaha! Frank, your son is joking. Tell me he's joking!"
"Please, Manny... it doesn't have to be this way."
Jason had seen anger before, but this was a different level of power. Manny lunged, grabbing Jason by the throat. Jason didn't fight back; he felt he deserved whatever was coming. But instead of a blow, Manny threw him violently toward the front door.
"Leave my home and never return!" Manny screamed. "And do not worry I will make sure Melissa rejects the mark."
Jason's heart sunk. A single tear escaped. I'm not losing her. I can't.
"Manny, please," Frank begged. "My daughter's life is at stake. The Night Walkers... they want Lily or Elisabeth. Please, I'm begging you. Let's save our daughters together."
Manny closed his eyes, his shoulders slumped. "History is repeating itself. Get your son back in here and make sure he behaves."
"Thank you," Frank exhaled.
"Do not thank me," Manny snapped. "After this is over, I never want your son near my daughter again. If he touches her, I will kill him myself."
"It's a deal," Frank promised.
No matter what you guys do, Jason thought stubbornly, you won't stop me from seeing my Elisabeth.
Manny exhaled, his face weary. "Stay here. I'm going to check on her. If she's calmed down, we can begin to figure out how to shield her from the Night Walkers."
Manny turned and walked toward the back of the house. He reached the heavy, reinforced door of the Phoenix Room. He paused, his hand hovering over the handle. Usually, he could hear the faint hum of Elisabeth's breathing or the crackle of her rising temperature, but the hallway was deathly silent.
THUD.
A soft, muffled sound echoed from inside.
"Melissa?" Manny called out, his heart skipping a beat. "I'm coming in."
He threw the door open. The air in the room was still swirling with heat, but the bed was empty. His eyes locked onto the far wall where the window stood wide open, the glass shattered outward as if someone had pulled her through with violent force. A single gold-and-crimson feather lay on the floor, smoldering.
"Frank! Jason!" Manny's roar shook the walls of the house. "She's gone! They took her right from under us!"
Jason bolted into the room, his eyes scanning the broken glass. The link in his chest suddenly spiked with a cold, sharp terror.
"Jason, where are you going?" Frank shouted as Jason ran for the door.
"I'm going to find her!"
"Not like that you won't! It's almost the full moon you'll shift! Your emotions are too high, it's dangerous!"
"Oh, now you care?" Jason spat back. "After making a deal to have me killed? I'm linked to her, Dad! I feel what she feels. I can feel her heart beating right now, and she's terrified!"
"Watch it, young man," Manny warned.
"I'm not staying here while she's in danger!" Jason ignored them both, running into the night.
In a dark, secluded clearing, Elisabeth struggled against her restraints. "Jude? Jude, let me go! Where are we?"
Jude looked down at her, his face twisted with guilt. "Elisa... I'm sorry."
"Huh? What are you doing?"
"Hold still," a voice hissed from the shadows.
"Penny?" Elisabeth's eyes widened.
"Hi, little birdie," Penny smirked, holding a shimmering silver blade. "This is going to hurt a little."
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
"What are you doing?" Jude jumped forward. "I thought you weren't going to kill her!"
Penny rolled her eyes, her focus on the blood dripping from the blade. "Stop being so dramatic, Jude. We're just getting started."