51: Impossible

"Come on Phoenix! You're almost there!" Sebastian yelled from below. It had taken six hours and seven near death instances for me to get to where I was- one more reach away from the next piece of steady and firm land. Now, I hung onto the piece of rock which I'd fallen from. My hands were shaky, calloused and had many scratches on them from the previous times I had found myself clutching to these sharp shards of rock. I seriously contemplated just letting go and falling to my death. My arms couldn't take any more of this strain, and I was certain I was not going to be able to reach the ledge of the next hill. But still, I needed to try. There were so many people depending on me- the most important being my father...
And so, I gripped harder against the rock, reopening wounds which were so close to healing. I braced my legs against the rest of it, then pushed off, arms extended. And for a moment, just a moment, it almost seemed as though I'd make it. As though my fingers would be able to grip at the ledge. But just as my fingers were about to graze against it, I fell further, missing the ledge completely. And as I plummeted down towards the ground, I could remember the fear coursing through me. Not the fear of dying, but rather the fear of leaving everyone behind before I gave what was needed to be given, and before I could finally find out the truth about Diana, myself, Sebastian and Demetri. Nonetheless, I uttered no sound. I couldn't find it in me to scream or beg or even cry. I just fell silently and, when I was nearing the ground, closed my eyes, awaiting the impact... the nothingness.
But it never came. I never felt myself hit the ground. I never heard the shattering of every single bone in my body. Instead, I felt arms wrapping around me and I heard the sound of heavy pants.
I opened my eyes slowly and was surprised to meet the worried, pale blue eyes belonging to Sebastian. He let out a sigh of relief the second I stared up into them.
"Careless as ever." He whispered before leaning down and resting his forehead against mine.
It was then that the tears finally began leaking from my eyes. They were subtle and soft and warm and stemmed from the fact that I was actually still alive. Eventually, I felt myself shake and grip at Sebastian's coat.
"Th-thank you..." I uttered.
Sebastian had helped me many times, but this time I was more grateful than I was for the others.
Slowly he reached down and gently began to wipe my tears from my cheeks. Then he whispered down gently, "You're safe." And I believed him. This was the safest I'd ever felt in a while.
We stayed like that for a while until I stopped shaking and was able to stand on my own two feet.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sebastian asked.
I glanced up at him with an eyebrow raised, "How do you think everyone would react to you cradling me like a baby out of here."
"Point taken. I think you've had enough of this room for the day. You did well for your first time. More training tomorrow might be able to fine-tune your skills. My advice is staying on the rocks towards the right. They are a little wider and the grip is firmer. You'll find that in the games there are ways to outthink Sanguis. You just have to take a moment to observe the game before you." He said.
I looked up towards the long shards of rock. He was right. Towards the right, the rocks were wider and rougher.
I was just about to walk away from Sebastian, adamant on going to my room for a rest before I had to meet up with Aaliyah and Felicity, when Sebastian reached out and grabbed at my hand before pulling me towards him. I was surprised to see the serious expression on his face as his eyes wandered back to my neck.
"There *will* be a discussion about that and whatever else you let that sneaky wolf do to you… tonight!" He said.
I sighed. I owed him at least a discussion. Not only had he saved my life today, but he was also my mate.
"Fine." I said. Sebastian then let me go, with that stern and serious expression still on his face. But as I walked away from him and took a small glance back, I could see how worried he was. I was worried too. The more the days passed us by, the closer we got to the Game of Successio, and I was nowhere near being ready. It was one distraction after the next, and if I wasn't careful, I'd be walking straight to my immediate slaughter. Perhaps I'd need to start coming here without Sebastian.
I was just about to exit the training room when I was stopped by Liam... and Xavier.
"Am I missing something here?" I asked gazing between the both of him. Xavier scoffed and turned his head to the side while Liam just shrugged.
"It seems we've made up." He said. "But of course, that doesn't mean you won't have our full attention as well. After all, you have my heart already."
I gave a light laugh at his statement but was surprised at his boldness. Of course, I had feelings for Liam, but as I said time and time again, I wouldn't indulge in anything as luxurious as love. Not before I knew exactly who I was… at least.
I was about to bid the both of them farewell when Xavier suddenly spoke, now looking directly into my eyes. "And she has mine as well," he uttered with a blush.
This was a response I hadn't quite been expecting. Xavier was the last person on Earth I expected to have feelings for me. In fact, the very idea of it broke the entire concept of logic itself and went against every law of nature.
"W-what?" I asked, wanting to make sure I heard him correctly.
Xavier snickered and then folded his arms. "I'm not going to say it again. God damnit, you can be such a deaf bitch sometimes."
Liam rolled his eyes and then nudged him in the side with his elbow. "Say it again, this time do it nicely. You're such an asshole."
Xavier grumbled before looking up at me again and saying, a little clearer, "You have my heart as well."
Great! Now I had three vampires and a werewolf in love with me. If I was, in fact, Diana, then I wondered if she'd ever thought we would have ended up here: with a love life more complicated than the very idea of being the reincarnation of another person.
I blinked blankly at him a few times, not really sure how to respond. I knew Liam didn't care if I didn't respond to him, but Xavier gazed at me expectantly.
"Well I... I um..."
"-It's alright Phoenix. You don't have to say it back. We'll wait for you, and we *definitely* don't mind sharing."
No kidding. The last time I was in a room with these two, that was all they did- share me. Goddesses help my body from feeling what I felt every time I even looked at them let alone smelled them. It was always like this with the four of them- uneasiness and attachment all mixed with those unmistakable and inescapable vines of lust.
"If you don't mind," I began, now really wanting to get the hell away from here before I did anything stupid, "I need to go to my room for a little rest."

***

By the time I'd reached outside, it was darker than I expected. The moon was out and among it, stars danced against the darkness of the night sky. I wondered if I could get at least and hours’ worth of sleep in before I had to meet Aaliyah and Felicity. Unfortunately, however, I realised that the hope of getting some sort of rest after the long day I had had was all for naught, because as soon as I reached my door, Aaliyah and Felicity stood by it, as though they'd been waiting a long time.
"I thought we were meeting on the balcony?" I said as I neared them.
"You took long so we thought you had forgotten. We left earlier on in the day, so we didn't know you were still training... that was what you were doing, right?"
I sighed at the very implication and then nodded, saying, "Yes, that was exactly what I was doing. Anyway, what is it you'd like to tell me?" I asked.
Aaliyah looked towards Felicity who then looked at me before saying, quite softly, "Not here."
"Then where? The balcony?" I asked.
Aaliyah shook her head, no, and then motioned for us to exit the passageway. And as we did, I was mortified to see Alice. She looked as though she were just about ready to turn into the passageway.
"Um... Alice!" I exclaimed, frightened and forgetful that Aaliyah and Felicity both actually liked werewolves. Alice froze the second she saw us. But her eyes were not on me, instead they were fixed on Aaliyah. The both of them, in fact, had their eyes fixed on each other.
I stared between them, questioningly until finally, Alice whispered almost under her breath, "Mate..."
The second it left her lips, my eyes widened in shock. This was the second impossible thing of the day: Alice's mate was a... *vampire*.
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Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending my love!