38

Peter had returned to the room not too long ago. The Tv was already switched off as Beatrix found it so displeasing. How can she be feeling worried but they are showing a comedy series? What nonsense! Was this the moment to giggle?

She kept tapping her right foot on the floor with her hands folded while seated on the chair.

Peter was just seated on the floor cross-legged. He was reading a large, ancient-looking pink with intertwined vines on the cover. Its pages were glowing a little. He did this in a bid to take his mind away from the matter at hand.

Suddenly, there was a bright light that appeared close to the table. This attracted their attention and both hastily rose and looked at the light with expectation. And they weren't disappointed as two figures appeared and the light faded.

"Big sis!"

"Brother!"

The worried two called out at the same time. They ran to the one they were bothered about.

Before the light had faded, Phoenix already used a spell on his face.

He didn't want many questions about why his face had altered or how he got those marks on his face. No, he wasn't ready for that. It was better to look the way his siblings could easily recognize.

"Big sis, are you okay?" Beatrix asked in concern.

"I'm fine, Rixie," Lavana responded.

"He didn't renounce you, did he?" the little one inquired what was on her mind while glancing at Phoenix.

"You make a guess, baby girl," Phoenix replied with a mischievous smile before his mate could say a word.

"Big sis, you tell me." Beatrix did not want to speculate on such a vital issue. She just wants the truth!

"We're still mates, Rixie," Lavana replied as she squatted, bringing the little girl into a hug.

"So big sis, you're also now my sister-in-law? When is the wedding date? Hehe, I'm very good at dancing. I'll prepare the most outstanding dance the world has ever seen. And I'll as well..."

"Baby girl, the wedding date isn't that soon but it will happen. Surely!" Lavana interrupted her.

"Eh?" the little one exclaimed in bewilderment. "So you guys won't get married yet. Is there a problem?"

"You are being too nosy," Lavana replied before heading to the bathroom.

Now it was the siblings left in the room.

Phoenix sat on the bed and crossed his long legs. The peacock fan appeared in his hand and he began examining it.

"Eldest brother..." Beatrix whined.

"Nope! You won't get a word about it from me. Now, climb onto the bed. I'll read you a story. Early to bed, early to rise."

"Then you should sleep too. Practice what you preach." she harrumphed and folded her hands, turning around so he could only see her back.

Phoenix sighed.

"It's great then. Someone will not follow me to explore the Peaky cave next month. I feel so relieved." he stretched his body after placing the fan on the bed.

"Peaky cave?" she spun to face him and wore a big, bright smile.

"Hehe, I'm going to sleep now, eldest brother."

In a jiffy, she had already climbed onto the bed and let Peter tuck her in.

"So you still have your days, eh? I feel avenged." Peter said with a mocking chuckle.

Seeing this, Beatrix nodded, wearing an all too familiar pitiful face. She sniffed with red eyes. It seemed her tears would drop at any point.

"Eldest brother, you see when you and big sis weren't around, big brother... he..."

"Hahaha, we played a nice game and had fun for a while. But we soon got bored. It's no big deal." Peter quickly said while covering Beatrix's mouth.

Why did she plan on using her killer move tonight? Is she that pissed?

"Peter..." Phoenix called.

Peter's heart started beating twice as fast. He's definitely going on another annoying mission again.

"You just read a story to her. And when my mate's out, tell her I had an emergency; I'll come back for her as soon as I'm done with the thing. I'm off!"

"Eh? Where are you going?" Peter could not believe his ears. His punishment was to read the little Riri a story? More like a blessing instead! He wanted to jump up for joy but knew to maintain his calm.

"I have some other vital matters to attend to," Phoenix replied and got off the bed, picking up the fan.

"Eldest brother... you're leaving me with him?" Beatrix couldn't believe what was happening.

"Um... I'm sorry but I really have to go. Let Peter take my place, alright? I'll make it up to you."

"Big brother..."

"Ssh! Cute girls are compliant. That's when they become likeable."

"But how docile is mum?"

"She is a lady and she is obedient. And don't casually add to or deduct from a matter. I'll make it up to you later." Phoenix walked to Beatrix and kissed her forehead.

"Are we good?" he asked.

Beatrix nodded.

"Yes, eldest brother. We are good," she replied.

"Alright then. Love you, Riri."

"Me too," she smiled. Her eyes were red. It wasn't because he was leaving. It's coz of something else.

"Ok. Be safe, big bro." Peter said with a small smile.

"Hmmm," Phoenix nodded. He walked to the table and waved at them before light covered him and he vanished.

Now that he was gone, Peter's smile vanished. He turned to face his little sis.

"I'm gonna read you something very intriguing."

He sat beside her on the bed and took out a red book written in a strange language. Seeing the book, she immediately sat up.

"You're not gonna read me that, are you?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"What's wrong with hearing about the history of the Wizs?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No. I want something else. History is too boring." she grumbled.

"Ok then. I do have another choice for you." he took out a black book with red vines on the cover.

He smiled as he showed the book to her.

"This is your second option."

"No third alternative?"

He shook his head.

"Nah! No third option, Riri,"

Beatrix gulped. The title of the second book was 'The troublesome flowers'. It may seem like an interesting book about beautiful ladies and romance but really it's not. It was a horror story. Half a page of this book that she glanced at last year made her have sleepless nights. This book served the purpose of building the heart's strength and courage. A wizard or witch from time to time would go on missions. None of them was a stroll in the park. If one was not valiant, he/she wouldn't be able to do so.

But she was still a babe. How can he read this sort of book to her? Is he truly her brother?

"History it is then. Just read it to me." she sighed and rested her back on the bed.

"You are not allowed to fall asleep until I'm done reading the first 20 pages," Peter warned. Beatrix felt like crying.

"Big sis, come rescue me." she wished in her heart.

As if her prayers just got answered, the door to the bathroom opened and Lavana came out.

Peter was already reading from the first page of the large book.

"King Eraticus, the first king of the wiz…"

"Hey, Beatrix doesn't want to listen to all that bland stuff. You can go. I will read her bedtime stories."

"But…" Peter was unwilling and unhappy.

"You want me to cook you for dinner?" she threatened.

"My meat is not tasty. Don't eat me." he feigned being scared for some seconds before dropping the act.

"Last time, I was surprised; that's why you could do as you please. Now I'm all set." his golden scepter appeared and started glowing.

"You wanna have a try with your measly fireball?" he asked mockingly.

"Dumb." Lavana walked to him and pushed him aside. Then she sat on the bed and brought Beatrix closer to her, putting her hands around the little one's shoulders.

"Don't be afraid. Big sis is here," she whispered and Beatrix nodded with a bright smile.

"I'm not afraid. But he bullied me." she pouted.

"I can see that. What do you want me to do to him, Rixie?"

"Hello, ladies, I'm right here. Be done quickly with your unneeded fluffy scene and let me do my job, alright!"

"Your job? Bedtime tales. That's what you're supposed to read to a kid. Who reads horrors or history? Are you insane?"

"I won't mind that you're my brother's mate. Who are you to lecture me?" Peter snapped.

"Exactly as you said. I'm Phoenix's mate," she replied with a smile.

"You don't even look as pretty as our servant girls. How can he accept you as his mate? Maybe he has other plans?"

"I'm not pretty?" Lavana asked.

"You aren't. Look at how skinny you are and your tanned skin."

"What's wrong with tanned skin?"

"Nothing. The problem lies with the one wearing it."

"Big brother, don't say another word." Beatrix couldn't help but warn him. Lavana was pissed here.

Peter thought she had just the firepower and so he wasn't scared. But he doesn't know her big sis is a tribrid. He would be toast if she was angered more than this. But this dumb big brother didn't take the warning.

"My brother's standards must have fallen really low, or maybe you bewitched him? What's there to like in you? You have no flesh…"

"That's it!" Lavana stretched her right hand but Beatrix quickly embraced her tummy.

"Big sis. Don't mind him. He's a dummy, alright. Don't lower yourself to his level." Beatrix beseeched but Peter, who didn't comprehend what was going on, became unhappy that Riri just called him a dummy.

A certified wizard was a dummy?

In battle, a werewolf was crafty but wiz bloods are dangerous. They unleash their all and are craftier than all shifters. He has never failed any mission given to him until now. That shows how strong he was both in heart and physically, though Phoenix was thousands of miles above him.

"Beatrix! You call me a fool?" he asked glumly.

"Don't put words in my mouth. I said you're a dummy, a blockhead."

Angered, Peter took his scepter and pointed it at Lavana.

"I'm gonna teach you a lesson today, Lavana," he yelled but at this moment, he saw her eyes turn orange.

He became confounded. How is it possible for a werewolf to have this pair of eyes? They didn't even look like they belong to a wolf either. Was it because of her wolf that had firepower?

"So, you want to teach me a lesson, eh?" as she said this, ice chains came out of her hands and wrapped around Peter's neck. They weren't tight but the chill emanating from these chains around his neck spelt danger!

He opened his mouth in stupefaction. Didn't she have fire powers? How come she can make ice chains too? What exactly was his brother's mate?

"You say I'm undeserving to be your brother's mate? I'm hideous? Lower than your servants?"

Lavana rose from the bed. A fireball appeared in her left hand. Peter's eyes widened. What kind of Omega specie is this? It's not even in the records!

"I'm gonna make sure you learn how to speak properly. If you are still obstinate, I can borrow your tongue." more ice chains were launched at his neck and all the chains began to tighten.

He started choking. His scepter glowed brighter and launched fire at Lavana but she simply smiled. All the fire the scepter launched at her was absorbed into her fireball which became bigger. Peter's eyes widened in shock.

If he were not choking here, he would love to slap or pinch himself to see if he was dreaming.

"I cautioned you, big bro," Beatrix said before getting off the bed.

She walked to Peter and touched the ice chains on his neck. She cringed. The chains were so cold! Her brother's skin was changing to blue slowly. If this continued…

She was thinking of how to calm this pissed Lavana when the fireball in her big sis' left hand extinguished. The ice chains that were shrinking around Peter's neck, vanished.

Beatrix looked at Lavana with a puzzled face.

The latter just sighed and sat back on the bed.

"Peter, if you don't leave here his instant, I swear, I'll make you 8 on my killed persons list," Lavana said as she rubbed her palms. She no longer looked threatening but Peter knew she meant every word. Beatrix couldn't believe what she was hearing. So the three vampires she killed that day made it 7 persons.

Her stupid big bro here was about to become next if she did not stop herself in time.

"La... Lavana," Peter stuttered while clutching his neck.

"You are disobedient." she stretched out her right hand and his radiant scepter flew into her hand.

Peter knew that she could hold his scepter without any repercussions. So he didn't bother to resist.

He quickly rose from the floor and bowed his head in apology to Lavana.

"I'll take my leave," he said before vamoosing through the window.

"Hmph, I want to see how you can claim the scepter." Lavana placed Peter's scepter on the cupboard and told Beatrix to climb on the bed. She then covered the both of them with the blanket and sighed as she rested her head on the pillow.

"Rixie, did I frighten you? I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I would not harm your family."

"I know. You just wanted to teach him a lesson." Beatrix replied in understanding.

Lavana nodded and rubbed the little girl's head. Having a smart babe was very cool.

"Big sis, you said you'd read me bedtime stories. But you can't read."

"Er… that was to fend him off. I have promised to read you bedtime stories but I can't. But I can tell you a story of a little girl then."

Beatrix nodded happily. Reading bedtime stories and telling good tales have the same effect; the only difference was a book in hand with pictures.

"I'm all ears, big sis."

"Alright." Lavana cleared her throat.

"Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful girl named Pixie. She lived in a small community with her mom and dad. She had a wonderful playmate called Austin. His mom made very nice cakes. Pixie loved to go play with him every day. They went to the same school and sat close to each other. Austin can tell really great jokes and made Pixie very happy. Her dad once went to a show dressed like a princess with her. Her mom's really pretty and a brilliant dancer. She also loves to travel when there's a chance and she'd take Austin along for the journey…"

Minutes later.

&&&&&

"Austin and Pixie waved goodbye to each other. She also waved her parents goodbye. She followed the fairy godmother into the fantasy world. Occasionally, she would pay visits. She attended her parents' marriage anniversaries, she attended Austin's marriage, got married in the community and always… always…"

Lavana looked at the little one and saw that she was already asleep.

She smiled as she caressed her head gently, placing a kiss on Beatrix's forehead before slowly leaving the bed.

Peter's staff was still there, glowing as ever.

She looked around the room and walked to the window. Then she opened a part of it.

She looked at the starry sky and a tear slid down her right eye. She made a happy ending for a story with such a horrifying ending. None of the characters was even alive. Only Pixie was alive, only her. Someone robbed of a happy childhood and gifted terrible memories.

She clenched her hands into fists.

Alpha Blake!

Ralton pack!

Alpha Chase!

She must get stronger and take revenge.

She recalled that the little one was sensitive to aura changes and didn't want to wake her up.

She scaled the window and closed it back gently. She looked around before walking to a large tree, hiding behind it. Her eyes soon changed color and dragon wings sprouted from her back. She flew upward to the sky with speed and headed south. Away from the pack.

She had nowhere in mind. She just wanted a place to let off some steam. She couldn't trouble the sleeping Beatrix.

Thankfully, she saw a river after flying for over an hour.

She headed downwards, diving into the water body with a big splash. She looked around in the water. Her eyes had already changed to orange.

Her wings retracted and she hissed as her legs fused and transformed into a purple tail with large pink fins. The pink gem appeared on her forehead and the tattoos appeared on her belly and back.

She took off the remnants of her ripped clothing before starting to swim. This was no time to admire the view. She could do that some other time. She started swimming as fast as she could in the water, occasionally launching ice chains at annoying aquatic life that tried to get in her way. She continued racing until she no longer felt unhappy.

She slowed down and began to admire the life teeming underwater. Some were sleeping, some were awake and moving about. She grinned and waved at them before twirling around. She returned to her human form and stood on the riverbed.  She closed her eyes for a moment and then re-opened them.

"Girl, you're calm now. You want to learn how to dance?" Thora, who'd woken from slumber, asked.

"Dance?" Lavana scoffed. "I don't want to dance. I want to practice some fighting moves instead."

"Underwater? *chuckles* I suggest you dance instead. The moves that I know can only be taught when your dancing skills are medium level."

Lavana sighed.

"What does dancing have to do with fighting?"

"Girl, you underestimate the power of dancing. If you've seen the battle dance, you'd change your mind."

"Well, I have nothing else to do tonight. I'll take your suggestion then."

"Good. I'll teach you the basics. But before that, let's test how flexible you are. Last time, you were nothing to write home about. Since you've received some training from that Rolandro and also found our mate, there should be some improvements."

"Er… before we commence, I have something to ask."

"Ask away,"

"The moment Phoenix acknowledged me as eternal soulmate, I indeed felt this magical feeling for a short while, then pain was the next thing that greeted me. Tell me, what was that?"

"Oh, don't you recall?"

"It's the third dragon transformation phase?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yup!"

"But isn't it supposed to start after some days or a couple of hours? Why would it start soon after he accepted me?"

"That liquid you drank on the mountain will delay the transformation to the day of the final shifting. It's the day all three forms will be solidified. The pain you felt on the day you shifted into your three identities will be considered a walk in the park."

"What?"

"The third phase starts the moment your mate accepted you. If that bastard Chase accepted you for example, all transformation phases will be completed that day. Then the final shifting will be on a later date. But he renounced you. So only your second dragon phase was completed. Now that Phoenix has accepted you, the third phase was supposed to begin. Pushing it to a later date clashes with the date of the final shifting. Don't blame him."

"I don't. No one can stand seeing their loved one in pain and not do anything about it. He saved me from the pain tonight. That's why I can even attempt dancing. "

"Yeah. You want to know the date of your final shifting?"

"Can I not know?"

"Lavana, it's better to know. So you don't make plans you can't carry out on that day."

Lavana sighed.

"Okay, tell me then."

"Next full moon."

"That of this month or next month?"

"This month. You have a few days left to prepare."

"Should I tell Phoenix?"

"He's our mate. You shouldn't hide secrets from each other. This builds the trust and confidence. Besides, having him close by will be beneficial."

"Okay." Lavana nodded in understanding.




"So, it's now the time to test your flexibility. Raise your right foot, and hold it with your right hand. Bring your leg closer to your shoulder. Sigh. You have a long way to go and no, don't hold on to anything for support. See how your feet are wobbling. This is terrible."




"You're sure you're that keen on lecturing me or berating me?" Lavana asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Both. You need to be serious..."

"I am serious here. If we weren't in the water, maybe I could be more stable and be sweating by now."

"You've barely assumed that position for a few seconds. How can you perspire?"

"You..."

"Lavana, since I'm teaching you these basics when I'm supposed to be enjoying beauty sleep just like the other two..."

"What are you planning?"

"I don't plan evil."

"Says the one who wanted to castrate Phoenix," she rolled her eyes.

"I... That was a joke."

"You even scare our mate."

"That... Focus on what I'm teaching you."

"You're just showing me the 'basics'. You haven't started teaching yet."

"I'm so gonna..."




"Don't make empty threats." Lavana put her leg down and stretched her body.

"You're not serious about anything."

"Back at you."

"I'm gonna sleep,"

"Okay. Thanks for keeping me company. I love you, Thora,"

"Keep that love to yourself."

Thora's voice was no longer heard. She'd gone to slumber.

Now that it was finally quiet, she started doing push-ups. She's not gonna sweat anyway. But it wasn't easy to do it though.

10 minutes later,

She got tired and decided to rest on a rock for a while. She got delighted on noticing some edible fruits, so she swam over to get some. But there was this big fish that suddenly reared its gigantic head. It opened its big mouth at her.