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[Original Phoenix x Converted] Faux and Feathers
Duration: April 2014
Status: Terminated (I ended it)
Sascha, Haku - Me
Nate, Joshn - -Literate plot bunny-
Comments: Countertenor. Sascha is a counter tenor. I absolutely forgot the actual term for this XD
***
"Geez. It's creepy in here." Nate mummured to himself when he slipped inside the church. It took some work to get inside the locked church. Nathaniel Williams was a twenty year old lad with mousy dark blond hair, peach skin and blue eyes. It was an aging chapel which held services once per sunday. Nathan wasn't much of a church person but he paused to look around the stain glass windows and benches.
But earlier today Nate was dared by his friend's at work at the strange fact that it is haunted. Something about a dead bride and how she stands singing out her vows between the hours of eleven to midnight. However if one was to upset the female spirit, she would tear apart your soul on the altar. Nathan rolled his eyes at the idea but at the offer of twenty bucks to sneak inside and stay for the entire night was enough to convince the skeptic. Besides old, dusty and boring place. There wasn't any sign of the no singing ghost lady yet. Nathan's only source of light was the blue screen of his iphone. Suddenly there was a small beep from his iphone as Nate looked at the screen. A text message from Joshua as he scanned the message.
<Sorry bro, I'm not coming home tonight.>
<You're doing over time again, Joshie? :/ >
<Pretty much. ^^;>
<Your boss sucks balls.>
<I know. >< But money is on the table.>
<Cool. I'm just out with friends. biggrin >
<Haha. You have class in the morning. I'm not waking your a** up again.>
<Yes, 'brother dearest' >3>
<Just don't try anything stupid. Good night. -____-;;>
<Night.>
Nate snickered to himself at the messages. Joshua was always somewhat of a worry wort and between taking care of things to a boring job at the office. The college student sighed checking at the time annoyed since there was no singing bride yet. "Boring.." Nathan plopped on the bench before he lazily lied down out of view. If he's going to spend the whole night in a dusty old church then wake up early enough to make it back to the apartment. Nate would be out of the clear until then he'll most likely have to make do playing flappy bird for the time being.
***
AH-CHOO.
The rather distinguishable sound of a rather loud sneeze rang clear through the antiquated edifice. The fact that the acoustics in the chapel seemed to magnify the sound, making it much louder than it originally had been. Rodents shrieked and scrambled about, seemingly alarmed by the sound.
It was anything but a feminine sound. Not by an inch. Nothing soft and gentle about it at all. Rather it was... harsh, masculine and abrupt.
The sneeze was followed shortly by the audible clicking of heels in the shadows and the shuffle of heavy garments. Someone else was skulking in the dark of the midnight dark of the unlit chapel. There were soft murmurs, hissing and heavy intakes of breath of that other someone with Nate inside the chapel that fine evening. It came from behind where the twenty something lad was sitting. Somewhere near the stairs that lead to the second floor for the choir's use and performance.
Then another sneeze, this time less louder but still as hoarsely masculine as the first. This time to Nate's left. They were now by the confessionals. Whoever this other individual was in the dark was obviously moving around the corners of the interiors. The steps ceased around there. One of the confessional doors were pried open, creaking noisily and so obnoxiously in the dead silent chapel. Then it closed.
Inside was a hunched figure of a heavily cloaked and covered stranger. They were wearing a thick, voluminous black velvet monk's habit that was pulled down halfway their face. Their hands were thrust out of the long baggy sleeves holding what looked like... a tub of double dutch ice cream. Yes, this thing was actually eating ice cream, in the confines of the confessional.
Yet another sneeze. The confessional shook a little as the individual inside rumbled and nearly lost their footing inside, the tub almost having fallen to the ground. Or their spoon. Clearly they were having a hard time seeing things but nonetheless they continued to sneakily do as they please.
And what probably sounded like an eternity of waiting for Nate for a sound, any sound for that matter was then answered. But not quite the way the lad would've probably wanted.
The first sound he would've heard that clearly sounded human was the sound of a string of words that sounded...Slavic. Russian even. Quite disappointingly, it was definitely a deep, baritone of a male voice that was sputtering angrily in the dark. Far from the beautiful virgin bride with a fatal voice that the urban legend dictated.
***
Nathan mentally curse when the flappy bird fell to the ground at the sound of sneezing. The blond did his best to keep his mouth shut as he cautiously peered over the bench eyeing the strange figure closely as he came out of the stairs. "The ********?" He whispered to himself. Who was this guy? This was not the priest who owned the place and strangely enough Nate's thoughts wondered where did this guys even get a hold of ice cream? The blond looked around as he cupped the light of his iphone to dim the lights. The curious human bit his lip as he lowered himself walking behind the bench closer to get a better look.
Wait that's not a pretty girl. Not even a ghost for that matter. What if it's a theif? Nate gulped nervously at the thought if there was an armed robber without a doubt if the student was caught. The cops will find his corpse on the floor. It was best to leave maybe if he was quiet long enough. The man will finally leave as Nate felt around his surronds. There was a loud thump as a hyme book fall from the bench. "********." He cursed under his breath quickly ducking away behind a pillar.
***
A heavy silence fell upon the interiors of the chapel. It settled in the air and just when things had become a comfortable but eerie quiet...
The sound of a whistle could be heard. Then tapping. It sounded much like the hands drumming against a hard surface of something. Hardly random rapping against wood it was but the steady beat of a song.
A voice broke the calm. It was a clear and distinct singing voice. The voice was something halfway of the depth of a baritone male pitch and the heights of a soprano female. It was hauntingly beautiful and quite otherworldly in quality. It echoed throughout the chapel, filling the somber and quiet edifice with sound all over.
Despite it's surreal beauty, there was something very human about the singing.
"Wer zu Lebzeit gut auf Erden
wird nach dem Tod ein Engel werden
den Blick gen Himmel fragst du dann
warum man sie nicht sehen kann"
Whoever owned such a godly voice was singing in German. The person was singing with a rather thick accent. Moreover, they had decided it was a good idea to sing Rammstein. Definitely not the prime pick for a song to sing in such a holy place. Especially if you considered the content of it's lyrics.
"Erst wenn die Wolken schlafengehn
kann man uns am Himmel sehn
wir haben Angst und sind allein"
What made it confusing was, this particular song had parts for both a male and female. One would think there were two people singing at that point but if you listened more attentively, Nate would realize it was just one person who was changing the pitch of their voice to suit the pace of the song. Moreover, the source of the singing?
Was the broken into confessional just now.
"Gott weiß ich will---"
The singing came to an abrupt stop with the dramatic thump of the fallen hymn book against the cold chapel tiles.
Sascha's blood ran cold at the fact that he was definitely not alone within the four walls of the antiquated chapel. Someone else was out there. Someone had broken into his midnight sanctuary. There was no way in the seven seas that it was a common rodent. They never bothered with the books. Not once. He'd live there for--as long as the gods knew and generation after generation of mice had never succeeded in working their interest on the yellowed song books.
The phoenix swallowed thickly at the revelation. How the hell did he get this far but never noticed he wasn't alone? What kind of high ranking and powerful supernatural creature with a physical manifestation would he be if he was THIS careless enough to let his guard down and allow a human, who else, what else would dare after all, and sneak up on him?
A pathetic one, he mused to himself.
"Come out," he roared out loud, quite harsh and determined to find this rascal son of Adam that had dared to walk into his 'moment'. "Son of Adam, I know you're out there."
Sascha practically slammed the confessional door open, livid with rage under the cover of his cloak. The cloaked creature would have looked the paragon of pure evil with his thick accented English speaking voice had he not been cradling the tub of ice cream within the crook of his arm. Really, it ruined the image quite easily.
***
The silence inside a church was strange until slowly but surely there was singing. One would had expected a woman's voice. Nate knew the languge had to be german but he could not translate of it's meaning. Other than the voice nearly put the human in a relaxed state of mind. Nathaniel mouthed the words as if he wanted to sing along sing with it before when the book fell broke the spell. Everything spilled back into cold reality. Nate whinced he could feel his blood running cold at the sound of the man's voice. He looked around to see the exit expect it was either the front door or the escape exit on the other side. The blond glupped as he dared himself to stepped out of the pillar.
"So, hi." Nathaniel pipped up with an awkward wave as he stepped out into the light of the candle. The youth was harmless holding his hands in a mock surrender to Sascha. Nate was nervous to say the least keeping an eye for the quickest exit if s**t does hit the fan. He could always smash a window open and run his a** off. The strange man didn't looked armed at least.. just scary especially with the dim lights.
Nathan nervously focused his attention on the ice cream carton then back at Sascha. "Sooooo... what kind of ice cream are you eating?" The bewildered human finally answered as if a feeble attempt to change the subject. However among the faint candle lights of the church, he could see a faint red outline hovering above the tall figure.
----
Target sighted. The hunter sat with a sniper rifle in it's postion on the egde of another bluiding across the church; it took all evening to craft a specially made iron bullets more so to come at the correct time. Many mythical creatures were vurnable to iron. But it won't premently kill such a creature but enough to reduce it into ashes. The hunter aimed his sights at the pale haired figure singing about to pull the trigger before he stopped abruptly. What the hell is this person doing in a church late in the evening? He could not see since it was too dark to see to the angle of the second person. Overall this person to the hunter was a complete idoit in his opinion.
"s**t. ******** idiot at least run away." He cursed to himself. Wait.. the hunter reposed himself looking back into his scope adjusting his aim. The male seems distracted by the newcomer. The hunter would have to shoot at the right moment. Hopefully he might be able to save the human from being turned into a pile of ashes by the cursed bird.
"Hold still for me...I need the money."
***
"Double Dutch. Gold Label," came a callous reply.
Sascha huffed, swearing under his breath as he stepped out fully out of the confessional and not so gently closed the door in a fit of rage. The sound of the wood clattering angrily rang through the chapel. What did this human care about his tastes in ice cream? Did he want to challenge his choice of flavor? It was clearly one of the cream of the crop when it came to ice cream flavors, the blond made sure of it. The phoenix was never one to settle for second best. The word mediocre simply did not exist in the man's dictionary. He wet his lips and settled his eyes on Nate's figure, folding his arms across his chest, "What does it matter to you?" His voice had reached a deep, almost lazy drawl but antagonistic all the same. The entity was clearly not pleased with the current turn of events.
Before the lad could respond, he waved his hand and shook his head, "Never mind. I'm not interested in your opinion. It's just a waste of breath. There are far more salient points that need to be considered. Such as the fact that you're here in my chapel. I don't recall sending out invitations, Son of Adam."
Out of the confessional and dimly illuminated by the soft candle light of the chapel interiors, the phoenix stood tall and rather intimidating with how the eerie light casted a faint, golden halo of light around his dark figure. He was wearing dark blood red robes fashioned after a monk's habit it seemed.
The phoenix let out a fake yawn, and began to tap his foot while waiting. "I don't have all night... With that time you're taking, you better have a good response for me", he threatened with a sing song voice dripped with venom, "Make my waiting worth it's weight in gold, alrighty?"
***
"...Never heard of it." Nate remarked idly. The blond raised an eyebrow at the man's response. However the human felt annoyed. "Says the guy who sings in a church dressed like a lady?" Nathaniel questioned awkwardly with a slight grin trying to make light as he inched backwards in case Sascha wanted to kill him right now. When questioned on why the human was here of all pleases.
"On a dare. What about you? You don't look like a priest." The blond asked looking up, he couldn't shake off the strange feeling of being watched.
There it was again. The red light was now making it's way to Sascha's forehead, it was so serial. Out of all the movies, Nate had watched. It could only mean one thing. "Get the ******** down!" By instinct, the blond human rushed towards the male grabbing the robes, shoving him out of the path of the bullet. Suddenly two shots broke out as they peiced the poor victim's body hitting the wall behind it effortlessly.. Followed by a pained gurgling sound; Nathan staggered clutching to his neck, there was a moment of agony in his chest and neck. He could hardly breath, the injured human let out nothing but a pained whimper before Nate collapsed on his side of the altar in a bleeding mess.
"s**t!" Joshua cursed under his breath, his breathing hitched as he pulled back keep his balance on the raters.. The black hunter took a moment to steady himself. Why did the person had to cut into his line of fire?! He was trying to.. The bird would had killed him eitherway better a merciful kill than torture. "Damnit. Way to go..idiot" Joshua murmured; he did not like killing people. He was just a paid hunter. But the male steeled his wits as Joshua took aim once again for the phoenix.
***
The impact sent the hood off of his face and revealed long cascading golden blond hair that fell in a swoop over his shoulders to trail down his back. The face under the hood was that of a handsome man of some Indo-Aryan descent with his clear pale skin and deepset yet narrow golden brown eyes. He had a thin but distinguished nose and a pair of full lips groaning audibly for pain that seemed to settle in all places. Hardly a woman. Nate would've been thoroughly disappointed.
Sascha's head had hit the tiles with a painful thwack that made his head spin. Goddamn human. What in the world---It was then he realized there was ONE MORE human inside the confines of the chapel. The phoenix was brimming with anger. This was definitely not his evening. So it seems not only one brat of a human manage to make his way into the chapel, there was even a HUNTER that was after his hide. Wonderful, simply wonderful.
He forcefully shoved the smaller blond off of his body, unmindful of the bullet wound. The man was more concerned that there was a hunter in his domain and he was hell bent in showing that daredevil that it was never the best idea to mess with the fair haired phoenix. Sascha got up to his feet and snapped his fingers. A small but blazing ball of fire swirled and crackled loudly in the air, hovering slightly above the man's hand. He seized the ball, balancing it with his palm and declared loudly.
"So there's another one of your kind here," the blond said icily. He folded a hand behind his back and looked from side to side, while he glided across the floor. His honey brown eyes searched for the hunter's location. It seemed he had no idea where they were. "What is it with uninvited guests tonight. I'm clearly not amused by this."
With that, Sascha volleyed the ball of fire inches from where Joshua laid hidden. The wood caught fire, burning quickly than normal fires would and reduced it to ash. The phoenix had been merciful enough not to make a direct hit. Just enough to tickle the human with fear of what was to come.
He snapped his fingers yet again and another ball of fire appeared. This time, the phoenix meant business.
***
Nothing is worse than a target noticing a killer's presence. Josh handled worse encounters vampires, lycans, the works. Joshua choose to pick up his rifle creeping along the wooden posts. "Nothing personal. Not like you'll die prementaly than five minutes of ash. You were going to kill him either way." The man remarked in quiet but harsh tone. The phoenix's response was less than pleasant. Joshua nearly fell from the rafters when the pale figured launched wisps of fire. Quickly burning the wood where he was prior into nothing but ash. Apparently this guy did not care of bringing down the place or not.
Sascha brought out a fireball, so the blond hunter pulled up his rifle as they stared eachother down. The black hunter from afar looked like a shadow of a man given his dark clothes. The lower part of Joshua's features were covered. Grey-blue eyes stared back as he did not looked unafraid to the threat. Yet Joshua pulled his hoodie over his features as he lowered his head pulling back. This hit was not worth his life. He had acquired the location and pass it along. There's always a chance to try again; he was not willing to risk his life for he had other respoblities. The man made his way to the other end of the rafter opening a small window latch that was his entrance inside the chapel. However Joshua gave one last look to the victim partially blocked by the altar looking apologetic before he fled.
***
The phoenix frowned at the accusation.
He may have been a skilled killer but he was certainly no bloodlusting madman that murdered in cold blood. How dare this human even--- Sascha steeled himself instead, deciding to laugh in the face of danger and then turned his eyes on the hunter, handsome smirk in place With the ball of fire casting shadows so close to his face, it distorted his features into a cruel sneer, "You must have been pointing your little toy gun at the wrong target, you fool. I'm as good as a hibernating bear in this parts of town. I hardly kill since my birth. Don't come totting your filthy words at me and expect me to bend over."
He threw the summoned burst of flames square on Joshua's spot, no longer caring if the human would survive from it or not. The phoenix was red in the face with rage and there was obvious blood to pay. He chuckled darkly at the thought of probably incinerating the hunter but hey, the man asked for it. Yes, Sascha hardly killed that was the truth but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of it.
Marching to the hunter's former spot, he immediately sunk to a knee and assessed the aftermath. A quick whiff of the air made him sigh in disappointment. This was the smell of charred wood. Not of human ashes. The blond's honey brown eyes fell upon the escape hatch. The hunter got away.
This chapel was no longer safe. Word had gone out that he lived here. Especially with how a hunter decided to pay their respects to the mythical bird and give them a wonderful welcoming gift. It was time to move.
Sascha rose to his feet and padded to the altar. Only then did he realize the twenty something brat hadn't moved from his spot. Insolent brat. To the phoenix' eyes, Nate was overstaying his welcome and he had every mind to make that known to him. He swore quietly, moving towards the boy's side and then saw the growing pool of blood. Nate had been shot. The younger blond was dying.
"s**t!" How was he supposed to deal with this kind of predicament?! Even then, the blond was anything but a healer. That had been the expertise of everyone else. Seeing that phoenix genetics made one more resilient than most creatures, Sascha found no dire need to learn the art of medicine and healing amongst their kind. Now he was paying direly for it. "You ******** idiot!," The deep baritone was thick with a foreign accent and obvious irritation. He cradled the boy in his arms and took a closer look at his wounds. Count on him to scold someone dying even if it were for his sake, "You didn't have to take the bullet for me. I don't need your help. I never asked for it!"
***
Nathaniel was barely breathing by the time; Sascha came to his aid. Nate was shot both in the chest and in the neck. Nathan tried to hold his bleeding neck as both bullets had shot right out of him. He could feel the stickiness between his fingers and the growing numbness in his body. The angry male's shouting barely roused the human. Only when the dark haired youth looked up with glazed blue eyes at Sascha. Am uncaring stranger he pushed out danger. The dazed human looked at the taller male rolled his head lazily with pained heaves of breath.
"...Sorry..brother." Nate answered in a slurred voice, he could barely speak before he coughed up blood from his lips. "Didn't...mean..too.." The dying human's voice was fading as he seem to stare pass the male. Perhaps Nathan was hallucinating of his older brother due to blood loss. If nothing was done now than Nathaniel will pass on.
***
Blood had never been one of his favorite smells. Nor was the fact that Nate had his blood all over his robes. Wonderful, the phoenix thought wryly. Now the brat's smell was all over him, as if it wasn't enough to stain the velvet fabric in messy blotches. This was all going to be a b***h to wash out.
Sascha's eyebrow shot up at the slurred statement. ...Brother? They barely looked anything alike. He'd hate to look like anything but the handsome reflection that greeted him every morning in the mirror, truth be told. The blond was quite happy already with his appearance and wouldn't wish for any other in the world. The boy must be hallucinating at this rate. He could feel Nate's life slip away in an excruciating slow along with the whisper of the arrival of one of the light footed messengers of Thanatos. The phoenix could hear the the soft whiny of horses and distinguishable wheels of a chariot being stilled.
There were footsteps outside the desolate chapel. The sound of fluttering wings closely approaching the large wooden doors that separated them from the cold elements of the elements and the soft dim light of the chapel interiors.
Utterly livid at his situation, he grunted frustratingly and bit hard on his tongue, enough to draw blood. He did not feel responsible for this! It was all this goddamn human's fault for playing hero in the first place. How irritating. Sascha pinched his cheeks with a hand, forcing his mouth open. Once Nate's lips were parted, the blond pressed his open mouth upon them and let the blood from his mouth flow into Nate's awaiting throat.
There was certainly more graceful ways to administer phoenix blood since it was a panacea but there was very little opening or time to make that happen right now. Phoenix blood was considered both a medical miracle and a culinary delicacy, added in mild amounts for potency and extra flavor. In it's purest form, the liquid was rather delicious but too strong to ingest. As such, what Sascha was doing was rather delicate and risky because he could send him to a quick death instead of healing Nate of his injuries inside out. Didn't help that there was no means to measure the exact amounts before it would prove to be anything beneficial.
Hold you, fool. Don't slip away. Goddamn it!
***
Nathaniel was too out of it to hear the messenger's approaching him. Despite the pain and lack of air; the numbness was taking over him as it was getting harder to think straight. So it's the end; he did not want to go out this way. At the very least Nathaniel can finally see his grandfather and mother again. But then.. what will happen to Joshua..he'll be alone and... However Sascha had other plans as Nate felt his checks being pitched the next moment, Nathan felt the man's lip's pressing against his own forcing something down his thoart.
Nathaniel made a protesting noise as he grasp Sascha's robes. But the pale blond man held his grip as he transfered his blood into the helpless human. At least it tasted terrible, bitter. Strangely enough the more Nate drank the mysterious blood; the taste gradually changed into something indescribably delicious as a heat slowly grew in his chest. Suddenly all of that change when the heat became a molten fire as it spread though his veins. Nathaniel shuddered painfully clutching to the elder male as the phoenix blood took effect on his battered body. Nate's wounds slowly stitched themselves together before finally the blond human was left with little streagth save for a dull ache thoughout his body.
***
Sascha was a few seconds late in noticing that the wounds on the human's neck and chest had already closed up. These crucial few seconds would be his own undoing, though that was something that the phoenix had yet to know. He pulled away, slurping audibly to collect saliva down his tongue and let it heal the cut he caused. The blond released his iron grip between Nate's cheeks and slipped it under his knees, the other arm cradling his shoulders. Once the hold was secure, he got up to his feet and laid him on the sacramental table.
The idea of leaving him there seemed funny to him, though he knew it was quite sacrilegious. But as it was, the blond was still rather put out the way his evening had ended and this 'prank' was nothing compared to the grisly things Sascha was capable of to let living things learn of the depths of his unyielding temper. Let Nate wake up in the most uncompromising of places and suffer the consequences. The brat shouldn't be overnight on holy grounds in the first place.
He began to pilfer through the drawers of indoor candle stands for a box of matches. Having found it, he laid it within the young man's reach. Sascha also took some already lit candles and snuffed them out. These were also placed near Nate's prone form, in an effort to clearly frame the boy up for his angry volley of fireballs prior that evening. On his way out, the tall creature created a trail of wax from the altar to the hunter's former perch. Once everything was laid out, the phoenix gave himself a proverbial pat on the shoulder and disappeared into the shadows.
There was no way that he would let the priests know of his existence now. Not now, not ever.
***
Nathaniel was already passed out by the time, Sascha planed him on the altar. Seemly unaware of his so called savoir's intentions to frame the poor lad for a crime, he did not commit. Nate fell in a deep sleep with phoenix blood flooding his viens with each passing moment. It was'nt until the drowsy blond was rouse from his slumber at the sound of beeping from his phone. It was his alarm clock ticking 8:30 in the morning. Nathan lazily turned off his iphone letting himself lie back to rest for a few moments. Expect his stomach contents would not let him.
"Ugh..." Nathaniel felt momentarily queasy as he leaned over the egde as he threw up dark colored blood onto the floor. The blond human was feeling better just he felt weird, sore all over. Yet Nathan did not have the luxury to sit around as the young man heard a loud banging from the door. He could see vauge red and blue lights from outside the window. "Oh s**t. s**t, s**t!" Nathaniel hissed under his breath. It took some work but Nathan managed to slip out of the church couching low before he rushed into behind the bluidings. It was by chance, Nate met one of his friends close by most likely curious to see why the police was here of all places.
"Hey Nate.. we thought you might be..OH GOD!" Tobi was the first to yelp when he saw how messy Nate looked. Nathaniel looked sheepish biting his lip to think up an excuse. "What, I made out with a hot ghost lady?" However that earned an annoyed scorn from his friends. "Okay. Okay I.. umm.. got drunk on the sacrificial wine bottle. I found..." Nathan was quick to excuse. Tobi and his friends looked at eachother before believing in their friend's lie. It took some convincing and Nate did brought his backpack of extra clothes. Nathaniel deicded to clean up the best he can to pass off as aceeptable and get change into a new pair of clothes at least to get though today's classes and avoid his brother's suspion.
***
The day was anything but dull and uneventful. He barely had a forty winks worth of sleep and he continued to postpone the inevitable. Work was nothing short of boring and the blond was more than happy to be released once his shift was over.
Yes, phoenixes to pass the years, the decades---you know it, time and memorial actually assimilated into the human societies. For this obnoxiously arrogant one, he played the role of a college professor in the Department of the Arts and Sciences. Normally, the man was assigned to teach the minors art history, communication and writing classes. This decade, the man decided to dabble into mass communication, advertising and other like minded fields of work.
Sascha wrinkled his nose in disgust at the smell of caked up blood on his robes, yet he chose to force the thoughts and scent out of his thoughts, ignoring it than to just get on with his life and wash it. The blond was still rather...put out by how Nate ruined his evening and slashed his sleeping hours by nearly half with the ruckus at the chapel. Didn't help that the underground cemetery that he had claimed as home was enclosed so the smell pretty much enveloped the little room of stone.
He'll deal with it later.
Hell, if he met Nate again, he wouldn't pass up on the opportunity on insisting the man wash his laundry for him. Hey, that sounded rather good.
With that, he began to fold his heavy velvet robes and packed them up in a paper bag and marched off. A quick flick of his wrist revealing the stylish leather strapped wrist watch on his left said that he was just in time for the evening mass.
The phoenix had taken a shower and dressed himself in a casual midnight black blazer and matching pair of slacks. He wore a gray v neckline shirt to finish it off. On his nose perched a pair of ochre tinted wayfarers veiled his golden brown eyes. His hair? Left long, freely flowing in a controlled chaos of waves down his back. He could care less about it. Never did caused him problems in the past, Sascha didn't also foresee any problems of it being a problem in the future.
There were people waiting, dying to hear the angel of music again.
Of all nicknames to give, it had to be one that belongs to a fictional female opera singer..., the blond commented with a sigh. There is hardly a feminine bone in my body, I'm afraid, you poor pitiful lot.
He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of the bell tower. Ah, the mass was just about to begin. Sascha got up to his feet and joined in the crowd in the ceremony.
***
Today was an average college day or as much Nate could assumed. However Nathaniel did felt a little off but not in a bad way. He was no longer throwing off black stuff but the human found himself more active; he rarely felt the need to rest to lack of an appetite. Of corase Nate did sent a text message to his brother to tell him things are fine on his end. Joshua was working to help pay off for college, Nathan did his best to avoid putting anymore pressure on themselves. At the very least nathaniel had earned him twenty-five dollars and bragging rights among his friends.
It was a little pass four as Nate got out from the bus. Nathaniel was done with his last class for the day. The young man made his way home passing the church across the street. Curiously, the blond looked back tilting his head before checking his watch. "Oh.. I guess it's almost time for evening mass." Nathan said to himself, he could had just walked back since he had better things to do than go to church. Instead in the back of Nate's mind curiosulty and instinct seem to pull him towards the church.Excusing himself to just check the place out; Nathaniel made his way towards the church. Strange, eariler the police were all over this place. He cautiously opened the door inside the chapel. The navy blue jacket, black undershirt and jeans college student steppened inside looking around before he saw a famailar face among the crowds. "Eh?" Is it Mr. Sascha of all places." Nathaniel's mind momentarily panicked since he had classes with this jerkwad. Nate could barely pass his class half of the time. Nathaniel wanted to do so much to turn around and hightail it outta here.
***
Angel of music was but one of the more appraising of names that people had given him as of late. On school grounds, he was 'that b*****d, 'that son of a b***h' and 'the a*****e', among other things. For the more literary and with higher command of words, Sascha was the 'devil incarnate' and 'Lucifer reborn'. Though the best one he'd heard yet was probably 'Rapunzel'. It didn't matter much to him. If anything, all of those names, regardless of their nature, was an obvious testament to his abilities. It was better to be feared than loved, so says the great Machiavelli in his satirical treatise of 'The Prince', which practically meant the other way around but to the phoenix, he had never found any good in being loved above being feared. He was not of fleshy origins to begin with, so there was no obvious inclination to become chummy with humans.
He was a hard worker and drove people below him even harder. The blond expected nothing less than the best and was more than happy to drive that point home at every opportunity.
"So what if I'm teaching a minor subject," the college professor would argue in front of his classes when a cocky student would be so kind to point it out in an effort to curb his being too harsh on them, "It's a subject nonetheless. I'd be damned if you halfwits step out of my classes with not a single lesson driven into your skulls for the rest of your lifetime. I refused to be taken for granted!"
It was hardly a conventional method but it worked and that was why he was well on his way to being a permanent faculty member. His students almost always remembered and managed to pass his classes anyway.
Mid-mass, Sascha felt a faint but strange shining tingle that tugged at him. It brought him out of his thoughts while he whispered the responses during the mass. The blond looked over his shoulder. There was something not quite human here. It's aura was faint and came in short bursts, almost like a flickering candlelight threatening to go off. It felt like a phoenix but not quite.
...Couldn't be Haku. He always made sure I knew he was here. That thing never quite knew the definition of the word 'subtle'.
Hey! I heard that, came a soft almost inaudible whisper in Japanese that rolled in the wind. If you miss me so much, then you should just tell me so I can come and visit---Ohhhh~ Hold on, Любимая моя... I think a visit IS due. Wait for me. It chilled the fair haired phoenix to the bone at how the 'Ooh' sounded so punctuated as much as the phoenix of Asia's Russian was atrocious.
Who would dare enter his territory after he'd properly marked it his own?
Stupid creature. First humans invading his sanctuary. Now a stray cat of sorts in his place today. What was next? Maybe a primordial god gone insane whose death would only be guaranteed with the use of phoenix ashes? Suuuure.
How bloody irritating, he hissed under his breath. Gone was the softened, neutral expression on his face and in it's place was the ever present scowl that made him look a lot more like a handsome devil than the famed angel of music he was known for in sacred grounds.
***
This time in Sascha's mind; came a slivery womanly voice echoed after the trio. "That's strange. I feel the presence of another..in this church. Darling, are you keeping something from us?" She cooed curiously.
Nathaniel kept to himself since there was alot of people in the mass. However the place was different than the last time he was here. There is was a strange but subtle pull towards Sascha more like an inviting feeling. More importantly Nate found himself lured by the voice as if he wanted to sing along until the performance stopped abruptly. Apparently the main singer was obviously not happy in Nathan's presence. Nathan seized up trying to hold back his discomfort as if his teacher's face was bad enough, he felt the spotlight was on him. "Hello, Professor Sn..I mean...Sobolev." Nate answered rather primly since last he talked with this teacher. He was getting ratted on the draft of his paper. Sometimes among the man's many nicknames. Most students called the shrew professor as 'Mr. Snob" beyond earshot. Nathan stared at the professor rather bewildered unsure what to make of him. There was something Nathaniel wanted to ask the grumpy professor but could not find the right words ignoring the warmth in his chest.
Instead the unsure blond stepped back to catch his breath not looking the man in the eye. "Nevermind. I'll get the revision next class." Nate answered too quickly before he turned his heel around. Nathan did not want to stick around for some long angry lecture from the man. He nudged his way pass the people to reach to the front doors of the church. Nate stepped out into the side walk talking a relief breath of air of corse it was short lived when he felt a drizzle coming in.
"Oh nononono.. it's leaving."
***
As there was no feminine bone present in the immortal's body, there was also no sign of a religious character in his personality either. Yet, Sascha found himself drawn to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist each time. It seemed as if that no matter where the phoenix drifted to, he would always find himself at the door step of a place of worship to find himself a seat and seamlessly join the chorale of voices that sang in praise for their God almighty. The blond figured he enjoyed the singing, the solemnity and the unity of those present in the edifice then. Having lived for so long, it had always fascinated him how for a blessed moment in time, humans could actually stop and put aside their differences to hold hands, both literally and metaphorically for one rhyme and reason.
He would never grew tired of seeing that.
Though the man would probably argue that his voice was best suited for this setting than any other anyway plus his parents had been Catholic after all.
His human parents...
The blond remained still, eyes settled on the priest and the altar, rather than avert his attention elsewhere---such as the young man that decided to interrupt his thoughts. He paid no much mind to Nate, simply grunting to acknowledge that he recognized the boy's presence and attempts at a conversation. Though when the youth nearly slipped and called him 'Professor Snob', Sascha couldn't help but smirk at that.
"Snob eh," the man purred in a low but audible tone, low enough not to disturb any other mass goers but loud enough to be heard, "Hardly so when I'm wasting my breath on you, speaking to you, let alone notice you. Don't you think?"
Sascha chuckled darkly then tipped the glasses on his nose downward and gave the half-phoenix an incredulous stare, "Nice try, Nathaniel Williams. I'll give you points for effort." He pushed it up again and sighed, returning his eyes back to the front.
"Try to come up with something more creative next time perhaps. I'm looking forward to it." The statement was addressed to both Nate's choice of insult and his academic performance, considering he voiced this right after the boy stammered on regards his draft.
Once left alone but to the sound of one of the rest of the family somewhere near his part of North America, the phoenix sighed deeply through the connection, "My dear woman, I know not of what you speak of. Perhaps you can learn to be more direct to the point? I do not like games at all."
***
Nathaniel pouted as he recalled his english teacher's words in his head. Part of Nate wished he could come up with a great comeback for the snobby a** of a teacher. Nothing was worse than seeing your teacher after school hours; Nathan did come to class and etc. Thankfully it's close to the end of the semester. A few more weeks and vacation will be around the corner. "Whatever. I bet the guy is only at church for the girls or something." Nate said to himself as he waited by the sidewalk with another pedesidan. A girl, so like any boy his age. Nathaniel gave the passerby girl, a playful grin only to be brushed aside as the light turned white. However Nate saw the girl accidentally drop her phone in her rush to the other side. So naturally the young man stepped back on the street to grab it. Maybe if Nathan was lucky he could get her number. "Hey miss. You dropped.." However Nathan could barely finished his sentence before the last thing he heard was a car blood curdling screech.
"Sorry, it must be old age getting to you, Sascha." Lillian teased. The new york phoneix giggled at her own joke. "Just kidding but I sense a spark like ours but it's faint. A half blood in your city, I thought you noticed or are you keeping something from us?" She questioned like Haku, she did like to poke fun of their fellow bird but she did meant what she said. Something that should be checked out if there is another in their admist. However Lillian could not say too much, she had her own things to do. "...Oh I have to go, everyone. Mytho's calling me, so see you." Lillian's voice said before her voice faded away in the man's mind. However there was a loud crash followed by a girl's scream outside the church.
"Ugh..." Nathaniel found himself face flat on the pavement leaving a large bloody smear on the pavement. Nathan barely regain conuniess until his vison cleared as he rolled over. The car had obviously drove off leaving the battered young man on the pavement. The poor girl on the sidewalk had run off but he could hear her shouting for help. "s**t.." The blue eyed blond made a noise holding a hand to his bleeding forehead. Oh god, Nathan was bleeding all over and he could barely move his right arm.
Yet for some reason, Nathan found the strength to pull himself up. Not many people were around as they were inside the church. Dazed, Nate carelessly left his backpack as he slipped into an ally out of sight.
A broken arm, a cuts and bruises especially the cut in the student's right leg follow by a possible concussion. Nathan shuddered leaning against the wall for support as he spat out dark colored blood onto the pavement. He was starting to feel strange like something was burning inside him. At first Nathaniel resisted but the sensation spread though his body; he shuddered when he felt his broken arm snapped itself back together. It hurt yet for a brief moment as he felt the pain dull away into a faint warmth. Nathan cautiously moved his arm and hand as if nothing had happened. "What the hell is happening to me?" Nathaniel murmured to himself, his voice was shaking. Nate wasn't usually the fearful type but this seem unreal and oddly familiar. Yet he had to lean back against the wall, letting whatever it was taking affect. Unaware that the hybrid's aura was flaring up as Nathan's body mended itself.
***
Old age you say? You're one to talk. She was definitely one to talk. As if Lilly was a young woman and in the prime of her life. By phoenix standards they were both quite young. Old age? The likes of Haku would definitely fit the bill. That one was more than a century old and still alive, kicking and being the annoying fop that he was. Nonetheless, Sascha did not like to be teased. Never had, never will. He hated how it implied affection and camaraderie. Thing is, he didn't have friends. He never considered anyone close enough to be a friend. No one had quite lived up to his standards. Moreover, he HATED affection.
The blond rolled his eyes from behind his tinted lenses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose and sighed irritably. At any rate, yes I did feel something. Someone's invading my marked territory. As you can see I'm preoccupied right now. I'll perhaps take time out of my evening to hunt and push them out of my jurisdiction. I don't look kindly upon intruders... And do go, woman. I'd be more than happy to be out of your hair. Send my regards to your partner for the favor. Thank you.
Just when he thought there would be no further disturbances, the sudden flare of a golden light, a gentle aura of an injured phoenix tugged at him. Sascha looked over his shoulder, then back at the priest bellowing in his clear and deep voice of his. The mass was still on-going. Yet...
Whoever this was. It was weak and had seen better days. Should he choose to confront this intruder, there would be no question that he would be able to dominate and force this vermin out of his land easily. Unless they were older than him, but then something told him that this one was much younger than he was. Age was quite a determinant of strength and power amongst their kind so it was more than wise never to pick fights with anyone bigger than your size, so to speak. It was an opening to make a bully of anyone but no one had been so low enough to stoop to such level so far. Though even if it was someone older, Sascha had something else besides his natural gifted acumen for battle. He was smarter than most people.
If he chose to leave the mass and confront, it wouldn't be a neat affair either. He was aware of his temper and it would not be so wise to declare war in the open. Not when the pesky humans were around and about. The phoenix had to be subtle.
Whoever you are, the blond stated over the air, with the intention of letting his 'intruder' hear, Let me inform you that you have entered marked territory. My territory. So if you value your life, you will leave and avoid me. Let it be known that I'm hardly merciful to people who displease me.
That should be enough for now. Seemed like a grave warning enough. Though Sascha regret having used such a tender, soothing voice to voice out his annoyance but he supposed that could have added an edge to his words. If he still felt this one's presence after the mass had ended, there would be blood to be shed.
And it wouldn't be any of his.
***
Nathaniel had his head down trying to recuperate from his recent ordeal. The last of the boy's injuries was healed especially the gash on his left leg. But Nathan felt too tired to get up from the sudden recovery. Suddenly the blue eyed lad heard the strangest thing; someone was speaking to him. Not.. outloud but in his head? This person sounded familiar but the threat was there. Yet Nate wasn't sure what to think of this. Moments ago, Nathaniel's body micracuious healed itself after a car accident now there's a 'voice' threatening him over god knows what. Surprise turned to defiance. On the spur of the moment; the hybrid frowned as he came up with the most obnoxious response.
"Oh I'm in 'your' space? Here's my answer... [******** YOU." My territory, my a**. This was Nathan's mind, nobody should say that s**t to him especially to some imagery voice in his skill.
"Why don't you come over and kiss my a** for all I care, Mister voice-in-my head who sounds like my english teacher!" Nathan remarked rather sarcastically over the mental link. After that Nate leaned back letting out was a snicker from his lips. Great, now he was starting to hear s**t and actually responding back. Maybe it was the concussion talking but he couldn't go back on the street. This is twice the human found himself looking like a mess in the same day. "I should call Josh. I look like a murder victim..again." Nate murmured to himself taking out his cell dialing the number.
"Hello?"
"Josh...are you busy?
"No. Do you need something?"
"Can you pick me up?"
"You don't sound good. Are you alright, Nate?"
"I just.. got in a fight. I'm fine.. just bloody."
"....Stay put. I'll be right there."
'Thanks."
Nathaniel breathed a sigh of relief as the phone ended the call although he felt guilty lying to his brother. But in the lad's mind; it was better to have a lecture about picking fights than getting hit by a car which would force Nate to go to the doctor; just cause more problems than both siblings need. Although sometimes Nathaniel looked up long fully at the sky between the bluidings. How long has it been just them? Three years maybe counting to four? Nathan lost track but he couldn't help but yearn for the safety and comfort of a family. Limited as it was before..he was tired of being, just him and his brother and trying to make ends meet. Nathan could not describe this empty feeling in his chest.
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