Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Fantasy

Voices came through a vent into ten year old Jenna May’s bedroom. She was not supposed to listen to adult conversations, but her curiosity always got the better of her. She could hear her mother talking to her friends during their brunch they have around ten every morning. Jenna found most of the talk was about the local gossip. She was amazed that people could say mean things about one another and still get along. She heard one of the chairs slide across the floor. They must be in the dining room still.

“Oh, Catherine, you simply must come over with this plate. It’s so beautiful,” Jenna heard one of the women say. 

“The plate does not leave this house, Peggy,” she heard her mother say. “It’s much too valuable to the family.” 

Jenna wondered what plate her mother could be talking about. She didn’t know of any plate worth that much that it couldn’t leave the house. There was no sound coming from the vent. Jenna’s curiosity got the worst of her. Going against her mother’s wishes, she opened the door to her room. She had to see what this plate was all about and why it was so important to mother.

Jenna tiptoed barefoot against the wooden steps. Her long red curls bounced as she hurried along the green carpeted living room. She could hear her mother and her friends chatting away enjoying their cake and coffee. Jenna’s blue eyes peeked just enough into the dining area to see her mother. Her mother didn’t seem to notice, which was something that Jenna was used to. Nobody else seemed to notice her either. “Well, we simply must meet for dinner than,” the Peggy lady said. Peggy was a pudgy woman with brown hair and the creepiest looking eyes Jenna has ever seen. 

She looked at her mother. Her mother’s radiance got the attention of many with her slender body and long red loose curls that caressed her shoulders and back and she had eyes that sparkled like sapphires. Jenna hoped she would grow up to look like her mother one day. 

“That is a marvelous idea. How about tonight? Stewart and I can have Nancy watch Jenna.” 

Stewart was Jenna’s father. People always told Jenna that she would always have her father’s shortness. Whatever that means. Jenna didn’t like the idea of Nancy watching her. She would always invite her boyfriend Steve over. Plus, she would get sent to bed early. What they didn’t know is that she would spend hours in the game room, watching movies she really was not supposed to and eating junk till her tummy hurt. She spent many nights in the game room. 

Her mother raised the plate up. Jenna could see why her mother didn’t want the plate to leave the house. The plate looked like solid gold. It had the strangest thing in the middle of it. It looked like it had a ruby egg on it with some kind of orange bird on top of the egg. Her mother placed the plate in her china cabinet, located also in the dining room. It was too high for Jenna to reach it without a chair. The ladies got up. Jenna hurried back up the steps and slipped back into her bedroom. “Well, brunch was nice, Catherine,” another lady said. 

Jenna heard the ladies leave. “Jenna,” her mother called out to her. 

Jenna hoped she didn’t get caught listening in. “Yes, mother,” she called from the stairs.

 “Jenna, come down here.”

 “Yes, mother.” 

Jenna walked down the stairs, fearing the worst. 

“Jenna, your father and I are going to visit Peggy and her husband tonight. Nancy is coming over to watch you. I want you to be on your best behavior, understood?” “Yes, mother.” 

“Good. Follow me. I want to show you something.” 

Jenna followed her mother into the dining area. Her mother picked up the fancy plate she only saw moments before. 

“This plate has been in our family for a very long time. I received it on my sixteenth birthday. My mother said she received it in the very same way. One day, honey, this plate will be yours.” 

“Really?” Jenna smiled.

 “Yes.” 

“What’s that thing in the middle?” 

Her mother examined the plate. “It looks to be a polished ruby to me. My mother didn’t really speak too much about it. She only told me to give it to you. It would only be special to you.” 

Jenna’s mouth went dry.

 “I know this seems like a lot to take in, but you will understand someday.” 

Mother put the plate back. Jenna wished she would let her hold it. She would be real careful not to break it. 

The day went fast and soon it was night time. She heard her father, Stewart, come home. He and Mother argued a bit about him going out again after a hard day’s work but like usual Mother won the argument.

 After a while, she heard Nancy come in. Jenna walked downstairs and acted like she was glad to see her. She was the master of faking her happiness in this house. She was also used to being ignored. Her parents gave her a kiss goodbye and quickly ran out the door. Nancy didn’t even acknowledge she was even in the same house as Jenna. Immediately, after her parents drove off, she was on the phone with her boyfriend inviting him over. Jenna sighed and went up to her room. Jenna heard Nancy’s boyfriend come inside. They said their hello’s then all she heard was the television. 

Jenna’s thoughts explored the plate she saw earlier. She just had to get a better look. Jenna slowly crept down the stairs and poured herself into the living room. Nancy and Steve were too busy with each other to notice her. She loved the freedom but wished she had someone to play with. She slowly and quietly pushed a chair in front of the china cabinet. Climbing the chair without breaking anything was the challenge. She balanced herself the best way she could. Her tiny body came within inches of the cabinet. If one piece was out of place she would surely get the belt. Jenna carefully took the plate in her hand. She climbed down the chair, firmly gripping it. She didn’t want to chance falling and breaking the golden plate. 

The ruby looking stone felt smooth as she caressed her hand over it. The bird in the middle of the stone looked like it was on fire. 

“Wow.” 

She turned the plate over. Some strange words were on the plate that looked like it was written in a different language.

 Jenna heard something fall on the floor. She turned the plate back over. She noticed the stone was missing. 

“Oh no.” 

She quickly searched for the stone. It rolled underneath the table. She crawled under the table to retrieve it. Her hand rubbed along the flaming bird. 

“Pretty firebird.” 

The stone got warm; too warm for her to handle it. 

“Ouch!” 

She threw the stone, causing it to roll into the kitchen. She followed the stone. “Where did you go, now?” 

The stone was nowhere to be found.

 “I know it rolled in here.”

 The light caught her eyes. Something smelled like it was burning. She turned around to see a large bird made out of fire flying inches away from her. She was not afraid but amazed at the beautiful creature. 

“What are you? Are you the birdy on the stone?” 

The bird spoke in her head, “I am Phoenix, who might you be?”

 “I be Jenna. Sorry, I broke your plate.” “You didn’t break it, my dear. You released me. Every five hundred years a Phoenix Flyer releases me from my prison and I become free.” 

“What’s a Phoenix Flyer?” 

“One who flies with the Phoenix.” 

“But won’t they burn up?” 

“Not if they wear the stone. The stone is protected by magic.” 

“You mean the stone on the plate. I lost that stone.”

 “No, you didn’t. It’s in your hands.” Sure enough, the stone was in her hands. “How did you do that?” 

“I didn’t, Jenna, you summoned me. The stone is yours. You wanted the stone, it appeared for you.” 

“But how?” 

“Magic.” 

“Oh. If I summoned you, then does that make me a Phoenix Flyer?” 

“That’s right, you are. You are very special, Jenna.” 

“If I’m so special why does everyone ignore me?” 

“The Phoenix Flyer is not of this world, but of a magic, the world called Audborn. They can not see the magic in you as I can.” 

“Magic world? Are we going somewhere? Do I need to pack?” 

“Jenna, I must take you now to this magic world, but you must leave everything behind. Can you do that?” 

“You mean if I go with you I can never come back?” 

“I’m afraid not. Once you accept to embrace the magic I’m afraid you will be forever transformed.” 

Jenna looked at Nancy and Steve with their faces all over each other. She looked around her home that didn’t feel like much of home at all. She noticed family portraits that nobody looked happy in. What Phoenix said made sense. If she went with him she could have a whole new life, but she would never see her parents again. If she didn’t go with him she might never be happy. 

“Let’s go.” 

“Wonderful, grip the stone tightly and hold out your hands to me.” Jenna did just that. “Close your eyes.” She closed her eyes. 

She could feel the heat against her body. She got the sensation she was flying, but she didn’t dare open her eyes. She held the magic ruby stone as tight as she could. It felt like a dream. She hoped she wasn’t dreaming. She loved the thought of possibly being special. 

“You can open your eyes now.” 

They were not in her house anymore but in a garden. The air held a sweet aroma of flowers and fruit. 

“Phoenix, who do you have there?” A slender elderly man walked up to Jenna. Jenna gripped the ruby stone even tighter. “It’s alright,” said Phoenix. “This is Wizard Merrill. He will be raising you in the right of your magic. You will be staying with him and other magical children like yourself.” 

 She loved the thought of possibly being special. “You can open your eyes now.” They were not in her house anymore but in a garden. The air held a sweet aroma of flowers and fruit. “Phoenix, who do you have there?” A slender elderly man walked up to Jenna. Jenna gripped the ruby stone even tighter. “It’s alright,” said Phoenix. “This is Wizard Merrill. He will be raising you in the right of your magic. You will be staying with him and other magical children like yourself.” 

 “Hello, wizard, sir, I’m Jenna.” “It’s very nice to meet, young one. Oh, we are going to have lots of fun together, you’ll see.” Jenna smiled. She was saddened she could never see her family again, but she was glad she would fit in here. This was the beginning of her new life. She couldn’t wait to get started on her magical journey. She followed the wizard where she would be bunking with other magical little girls. “This is your room. Phoenix and I have much to talk about. Your bunkmates will be here later. Go ahead and get comfy.” Jenna nodded. The Wizard and Phoenix left Jenna in her bunk and went to chat privately. Jenna hoped this wasn’t where she would be spending most of her time. “Phoenix, she is so young.” 

“I know, Wizard Merrill. She wasn’t supposed to find the plate until she was sixteen. Something must have happened.” “Little girls and their curiosity, guess it will have to do. She will just be that much stronger. Poor dear, we will make her feel better than she did at home. She will be just fine.” 

“The sun will set on this old era and will rise to begin another.”