Doctor Cale was right. As soon as she widened her eyes, awakening in her lightly crisped body, she did not feel the same. She did not feel like Perry anymore.

And although she constantly repeated the words, “My name is Perry,” in her head as she was led to the Ash Order, she didn’t believe it. They didn’t feel real. It was like trying to convince herself that she was an amazon woman from the arctic region.

If a rabbit came hopping down the ruby red carpeted hallway shouting, “I’m late! I’m late!” she wouldn't be surprised.

“Here we are,” Doctor Cale announced as he grabbed Lydia and pulled her to a sudden stop before two huge black iron doors.

On each side stood five intimidatingly huge guards in red and black flaming suits wearing the same red gem that Lydiana had seen the phoenix boys carrying earlier that night around their necks.

What was it…an Illumine? Illumino?

She shook her head. The name didn’t matter.

“I am Mana Retriever Cale,” Lydia’s doctor introduced to the guards, “and this is Ignis Ales Number One.”

Lydia nodded curtly to them, receiving nothing but cold stares from charcoal colored eyes.

Wondering if she needed a password to enter, she began to panic.

“I-I’m new. I don’t know any-”

The moan from a slumbering beast sounded as the iron doors slowly parted, releasing a gust of tornado wind whipping back Lydia’s black hair.

“Go ahead,” Doctor Cale urged Lydia.

“Into that black hole?” she whispered. “Alone?”

“You’ll be fine.” Something in his tone made Lydia dubious. “Remember only the Ash Order has answers to the questions you ask. Be respectful and you should be fine.”

Before Lydiana could surmise what would happen if she didn’t get along with the Ash Order, a guard had roughly shoved her into the dark room and the iron doors slammed shut.

Lydia stood in the darkness, accompanied by only silence as she waited for any sign of other life form. It felt like being in a horror movie, anticipating the moment when a murderous clown jumps out with a saw or a demon falls from the ceiling, only without the ominous music.

Suddenly, flashes of gold lights emerged from afar, beckoning Lydia to draw near.

“Hello?” she called meekly, arms folded in front of her chest like a shield. “Is anyone there?”

“Number One,” a silky voice bounced through the room, “we finally meet.”

Lydiana jumped as the yellow lights blended into a vivacious red and burst into bright flames, each morphing into five birds.

There had to be about thirty, and they were all equally breathtaking. Lydia had seen plenty of pictures of phoenixes in books, seen them in movies, but never had she imagined seeing one in real life; never had she imagined them existing at all.

But there they were, perched gracefully row after row on black metallic railings, their flaming tails swiveling comfortably.

“U-um,” she stammered.

“Please, sit,” the largest bird placed in the first row, middle seat, urged.

She looked behind her to see a giant black stoned throne, all alone.

With no protest she climbed onto the hard seat and melted with the coolness against her feverish skin.

“We have awaited for a very long time for your return,” the middle one began. “We, the Ash Order, are very pleased to see that you are well. If possible, will you tell us all that you know?”

“In general?”

“About phoenixes, yourself,” it answered slowly, “and your captor.”

Lydia paled and bit her lip. Sixty black eyes were pierced right at her, practically through her, demanding information. This wasn’t a choice of hers to make-she had to tell them.

“I was raised by my uncle, Sid Perry, as an ordinary girl. I knew I could run fast and leave my body, but I had no idea that I was a…one of you…and I didn’t think my father was involved, either. At first I thought I might have gotten it from my mother. My-Mr. Perry said that my parents passed away when I was a baby, so I wouldn’t know.”

“What about your distant relatives?”

“Nothing,” she shook her head. “They all seemed normal.”

“Very well. Continue.”

“I,” Lydia inhaled, trying to control herself from having a sudden panic attack. “This morning Mr. Perry and I planned on leaving for Venice. When I was packing a man broke into my home and attacked me, saying that he was working on Mr. Perry’s orders. He could melt things with his hands and it scared me.”

“Yes.”

“I escaped, but then these two boys, Des…tery and Kasey found me,” Lydia continued quickly. “They chased me down and told me that we used to know each other and explained what we were. They told me that Mr. Perry was an enemy who kidnapped me and showed me this gem thing and explained that it helped them track me down. That’s all I know.”

Intimidating, bloodchilling silence sliced through the room.

“I promise,” Lydia pleaded.

“And we believe you,” the bird agreed. “However, as a precaution, we must read your memories.”

“Read my memories?”

“It’s used on all of the Ignis Volucres, so do not feel victimized nor worry about your safety-you will be fine.”

Before Lydia could speak a thousand blades carved through her scalp, picking through her cerebrum for only what the birds would consider useful information.

But all the while they were reading precious, private memories of hers that she didn’t want them to see. Memories of her past boyfriends-no matter how brief the relationship may have been-and events with her friends. Memories of going to theme parks with her uncle.

No, wait, they’re inspecting that too. But how was that important? He was just being a dutiful uncle.

Lydia could feel that they saw something in that memory that she had not noticed-something particular about it that made it even more special-and she had a vague understanding that it wouldn’t make Mr. Perry “Uncle of the Year.”

“Stop it…,” she begged softly, the pain irritating and excruciating. If this torture continued, Lydiana would most certainly pass out. “I said stop it!”

She leaped out of her body, watching it collapse heavily onto the right arm of the stone chair.

The pain in her head was gone and the phoenix's concentration had simmered. But the intense atmosphere remained.

“You do know that we can still see your body,” the leader said coldly.

“Yes,” Lydia answered. “And you do know that what you do hurts. Most likely could kill humans. Aren’t we important to you?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“Then why do you do that?”

“For your safety, as I have said before.”

Lydia’s head leaned back as if the bird had spat on her face.

“I gave you what you wanted. Now tell me what I want to know.”

“You did not give us everything.”

“I told you what I knew!”

“Which was not enough,” the phoenix retorted.

“Stop,” another voice echoed, forcing Lydia to draw her attention to a dark red phoenix on the left end of the front row. “She is the youngest of our kind. If we treat her so roughly, how can we expect cooperation in the future? The Charcoal man was kind; he raised her as a parental figure. If we continue down this route she will run immediately back to her uncle.”

Lydiana couldn’t deny the accusation, but didn’t want to admit it in front of so many intimidating figures.

There was hesitation as the leader considered what the other bird had said.

“Very well. We will take the time to have the truth be revealed. After all, if what you say is true, then your "uncle" may very well have taken extraordinary cautions to keep you ignorant of our existence, in case you were discovered once again.”

“What would you like to know?” another phoenix, mostly a glittering gold, questioned. “Keep in mind that only some information will be provided to you.”

“Okay, why will only some information be provided to me?” Lydia repeated.

“Because it can overwhelm an Ignis Volucres’ memory. Every time one dies, a part of their past life experience is withheld so that they can peacefully live their present life.”

“But the mind is infinite,” Lydia disagreed. “It can absorb as much information as possible.”

“That is true, wise Ignis Volucres,” the leader answered, “but it strains the body, sometimes destroys it. We cannot risk our Ignis Volucres lives.”

“Can Ignis…Volucres turn into birds like you?” Lydia asked. “Transform?”

“No. We are the Ash Order. The leaders, creators, watchers, and protectors of the human phoenixes. A version of parents in feathery form,” a new red bird in the second row answered.

“What’s our purpose?”

“Purpose?” the leader asked.

“Why do we, human phoenixes, exist?”

A wave of communication went throughout the phoenixes, instead of common telepathy that Lydia assumed they were talented enough to make possible.

“We do not know,” the leader admits. “That is why you are here.”

“Me?” Lydia blinked. “What can I do?”

“Listen to us very closely. We will not repeat what we say for safety reasons,” the leader promised. “Are you prepared for what you are about to hear?”

No, Lydia thought, about to cry over her weakness.

Her uncle was a villain, she’s a phoenix, but the real phoenixes are extremely intimidating and what she hears now, whether it’s the truth or lies, will make it impossible for her to return to her normal life. She could tell.

She told Kasey and Destery that once she discovered who she really was, then she would decide what to do with her life.

Now she was beginning to believe she didn’t have a choice.

…

“Mana Retriever Cale!” someone cried as the doctor settled before his desk.

“Hmmm? Number 366. What do I owe the pleasure for your company?” the old man asked as he swiveled his chair to face Destery who stormed towards him with heavy resolve, dragging someone with him.

“I have a patient here with me,” Number 366 answered. “He’s reluctant. He hates needles and such.”

“I don’t hate needles,” Kasey seethed. “I hate vultures.”

Retriever Cale smiled, his eyes squinting.

“I didn’t know I would see you two so soon. Any problems with your memories?”

The dramatic scene that the partners caused, slowly awakening the injured they passed, ended immediately.

“Let me see what’s wrong,” the doctor ordered.

“Come on." Destery nudged his unenthusiastic friend. “Show him before it has to be cut off.”

Kasey sighed and revealed his black hand, chafing from the fireball burn.

“Oh my,” Cale said.

“What is it?” Kasey played casual.

“I’m afraid Number 366 is right,” the Mana Retriever confessed, gently inspecting Kasey’s flesh with tweezers. “We might have to completely sever it from your arm.”

“Sever? As in, amputation?” Kasey paled. “You’re joking right?”

Destery scrutinized his friend.

“If he came in earlier, like a few hours, would he have been saved?”

“Of course.”

Kasey collapsed on the nearby bed, ignoring the patient lying in it who spat and ordered him to get off.

“Sever…amputate…only a few hours.”

The Mana Retriever chuckled.

“I’m surprised you played along, Destery.”

“I’m surprised a doctor would actually lie to a patient,” Destery returned.

“We Mana Retrievers have to have some fun,” Cale answered wryly. “This is the zone of depression in this building.”

“So,” Destery glanced back at his friend, “can you help him?”

“Yes, but so can you. Just have him put his hand in a bucketful of ice cold water. He will hate it, but have him keep it in there until all the black flakes on his hand fall off. It’ll be like shedding for a new hand.”

“How long will that take?”

“Maybe half a day. Watch him, though."”

“Right.” Destery was about to head back to his partner when he stepped back. “Um, Mana Retriever?”

“Yes?”

“I would like to ask about my friend.”

“She’s healing well-just like any other Ignis Ales with a burn. Although she is a bit impatient.”

“No, I mean Number One.”

Cale arched one eyebrow in surprise.

“I didn’t know you were friends. Then again, you did save her.”

And kill her.

Destery could read the subtle accusation underlying the comment.

“I’m just worried about her injuries. She put on a good face but I could tell she was hurting,” he explained.

“Well, she is completely healed. I used a pretty drastic method to speed up the process, but the Ash Order wanted to see her immediately, and I thought she must be in her best condition when she does. What with the..." Cale stabbed his head with his right index finger.

“She went to see the Ash Order? Already?” Destery gaped. “Without us?”

Cale shrugged.

“The Ashes clearly wanted to meet her alone. And it’s obvious why.”

“How?”

“She’s Number One. The youngest human phoenix we have. She could give us answers we’ve been searching for our whole lives.” Dr. Cale pointed to Kasey, still enveloped in his broken record thoughts. “Now, go fix your friend.”

Destery frowned and reluctantly returned to his friend’s side. But it wasn’t Kasey he wanted to help.

It was centuries ago when he had his first encounter with the Ash Order and he still had detailed nightmares of it. It was one of the few memories that no Ignis Ales is allowed to make a Sacrificings out of-as if the Ash Order wanted to keep their kind in check.

Lydiana, if she really was so special, would probably have it a hundred times worse. And who was going to be there when she falls?

“Destery,” Kasey wept as his friend picked him up with an arm swung over his shoulder, “my hand…it’s…”

“It's fine. I know a way to make it better.”

“You do?”

As Destery walked past Cale to the door, he was handed a metallic bucket filled with ice cubes.

“Yeah, I’ll fix you,” Destery assured. “What are friends for?”