Chapter 56: Penny and Lya

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Penny and Lya

The moment Penelope entered the space—

She immediately headed toward the Golden Cave.

Her tiredness disappeared.

Excitement replaced it.

Because according to oddy—

Alyanna has awoken from her long slumber.

"Please be awake."

Penelope thought as she quickened her pace.

And the moment she entered the cave—

She froze.

The entire cave glowed softly.

Golden crystals illuminated the surroundings.

Warmth filled the air.

And at the very center—

The fledging was gone.

In its place—

Sat a majestic golden-red bird.

Penelope’s amber eyes widened.

"...Alyanna?"

The phoenix blinked.

Her beautiful ruby eyes slowly landed on Penelope.

For a moment—

One human.

One phoenix.

Simply stared at one another.

Then—

"Sister?!"

The tiny phoenix froze.

Her little eyes widened.

And suddenly—

Tears appeared in them.

"Sister!"

"You’re finally back!"

"What took you so long!"

"I thought you forgot about me!"

She cried as she flapped her wings.

As though afraid.

Afraid that the woman before her would disappear.

Penelope’s heart melted.

"Forget you? Never!"

She immediately crouched down.

And the next second—

A blur launched itself straight into her arms.

"What took you so long to come back!"

"I missed you!"

The little phoenix buried herself against Penelope’s chest.

Rubbing her fluffy head repeatedly against her.

As though trying to reassure herself.

Sister.

Sister.

Sister.

You came.

Penelope’s eyes softened.

"I’m here."

"I’m here."

"I’m sorry."

"I made you wait."

"Kyu!"

The little phoenix shook her head fiercely.

Then immediately climbed onto Penelope’s shoulder.

As though declaring ownership.

Mine.

Penelope burst into laughter.

"Yes, yes."

"I’m yours."

"And you’re mine."

The tiny phoenix happily chirped.

Then—

She froze.

Her ruby eyes blinked.

And she tilted her head.

"What’s wrong?"

Penelope smiled.

"What is it?"

The little phoenix rubbed her cheek.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then she made a tiny whining sound.

"You’re scent is different..."

Penelope blinked.

"You were scared today?" Lya asked, cocking her head sideways.

Then her smile became gentle.

"Mm."

"It was scary today."

"I almost died."

The little phoenix immediately exploded.

"Died?!"

Tiny flames appeared around her feathers.

Her eyes widened in panic.

"How?!"

"Are you okay?!"

Penelope hurriedly comforted her.

"I’m okay."

"I’m okay."

"Look."

"See?"

"No injuries."

The phoenix carefully inspected her.

Then finally calmed down.

Before immediately curling up against Penelope’s neck.

Refusing to leave.

As though afraid she’d disappear again.

Penelope chuckled.

"My, what a clingy little sister."

And for the first time that day—

For the first time since seeing blood.

Since seeing death.

Since hearing Kai cry.

Since seeing Killian’s terrified expression—

Penelope relaxed.

Truly relaxed.

Because Alyanna had awakened.

And she had come home.

Thinking of home, it’s been a while since Penelope had gone home. To her real home. Not the Ryker’s estate.

"Lya, do you want to go to my home?" She asked.

"Aren’t we home already?" Lya asked genuinely confused.

"Lya, this is your home. Not mine. Want to go?" She asked again.

"Sure." Lya responded. Soon Penelope teleported herself and Lya to her home’s living room.

She took in a deep breath. Breathing in the familiar warmth.

She walked up to a beautiful portrait of her parents.

"Mom, Dad. I’m back." She said quietly. "Meet Alyanna." She held Lya up to introduce her.

"Mom, Dad. It’s nice to meet you." Lya responded. Confused why they were talking to a portrait but decided not to question it.

Penny laughed. Lya was too cute.

She went to sit on the couch that faced the portrait and began stroking Lya’s head.

She observed her parents portrait.

Her beautiful mother.

Her handsome father.

Young.

Happy.

Together.

Always.

A smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

"Mom."

"Dad."

"Today was scary."

Her voice was soft.

"Kai almost got scratched."

She immediately smiled.

"Yes, yes. I know."

"He needs more training."

"But don’t worry."

"He’s fine."

"And Ben was really frightened today."

"He really does worry too much."

A laugh escaped her lips.

"Mm."

"I know."

"He has a good heart."

"And Erik..."

"He was pretending to be okay again."

Penelope shook her head helplessly.

"I know."

"He’s stubborn."

"Like Uncle Charlie."

Her eyes softened.

The living room remained quiet.

Yet somehow—

It never felt lonely.

Because she had long since grown accustomed to this.

Talking to them.

Answering questions no one else could hear.

Then—

Killian’s exhausted face suddenly appeared in her mind.

His messy hair.

His trembling hands.

His uneven breathing.

And the way he’d stared at her.

As though reassuring himself she was alive.

Penelope smiled.

"You know..."

"I believe that Killian Remington is strange."

"He ran twenty-five floors."

"Twenty-five."

She laughed softly.

"Can you believe that?"

"He probably didn’t trust the elevator."

"His thoughts were running wild when he saw that zombie in the lobby."

"And when he saw me..."

Her smile softened.

"He looked so relieved."

She paused.

Then smiled again.

"Yes, yes."

"I know."

"It was sweet."

"But don’t look at me like that."

"He’s just a friend."

"No."

"Really."

"Just a friend."

"And besides..."

"He’d fit right in with everyone."

"Ben worries too much."

"Kai jokes too much."

"Erik pretends he’s okay."

"And Killian seems to be overly protective."

She nodded to herself seriously.

"Who would have thought...I’d inherited another brother."

Silence.

Then Penelope burst out laughing.

"Mom, stop laughing."

"Dad, don’t make that face."

"I’m serious."

"He’s lonely."

"And he had a hard life."

"So be nice."

"He really is a good person."

Her smile became gentle.

"Besides..."

"I think you’d like him."

She lowered her head.

Her voice becoming softer.

"Thank you."

"For leaving me behind so many wonderful people."

"Mom."

"Dad."

"I’m not lonely anymore."

"And..."

Her eyes slowly became heavy.

"I miss you."

"But..."

"I’m okay."

"I’m really okay."

Still smiling softly—

Penelope curled up on the couch.

And slowly drifted to sleep.

Her last sight before sleep claimed her—

Was the portrait of a silver-haired queen and her red-haired king.

Watching over their little girl.

Just as they always had.

Together.

Always.

Lya took in all this conversation. At first, she thought her big sister had lost her mind.

’Has sister gone crazy?’ she asked her self.

She observed more attentively.

Then concluded. ’No’

’She’s speaking to her mother and father.’

Just like before.

As though they had never truly left.

And somehow—

That thought didn’t seem strange.

Because every time Sister smiled...

Every time she laughed...

Every time she said:

"Mom, stop laughing."

Or—

"Dad, don’t make that face."

Her eyes were full of warmth.

Not sadness.

Not loneliness.

Warmth.

As though her parents had always been there.

Watching over her.

Then Lya whispered quietly to no one in particular: "Even after death, Sister still talks to them"

Lya couldn’t help but think of her own mother. Where was she? She left her here in this space for Penelope.

Should she also try talking to the air like Penelope? Would her mother respond as well?

The little phoenix lowered her head. And for the first time since awakening—

She missed someone she had never met.

Yet strangely—

She didn’t feel sad.

Because Sister wasn’t sad.

And if Sister could smile while talking to her parents...

Perhaps one day—

She could do the same.

The little phoenix snuggled closer against Penelope.

Carefully curling herself beside her sleeping sister.

She would ask tomorrow.

Sister knew everything.

Tonight—

She would sleep.

And perhaps...

Dream about Mother.

Just as Sister dreamed about hers.