Unleashing phoenix

Prologue

Emerging from the trees, I stepped onto the training field, causing all conversations and activity to pause. Ignoring the looks of annoyance directed at me from the king's enforcers I made my way across the field, towards my father with my head held high refusing to show the Nerves taking over my body.

I know what they are thinking, I don't need to be a mind reader to know that they don't want me here, that they think because I'm the only shifter that can't shift I'm not strong enough to take on the dangerous werewolves and vampires that step out of line. To them, I'm just the freaky werewolf that couldn't shift, but they're wrong, and I'm going to prove it.

"Phoenix what are you doing here?" My best friend asked, falling into step beside me. Turning to face him, I gave him a flat look.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Come on Phoenix, don't do this again," running a hand over his short black hair, his green eyes begged me to turn around and go back home.

"You know how much I want this Slade, you may think I'm wasting my time, but this is important to me"

"I don't think you're wasting your time" Slade muttered, wiping a bit of sweat off of his face with the hem of his top, revealing his six pack. I'm pretty sure I heard the girls huddled around the edge of the field watching the men train sigh. I don't blame them; Slade's six pack is defiantly something to swoon over.

"You didn't need to say it, we've been best friends long enough that I know what you're thinking before even you do"

"It's not that I don't think you're not capable of becoming an enforcer because I think with the right training you could be, it's just that your father is never going to allow you to join especially after what happened to your mother and I don't want to see you get hurt"

I winced at the mention of my mum, it's been six years since the night I had watched her die at the hands of a group of vampires. I made a promise that night that I would hunt down and kill all those that were involved in her death and to do that, I needed to learn how to fight and become an enforcer.

"But isn't that exactly why I should do this? Mum didn't know how to protect herself Which resulted in her death" swallowing down a lump in my throat, I carried on "I have to do this Slade, please understand"

Pulling me to a stop, Slade placed his hands on my shoulders and lowered his head so he was at eye level with me.

"You're really determined to do this aren't you?"

With a nod of my head, he let out a loud groan and released my shoulders in defeat. I could tell he's annoyed that I won't give up on becoming an enforcer, no matter how many times my dad turns me away, but he understands why, so he won't try and talk me out of it, and for that, I love him for it.

Placing a hand on my lower back he guided us towards my dad without another word.

"Phoenix, Am I to assume you're here in the hope you'll encourage me to let you become an enforcer. Because we've already had this discussion. Several times in fact. And the answer is still no" dad stared down at me with his hands linked behind his back, as I stood in front of him. The irritation in his blue eyes was obvious, but I ignored it.

"Dad, please give me a chance" I pleaded like I do every time we have this argument "if you woul-"

"Enough!" He bellowed, cutting me off. "I am sick and tired of this! I may be your father, but I'm also your king! If I say you are not to become an enforcer I mean it!" His loud voice booms across the field for all to hear.

Taking a few steps away, he takes a throwing knife from a vampire and comes to stand in front of me. "I'll tell you what, if you can sink this knife into that target," he points towards a training dummy twenty meters away "then I'll consider letting you train to become an enforcer"

I frowned grabbing a hold of the handle pointing towards me. "But you just said I wasn't to become one, why change your mind now?" I asked, feeling the weight of the black knife in my hand. It's heavy, heavier than I expected a throwing knife to be, but then I don't know anything about weapons so what do I know?

"Oh, I haven't changed my mind, I know you're going to fail, and once you do, maybe you'll finally give up on this ridiculous idea" he huffed, moving away from me to give me space.

Angry, that my own father doesn't believe in me, I gritted my teeth Turning towards the training dummy. This is it, this is my chance to prove them all wrong, I can't screw this up I thought, Planting my feet shoulders width apart. My hands shook with a mixture of fear and excitement as I lifted my arm up above my head. Whispers break the silence around me distracting me, but I work hard to block them out. Failure isn't an option. Taking a deep breath, I quickly glanced towards Slade, with a nod of encouragement I train my eyes back on the dummy and on the count of three I took a step throwing my arm forwards and releasing the knife.

Like it's happening in slow motion I watched, unable to breathe as the knife sailed through the air towards the target. Confident that I did it, I started to smile, but the smile soon disappeared as the knife flew right past the dummy falling to the ground just meters behind.

"No," I whispered, feeling my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. Laughter rings out around me as I'm unable to pull my gaze away from the knife lying in the overgrown grass.

I failed.

"Well" my dad chuckled placing a hand on my shoulder "we all saw that coming, why don't you head back home and save yourself anymore embarrassment"

"But, that was my first try, you can't honestly expect me to get it right the first time" I argue, unwilling to give up.

"That's enough Phoenix! You are a princess, you're meant to be powerful, and yet, you can't shift or do something as simple as throw a knife at a dummy and actually hit it. How do you expect to go against Supernatural's if you're as useless as a human? Sometimes I wonder if you're even my daughter!" He shouted, causing a vein to pop out of his forehead. A good indicator that's he's truly pissed off. The harshness in his voice matched the cold look in his eyes aimed at me.

I reeled back as if he slapped me in the face. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as I stared at my father in disbelief, but I hold them back, refuses to let him see how much he hurt me. He's never spoken to me like that in all my eighteen years of life.

"Tell me how you really feel" I croaked, feeling a tear roll down my cheek. So much for holding them back. Maybe I really am weak.

"Phoenix, I didn't mean that" dad uttered, reaching out for me. "I'm so sorry sweetheart" I can see the regret in his eyes, eyes so much like mine. But it's too late, the damage has already been done.

I took a few steps back, moving out of his reach. Wanting to be anywhere but here, I spun around and legged it out of the field, ignoring the shouts of Slade and my dad for me to stop. Instead, I pumped my arms and legs faster.

"You don't belong here."

"Don't come back freak."

"Pathetic excuse of a princess."

The comments from the enforcers cause the tears to fall faster, making my platinum blonde hair to stick to my cheeks as I pass them. Crashing into the woods, Twigs snapped under my combats as I hurried through the trees eager to escape my humiliation. I know when I'm not wanted, if dad won't let me train, I'll find someone who will, even if that means leaving Baywood because I refuse to give up. One day I'll be back, and when that day comes, I won't be the weak girl they once knew.