Snippet #2819814

Phoenix was more relieved than he could put into words when things were normal the following morning, and the morning after that. Phoenix knew that their dealings with the demon weren't likely to be done. But as things settled into their new normal, it was easy to put that to the backs of their mind. Alex was spending more time with Abuela, learning about necromancy and demons. Some visits, Phoenix went. Others, he left Alex to go alone. He knew tat as they learned about demons and dark magic, it should have been stressful, scary. Phoenix knew that it unsettled Alex sometimes, that it was frightening. But they were in it together. And they were finally coming to terms with this thing that had haunted Alex for so long, a bittersweet feeling.

But it came with the caveat that Alex hadn't been sleeping. Phoenix could tell that something was weighing on his mind. He trusted Alex to talk to him about it whenever he was ready, or at least, if it was related to necromancy, that he'd tell Abuela. Now, he knew that Alex would talk about it. Phoenix wondered if it was the trial. The trial had been sticking in Phoenix's mind more than he'd expected. Maybe it was because Trav had helped them, had saved them. But at the same time, it was hard to reconcile what he'd done. Phoenix had decided almost as soon as they'd gotten the invitation that he wasn't going, but there was the occasional moment when he wondered if he should. But on the morning of the trial, it was the last place he wanted to be. He was sprawled across their couch, flicking through one of the many books they'd gotten from Abuela. It was one about protective charms, one Abuela had mentioned to him many times before, but it was only now he was getting to read it. Abuela had given it to Phoenix, knowing that Phoenix had a knack for managing to work protective charms in using plants and teas, but it was old fashioned and difficult to work his way through.

So when Alex sighed and shut his book, Phoenix gladly looked up. He wasn't quite sure what to expect, but honestly, he thought it was a good idea. He'd been meaning to drop in himself, but just hadn't gotten around to it. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Can I come?" He asked, stretching. In reality, the question was, "Do you want me to come?" He didn't want to overstep the mark if Alex wanted to talk to Zoe or Jaiden himself, but also knew that Alex might appreciate the moral support