The Truth by Wen Wen Yang

Prologue

“You must be joking.” Myst mutters as she enters her bedroom. Well, it was Phoenix’s bedroom, but being married, they had combined rooms.

Yes, they were married. It had been a small ceremony; at least, that was what Phoenix had assured Myst it would be. However, when she entered the ballroom (as she firmly disagreed with having a church wedding. Children tend to start crying or screaming as soon as they enter a church.), Myst saw the room filled with at least a hundred people. There were families with their adopted children. There were Phoenix’s coworkers with powers from the firehouse, the rowdiest guests. There were Myst’s colleagues from the Coalition, the stiffest looking bunch. Phoenix had asked Myst to invite some of her friends from college, but Myst realized that she had spent a grand total of six months at college before dropping out to work for the Coalition. Besides, she wasn’t sure all of the children were people-trained. So now, there were only guests with powers.

As soon as Myst realized the number of guests, she shot a look at Phoenix. He shifted stiffly from one foot to the other. Myst decided he was uncomfortable enough without her influence.

The crowd began to roar as they saw Myst in a dress, a wedding dress no less! She had wanted something very simple, just a drape maybe. However, when the female colleagues heard about this, they would not allow it! After several hours of torment, Myst finally agreed on this dress because it was large enough at the bottom for her to wear her cargo pants and sneakers underneath. The top was high collared, allowing Myst to cover as much of her skin as possible. However, she had to compromise on the sleeves for the high collar, so it was sleeveless.

Meekly frowning, Myst walked down the aisle. Some of the children threw flower petals at her, but she stopped them in midair before they hit her. By the time she reached Phoenix and the judge, there was a colorful archway over the aisle. Finally, she let them drop to the ground, carpeting it with red, pink, yellow and white.

“Ahem!” said the judge as he tried to take some attention away from Myst. “We are gathered here…” Phoenix zoned out by that point. He stared at the veil covering Myst’s raven hair, the dress that had no design but was the most beautiful thing Myst had ever worn, and finally at his bride. She glowered at him. Despite the veil, it was still a powerful stare. Phoenix stared back calmly.

“If there is anyone who would disagree with this union, let them speak now,” the judge announced. Phoenix broke from Myst’s glare to cast his own glare at the audience. He had waited far too long for this moment.

“Hmm,” the judge murmured. “Speak now and prepare to get beaten down by the groom.” The audience laughed, for not one of them would deny Phoenix such happiness, or Myst such discomfort.

“Now you may present the rings,” Phoenix turned to Sphynx who had the handmade rings. He meowed as Phoenix slipped them off his tail. Now that his moment of importance was over, Sphynx curled up into a ball and fell asleep. Lucky you, thought Myst.

Phoenix gingerly pulled on her hand. She released her death grip on the bouquet and gave him her hand. He slipped the ring onto her finger. It was silver, rugged around the edges because Phoenix had melted, cast and polished the rings himself.

Phoenix handed Myst his ring and she slipped it onto his finger listlessly. Before she could take her hand back, Phoenix held it in a fierce grip.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge paused, seeing Myst cast her glare at him. “Hmm… if you want to risk your life, you may attempt to kiss the bride.”

Myst then turned to Phoenix, her eyes narrowing. He shrugged, looking away first. The audience did not dare to shout ‘Kiss, kiss!’ for Myst would take it as a personal insult.

Finally, Myst spoke, “We can leave now, right?” Of course, always thinking about an escape.

Phoenix placed a hand around her waist and held her close. She growled deep in her throat, but didn’t pull away. Together, they walked down the path of flower petals.

“Wait,” someone shouted. “You have to throw the bouquet!”

Myst looked back and replied, “No powers!” The women assembled, and readied themselves. Myst turned and threw it over her head. The flowers flew over all the women’s heads, and landed in the judge’s hands.

“My, this is awkward.” He sighed at the gaze of several angry women, except for Myst’s. She was smirking.

Together, Phoenix and Myst climbed into the waiting carriage. The driver snapped the reins and the horses pulled them away.

“You did that, didn’t you?” Phoenix asked. “The bouquet, you don’t have the muscle power to send it down the aisle like that.”

“I needed a distraction.” Myst shrugged as she rearranged her skirts.

“Are those sneakers?” Phoenix lifted a corner of the dress. “And are those my cargo pants?”

“Did you really expect me not to wear something underneath?” Myst retorted. “Then you mustn’t know me very well. Perhaps we shouldn’t have married.” She crossed her arms defensively.

Phoenix sighed and replied, “Too late for that, isn’t it?”

“I have the divorce papers in my desk. All you would have to do is sign, date, and initial in a few places.” Myst said almost hopefully. Phoenix ignored the comment. They rode around the riverside before turning back and having the reception in the room beside the one used for the ceremony.

Several days later, Phoenix had cleared the orphanage of children, sending them off to stay with members of the firehouse or Coalition. Of course, Myst didn’t know he was planning any of this. When she stepped through the front door, she heard the eerie silence.

She rushed up the stairs, dropping her messenger bag along the way, and opened Phoenix’s door.

And that is where we find her now.

“You really must be joking.” Her dark eyes scan the bedroom. The soft flame of fire orbs lights it, while incense sticks burn in the corners. The two full beds are pushed together in the center of the room. Myst edges backwards out of the room and collides into Phoenix.

“Damn it, I missed it.” He groans. “I wanted to see your face when you saw it.”

“So it was a joke, right?” Myst cannot stop the hopefulness from entering her voice.

“No, this is serious.” Phoenix holds up the champagne bottle and two glasses he has in his hands. “It’s our honeymoon.”

“I specifically requested no such thing.” Myst mutters as Phoenix enters the room and sets down the drinks.

“Well, your request was placed under consideration and then dismissed.” Phoenix turns back to his wife. Myst reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a small canister.

“You’re going to mace your own husband?” Phoenix thinks about chuckling at the idea, but realizes that Myst would take that as enough provocation to use the mace, or worse.

“If it keeps you away from me, I’ll handcuff you to the pipes under the sink.”

How kinky. Phoenix’s mind shoots back.

Myst’s eyes widen and she falters a step back. Phoenix realizes his mistake.

“You heard that?” Phoenix sighs, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t listen to those thoughts. It’s not conscious, like blinking. Just a reflex of the male mind.”

Myst growls in reply.

“I just thought you’d like a quiet night with me.”

“You could have asked what I would like, instead of taking suggestions from society.” Myst relaxes her arm and places the mace back into her pocket. She extends her hand and turns on the overhead light just as the fire orbs blink out of existence.

“Then what would you like?” Phoenix sighs out. There is a momentary pause, as Myst ponders this. Slowly, she steps toward Phoenix. As if choreographed, their arms part and reconnect around the back of the other.

Phoenix sighs as he rubs the space between Myst’s shoulder blades.

“You’re getting fat.” Myst says.

“It’s muscle. You wouldn’t believe how heavy the hoses and ropes and axes are.”

Myst leans away from Phoenix and gives his stomach a hard poke. He grunts. Her fingers spread and she presses against his abdomen with her fingertips. “Hmm, I guess you’re right.” She resettles herself in his arms.

“Ah, this is progress. I get insulted and you apologized.”

“That wasn’t an apology.”

“Let me have my moment of happiness, will you?” Myst doesn’t reply. “Now, where was I?” Phoenix strums his fingers on her spine.

Right, progress! First a hug, next a kiss, then some—ah!

The last thought is due to Myst’s knee jamming itself into a very soft part of Phoenix. She pulls away from him to allow him to double over and groan.

“Alright,” Phoenix nods when he is certain that he is still anatomically a man. “For my sake, could you not listen to my subconscious thoughts?”

Myst opens her mouth but then closes it and walks out of the room. Phoenix pauses a moment before following her. She is at the bottom of the stairs to the kitchen.

“Yeah?” She says into her cell phone. “Excellent timing. We’ll be there in a moment.” She flips the phone closed and looks up the stairs. “They need us.”

Phoenix’s shoulders droop. “There goes our honeymoon.”

3