A voice lifts me up. I rise, energy catching my skin in sparks. Strength. Christopher becomes quiet, almost serene. A figure lunges, I strike. A million tiny fractures ring out, drowning the primal scream. Another attack. My hand strikes across his chest, leaving a trail of bloody fire. The fire burns through him, devouring its victim whole. A woman dressed in garish green and white chokes on the stench of charred flesh. The group of mercenary mutants fall back, running like the hounds of hell nip their heels. They would have killed my son. The one wielding a harpoon is grabbed by his own shadow. His shadow seeps out of the concrete, forming a demonic beast. I smile as its black maw rips apart the Marauder. Christopher snuggles closer to my chest, already dreaming peaceful dreams. 

"Clean yourself up, get in the plane, and go home," the voice tells me.

I do as she requests. Christopher sleeps deeply all the way home. Once home, I place Christopher in bed and take a well deserved hot shower. The heat hammers into my muscles, slowly relaxing me. I feel her presence again. "Who are you?" I ask in a hushed voice. Am I going crazy? 

The voice's laughter wraps around like wind chimes, "You are not going mad. Consider me your guardian... angel. Perhaps more like a fallen angel working to replace leathered wings with ones of fire..." 

As I step out of the shower, the towel rack becomes my anchor. I see the body attached to the voice. "My god... you look like... me!" I exclaim, covering my dropping jaw with one hand. I am going crazy.

More laughter. "I already told you, you're not going crazy. Believe me, I'm something of an expert in the field." She casually helps me to my bed. "And of course I look like you, I was you- but that was a long time ago..." Bittersweetness covers her features like a veil. A small smile crosses her lips. "We can talk of kings and queens and other things after you've gotten some rest..." With that, she gingerly tucks me in; and I release myself into the sweet embrace of Morpheus.

Dreams within dreams. I sleep deeply; visions of the future dance with echoes of the past. My mind wraps around the imagery, seeking meaning from the abstract. Questions are born from answers, both seeming to drip from a sphinx with wings of flame. The knowledge burns as it heals, like the flames of Anodyne. Was it so long ago that I was The Healer? A blade the color of garnet appears in my hand, I run the tip along my hand's lifeline. Crimson blood splashes onto black marble floor. Within my heart, I feel a flame dancing. My blood turns to fire, healing the wound. 

The sphinx speaks with a thousand voices, "Sacrifice your damnation, find redemption." 

I know what must be done. I plunge the blade deep into my chest, cracking through bone to sheath it in my heart. The pain tries to take my balance, but I still stand. As I remove the blade my bloodfire pours forth like a fountain, baptizing me. Something is left undone. Wings, she spoke of fire wings. I take the blade and make six cuts on my back. The last of my energy tries to leave for parts unknown, but I still stand. Six wings made of flame erupt from the freshly made wounds, unfolding as if to take flight. The sphinx exhales onto the gaping hole in my chest, sealing it. The fountain wells up within me, lending strength and energy. I look up at the sphinx, seeing its alabaster fur and black eyes. Deep within its eyes, two blue stars shimmer. 

"In sacrificing damnation, you must now find yourself," the sphinx closes its eyes and turns to sand.
 
 
 

Copyright 2001 Fossicker Jones & Ronin Morgan. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and redistribution prohibited without written permission by the authors. Morpheus is the property of DC comics. Madelyne, Christopher, and the Marauders are the property of Marvel comics. Phoenix, and sphinx are both legendary creatures belonging only to themselves. This is a work of fan fiction which exists only to amuse its author and promote comic books, and is not officially affiliated with DC or Marvel in any way. No financial gain is made from this work. Now go out and buy some comics.