Chapter Twenty- Two: Daughters of the Phoenix

                                    

                                          
A/N: The above picture is made up of images I selected that represent how I see each character. They are not mine, credits go to the artists.

                          
"Thank goodness you and the kids are safe," I said, pulling Nabiyre into a tight hug. After taking down the tents of the emergency treatment area, I left for Connor and Lily's hospital to help treat the patients. 
                          
"Of course they were safe Miss Callista, since I was there to protect them." Ahta stated, puffing out his chest. 
                          
"You were very brave Ahta," I smiled, crouching down to his height. Apparently, Ahta was one of the first to realize that there was a fire, and ran to bang on the neighbors' doors so that they could evacuate. Even when the fire started to spread, he continued to help everyone until one of the city guards brought him to safety. 
                          
After checking on Nabiyre's family; I entered the emergency room that I had helped Connor design using the knowledge from my past life. 
                          
Groans of pain filled the crowded room as doctors rushed from bed to bed to treat the burn patients. I noticed a young doctor bending over a small bucket in the corner of the room; this was probably his first time experiencing anything like this. Victims of severe burns suffered terrifying injuries that would leave scars for life, and an immense amount of both physiological and psychological pain. In this world, there were no heavy duty drugs that could alleviate the burning sensations and if someone did find something, it probably wasn't legal. 
                          
"Callista, can you help me over here?" Connor beckoned. I rushed over and began to help cleaning and dressing the burn patients. 
                          
"Casualties?" I asked as I covered a patient's swelling arm with soaked gauze. 
                          
"It's hard to tell since a lot of the tenants aren't documented, but so far the guards have counted 28 deaths, and 52 injuries." He replied, his tone grim. Though over 300 people lived in the tenements, 28 was still too many. Something like this couldn't happen again. 
                          
"Caden will discuss the repair costs when father gets back. We will do everything in our power to compensate your hospital and rebuild the tenements." I said, moving on to the next patient. 
                          
"You have done some much already, we are in your debt," Connor thanked. 
                          
"No, this happened because we didn't do enough. It has been common knowledge that the tenement buildings aren't safe, yet nothing has been done. Though this has been tragic, hopefully it can bring about some change." 
                          
The sun had started to peek over the horizon by the time the chaos had begun to settle. Elaine, Caden, Ryland, Prince Philip and I had been up all night, and the exhaustion was starting to get to us. 
                          
The five of us distributed food and water to the tenants who had spent the night in the waiting room, many of them still covered in soot. 
                          
"P-please don't bow... uhm..." 
                          
I looked to see Elaine fussing over an older Cynth refugee who lived above Nabiyre. 
                          
"Is everything okay?" I asked, making my way over to my panicking friend. 
                          
"I uh, I don't know-" 
                          
"The Daughters of the Phoenix have been raised from the ashes." The woman bellowed, raising her hands to the sky. Everyone in the waiting room turned to stare at us, and the woman grabbed both Elaine and I's hands, kissing them. 
                          
"I have been blessed by the spirits to see you with my own eyes, the Daughters of the Phoenix-"
                          
"Grandma!" A girl called, running over to us. 
                          
"I'm so sorry is she offended you Lady Callista, please forgive her, she has lived a long life," She apologized, helping the elderly lady off the ground.