The Lystrian Legends

"Renee. Renee. Come see what I've found. Renee. Come see."

Renee puckered her bottom lip and blew her red bangs out of her face. Her bright green eyes, sparkling like emeralds, never took focus off of the bug that scrambled around in the jar sitting on bed table. Eyes glued to the glass she reared her head back and hollered, "Coming mother." Leaning in close she tapped the jar sending her little captive into running circles. "You and I will get more acquainted later."

"Renee."

"Yes,mother." She again hollered. "Better go see." Placing one hand on the bed she jumped to her feet. She was wearing her favorite little white dress. She stood up tall and gently brushed out the wrinkles. Then darted from the room and down the hall toward the den. "Coming mother." She skipped down the hall looking from the corner of her eyes at her red curls as they playfully bounced along with her.

Her mother was pulling an old dust covered book out of an old box from the attic when Renee came skipping in. "There you are, Renee. Come," she patted a pillow on the floor next to her, "let me show you something." Renee ran over to the pillow and jumped in, knees first. "Careful." Her mother said as she placed a hand on Renee's back to steady her.

Her mother then moved the old box off the coffee table and placed the dusty book in the center. "Renee, this book is very special.It's a magical book." With the palm of her hand she brushed the dust from the cover revealing the emblem of a bird. "Do you know what this bird is?" Renee looked up at her mother wide eyed with anticipation and shook her head. "It's represents our family."

"The Phoenix?" Renee almost shouted.

"That's right, dear. This is the symbol of the Phoenix. This book contains the story of our family. All the way back to our great ancestor the Queen."

"The Queen? The one I was named after?"

"Yes. The Fire Queen. Renee Phoenix." She opened the cover and turned a few pages. "Would you like me to read it to you?"

"Yes. Yes!"

"Alright." She turned a few more pages and stopped on the beginning of the story. An emblem of the Phoenix was at the top of the page. Renee thought she saw it move. Then her mother read...