I watched as my father flew away until I could no longer see him.
It was better this way, alone was how it was meant to be. I would learn to control my power from Raziel then I would defeat Soneillon.
As for the everlasting peace fuck it once Soneillon was dead I didn't care what happened. An eternity alone? Whatever not much I could do about it now by severing my mark i had forced it upon myself, now I must live with it.
"Let's get this over with."
"First you need to rest you just went through your first stage of evolution you need to give your body time to adjust."
I groaned.
"We don't have time Raziel I'll be fine just tell me what I need to know so I can leave."
He stepped closer but I held out my hand. Even now I was struggling to fight back my fire. The power swirled inside me screaming to be let out. I didn't want to be around anyone when it did.
"Reece you must understand it's not as simple as flicking a switch. It will take months of training, first you need to understand your power in order to use it without hurting anyone."
My anger built making my fire burn hotter. Months!! Did we even have months? I recalled the vision I received only moments ago.
"No you don't understand the sooner i take down Soneillon the better."
My wings glowed in my frustration, I focused all my energy on holding the fire back.
"Reece try to calm down."
I gritted my teeth.
"I AM trying."
I tried to calm my raging thoughts but I couldn't stop thinking about the vision. Soneillon was a monster and I hated him, my skin ignited with flames.
Quickly Raziel created a seal large enough to cover the entire forest.
"Reece you control it don't let it control you."
I stared at Raziel I could see my reflection in his eyes I was covered in fire my wings made of fire. The image scared me as I was scared for his life.
"Run!"
He came closer but I stopped him.
"No! I don't want to hurt you!"
He didn't listen as he reached out I slapped his hand away. Surprised I looked at his hand it wasn't burnt. My loss of concentration was all it took I looked to the sky as the fire radiated exploding out covering the entire forest Raziel still inside.
When the flames died down I collapsed to the floor, gentle hands picked me up.
I forced my eyes opened as Raziel looked down at me. Tears of relief came to my eyes that he was unharmed.
"I'm sorry."
I whispered.
He put his forehead to mine.
"Rest little Phoenix there is nothing to be sorry for."
His calming voice made me smile as I fell asleep exhausted.
—————
I woke to the smell of bacon and eggs as I stretched every part of my body aching.
"Morning I hope your hungry."
I rolled over as Raziel was dishing up two plates with bacon and scrambled eggs. My stomach groaned from the smell. I scowled at it's betrayal.
Raziel chuckled, the sound oddly comforting.
"Come, eat with me then we will start your training."
I groaned after what happened the last thing I wanted to do was train.
"Wasn't it you that said you wanted to get it over with?"
I got up slowly every muscle in my body screaming at the movement. Seating down heavily at the table I dug into the food. It tasted so good I moaned, I couldn't remember the last time I ate.
Looking up I nocticed Raziel staring at me a small smile on his lips.
"What?"
His smile disappeared like it was a bad thing.
"Nothing."
I shrugged maybe I imagined it either way as long as he helped me control my power I didn't care what the smile meant.
"So where do we start?"
"First you need to understand how your power works."
"What do you mean how it works? It burns what more is there to know?"
"There is more to Angel fire then just burning Reece. It is so much more, yes it burns but the reason why it hurts so much is that it eats away at your soul."
My eyes widened I had not known that. That must be why Azrael was so badly effected. Raziel continued.
"Now ordinarily only archangels can use it and only after many years of training. You however being the product of two archangels have skipped about a few hundred years of training, because of this you must learn fast before it consumes your soul."
I laughed bitterly.
"Like anything could do more damage to my soul then what's already been done."
Raziel eyes softened at my words placing his hand on my cheek.
"It will get easier little Phoenix."
There was that nick name again I pulled away from his hand.
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Little Phoenix? I have said."
"Yes but..."
I let my voice trail off not even knowing myself why it bothered me. I shook my head.
"Never mind."
Raziel let it go as he returned to explaining about my power like I hadn't interrupted.
"So there are four stages to Angel fire. Stage one is when you create it for the first time. Strong but only a fraction of its potential, in your case enough to take down an archangel."
I remembered when I had used it to capture Azrael then later blowing up the room.
"Yes I recall it all to well."
He seemed to look at with pity in his eyes only making me grit my teeth in anger.
"I don't need your pity."
"I don't pity you little Phoenix. You have been through a lot in the short time since your change, I only hope that you can let go of the anger within you."
Maybe it was something other then pity that I saw in his eyes.
I sighed.
"My anger is all that I have left."
"You know that isn't true."
"Isn't it? Heaven wants to kill me, Lucifer wants to use my power to destroy heaven and Soneillon...."
My voice trailed off I couldn't bring myself to say the horrible things he had done to me and Dantalis nor what he was planning to do. I don't know why I hadn't told Raziel about my vision yet. I guess I felt like it was my burden to bare.
I stood up not wanting Raziel to see the effect just saying Soneillons name out loud did to me.
"I need some air you can tell me more about angelfire later."
I left the house not looking back.
Outside the seal was still up just in case I blew up again plus I knew it hid our location.
Looking around I noticed a slightly worn trail so I decided to see where it lead. For what felt like hours I followed the trail as it wove through the trees, finally stopping before the mouth of a cave at the side of a tall mountain.
Looking behind me I slowly entered. It was so dark I raised my hand creating a ball of fire that hovered a few feet in front of me as I explored the dank tunnels.
Further in a light shined at the end I headed towards it. As I got closer the light started to change colours like a rainbow.
As I stepped through the archway my eyes widened at what I saw. It was beautiful there were crystals of all shapes and sizes of all different colours they glowed shining multicoloured beams around the cavern.
I spun in circles basking in the beauty of it. The cavern was so high I could comfortably take flight and still have plenty of room.
Spreading my wings I watched the colours glimmer on my feathers.
This was how Raziel found me, embarrassed I quickly snapped my wings shut.
"I thought I might find you here."
I turned away not being able to look him in the eyes feeling like a child.
"I was just exploring."
Raziel chuckled. Looking back I noticed that the light from the crystals didn't touch his wings seeming to get lost in the smoke like mist that covered them.
Realising that I was staring I again looked away embarrassed for a completely different reason.
"It's fine Phoenix you can look at them."
Still not looking I answered.
"Sorry for staring it's just....I was curious as to what they look like."
"Would you like to see them?"
My cheeks went red why did I care what his wings looked like? I shook my head as I built walls around my heart.
"No I'm fine I'm just going to head back."
I made to move past him when he grabbed my arm.
I opened my mouth to tell him to let go as I turned to face him When my eyes saw the most beautiful wings I have ever seen.
Like the feather he had sent to me in the underworld they were azure blue with silver tips only together the silver fanned out to create intricate patterns. They were amazing I couldn't help but stare, involuntarily I reached out slowly to touch them. Without thinking he stretched out his wing giving me permission.
I looked into his eyes mere inches from touching them.
"Why do you hide them?"
He laughed.
"I gather intel for heaven most times that's means being surrounded by enemies, I can't blend in with wings like this."
"But isn't it like hiding a piece of yourself?"
His eyebrows knitted together as he scrutinised me more closely as my fingers touched the silky silver lines woven on the feathers.
"Is that what your doing little Phoenix?"
I pulled my hand back instantly scowling. What was I doing. touching his wings I stepped back turning away from him.
"We should get back we still have training to do."
Before I could walk away he reached out stopping me again. I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let go.
"You don't need to distance yourself from me, I will always be here for you. It's true you have lost much but it is not your fault do not blame yourself for the actions of others."
I glanced back at him tears threatening to escape my eyes.
"Don't you get it everything I touch turns to ash."
He reached up and cupped my face his thumb caressing my cheek. I stared up into his eyes as he towered over me a full foot taller then me as he stepped closer.
"Raziel Don't, please."
One tear escaped, silently he wiped it away.
"You won't hurt me."
I stared into his eyes as he inches closer now only millimeters away.
Fear entered my heart as I whispered.
"How do I know you won't hurt me?"
He pulled back slightly, concern in his face.
"Phoenix-"
"Don't Raziel I'm here to train nothing more, stop trying to fix me I'm broken. I'm better off alone and your better off far away from me."
I pushed him away.
"I knew this was a bad idea I should have never stayed."
I went to leave But instead of grabbing my arm again Raziel pulled me into his arms and planted his lips on mine.
My destroyed mark burned as anger flared inside me. Pushing him away I summoned my weapons.
"I said don't!"
He chuckled.
"You can not defeat me little Phoenix."
"Don't call me that!"
I lunged swinging my sword at his head, faster then even I could see he blocked it with one of his double bladed daggers. I aimed at his stomach with my claws but just as fast he grabbed my wrists deflecting the blow.
Frustrated my anger growing I bared my fangs I solidified my wings using them to try knock his weapon out of his hand. Lighting fast he grabbed my wing forcing me to the ground.
An image of Soneillon breaking my wing flashed before my eyes. Screaming in fury I threw feather blades at him.
He flipped back avoiding everyone of them, how was he so fast?
I had no time to speculate as he smiled annoying me further.
"Give up yet?"
I growled.
Using my wings to lift me back off the ground I attacked blow after blow swing after swing he blocked or evaded but never did he strike back.
Be fore long I was panting.
"Why don't you fight back?!"
I screamed my fire ignited.
I threw myself at him using the force of my fire to fuel my blows. He didn't move til the last second. he dropped his blades azure coloured flames covered his hands as he stopped my blades burning them away in and instant.
His fire covered his own body just like mine as he wrapped his arms around me. His blue flames overtook my red ones til they were extinguished.
It was then that I realised how he survived the explosion yesterday, he had the same ability as I did.
It made me angry this whole time I was worried about hurting him when he was never in danger to begin with.
I struggled in his arms now exhausted emotionally and physically.
"Let go of me!"
I beat against his chest but he had my hands pinned. I could feel his toned body against my own as he held me tighter.
"Let go little Phoenix."
Tears came to my eyes as I sank to the floor in his arms.
"Why can't you just let me be alone?"
I cried between tears.
"Because you are not alone, you will never be alone."
"I destroyed the mark I know what is means there is no chance of another for me."
He lifted my chin up so that I looked into his eyes.
"Do you really think that god would condemn anyone to an eternity alone?"
"But I thought..."
"You thought that destroying the mark meant you could not love again?"
I remained silent that was exactly what I thought.
"No little Phoenix while Dantalis will forever be your soul mate even without the mark. it does not mean that love is lost forever to you. You are not broken you are just hurting. The loss of a mark is emotionally draining in itself let alone loosing it how you did."
He moved his hand to cup my face.
"And as for me hurting you? I would never hurt you I didn't know that when I started this mission that I would feel this way but I will not deny my feelings. I will not force you into anything nor will I ever use you or your power. Just know that when you are ready i will be there."
Slowly he placed his lips on mine, only for a second as he pulled us both up from the ground.
"Now I think that's enough training for today don't you?"
I laughed wiping away my tears.
"Come let's head back and I'll cook us up some food."
He held out his hand towards me waiting for me to take it. Slowly I placed my hand in his as he lead me towards the exit of the cave not even needing a light to lead the way.
On our way back I thought about all that he had said. When I was ready. Would I ever be ready? I had only just lost my soul mate was I ready to dive into another relationship after how badly the last one ended. I knew I was not yet ready but maybe some day. First I had to stop Soneillon from creating the world in my vision.
I looked at Raziel his strength softened my heart just a little as I smiled my first real smile since this all started. Before I lost my nerve I kissed him on the cheek.
"What was that for?"
"The promise of a future."
He pulled me into his arms.
"I could ask for nothing more."