Raziel wiped the last tear I would shed for Dantalis away. He said nothing even though i saw it in his eyes that he knew who the tear was for.
In giving myself to him I had stripped myself of the old me. I was no longer Reece but had become what Raziel has seen me as. I was Phoenix and Was proud to be what he saw in me.
Knowing exactly what was going though my head Raziel held me in his arms.
"Phoenix?"
"Hmm."
"I love you."
I smiled looking up at him.
"I love you too."
My eyes went to his tattoo it was some sort of tribal design. I started tracing the lines with my fingers. Raziel stopped my hands just as they reached the lowest part near his abdomen.
"Keep going like that and we won't get any sleep tonight."
I giggled, it felt like forever since I had been this happy.
"I just wondered if it meant anything?"
He looked away staring at the ceiling. Suddenly a females face flashed before my eyes along with a name.
"Dina?"
Raziel snapped his head back to face me, he seemed to start saying something then stopped.
I thought he wouldn't answer til he nodded.
"She was my soul mate."
Shocked I lifted myself up to look down at him, somehow I never thought to ask if he had already had a soul mate.
"You have a soul mate?"
I asked a little aggressively without meaning to.
He laughed.
"Your cute when your jealous."
I punched him lightly in the arm as I lay back down on his chest.
"And yes I had a mate."
"What happened to her?"
"She died during childbirth I lost both her and my son."
I stared at his face as sadness entered his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Raziel."
He ran a hand through my hair.
"Don't be it was eons ago I've had a long time to come to terms with it."
Somehow knowing he didn't want to talk about I climbed on top off him smiling.
"I do believe you said something about a sleepless night?"
He grabbed me instantly hard as for the second time he plunged into me my body already accustomed to his size. I moaned at the pleasure pain as we again made love.
Both exhausted we fell asleep in each other's arms.
————
Four weeks later We fell into a retinue Angel fire training every second day and combat training every other. At night we spent together, I never got tired of feeling his body against mine.
Some times I felt myself wishing we could stay here forever. forget about the rest of the world and just stay in our safe little bubble. But every time I looked in the mirror and saw the scar hand printed on my neck I was reminded that it was not possible.
I began to resent wishing there was some way to be rid of it. Some way to take away the pain i felt every time I saw it.
Raziel wrapped his arms around me his shirtless chest pressing against my wings. I could see the black lines of his tattoo in the mirror.
That's it I knew what I had to do.
"Raziel how did you get your tattoo without it healing over?"
"It was made with Angel fire why do you ask?"
"I want a tattoo...here."
I pointed to my neck.
Raziel looked at me concern in his eyes.
"Phoenix some things are not meant to be erased."
"I need this."
I looked back in the mirror as I touched my neck tracing where Dantalis's mark had been.
"Every time I see it it's just a reminder of what happened. The only way I can move forward is if I change what it means to me."
Turning me around he cupped my face.
"And you plan to do that with a tattoo?"
I nodded.
"You had best call for your father then."
"Gabriel why?"
"He's the only one that knows how without the flame eating at your soul."
Well that put a damper on my plans I had no wish to see my father, especially now that I was with Raziel. What would he do if he found out? Would he care?
Before I lost my nerve I pulled a feather from my wings and sent it.
Raziel grabbed my hand.
Come on he won't be long best we do this outside.
It was still light outside as I shielded my eyes from the setting sun.
As Raziel said Gabriel came only minutes later followed by another with bright red wings. I knew instantly who it was.
My mother threw herself into my arms squeezing tight.
"Finally my daughter."
She held me at arms length as she cupped my cheek.
"Your so beautiful and those wings."
She hugged me again tears in her eyes.
"Mum? What are you doing here? I thought Michael had you locked up."
"Oh Reece my beautiful daughter Michael let me go the moment you escaped the underworld."
I looked to Gabriel.
"Why would he do that."
"Never mind that, come tell me everything I want to know my daughter."
"Hold up Sariel there's a reason why we called you here."
"Well called Gabriel anyway."
I said turning to my father.
"Sorry Reece there was no stopping her."
I smiled.
"It's fine but I did want to ask you a favour."
His surprise was instant.
"Anything."
"I want you to use your fire to tattoo my neck."
My mother and father exchanged a look I couldn't read.
"Reece-"
My father started but I cut him off.
"My names Phoenix now which is why I want it tattooed on my neck so that everyone will know that the old me is gone."
My mother was surprised by my request however my father didn't seemed surprised at all. Did he already know about Raziel and I. Perhaps there was more to their conversation all those weeks ago then I realised.
Looking into Raziels eyes I saw all the love he felt for me knowing that I did this just just for me but for both of us.
"Very well if that's what you want then consider it done. Are you ready for this? You know it will hurt like hell."
My face darkened.
"I have been to hell and back I know what that feels like."
Raziel reached for my hand squeezing it slightly giving me comfort.
My mother eyed the exchange but said nothing as my father told me to step forward.
"You may pass out from the pain since I have to hold it there for it to stick."
I nodded.
"I'm ready."
"Very well. Raziel hold her still get ready to stop her fire if it comes out."
He nodded wrapping his arms around me holding my hands down while flattening my wings so that they didn't get burnt aswell.
My father created black flames in between his hands then started to form the shape of a Phoenix soaring through the air. Then without warning he pressed it to my neck.
The pain was unimaginable far worse then when I had burnt away my mark. He held it there for what seemed like hours. My scream was instant as the flame hit my skin. The small control I had gained this past month was enough to hold back my own flames, however it didn't stop the pain. Finally my father pulled away the flame as Raziel let me go. Panting I almost fell but Raziel picked me up into his arms.
Raziel carried me inside stopping at the mirror he put me back on my feet but stayed beside me so that I could lean on him.
It was beautiful and was everything I had hoped it would be. Completely forgetting the fact that my parents had followed us in I kissed Raziel.
"Well I guess now I know why I wasn't allowed to come down before now."
I spun at the sound of my mothers voice.
She turned punching my father in the stomach.
"That's for not telling me."
I laughed I had never been so happy I had my mother and father here and Raziel my love.
"Thank you."
My father hugged me and for the first time ever I hugged him back.
"We will always be here for you."
I squeezed him tighter.
"I know that now."
My mother took over the hug.
"I love you hunni."
"I love you both."
My fathers lips spread into a wide smile.
"Come on Sariel we should leave these two alone to finish training."
I laughed when she wouldn't let me go.
"Just one more second."
They left as I turned back to Raziel wrapping my arms around his neck.
Heading towards the bed I realised I'd forgotten about my mother's evasion of my earlier questions.
Lying down I turned to face Raziel.
"Did you know my mother had been released?"
"Yes."
I sat up furiously.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked."
I looked away he was right I never even thought to ask. Some daughter i was.
"Don't worry I'm sure she wouldn't hold it against you."
"That's not the point Raziel I've been free for over a month now and I hadn't even thought about her or how she was doing. I'm a horrible daughter."
I buried my head in my hands.
Sitting up Raziel grabbed my chin forcing me to face him.
"Your not a horrible daughter you have been through a lot I'm sure she understands. Lay back down she is safe now there's no need to worry about her."
"But why did Michael release her? Aren't you curious. What changed?"
"Perhaps he no longer finds you a threat now that you aren't in the underworld."
There was something in the way he was looking at be but not looking at me that told me he was lying.
"Why are you lying? What aren't you telling me?"
He sighed.
"Phoenix-"
I got out of bed.
"What are you hiding?"
He reached for my hand to pull me back into bed.
"Tell me the truth!"
He remained silent pleading with his eyes to let it go.
"Tell me or I'll go to heaven and ask Michael why he let my mother go myself."
I started for the door when Raziel grabbed me around the waist.
"Phoenix please you must understand I'm an angel of heaven everything I do is for the sake of heaven."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing was I just a mission for him?
"Is that why your training me because of the dam prophecy because it will benefit heaven?!"
Anger burned inside me how could I have been so stupid.
"No!"
He jumped out of bed grabbing my hand I tried to pull away but he held on.
"My love for you is real and I'm training you so that you don't kill yourself with your own fire. Angel fire without control can kill the angel using it."
"How can I trust a word you say when your obviously hiding something."
"Trust this."
He placed my hand on his bare chest where his heart was.
"My heart beats for you alone. I love you more then anything or anyone in this world. All that I am is yours, all that I have done is for you."
I stared into his eyes scared more then ever of what he was going to say.
"What have you done?"
I whispered.
He dropped my hand and he sat on the end of the bed head down towards the floor as he proceeded to tell me all about the prophecy and what he and Michael had done to manipulate it. I sank to my knees not believing what I was hearing. Every decision they had made was the cause behind everything. Me being sent to the underworld, Dantalis being stripped of his oath, Soneillon taking over all of it to break me away from Dantalis.
I could feel my fire rising with every word along with my anger.
"Do what you will with me I deserve every bit of it but please promise me you will finish your training."
I rose to my feet and punched him, he allowed the blow to hit home.
"You and Michael used me, you manipulated me all for the sake of the stupid prophecy. When will I be rid of it? When will my life be my own to do with what I will? I trusted you!"
I punched him again.
"I gave my heart to you and you did the one thing that ensured I would never forgive you."
"Please don't say that."
He tried to reach for me but I slapped his hand away.
Turning my fire erupted.
"Phoenix!"
First I broke the seal then a set the house on fire stepping out the door Raziel still inside his own fire protecting him from mine.
I watched as what was once my haven burned to smoulders. Raziel stood in the middle of it his own azure blue flames mixing with my red ones.
"She's got quite a temper does she not."
Both our heads turned to face Soneillon.