I opened my eyes stretching my hand hit something. Looking down Raziel was was sitting in a chair next to my bed his arm bandaged up and his wing covered in some kind of white cream making the feather stick out where the cream had dried.
I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of it. His eyes fluttered open at the sound smiling.
"What's so funny?"
I pointed at his wings chuckling.
"Is that funny is it?"
I nodded he reached out and tickled me causing me to laugh louder til I begged him to stop.
He lay down next to me as we stared into each other's eyes.
"So does this mean you forgive me?"
I frowned it still hurt to know that he was involved in manipulating me but I understood that he thought he was doing the right thing. Plus it didn't change the fact that I still loved him that hadn't changed no matter what he had done in the past.
The one I really blamed was Michael he was the one behind the whole thing, it was his plan after all.
"I'm not going to lie Raziel it still hurts but it doesn't change my feelings for you. You were just following orders I don't blame you."
He sighed.
"You know Michael has always had your welfare in mind everything he has done has been to keep you alive."
"Yes but that doesn't change the fact that he's the reason I have lost my soulmate. If roles were reversed and he was the reason behind Dina dying would you not hate him like I do?"
Raziel went quiet til finally he answered.
"But Dantalis is still alive."
"We both know that without the dagger he is as good as dead."
Raziel sat up staring out the window.
"I'm sorry."
He snapped his head back to look at me.
"For what?"
"It's my fault Soneillon found us if I hadn't taken down the seal if I hadn't burned down your house you would've never got hurt."
He leaned down kissing me on the lips.
"It's not your fault it's mine, I should've told you the truth from the start."
I reached up pulling him closer to deepen the kiss til he winced in pain.
"Oh I'm sorry."
He laughed.
"It's fine I can handle the pain if it means kissing you."
He smiled mischievously.
"Oh no you don't not til your better mister."
He pouted making me laugh.
Turning serious I asked.
"What now?"
He frowned seeming to hesitate.
"Raziel please no more secrets."
He stared at me sadness in his eyes.
"The reason why you were the only one that could heal me is cause your fire is the only thing that can kill Soneillon."
"Why me?"
"Cause you are Dantalis's soulmate and since Soneillon is in Dantalis's body the only way to kill Soneillon..."
My hand went to my mouth.
"Is to kill Dantalis."
Raziel nodded.
"I'm sorry Phoenix we tried to find a way to save Dantalis but without the dagger there is no other way."
It was hard to show my true feelings in front of Raziel for while I do love him Dantalis is still my soulmate even with the mark gone somehow I still felt a connection with him.
"It's alright I know what he still means to you."
I turned back to him stunned. how could he be alright knowing Dantalis still held a place in my heart? It wasn't til now that I realised it was still there. How was it even possible I had destroyed the mark it should have severed all hope of us ever being together again.
"I don't know how but part of me still feels tied to him. I'm sorry Raziel,"
He pulled me closer wrapping his arm around me.
"Don't be sorry I still love Dina but that does not mean that I love you less. When I'm with you I'm with you completely. Your love for Dantalis will never change mark destroyed or not he will always be apart of you."
He hugged me close.
"How can I kill him knowing none of this is his fault?"
Raziel kisses my forehead.
"I will not pretend to know what your going through my mate was taken from me through means that I could not control, but just know that I will always be there for you no matter what."
I wrapped my arms around his neck straddling him.
"I love you."
He smiled up at me his face showing all the love he had for me without even having to say it.
"I love you too my little Phoenix."
His smile turned cheeky as I felt him getting hard beneath me.
Before I knew it he flipped me onto the bed towering over me my wings spread behind me. Slowly he lowered himself kissing me with so much passion I was instantly wet.
He unbuttoned my pants slipping his fingers in as I moaned in pleasure. His kisses travelled to my Phoenix tattoo as I arched my back.
"God I love the feel of you."
Smiling mischievously I raised my hand fire covering it. He arched an eyebrow as I used my fire burning away all his cloths. He laughed.
"Two can play at that game."
With his bandaged arm he did the same to my own clothes and while still working his fingers inside me.
He smiled as he lowered his head replacing his fingers with his tongue.
I gripped the sheets as my pleasure was heightened. He worked his tongue til I couldn't handle any more grabbing his hair pleading for mercy.
In the next instant he was all the way inside me my cry of pleasure spurring him on. I held onto him my hands caressing the base of his wings forcing a moan out of him.
He lifted me as he wrapped my legs around him going deeper. I moaned into his neck as I opened my mouth biting him playfully.
His moan vibrated through his chest as he held me tighter our passion climaxing as both of us reached the highest level of ecstasy.
We fell to the bed both panting my bite mark still showing on his neck.
I slowly touched it with my hand.
"I wish I could mark you."
He smiled sadly.
Cupping my face.
"I wish the same but you can only have one soulmate all I can give you is a promise. A promise that I will always be yours and that no matter what I will always do everything with in my power to keep you safe and happy."
I smiled he's words were the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to me, I didn't deserve this beautiful kind being before me.
Somehow as always he seemed to know my thoughts.
"It's ok for you to be happy if any body deserves it it's you. After everything you've been through I know how hard it is to trust in yourself and I will do everything I can to help you over come what's ahead."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
I looked away not being able to look into his eyes.
"What if I can't kill him? What if in not killing him I loose both of you?"
He reached out gripping my chin forcing me to look at him.
"You will never loose me even if I die I will always be with you in here."
He touched my chest where my heart was.
"Death is not the end little Phoenix I will live on in you, in your memory of me and in your love for me."
He kissed my forehead pulling me in to hold me close as he continued.
"Just as Dantalis will."
His last words lingered in my mind. It always came back to Dantalis either I killed him and lived with the guilt of killing my soulmate or I left him alive killing the whole world including Raziel.
Once again I thought of the vision I had how could I live with myself knowing I allowed the world to be turned into a demon filled chaos.
Did I really have a choice? If Dantalis was here I knew he would rather die then let Soneillon win.
I turned to Raziel.
"There's something I haven't told you."
He arched his eyebrows as I sat up looking away.
"When you found me after escaping the underworld I had a vision."
He listened silently giving me all the time in the world as I told him all that I could of what I saw. Once finished I faced him again his face was blank of all emotion.
"Raziel?"
"We must speak with Michael."
He got up going to the closet which surprising held enough clothes for all occasions for male and female.
"Wait what?"
He threw a Roman style dress at me which made it easier to accommodate wings.
"He needs to know what you saw."
I scowled throwing the dress on the bed.
"Well you tell him I'm not going anywhere."
Fully dressed again he grabbed the dress puting it back in my hand.
"Phoenix I know you blame Michael for everything that you've been through but this is important. He needs to know what Soneillon is planing. You were given that vision for a reason he needs to be told about it and it needs to be you that tells him."
"Why me?"
"Because going by your vision it's not just heaven that's in danger it's everything. Heaven, hell, good, evil none of it matters if there is no balance between the two everyone and everything will perish. Even the seven fallen angels are in danger."
"Argh fine but I refuse to play nice with him."
He laughed.
"I would expect nothing less."
————
We stood in a room of white with a pedestal full of water. Raziel has told me it was called the seers room and that the water was enchanted. It could show you anyone in the world.
I stood next to the pool as we waited for Michael. Curious I looked into the water slowly an image started to form.
I held my breath as Dantalis's face reflected back at me. He was surround by darkness his face showed so much sadness and despair I knew I was looking at Dantalis and not Soneillon. I must be looking at him trapped within his own mind.
I couldn't stand it any more I stepped away grabbing Raziels hand haunted by the enchanted water.
Michael entered followed closely by my father.
"What's this about Raziel? You both should be recovering."
"Like you care."
I muttered under my breath, Raziel squeezed my hand shutting me up.
"Phoenix had a vision."
But of them looked to me surprise in their eyes.
He let go of my hand urging me forward.
"Tell them."
I sighed as I told them exactly what I had told Raziel.
Michael stared at me intently as I talked exchanging glances every now and then with my father.
"His was siting on a throne of human skulls as demons revenged the earth."
Michael looked to Raziel.
"It's as we feared brother, this vision proves that."
Michael turned to my father.
"Arrange a meeting with the seven fallen tell them the meeting is to take place without Soneillon but don't tell them why."
Then he faced Raziel.
"Gather all the archangels they need to be ready."
Raziel nodded.
What was happening? A meeting with the seven fallen? Why would michael what to talk to them?
Then he turned to me.
"Phoenix you will attend the meeting with the fallen and tell them exactly what you have told us."
Shocked and angry that he thought he could order me about I clenched my first.
"And why would I do that?"
"Phoenix!"
My father chastised.
"What? Who is he to order me about? He's the reason Soneillon is free in the first place."
My father started to say something but Michael stopped him.
"Let her say her piece Gabriel."
I scowled.
"Gee thanks. I only have one thing to say I owe you no allegiance I'm not an angel of heaven nor of hell. Now I've told you of the vision what you do with that knowledge is up to you."
He raised his eyebrows.
"And what of Raziel? Your father and your mother? All of them do owe their allegiance and all of them will die without your help."
I bared my fangs he was trying to manipulate me again and I hated it.
Raziel grabbed my hand stopping me from throwing myself of Michael.
"I forgot that you get your kicks off by forcing others to do your bidding never getting your own hands dirty. You have everyone else fooled that you manipulated me for my own sake but I know the truth. You lead me here to this point so that I had no choice but to do as you want. You forced my hand and I hate you for it. I'll go to this meeting I will kill Soneillon even if it means killing Dantalis but I'll do it because it's the right thing to do not because you forced me into it and when this is all over.."
I paused ripping my hand from Raziels.
"I will make you answer for everything that you have done."
I stalked pasted them both slamming the door behind me.
"Wow you've got balls fledgling."
I looked up surprised as Raguel stood before me.
"What do you what?"
I was still furious with Michael as I struggled to keep my fire in check.
"Hey girl no need for the hostility props I've been dying to tell him off for eons."
Her words made me smile.
"See there you go, come on let's go for a walk."
She lead me to the same balcony we came in on when we arrived.
"So what started all that anyway?"
I told her that Michael wanted me to attend a meeting with the seven fallen.
"Well I can't blame you their all dicks that's why they got kicked out in the first place."
I sighed.
"It's not that I'm just sick of everyone making decisions for me. Its always about the prophecy and my part in it. When people see me all they see is the Angel of prophecy and for Michael that's all he sees."
Raguel looked out over the clouds in front of us.
"It's true some times Michael tends to see everything in black and white. Now I'm not saying what he's done is right or that he was justified in doing it, but he is the commander of heaven.
Not only must he think of all the angels of heaven but everyone on earth aswel. Every decision he makes is for the greater good of everyone not just the one.
He doesn't show it but I can guarantee to you he does see you for you. You are his sworn brother's daughter to him your like a niece. He does care about you Phoenix."
"Yea well he has a funny way of showing it."
"Don't you be teaching her any bad habits Raguel."
Raziel came up behind me wrapping his arms around me while Raguel fakes being offended.
"You wound me."
He laughed.
"Guess I'll go corrupt some other unsuspecting fledgling."
Once Raguel was out of sight Raziel turned me around to face him frowning.
I looked down guiltily.
"I'm sorry he just makes me so mad I lost my temper."
He lifted my chin up kissing me gently.
"You need to let go of your anger, it will only eat away everything that makes you who you are."
I sighed.
"I can't help it wouldn't you be angry if everything you did was because someone was manipulating every move you made?"
He pulled me into his arms as I buried my head in his chest.
"I'm scared that the anger will consume you. Your not the only one that's scared. I'm also scared of loosing you, I fear that this anger will destroy everything I love about you. I couldn't bear the thought of loosing you."
I squeezed him tight thinking about what both he and Raguel had said. Maybe I should try following Michaels lead. Maybe he was doing all this for my sake. Maybe I should try let go of my anger and give Michael another chance. I didn't have to join heaven just follow his lead with regards to the prophecy.
Raziel pulled away looking down at me.
"Come on I have some time before I have to leave."
He smiled from ear to ear pulling me towards his room. I knew what that smile meant as I gladly followed.