"You bitch you just had to interfere."
I smiled.
"What's a matter Soneillon things not going your way?"
He roared blowing a fire ball at me.
My fire absorbed it easily, the moment I freed Dantalis it was like I knew my fire was mine to control. It came so easily now as I faught Soneillon.
It bent to my will as I dodged every attack counterattacking at every turn. He roared in anger,
"I should've killed you when I had the chance."
My blade sank into his shoulder.
"Yea you probably should have."
He tried to grab me but I used my wings to flip to his back as I pulled back my sword my fire covering its blade I used all my strength piercing the back of his neck.
He fell forward as I flipped off his back just as he hit the ground finally dead.
I smiled to myself.
The sound of clapping could be heard behind me I spun around weapons in hand.
"Well done Phoenix you've grown stronger."
I turned as what looked like a human with black hair and tanned skin stood clapping. He was tall and hot but the darkness that circled him gave a creepy air.
"Who are you?"
He smiled the most evil smile I had ever scene.
"Im hurt that Gabriel's memories elude you yet I did look different back then."
Turning towards the sky he frowned.
"Seems we're out of time. Oh well til next time sweet Phoenix I look forward to our next meeting."
He disappeared just as Raziel landed in front of me I let my fire go as my wings returned to normal.
"Phoenix thank god your alright!"
He wrapped his arms around me squeezing tight.
"Raziel I'm fine."
It was then that he noticed Soneillons body.
"You killed him?"
I smiled.
"Of corse."
"I can't believe it but why isn't the darkness disappearing?"
Even now the veins on the ground remained as dark as ever.
He grabbed my hand.
"Come on we're not safe here you can tell me everything when we get back."
I nodded as we both headed back to heaven.
As we landed both Michael and my father were waiting.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?"
Micheal fumed.
"I was saving Dantalis!"
"I can see that what if you had been killed what would have happened to the world, did you even think of that?"
I gritted my teeth.
"Of corse I thought of that but I had to try. Oh and Soneillon is dead just so you know."
"What?"
My father stepped forward hands on my shoulders.
"Are you serious?"
I nodded smiling.
"What does it matter he was merely a pawn and if you had bothered to tell anyone of your plan you would have known that."
Huh? So Michael knew Soneillon wasn't the one behind the darkness. I should've known even now he was still manipulating me.
I scowled.
"Of course you knew that god forbid you actually let me in on any of your plans so that I may make my own decisions. No you'd rather use my vision to get the fallen on your side. I'll die of shock the day you stop using me for your own means Michael."
He threw up his hands.
"Deal with your daughter Gabriel I'm done with this."
He stalked off.
My father watched him go turning back to me smiling.
"So how did you kill him?"
I laughed at the pride in his eyes as I recounted the whole battle.
"It was amazing you should have seen it I had complete control of my fire."
Then my face darkened as I recalled the demon afterward.
"There's something else."
Here Raziel stared at my father.
"I don't know who it was but I'm sure he's the one behind the darkness. He was surrounded by it like it was attracted to him. He said you knew him but that he looked different back then."
My fathers eyes grew serious.
"You say the darkness was attracted to him?"
I nodded.
"It can't be."
"What?"
My father stepped back looking to Raziel.
"Mastiphal."
"That's impossible you killed him."
The name triggered my heritage.
Mastiphal the prince of darkness last time he gained power he almost destroyed heaven til my father stopped him.
"I need to tell Michael."
"Are you sure he doesn't already know?"
I said sarcastically.
My father raised his eyebrow at me.
"You know one of these days I'm going to lock you two in a room till you hash out your differences."
"Tell him to stop manipulating me and I'd be happy to."
He sighed kissing my forehead.
"I'm glad your safe hunni."
He left going after micheal.
Turning back to Raziel everything that had happened at our last training session came rushing back to me.
"Raziel-"
"I know what your going to say and its ok I get it I was alone before you it'll be hard seeing you with him but I'm happy that you'll be happy."
"Raziel-"
"You don't have to say it..."
He kept talking not letting me get a word in so I did the only thing that would shut him up. Grabbing his shirt I planted my lips on his.
Stunned he didn't move at first then wrapping his arms around me he kissed me back.
"Are you going to listen to me now?"
He nodded.
"What I was going to say was I'm sorry."
His eyes widened in surprise.
"I only said those things because I blamed myself for Peter dying, for Angelica and for what happened to Dantalis. I was worried the same would happen to you so I pushed you away. I couldn't handle it if anything happened to you."
He cupped my cheeks returning a stray hair behind my ear.
"Dantalis may be the one I was fated to but your my soulmate I love you and I realise now that I'd rather spend my time being with you then worrying that something will happen to you."
He lifted me up spinning me around joy in his eyes at my words.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear your words I was so worried when I realised you'd gone. I thought you'd done all this to be with him."
Wrapping my arms around his neck I buried my head in his neck.
"Your the only one I want Raziel it was just something I had to do."
He put me down kissing me.
"Come on let's go get you cleaned up."
I knew what he wanted but i stopped.
"There's something I have to do first."
He turned back to me knowingly.
"Do you want company?"
I shook my head.
"It think it might be better if I go alone."
He nodded giving me one last kiss as I headed towards the infirmary.
The room was full of angels that had been touched by darkness most I had already helped heal some it had already spread to their hearts. Their was no saving them except to be there as they passed.
Raphael was the first to notice me as he inclined his head.
"He's over there."
I thanked him and headed towards the bed where he lay his eyes shut.
Kail was in a seat beside Dantalis. he stood up to face me.
"How is he?"
"Exhausted Soneillon had control for almost 3 months it has taken its toll."
I nodded.
"Thank you Kail."
I smiled.
"See I knew you loved your brother."
He chuckled.
"Just don't let him know that."
"Too late."
Kail spun around as Dantalis started to sit up.
"It was your idea?"
Kail waved it off.
"What's the point of proving I'm stronger if your dead."
Dantalis laughed, then slowly he turned to me.
Kail shuffled nervously at the silence that fell between us.
"Well I guess I'll leave you two alone."
I didn't move as Dantalis got out of bed wrapping his arms around me.
My mind flashed to all the times he'd hurt me, I mean I knew it wasn't him but it was his face.
"I'm so sorry reece."
Slowly I stepped away.
"My names Phoenix now."
His face dropped at my reaction.
"Re- Phoenix you know it wasn't me right. I couldn't stop him."
"I know but I can't change what's happened."
His eyes dropped to my neck the now soaring Phoenix that covered our lost mark.
"I know the mark is gone but we're still soul mates nothing can change that."
He tried to reach for me again but I stepped out of range of his searching fingers.
"Your wrong I've changed. A lot has happened since we first met."
"What are you saying?"
I tried to find the right words. yes he was my soul mate and I still had feelings for him but I couldn't look at his face and not see Soneillons.
"It's Raziel isn't it?"
I turned my head away.
Dantalis cupped my cheek this time I let him as a single tear escaped my eye he wiped it away with his thumb.
"Don't you realise that what you have with him will never be as strong as what we have?"
"I'm happy with him we only cause each other pain. I've had enough pain Dantalis i won't live through another burned mark."
He knew my meaning as he looked into my eyes.
"If things were different and Soneillon had never taken over my body would you still choose him then?"
"I can't think about that now all I know is Raziel is the one I want here and now, please Dantalis don't make this harder then it has to be."
He sighed stepping away.
"I understand all I want is for you to be happy and if he makes you happy then I'll just have to settle for being your friend. I will wait for the day when you can forgive me enough to come back to me."
I shook my head.
"Dantalis you deserve to be happy too don't spend your live on a hope that may never happen."
He smiled sadly.
"There's no one I want but you if I can't have you then I'll have no one. Don't worry about me I have been alone most of my life what's a few hundred more years."
"Dantalis-"
"Bro!"
Camdahar picked that moment to embarrass Dantalis in a brotherly hug.
"I thought I'd never see you again."
Cam rambled on as Dantalis's eyes were glued to mine.
Kail entered seconds later panting.
"Sorry I couldn't stop him."
Dantalis looked to Kail giving me the opportunity to slip past them leaving the infirmary and Dantalis behind.
Once out side I found michael waiting for me I scowled at him.
"Come to gloat at your handy work."
He frowned.
"Come for a walk with me."
"Why?"
I asked suspiciously.
"Please."
I sighed might as well hear him out.
"Fine."
We walked in silence til we reached the courtyard where Raziel and I trained.
He stopped at the railing looking out over the earth the dark veins could be seen even from here.
"I know you blame me for everything that has happened to you and rightly so."
I looked at him surprised as he smiled sadly.
"I know you believe I manipulated you and your part in the prophecy but ask yourself would you have done anything differently without my interference?"
I made to deny his words then stopped. Was he right? Even if he hadn't interfered Soneillon still would have found a way to control Dantalis and the events that happened after would have still happened. In reality all he did was speed up the process but that still didn't change the fact that he forced me to give up my soulmate.
Lost in my thoughts I hadn't even realised when he'd left. Maybe I had misjudged him like me he had a great burden on his shoulders. Mine was the prophecy his was the welfare of the world including heaven and hell.
I sighed looking again to the world that was even now being poisoned by Mastiphal. I guess my vision was wrong Soneillon was only one piece in play now that he was gone another had taken his place. When would it end and would I be strong enough to see this prophecy through.
Only time would time as I turned away heading back to my room where Raziel waited. Either way I knew I had the support of the man I loved.