I sat up from my bed livid from the dreams I kept having but chose to ignore them since they were a part of me. I quickly put on my garments since grandpa had clearly warned me by pulling my cheeks to be on time for breakfast. I got out of my room and skipped into the hall and walked into the living room. I lived in a small cabin in the woods with my grandfather which was more than enough for me. I mean I treasured him like Hercules treasured his gold but that would be an understatement he was my universe. He was an archangel from heaven who had fallen in love with a human and they got married against heaven's wishes which brought a curse upon their love that during their first child's 18th birthday the mother would perish. The result of their love was my father. As I walked quickly to the living room thinking of grandpa's creative ways with his punishment's if I went against his wishes. I remember once he had told me to sleep on the top of the tree the whole night facing upside down because I had just come home late and I refused to tell him where I was. "Arggh that man," I groaned. "Why do you groan so early in the morning my dear," he stated as he appeared from the kitchen. Great! now I had to keep my mind clear since he was a mind reader. I just smiled and kissed him on the cheeks as I mumbled a quick good morning. For a nine hundred year old man, he sure had good looks even with his few wrinkles and long white hair. If I ever find my beloved I hoped he would be good-looking like grandpa but not so grumpy. He set the table as I helped put the cutlery on our two-sit dining room table nothing fancy. We sat down and prayed for it was a blessing to have food while others did not have. My grandpa's words not mine but he was right courtesy of living with an archangel you turn out to be a good person and I liked it. We ate breakfast in a good silence as I watched grandpa eat with a huge smile brewing on his face. "Grandpa why are you so happy and you rarely get all happy? "I questioned as I swallowed my food. "Ayaannah my dear how you have really grown up," he sighed."In two weeks time it will be your birthday as you turn eighteen and before your birthday it is the prince of the realm's birthday and also the time he gets to find his beloved who he will be betrothed to," he explained. "Grandpa, what I don't understand is how that concerns me he is not my beloved so why should I care plus I thought he had lived around six centuries by now why does he need a beloved,"I said nonchalant. Grandpa clenched his teeth together and I tried hard not to smirk. "Young lady you will not speak such words or else I will punish you," he warned. I heard the edge of his voice and remained quiet. I had been with grandpa all my life and I never got to meet other people I always took a walk in the woods when bored or flew around with Phoenix who was my phoenix. "I'm sorry grandfather," I mumbled. "Oh, my dear child I am telling you this so you can look for something to wear when you go to the ball after his birthday party because young ladies such as yourself are supposed to be there," he explained. I nodded my head in agreement knowing there was no way I was escaping the ball. As usual, grandpa left the cabin immediately after breakfast. He told me he would be coming later with a surprise for me and I was sure as hell it was a ball gown. I told him goodbye and waited for his departure so I could do the dishes. I cast a spell to clean every dirty item in the house and it was done in no time. I took off and let my golden wings sprout out from my back. I flew into the sky summoning Phoenix to join me. A huge red and golden phoenix appeared in front of me and I smiled as I embraced the bird. I loved Phoenix as if he were a part of me. He was my guardian angel and he could turn human ever since some of my life essence was shared with him. I had found Phoenix injured by a sword and his blood was everywhere and my heart almost stopped at the sight. I took him and transferred my life force to him and since then he was like a brother to me. "Phoenix you have been alive for many years would you tell me what is to have a beloved and be betrothed to him?" Phoenix turned human as he landed on a branch on top of a pine tree. He had crimson eyes that contrasted with his golden hair. His hair was shoulder length and it sparkled against the sun's reflective rays. His skin was glistening under the sun. I stared at him when he appeared naked he chanted some words and clothes appeared on his naked body. He smiled at me as he motioned me to come and sit with him on the branch. I landed on the branch and sat on it as my wings retreated into my back. "A beloved is a person whose life is entwined with another whose soul was once joined at a previous lifetime then it got separated promising to meet again. If one beloved meets the other a certain attraction would pull them together the need to protect and love them is stronger than normal. Beloveds are soulmates who complete each other fully. Once they meet and separate a yearning like no other will be triggered into their hearts for each other they cannot live without each other. As for betrothal, a beloved would have to join together their body and become one as their hearts join forever. He will be yours and you will be his.," he explained. I was about to ask what it meant to have our bodies and hearts joined as one when he said, "Ayaanah I cannot tell you that your beloved will be the one to tell you all the intricacies of your love for each other," he added. I nodded my head as I processed the words he had told me. I found it hard to believe that a person can love another more than one can love oneself and it was heartwarming. I let the words sink into my head as I felt a tug at my heart. I pushed Phoenix off the branch and he fell screaming my name and cursing at me. I laughed at his screams as I looked down to where he had fallen and I could not see him. "Phoenix are you ok I can't see you where are you?" I asked worried. I felt a gush of wind from behind me and I saw Phoenix with wings laughing at me as he pushed me off the branch. I let out a loud screech about to scream when I remembered I had wings but when I tried to let them out they refused to come out. I looked down at the waterfall I was about to fall into when I put my arms in front of me ready to dive in I was encased in a water bubble and it floated to the sky until I was back on top of the tree. When I sat down the bubble popped and I remained quiet astounded by the events that took place. Phoenix was also standing on the branch as he stared at me in amazement. I embraced him as I was so surprised to talk. Above the sky the archangel looked at his granddaughter and smiled as her powers manifested he was glad that she and Phoenix had reunited even though she could not remember the memories of her past which were very disturbing. I had to get her the dresses her mother had kept for her for the occasion she was to meet her beloved. As much as she was stubborn like a mule the one to calm her heart was the one she was to meet at the ball. My innocent granddaughter had no idea of the joys of being with a beloved I would have told her but telling her about her menstruation was hard enough as she kept on worrying something was wrong with her as it appeared. I explained as best as I could that she was becoming a woman. I had never been so flustered in my existence as the way I had to explain to her. I flew away from the scene as I wrote a scroll for the future beloved of Ayaanah the prince of the realm of Havana. Beneath Ayaanah was laughing and flying around with Phoenix until midday had reached. Phoenix had to bid her goodbye and let the princess enjoy her last lonely days alone since her written destiny was to be revealed in the coming days. I watched birds flying together as they moved from place to place. My heart was beating hard in my chest as I looked around the woods I was feeling hungry and I did not want to fly home and cook so I had to look for wild fruits. I was very exhausted by the time I reached an apple tree when I realized I was no longer in the woods but in an orchard surrounded by hundreds of apple trees. I took one apple and took a huge bite and munched on it as I savored the taste. I salivated for more as I ate three apples until my belly could no longer take it. I was about to walk away from the orchard when I had voices so I took flight into the sky to avoid being seen. "Is that an angel?" I heard one of the voices ask. I took off further into the sky as I avoided being seen. I had never really looked at myself that much but when the voice said I was an angel I stopped in front of my mirror when I got home. My hair was a beautiful shade of red that fell past my lower back and my skin was a beautiful pale caramel colour that almost glowed. My eyes were hazel in color as they matched with the forest. I could not deny that I was not that bad-looking but I didn't think I was attractive enough to be called an angel. I took out a novel from the trunk in front of my bed. I had always taken my grandfather's novels and read them when he was not around. This time the book I read was about the beloved ceremony. My mind was turning as I read about the kiss and the making of love. I could not understand what making love meant was it using magic to draw love into the air?I made a mental note to ask grandfather once he got home what it meant. After I read till I could no longer read anymore I fell asleep. I heard someone touching my hair and I sat up quickly as my wings sprouted ready for defense. I looked up to find my grandfather staring at me with a gentle smile. "Grandpa you are back, welcome," I said as I stood up. "Sit down Ayaanah I want to give you something," he said. I was so determined to ask him about making love but I didn't know how to do so. "Grandpa what is making love," I stated without hesitation. Grandpa's cheeks became bright red I couldn't understand why so I mumbled a quick apology. "No child you did nothing wrong you are just curious but with time all this will be explained to you by your beloved," he said. I nodded my head in understanding once again knowing grandpa would not explain further than that.