Chapter 94

That night The Triecan had been filled with laughter. It had only been the fourteen of them , and they felt even more like a family. There were loud shout of excitement, and they would reminisce about a thing or the other that had occured in the past. A funny memory that had almost been forgotten in all the craziness happening around them. 

Nuriel kept his arm around Flame, making the most out of their newly found ability. That he could communicate with others privately meant a lot, it showed that they now had a connection that could not be challenged. And Flame had realized that she wasn't only immune to Rehan's wings, apparently she was mine to all of their little abilities. She no longer felt overwhelmed by Viktor's energy and Kael could no longer read her mind. The latter made her happier than anything. 

" Well, I already got to learn of everything I was curious about. I'd say I'm okay with it, " Kael had said. Then he had turned to his best friend with a wide smile and asked him to go and hold Flame's hand so that they could see whether she was immune to him as well. Smiling shyly, Phelan had refused. 

But then Flame had stood and walked over to him, stretching out her hand. The angel had cautiously held it, waiting to see whether Flame would feel any of the intense freedom that other beings claimed to feel whenever he held their hands. Smiling, Flame shook her head and sighed. 

" Nope, nothing. I'm officially angel proof! " she claimed happily. Turning in her heel and heading back to Nuriel who was eagerly awaiting her return. 

And as they ate, most of the others couldn't help glancing at them every once in a while, even if they didn't intend to. They knew that something of the sort awaited them in their futures, but they still wished that it would be delayed for as long as possible.

Especially now when whoever woke next would be Phoenix's new victim. With his eyes on the empty space, Rehan found himself zoning off once more. He knew it was him..deep down he did. And he had all these mixed feelings on how he was expected to react. Only Nuriel, Viktor and Aziel knew and he had made them swear not to utter a word of what had occured in his chambers. It could just be nothing, perhaps he was throwing things way out of proportion. But if the others found out he was most likely next then that would make them both relieved and stressed. They'd be relieved because they'd all know they weren't next on the list, but they'd also be tensed becaused they'd be forced to accept that the cycle was moving. 

That night finally came to an end, and the following morning, Flame received a surprise visit from Sheila. She had been accompanied by Andres who barely left her aight since the incident. They were childhood friends, just as it was with Idah. He ensured that she got to The Triecan safely and asked her to find him once she was done so that he could accompany her back home. With his dark hair and green eyes, and the muscular form that had most of the girls in the entire kingdom swooning over him. When Flame was informed of Sheila's arrival, she had immediately gone to meet her. 

" There you are, " she said once she found the girl seated in the living area. She stood to offer Flame a hug since the fairy had threatened to banish her from the kingdom if she ever curtsied to her again. It had been a joke, but it had worked to make Sheila see how serious Flame was about the whole thing. Some snacks were brought and they talked casually for a while. Flame seemed to glow and Sheila recognized it, pushing Flame to tell her why. 

And although she was a little bit shy at first, she forced herself to brave on and just share the news to the girl who she was closest to in the entire kingdom, Idah was basically the second one but that was different. With Sheila she felt as if she had an actual friend she could confide in, and the girl was a really good listener. She knew how to respond to things and how to react as well, and none of it seemed fake, it was pure. And most importantly, Flame was certain that Sheila would never break her trust and privacy by sharing any of what she told her with anyone else. 

" My maia is really worried about the goddess Phoenix though, especially after what occured..." letting out a deep breath, Sheila bowed her head and closed her eyes, trying not to relive that horrid experience. Flame could sympathize with her because she understood, Sheila might have only been held captive for a few hours but she knew the fear of being in the dark unknown. Not knowing whether you're truly alone or if there was someone secretly watching you. 

" I'm sure that soon we'll get to put all this behind us, " Flame tried to assure her friend despite the fact that she didn't entirely believed her own words. Phoenix could not be stopped, she had proven it time and time again. So how were they expected to kill one that could not be killed, one who in many ways embodied death itself. Phoenix could not die. Phoenix was death. 

" I hope so, and I hear that there might be two of them now?" Sheila asked and Flame straightened her spine and frowned a bit.

" Where did you hear that from?" She asked. Knowing very well that it wasn't public information yet. Caspian was the only local being who was supposed to know that, and he had vowed not to utter a word of it to anyone.

Swallowing hard, Sheila hid all her nervousness and reached for one of the delicious snacks that had been set out, then she shrugged as she took a bite. 

" I think I heard it from Andres..." She narrowed her eyes at Flame and suddenly looked guilty. 

" Oh, was he not supposed to say anything? Please don't get angry with him. I swear not to tell a word to anyone!, I'll even go over to my shop and see my lips shut!" She mimicked the action and Flame chuckled. Then she told her not to worry, but to make sure that the piece of need remained between them. It wasn't a surprise that Andres knew, he was Viktor's right hand as far as the army was concerned and he knew everything that went on. Sheila sighed and threaded her hands in her curly mas of hair. 

" Holy Aurelia! Two gods? That's just...I lack the perfect dreadful word to describe it, " 

Flame noticed the fear and the hopelessness in her friends eyes. And she wanted to erase it, there was no point in letting her suffer any more than she already was. 

" Actually, there aren't two of them, it's just the one mother of evilness, " she sarcastically commented. Sheila's brows furrowed and she asked Flame what that meant. Looking around the room, Flame bit her bottom lip. Then she inched closer to Sheila on her seat and asked her to swear to not mention what she would say to anyone else.

" I swear. You know I would never do such a thing!" 

With the infirmation, Flame blew out a breath and told Sheila about everything that had happened. 

Everything.

💮🌼💮🌼💮🌼

Phoenix knew it was nighttime yet again, she stood up from where she sat, against the hard wall of the dark cave, then she stretched and glanced at the stone like casket. He still remained in the state of Heisa. She now knew for a fact that he would not wake. 

She would however get to finally receive the answers she seeked. She had given the dressmaker enough time to collect the information, now it was her turn to keep her end of their bargain. Without using any effort she summoned her darkness, commanding it to take her outside the girl's home, she needed to confirm that she was alone and in a place where they could talk. Smiling once she got her answer, she summoned the darkness once more. 

It was close to midnight so the entire family was asleep. Now it was time to pay her new sweet friend a long awaited visit. She appeared in the girl's small bedroom. Well kept and near as far as Phoenix could tell. Sheila was fast asleep. Her breathing even and her chest rising and falling steadily. Slowly, Phoenix began to approach her, knowing that if she spooked the girl and she ended up screaming then the entire household would wake. She got to the bed and admired how peacefully the girl could sleep, she wasn't haunted by the need or the desire to squash everyone that dared to stand in her way. She gently sat on the edge of the bed and reached out her hand to the girl that would provide her with all the Intel she required.