Chapter 86

With a sweep of her hand she slammed Sheila's father to the wall. He hit it with a thud and fell to the hard floor. He was simply unconscious, she had been serious about being in rather fair moods. She heard muffled cries from inside the store, and a few shaky movements as well. The stench of fear so concentrated she took it in with each breath. 

" Would you rather walk out or have me make you?" She asked. Drawing joy from the sound of their pounding hearts. 

" I'm only in need of the dressmaker, the other two can stay right where you are if you wish. "

That sounded like a good enough bargain, she impatiently waited. Then she called out to Sheila once more, she could hear her mother prohibiting her eldest child from walking out. Said she'd do so instead.

Phoenix grew tired of being considerate. 

From inside, the three females watched as the door was reduced to dust,all the way from the top to its very bottom. In a uniform line of descending powder that gathered neatly on the floor. 

The youngest screamed in horror. Tucking her head into her mother's legs afterwards and tears streaming down her face.

" Bhaia?" Sheila called out to her father desperately. Fearing that the worst had already happened. That he was long gone. 

" He lives, worry not, " Phoenix assured them all with a smile. Then she beckoned for Sheila to go to her. 

" Do as I say or your family will suffer the same fate as the door, " It was a threat that she gave so casually the females couldn't help but wonder what sort of darkness ran her mind. 

Little Anna refused to look at the goddess, because she knew for certain that was something she would never be able to unsee. She trembled against her mother's form. And despite the fact that their mother was as fearful as they were, she tried her best to act strong.

" What do you want with her?" She asked Phoenix in a shaky voice. And by then Sheila had already pried her hand away from her mother's strong grasp and started making her way to the goddess. Slowly... cautiously. If she had the chance to ensure her family's safety then she would take it. No matter the cost. She wouldn't stand there and have the deranged goddess turn their house into another murder scene when she could have stopped it from happening. 

" Sheila No! " Her mother shouted, attempting to pull her daughter back and force some sense into her. 

" Listen to your mother! Sheila!" 

She was doing that because she loved them, the instance she gor to where Phoenix was, she was suddenly wrapped up in darkness that brought tears to her eyes and made it impossible to breathe. And she felt as if she were stuck in limbo, in this world of inexistent dreams and broken wishes and hopes. It lasted not more than three minutes but it felt longer, to her it was as if she had been drowning in misery for centuries on end. The next time she opened her eyes, she was in what appeared to be a dark cave with not even the slightest hint of light. 

She crawled on the floor until her hand touched a wall, then she used it to stand and made an attempt to steadying her breathing. She had no clue what the goddess wanted her for. She was a mere dressmaker. There was literally nothing that came to mind when she tried to find answers to that question. Then she gasped and shuddered when Phoenix's voice spoke very close to her ear. 

" Let's hope all goes well, it'd be such a shame to have to end your precious little life."

Phoenix told her. Then she turned in her heel in the darkness and vanished. 

Her mate had been one of the most feared gods in existence during the time. True, he had never really gotten to be the king, but that was only because th entire council had been biased at the time. She was sure that the only reason they had never been officially selected as Zalian's rulers was because the other gods had been envious of them. And because they knew that if they truly did get an opportunity to sit at the throne, then the already powerful couple would have been unstoppable. 

There was no chance of Flame finding Sheila in the cave. That was where her mate was. And if her guess was correct then the place was spelled. It had been her mates intentions to secure the place before he slept and although she wasn't completely certain, she knew there was a very high chance that he had succeeded.

That THEY had succeeded. Chuckling at the distant memory of their little helper at the time, Phoenix pushed those thoughts to the side and concentrated on her new surrounding. 

💮🌼💮🌼💮🌼

It had been mere minutes before Flame called for a council meeting to inform the others that it was time. That they could finally proceed to hunt down Phoenix and put an end to it all. 

And then Nuriel had come searching for her, a completely disturbed look clouding his features. And on asking him what was wrong, she had felt the same way he was feeling. 

" It's Sheila.." he had said. Aware that his mate and the girl were friends.

When Flame asked him what had happened all he could tell her was that she was taken by Phoenix. The girls parents and younger sister had made their way to The Triecan immediately after to plead for the angel's help. Flame ran to where they were. Having only ever seen them once, at Florence's send-off. But she had never held a conversation with the couple. On seeing her, Anna ran to her and reached for her hand. 

" She has her. She has Sheila, " the little girl struggled to say past tears that wouldn't stop falling. Then she begged Flame to rescue her sister from the evil goddess. 

Going down on one knee in order to match their heights, Flame cupped the child's cheek and assured her that they would find her. And she never made empty promises. 

Flame held the child hand, then she called for Idah and asked her to watch over her. They already knew each other. And Flame was glad that the girl would be in familiar company. The angels had all heard of what had occured and were coming one after the other. Rylan asked Flame to lead them to the goddess, that they had no time to waste, but the entire thing was completely strange. 

" Why kidnap her? I'm certain she has a plan, and it's not a good one either," Victor said. 

" But each second we spend here is a second closer to Sheila's death, " Drexel said. And he was genuinely concerned, the others all saw it. He was the closest to Sheila as far as the angels went, he used to see and talk to her almost every single day before the lockdown had been put in place. She was nice, didn't deserve such a fate. 

Flame looked from one angel to another as they all made their points and their suggestions and their commands that she find out where Phoenix was hiding so that they could go after her. It was becoming too much to listen to all of them as they spoke over each other. 

" Silence!" Nuriel commanded. Then he went to Sheila's parents and held both of them by their shoulders.

" Leave this to us, " he told them. Then he looked at Sheila's father and told him he needed to see a healer, he was clearly not in good shape after being slammed to a wall. the couple tried to resist, claiming that they wanted to be there and help however they could. Helplessness on their faces and fear in their eyes. 

" No, it's better if you're not involved. As your king it's my duty to ensure your daughter's safety. Put your trust in us, " He turned to his brothers while saying that. And after he had done so, Andres came dashing into the room. Looking frantic. He made his way to Sheila's parents and drew her mother in for a hug without uttering a word. Sheila's parents were like his own. And Sheila..... Sheila meant more to him than she'd ever know.

With his heart still sore from his sister's death, he refused to let another person he cared for suffer the same ugly fate. 

" We'll find her, " He assured the couple that had always been kind to him. 

Then he watched as they were led away by two warriors to another part of the house. 

Slowly, Andres turned to Flame. A shattered look on his face. He wanted her to know how serious the situation was.

" Please find her, " he whispered in the voice of a broken being. 

Flame turned to Nuriel who looked at her with a blank expression. He didn't want to tell her what to do, that was up to her. If she felt ready to finally face the goddess then he'd let her. And if not then they'd find another way. His question was answered when she was suddenly encased in her flames.