‘Where am I?’ Eloise woke up abruptly to find herself by a small pond, in the middle of a very large garden. The cool evening breeze blew wisps of her dark red hair into her face.
She looked down to find herself in a beautiful white gown. She slowly stood to her feet confused.
‘My wedding day?’ But that was two days from now. She quickly touched her stomach to find no stab wounds. She found no blood in her palms either. She swore they were filled with blood minutes ago
The scene of Cole stabbing her was so vivid now. 
She died......
Yes, she died. She would never mistake the fear she felt while, Cole pushed her off the balustrade. It was real. She knew what she felt. The sharp piercing pain from the cold iron knife, he stabbed her with. The satisfaction in his eyes while he stabbed her multiple times. The hate.
 Pure hate, she thought.
But why?
Why would the love of her life kill her? 
Most importantly, why wasn’t she dead yet? Yes, she was the Phoenix. She could rise from the ashes every time she died but not this time. She was sealed.
Yes, by that woman. She’d seen that tattoo on her hand before, but where? 
Oh, she remembered it all perfectly now. There was a witch circle, the seal of the condemned, a bright red moon and her blood.... 
 She fell from a three-story building, right to the bottom of the pool. She spent her last breath drowning because she couldn’t swim. 
What a terrible way to die, she thought. Or maybe not.... She was alive, wasn’t she?
Some terrible dream that was......

INTO THE FLAMES.

Eloise slowly stepped off her carriage to the Runen manor. The ride from Thornton was long and quiet. Wrath left earlier with his brothers to discuss Imperium business. She stayed behind with her friends. They introduced her to other acquaintances and told her all the hot stuff both. She had a long conversation with Lord Kit Lenoire and Lord So. Lord Kit wasn't so thrilled about the hoard of slaves she freed but he was open to a conversation. She found herself in yet another long conversation with the Lenoire brothers. 


Eloise didn't enjoy the rest of the fest as she hoped she would. For some reason, she kept making eye contact with Ysabeau, who merely looked away every time their eyes met. And when she thought nothing else could go wrong, she met Cole. 


"Sister, welcome back. How was the sports fest?" An excited Corianne asked when he met her at the entrance with Elric behind her. 


Chapter 27(High Tides)