‘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 walked up the stairs with Leonard at her side. Several councilmen bowed their heads in greeting as they walked back. Several heads turned to stare as they passed by. Today was going to be a very commemorative day for the council. The Chamber of Lords was to cast a unanimous vote today, for the motion to allow women into the Imperium. Eloise put her argument before the Chamber two weeks ago. Leonard had helped her prepare thoroughly. As expected, she was welcomed with strong scrutiny and criticism. But that didn't let her back down, she was sure to answer and defend every single question thrown at her. She almost lost her cool at a point when Lord Vladimir kept coming at her relentlessly. She debated with him and relentlessly stood her ground. Wrath didn't make it any easy for her. He backed her into a corner and it was almost impossible to get out. In the end, she felt like, it was her against the world. 


Chapter 40(One victory at a time)