Chapter 38
He had won over her with his patience and his protectiveness. It was fulfilling to have someone that actually honestly cared for her just that once. And she was certain that he did. She could see it in the way he handled her and each time he looked at her. The desire to keep her safe was rooted deep within him and he mirrored it in his eyes. Those same eyes she wanted to stare at and get lost in because they were an escape from all her other troubles. In him was the refuge she had been seeking her entire life. And the love she had always been secretly craving for.
When he had enclosed her with his wings she had felt a very surreal warmth encasing her from head to toe. Like an invincible shield that surrounded her entire form.
But still...
There was something.
Something that she could not explain. It was still there, ever since she came back from the preservatory she had been feeling it at a distant. She had managed to block it off by not paying attention to it. But whenever she lost her guard she could hear it. It's mocking laughter at all her wishful thinking. As if it were trying to inform her that all her dreams were nothing but an impossibility she had cooked up in her head.
She knew it was probably the guilt she carried. But it felt so tangible. Like if she reached out in her head she would be able to touch the source of all the taunting and pull it out. Though she gladly chose to not do that. It was like stepping into a haunted house, you knew what waited ahead, you knew you shouldn't go in. But there was still that little devil inside that urged you to do just that. All Flame prayed for was to be able to overcome that devil.
It would be better to just stay there and think about her angel. And to try and see where everything would lead to. Because by now she knew for a fact that there was no more fighting him. Not because she couldn't, but because she didn't want to. She secretly wanted to be back in his arms. To be held by him for the rest of time if possible.
And to relish in the pleasure he offered by simply looking at her. And the joy he gave her whenever he was around. All the feelings were new, but she deeply hoped they would be a part of her life forever. Because with them, she doubted that there was anything else she needed.
Just her and her angel.
🌼💮🌼💮🌼💮
Her bare feminine feet swept softy across the thick grass. Her fiery red hair a thick mass falling down her back.
It had been quite a few days since she fed. The beings were no doubt becoming weary of the danger in their midst. But there was always that one adventurous spirit that always chose the wrong time to cross paths with her. And today was no different.
She could hear the footsteps approaching from a far. And the sound of soft humming.
A female.
She had never before fed from a female. Not out of fondness or goodwill but because they were mostly weak. And they would not give her the amount of energy she needed to last the remaining days. It had been six weeks since she awoke. And the requirement was for her to feed for the first two months in order to replenish her own spirit and powers.
She still had two weeks left. And one male would have been enough to last her. But since it was a female that was near, she would just have to do for now. And maybe she would be lucky enough to find another being later on.
Leaning against a tree she waited. Her long and slender fingers on the large trunk as she peered ahead. Listening as the soft humming grew closer. Until a young female emerged from the thick bushes and long grass. A colourful bouquet of handpicked flowers in her hand. She stopped and looked around before proceeding to another bush where more of the lovely flowers were.
And judging from the young females dark hair and green eyes, the watcher could tell that she was most likely a Dreimar. Which was a good thing since Dreimars were more powerful than the other beings. She waited for a few minutes, taking in the sight of the other females relaxing activity. Why she would decide to wander off alone despite the knowledge of a terrorizer in the kingdom was a mystery to her.
But it all worked out in her advantage.
Finally deciding she had done enough watching she stepped out from behind the tree. A beguiling smile on her features as she approached the other female who had still not realised her presence. So she intentionally stepped on a branch to catch her victim's attention.
And she did.
The Dreimar looked back instantly. Assessing the stranger in front of her with both shock and fright. Taking a step back out of instinct.
" There's no need to fear, " the stranger assured her. Her hands spread forward as if to assure her of just that. Because despite all her devious deeds, she still did not believe herself to be completely cruel. She would try to ensure that the females last moments were as painless as they could be. Although she was not making any promises.
The young Dreimar looked around, a weary look on her face. She had never seen the female in front of her before, but she bore a very striking resemblance to the character they had been taught about at the knowledge center. The one that they were supposed to loath because of the things her kind her done. And the closer the female got the more her fears were confirmed. All one had to do was look into the females pure black eyes.
" No... stay back..." her voice was shaking. Her bouquet fell to the ground and her heart gained a tremendous amount of speed. She knew the fate that awaited her if she let the stranger come any closer. She could see it in her dark and ominous eyes. And in that sadistic smile she wore, it made her features, which would otherwise be lovely look awfully eery.
The stranger could not help but marvel at the Dreimars fear, it somehow satisfied her to see the horror on her face. She stepped closer, moving in on her with a look of anticipation. And when the female tried to turn and run she couldn't. Her feet refused to move from the spot. She unwillingly remained on the spot. Tears now drenching her dress.
" You're a lovely one, aren't you? " the stranger asked as she slowly walked around her. Inspecting what on a few minutes would be her source of nourishment.
" No... please no, "
It was an awful thing. To look in the eyes of your own death. To know for a fact that you were going to die. And in those last minutes she thought of all the things she would not have time to do. Of all the people she would not get to confess her love to. The stranger stopped in front of her trembling form. A fake frown on her face.
" Don't worry, I'll make it fast and painless, " she promised. The young Dreimar shook her head, pleading for her life to be spared. But everything fell on deaf ears. Reaching forward, the stranger wrapped her hand around her neck with her eyes closed.
" Shhhh....." she whispered
And in the next moments all that could be heard were loud screams closely followed by an unnerving silence.
But it was only a matter of time before she no longer had to savagely hunt for a life source. Soon she would go back to being the ruler that she once was.
She would go back to being the goddess Phoenix. All that remained now was to awaken her mate just as they had agreed upon all those centuries ago. And together they would reclaim their rightful place as the rulers of Zalian. And the other beings would have no choice but to follow their every ruling.
Come to think of it, it was actually a good thing that all the other Gods and goddesses had been killed. It meant that now no one would be able to challenge them. Not even the angels were strong enough. And she had awaken just in time. The thousand year old prophecy of the angel and fairy pairing was beginning.
Which was all she needed to wake her mate. Soon she would strike, but for now there was only one thing to do.
Wait.
🌼💮🌼💮🌼💮
It was late and her angel was yet to return. So instead of looking desperate and sitting around Flame decided to head back to their chambers and see if she could get some rest. She was not sleepy, but the halls were all quiet and it was beginning to get dark. Those were two things she was not fond of.
Silence and darkness.
Walking around she stopped every now and then to admire the occasional painting on the walls. There were quite a number but only a selected few captured her attention more than others.
Stopping yet again she looked up at another. She knew nothing about art. Couldn't distinguish what was phenomenal and what was not, but to her they were all astonishingly beautiful. She was about to resume her walk towards her chambers when she heard a sort of growl. It shook her and she shivered at the shock. And when she heard it again, louder this time, she remained rigid on the spot.