My eyes opened when I felt pain explode in my head. I felt dazed, sensations were spiraling in me, I almost felt .. new, transformed, like I was not me. Everything around me felt different, sharper, clearer, better. But something was wrong. I felt a hand stroke my cheek and when I opened my eyes, I saw a man leaning over me. Puzzled, I tried to look closer and then I realised it was Antonio.
“What ..?” I whispered. My head was burning, it felt like it would go up in flames any moment.
“You transformed, you’re an archangel now.” Antonio said and then he smiled at me.
I didn’t understand what he said but when I opened my mouth to speak, pain seared through the right side of my face and in reflex I turned my head to the other side. I saw a man lying there, twitching and for a moment I forgot the agony and just stared, it seemed like I knew him, something about him was familiar, I tried to take a closer look but for the life of me I couldn’t move. For the last time, I tried to focus but just when I was about to look away his face looked turned towards me.
His violet eyes clashed with mine and everything hit me at the same time.
Ivan, it was Ivan! And the man looming over me was the one who was about to kill him. I snapped my head back at Antonio and he was still smiling at me.
“What did you do to him?” I snapped and his amusement grew.
“Ah, the promise of fire. Nothing but what he deserved.” Antonio said and then his hand shot forward.
“And..ie.” I heard a muffled exclamation and when I looked over at Ivan fury bubbled up in me, Antonio had done this to him. This time when I met his mine were full of anger, I think he saw that but instead of backing off, his eyes twinkled.
“Get away from me!” I said with all the strength I could muster and then pushed him.
I was shocked when I saw Antonio literally fly away from me and crash against the window.
“What?!” I was so chocked, I saw up and then I remembered his words.
I had transformed.
When I had seen Antonio hit Ivan like that, I had whished upon my angel and said ‘I do’ and then I had .. fainted.
“And..ie.” Ivan said again and then I stood up and walked over to him.
“Ivan, what happened to you?” I whispered and he shook his head.
“Go.. to .. Harry .. he’ll help you.” He said chokily and then groaned at me.
“You’re hurt, right?” I questioned and then I saw the scars on his arms. I looked at Ivan and he was looking at me.
I was one of him now and I remembered how he had stroked and healed my wounds and now when I was one of .. him, I could do the same thing.
I smiled gently at him and then stroked his arm, under my surprised eyes I saw the wounds disappear and Ivan closed his eyes.
“Adrianna.” He whispered clearly now and I stroked his mid-ribcage, his wounds were closing and Ivan had started to breathe more easily.
“It’s okay, Ivan, I’m here.” I said and then I saw his wings, they surrounded him like a sheet. Pure white and so serene. Involuntarily my hands went to his wings and I stroked them as well. And another shock of my life was when his wings got whiter still. They became absolutely plain, like snow and Ivan breathed out.
“Well, if you’re done playing first-aid, can we please talk?” I heard and whirled around. Antonio stood there, unarmed.
“What do you want?” I demanded and all the fury I felt came back, it was amazing how every emotion that I was feeling was coming to me with a full force. I wanted to hurt Antonio so badly, I wanted to rip his head-off. A while back if someone had said that to me I would have laughed in their face or cry but now I really wanted to kill him for hurting the only person I loved.
“I believe you and I have no reason to talk.” I said firmly. Another funny thing, all of a sudden I was not scared to stand up to this .. creature. I was ready for him. Oh, so ready.
“Hmm, what’s better to do, then?” He asked and winked at me.
I walked over to him and then my eyes saw the box lying on the ground.
Phoenix. I was the only one who could touch it and an intuition told me I was ready enough. It was finally time to take revenge.
“Ah, you have eyes on my treasure.” Antonio mused and inched a little closer to the sword.
“No, I’m going to claim what’s mine.” I replied and then leaned over and touched the box.
“Adrianna .. no.” I heard Ivan say and I turned around, he stood on his feet and swayed. I was about to cross the distance separating us when Antonio pulled me back.
“We have some unfinished business.” He said and then motioned me over to the box, my irritation bubbled ten-fold. He always came in between.
I took a step forward, but Ivan’s voice stopped me again.
“No, Andie, don’t touch it, he wants you to open the box and make Phoenix come to life and then he’ll take it from you, don’t open it.” Ivan warned me and my brow furrowed.
“He’s lying, he just wants to stop you from fighting. He knows you’ll fail.” Antonio said and then he gave me a smile. My irritation swelled.
“You will not.” I said but I didn’t make a move to open the box. Maybe he was right, I mean I was .. new and I was taking it fairly well, but what did I know about swords. I looked at Ivan and he had an helpless expression on his face.
“Scared?” Antonio drawled and my head snapped back.
“No.” I growled at him and took the final step.
“Andie, please. For me. I’m a Salvatore, I won’t be able to save you.” Ivan said and then I saw his wings disappear.
“Heh. See what you have with you. He gave up.” Antonio said and I wanted to punch him then, I nearly did but his reflexes were better than mine and he whirled me around with such speed that the next thing I knew, I was pressed against the wall and trying to catch my breath.
“Never raise your hand at me.” Antonio growled at me and I growled right back and then I remembered something James had taught me. I raised my knee and jammed it in the place it hurts most, Antonio fell back howling.
“Guess my leg got a lucky break.” I said and then I walked over to Ivan. He was just standing there, looking bewildered.
“What is wrong with you?” I demanded but Ivan shook his head.
“I need to get you out of here, you’re aura is shining and any other evil spirit can sense it, we have to go.” He said and my eyes widened.
“What ..?” I started saying but he cut in.
“Listen to me. I’ll take care of Antonio, okay. You take the box with the sword and think of home. You will teleport, okay. And then take my mobile and call Harry.” He said and I started shaking my head.
“Please, Andie. Something’s close, I can feel it.” He said and then warning in his voice got to me, he was anxious to get me out of there.
“Where are you going? The party isn’t over yet.” Antonio said but I was satisfied to see him wince.
“Yes, it is. You need to talk with me.” Ivan said and stepped forward.
“Oh no, I’m more interested in our little karate kid, here.” He said and started coming towards me. I was shocked when Ivan’s arrow pierced through his mid cage.
“Water.” Ivan shouted and then he shot another one. Antonio fell on the floor, caught off guard and he started choking. Literally.
“What are you doing to him?” I squealed at him but Ivan took my hand, pulled me in and then his wings surrounded me.
“Think of home.” He whispered urgently, I closed my eyes and did. And when I opened my eyes again, I was in his apartment. When he had told me to think of home, I had thought of his little apartment across mine, I wondered if he would realize that.
I turned in Ivan’s arms and he fell on the ground.
“Ivan.” I squealed and fell on my knees in front of him.
“Oh God, he was so near. He could have had you, you’re an archangel now and I can’t even protect you and I don’t know what to do, we need to take you to Harry and then he ..” Ivan went on but when I saw the anxiety in his voice, warmth spread through me. Even if he didn’t love me, he cared.
“Ivan, I’m fine. I embraced what I am. And I’m happy.” I said but he didn’t seem to listen to me.
“No, I need to get you away, he was so near, he sensed your aura, I could almost feel his satisfaction. I thought I was going to lose you, I thought it was the end. I was so scared and terrified. Oh God, Adrianna.” Ivan whispered the last word and then he pulled me in his arms and his lips crushed mine. He kissed me like it was the last one we would ever share. Pulling me nearer to him, breaking all rules. And then he just held me, so close to his heart.
“I’m sorry to make you so scared.” I whispered. And Ivan’s hold on me tightened.
“It doesn’t matter, we just have to keep you away from him.” He said and faintly his hand stroked my tresses. I leaned into him, marveling in his strength, the feel of him enveloping around me.
“Who’s him?” I asked faintly, not really interested. But I felt Ivan stiffen. And his hold went slack.
“Who is it?” I asked, already fearing his answer.
“It was Sinclair. He’s come to get you.”