Phoenix: rise from death. **COMPLETED**

#21 freedom

i woke up in darkness. it blanketed me and embraced me in my slumber. i slowly lifted my head looking around as everything started to fade into light. trees became visib;e little by little as the light spread across the valley i was in. i sat up suddenly as the babbling water started flowing and making its soft sweet noises as it ran lazily over the rocks. the grass i was now in was soft and green and i moved my feet into the water as the sun now beat down it's glorious ryas. it filled me instanty with wamrth and calm. i knew it was a matter of time before the moon goddess manifested herself here next to me. i smiled as the mere thought of her sent a feeling of peace inside of me. i closed my eyes and let it wash over me as though it was cleansing my sould and renweing it one breath at a time. " do you feel that my child>"

"i was waiting for you. i lnew it wouldn't be long."

"i didn't want youto wait too long for my presence. you have done a good job."

"then why do i feel like i am so wrong even though it felt like it was neccessary? why do i feel so bad?"

i could feel her plop in the grass beside me and her hand touched my cheek as she brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. " things that are right are not always easy for sure. that feeling you feel inside you right now is cleansing the blood from your soul. i will not allow it to taint you or for you to live in life feeling like you have his blood on your hands. i take that burden on me. it is not yours to carry my child." i glanced over at her. her legs were crossed as she sat and i watched her pick up a rock and skip along the waters surface.

"he really was a demon. is it over now?" i would be lying if there wasn't some fear about having to kill anyone else. it was bad enough goign against a demon like christopher. i didn't want any other blood on my hands because of him.

she was silent for a moment before she answered me which had me slightly worried.'You save people who have no clue what you did for them. you gave people back life when it had been taken from them. you gave them back thier choices. the choices christopher took away from them. no one will need to have their blood spilled now. if i feel they are untrue in heart i will will strike them dead and it will not be because of you. they will all ahve a choice before it happens but it will not be on you any longer. it is n themselves now." another rock skipped across the water as she sat next to the waters edge.

"do i get to stay with jacob and carla and little Angel now? do we get to have some peace?"

" you deserve that for sure. yes you do get to. you did what i asked of you and even though it wasm't easy you never faltered in what i asked of you. i am bestowing a special gift on you. something you can learn from and grow from. this gift is very precious indeed. you and Jacob will aslo become Alpha and LUna until Little Angel grows up and can take over her pack. she will eventually take her rightful place but you two will make that pack great and prosperous. she will inheret a thriving pack and rule in peace. Well," she rose from her spot and stood looking over at the trees in the distance. it was as though she was disappearing right before my eyes. as she faded away her words echoed into the wind. "it os time for me to go but remember Angel that i am always here for you." she reached out to me placing her hand on my hip before she was fully gone. there was a tingling sensation that grew in intensity.my hand reached down pulling up my shirt to look at what it was. i gasped out in surprise as before my eyes the branding that christopher had placed on me as an eaighteen year old girl slowly faded away and was replaced by soft smooth skin.

I smiled deeply as tears fell from my eyes. "thank you so much!" i whispered into the breeze. it was amazing to finally feel free of him. to feel free from the torture and prison he had created for me. i was finally free to love not only others but myself fully . he was gone and i was free. i realized i wasn't the only one that was now free. Christine was now free to be a child. she was free to have a life of her choosing and not be bound to a man that abused her. i knew this was a new life altering moment for her. she was no longer forced into submission but free to go toschool and prove she was worthy to be treated like she was worth something. it felt like a huge heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders in that very moment. everything started fading back into the darkness. the trees now gone and it spread across the valley taking everything with it. I lay down on the grass and closed my eyes letting sleep take me over.

I woke up slowly realizing i was still naked from the night before. somehow i felt like life was better today. a new begining that i never had before. there was no task luming before me. i felt Jacob next to me as he stirred and pulled me closer to his body. i welcomed his tight embrace snuggling in and letting the feeling of love take over, i lay there a while longer before snaking out of his embrace and heading towards the bathroom. i looked at myself in the mirror running my fingers over my hip. it was gone. his name no longer there and replaced with clan fresh skin untouched by the horror that christopher was. i smiled bright;y as i finsihed up and came out to get dressed. i felt renewed in this new day. i kissed jacob on the forehead and quickly left the room sniffing the air to find where Christine was. i found her room and knocked lightly before entering. she was there sitting on the edge of the bed in compplete shock. she looked up at ne as i sat down next to her taking her hand in mine. "it's gone." her voice was soft and meek.almost the sound of an angel.

"what is gone?" she lifted her towel showing me her hip.

"his name is not there anymore. it just vanished like he had never touched me." tears were coming down now and she hugged me to her."i am so grateful for what you have done. he forced me to mate him and forced me to marry him. i never wanted it. he was horrible."

i pulled back and cupped her face in my hands. "you have choices now and it is up to you what you want for your life now. i will set up a bank account with enough money in it for you to live very comfortably for the rest of your life. go to school find your fated mate. the world is openeing up for you and blessing you a second chance to do something with it."

"thank you so much! i was seventeen when he told my parents he as taking me. i was eighteen when he forced his mark on me. i was never given choices. i was in a prison with no way out. i didn't know what to do." her light tears were now streaming as she sobbed out her words. we sat there a while as she let it all wash over her. "i'm free. for othe firt tie since i was a child i am free because of you." she got up pulling on some clothes to cover her naked body. she had a new bounce to her step and it was as though for her the world was no longer weighing her down and keeping her in the embrace of darkness. i watched as she bounded out of the room leaping down the stairs like the world was so open for her for the first time. it gave me a sense of pride that had never been there before. i had not realized that my actions gave her life. a life that she had never had before. Jacob wrapped his arms around my waste from behind.

"you are amazing and you don't even know it. you gave that to her. freedom can do so much for a person. you gave her the light back in her life."