Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

mistaken, there was something of a bow in there, too. ‘Do you remember my words, Keshet?’
    ‘I’m not surrendering any more, Uri.’
    His look saddened. ‘I’m afraid that will not serve you well. Surrender brings both despair and joy – but if you choose not to give in to it, you cannot expect either.’
    I was so sick of this. ‘Fine by me,’ I responded.
    His gaze dropped. ‘As you wish.’
    He disappeared and I was left with the hollow feeling that I had just disappointed him. But before I had a chance to ponder any further, the one I’d come to see was beside me.
    ‘Would you feel more comfortable with a different surrounding?’ my angel maker asked.
    I ignored the question. The truth was, the nothingness surrounding me felt right. ‘You told me I could ask for something when I won the war.’
    ‘I did.’
    ‘Have I won the war?’
    ‘This one, yes, I believe so. Lilith will not return.’ The corners of his mouth curled, reminding me he was a fierce warrior.
    ‘Then I want three things,’ I blurted out.
    His eyes narrowed. ‘I cannot offer so many. You must choose.’
    ‘No, I must not. I willbe your warrior. I will become a Grigori like no other. I will take down every exile that threatens humanity. I give you my word. But it will be my way, by my rules. If you want that, I have terms. So, you see, it’s not me that has to choose anything, it’s you.’
    He shook his head. ‘Just like your mother. Tell me.’
    I stared out into the darkness. Some of the stars seemed to be moving, now floating around me. There were so many of them.
    How can there be so many?
    ‘I want them to have a chance. Mum and Dad. You can give Dad back the years that were stolen from him, give them a future together.’
    ‘And are you a part of their future?’ he asked.
    ‘I … I don’t know.’
    ‘I can’t give them what you ask but I can provide a choice that would give them something close. But they must choose this of their own free will, and desire it greatly, for it to be so.’
    I knew he wasn’t telling me everything but at least they would have a choice. I nodded and continued. ‘I want Phoenix to have a chance at peace. I know where he is and he doesn’t belong there. He deserves more.’
    My angel maker’s eyes lit up mischievously. ‘Done.’
    My mouth fell open with shock. ‘Really?’
    He nodded. ‘Phoenix made his choices, too. Wrong though many of them were, in the end he chose to overcome his true nature. Very few – angel, exile or human – ever achieve this. Redemption was his.’
    My legs buckled, my angel maker catching me by the elbow as I struggled for breath.
    ‘He’s in Heaven or something?’
    He waiteduntil I steadied myself. ‘Something.’ His smile faded as he studied me, awaiting my final request. ‘I am quite certain I know what number three is, but that is not a gift for me to give.’
    ‘I haven’t even asked yet.’
    His eyes were all too knowing. ‘You want me to return your love.’
    My heart skipped a beat. ‘Yes,’ I breathed.
    ‘I cannot.’ He sighed – such a human reaction that it affected me. ‘It is not in my power to do such things.’
    I felt hope slipping away from me. ‘But Phoenix said … He said that if I came here I could find him. That there was a way.’
    My angel maker considered this. ‘You see them. We know that much, but we cannot risk losing you.’
    ‘Wait, “see them?” What?’ But then I realised what he was talking about. ‘The shimmery things? Yes.’
    ‘Do you know what they are?’
    ‘No,’ I said looking out into the dark night seeing now that the many moving stars were in fact reflections, moving closer towards us, hovering. ‘Can they help me?’
    ‘Perhaps. They are the imprints of lost souls. There is a chance your love lies within them.’
    My heart started to race with possibility. ‘So I can find him?’
    My angel maker didn’t share my excitement. In fact, he became forlorn. ‘There are billions of them out there, child. An impossible and dangerous feat. And you are needed for other things.’
    ‘Phoenix didn’t think so. I’ve earned my right to try!’
    He consideredme for another long moment. ‘Then this one will not be for me to decide.’
    ‘Then who? Who the hell do I have to convince?’ I yelled, desperate.
    He held his arm out beyond me. ‘The other one who is now entitled a role in your guidance.’
    I spun around and gasped.
    He looked so strong, so healthy. His hair was