Chapter 5
Raphael flew over oceans with Elena. He had taken her the best dolphin spot, letting her fly whilst the dolphins jumped beneath her, the spray of the ocean coating her face in a salty tang, which he happily kissed from her laughing face. "These are the moments I will tell our children about." A whispered promise whilst she slept in his arms, a trust he didn't take lightly.
Elena woke a few hours later and he flew her again. This time to a small market for breakfast. The locals chatted so fast in their native tongue she had to ask Raphael to translate at the same time. Small hands held hers. The smaller children wanted her to come and play with them. Elena did, the bone deep love for her best friends child, her sister in every way that mattered, a scar on her heart that she hoped would never heal. Elena sat and chatted to them, showing off her knives and laughing at their stories. Her gaze met her Archangel's and her heart beat with anticipation at the heat in his eyes.
Elena sat wrapped within the cocoon of Raphael's safe arms, her head resting on his shoulder and their legs stretched out in front of them. He had taken her to a small island, where they sat and watched the sunset over a calm ocean. He pressed a kiss to her temple, contentment settling deep into her bones. Elena looked at her Archangel, a smile playing over her lips. Raphael smiled back at her. "What are you thinking Elena-mine?" Her reply was playful, making him smile even more.
"Can we save this moment forever?" She sighed wistfully. He tugged her impossibly closer, her wings trapped against his chest. "Elena-mine, I don't want just a fleeting moment. I want a life time of moments with you." His lips grazed hers on the end of his words, and Elena felt totally consumed with the love her Archangel freely gave her.
Venom was pacing, although it was much too fluid and graceful to call it pacing. He was waiting for Raphael to arrive. Anouk was deep in a meditative state and it was putting him on edge. His nerves tingled with dread and anticipation that something bad was about to happen. Raphael had sent Galen back to the Refuge to keep things steady, and Jason continued to fly in and out, as only a Spy Master could. Venom hissed to himself. "Message me, if her state changes." The two guards, both low level angels, nodded at his words. Venom stalked himself to a busy part of the Refuge, deep in Raphael's quarter. The Archangel didn't keep a court as such, but the angels that followed him liked to be social, so Raphael had built an area that encouraged this. Venom let the sounds of wings and whispers of conversation wash over him. The silent condition of Anouk was so unnatural that he felt the wrong deep in his bones. The warmth of the angels and vampires around him was almost as comforting as his favourite sun-soaked stone.
Glass suddenly shattered inwards. "Down Now." Venom shouted pulling two young angles down with him to the floor. A cold rapid wind, whipped across his face. He scented blood. He stood looking for the culprit of the attack. Anouk was hovering. Her wings, that had been bloody stumps mere days before were fully regenerated, bold green, back lit by the bright afternoon sun. "Poor snakey." She hissed at him, fangs of acid green venom appearing in her mouth. "Try explaining this to your archie angel." He was flung against the wall, his bones snapping as he called out. Sire, we are under attack."