Julien stood in the kitchen preparing dinner while his son played outside. The shores of Cassardis sparkled in the late sunlight. He watched his son playing on the beach with the other village children. from the window Olra laughed as she played along with them. Running in circles to get away so she wasn't tagged. Julien cracked a smile when he saw his little boy smile and laugh.

"Beautiful sight, isn't it?" came a voice.

A startled Julien dropped the pot he held and whirled around. An apparition of the woman he once loved sat on his counter.

"Nice place ya got here," she said.

He closed his eyes. "You're not real. You're not real. You are not real." When he opened his eyes, she was gone.

"How's that working for ya, Julien?" She was perched atop his cabinet.

He turned around quickly. "You aren't real."

"I'm as real as you're going to get, Jules."

"What did you just call me?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Jules? The nickname I gave you?"

"Alixx? Is that really you?"

She hopped down off the cabinet. "In the flesh.. Well, so to speak."

"But.." He looked her up and down. "How?"

Alixx smiled, "It took a little convincing. Riven can be a stubborn." She looked up. "Oh I'm sorry, The Maker."

Julien grabbed her and held tightly. "I never thought I would see you again."

Alixx gasped. "Can't... breath."

He quickly let go "I'm sorry Are you okay?

She laughed. "I'm dead, Jules. It was a joke."

"What are you?"

A smile creeped across Alixx's face. A pair of pure white wings sprouted from her back, and Julien recoiled. They folded behind her.

"I'm an Archangel. The highest rank among angels."

A small boy walked in the door, Olra followed closely behind. Alixx looked down at the boy.

She knelt down, "What's your name?"

"Barriven," he answered. He placed his hand on her cheek. "Are you my mommy?"

Tears began to fall when she touched his hand. "Yes, I'm your mother."

The boy wrapped his arms around her. Alixx lifted him up, burying her face in the child's shoulder.

"Don't leave again, mommy. I miss you. Daddy misses you."

Olra placed her hand on Alixx's arm. "We all miss you."

She placed her son down and he attached himself to his fathers leg. "Don't let her go daddy. I don't want her to go."

"I can't stay. It was hard enough being cleared to see you today. Who knows when I'll be back."

Julien kissed her deeply. "I love you, Alixx. Just knowing you're okay."

She chuckled. "Define okay." She sighed. "Riven had a hard decision to make, but he chose right. Better to save a child and have your best friend rule by your side."

"He told me you wouldn't live past Barrivens birth."

She gulped. "Well, he didn't tell me that." She looked up. "I have to go. He's calling for me."

Julien took her hand. "Will you be back?"

Her wings unfolded. "I'll be back as soon as I can, my sweet." She kissed him softly. "Take care of them." And she hugged her son a final time.

As Alixx began to leave them, Olra called out to her.

"I will be telling your story, Alixx. Everyone will know the tale of the BitterBlack Arisen!"

Finished! Finally complete!

I hope y'all enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun to write, and I actually am already working on a sequel!

So stay tuned!