38 : Silence before the storm

**Raphael :**

*What the hell?*

Lifting myself into the air, with my large wings, it seemed that my bird was bringing out such an energy that for a moment it was something new but I knew that it was the emotions that released my nature into freedom.

A surprise. Shock. Anger and then fear. Afraid that something might happen to Evelyn during the fight, but there was no time now, I told her to hide and the club was already cleared of all the people who ran away in fear, so it was easier to get to my main goal now.

Roaring, a let fire came out of my mouth, my wings carried me forward with more energy, directly towards the enemy. The other Phoenix growled at the sight of me and a pain shot through my temples as I heard another voice.

***Nice to finally meet you, brother.***

What? It distracted me for a moment but I shoot the flames at him before he could do it first.

*What the hell does that mean? Why are you so insistent on killing me?*

I was in the dark because I needed to get the main motives out of him.

Through our link, I could feel him laughing before answering.

***You took everything away from me. My childhood was miserable because of you and now it's time to pay you back.***

His bird's eyes lit up and I barely managed to get out of the way before the fire engulfed the club, right behind me, where I had just been and a great fear ran through me when I heard a scream. A very familiar cry.

My bird's big head turned sharply towards where I left Evelyn and saw that she had escaped from her hiding place. She is trapped between the bar and the flames.

*No!*

I only saw red. Evelyn looked scared, she had no way out and it was all my fault. About to fly towards her, I was forcefully pushed and one of my wings hit the wall. The pain went through me as I realised that at least one of my wings bones was broken, but I couldn't give up, my priority was my mate.

***Fight, brother! Don't be a coward!***

The other phoenix roared again and charged a second time. This time I was prepared and bit into his side with my fangs. We were on fire all over, but that was our true nature. The fire united us.

Realising that I had distracted him for a few seconds, I turned and flew towards Evelyn before it was too late. She screamed of course because it was definitely not a pleasant sight to have a big bird flying right at you, but I closed my eyes and tied our link that we hadn't used.

*Trust me, I'll get you out of here.*

Sending my warmth and promising her safety to her mentally, I noticed that Evelyn was looking at me in shock, but she wasn't trying to run away anymore and had remained silent. Nor would she have a way out.

Before she realises what is happening, I have already flown to her and with my big mouth I gently catch her in my teeth.

Placing a protective wing over her body like a shield to keep the fire from harming her, I heard the other phoenix close behind me. There was no time left, it was necessary to act quickly.

"Hey! Hey! Raphy! Here! Leave her to me!" I also heard my second brother Luke near the exit. Relaxing imperceptibly, my wings exerted energy and speed to reach him.

*Raphael?*

A frightened voice whispers in my head and I immediately give comfort in return when I glance down at my shivering mate who tries not to look down since we are higher than the ground.

*Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. Stay with Luke, I'll handle everything. Trust me.*

*I’m scared.*

The emotions were all over the place, more fear and I almost gave up just to take her in my arms, but there was no time.

*Trust me, darling. Remember that I love you.*

Evelyn started to cry and I had to force it out of my mind only to leave her in Luke’s arms who already grabbed her and started to run away. The fire had spread through almost the entire club.

After hearing the screams and my name from her lips, I cried out in agony but this time from heartache. She was in pain and it was because of me. Forcing myself to turn around, I was thrown into the nearest wall as the other Phoenix pushed me as hard as it flew up behind. Ignoring the physical pain, I imagined Evelyn alone, scared, without me... That alone gave me energy and I felt something stirring inside me that I braced myself for the next attack.

I realised that it is time. Time to end it all.

Light and fire engulfed the building, my wings folded inward, momentarily posing around me like a shield. After teleporting the orb from where I had hidden it, my crafted weapon was finally ready. I let it out with all my energy and strength and then there was an explosion.

When I was thrown back, my energy drained with it and my mind shut down. There was only darkness.

****

**Evelyn :**


"No! No, no, no."

It can't happen.

*No.*

Luke had teleported me with his magic powers to some hotel that was much further and safer from the club. We had a room at the very top, big windows and a terrace. Of course, I was outside in fear and anger, watching what was happening in the building we had just escaped out of.

It was on fire all over and I was scared like never before. I had to trust my Phoenix to end it as planned but still, the nerves were all over my body, they couldn't leave my system.

I was also angry that he was fighting alone, without me but fear won first place because it only took three minutes. Only three minutes for hell to begin.

One when the building burst into flames and smoke billowed into the sky. A gust of wind went through my hair, blowing the strands to the other side of my face.

The second, when suddenly silence fell on the whole neighbourhood. It felt like the world died for a moment. No birds were chirping, no cars were driving. Even the lights on the streets flickered silently.

In the third minute, it was already the calm before the storm. Before the unexpected happened, the street lamps, one by one, began to explode and all the lights went out.

A lump got stuck in my throat and I watched as the building that had just burned burst into a great light. So bright that I had to cover my eyes with my elbow.

"What the..." Luke was also frozen while stopping in his tracks between the doors when coming from the room to the terrace but my eyes were closed when I felt.

The third minute passed and there was an explosion. I felt it before I heard it. The ground shook, all the cars started honking, the dogs started barking, and the whole area was just in chaos and as the light faded, I blinked towards the place to see the cause of the huge sound.

I didn't even notice that my ears were ringing and I couldn't hear anything anymore. I could only see that the building and at least 50 meters from it, everything was in ashes. Everything had exploded.

My legs wobbled and I fell to my knees, not realising what just happened for a moment.

No.

No.

No.

*"No!"* I burst into tears as I stopped my breathing. It was hard for me to breathe, everything was bad, it was so hard to breathe that I started gasping for air.

“Raphael! No, no, no!" my voice was unfamiliar to my ears, for I could not tell whether I was shouting or whispering.

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I could feel myself starting to panic. It was like a heart attack, rather because I didn't want to believe it. My Phoenix promised that he would handle everything, everything would be fine.

*He told me to trust him.*

“Evelyn…Oh god..." I felt his brother nearby, disbelief and fear in his voice but I couldn't hear him. I still had my eyes on the ashes where the big explosion happened.

How long had it been since I sat and cried? How long did the world fall into a sort of silence?

Because watching, no one got up. I did not see my beautiful bird rise. Realisation hit my heart as I started to cry even more.

There was a moment when it seemed the end was here, I was going to die.

He used a weapon that destroys his race and my destined soulmate was there when the orb was used. It means-No. No.*No.*

"No..." a broken whisper came out from me.

My soul and heart were broken into countless pieces, my mind had shut down. I dropped to my knees and let out a moan of pain as if I were a wounded animal.

Everything was over and I didn't even tell him for the last time that I love him. I didn't say the words back.

*What was the point of living anymore?*