When Stars Collide

Chapter 12- Love, religion and a goddess - Ioannis

Love is religion and religion is love. That's actually a philosophy that I believe in.

Because as Scarlet Thorne comes out of the bush with her swords ready to attack, I gulp at the fact we're dead meat. Because a fifteen year old Blessed can't save us from a phoenix warrior. She would kill us, she'd savor it and I won't be able to engage in falling in love or being loved.

Ok... maybe I did fall in love, but it'd never happen in a million years. Not when our lives are at stake and definitely not when Leo is staring at her like he could burn a hole on her face.

"I can't believe I found the three of you looped together. Are you sure you're all not attached to the hip? I always have good luck finding the three of you and now I'll have enough for Julemas shopping," she says brightly and Estella steps forward.

"Not today, you fire breathing bitch," she summons her spirenza and the violet fire comes out, just as bright and scary as the first time. She makes a circle of fire around us and her flames are warm like a blanket. But they burn just like her. When Scarlet hits Estella, she dodges it and the two attack each other like feral cats. I look at Leo and give him the staff.

"Hold this. I'll be back," I tell Leo and he grabs my arm and pulls the arrows I had been carrying.

"Use your arrows, Ioannis." I nod and stare at those deep blue eyes and it takes me a second to center myself. I step out of the ring and Estella glares at me. I run back into the forest, hiding between the leaves as I look for Scarlet's weak spot. Once I do, I'm about to pull the quiver when I spot it. A bag full of jewels and her motorcycle.

So, Scarlet had been paid to kill us. I get on the motorcycle and pull out her sun bombs. The leaves blow behind me as I ride straight towards Scarlet. She screeches and shifts into her phoenix form, spitting fire and I dodge it. She screams, the sun bombs exploding and the thread tangles her as she wrestles to get out. I pull my arrows and glare at her.

"Who hired you?" I am about to pull her up when she disappears completely. I sigh and Estella claps happily.

"Ioannis, I think you scared her-" she says when Scarlet grabs the thread and loops me in with her, dragging me under and I scream as we fall down to the spirit world. I scream and shove her as I run under the dark lands. I'd been here before. I didn't want to come back. Not now, not ever. Scarlet chases me, her speed bigger than my steps, but then I grab my bow and arrow, shooting three arrows at once, and she sheathes her sword, scratching my face slightly.

Goddess, are women always such sore losers who can't accept defeat? Because at least I knew when I lost. But this phoenix didn't. She ran for me and I quickly jumped over the chasm, realizing it was a mad woman or death. I jumped and hung on a small part of the cliff. I was so close to reaching the top when Scarlet stepped on my foot and I fall.

Towards death. Towards darkness and I feel its hand over me, pulling me closer and my cry as I try to fight to keep living. For Leo. For Estella. For the piece of me that had a childhood dream that would never happen. But then as I fall, I feel a gust of wind and catch a woman with bright blue eyes and dark ebony hair. Her grin is wicked as she pulls me to her side. She unleashes her scythe and I gulp. She points it towards Scarlet and speaks another language.

"He's not yours to claim." she tells Scarlet again and she launches herself at my savior. She pushes her away with the wave of her hand, the gust of wind stronger than my grip in an arm wrestle. She turns and looks deeply at me.

"Ioannis... be careful with those eyes. They will be hunted and cherished one day," she says to me and she kisses me before pushing me back up to the mortal world. I rise from the ground and pat on it desperately, wishing to thank her for saving me.. It had to be... otherwise why did she save me?