The Unprevailant | Book 2 |

Chapter 2 ~ The Stylish Way

"Anyone want champagne?" Yuri asked, coming alongside Luciu. The irangels stood close together as the crowd dispersed.

"I don't drink alcohol," Luciu said, firmly declining alcoholic drinks. "If anything, I want to see where we're going to be staying."

Just then a very attractive man came up to the irangels. He looked Asian and was dressed entirely in black. The orange and yellow flame details on his black suit appeared so lifelike that some of the irangels wondered if the flames were real.

They are real, Demian realized in astonishment, looking closely at the stranger. His longish black hair was always loose, rarely tied back. His beautiful, cheerful smile lit up the room brighter than disco lights and glitter. He had earthy brown almond-shaped eyes and a smooth olive skin tone.

"Greetings irangels," he said, giving a Japanese style formal bow. "I am Raistin Fenice, the Phoenix and the Protector of Iredescent. I lived on planet Earth for some time before I met my wife, Tereza Rejkavik."

He motioned towards the Iredescent woman beside him. She was in her late fifties and had gilded reddish caramel hair. Her light purple gown had silver sparkles on it. Her skin barely shimmered. Without her shimmery purple wings, she would've easily been taken for a human. Her arm was looped around Raistin's, indicating they were together.

Cole was the first to recognize her. "You're the woman in the picture, the one in the secret file when Tori Nichok discovered planet Iredescent. Even your name was written underneath the photo!"

In a flash, Demian remembered the photo and knew exactly what Cole was talking about. Before Tereza could say anything, Demian spoke reverently, his voice and eyes teeming with excitement, "It's a great honor to meet you, Tereza Rejkavik! You're the woman who inspired Tori to go to outer space to find planet Iredescent. We all know what happened when she did."

"Yes, unfortunately," Tereza said. "But some good did come from her creation. You, for example," she said, indicating Cole.

Cole pointed at himself. "Me? Yeah, but – "

"If it weren't for you, Demian wouldn't have turned into an irangel," Tereza continued. "You wouldn't have helped him decide the people to turn, thus altering the lives of many different people. It was you who agreed to change the lives of the people you turned into irangels. It's thanks to you and Demian that these people are who they are now. Most of them wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for you and Demian."

Tears filled Cole's eyes. It meant so much for him to be told that his irangel life was more rewarding and fulfilling than his former human life would have been. Cole had wanted so much to have his old life back, but being reassured of how his new life had done so much to change lives made him feel it was all worth it.

Cole looked into the eyes of every irangel, knowing they were here because of him and Demian. Both men had seen each of them in their darkest moments, saving them from dark thoughts of suicide. Cole had a brother in Demian, a second brother in Stripes, a lover in Kirrie, and a close-knit sibling-like friendship with the irangels. He knew every one of them was forever grateful for the life they had now compared to the life they had before.

Demian broke through the sentimental mood that had befallen Cole, saying, "This is all very emotional, but we've an audience with Peridot Shodi, who wishes to speak to us."

Raistin raised his hand in a positive gesture. "Go on ahead. We'll be chilling with Tal and Zvizda. Peace, guys."

"Thank you," Cole said to Tereza one more time as the irangels turned towards the approaching Peridot. Because he was a mind reader, Demian was aware that Peridot wanted to speak with the irangels.