wings of fire

WINGS OF FIRE

That’s it she was out of Time, they had found the Firestone and they intend to use it to control her.
She was not having it, she could not let it happen, and if they were to have that kind of power there would be nothing to stop them. She had to get to safety, somewhere out of sight, somewhere where she could breathe and think about her next move.
As the train came to a stop, she pushed her way out the door people shouting at her in French. She didn't care she ran up the escalators and out the door from the Gare de Lyon. She needed to get to the next train station across the bridge. If she could board a train she could loose herself anywhere in France or Europe. All she needed was to get across the bridge.
This was no longer about her alone, the balance of the world as we knew it depended on her getting to that train station and melting herself into the continent.
She took a right out of Gare de Lyon, then a left. There it was the bridge that led to Gare Austerlitz. She felt a pinch of hope, she knew they were powerless over water, all she needed to do was get to the bridge and she stood a chance.
There was a crowd ahead maybe she could blend in, she thought. She took a deep breath and started running again, just a few metres and she would be standing on the bridge. She was almost there, keep going she thought to herself when out of the corner of her eyes came two men dressed in black who grabbed hold of her.
One of them spoke, his voice hissed like that of a snake, "thought you could get away sweetie, he said, you're ours now, you power is ours, your body your soul all ours, and we are going to keep you alive till we suck every last drop of it".
It was all over she was lost the world as she knew it was over. She was the last of her line with the power, the only guardian left, and she failed. She failed because she trusted, she loved, now the whole world is going to suffer and it's all her fault.  Her body went limp, there was no hope left. She could already feel their touch on her, a few more steps and she could have been safe. Look at them she thought to herself, all going about their lives no idea what’s about to happen. She kept looking at the crowd of young people coming towards her, they were running with pillows in their hands, another flash mob she thought.
The crowd slammed into her and the men in black, all she could hear we're shouts and laughter as they kept running and hitting each other with the pillows. They kept knocking into her until she felt herself free from the men's grip.
She did not waist any time, this was her last chance, she tried to push her way out of the crowd but once again she felt someone took hold of her.
But this time it was different, this person had a more gentle touch, almost unlikely in such a crowd.
As she turned around she saw the twinkling green eyes of a young lady smiling at her.
"I'm celestial, the coven sent me, and you must be the last phoenix."

...Could it be really her, she asked herself. She has heard of her of course, there are many legends going very far back, but here she is right here right now just sitting here on the Parisian underground. Celestrial, the Celestrial.
This was not at all what she was expecting, in fact, she was not expecting the Celestrail. As far as she knew, the celestrial was a bedtime story that witches told their children to inspire them to something greater than themselves, but if anything this chocolate skinned young lady says is true then this is even better than expected.
She looked upon her face with disbelief. ‘Are you really the Celestrial?
The young lady turned and looked straight at her big smile on her face. ‘yes i am, but call me Sky, leave the title for formal occasion, and seeing that i tend to avoid those like the plague, i guess we can forget about it all together? She asked.
But..but that’s  not possible. That would make you at least  900 to a 1000 years old.  It’s only a legend she said, half asking half stating...
Well you happen to be the human embodiment of a mythical bird, that is supposed to be extinct, you don’t see me criticising, besides its more complex than that..And i saved your life, she added like she was somehow hurt for being told that she was a legend.
As the metro train pulled into its station sky got up from her chair, “this is our stop, she said, no time to waist lets go.”
The two young ladies got out of the train and made their way through the crowd at a fast steady pace.
Sky remember exactly where she was going even though she had not been in this part of the country for some time, she had the brains and power of a 1000 year old witch and that knowledge always comes in handy. She had the last phoenix with her so part one of her problem was over; the next part was to keep her alive. She wondered why she was not contacted, did they not have any idea of what this could mean. A whole species could be reborn, and who knows where that could lead, what greatness could come from this. Ever the optimist sky kept the girl closer, and headed for the exit.
The girls walked out of the station and straight down the street, turned left at the corner where a Hindu vender sold crêpes with nutella. 
What’s your name? Sky asked the young lady.
My name is Fae, she answered as they kept heading down the street as fast as they could without running.
Fae, like the fairies how cute, well Fae you are going to be fine, this is the island city of paris, better known for its cathedral Notre dame and as a matter of fact that’s exactly where we are heading.
No sooner did sky say that did the building came into sight.
You don’t have to worry this part of the city is in the middle of the river surrounded by water so you are well protected for now. Now listen carefully when we arrive we are going to have a drink take a breather and you can catch me up to speed on what exactly happened to you.

The girls walked past the tourist in front of the old building, turned round the back and went through a small hidden door.

Her name is Mary Zelinda ducieux, known by most of her kind as Celestrial or The Celestrial. It’s a name which is in itself a title and has been carried down for many generations by great women, all fighting in the shadows keeping this world safe, making sure that balance and life survive.
Mary who likes being called Sky, just Sky, had been groomed and raised for her role as far back as she could remember, she was taught the history of her people, their art, their craft and their method of combat of which she is not a great fan of.
Although she accepts her role and responsibilities, trust me she would much rather be doing anything else. Taking a nap on the river banks, hitch hiking across Europe, or spend the night just dancing in some night club somewhere. It is quite possible that she is trying to recapture the childhood or the teenage years that her responsibilities took from her and that can be seen even in the way she leads her people. 
This Celestrial is the only one to use the C.O.W in generations. No one dared to use the council of witches since the great war of fire, but she did it anyway. When Mary was sixteen, she told her aunt that if she was to give up her name to be the Celestrial, then she will be doing things her way, and that’s exactly what she did.
In fact several of her decisions were frowned upon by the older generation of witches, who wanted to hold on the old ways, leaving no space for change. There were times when she thought that they would rebel against her leadership, and though there were many threats, eight years in and she’s still standing strong, still the Celestrial, and seeing the events earlier today at the pont d'Austerlitz, she is beginning to wonder if she has not let her guard down a bit.