The tale of the shadow phoenixes

Chapter twenty seven.

The Riddles had left the day before. Cole headed to Arianna’s house. He had one desire in his heart and he had to tell his one true love. He felt almost giddy with excitement weirdly now that James was gone. Now nobody stood in the way of him and Arianna. Cole rang the doorbell to the Black’s house. The door opened and Irene looked out. Irene’s face looked very pale. She smiled at him. “Hello Cole.” Irene said. “Hi. I’m here to see Arianna.” Cole said. Irene nodded. “She’s upstairs.” Cole walked upstairs to Arianna’s door and knocked.

Arianna lay on her bed with her face buried in her pillow. She had cried and cried until she could cry no more. “Oh James, why did you leave me?” She thought. *knock, knock*. Someone knocked on her door. Arianna got up, wiped her face and opened the door.

The door opened and Arianna came out. Her eyes were bloodshot and teary. “Yes.” She asked. “Can I come in?” Cole asked. Arianna nodded. He walked in and she shut the door behind him. Cole reached into his pocket and was about to pull out a ring when a crash came from downstairs. “Arianna!” Arianna’s father called from downstairs. Arianna flew past Cole and hurried downstairs. Cole followed her. “Mom!” Arianna cried. Irene lay on the floor breathing hard, her eyes flickering. “I think she’s having a stroke!” Cole started for the door. “I’ll go get the doctor.” He began. “No.” Arianna’s father said. Cole turned to them. Irene’s eyes were closed and she had stopped breathing, her hand was still holding Arianna’s. Arianna let out a loud sob. “Mom!” She put her head on her dead mother’s chest and sobbed nonstop. Marvelo set his jaw and blinked furiously, trying to keep the tears from coming.

The next day, the funeral proceeded. “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see…” the choir sang. They continued but were more like background music and nobody really listened to them. People came up and comforted Arianna and be father but honestly there was one person that Arianna missed the most that she needed comfort from. His face kept flashing in her mind’s eye. His mischievous brown eyes, his long black hair, his strong jawline, and his velvety lips. They’d only been inches apart from touching her lips. But now he was gone. “Oh James, why did you leave me?”

-SunnyFox57.