As they sat down in the guest room, Sophie's phone rang and she excused herself, as it was her Father.
"Hey dad how are you?" Sophie answered.
"I'm fine sweetie but I have some bad news, I'm not going to make it home tonight. Don't worry, everything's fine and I'll get some sleep in one of the vip rooms and your mothers coming to stay with me," her Father stated.
"Is everything ok Dad? You sound exhausted already," Sophie asked in a worried tone.
"Yes sweetie, more than ok actually. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow when you get home from school. Let's just say your Father and Mother have a lot to talk about as I've been promoted to head of the hospital," her Father excitedly stated.
"That's amazing news Dad! I'm so happy for you, does that mean you'll be able to be at home more often?" Sophie asked.
"In the long run, it does, which you and your Mother deserve. But have a good night sweetheart I love you very much!"
"I love you too Dad tell Mom I love her for me and don't worry I'm sure I can stay at Claire's so I'm not alone," Sophie felt really bad about lying.
"That's good, thank Mr and Mrs. Harmony for us sweetie. I love you too, talk to you tomorrow," her father said as he ended the call.
When she returned, she listened to Zander explain everything he had explained to her, practically begging Cyrus to forgive him as he wasn't to let anyone Tej didn't approve of, know.
"Wait, what about Sophie?" Claire and Cyrus turned to her.
"I kind of met Tej and Soraya the day after his parents died. He let me into his childhood room and they were just there," Sophie said with a red face.
"Well, I guess I can't blame you bro. If Tej," and Cyrus nearly fell over as Tej had teleported into the room in his smaller form and said hello to everyone.
"I see you have finally told Cyrus, I'm proud of you for not telling anyone without my permission and to only those you deeply trust, and it's not like Cyrus would have remembered your first birthday," Tej said with a smile.
After some introductions, Tej entertained the guests and answered some questions and made Cyrus and Claire promise they wouldn't tell anyone, and when they agreed, they both felt the symbol of the Phoenix on their hand, only to watch it disappear.
"What was that magic sir Tej?" Claire asked kindly.
"It's the bond of the Phoenix. If you break your promise you'll be unable to speak about what Zander or I have told you, and if you are in immediate danger Zander will be able to get to you right away," Tej explained.
"Why didn't you make one with Sophie?" Claire asked.
Embarrassed, Sophie showed them her hand, which was illuminated with a golden Phoenix, not a white Phoenix, and said, "I made a bond with Zander that we will remain close, even if we don't stay as a couple forever.
Just then Soraya appeared on Sophie's shoulder and was nestling her neck, begging for scratches and of course, Sophie obliged.
"Wait, you're telling me Sophie knows Soraya too?" Claire asked in a somewhat jealous tone.
"Yes, she does, and we were actually planning to visit today to introduce Zander and Zintan to their new sister," to which Tej teleported a baby Phoenix, beautiful and red like her mother with white flames.
Tej handed her to Zander, who began scratching her head and he gladly switched with Zintan, who introduced himself to Cyrus and Claire and said hello to his parents and asked what his sister's names were and how the twins were doing.
"Her name is Scarlett and she hatched about a week ago. The twins are great, they're growing up so fast and on our new planet. Zephyr and Nixie and their flock have gotten used to the new adult phoenixes who have also had some children. We actually recently started a school for them, it was Fathers idea and Luna is their teacher," Soraya said with a big smile, still nestling Sophie until she finally sat on her lap.
Zander asked Cyrus, "would you like to hold her?" to which Cyrus and Claire cuddled up together and pet the baby Phoenix in amazement.
"She's so beautiful and you two are so kind," Claire said.
Noticing how vocal Claire was today, Zander decided to cast eye of the Phoenix, and to no surprise, the phoenixes we're gold, Zander was gold, Claire was a beautiful green but to his surprise, Sophie shined a visible Gold, not as vibrant as the phoenixes and not as dark as himself, but it just reminded him how amazing she truly was.
After everyone held Scarlett, Tej and Soraya said their goodbyes and they teleported back. Sophie excused herself to go to the restroom, as she sensed an invisible presence still clung to her shoulder.
As she walked into the bathroom, Soraya showed herself and said, "I've been watching you and Zander and I can't help but think of what beautiful babies you two would make," Soraya stated.
"We've only been together for six days and I'm only 16, well, I'll be 17 on Saturday but we're way too young to have children. We have university to think about and what do you think my parents would think?" Sophie was so red in the face she almost had the same color as Soraya in embarrassment of what she was suggesting.
Soraya suggested, "I'm not saying you have one today, I'm just suggesting what Tej and I talked about when we had Scarlett. You see, phoenixes can see the lifeforce, as you humans call it chi, and other than Zander, you're the only other fully golden aura anyone has Solace has seen under the age of 18. Some show hints of it, but you're the only other truly golden aura. You're born in the same month as him, your father and his mother worked at the same hospital, I think Tej's Father had more plans than we knew back then, or things have changed in the prophecy."
"So you think I'm some sort of chosen one like Zander," Sophie said, blushing while shaking her head no.
"Tej and I aren't ruling out the possibility. I fear a time will come where Zander will be so consumed protecting you, that either you two will break up or one of you will be gravely injured, if not worse. There's a protection spell on Zander until he's 18 and we've cast one on you as well. Tej and I are offering you Scarlett, in the same way Zander has Zintan. It will just be different because you are 16 and Zintan has been with Zander since birth," Soraya said calmly, as Tej entered the bathroom.
"There is absolutely no risk. My Father will simply open your chest and heart, insert Scarlett into you and you'll be able to be protected and grow very, very strong," Tej stated.
"What about Zander? What about my parents? Sophie asked.
"As much as we don't encourage lying, especially in Solace, I think simply not telling anyone, except Zander after it's happened, would be for the best. He trusts us. He thinks of us as his Phoenix parents. The only difference is you won't be related to him or anything. Scarlett has the blessing of the Father, and you will receive a different type of blessing through Luna. That way it won't feel like you're brother and sister or anything," Soraya stated.
Sophie heard a knock on the door, and Zander asked if everything was ok, still sensing Tej and Soraya's presence with the eye of the Phoenix, to which he was quite baffled by.
"Yes sweetie I think I'm going to take a bath is that ok?"
"You don't have to ask, of course you can, my house is your house. I love you," Zander said.
"Thanks babe I love you too," Sophie said with a bright red face.
Zander waited around for a moment, but decided to leave it be. "Maybe they just want to make sure I'm ok or something," Zander told himself as he rejoined Claire and Cyrus.
"Did I just hear I love you," Cyrus punched Zander's arm.
Claire sat with her arms folded and said, "it'd be nice to be loved by someone," to which Cyrus looked at her and said, "you know I adore you with all my heart but it's only been a week sweetheart you're my first girlfriend I don't even know what love feels like," which satisfied Claire as she smiled and said, "well I adore you too," and motioned for him to sit.
Meanwhile, after hearing Zander, Sophie mustered up the courage and said, I'll do it.
As the bath water turned off, Sophie was quickly teleported to a hospital bed and before she knew it she was asleep.
The Father asked if they were certain this was a good idea, to which they all agreed. The operation went much smoother than the first time and because they did the operation where time moved much more quickly than that of Earth, Sophie had returned, awake, in the bath.
Soraya was the only one with her and asked, "well, do you feel any different?"
Sophie said, "what do you mean, the last thing I remember is I said I'd do it and then I took a bath?"
Soraya told her, "search deep within your heart and soul," to which Sophie closed her eyes and after about two minutes, found the white space with Scarlett sleeping and she politely woke her up.
"Hi Scarlett, would you like to say anything to your mom before she goes?"
Sophie's eyes turned red and Scarlett, who was only one week old muttered out, "love you mama tell dada I said I love him I'll look after my new sister Sophie," and Scarlett switched out and was fast asleep.
Soraya shed a tear and came up to Sophie, looked her deep in the eyes and said, "please take good care of her, Tej is under his Fathers orders not to say anything, but he's declared we are no longer to mingle in mankind's affairs. You will be able to use magic now, probably fire and a some type of unique magic based on Scarlett. Ask Zander when the time is right, he and Zintan can help you. I can't tell you the reason, we can't mingle in humankind's affairs, just know it's for everyone's protection, including your parents. Also, you should know that you don't have to be married, according to the scripture, to have a child, as long as you're deeply in love with that person. So this is goodbye, from all of us. Please tell Zander we love him dearly. Don't tell him tomorrow, wait a few days, and don't rush the child. I'm just giving you all the information I can because it's the last time I'll be able to speak with you. Tej couldn't bear telling Zander, as he's only seen him at his first birthday, when his mother died, and today. He didn't want to put any more pain in his heart. He's so happy with you, and I see you're just as happy with him. Never let that go."
With that, Soraya shed a tear, and was gone, Sophie got out of the bath, got dressed and walked into the guest room.
"There she is," Zander said with a beautiful smile, and walked over and kissed her and she held onto the kiss a lot longer than she would have with Cyrus and Claire there.
Cyrus and Claire smiled and Cyrus whispered to Claire, "you know I do care for you with all my heart right?"
Claire said, "yes and as do I with you. After today I think it's just fate those two met that day."
Cyrus thought about what she said, felt his heart racing and his hands became sweaty.
Sophie told everyone she was tired and going to lay down, so Zander walked her to his room, and to her surprise, she now had a walk-in closet, dresser, about 20 pairs of sneakers and several dresses hung up. As she looked through the drawers Zander had turned away and said, "I had Claire do all your shopping earlier today so I can't be held accountable for whatever's in there." Zander said with a laugh.
The top drawer had all different sorts of underwear, the second drawer had all sorts of different types of bra and Sophie immediately turned bright red as she saw a few different pairs of lingerie. She immediately closed the drawer and saw the rest of the dresser, which had around 12 drawers, were full of clothes she would normally wear and she turned to Zander and said, "how on Earth did you afford all of this and convince Claire to do it."
I met my banker today and well, let's just say my parents left me well off, with some money to last until I turn 17. It's the least I can do, with as much as you stay here.
Sophie gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever and laid down and fell asleep, immediately.
Meanwhile, Claire asked Cyrus what was wrong and he excused himself to get some water. He saw Zander walking out of the room and he asked Zander how he knew he loved Sophie.
Zander used the eye of the Phoenix and could see Cyrus's chi running wild, his heart racing and his sweaty hands that were shaking.
"I just knew bro. Every time I see her my heart races and I feel like we've been through so much together already. I mean, just go with your heart bro," Zander told him.
"Thanks," Cyrus said as he sprinted back to the guest room and blurted out, "Claire, nothings wrong, I just uh, I love you,"
Claire ran up to him and jumped on him and gave him the biggest kiss ever and said, "I thought I was going to have to be the one to say it but I love you too."
Zander decided to give them space and returned to his room, where Sophie was peacefully sleeping.
Meanwhile, back in Eden, Luna had found Zephyr and said, "it looks like that the scenes of that dream I had all those years ago turns out to be Sophie," Luna said.
"I can see the resemblance. She's not as beautiful as you of course, but she is very beautiful and she does share a lot of your characteristics. She's the same height, she has brunette hair and not silver, but I have a feeling even that might change," Zephyr said.
"Why is that?" Luna asked.
"If we assume the scenes in the dream we shared are Sophie, not you, like we originally anticipated, that third scene now makes sense and you can rest now, not having to worry about it," Zephyr stated.
"That's very true, and I'm glad because Father has given everyone a warning to no longer intervene with humankind. I'm guessing that's why Tej and Soraya did what they did today with Fathers blessing of course," Luna said.
"Yes, and the reason for not being able to interfere is a scary one. We can only hope those two, with some help, can fulfill the prophecy and save humankind.
Cyrus and Claire stayed the night, and Cyrus called Claire's school, acting as her father, stating she would be out ill and thanked them for everything. Claire did the same for Cyrus, stating he would be out ill tomorrow and unbeknownst to Sophie, Claire had called her off tomorrow, due to a family emergency due to the incident at the hospital. With that they went to sleep.
Meanwhile, as Zander went to bed, Zintan told him, "didn't today feel like a goodbye from mom and dad?"
Zander thought about it for awhile, "yeah, it kind of did and when I went to check on Sophie, they were still with her, but I didn't pry."
"Yeah I noticed that too, and well, after today I think we just need to rest. You meet your lawyer tomorrow,"
Zander cuddled up next to Sophie, who was in a deep sleep, and he could hear her talking in her sleep, saying, "Zander and I will be together forever, and a baby, Soraya said," which made Zander smile and he too was quickly fast asleep.