From Ashes,i Rise Novels & Stories

The ash, now white as snow, dusting us all. Breaking away from the kiss, Uriel’s eyes widened as the ash fell around us. “It’s so pretty,” she whispered, holding out her hand for the ash to collect in her hand. The Phoenix only reminded me of my love for my mate, the fiery passion we had for each other, the explosion of pain of almost losing her only to find her as pure as the first rains that descended on the worlds. We had started anew, and this time I would be sure to cherish every moment.

"To every woman who was told she was too emotional, too soft, too ambitious. To every person who lost everything and had to start again. This is your reminder that we rise. And we rise stronger." That night, Natalie sat on the balcony of her penthouse, watching the stars return to a sky once clouded by doubt. Lila joined her with two glasses of wine. "You know," Lila said, handing her a glass, "I always believed you’d come back. But I never expected this." "Neither did I," Natalie admitted. "But maybe sometimes we have to be burned down to remember what we’re made of." Lila raised her glass. "To rising from the ashes."

It was a sight that made her feel like a woman transformed from the ashes of her past. Seated in the luxurious car, Abigail couldn't contain her wonder. She looked around, taking in the remarkable transformation that had occurred in her life. It felt surreal, like a dream she never wanted to wake up from. The pain of her losses was still fresh, but the promise of a brighter future was undeniable.

CASSANDRA The horrible sight before my eyes was the worst nightmare I’d ever seen, yet no matter how hard I pinched myself, it wasn’t going away. As the fire covered Asher’s body, his skin began to peel down. Soon, the black burnt skin became ashes, and then the ashes disappeared entirely and blew down the corridor. “No!” I screamed out of anger and sorrow. “No, no, no!” My lungs ached as I cried out, but I couldn’t stop. Tears spilled down my face like a river, and my vision started to break out with spots as I shook.

“Only when you accept what you hate in yourself, when you let hatred and loss tear you apart, then the flame will come. Until then, you will remain ash.” Aurora took a deep breath, her body trembling. Her red eyes sparkled as she lifted her chin. “Ash is also dead fire.” Ashkar smiled slightly. “Ash is the beginning of fire.” Aurora closed her eyes and raised her hand. She felt her heart beating so loudly that it seemed to want to leap out of her chest. The heat rose quickly, a shock to her skin. A spark danced at her fingertips. For a second, it existed. And then it went out.

Not relief. Reentry. And as the van pulled away, engine humming down the mountain road, Aria whispered into his mouth: “You can’t rise from ashes if you’re still afraid to burn.” Cassian kissed her again. And somewhere behind them, the river caught fire Not from flame. From memory. And that was enough.

--- Lucy – Internal Monologue Ash thought she broke me. Thought she could silence me with rejection, bury me beneath the weight of my shame. But I rose from her ashes—stronger, fiercer, and unforgiving. Let her bring her wolves. Let her roar with fury. Because today, I wouldn’t bow. Today, I would rise. And I would burn everything in my path to take back what was mine.

It was a song of mourning and reclamation. Her voice—low, smoky, unpolished—carried the names of every soldier she had trained. Every one she had buried. Every one who had whispered to her that they were afraid, and every one she hadn’t known how to comfort. But the chorus changed. From grief to glory. “Let the ashes sing Let the flame not die Even names unspoken Still reach the sky…” The entire courtyard lit up with silent flames—each listener’s hand catching fire not from magic, but memory.

“We’re with you.” Arla closed her eyes, repeating the riddle silently: "I rise from ash but do not burn." That’s rebirth. "I lead the lost, yet never turn." A guide… always moving forward. "My wings are seen in sky and flame." Wings in the fire, the air... "Speak my title. Speak my name." She breathed in deeply. Then she placed her hand over the tidepool and whispered: “Phoenix.”

It dares me to sit. I step past it. The dream shakes. The walls crack. I keep walking. It throws things in my path—voices, screams, broken glass, fire, mirrors that show me twisted. Alone. Ruined. But I don’t stop. I whisper their names like a prayer. “Noor. Marcy. Elise. Caroline. Lena. Isobelle. Talia.” And finally, softly— “Asher.” Light flickers. The world rips. And I fall. ***