Rising from the smoke,
Shaking off the ashes of a world destroyed.
The tide is turning,
This broken angel is switching sides.

Her once torn and filthy wings,
Unfold.
From the fire,
Dead plumage gone,
New, shimmering onyx.
Black and full.

Gone are the stains of tears,
Shed by those sheltered.
Gone are the bald spots,
Feathers pickedto make someone else's wings.

She emerges,
A new, beautiful, frightening creature.
Heart of stone,
Voice of ice,
Replaces that which was sweet, warm,
Gentle and nice.

With the strength of new wings,
She pushes those she sheltered,
She throws them into death's waiting arms.

Soaring high on traitor's wings,
She looks down at the frightened faces that she left behind,
Their vacant stares,
Looking their fate in the face.

Heart of stone softened,
Ice melted and tears streamed down her face.
One look towards Heaven,
A prayer on borrowed breath,
"Lord forgive them, they know not what they did."

With a final tear,
She fell.
Trading new life for heartbreak,
And sheltering those who betrayed her.