Embracing the Flames

by Candace Knoebel

  “I’m going to help,” I said as I flew towards the remaining two. I was level with them, shooting flames from my fingertips at the one nearest to me. The flames caught the edge of the Harpy’s right wing, igniting her feathers. The crude smell of burning skin soiled the air. She ferociously screeched, and a savage look filled her eyes.

  “DIE!” she squawked as she wobbled forward with one wing. She was falling, the flames devouring most of her wing into a scorched mess. I darted back, barely missing her last attempt at sinking her poisonous talons into me.

  As she fell to the ground, I shot a killing blow of flames in her direction, and watched as her entire body was swallowed by my orange familiar.

  One last Harpy remained. She was bigger than the others, a feral energy pulsing around her. Feathers formed a crown around her head as her large form vibrated with anger. Soothe shot a spell in her direction, but she jumped to avoid it, the energy lost behind the waterfall. I landed just behind Lexi, flames at the ready.

  “She has magic,” Lexi advised, her energy pulsing in her hands. “She’s the Queen. Be careful.”

  Soothe attempted another spell, but the Harpy was quicker, opening her mouth and releasing a purple stream of liquid that coated Soothe from head to toe.

  “NO!” shouted Lexi as she ran towards him, her green energy shooting and catching the Queen in the stomach. Lexi slid the rest of the way to Soothe. He was convulsing as wisps of smoke trailed off his skin. It was like acid, eating him alive. She rolled him towards the water, yanking her hands back with every push from the burn. “Mendaro,” she chanted as his body submerged underwater, and her magic formed a bubble around his skin.

  “Rory, come quick,” Fenn shouted, pointing in the Harpy Queen’s direction. The Queen stalked behind the two, intent on killing them.

  I barely had time to register what happened next. Fenn ran towards Lexi while throwing the killing spell at the Harpy. But he missed as he tripped over a root and fell just beside his sister.

  At the same time, I jumped up, flames on the verge of leaving my fingertips. I was closer and had a perfect shot as the Harpy raised her clawed wing, ready to strike Lexi from behind.

  As I went to throw my flames, a woman appeared on the other side of the rock, crying out.

  Gwenevere.

  I stumbled forward and lost my shot, watching in horror as the Harpy’s blow connected with Lexi’s neck, blood spilling out, coating the rocks below.

  “NOOOOOOO!” I cried out as the Harpy released her acidic venom on Fenn, glazing his skin.

  “You kill my sister!” the Harpy spat ferociously. She turned vengefully in my direction.

  Gwenevere stalked up behind the Harpy at the same time, pulling a dagger out and slitting her throat. She tossed the knife to the side as she jumped down to Lexi’s side.

  “My babies,” she wept as she pressed her hand to Lexi’s exposed throat. In a blinded haze, I gazed upon my family, feeling helpless. “DO SOMETHING!” Gwenevere shouted, chanting “Mendaro,” as she feebly held Lexi’s gurgling throat together.

  Fenn’s cry of pain brought me back to reality. I rushed towards him and mimicked Lexi, rolling him towards the water. Soothe lay helpless, his eyes glassy as the acid slowly dissipated. “Make a choice,” he struggled out.

  I felt panic rise as I looked at the two, slowly slipping away from me. This was my choice? How could I choose between my two best friends?

  “Aurora, please, they’re both dying. Either help me heal Lexi or save Fenn. My magic isn’t enough alone in this realm. Please,” Gwenevere cried furiously. Blood covered her hands as Lexi gasped for air. Tears stung my cheeks, and my chest violently heaved in and out.

  Without hesitating, I ran to Fenn, shouting, “Mendaro!” My energy encompassed his flailing body. Soothe leaned forward and did the same, aiding my magic to speed up the process. I glanced back at Gwen, sorrow pouring from my eyes. Her head fell bitterly, and I felt my heart rip in two as I choked back a sob.

  The acid began to dissipate from Fenn’s body. He sucked in a huge breathe of air. The moment I knew he was alright, I disconnected my flow and stumbled over to Lexi, grabbing her hand.

  “No, please, no,” I begged as I moved her hair from her face and poured healing energy into her.

  I was too late.

  Death clouded her eyes as she continued to choke on her blood. “I’m so sorry,” I sobbed, unable to see her through the blur of tears. “This is all my fault.”

  She looked up at me as her body lightly convulsed. Fear lingered in her eyes. And then the last pulse of her heartbeat came and went. Gwenevere toppled over her, pulling Lexi into her chest, weeping hysterically.

  I sat there, numb. Anger began to fill my heart. “I thought you were dead,” I said in a faint whisper. My voice trembled.

  Gwenevere slowly looked up. “Shift back and turn off your dragon sight,” she said pathetically in between sobs.

  I did as she said while conjuring clothes to cover me. It took me a moment to only use my human eyes as I pushed away my dragon abilities.

  There sat Eve, clutching Lexi’s lifeless body. Another stream of heavy tears poured from me as everything clicked into place.

  “Dragon glamour,” Eve spoke blankly. “Astral’s not here to keep you from seeing through it.” As her eyes met mine, she finished, “And now you know. Third of three. Fenn is the third son of Zordon.”

  Chapter 20

  A Helpful Bad Idea

  WE BURIED LEXI’S BODY IN the field just outside of Astral’s house. I planted lavender on her grave, letting my tears nourish the earth as my knees sunk into the freshly dug soil. Fenn stood off to the side, his head solemnly bowed as his own tears fell. I had to look away as another fit threatened to swallow me whole.

  Gwen was curled up into a ball on the other side of Lexi’s grave. She had been inconsolable since we returned. We offered to take Lexi’s body back to the Draconta so she could have a proper funeral, but Gwen said no. She carried Lexi’s body to this very spot and hasn’t moved since.

  My father had gone to help my mother shortly after we snuck off into the other realm. I hadn’t bothered getting in touch with him, mostly because I didn’t want more guilt from someone else I loved.

  Zane had returned before Lexi. He said she told him she was going to wait behind for us. After Fenn lost it on him for leaving her side, Zane disappeared. We haven’t seen him since.

  Fenn told me that he didn’t blame me, but he also said he needed some space. I dug my fingers into the gritty dirt as ripples of overwhelming pain vibrated my being.

  Gwenevere had seen me that day that I saved her when I had merged with my Oraculus. A Fate had interfered and made sure she didn’t go through with her suicide by connecting me to her. After I saved her, she confided in Gabe, who slipped his men a sleeping potion and escorted her to the Dragon King, my grandfather. She bargained her skills as a Seer for her life and for the protection of her unborn children. The Dragon King used glamour, transforming her into Eve, and covered her energy with his own, making her impossible to trace. Gabe planted the seed of her death in Zordon’s ear, and so she has lived, untainted by Zordon’s rage.

  But the worst piece of information we learned from Gwen was that Lexi was born before Fenn. The prophecy mentioned blood of a first born. All this time we had thought if Zane stayed alive... He was just a way for Zordon to prove to the Dark Saar that he was of immortal blood.

  The prophecy played back through my mind, slowing at missing piece. Between two younglings of a Fate’s son, only one can protect the progeny from eternal darkness.

  Fenn was meant to be my protector and Lexi was meant for death. How could we have seen this coming?

  Soothe stepped to my side, his palm planted firmly on my shoulder. “The path of a savior is never an easy one, but it
must be walked…or else all of this would have been for nothing.”

  I looked up at him. Soothe’s eyes pulsed with sincerity. He put his arm around me. “The choice was hard, and I never wanted you to experience this, but you made the right one. Lexi would have wanted it this way.”

  “How would you know?” I bit off, pulling away from him. A surge of grief filled my limbs. “This isn’t fair!” I yelled through a sob as I pushed him away, feeling my shift begin. Fenn moved forward, reaching for my hand.

  “Don’t,” he chided. “What’s done is done, and we can’t change it.” His eyes grazed the earth where they rested on his mother’s crying form. “We have to move forward or else Lexi’s death meant nothing. That’s what Soothe meant.”

  I felt my knees buckle, and I collapsed in Fenn’s arms, the pain too much to swallow. Soothe disappeared. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore, plagued by guilt and anger. Astral wasn’t here. My father wasn’t here. Lexi wasn’t here. For what? So I can swoop in and save the day? Everyone is placing faith in a failure.

  Hours passed, and exhaustion wove its way around my heart. My eyes felt raw and grew heavy. “Stay awake, Rory,” Fenn’s concerned voice commanded.

  “I’m so tired, Fenn. I can’t. I’m not strong like you. I can’t save everyone. I want to go lay down.” My tears had settled; my heart stiffened to a stone.

  He picked me up and carried me back to the house and into my room, gently laying me on the bed. “I’m going to get my mom and bring her inside, and then I’ll make you something to eat. I’ll be right back,” he said, uneasy as he left my room.

  I quickly reached under my bed for my Oraculus. I felt the pull earlier when I was crying in Fenn’s arms. I needed to see what Zordon was up to.

  As soon as my hand touched it, a searing pain shot throughout me, and my mind went dizzy. I used every bit of my strength to pull the book out from under my bed. I laid it on my stomach and fell back into my pillows, my eyes rolling back into my head. The darkness swarmed around me as the string between Zordon and I pulled tight. I heard Fenn shout “Rory!” as I closed my eyes and let go.

  I was back in the swamp, not far from the altar where the Harpy had been murdered. I sloshed through the muck to the cover of a cypress. The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the murky swamp in a pristine white glow.

  Zordon was tethered to the altar, his body as rigid as steel. For a brief second I thought he might be dead, but then I noticed the slight movement of his chest. An army of Dark Saar stood around like hovering ghosts, wisps of their black smoke radiating around them as they silently stared at Zordon’s calm figure.

  Searamin appeared from behind two pillars. They joined and formed an archway in front of the altar. His chin high, he slithered out, “Brothersss and Sissstersss, today we receive a powerful sssoul, one that we welcome with open armsss.”

  His smile pierced the night air as he greedily gazed upon Zordon. The crowd of Saar licked their lips, salivating at what was to come.

  “Zordon, with the moon at itssss peak, you are willingly loaning your sssoul to our army as an investment, in case you don’t pull through with the bounty of sssouls you have promisssed. And the ssspell.”

  “Correct,” Zordon said, unscathed.

  I clutched my stomach that gurgled in pain.

  “And ssso we begin,” Searamin commenced as his gangly fingers gripped Zordon’s throat. The army moved forward, hunger bulging out their eyes. “Thissss will hurt,” he wickedly promised.

  His mouth slowly opened until it was the size of his face. Short pointy teeth lined the inside of his mouth. The army hissed, blood lust filling their eyes.

  Zordon’s eyes shut tightly as Searamin leaned into him, his pointed teeth only a short breath away. Searamin viciously tugged the air, causing Zordon’s chest to lift from the table.

  I dropped to my knees, pain searing throughout my body. I bit through my lower lip, trying with all my might not to scream in agony as I peered around the tree. Pain marked Zordon’s face as well, but he kept his eyes tightly squeezed and did not make a sound.

  His body fell back to the altar. Searamin took in another deep breath, and Zordon’s entire body lifted up again. A black substance rose from his chest. His soul. I shoved the sleeve of my shirt in my mouth and bit down hard. I felt what Zordon was feeling — my soul being torn from my body.

  Tears poured from my eyes as I tried to blink the pain back. I felt like someone was splitting me in half. It was unbearable.

  I toppled over into the mud, brown goop sucking me down. One and the same, we’re one and the same, I thought as I felt vomit rise up in my throat. My amulet seared against my chest. It was the only thing keeping my soul safe and intact.

  I tilted my head in their direction, the pain so intense I barely noticed the mud seeping into my ears and mouth. It was nearly complete. Searamin swallowed the last bit of Zordon’s darkness. My eyes crossed as I lay twitching and moaning in the mud. Is this how I was meant to die?

  “It issss complete,” hissed Searamin, licking his lips. “Now we leave.” He undid Zordon’s restraints and stepped around the altar, leaving the lifeless body behind. The army of Dark Saar followed him back into the swamp.

  My pendant lit up on my chest, a searing heat burning behind the family crest on my chest. I felt strength return to me and slowly sat up, wiping as much of the caked mud from my face as possible.

  I gripped the pendant tightly, letting its power fuel me and crawled over to Zordon. I needed to know if he was dead. As I approached the altar, my stomach prickled in fear. What if he wasn’t? I brushed aside the thought. I needed to find out.

  I pressed up on my knees and was eye level with his face. The moon coated his skin in a milky white glow. His chest wasn’t moving. It was surreal looking down at him like this, like he was dead. I lifted my hand and brought it down just above his hand, resting at his side. The moment my finger touched him, a shock of power coursed through me and into him. His eyes bolted open, and his lungs gasped mercifully for air.

  His other hand shot over to mine and squeezed it forcefully, burning my skin. Billows of smoke left my nostrils, and I began to shift.

  But it wasn’t necessary. Zordon fell back into a slumber on the cold stone of the altar. His chest began to rapidly heave up and down as a fog rose from the ground and covered him. I jumped back, scared that the fog would take me too.

  It swallowed his body, shielding him from my eyes. What was happening? I stumbled backwards, wishing that I knew how to get myself back home. The fog swirled around him. Slowly, he emerged from the fog, his eyes blank. He was see-through, like the rest of the Dark Saar. He had become one of them.

  His eyes shot to mine as he said, “Aurora.” His tone was uneven, like a baby trying to babble out new words.

  I froze.

  “Come closer,” he commanded as he slid his legs off the side of the altar. I did the opposite, backing up until I ran into a tree. I had nowhere to go.

  I blinked, and he was right in front of me, his transparent hands curled around my throat, lifting me off the ground. “Why are you always spying on me? How is this possible?” he hissed.

  “I’m not,” I squeezed out, my hands feebly fumbling with his, trying to break his grip as the heat rose up inside me. “Let me go or I’ll kill you right now,” I threatened, trying to push the fire inside past his choking grip. But his strength was too great, and it pinched off my fire.

  His laughter filled the murky air. “I see you’ve grown confident. Good.” I felt the fire ignite along the tips of my fingers. “Searamin didn’t bargain for your soul, but I’m sure he’d be more than willing to feed on it.” He dug his hand farther into my throat. Panic began to build. I couldn’t breathe, and no one was here to save me this time.

  In an act of desperation, I shoved my flaming fi
ngers into his eyes, praying that it would burn his translucent body. The magic must have worked because he dropped me and screamed in pain. “You WITCH!” he cursed as he backed away.

  I took off in the opposite direction, trying to put as much distance in between us as possible. I found a hollowed-out tree and crawled into the hole tucking my head into my knees.

  Think, I told myself. I tried to imagine my room. I focused on the Oraculus that I knew was on my bed. I could almost feel it as I pushed the fear away, forcing myself to focus. The footsteps that were nearing the tree became distant. I was home, on my bed.

  “Rory!” Fenn shouted. His face was frightened.

  I jumped. I quickly scanned my room, making sure that Zordon hadn’t followed me.

  In a haze, my attention fell back on Fenn. He was gripping my shoulders, shaking me violently. “What the hell is your problem?!? Are you okay?” he floundered as he examined my face.

  “I’m fine,” I said, more to myself than to him. I let out a huge sigh of relief. Zordon’s strange voice was a distant echo in my mind.

  “Why?” he demanded, still gripping my muddied shoulders in desperation.

  “Why what?”

  “You know it’s a risk to connect with the Oraculus. You could die! After everything, is that what you want?” He was shouting at the top of his lungs, shaking me with every word that left his lips.

  “Stop it!” I shouted back.

  He glared at me.

  I stumbled, trying to think of a way to make this better. “Calm down, please,” I said gently. “I’m fine. Of course I don’t want to die, but every risk I take has value. It shows us what Zordon is up to. It’s necessary.” I lowered my voice, praying that he wouldn’t be mad.