by Ashley Meira
I kicked my foot out, brushing her bare toes with mine. She returned the action with a playful kick of her own. Our limbs were too short for any real contact, but the glancing touch was enough of a peace treaty. Soon, the overwhelming scent of hazelnut died down, and I knew my own magic had settled as well. Diana’s magic mixed with Papa’s, making me wish I could smell my own so to experience the sweetness of our three powers combined. But I couldn’t, so I settled for hugging Papa even tighter.
“It’s important to keep your magic under control,” Papa said, his serious tone undermined by the upturned corners of his lips. “Before you two burn the house down.”
“Hey!” we cried, pouting at his playful teasing. “She started it!”
“Close your eyes, girls.” He shot us a stern look when we began to protest. “Close them.”
We did as we were told, though the pouts remained on our faces.
“Feel the heat within you,” he said. “Feel it nestled deep inside yourself. Feel the crackling embers spark against the corners of your mind.”
His words faded into a soft drone as I did what he asked. A warmth spread from my head to my toes, filling me with a comforting heat, like when I drank Mama’s hot chocolate. I let the heat spread through my veins as Papa continued speaking.
“Feel the power lurking within, the product of your heritage burning bright.” He paused for a moment, and I felt his magic flutter in sadness. I frowned, about to open my eyes and ask what was wrong, but he spoke before I could. “There are few of us out there now, but we remain proud descendants of powerful creatures. Our ancestors were chosen by dragons and phoenixes, taken in and treated as one of their own. Their wisdom and power have been passed down for centuries, a reminder of the bond we share. Your souls burn the brightest, my little flowers; you must learn to temper yourselves so you don’t burn out too quickly.”
The words pulled a gasp from Diana. I felt her magic flare before I opened my eyes to see her staring at Papa in fear. Her lower lip trembled, a sign she was about to cry.
Papa sensed it immediately and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Calm yourself, sweetheart.”
“I don’t want to burn,” she said, her voice cracking.
“We can’t burn,” I told her, wanting to ease my baby sister’s fears. “We’re fireproof, remember?”
She looked at me with watery eyes and nodded.
“Indeed.” Papa squeezed us closer. “Your Fireborn heritage protects you from many things.”
“I thought it was our Fire,” Diana said.
Papa chuckled. “Your Fire is there because you are Fireborn. It has been with you since the day you were born.”
“Until you take a bath,” I said with a smirk. Now that Diana had calmed down, I couldn’t help but rile her up again. “Then it goes out.”
“No!” Diana screeched, bunching up Papa’s sweater in her fingers. “Papa!”
He sighed and gave me a stern look before kissing my forehead. “Your Fire will never go away, my flowers.”
“Even in water?” she asked.
“Even in water,” he said. “You two are very special. Your bond to the Fire and its Creators is far stronger than anyone else in existence.”
“Because I’m a Warrior!” I swung my hand around like I was wielding a sword. “But wait, I always protect Diana, so I’m the Protector. But Diana can’t fight so….”
“Hey!” She glared at me. “I can fight and protect. All you can do is be older.”
I grinned and stuck my tongue out. “Forever. You’ll always be the baby.”
Diana lunged for me, but Papa pulled us apart before she could reach. “Be nice, Sophia. Diana will be a fine Protector when she grows up.”
“But she’ll never be as grown up as me,” I huffed, unhappy at the reprimand.
“Will so!”
“You will both be exceptional women,” he said before we could start fighting again. “So long as you remember one very important thing—”
“Trust your Fire,” we droned.
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll keep saying it no matter how much it annoys you, little flowers. Your Fire is a gift bestowed by the dragon and phoenix. It carries the power and wisdom of centuries past and will always be there to guide your way. It is very important that you listen to what it tells you. It will be difficult; you two are very stubborn—”
“Hey!”
Papa sighed and darted his eyes toward the kitchen. “Can’t imagine where you get it from.”
“I heard that!” Mama called.
“Regardless,” he said as a blush took over his cheeks, “you will need to learn to compromise. It can be hard feeling like you’re not in control, but your Fire is part of you — it has your best intentions at heart.”
“So always listen to our Fire?” I said. “Sounds boring.”
He placed his chin on my head, his laughter ruffling my hair. “Everything in balance, Sophia. Your Fire possesses a hunger to match the dragons themselves. You must learn to put your foot down while still keeping a unity between yourself and your Fire.”
I looked up at him and blinked a few times, trying to process his words. “I don’t get it.”
“Me neither,” Diana said, staring at him with the same clueless look.
Papa’s smile was radiant and full of love when he looked at us. The warmth he exuded was enough to make me forget everything he’d said in favor of basking in the moment. My Fire danced around at the feel of his and my sister’s as our magic danced together. Mama was still in the kitchen, but I could feel her own magic moving at a faster pace in respond to our own.
Before I could call for her to join us, Papa pulled us together for a final hug. “Don’t worry, my little flowers. You will understand one day.”
It felt cold.
Not against my skin. It just felt like it should be. This dark room with no windows felt like it was colder than the snowstorm brewing outside. Or maybe I was imagining the screaming winds, trying to find something to anchor us to the world beyond this darkness.
Trying to drown out my baby sister’s sobs.
True, we were born only a few minutes apart, but Diana would always be my baby sister. Especially now with her crying. I didn’t need to see her face to picture the flushed cheeks and reddened eyes brought on by her bawling. My own face likely matched hers, though my tears had dried up some time ago.
How long had it been? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that we’d been huddled here far too long while I failed to think of a plan. The last thing I remembered was having lunch. Then, darkness. The only thing that kept me from completely losing it was the feel of my twin’s hand in mind.
I rubbed my throat with a trembling hand, trying to soothe the tearing pain. The moment we’d awoken, Diana and I had screamed ourselves raw calling for our parents. There’d been no reply. I wasn’t even sure our voices had carried past this room. A hoarse rasp left my mouth, followed by terrible pain. I swallowed, trying to lubricate my throat. I had no idea how long we’d been here, but it was far too long to be denied water.
Or food. The cloying emptiness in my stomach competed with the fiery dryness in my throat for most unbearable pain. In a way, I was glad Diana was still crying. At least it meant she was alive. In my condition, I didn’t have the ability to ask.
Eventually, the crying stopped. My heart skipped a beat at the silence but calmed at the feel of her steady breathing against my neck. Sleeping. Good. She would be in less pain while sleeping. I wanted to stay awake to figure out some kind of plan, but hunger and thirst weighed me down. I could hardly keep my eyes open much less think. Perhaps a bit of rest would do me good, too.
I squeezed my sister’s hand and rested my head on top of hers.
My eyes were on fire. I shut them and reached for Diana, instinctively cradling her to my chest. White light pierced my eyelids, searing my retinas. My mouth opened but even the raspy sounds from before wouldn’t come.
“Close the door,” a m
asculine voice ordered. You’re blinding the poor things.”
The scent of rot brought bile up my throat. Had I any food in my stomach, it would have ended up on the floor. The awful stench filled every corner of the room like a thick, cloying miasma. I gagged and hid my face against my shoulder, feeling bile seep into the cotton of my shirt.
My Fire crackled within me, stirring as the tendrils of sleep shriveled underneath the outside light. Soon, that light faded, yet I kept my eyes shut, fighting the urge to see the man before us. Part of me was curious, but it was overwhelmed by the part of me that was terrified. Whoever this man was, he sounded calm — too calm for a man visiting a pair of little girls who’d been locked away for who knows how long. Not to mention his magic made me feel sick.
“The light is gone, little ones,” the man said. From the sound of his voice — and the ever-increasing nausea I was experiencing — he was kneeling before us. “You may open your eyes without fear.”
My eyes tightened on instinct, but I felt too vulnerable not being able to see the stranger. Perhaps I was misjudging him. Maybe he was here to take us home and couldn’t help the way his magic was. Mama and Papa always told us not to judge people based on a single feature but on their actions.
They also told us to always trust our Fire.
And mine was screaming at me to run.
Steeling my spine and tightening my grip on Diana, I forced my eyes open. Despite his orders, the door remained slightly open. Though only a thin strip of light streamed through the room, it was enough to bathe the man’s features in shadow. From what I could see, he wasn’t the scary boogyman I’d expected, but I had decided to heed my parents words and let his actions speak first.
NO!
My Fire shrieked, the sound so deafening I thought everyone could hear it. But Diana was staring at the man with tear-stained eyes, and he was dragging his stare between us like he had all the time in the world.
“It’s all right.” He sounded sincere as he held his hand out to us, yet my Fire twisted with each word. “You don’t need to be afraid. I’m here to help you. Surely, you must be thirsty? Hungry? Nine year olds shouldn’t go this long without sustenance.”
He waved to the door with his other hand. A man stepped in holding two trays and suddenly nothing else mattered. My stomach roared, and this time, the sound did echo around the room. My sister’s stomach gurgled in response as our eyes followed the trays of food with undivided attention. I smelled meat and fresh bread, but what truly caught my eye were the plastic cups. Water. Sweet, precious water.
“See?” The man said, his words barely discernible through my foodlust. “I just want to take care of you two. But first, a question.”
I ripped my eyes from the delicacies before me and forced myself to stare at the man. My throat was too parched for me to ask what he wanted, but I was sure the look in my eyes spoke volumes. Shy Diana, too, looked like a ravenous wolf when she turned back to him, though there was no hiding the fear in her gaze.
“You have been here for three days now, huddled in the dark. Why? Why haven’t you conjured a flame? You may not need the heat, but surely you’d have preferred some light?”
If I could speak, I would have had to scream to hear myself over my Fire. The flames shrieked in fear and panic like a doe caught in a leg trap. Its terror was palpable enough that I knew to never trust this man, whoever he was. If I had the energy, I’d push him aside and pull Diana out of this room toward freedom.
But I didn’t, and the guard holding our trays was eight times our size. He probably wasn’t the only one around either.
We were trapped.
Diana’s trembling intensified to the point where it felt like an earthquake was pressed against my side. Still, I drew her closer, never loosening my grip. She was my baby sister, and I had to protect her.
“Poor dears,” he said, his voice not quite sympathetic. “I can see how much you’re suffering. Tell you what, I’ll leave you two to your food and water if you can do one thing for me. Just one tiny thing: conjure a flame in the palm of your hands.”
His words finally snapped Diana out of her silent reverie. The waterworks started anew, her cries reaching a crescendo I didn’t think possible with how dehydrated she was. Even the guard seemed taken aback by her screeches.
“I want mommy and daddy! I want them now! Take me home! I want to go home!”
She repeated her demands over and over again until I was sure she’d bleed from the mouth. But there was no blood, nor was there any reaction from the man before us. I’d never met an adult who hadn’t reacted when we cried. Whether they were annoyed, panicked, or shocked like the guard, there was always some emotion in the face of our tantrums.
But not him. He kept his plain brown eyes fixed on my sister, staring at her like an ant through a magnifying glass. He took in her blotchy red face and bore the brunt of her screeches with little more than a languid blink. Once her words had descended into little more than unintelligible hiccups and squeaks, he turned to me.
My eyes burned. Both from the rude awakening and the tears I was fighting back. I wanted nothing more than to break down like my sister and demand to see our parents, to go home. But it was clear such things wouldn’t work on him. Whatever this man wanted, he wouldn’t stop until he got it. My Fire knew this, and it was terrified.
Through the roaring of the flames, I heard my sister’s sobbing as it died down. I heard the howling of the wind I still wasn’t quite sure existed. Through the awful stench of the man’s magic, I smelled fresh meat and warm bread. Through the disgusting taste of rot on my tongue, I imagined the feel of cool water sliding down my throat.
The man’s expression didn’t change as I stared at him — through him, really — trying to decide what to do. Diana’s hands dug into my side as she hugged me tighter, and I could feel her watery eyes staring at me in confusion.
I didn’t know where our parents were. I didn’t know what this man wanted. I didn’t know how to escape.
All I knew was that I had to protect my sister.
My throat burned as I swallowed, but the flame that burst to life in my palm held no heat.
Diana was crying again.
We were both curled up in our respective beds, but the room wasn’t so big that I couldn’t hear the sobs she desperately tried to muffle with her pillow. I squeezed my own blanket between my fingers and braced myself for a sleepless night. When Diana cried herself to sleep, it meant she’d spend the entire night whimpering and calling out for our parents.
It kept me awake, and though my blanket would be as wet as hers by sunrise, I had long since mastered the art of silent crying. I wanted nothing more than to go to her, but the master frowned upon such displays of compassion. You never wanted the master to frown upon you. And he would know. Even in the solitude of our room, he would find out somehow. And he’d punish me — or worse, Diana.
I couldn’t let that happen. I had to protect her, no matter how much she hated me.
We’d been given the day off today. A rare act of kindness from the master to celebrate our thirteenth birthday. Of course, we weren’t allowed to leave the castle, so there was nothing for us to do. I had suggested we go to the library and read stories to each other like we used to as children. It was an attempt to reconnect with the only family I was sure I had left, and it had backfired miserably.
Diana yearned for our parents, but any attempts on my part to remind her of our time with them was met with anger. I just wanted her to be happy—
No, that was asking too much. She was stuck in the past, and I was so scared I would never be able to bring her back. This place was hell on Earth, and the master was cruel despite his honeyed words, but if she didn’t shape up soon….
I’d already lost mama and papa. I couldn’t lose her, too.
My Fire crackled but I shoved it down. It tried to give me hope. Maybe my parents were still alive somewhere. Maybe they were looking for us. I didn’t know, and the last time
I tried to ask the master, he’d broken my jaw.
If he’d killed them — my heart clenched at the thought — then surely he’d just admit to it. He couldn’t believe the knowledge that he’d taken their lives would turn us against him, could he? We were powerless against him. Our feelings were irrelevant. That made me think they could still be out there, but it was just as likely the master refused to respond because he felt I, a servant, had no right to ask such things.
I didn’t know his reasons. What I did know was this was all my Fire’s fault. Diana and I were taken because we were Fireborn. If we hadn’t been born with this power, we’d be at home right now, safe with our parents. Instead, we were here, and my Fire was pressing against me, a constant reminder of why we were prisoners.
If my power could at least help us escape, I wouldn’t resent it so. Then again, what good would it do? Fireborns were anathema, monsters, to the people outside these castle walls. The moment we stepped outside, we would be hunted. No one would care about our plight. All they’d see were two monsters that needed to be put down. We were trapped between a slow death as slaves or a quick one as abominations. Neither were good, but if I had more time, maybe, just maybe, I could find a way free us from the master’s grasp.
Silence drifted across the room for a few moments, and I wondered if I would actually be able to rest.
“Mama….”
I flinched at the sound of Diana’s sleep-ladened voice, feeling the ache in my chest and the burning in my eyes.
Tomorrow, we’d wake up without a word and the cycle would continue.
Chapter Sixteen
I shot out of bed and immediately summoned my sword. It hit the carpet a moment later as reality seeped in. With a heavy sigh, I leaned back against the head board and tried to calm my racing heart.
It seemed my talk with Diana had conjured up a plethora of memories, none particularly pleasant. Even the one with my father was painful, another reminder of all the happiness I’d lost.