Fiery Nights

by Lisa Carlisle

  This is bad, Maya. You need to stop reacting to what they do and think of what you can do next to get out of this.

  I slowed down my breathing to try for some self-control, not one of my strong suits.

  Focus. Focus.

  What can you do to get out of this mess?

  I zoned away from my predicament there on the table and shifted my focus to the fire. I looked past Roderick and into the fireplace, watching where the smoke gathered.

  This is what you are good at. Use this strength.

  I concentrated on where the smoke gathered, where the heat was most intense.

  This might backfire.

  As soon as the fire caught on the first log, I propelled the flame out of the fireplace. Before he had time to react, the little flame magnified instantly to reach out and burn one of Roderick’s hands.

  “Fuck!” he screamed and ran out of the room. I heard the faucet turn on as he swore over and over again.

  “What happened?” Maddie asked, following him. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “The goddamn fire blew up at me. Is it under control now?”

  She came back into the room and looked at the fire, which had settled back into a cozy little flame. “Yeah. It’s fine. You sure you didn’t just fall into it?”

  “I’m sure,” he said. He cursed some more. “This is bad. I think I need to go to the emergency room.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “What are we going to do with her? Just when we got her on the table.”

  “Leave her here. She’s not going anywhere any time soon. The drugs will work for hours.”

  “Can’t you just go by yourself? I’ll stay with Maya. I’m sure I can find ways to keep us entertained until you get back.”

  “I can’t drive like this! It’s my fuckin’ right hand. You need to drive me.”

  Maddie pouted, looked me over, and then said, “Don’t worry. We’ll be back soon.”

  “You can’t just leave me here tied up!”

  “You’ll be fine.”

  She walked out of the room. In another minute, I heard the front door close.

  Okay, now what? You got them out of here, but you’re still tied up.

  I scanned the room again. Maybe I could find something to help me undo these fastenings.

  No, nothing.

  Think, Maya. What can you do?

  If I was really strong, I could break through the fastenings. If I was really flexible, I could do some Houdini trick, maybe.

  What could I do? I looked into the fire as I thought about how to get out of here.

  That’s it! The answer is right in front of me!

  What I was about to do was very dangerous. It could in fact kill me if I didn’t do it right. And I’d never done anything like it before. In fact, it’s the opposite of what I’d been trained to do as a firefighter.

  It could backfire and I’d go up in flames.

  Literally.

  But I couldn’t just lie there waiting for some pissed-off captors to return to do what they wanted with my body on this damn table.

  Taking a few deep breaths to clear my head, I focused on the fire. I practiced with some small exercises. Made it rise and fall, funnel, the usual party tricks.

  Then, ever so carefully, I encouraged it to grow bigger, beyond the confines of the fireplace and out to the wall facing the street.

  It worked.

  Yes, keep going now. Go toward the front window. But stay there. Just draw some attention.

  The fire roared up and sped along the walls, much quicker than I had intended.

  I hoped I didn’t make a fatal mistake.

  Tristan

  From the shadows, I saw the couple leave the house. They climbed into a black sedan and drove off.

  But where was Maya? Why would she stay alone in a house, presumably their house?

  Ugh, now I was worried about her. But what the hell could I do? Ring the front doorbell and say, “Oh, hey, Maya. I was in the neighborhood and I saw you go in here. Just thought I’d say hi.”

  Yeah, that would go over well. I could just see her freaking out, blue eyes blazing once again. She’d say I was stalking her, she was a grown woman who didn’t need someone taking care of her, and to leave her alone.

  Did I really want to ruin building something again by being such a suspicious control freak?

  So instead, I stood there like a creep and waited. Waited for what, I don’t know. I suppose I waited for Maya to come out so I knew she was okay.

  But then something I never would have expected happened. There was smoke coming from the window on the far right. Was I seeing things?

  I watched more carefully. What the hell was going on in there?

  No, that wasn’t just smoke. It was fire!

  Shit! Maya must be in there! I never saw her come out.

  I ran to the house and tried looking in some windows, but the curtains were all drawn. Then I ran to the front door, lightly tapped the door knob to make sure it wasn’t burning. When I tried to turn it, it was locked.

  The flames grew.

  I dialed 911 as I ran to the opposite side of the house, only giving the quickest of rundowns while I searched for a rock big enough to make some damage.

  “House fire. Caldecott St. White house at far end of cul-de-sac.” I hung up while the operator asked questions. Then I smashed a side window.

  “Anybody in here?” I called.

  “Tristan?” Maya called from far off. “Is that you?”

  “Maya, are you okay? Where are you?”

  “I’m in the room at the end of the hall Come quick. And be careful.”

  I broke the rest of the window so I could climb through into the living room, and then I ran down the hall. Seeing Maya tied to a table in a room filled with flames kicked me into action.

  “Tristan,” she whispered. “You came. How did you find me?”

  “Not now, Maya. Let me untie you.” I fumbled with the restraints, which were some sort of Velcro-and-metal combination.

  After I undid the first one, I asked, “What did they do to you?” But when I looked up at Maya, her eyes were closed. Her lips barely moved but she was saying something. What was she saying?

  The flames in the front window, the ones that signaled to me to call for help, were—receding. They were pulling back.

  Was she controlling it?

  Not wanting to interrupt her trance, I quietly loosened the remaining fastenings. She was free.

  The sound of sirens approached.

  “Maya, let’s get out of here,” I said.

  “No. I have to get it back under control,” she said.

  “Maya, no! You’re not staying in a burning house. Maybe you can control it, maybe not. We’re not staying here to find out. Come with me now!”

  I grabbed her hand and we ran down the hall. The closest door I saw led from the kitchen out to the back of the house. Not sure if she’d break free and try to go back to the fire, I made sure she walked out before me.

  I didn’t have to worry about her running back. Once she broke free of the house and heard the sirens, she ran as if she was being chased by someone. Once we were far enough away from the burning house, I stopped running.

  “Maya, I need to tell you something.”

  She looked frantic, as if adrenaline was telling her to keep running. “What, Tristan? We need to get away from there.”

  “I love you.” I put both hands on either side of her head and crushed down on her lips with my own. Finally, her itchy feet stopped moving.

  “Oh, Tristan. You never stop surprising me,” she said. “I love you too.” She kissed me again. “Now let’s go. I’ll explain everything. And then we can talk to the authorities later. Right now I want to get as far away from that house and those people as I can.”

  We reached my car and drove away just as the first fire engine crossed in the opposite direction.

  Maya

  What a crazy turn of events.

>   “Madeleine” and “Roderick” were arrested. I escaped an arson charge. I mean, come on, who would believe it anyway if I confessed to setting a fire with my mind while I was tied up? I’d be locked up forever. Plus, in my opinion it was self-defense. Perhaps they couldn’t live in their house for a while, but with the charges they were facing, they might be spending time in another house for many years.

  When Tristan and I were alone again, I explained the rationale behind my bad decision of going with them.

  “I thought it might be something hot we could try together. I mean, doesn’t every guy want to see his girl with another girl? But I changed my mind as soon as I got in there. I only want you.”

  Tristan shook his head. “Oh Maya. I only just got you. I don’t want to share you with anyone.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you don’t want to see me with another girl?”

  His eyes widened. “Maybe someday we’ll experiment with other options. But right now I want you and only you. In my life, in my bed. In my heart.”

  Tristan and I built up our relationship again, but we took it much more slowly this time. Walking hand in hand along the Atlantic, he said, “Let’s focus on us first. I don’t care about any spells or potions or figuring out if we were meant to be together in some other, deeper way. All I want is you, Maya.”

  “What about the darkness?”

  “You’ll always be my light. In every way.” He kissed me on the forehead. “It’s time I take you on some proper dates.”

  He kept his word. We went on actual dates. They were as secluded as possible, but they were dates nonetheless. We went to restaurants and the movies. As long as Tristan focused on me, he could block out external distractions. I didn’t mind—in fact, I loved the attention. One mild day, we even took an enclosed boat out on the Atlantic.

  Being alone out on the open water was too much for us to resist. We ended up entangled in each other’s arms as we rekindled that attraction that led us together at Vampsto begin with.

  “I missed you so much, Maya. I missed this so much. Being with you.”

  “I know exactly what you mean.”

  We spent Christmas afternoon with Tristan’s parents and rang in the New Year at a big bash at Vamps. After several weeks of spending time together as a couple, I asked, “Are you ready to try again? Back in the lab?”

  Tristan appeared hesitant at first and then he soldiered on. “Yes,” he said, “I don’t think we need the lab, though.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “Seeing how you focused on the fire at, you know—their—house, it gave me an idea.”

  “Oh no, Tristan. What do you have in mind?”

  “A camping trip. Out under the stars. And a campfire.”

  “Are you kidding me? It’s winter. In New England. People don’t camp now, they ski.”

  “Some do with the right equipment. Besides, it’s a mild winter. And I’ll keep you warm.”

  “I’m not sleeping in a tent in January. Surely that doesn’t have to be part of the plan.”

  “We can get a cabin.”

  “A heated cabin.”

  “A heated cabin. Wimp.”

  “I’d rather be a warm wimp than a freezing fool.”

  “Come here, my warm wimp,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Show some love to your fool.”

  “You mean freezing fool.”

  “How about devoted fool?”

  “I like it.”

  “Me too.”

  He kissed me and ran his hands down my body.

  “Before you get too carried away,” I said, “tell me about your cockamamie plan.”

  That he lured me to the woods on a January day was a testament to how crazy I was about him. But at least we had a cozy log cabin stocked with hot cocoa and cookies. We checked in late Saturday morning and put together a lunch of some finds from a gourmet market we stopped at during the drive. We laid out a baguette, cheese spreads, tomato and cucumber, and all kinds of fruit. And to go with it, a bottle of red wine.

  “This weekend is starting to look up,” I said. “Aren’t you glad we’re not roughing it?”

  Tristan looked over to the bed. “I’m looking forward to christening that bed. But sleeping with you in a tent sounded like fun too.”

  “Does it now? I can pretty much promise you that will never happen.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Never?”

  “Okay, maybe in the summer. But definitely not now.”

  “I’m going to book a weekend in July before we leave so we’ll have to come back.”

  “Oh, Tristan. Planning seven months ahead. Aren’t you the optimist about our relationship.”

  “No more doubts, Maya. I’m yours. And I hope you’re mine.”

  “Absolutely.”

  We walked through the woods that afternoon, seeing if we could find animals or animal tracks. Then Tristan said we should get back to start a fire so we could try his plan.

  He began to set up kindling for a fire and fumbled to get it started.

  “Allow me,” I said. I’d been working on developing my connection with fire since the incident and could now direct my energy to spark a small candle-sized flame.

  “Showoff,” he teased.

  “Can I show off for you later?”

  “Only if you take special requests.”

  “Sure. What will it be, Mr. Stone?”

  “You on top. Oral. Missionary. Doggy style. You name it.”

  “Let’s shake on it.” We shook hands. “Now tell me why you brought me here.”

  “I thought being out in nature among the other elements instead of a basement might help you with your gift. I mean, there’s air, earth, water, and now fire here—not potions in some basement.”

  “Oh. Good thinking,” I said. “But how will this help you?”

  “I don’t know. But I think you’re the key. And you might be able to concentrate better out here.”

  “Fair enough. So what do you want me to do?”

  “Just focus on the fire. Concentrate.”

  I watched the fire flicker and focused on the dancing flames. I focused on one color after another, clearing my head of clutter. I don’t know how long we sat there, but at some point all the junk that usually occupied my head disappeared. The world appeared wide open and clear, the sky infinite.

  “Oh my God,” Tristan said. “Unbelievable.”

  “What is it?” I said, wanting to look at him but not wanting to break my connection to the fire.

  “Your light. It’s magnificent. It’s exploded into thousands of little colors. Like a rainbow in a diamond.”

  “Really?”

  “I feel something in me too. Whatever it is, I feel it.”

  “What is it, Tristan?”

  “I don’t know. Some sort of energy maybe. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

  I stayed in that trance-like state for several minutes where my mind was clear and pure. But then I had to look away and once I did, I felt exhausted.

  Tristan said, “I don’t know what you just did, but it did something very powerful. It’s as if a weight has been lifted off of me. As if a burden has been lifted off my soul.”

  Tristan

  Whatever Maya did with the fire that night broke through some barrier in my mind. When we went back to town the next day, I noticed the darkness around people had changed. It wasn’t just dark and shadows anymore. They had—color.

  The only person who I knew who might have a possible explanation was my mother. Maya and I went there on a Sunday afternoon. I explained the new phenomenon with colors and not feeling so world-weary.

  “I’ve always thought you could be a healer, Tristan. Maybe Maya’s gift helped you tap into yours.”

  “How does seeing colors make me a healer?”

  “Auras, maybe. Energy? Your great-grandfather could see something in people that most of us can’t. He used it to help people. Heal them.”

  “How?”
>
  “I don’t know, Tristan. Maybe he knew how to move energy. He never really explained it. I just know people came to see him when they were feeling distraught and he had the ability to make them feel a little less so. A little more optimistic to face whatever they had ahead of them.”

  I hummphed, not really knowing what to say.

  Mother leaned forward. “Tristan, are you willing to try something, with a volunteer?”

  “What? Try what? With whom?”

  Mother called out into the hallway. “Charlotte, come here please.”

  Charlotte appeared moments later. “Yes, Mrs. Stone?”

  “Remember how we were talking about Tristan? About how he just needed to break through?”

  “I do.”

  “We think he has.” She looked at me and back at Charlotte. “I’m wondering if you both will try something.”

  I tilted my head with skepticism. “Mother…”

  “Hear me out,” she said, raising a hand. “You know that Charlotte is still in mourning for her husband. She’s been in pain for far too long. We’ve been talking about how she needs to move on with her life, but she’s not sure how to begin.”

  “I have a feeling you have some crazy idea in mind that involves me.”

  “It’s not crazy,” she said, and then conceded. “Okay, maybe it’s crazy. But nothing would ever have been invented if people hadn’t had a few crazy ideas and been willing to try things.”

  I nodded. Fair point.

  “So what I think you should do is just sit with Charlotte, hold her hand and just try to connect with her. Maybe send some positive energy her way.” She turned to Charlotte. “Are you still willing to try something like this?”

  “I’m willing to try anything, Mrs. Stone. The sadness I feel, it’s just no way to live.”

  She turned back to me. “Tristan?”

  “I don’t think you ladies would let me say no at this point even if I tried.”

  Mother smiled. “Great. It’s settled. Here, Charlotte, come sit down. Tristan, take her hands.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Focus your energy on her. Focus positive energy toward her.”

  I gazed at the colors surrounding Charlotte. Dark blue, light blue and the darkness within. I tried to focus on her.

  “I can’t,” I said. “I need Maya.”

  “I’m right here.”