Playing With Fire

by Jordan Mendez

  “Scarlet, I know it might be hard to accept, but we are telling the truth,” Siren said putting a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve seen me before in my older form. Look at me. Do you really doubt that I’m your Guardian?” Seeing the little girl again, I recognized her a little bit. Her hair was short, but it had the same golden curls. And her eyes were exactly the same. She did look like a younger version of the woman I have been seeing. I threw my head in my hands in defeat.

  “Do you believe us now?” she asked and I nodded.

  “You know, you could have told me that rock was my Guardian,” I sighed.

  “I’m sorry child, I have kept much from you,” Madam Gale apologized. “I should have told you what I am going to tell you sooner because this may be the only time you will ever be able to hear it from a truthful voice. You weren’t born for just any reason like other children. Your mother gave birth to you for a specific reason.” The mention of my mother made me shut my mouth.

  “Twenty years ago, Moraj was attacked,” Madam Gale’s voice grew darker as the scene formed in my mind. “The attacker was a foe from the past, Enzio. He attacked the city alone all except for the demon blade Alma Ladron. His intent was to free his master from his bounds within the blade. He needed an enormous amount of souls for that, and he chose the biggest place he could find. If he went unchallenged, the survivors of Moraj would not be alive today, but there were a few who dared to fight him. One of them was your mother, Aru. The other two were your father, Arthur, and his most loyal companion and assistant Gidian. Out of the three, your mother was the most powerful and the biggest threat to Enzio. She was not human. Aru was a Guardian, like Siren. She was your father’s Guardian, whom was Moraj’s fiercest and most valiant weapons master. They stopped Enzio from destroying Moraj completely, but they could not stop the Convergence. They hardly escaped with their lives, but they managed to save the survivors. Aru knew that eventually with the souls Enzio had stolen, Velkire would be revived. She came to me for guidance, hoping that there was some way she could defeat him herself. I told her what I had once told another long ago. Only the spawn of a Guardian and a mortal can defeat Velkire, because that would be his opposite. At first, she was opposed to the idea. She didn’t want to send a child to fight Velkire, let alone her own. And so your mother waited years for Velkire to revive so she could kill him. But her power began to wane as Arthur grew older and weaker. Eventually, she gave in. And so Aru had you with Arthur. You spent the first two months of life living in the camp with the survivors of Moraj as your mother and father took care of you along with Siren. For your mother, it was the happiest time of her life. But her time with you was cut devastatingly short. Enzio attacked the camp in search of you, killing many. Your mother and father fought to their very last breath trying to protect you, but Enzio overpowered them. Siren fled with you until she came to the forest of Laetus, where she sacrificed herself to save you. And so you lived your entire life in bliss with your new family, until the day you met Vaze.”

  Suddenly, my body felt weak. I struggled to support myself as I tried to get to my feet. Siren took my arm and helped me up.

  “It may be a lot to process, Scarlet,” Siren began. “But we’re telling the truth. You were meant to kill Velkire permanently. It’s what you were destined to do.” I looked at her in disbelief. My head was reeling.

  “I was meant to do what?” I said breathlessly as my heart raced.

  “Kill Velkire,” she repeated.

  “Oh,” I said, and began to laugh. They all looked at me like I was insane. The information was a bit too much for me to handle. Before any of them could react, I passed out.

  ~

  “Come on Al!” The tall cloaked man urged as the panting Al fought off his summoned minions. “You can do this! I chose you because you are the only one who can!”

  Al did his best to ignore his master. Having to train endlessly each day was hard enough, but at the end of each day, Al’s master tested his skills against one hundred dummies that had been brought to life. Al wasn’t allowed to sleep until he defeated them all or was knocked out. He had been trying to fight the whole night after Scarlet had run off.

  At first, Al allowed himself to lose, but it resulted in even more difficult training the next day. Everyone thought very highly of his master, but Al just thought he was insane. He never got close to defeating all of them. However, Al wasn’t going to complain—that just wasn’t who he was.

  And Al’s master hadn’t necessarily chosen him. Al caught him practicing one day and later begged the man to train him. Al wanted to be powerful like Scarlet and Vaze. Out of all of his brothers, Al was the weakest, and was always protected by the others. The last time Scarlet tried to save him, it almost got her killed.

  “You said you wanted my power!” his master called to him. “Prove to me that you deserve it!” Al’s body groaned in protest. His muscles were already torn enough as it was, but Al refused to back down. With one cry of pain and determination, Al forced his body to keep moving. He forced his resistant arm to punch the dummy in front of him as hard as possible. The wooden dummy flew back with its neck broken and splintered.

  Exhausted and breathless, Al fell to the ground face first. He didn’t care if he failed again, his body was so spent, it wouldn’t move anymore. Besides, he could always try again tomorrow. It wouldn’t make a difference. Using the last of his energy, Al rolled over on his back to look up at a blue cloudless sky. A smiling face looked down on him.

  “You have done well, Al,” his master said, no longer wearing his hood. Al couldn’t speak. His master had always hidden his face from every one. “You are ready.” Al’s heart started to beat faster with excitement. With one quick burst of energy, he scanned around. There were no more opponents standing.

  “Get up,” his master commanded.

  “Yes, master,” Al responded quickly while getting to his feet. His body was still sore, but the feeling of victory made him feel as light as a feather.

  “Don’t call me that anymore,” his master said while rubbing his neck. “It’s too formal for me… do I really look old enough to be called a master?” Al shook his head. His master looked in his late twenties at the most.

  “Just call me by my name,” he said.

  “Yes, sir,” Al stuttered. “I mean, what is it?” His master looked to the sky and yawned.

  “My name is Gidian,” the very tired man replied. The man smiled in spite of himself. No one had used his name since his best friend was killed. It would be nice to be actually treated like a human being for once and not some super powerful being that survived Enzio’s attack before he was even ten years old.

  I woke up rather rudely from my sudden fainting. My face was stinging, wet and cold. I wouldn’t have been as pissed off as I was if a little kid wasn’t sitting on my stomach slapping me.

  “It’s still not working Madam Gale,” Siren sighed in a very bored tone.

  “Just wait, Siren,” Madam Gale replied. “She’ll wake up eventually.” My eyes fluttered open, but Siren didn’t stop slapping me. I snatched Siren’s hand before she slapped me again.

  “What are you doing!” I yelled at her. Siren responded by slapping me with her other hand.

  “That was for fainting like a spineless fool,” she replied while getting off of me. I scowled at her and sat up.

  “I’m sorry I found the information a little too much,” I spat. “You people are crazy if you think I’ll get anywhere near Velkire, let alone fight him. I think you might have the wrong freak for the job. I’m not that brave or stupid.”

  “You’re wrong, Scarlet,” Madam Gale said. “You are the only person who can do it. Even if there was another person born from a Guardian and a human like you, you would be the only one who could. And before you ask, no it is not because of your power. Your power over fire is hardly a sliver compared to your true power. It is that power deep within you is what Velkire truly fears.” I scoffed.

  “What could he possi
bly fear about me, huh?” My voice began to rise a bit. “If it’s not my fire than what it is it? I can’t last five seconds in a fight with Enzio, so how would I be able to defeat the man he fears so much that he obeys his every command? How can I beat that? Tell me!” I fumed as I waited for my answer. This was way too much to ask of anyone.

  “You would not understand, child,” she replied calmly. “Not yet at least.” I was about to argue more, but my anger was halted by a sudden shriek. I whipped my head to find Yuki screaming and pointing at the ground terrified. When I looked, I could see why she was so afraid.

  Accompanied by blinding cracks of light, a hand was clawing its way out of the ground. The earth rumbled as the sound of what seemed like wood being ripped apart cut the air. The hand tore the ground open, paving the way for a whole arm, and then another.

  A blood lust roar erupted as the arms pulled a body through the crack, and before I could see the body more clearly, I was pinned up against the wall by my neck with one hate driven hand squeezing the life out of me. I clawed at the arm in desperation and focused my wide eyes on my attacker. Blazing red eyes bore holes into my skull in return.

  “I’m going to drag you to hell!” Enzio roared as he shoved me hard into the wall. My fear wouldn’t kick in, and neither did my brain. I was completely paralyzed. I squirmed like a caged animal as my eyes began to roll back in my head. I tried to scream, but all that came out was a long squeak. “You’re coming with me!” A pole of black fire rose from the ground behind Enzio, and expanded into a window of swirling black flames.

  “No!” Madam Gale jumped into action. Faster than any old woman should have been able to move, Madam Gale attacked Enzio. Enzio expected that about as much as the rest of us did. Frightened, Enzio dropped me and pulled a black dagger from his belt.

  “I will not allow you to take any of these children!” Madam Gale got between Enzio and I. Yuki rushed to my side as I gasped for breath.

  “You can’t beat me, you old hag,” Enzio hissed. “You know that.”

  “I don’t think you believe that at all,” Madam Gale replied with a wry smile. Enzio cringed. “You’re still the same brat you were back then, and I’m going to beat you just like I did before. But this time, I’m not going to let you live.” Time seemed to stand still as Enzio’s vicious red eyes bore holes into Madam Gale. Each dared the other to move first, as if even someone sneezing would set off the fight.

  Suddenly, the first move was made. Enzio lunged towards me with his arms outstretched and madness in his eyes. It was a dumb move, and Enzio realized it too late. Madam Gale caught him by his cape and yanked him back with a force that it made him fly into the opposite wall.

  Enzio roared in frustration and bounced back to his feet, his eyes blazing with hatred. He flicked his wrist and in response black dagger like claws flipped out of his fingers. Even though Madam Gale couldn’t see Enzio’s new toy, she could sense something was wrong. The old woman began to tense up a bit.

  “I’m going to make you pay for what you did to me, you witch!” Enzio moved so fast, it seemed like he disappeared. Before Madam Gale could react, Enzio was by her side with his claws already coming down towards her neck. I screamed to warn her, but she didn’t need it. The little old woman grabbed Enzio’s cold metallic hand, stopping it immediately. With her other hand Madam Gale grabbed Enzio’s shoulder. With amazing strength, Madam Gale threw Enzio into his window of black fire, and his body began to disappear until there was nothing left.

  Yuki and I stared wide-eyed at the little woman, but Siren didn’t move a muscle. Madam Gale let out a relieved sigh and turned towards us with an unfocused gaze and a small smile. For a second I really believed that it could have been that easy. I really should stop believing silly things like that.

  An outstretched arm shot out of the veil of black fire and grabbed hold of Madam Gale’s ankle, dragging her to the ground so suddenly, no one could react.

  “Save them!” Madam gale shrieked as she was sucked into the portal, and Siren responded immediately. Grabbing hold of Yuki and me, Siren charged out of the small house. Despite the extra weight of us staggering behind her, she moved like the wind, trying to get away from the hut as fast as possible. I looked back at the small hut, which was now flickering out of sight. Then, right before my eyes, it was devoured by ravenous black flames.

  “Move!” Siren barked at me, snapping me out of my trance. I was running as fast as I could, but I still struggled to keep up with Siren. Out of the corners of my eyes, I could see the black fire begin to consume the forest around us, setting anything that couldn’t move fast enough ablaze. Whatever it touched burst into hungry reddish orange flames that ate up everything around it, but never into other black flames. My eyes darted back at the black fire, giving in to the temptation of curiosity. It growled at me like a starving lion, and I was its next meal. I was already thinking I made the wrong move when I saw it, but my stupidity was proven when I stumbled. An exposed tree root caught my foot, and I fell to the ground with the black fire racing towards me. Instinctively, I threw my hands up over me, sending my own blistering fire up like a shield. The black fire rammed into my shield of flame like an angry bull, shoving my shield back a bit. Being driven on pure adrenaline and fear, I forced my shield back at the opposing force.

  For the first time in my life, I had to use physical strength to keep my fire from being over whelmed. Struggling to fight back, I got up to my knees, slowing making my way back to my feet. The harder back I pushed, the stronger the black flames seemed to get. My arms were screaming in pain as I dug my heels into the ground. An ear-piercing cry of victory rang through the air as the black fire rammed more intensely, making me skid backwards. I gritted my teeth, trying to force it back. The chains that laced my body began to burn as I pushed myself harder.

  “Scarlet, get out of there now!” Siren screamed from behind. I ignored her. With one desperate last attempt, I used the last of my strength. I thrust my shield of fire, and it exploded into brilliant white hot flames, devouring the black flames. Not even trying to see if it succeeded, I fell to my knees exhausted while red hot flames began to grow around me. A flaming tree branch fell next to me, but I didn’t care. Normal fire like this couldn’t kill me. Embers littered the air and smoke began burning my eyes and lungs. Strong fuzzy jaws grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me up into the air. A small and delicate arm grabbed me around the waist and placed me on the back of a furry beast. I laced my arms around Yuki’s massive wolf neck buried my face in her dark warm fur.

  With incredible precision and grace, Yuki raced through the burning forest, dodging flaming trees and falling branches alike. Cutting through a thick sheet of smoke, Yuki burst through the flaming forest and into the fresh open air of the camp. Panicked children scurried around while their parents and other members of the camp tried to get them away from the burning forest. No one made an effort to quench the flames, even when the nearest tents began to catch fire. They could all see that it was a losing fight.

  People frantically took their few possessions from their tents and helped others with children, elders and saving the armory. Frightened horses whined and reeled as their masters tried to keep them calm and steer them away from the fire. No one even noticed the giant wolf carrying me and a small psycho path girl out of the flames.

  “Scarlet!” I lifted my eyes up to see Jake running towards us through the confusion. My consciousness fading, I shifted my eyes toward the blue sky. Like night descends on the day, the sun began to fade behind the thick smoke drifting from the forest fire. Strong arms took ahold of me as I watched the sky being devoured. The shouts and screams began to sound farther and farther away from me as the corners of my vision began to blacken.

  “What happened to you?” Jake’s voice sounded like it was at the far side of a tunnel. “How did this happen to her!”

  My head was forced to look upon my brother’s burn slashed face. His lips moved frantically, but no sound came from them. J
ake cradled me in his arms, holding me as if he were protecting me from a pack of wild dogs. A faint ringing began to buzz in my ears until it was all I could hear.

  Then, all at once, my ears exploded with the sound of the chaos and confusion all around. Terrified screams and people frantically barking orders drowned out the sound of Jake’s pounding heart as he raced me through the crowd. I felt like I was rudely woken up from a dream that felt all too real, and for a second I didn’t know where I was at all.

  “Jake,” I said in a groggy voice. Jake immediately stopped and looked at me in relief.

  “I’m here, Scarlet,” he cooed with a big smile and slight tears. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said with a weak grin. It was typical Jake. The world was on fire around him and his number one concern was his baby sister. “You can put me down now.” I stumbled on my first step, but I ignored Jake’s fearful guiding arms. For a second I thought I would be fine, but sadly, life just hates me.

  One sound stuck out from all the rest in that mass chaos Jake and I were caught in the middle of, and it was one I wish I hadn’t heard. A dark, satisfied chuckling reached my ears from behind, and my heart almost stopped. As I turned, time seemed to slow down. There, leaning against a tent pole very casually with murderous grey eyes was Velkire. He smiled at me mockingly, and he had a look that said he was ten steps ahead of me.

  “I’m coming for you,” his singsong words sounded like silver bells. He said them it if he were playing hide and seek with a child, but they cut like a knife. My breath caught in my throat, and all I could do was stare at him in complete horror. “Until then.”

  A child ran past him, and he was gone. My knees buckled, and before I even hit the ground, I was out.