A Curse of Flames

by Sophia Shade

  I shake my head. “Well, everyone is wrong. There is nothing there. I hardly even like the guy as a friend, let alone something more. And he is so rude all the time.”

  “I know,” Ella says. “Believe me, no one knows how much the two of you clash more than your closest friends. But still…”

  “Well, the way things are going with Caleb, and how things have always gone with Erick,” I say, flopping onto Dannika’s bed, “I just might have to swear off all Fae guys for a while. Maybe all guys everywhere. They are too much trouble. And as Dannika says, I have forever. What’s the rush?”

  “Exactly,” Ella says. “Except that’s not really how you feel.”

  She looks at her nails, smiling at her work as it dries, then she slathers her hands in moisturizer. When she’s done, she reaches into her bag and pulls out her Moon Festival bracelet. The citrine jewel dangling from the top of the crescent catches my eye.

  I gasp. The jewel! I remember seeing it in the vision, but her bracelet didn’t have one before. I rummage around in the top drawer of my desk and pull mine out. No jewel. Sitting next to Ella on the bed, I pull her wrist toward me.

  “Your bracelet,” I say. “It didn’t have this jewel before, did it?”

  “No,” she says, trying to pull her arm from my grip. “I got it from Professor Graves in one of my botany classes yesterday.”

  “What does it mean?” I ask, finally letting her hand go.

  “They are given to the top students in each class,” she says. “Haven’t you seen them before? Erick will get one for Elemental Application because he always does. Dannika got hers from Fae Politics.”

  “Fae Politics?” I ask.

  “Yeah,” Ella says. “You haven’t noticed she’s the top student in our class?”

  Actually, I haven’t. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff I had hardly noticed any of the things my friends have been up to.

  “Lots of people have this jewel on their bracelets?” I ask for confirmation.

  “Well, maybe not lots,” Ella says, pulling her hand back.

  I realize how my comment could have been taken, as if I was undermining her success.

  “I meant, a select few will get one of those jewels. Not everyone, but more than one person.”

  She surveys me as if I’ve grown a second head. “Dozens. Why? What’s going on?”

  I shake my head, trying to keep the images from my vision at bay. “I just…every time I see the Moon Festival symbol, I get a bad feeling.”

  “Yeah,” Ella says thoughtfully. “You’ve been saying that ever since you came back. Maybe…maybe you shouldn’t go tomorrow.”

  “What?” I ask. “No way am I missing it.”

  “But if it will just make you miserable…” she says. “The symbol will be everywhere.”

  “I know,” I say. “But I have to be there.”

  There’s no way I am going to abandon my friends in their time of need. There’s some relation to the bracelet, to the Moon Festival, and to the bloody hand in the vision. If something bad goes down tomorrow, I need to be there.

  “Well, if you are going,” Ella says, dragging a big book out of her bag. “You need to choose your goddess.”

  The book she pulls out is old and creaks when she opens it. Its cover is inlaid with jewels and embossed with gold. Each page is illuminated, decorated with intricate illustrations and designs. It appears to be an encyclopedia of some kind, with each page dedicated to a different deity.

  “This is beautiful,” I say. “But I don’t really believe in God…or gods…whatever. It wasn’t how I was raised.”

  “That’s fine,” Ella says comfortingly. “You don’t have to believe in your goddess in the literal sense. She may or may not be a celestial being watching and controlling your life. It’s more like…someone from history or literature that you greatly identify with. Like, say you really admire Joan of Arc for her strength and heroism. She’s someone you look up to and reflect on in your times of stress. Your goddess can be like that. Though some people do think of the gods and goddesses as more literal. To each their own.”

  I rather like that explanation, so I look through the pages with Ella.

  “Are these all the goddesses?” I ask.

  “This is a book just of the moon goddesses,” she says. “There are dozens of volumes of books on the pantheon in the library.”

  “I had no idea there were so many,” I say. “I think the only moon goddess I can name is Luna.”

  “That’s quite common,” Ella says. “Humans tend to think in very limited terms. They think there can be only one moon goddess, one sun goddess, one god of the sea, one god of the mountains. But there are many. You could even make up a goddess of your own if you wanted.”

  “I’m sure I’ll find someone in here I relate to,” I say, riffling my fingers over the pages. “Which one is your goddess?”

  She smiles and crinkles her nose. “I’ll tell you after you pick yours.”

  Sighing, I turn the pages. I have no idea who to pick. They are all beautiful and come from all over the world. Even though they each have some relation to the moon, they have different specialties or attributes.

  As we near the end of the book, I start to lose hope. But then I see her and gasp.

  “It’s her,” I say. She is dark skinned and clothed in white. There’s a moon behind her, but a fire blazes around it. “Who is she?” I ask excitedly.

  “Metzli,” Ella reads. “According to Aztec mythology, Metzli, the mother of the moon, leaped into a fire and gave birth to the sun, the stars, and the sky.”

  I sigh and lean back. “That’s my goddess,” I say. “I…I can feel it. Some connection with her.”

  “It does sound like you,” Ella says. “I can imagine you leaping into fire to save the ones you love.”

  My gaze falls back on Ella’s bracelet. I hope I don’t have to leap into fire to save my friends, but I know I would.

  Chapter 15

  The day of the Moon Festival has arrived. Everyone wakes up early in anticipation even though the festivities don’t begin until twilight. There is a euphoric buzz in the air, and I can’t help but feel happy to be in this place among my friends. I try to keep an eye out for anything—anyone—suspicious, but all my cares and worries seem to be a mile away.

  For the first events, everyone wears their traditional Fae robes. While still in our rooms, we write down all the things that have us stressed, scared, or worried. I could probably fill a book with mine, but I try to keep it simple.

  I’m upset about my relationship with my mom.

  I’m worried there’s a killer on the loose.

  I don’t want my heart to get broken.

  Who is my dad?

  I’m scared I’m Dark Blessed.

  I’m surprised I don’t write more, but I think the feeling of elation everyone is experiencing is alleviating some of my fears. I fold my list and put it in my pocket. Then we all head out into the woods.

  Even in the early twilight, the moon is already rising. It’s huge—larger than the sun. Dannika and I meet up with Ella and Driftblossom.

  “What do we do now?” I ask.

  “First, we commune with the moon and our goddess,” Dannika says.

  Ella takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Find a place in the woods where you feel at peace,” she says. “Then just do whatever feels natural.”

  “What does that mean?” I ask. I look around at everyone else. There are men and women here. It didn’t dawn on me before that all the menfolk would be taking part, too, but they are. All around me, men and women are kneeling, praying, talking to themselves—or their goddess, I suppose.

  “You can meditate, or pray, or just sit quietly,” Ella says. “How you commune is up to you.”

  Then the three of them all go their separate ways, leaving me alone. Caleb is standing respectfully with his hands folded in front of him a few feet away. He gives me a small smile, and I return it, but then he lo
oks away. I walk on into the woods, not wanting to interrupt his communion.

  Even though everyone is communing in their own way, I feel awkward and out of place. Maybe because I didn’t grow up doing this. I imagine I would feel this way if I ever went to a church. It has just never been in me to be a spiritual person. Mom never took me to any churches or temples growing up, but I never felt I suffered from the lack of it either.

  I finally come to a somewhat isolated place, where the moonlight falls through a copse of trees. I’m not sure what to do, so I just follow Ella’s advice and do what comes naturally.

  “Hi, Metzli,” I say. “So, I think you’re my goddess. At least, when I saw you, I felt an instant connection, so that’s enough, right?”

  I sigh. I’m probably boring her.

  “Anyway,” I continue. “I’m new to all this, but it would be nice to talk to someone. I haven’t been free to talk to anyone lately. I’m just going to say it. I think I’m Dark Blessed. I don’t know what that means because no one will talk about it. But I have visions. I had a vision of someone getting hurt or killed at the Moon Festival. I also had a vision of Erick. I don’t know what they mean. Apparently, I can’t figure it out on my own, but I can’t tell any of my friends and get help. So, I don’t know, maybe you could help me? Could you send me a sign or something? Or take these visions away so I’m not tormented by them?”

  I finally stop rambling and just wait for a moment, listening to the quiet. No messages from Metzli miraculously appear. I don’t know what I was expecting. When I turn around to leave, I run smack into someone.

  I gasp, jerking my gaze up. “Erick!”

  “Hey Imogen,” he says. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “You didn’t,” I say. “I was just leaving. Where do we go now?”

  “Azure Lake.” He takes my hand. “Come on.”

  I should take my hand back, but I don’t. Not sure if it’s because it feels right being there or because I just don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable, but I go with it.

  Friends hold hands, right? I mean, he’s leading me through unfamiliar territory, so what am I supposed to do? Trip over roots while trying to keep up?

  He guides me through the woods toward the lake. I haven’t been here before; we usually congregate around Ember Lake at night since it illuminates the dark. But with the moon continuing to rise, the night seems to be getting lighter instead of darker.

  The lake is so large I can’t see to the other side. It seems like everyone is already gathered around. When I see my friends, I quickly drop Erick’s hand. He drops his eyes to me when I move slightly away, and I look up at him, but neither of us say anything.

  Dannika bounds over and hooks her arm around mine, leading me the rest of the way to the gathering.

  “Do you have your list?” she asks.

  I pull my paper from my pocket. “I am so ready to be rid of this.”

  Caleb and Finch also join us. Ella is the only earth Fae, so we kind of form a circle around her. She bends down and digs a small hole in the ground, then buries her list. When she stands back up, the rest of us all hold our lists in our hands before calling up our flames to set them alight. Then, everyone claps.

  Further up the beach, the air Fae stand where they can get a better breeze, tear their lists into small pieces, and scatter them in the wind. Then the water Fae move down into the lake, just up to their ankles or calves. They fold their lists into small boats and set them into the water. Everyone watches until the last boat sinks, then everyone cheers.

  I sigh, feeling a little lighter. It’s a relief to have given voice to some of my concerns and set them free.

  I glance over at Caleb. We lock eyes, and he smiles at me, but he doesn’t say anything and makes no attempt to approach me. I start to glance away but notice Erick over his shoulder. Erick starts to move toward me, but Dannika takes my arm again.

  Thank gods. Or goddess.

  “Come on,” she says. “Time to get dressed for the dance!”

  Ella and I squeal, and we head inside. Ella had brought her dress and everything she needed to get ready over to our room earlier in the day, so we all help each other get dressed and then do our hair and makeup.

  I feel…beautiful.

  Ella and Dannika are both wearing their Moon Festival bracelets with the citrine gems. I am wearing mine, but I didn’t earn a gem. A tinge of nerves at seeing them fills me, but I try to suppress my anxiety. I want to have a good time tonight. I don’t want to be a wet blanket in the festivities.

  The Moon Festival is held outside, under the light of the full moon, in the quad. There are lanterns hanging around, more for mood than light since the moon gives more than enough. The fireflies stay out long past when they usually turn in, blinking and adding a sense of wonder to the world around us.

  “Come on, Imogen,” Dannika calls out. “Dance with us!”

  I follow Dannika to the dance floor, and the three of us bop and sway to the music. After a couple of songs, I’m starting to feel a little winded. I’m glad when a good-looking fellow I haven’t met before asks Dannika to dance. Ella is dragged away by some of her earth Fae friends, and I’m suddenly all alone on the dance floor. I slowly make my way away from the dancers as nonchalantly as possible, trying my best to not look like a lonely dork.

  Caleb chooses that moment to enter the room. He looks incredible in a black tux with a silk cummerbund that fades from red to orange in the light. The fabric appears as if it on fire. His hands are in his pockets as he coolly makes his way toward me.

  “You look amazing,” I say when he reaches me.

  “Thanks,” he says. “So do you.”

  A long moment passes without either of us saying a word, but then I remember women are supposed to take the lead in relationships in Fae.

  “Do you want to dance with me?” I ask, holding out my hand.

  “I would love to,” he says. “But I can’t right now. I need to go help set up the fireworks display. But I’ll find you when I come back, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Of course it is,” I say, dropping my hand and feeling like an even bigger dork now. “I look forward to it.”

  “Great,” he says. He takes my hand and kisses the back of it. Then he walks away with a smile on his lips.

  I continue to stand there, just sort of swaying as I watch the dancers, when I feel warm breath on the back of my neck.

  Without turning my head, I know it’s Erick, and I don’t know how. Can I really just sense him? Has his breath on his neck become familiar to me?

  “Why is the most beautiful girl here standing all alone?” he asks.

  I freeze. The breath from his words sends a shiver down my spine all the way to my tailbone, and I bite back a tiny gasp.

  “I…my boyfriend…” I stammer, not turning. “He had something to do. He’ll be back later.”

  “If you were my girlfriend,” he whispers into my ear, “I’d dance with you until the sun came up.”

  My breath quickens, and my tummy quivers. Heat floods my cheeks, and my breaths feel uneven.

  “I’m sure I’d rather be sleeping,” I try to quip back, but it sounded more clever in my head. He chuckles anyway, releasing another round of hot breath across my nape that threatens to turn my knees to jelly.

  “Would you dance with me, Imogen?” he asks, taking my hand and turning me toward him.

  He cleans up real nice. He’s wearing a black tux as well, but his vest has small embroidered phoenixes in silk on it. They remind me of his magical signature, and I wonder for a moment if he knows what his appears as.

  “I have to warn you,” I say. “I have two left feet and really pointy heels. You’ll probably come back with fewer toes.”

  He laughs. Raising of my hands above my head, he gives me a little twirl. “Toes are overrated,” he says.

  I smile, but as I come out of my twirl, his Moon Festival bracelet with the citrine jewel glitters. My breath hitches in my thr
oat, and panic sets in again.

  “Imogen?” Erick asks. “What is it?”

  “I…” Wildly gazing around, I see all the happy, smiling faces. Everyone is enjoying the festival. I don’t want to ruin it. I pull my hand out of his and back away. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  I turn and run from the party, back into the woods. Hot, panicky waves wash through me. I wish my corset wasn’t so tight.

  I find my way to a bridge that runs over a creek. The sound of the cool water lapping over the rocks soothes me, so I stop and try to concentrate on it.

  “Metzli,” I say. “If you could help me out, I’d really appreciate it.”

  “Imogen.” Erick is at the end of the bridge, and he strides toward me. “What’s wrong? What’s bothering you? We don’t have to dance if you don’t want to.”

  “It’s not that,” I say. “I mean, it is, but it’s not.”

  He comes to stand right in front of me. “Then what is it?”

  I stare into his dark eyes and want to tell him. Need to tell him. These burdens inside me are about ready to burst. Maybe it’s Metzli urging me to tell him.

  But the words of my mother come back to me. I promised her I wouldn’t. I promised I would stay safe and return to her. And I did see him going to Frieda Crowsfly in my other vision. I’m still not sure I should trust him, no matter how badly I want to.

  I finally look down and shake my head. “I can’t tell you.”

  “Imogen,” he says, lifting my chin. “Something is clearly weighing on you. What is it? You can trust me.”

  I wrench my head free of his grasp. “I don’t know who I can trust.”

  “What?” he asks, stepping back. His expression falls. “What have I done to make you not trust me?”

  “Nothing,” I say. “You haven’t done anything.”

  At least, nothing I can be sure of.

  Erick shakes his head. “I don’t understand you, Imogen. Am I misreading you this badly? I thought…”

  He still thinks this is about my feelings for him—or lack thereof. He thinks Caleb is the only wall between us.

  And Caleb is part of the equation. But it’s also the only part I can reveal.