Page 66 of Fear the Flames
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my rising anger contained. One of my abusers is most likely walking the streets of Vareveth, watching my every move. It makes my skin crawl, and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. My hands settle on my thighs, laying them flat over my knives. The kingdom is still locked down, and it feels like my abuser is locked in a cell with me. Only this time, I’ll be the one to seek them out.
“They’ll most likely be lying low since their last attempt didn’t go as planned,” Ryder says.
“Which just means more time to find them,” Cayden adds with a far-off stare.
“Sir,” Braxton addresses Cayden, “the traitor didn’t give us much information before—”
“We’ll figure it out,” Cayden cuts him off, and I realize he’s talking about the four of us working as a team.
Satisfaction briefly settles on me before it’s replaced by that same tugging feeling in my chest. It’s becoming sharper, more painful. My eyes are drawn to the fire as the flames dance again, forming a new image. Saskia starts asking Braxton more questions, which Cayden and Ryder observe, but I can’t focus on anything other than the fire. It’s trying to tell me something. The chain of my moonstone necklace suddenly feels warm. My hand travels up my body to reach for it, but I jolt in my seat when the hot chain burns me. I quickly undo the clasp and drop the necklace on the table.
Cayden tugs my chair closer to his and leans his head toward me. “Are you okay?”
I drag my eyes away from the flames and glance around the table. Ryder and Braxton look confused, but I meet Saskia’s eyes across the table, and they’re filled with the same concerned look they were a few minutes ago.
“I think I caught a cold last night,” I address everyone at once. Braxton seems convinced and begins talking to Saskia again, but I can tell Cayden doesn’t believe me. I meet his eyes and shake my head; I can’t talk about this in front of Braxton.
I feel the tug in my chest again, and my head whips toward the flames. Cayden grips my wrist and tries to get me to look at him, but the flames hold my attention. The vision has formed—it’s the amulet the priestess gave me. The orange and red flames have banded together to produce a spitting image of the ruby Cayden has on his desk. My breathing picks up the longer I look at the flames. I need the amulet. I must do this now. I can feel it in my blood.
I stand from my chair and rip my wrist out of Cayden’s hold. Everyone’s head whips in my direction. “My apologies, I’m not as well as I thought I was. I’m going to go lie down,” I speak through my racing heart.
I rush out of the tent before Cayden can inquire further about what’s going on. He’ll protest me putting on the amulet; he’ll say it’s too risky. But I’m not letting us fail if this is something I’m meant to do. The priestess told me to put it on when I’m sure, and I’m positive I need to put it on right now. I plaster on a false smile for anyone I pass while swiftly closing the distance between myself and my tent.
“Elowen!” Cayden calls out a few feet behind me.
I don’t look back at him; I quicken my pace and rush into our tent. I sprint toward his desk and rip the amulet from the surface. It pulses in the palm of my hand in tune with my own pulse.
The fire your soul was forged in will reclaim you, and to dust you shall return,replays in my head as I tug the two sides of the chain apart. My heart is in my throat; I must be ready.
“Put that down,” Cayden’s cold tone meets me. He begins to rush forward, but I raise the amulet closer to my neck, and he halts in place. Saskia and Ryder rush into the tent behind him and exchange a worried glance before looking back at me.
“You heard the priestess,” I try to reason with him.
“I don’t give a damn about what the priestess said. We can figure this out together.” He’s speaking to me like I’m a rabid animal that he’s trying to calm down.
“Have you been having visions?” Saskia asks.
“Saskia, don’t be ridiculous,” Ryder mutters, but Cayden never takes his eyes from me. It’s now or never—I nod my head in confirmation. Cayden shakes his head, not wanting to hear any of this.
“What happened to your love of communication?” Cayden fires at me.
“I couldn’t put it in a letter. I was going to tell you about the visions after we finished with Braxton.” I raise the amulet closer to my neck, and my anxiety skyrockets. “The priestess said it was essential.”
“Youare essential!” Cayden shouts, looking as crazed as he believes me to be. “Elowen, please. It’s not worth it.” The more I look at him, the more I want to believe him, but the ruby calls to me.
I raise it closer to my chest, “Some risks have to be worth it.” I clasp the necklace around my neck as Cayden shouts in protest, and Ryder tries to hold him back.
My vision goes black, and I feel myself falling through endless darkness. My stomach rises in my throat, and wind whips around me before everything goes eerily quiet.
The sensation of damp stone presses into me and seeps through my clothes. My eyes peel open, and golden flecks shimmer in the air that surrounds me. I raise my arms in front of me and watch gold serpents slither around in circular motions, glitter falling from them as they continue their movements. I’ve woken up in a dark corner, but the serpents don’t dim. I try to rip them off my arms, but my fingers travel through their transparent bodies. Heavy footsteps are coming my way. Panic seizes me, and I pull two knives from my holsters, preparing to fight.
These damn serpents are going to take away any element of surprise I might have, so I tighten the grip on my knives and jump out to meet whoever is approaching. My feet land in the center of the hallway, and I thrash my arm forward, but the guard approaching doesn’t even look at me; they walkthroughme. I press a hand into my chest to make sure I can still feel my body; I can. The serpent moves to slither around my palm while I stare down at it.
I’m invisible.
I appear transparent to my own eyes, but I’m just empty air to anyone that looks my way. The snake on my right arm slithers in front of me, leading me somewhere. The amulet obviously took me here for a reason, and I don’t know how much time I have before I’m pulled from my vision. I hope I’m here long enough for Cayden to calm down—he’s particularly annoying when he’s moody and protective.
My feet follow the trail of the snake, keeping my footsteps light out of habit. I never thought the amulet would lead me to following shimmering snakes down a dark corridor, yet here I am. The snake turns a corner, but I stop dead in my tracks when I realize where I am. The amulet pulses on my neck, urging me to move forward, but I can’t. I don’t even realize I moved backward until my back presses against the stone. My legs give out, and my heart rate spikes. I wrap my arms around my legs and bury my head in my knees.
