Page 4 of Stars on Fire

‘You didn’t let it go,’ the deep low voice continued. ‘And many lost their lives as a result.’

A strangled, unintelligible response followed.

‘I hope all your affairs are in order. I regret it had to come to this. But ’tis the only way of maintaining order in the System.’

There was a long silence. A script in Selene’s head played out a scenario she imagined would outwork itself in the next few moments. She’d leap forward and confront the intruder. And stop whatever diabolical activity she was eavesdropping on.

She jumped when she heard crackling. Followed by the sound of exploding matter and a fiery conflagration.

She flinched. Someone was in that room, and they most likely needed her help NOW. Unable to wait any longer, she slid closer and slowly leaned in to look inside.

A fire raged within, the flames quickly consuming the space. Her eyes fell on a dense mass of glowing embers and light particles dancing together. Bright against the background of the barely lit walls.

The swirling, flaming cloud was rising out of a blaze of smoke and ashes. On the floor was a heap of burning matter as the presence above it merged into a titanic, burning silhouette.

She tried to shrink away from the colossal apparition.

It turned, and she gulped. Her mind freaked out for the next steps. All she got was a blank mental picture. Even her limbs froze, welded to the floor below.

She must have made a noise because the smoke-shrouded creature turned and moved slowly toward her.

She panicked, sucking in a series of low-key breaths. Her mind was so consumed by the sparking mass heading her way that she didn’t even notice the acrid smell of smoke.

Flames licked at the walls, quickly engulfing the room and the corridor. She looked around, trying to find a way out, but there was none. She tried to move her feet again, but they refused to obey her commands. Fire alarms clanged throughout the mansion, but they seemed so far away.

But as soon as a wisp of smoke and flames touched her, she relaxed for some wild, unimaginable reason. She almost melted into it, her fear evaporating incredulously.

Instead, she felt the warmth and energy of the creature scorch the air.

Then it was around her, sliding up her limbs.

It slipped under her skin and roared into her core.

She twisted and turned, any inhibitions dissolving into an impossible need as the flaming inferno swept over her body, yet not one burn erupted on her skin.

Instead, it washed over her with the sweetest agonising heat that snaked all over her.

She wanted more.

Ached for more.

Longed for more.

A loud crack sounded out.

The world around her imploded, and she fell to the ground.

But strong arms caught her before she hit the floor.

She fluttered her eyes open, trying to focus, but all she saw was a man’s silhouette against a bright gold incandescence.

The presence moved. It gently lifted and carried Selene away, its flames strangely not burning her dress or skin.

Then she was back on the terrace where she’d started her small adventure, on the ground, next to her pair of sensible, black heels.

The presence retreated.

She reached out an arm in a futile effort to return to its fiery embrace.

---