Embracing the Flames

by Candace Knoebel

  Zane’s head came up slowly. I took a slow step back as Zordon’s face flashed before me...only it wasn’t Zordon. I had forgotten how closely he resembled his father. Messy, short chocolate brown hair mirrored the deep brown of his eyes. His squared jaw was shadowed with stubble.

  “Mmmhmm…” he muttered. He looked completely uncomfortable and beaten. Not badly beaten, but there was a bruise on his left eye and a split in his lip. Dried blood and dirt coated his face like war paint.

  “So it seems they have begun without me,” I seethed. Zane was leaning slightly to his left, wincing with any form of movement. “Are you okay?” I knew he was the enemy and he wanted me dead. I also knew he tried to kill Lexi, but I wasn’t inhumane.

  “Do I look okay to you?” he asked through a quiet, raspy voice. His face contorted in pain as he leaned further towards his left.

  “No, you don’t. Maybe if you would just cooperate.” Cooperate? I asked myself. What was I, with the CIA now? I didn’t know what I was doing down here or even what to say for that matter. My charade of confidence was thinning quickly.

  “Look, could I please have some water?” he pleaded.

  For some reason, I felt sorry for him. “Umm, I’m not sure if I’m supposed to give you anything.” I bit my lip again, shifting my weight in discomfort.

  He looked up at me with the softest eyes, eyes in such pain, and begged. “Please.” There was something in his eyes that separated him from his father; a hidden kindness just waiting for someone to breathe life into.

  I couldn’t say no. It felt cruel to say no. “Okay, just give me a second. I’ll be right back.” I quickly ran up the stairs and shut the trap door, careful to place the rug back neatly. I tucked the key into the pocket on my pants and bolted down the hallway and into the kitchen. I wasn’t going to give myself any time to doubt what I was doing.

  Back in the cellar, I hesitantly stood before him. “Now don’t try anything stupid, okay? I am a very powerful Mage. I harness power over fire.” The words felt silly as they slipped off my tongue so I let flames erupt from my fingertips on my freehand for added measure.

  I thought I saw him smirk, but it vanished before I could confirm. He nodded and groaned so I stepped forward, tipping the cup towards his chapped mouth. His gulps were erratic and fierce. Some of the water drained down the sides of his face, clearing a path of clean skin.

  “Thank you,” he whispered and then finished off the cup. I felt better for helping him. I knew he was an enemy, but I didn’t see the point of keeping him thirsty and uncomfortable. I didn’t have it in me.

  “I’m sorry about all this, I mean, even though you did and probably still do want to kill me.”

  A strange smile brushed his lips. “I thought it was what I wanted. It was nothing personal. I was just trying to please my father. But being down here, like this,” he said, glancing around the room, “helped me put things into perspective. Astral cured me of my father.” His eyes met mine. “Look, don’t be scared of me. I don’t want to kill you. It was my father’s wish. Not mine.”

  “I’m not scared of you,” I tried to say confidently. I knew that I shouldn’t trust him.

  “I’m sure you aren’t,” he said with another odd grin. There was something in his smile that made me feel comfortable. There was no hidden agenda behind it. Just honesty and a sense of sorrow. He looked me over and then down to the ground. “I do deserve to be down here though. Astral is only trying to protect you, and I can understand why. You are special. I never thought I’d say this, but I was on the wrong side. I want to change that. This is my chance at a new life.” He broke off, wincing again.

  I reached out to his side in concern. Something about him made me believe him. That crazed-evil look he had when he tried to kill me in the other realm was gone. Now he just looked tired and sad.

  “I’ll be fine, just a broken rib.”

  “They did wha—”

  “Don’t worry,” he cut me off. “They didn’t do anything to me that I didn’t deserve, and it will mend. I usually heal almost instantly, but Astral enchanted the area to keep my energy in a constant state of depletion.”

  He healed like Fenn?

  He looked off to the side, his eyebrows pinched together in puzzlement. “Maybe that has something to do with it.” He shrugged. “It’s really for the best though. I did have intentions of killing you. And before I had been wiped clean of my father’s stench, I had said some awful things about you to them.”

  I couldn’t believe all that I was hearing. It was like meeting an entirely new person. This was the same man that had hurt Lexi and hunted me like a sport.

  “I will talk to them, make them see you are different now,” I said. “Let me try to mend it for you.”

  His eyes grew wide. “No, don’t interfere. Don’t let them know we talked. It will only make things worse.”

  “Don’t be silly. Mendaro,” I chanted, focusing my energy on his wound. I relaxed my mind, trying to use as little energy as possible while the spell repaired his ribs. When the spell had finished, I couldn’t help the little triumphant smile that peeked at the corners of my mouth.

  “Thank you,” he said graciously. He looked up at me, and his face scrunched up. “Why are you smiling?”

  My smile vanished. “I, um, was practicing a technique to use as little energy as possible, and it worked. It didn’t take as much out of me when I just healed you.”

  “You’re cute, you know,” he said. The smile he threw my way was dangerously charming.

  I stepped back. “I need to get back now. I will make sure they don’t hurt you anymore. No more violence,” I promised. He smiled, and I tried to brush away the fact that he had a nice smile.

  “Thank you, Aurora,” he said with a courtly bow of his head.

  I turned and went back up the stairs, ensuring I left no trace of my presence, carefully putting the key back in its secret compartment. After replacing the cup in the kitchen, I headed over to the fire, feeling a burning itch within my bones. The dragon wanted out, and fire made that yearning worse. I dipped my hand into the blaze. A tiny flame raced up my skin. It felt so good, so normal.

  “Hello.” I spoke to the flame that rested on my shoulder. It faltered slightly as if saying hi back to me. I ran my finger over it, basking in the feeling of it on my skin. My bones began to ache. Whatever Astral had come up with better work. I needed to feel whole.

  The door slammed with a thud behind me. With the flame still resting on my shoulder, I turned to find an unfamiliar face. “Who are you?”

  He looked at me, then at the flame on my shoulder, and then back at me. “You’re on fire,” he pointed out, his voice monotonous and slightly dull.

  I turned my head to my shoulder and blew out the flame, feeling its absence instantly. “Can I help you?” I asked, looking him over. He was tall and thick in build. His face was masculine and sharp, and his skin was bronzed from the sun. Light brown shoulder-length hair offset his beard which was darker with flecks of gold throughout. He had a scruffy look to him that matched his large nose.

  He cleared his throat. “I’m here for Alexis.” He stood with his hands neatly at his sides, his golden eyes staring plainly at me.

  “Oh, you must be Brohm. Hang on, let me go get her.” I left him standing there. And so it begins, I thought with a coy smile.

  “Lex, Brohm’s here,” I whispered through the crack of her door. Logan shot straight up from her bed, the Morbit climbing to the very top of his head. He looked like a totem pole.

  “Lexi, I’m not sure about this,” Logan said, grabbing her hand. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

  She leaned in and kissed him. “Insomnus,” she chanted, her green energy surrounding him. He fell back onto her bed, deep into a slumber. “No need for him to suffer,” s
he justified.

  “I didn’t say anything,” I said with my hands up as she walked past me. “My opinion is that he should be kept asleep until we can take him back.”

  She stopped in her tracks. “No one asked for your opinion.” Then she walked past Brohm and went straight for the front door.

  Over her shoulder, she said, “Let’s go,” as she opened a portal. Brohm looked like a lost dog, gathering himself and following suit behind her. The front door shut, and once again I was alone in the living room.

  “Eve has complete faith that they are destined for each other,” spoke Astral from behind me. I jumped, startled by his presence. “It’s time to interrogate Zane. I am in need of you.”

  “Of me?” I asked innocently. I knew where this was headed. I did my best to tuck away my memories of being in the cellar.

  He stared at me a moment before he spoke. “Yes,” he said oddly, “I am going to give him another chance to tell us something that we may need to know. Then we will decide tonight what we are going to do with him. Do you think he has anything we need to know?” I felt like he was looking through me when he asked that.

  “I think we have him all wrong,” I admitted, staring at the floor.

  “I figured you would say that.”

  “So you don’t agree?” I asked, fearful that he would further harm Zane.

  “On the contrary, I do agree. I am, after all, the one who cured him of his father’s stench.” He winked.

  “Do you always have to read my thoughts?” I asked, annoyed.

  He chuckled as he started walking towards his room. “If it means keeping you safe, then yes. You have a way with being defiant.”

  I slowly descended down the stairs and came around the corner of barrels, looking over to where Zane sat. He kept his head down.

  “Why is she here?” he sneered under his breath.

  “Zane,” I started, but Astral cut me off.

  “You will show respect in a lady’s presence. She is only here to help you.” The command in his voice was fierce and dangerous.

  “Whatever you say, oh Ancient one,” spoke Zane with a curdling scoff. Without warning, his chair flew back and up against the stone wall, splitting the wood and leaving him on his butt, bound by invisible magic and broken bits of wood. His face creased with pain. I reached out, wanting to tell Astral to stop, but Zane’s eyes shot to mine, begging me to remain quiet. Why was he doing this?

  “You will not speak to me in that manner,” said Astral in a tone I didn’t recognize. His voice was already oceans deep, but the tone he took was almost abysmal. “I know you two have spoken, there is no need for this. You will answer my questions and any questions that she may have. If you meant what you told her, that is,” he trailed off.

  I thought he may have been calling Zane’s bluff. I had to admit, I was curious to find out if Zane really meant what he said, but I hated going about it this way.

  “Alright,” agreed Zane. “On one condition.” Astral raised one eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “You untie me and give me a chance to prove myself when all is said and done.”

  “Reasonable enough,” replied Astral without color. The magic binding Zane lifted in a puff of smoke. He sat, rubbing his forearms and ankles. “Just remember,” Astral warned, “I can destroy you.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “What do you want to know?” asked Zane.

  “Let’s begin with Aurora. How much does he know about her?”

  I leaned into Astral and whispered, “Can’t you just read his mind. It would make this process a lot easier.”

  “Yes, but then how would you know what I see?”

  “Oh, right,” I said, sticking my foot in my mouth.

  “He’s placed a bounty on her head,” said Zane under his breath.

  It caught our attention and we both looked over at him.

  “He’s rounded up every bit of scum this realm has to offer and promised a hefty price for bringing her to him, alive.”

  Astral stepped forward.

  “You know what he is planning, don’t you? He won’t stop at the Stone. Wanting the Stone for immortality is only the beginning. Why only rule one when you can rule both?” He stared at Astral, willing him to know.

  Astral’s eyes flittered back and forth as he searched for an answer. Slowly, awareness lit his face. “He doesn’t just want immortality, he wants to control both realms,” he spoke under his breath.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice guarded. “That couldn’t happen. He would have to overthrow The Fates. You can’t overthrow gods.” A haunting echo of my mother’s warning played through my mind. The Stone was a port key to the Hall of Knowledge. My job to protect it just became even more important.

  “We must gather the others,” Astral pressed, ignoring me. “This is as I have feared.” He went to move around me, but then stopped. “Is there anything else I should know?”

  “Before I was brought here, he was in the middle of striking a deal with the Dark Saar in exchange for their help in attacking the Obsidian Chasm.”

  “Tell me more,” Astral said sharply.

  Zane hung his head. “He doesn’t tell me anything, but I assume it will involve a soul exchange considering that is their only price.” He looked up at us, his eyes firm.

  I felt sick to my stomach. He was right. I remembered overhearing Zordon and Sayer talking about an exchange with the Dark Saar, right before Zordon had tried to kill me. But something didn’t make sense. “I thought a Saar isn’t able to cross over to the Hall of Knowledge?”

  Astral tugged at his beard, his eyes wandering in thought. I looked up at him, wishing I could read his mind. “You’re right. He wouldn’t be able to if he were to become one. We are missing something.”

  Zane smirked. “Who says he plans on staying a Saar? There is always a way out of things.” The haunted look on his face sent chills down my spine.

  “Is that possible? I mean, can you undo that?” I asked quietly.

  “I sure hope not,” Astral answered gravely.

  I looked to the floor, trying to hide the disappointment that was overwhelming me. There had to be a way for us to stop him. Some missing piece that we had overlooked. I looked up at Astral. I couldn’t avoid the thought that snuck up on me.

  What if the answer to stopping Zordon before he obtained the Stone resided in the missing piece of the prophecy? I had to find Soothe. No matter what.

  Astral’s eyes narrowed on me. “The prophecy has been altered by Soothe, but that doesn’t mean he has all the answers.” His tone was full of warning. “The barrier will be further weakened, and finding Soothe will only bring trouble, Aurora. You will push the inevitable closer by crossing. He gave up his gift as a Seer for a reason. You must respect that.”

  I turned my head sharply, glowering at him. “I do respect that,” I retorted, stiffening my shoulders, “but I don’t agree with you and how you always keep things from me. Even now, I can see it in your face that you know more than you are letting on. If this really all comes down to me defeating him, then why can’t I know what is happening?” I pointed at him, a tiny flame dancing on my fingertip. I stepped towards him. “I think he has more information for me. And I think he intends for me to come back.”

  “I tell you what you need to know. Some desires are better left unanswered. You will heed my warning, Aurora,” he said firmly. “Don’t go digging.”

  “Look, uh,” Zane interrupted, rubbing his neck, “if it will make things easier for you both, I’ll just let you in my head. I want you to trust me. I want to help.”

  I turned in his direction, shock clearly splayed on my face. He was going out on an extreme limb. I knew what he was in for because Astral was constantly in my head, something I was beginning to despise. />
  “Are you sure?” Astral asked carefully.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay then.”

  I waited for something to happen, for something to signify that Astral was inside, but nothing did. Zane glanced around the room, eyes roaming over me, and Astral stood there looking at him, expressionless as usual.

  After a few moments of silence, Astral spoke. “I am satisfied that you are on our side now, but you will refrain from pursuing Aurora.”

  Zane and I both blushed.

  “Come,” he instructed, turning away. Zane got up slowly, hesitation weighing his footsteps as we followed Astral up the stairs.

  Fenn accidentally bumped the door into Zane on our way down the hall. I watched Zane stumble and then fall against the opposing wall. Fenn stood there for a moment, scratching his head before peeking around the door.

  As soon as his eyes fell on Zane, his energy exploded, picking Zane up and throwing him even further down the hall as he moved me behind him with his other hand. “What the hell!” he shouted, marching furiously towards Zane.

  “Stop!” I shouted after him. I turned to Astral. “Do something!” Zane was up in the air, encompassed by static energy that cracked and sizzled. His back arched as he cried out in pain from the loud zap of energy Fenn sent coursing through his body.

  Astral’s eyes lit up. Fenn shot another blast of energy, intended for Zane, but Astral was quicker. His protective magic shielded Zane and brought Fenn to his knees. “He is on our side, Fenn.”

  Fenn braced the wall for support, fighting against Astral’s hold on him. His arms were flexed as his face tightened in anger.

  “If you stop resisting, I will let up,” Astral said slowly, calmly.