Erin The Fire Goddess: The Beginning

by Lavinia Urban

  ***

  I woke to the sound of birds singing and the smell of bacon cooking. My eyes were still closed, but it felt like I was in my own bed, cuddled up to my duvet, which was pressed against my bedroom wall.

  Damn, I knew it was a dream.

  Then my duvet seemed to shake and a quiet laugh escaped from it. My eyes flew open and I saw that my face was nestled against a man's chest. I jumped and nearly fell off where ever I was lying, but his arm caught me protectively.

  “Hi sleepy!” Sean smiled widely as he leaned down to kiss my head.

  We were still on the sofa. He lay against the back, propped up on one arm with my whole body pressed against his.

  “Hi.” I smiled shyly, putting my hand over my mouth, so he wouldn't smell my morning breath.

  “Hungry sweetheart?” I heard my Dad ask from behind me.

  I wanted to turn around and reply, but I didn't want to move. My Dad sensed this and appeared behind the back of the sofa, just next to Sean's head.

  “Uh-huh!” I replied, still keeping my hand tightly over my mouth.

  “Okay, I'll go tell your Mum that you're awake and hungry.”

  Then he disappeared, leaving my heart racing, as Sean lowered his head to the pillow we were sharing.

  “You sleep well?” He gazed into my eyes with pure adoration. What the heck was going on here?

  I nodded, and he smiled sweetly at me.

  We lay like that for a long time, neither of us saying a word or looking away. It was my Mum who broke my gaze, by leaning over the sofa to inform me that breakfast was ready. All the time Sean continued to watch my face. It was like he was studying it. Cramming all the information he could get from my face for some big test.

  He only broke his gaze when I tried to move. Then he adjusted his body, so he could help me up.

  As he helped me to a standing position, I felt his hand slide, slowly and gently, down my back, instantly sending shivers up and down my spine.

  “Did you bring my toiletry bag over?” I called to either of my parents.

  “Your Dad's just left to go get it and pick you up some fresh clothes.” My Mum called from the kitchen. “He'll be back by the time you finish your breakfast.”

  “Okay!” I sighed. I really did want to brush my teeth before I ate.

  Still, I could go and see if there was any toothpaste in the bathroom that I could put on my finger and run around my mouth.

  I walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, sighing when I realised there was no lock on the door.

  After I'd finished using the toilet, I walked over to the sink, to look for the toothpaste. Just as I started, I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom cabinet.

  “Mum?” I called in my normal voice. “Mum?” I called again, louder and more urgently. I was about to call her again when she burst through the door.

  She stood with her back to the closed door, watching me carefully, as I looked away from her and back to my reflection in the mirror.

  Slowly I raised my hand to my left cheek and stroked it. I looked back at my Mum with questions in my eyes, and then turned back to my reflection.

  My birthmark was still there, but it seemed to have shrunk and faded.

  “What's happening?” I asked with tears welling up in my eyes. I wasn't sure why I was crying. I'd always wished it would disappear, but I had never expected it.

  Turning to face my Mum, she looked like she was trying to find the right words.

  “Tell me!” I almost screamed at her, taking a step towards her, and it hurt and confused me when she stepped back. “Mum?”

  She went to turn and reach for the door handle and this infuriated me. What was she hiding?

  Before I could reach out to grab hold of her, she was gone.

  “Mum!” I shouted angrily, as I went to follow her.

  By the time I'd left the bathroom, my Mum was standing behind Sean. I wasn't sure where the others were. Then I heard my Mum speak quietly to Sean, like she was hoping I wouldn't hear.

  “Sean, do something.”

  “Do something?” I yelled. “What the hell is going on? Why are you acting like you are scared of me? I don't understand. I don’t even know why Sean is here!" I screamed as I pointed at him. “I want to know what's happening? Why....” My voice trailed off as I went to reach up to touch my left cheek and I saw that flames were covering my arms.

  I screamed and started waving my arms frantically; causing me fall to the ground, as I noticed the rest of my body was on fire too.

  I didn't feel like I was on fire. I just felt scared.

  Out of the corner of my eye and through my screaming, I saw Sean quickly approach me and reach his hand to my face.

  Why wasn't he catching fire?

  “I don't want to die.” I cried hysterically.

  He didn't look scared. He just looked concerned. He touched my left cheek and started stroking. This calmed me slightly, and before I had a chance to do, feel or say anything, he had pulled me into his arms and stayed there with me on the floor, rocking me back and forth, whilst resting his face on top of my head and stroking my left cheek.

  I was unsure how long we stayed like that before I stopped crying and pulled away from him to look at my arms. I couldn't see any traces of them having been on fire. I started to touch his chest and check his arms, and he was still as perfect as ever.

  Tears started to fill my eyes again.

  “What's going on?” I looked up to his face and pleaded with him. “Am I losing my mind?” The last word caught in my throat, as tears trickled down my face.

  He shook his head and before I could look back down he placed a finger under my chin and stared into my eyes, intently.

  “No, you're not losing your mind.”

  “What's happening to me?” My face crumpled and I moved my head down and buried it into his chest.

  “You're my fire goddess.” He whispered in a serious tone.

  I pulled away and stared at him in disbelief.

  He didn't look like he was joking. I was ready to start shouting at him, when he put his fingers to my lips, stopping me from speaking.

  Eventually, when he knew I wasn't going to say another word, he moved his hand and eyes to my left cheek and stared thoughtfully at my birthmark. Without saying a word, he cupped my face in his hands and leaned his face closer to kiss my birthmark. By the time he pulled away, my eyes were closed. He waited until I opened them before he spoke.

  “I can't explain it fully.” He placed a finger to my lips again, stopping my attempt to talk. “But this is what I do know." He removed his finger from my lips and placed it back on my birthmark, "when you manage to completely control this!” His other hand stroked my arms as his other finger gently lifted off my birthmark and then placed it back again. “Then this will disappear.”

  I shook my head and moved away from him, as I scrambled to my feet before he could stop me from talking.

  “So the fire is real?” I started to pace the room. By now, my Mum had left. Sean nodded as he slowly got to his feet and went to reach out for me. “Don’t!” I growled, stepping out of his reach. “What are you doing here?” I pointed at him as he flinched. This hurt him, but I didn't stop. “You could have any girl in Galladale, probably any girl out of Galladale too, but instead you decide to hang around with a monster! I just don't get it.” It was my turn to put my finger to his lips. “What's even going on here?” Removing my finger to point from him to me.

  I knew I was probably being stupid. Here was this gorgeous guy, who seemed to want to be with me, and now I was rejecting him. But how could I continue to move forward with anything in my life, when I didn't even know what was happening to me.

  Sean sighed and stepped forward. This time I didn't move away and stayed frozen as he reached for my hand.

  He raised my hand to his cheek. I hadn't noticed that flames were coming from my hands. As my hand touched his face, the flames fizzled out.

  He left
my hand on his cheek, as he slowly moved his hand up my arm, from my wrist to my shoulder. As his hand moved over my body, the flames dispersed.

  “W-w-w-what a-a-are y-y-youuu?” I stuttered.

  He didn't answer me. He just slowly stepped closer, until eventually I was in his arms.

  Without another word, he leaned down and gently kissed my lips.

  When he pulled away he reached his hands to my cheeks.

  “You are not a monster!” He paused to look at me, before he continued. “And I don't want just any girl. I want you!” I was about to say something when he kissed me again. When he moved away, he placed a finger back to my lips. “I've always wanted you, and as corny as it may sound, you complete me.” He paused for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words. “And in answer to your question, I can only tell you the basics. I am sure Dr Hammersmith can explain in more detail when he gets here later.”

  He didn't let me interrupt as he continued talking, like I knew exactly who Dr Hammersmith was and that he was coming.

  “You are my fire and I am your water!”

  This comment actually made more sense than it should have.

  We stood there in silence for a long time, just staring into each other's eyes.

  “Come on, let's go get something to eat.” He said as he pulled me towards the kitchen.

  Chapter 8