Swallowing Fire

by ERIN BEDFORD

  In my confusion, I missed Gretchen coming up on me. Bent over and wide open, it was no surprise really when her claws slashed across my back, tearing cloth and skin alike. Letting out a startled gasp of pain, I stumbled forward, falling onto the iced-over river. Groaning, I twisted around as I tried to get away from Gretchen and her lethal touch.

  The moment her boot landed on the ice, there was a threatening crack. Gretchen jumped back from the ice as if it had bitten her.

  I let out a pained laugh at the terror on her face. “Scared of water, are we?”

  Gretchen snarled and started for me once more, but the ice cracked beneath her foot, making her boot sink into the water. She scurried back out of the river, but not before her movements caused a chain reaction, first a small crack then a larger one as the whole ice sheet began giving out beneath me. My eyes widened, and I tried to summon my wings to get off the ice and into the air, but I wasn’t fast enough. The last thing I saw was Gretchen’s grinning face as I sank into the freezing water.

  Pain raced across my back as I tried to swim to the surface. Cold poured through me, freezing me to the bone. I forced back the agony and pushed to the top only to be met with more ice. Panic rose in me as the current pulled me further down the river while I tried to beat my way through the seemingly endless ice capping it.

  I fought against the current, trying to find an opening to break free to the surface. My lungs burned as the need to breathe turned from urgent desire to burning necessity. I’d never been a great swimmer to begin with, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold my breath.

  Oh, my God, what about my child? The icy waters might hurt him or her, and let’s not even think about the possibility of me drowning. Oh, God. I needed to get out of here. I couldn’t die like this. I still had to make Jack grovel for my forgiveness and then have crazy make-up sex. Ugh. Of course, I’d be thinking about sex at a time like this. Stupid freaking hormones. I’m going to die!

  The darkness started to close in around me, and I knew then that I wouldn’t make it. I’d never see Raiden’s smiling face again, Firestar blowing up about something Raiden did, or even Jack trying so hard not to laugh at Raiden’s jokes. I’d never know what it would be like to hold my child in my arms, to be a mother. I knew that I’d have been a good one. A damned good one.

  Ned would be happy though. I’d be out of his way finally. Would my father just hand the kingdom over to him? Would he even mourn me?

  Ryan and Bianca would never know what happened to me. I knew none of my family would care to go back and let them know. I’d just be their best friend who never came back. No Waesigar 2 for me.

  Just as I began to give up hope, my head bounced against the hard ice once, twice, and then suddenly it broke the surface. I gasped for air, coughing as water spurted from my burning lungs. My arms flailed around me as I tried to stay above the water and not be pulled back beneath. The water blurred my vision, but I could still see bits and pieces. My fingers didn’t touch any more ice, and I took that as a sign that I might be able to get to land.

  When my feet touched the surface, and my head stayed above the water, I could have cried. I dragged myself to the shore, my body shivering and my lungs on fire. From the little I could see, there wasn’t any sign of Gretchen, which was a relief. There also wasn’t any sign of anyone else. The trees were barren here. All the pretty green pines gone. I instantly wanted them back.

  Wrapping my arms around myself, I wondered what to do now?

  17

  Holy fuck balls, it was cold! I’d thought the temperature here was brutal before, but after a dip in the cold river, it was even worse. Even with the leather and fur lined clothing, now soaked through, I could feel every frigid gust of wind as if I were butt naked.

  “What am I going to do now?” I muttered, glancing around. I couldn’t stay where I was unless I wanted to freeze to death. If I’d been human, I’d have already died of hypothermia. “Thank God for little favors.”

  I searched the area once more, really taking it in now that my vision had cleared. Sadly, nothing had really changed. There were a lot of barren trees, and the ground was littered with branches. Those could be used for a fire but wouldn’t do much good against the harsh wind.

  As if on cue, another burst of cold air bashed into me, hitting me right in the back. I cried out and grimaced at the brutal reminder of the wound. I supposed I’d have to take care of that too.

  But first some fire.

  Easing up from the ground, I headed toward the trees and painstakingly gathered an arm full of wood. By the time I was done, my back was on fire, and my teeth were chattering. Trying to keep moving to hold off the cold, I scoured the area for the densest part of the woods, anything to protect against the piercing wind.

  Piling the wood up, I grabbed a rock and reached for my dagger. When my hand touched the empty thigh sheath, panic gripped my heart. Where did it go? I stood to my feet and searched the area. It had to be here somewhere. I couldn’t lose it too.

  I fumbled through the woods, searching the ground for the silver glint of the dagger until I came back to the edge of the river. That’s when I remembered. I’d had the dagger in my hand when I was fighting Gretchen, and when I fell into the water, it must have fallen from my hand when I got swept away.

  While I knew now where the dagger had gone, that knowledge didn’t make it appear on the banks of the river. More than likely, it had been taken even further down the river, and I wasn’t going to find it on my own anytime soon. Part of me wanted to look for it anyway, but I knew I was better off using my energies to get warm, though it killed me to do so.

  Making it back to my little bundle of wood, I tore a strip of leather from the hem of my shirt and tied it to a curved branch to make a bow. Then I took the straightest, pointiest stick I could find and used it for the bit in my crude bow drill. I wasn’t the best camper, I’d left most of the tent and fire making to the guys, but after several minutes of effort, I managed to create a coal. Transferring it to a small pile of dead pine needles, I blew on it until I thought my lungs were going to give out.

  Smoke poured into my face, burning my eyes and making me want to give up, but I persisted anyway, and another minute or so later, flames flickered to life.

  I couldn’t quite explain how happy seeing those flames made me. I had made fire. Sure, maybe Firestar could have lit it with a thought, but for me? This was great. Sure, I’d have rather not been out here at all, but as I put the flames beneath the crude wooden teepee of sticks and kindling I’d constructed and watched it eat into them before roaring to life, I was so happy I could scream.

  It wasn’t long before I was sitting beside a fire large enough to actually feel the warmth. I scooched closer to it, putting my hands out toward the flames. Normally, I’d have taken my clothes off to let them dry, but the wind still came through the trees less harshly than before, and I didn’t want to chance the cold against my bare skin.

  When I was able to feel my toes again, I reached back and gently prodded at the scratches on my back. My hand didn’t come back bloody, but the wounds still stung like a mother. I’d no doubt have a scar by the time it healed, but I’d live.

  Glancing up at the sky, I noticed the sun had only just now reached its highest peak. The was no chance of me winning the hunt now, not with my injury especially since I had no idea where I was. I could almost be to the next village, for all I knew. It was hard to keep track of where I was when I was fighting not to drown.

  Letting out a huff of defeat, I laid down on the ground to rest. I rolled over, so my back was to the fire. That warmed and dried the back of my clothing but made me wince whenever the heat washed over my wounds. My mind wandered as I waited for my body to warm through.

  The guys were probably freaking out. I hadn’t been able to tell if they were following me after that initial fight, but I had been sure they’d keep close to me. But if they had been, Gretchen wouldn’t have attacked me, or at least when she had,
I would have had a backup.

  No doubt they were blaming themselves for my disappearance, if they noticed at all. For all, I knew they might think I was still in the race and doing my best to hide from them. There goes my pride, screwing me over once more. Now, I’d die in the woods by myself because I made them think I didn’t need them.

  I sniffled as I curled around myself. I wouldn’t cry. This wasn’t a crying time. Okay, so maybe it was. Still, I had no one to blame but myself. My eyes burned as tears threatened to fall. I didn’t fight them too hard, and before I knew it, I was bawling my eyes out. Like ugly wracking sobs that made my back hurt.

  After I had a good cry, I realized how tired I really was. Fighting for one’s life was exhausting work. Maybe I could just rest my eyes for a few minutes. The fire should last for a bit longer, but even so, I threw a few logs on the coals, anyway. I just hoped no one unfriendly stumbled upon me.

  Before I could make my decision, my eyes grew heavy, and I was out.

  Dreams were rarely fun for me. Sure, I had the occasional sexy dream, especially now that I had three more-than-worthy men to dream about, but usually, my dreams were filled with all the things I pushed down deep inside. This dream was nothing like the insecure guilt-ridden dreams I was used to having.

  In this one, I was running through the forest. My body felt heavier than usual, and my feet moved with precision as if I knew the land like the back of my hand. Two others ran at my sides as we raced through the trees. There was panic in my chest and an overwhelming guilt weighing on my heart.

  I didn’t have time to think about the feeling because we came to a halt in the middle of the woods. My nostrils flared as I tried to pick up the scent of something. As my eyes scanned the surrounding area, I realized my companions were Firestar and Raiden. They sniffed the air as well, searching for something.

  “Are you sure she went this way?” Raiden asked, worry in his voice. His usual cheery face was pinched with emotion.

  “I’m sure.” The low growl that came from my voice surprised me, and I realized who exactly I was.

  Jack.

  Why the heck I was dreaming of being in his body was an unsettling thought. I had been thinking about him but not to the extent that I might dream of being him. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to make him pay for what happened? Or wanted to reassure myself that he felt bad about it? Whatever the reason, I couldn’t think about it now because they were on the move again.

  “There,” I shouted, or rather Jack shouted, pointing a finger toward a familiar set of trees. We took off once more, shoving through the thick branches without care. My feet dodged and jumped over things I remembered tripping over not long ago. Suspicion filled me as I realized I might not just be dreaming.

  When we broke through the tree line and came into sight of the river, I knew I wasn’t dreaming. Or rather I was, and my mind had decided to body jump. I wasn’t only dreaming of Jack. I was Jack, and he, along with Raiden and Firestar, were trying to find me.

  “I smell blood.” Firestar prowled forward, his eyes fierce as he searched the area. Anger flashed across his face as his fiery gaze landed on me. Or Jack. Whatever. “And that bitch of yours.”

  “Ex,” I corrected. “She’s very much an ex, and I never meant for any of this to happen.”

  “Of course, you didn’t.” Raiden clapped a hand on Jack’s shoulder with a wry grin.

  “Seriously,” Jack growled, shaking Raiden’s hand off his shoulder. “I only meant to show Gretchen that I was taken. I wouldn’t be coming back to her, no matter what she did.”

  “Fat lot of good that did.” Firestar swept a hand around the area where Gretchen and I had fought. My eyes zeroed in on the droplets of blood from the wound Gretchen had inflicted on me.

  “Yes,” Jack murmured with grief in his voice. “It does seem that my plan backfired. I’d never thought it would make Gretchen even more determined to get me back.”

  “Women are crazy.” Raiden shrugged. “They never react the way you expect.”

  “Speaking of women, where is ours?” Firestar interrupted as he knelt by a rather large puddle of my blood. No wonder it hurt so much. I’d definitely have scars now.

  “The lack of a body is a good sign, right?” Raiden raised a brow, a hopeful grin on his face. “That means she got away at least.”

  “I wouldn’t be so certain of that.” Jack shook his head, his hair whipping us in the face. “I know Gretchen. If she killed Maya, she wouldn’t want evidence. She’d know we would come looking for her. She couldn’t just leave Maya here.”

  “But she might not have killed her though,” Raiden argued, stepping over to where Firestar stood. His eyes searched the ground, no doubt looking for any signs that I might still be alive.

  I tried to scream, “I’m right here!” but my cries fell on deaf ears. Apparently, I was only a spectator in this experience.

  The guys grew quiet for a moment, each of them lost in thought. Even though I was in Jack’s head, I couldn’t hear his thoughts. What’s the point of being stuck in his head if his thoughts were closed off to me?

  Raiden made a surprised sound, drawing Jack and Firestar’s attention. He pointed a hand at the ice in the middle of the river. There was a body size hole in the water as well as some specks of blood from where I had skidded across the ice.

  “Do you think …?” Raiden asked, his eyes wide with fear.

  Firestar shook his head. “If Maya fell in, the likelihood that she made it ...”

  “… is dismal,” Jack finished for him. The sadness in his voice pulsated through me. It was so intense that I was sure if I had been physical, it would have incapacitated me. Did Jack love me that much?

  “We can’t think like that.” Raiden clenched his fists and shook his head rapidly. “We have to believe she made it. Maya is the strongest person I have ever met. She deals with us on a daily basis, right?”

  Firestar visibly swallowed and inclined his head. “Right. She wouldn’t give up so easily, and we can’t either. Come on, let’s follow downstream and see if she shows.”

  Instead of following after Firestar and Raiden, Jack held back, calling out toward Raiden. “Wait! What about your brothers?”

  Raiden stopped to think that over. “Fujin and Raijin went around the other side,” he explained. “Even still healing, they weren’t about to let her go out on her own any more than we were. If we don’t find her first, I’m sure they will.”

  Jack’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t argue. With a nod of his head, he followed after them, along the river current where I had gone. The prospect of seeing them made me fight against the dream. I wanted to be awake to see them when they found me.

  Abruptly, I was thrust out of Jack and back into my body. But when I opened my eyes, I wasn’t in the woods anymore. My little fire was gone, and the trees that had been a shoddy shelter were replaced by a stone cave. I tried to shoot to my feet, but the pain in my back caused me to cry out and collapse back onto the ground.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice cackled from somewhere in the cave.

  “Who are you?” I asked, glaring into the darkness. “Why have you taken me?”

  “I am a friend,” was the mysterious answer I received, followed by, “and why else would I take you but to save you.”

  “I was fine on my own.” I winced as I tried to sit up once more, not really helping my case.

  “I see that,” the voice cackled. I could tell by the feminine tone that it was a woman, an older woman from what I could tell. “But you would not have survived long enough for your men to arrive.”

  “You don’t know that!” I argued, panic filling me. The guys were on their way to find me. How would they know that I wasn’t there? They’d think I was dead.

  “Oh, I do,” the woman continued. “I know quite a lot of things about you, actually.” She finally revealed herself, coming out of the shadows with a razor-sharp grin that made me cringe. “Or are you not M
aya Rose of the Western Kingdom?”

  18

  “You really should stop moving around,” the old woman, who introduced herself as Patrice. It was a fancy name for a lady living in a cave. I’d have expected something along the lines of Agda or Morma.

  Hunched over and slightly limping, Patrice wasn’t pretty by any means. Her hair was unkempt and skin too rough looking. I got a whiff of Patrice as she came closer to me, making my nose crinkle. Ick. Apparently, personal hygiene was not something of importance to her.

  Before I could stop her, Patrice prodded at my back, and a shooting pain went through me. “Hey! What do you think you are doing?”

  “Stop your whining,” Patrice scoffed before she started to dig around in the massive array of crap in her cave. I tried to get up again, but she shoved me down with an impressive amount of strength for an old hag.

  “What are you going to do to me?” I asked, wincing as something cold touched my back. Before I knew it, I was screaming as pure agony poured through my back. If I thought it was on fire before, now it was like hot daggers were being shoved into my skin, biting into the bone beneath.

  “It’ll get better, just give it a minute.”

  Though the words were supposed to be reassuring, they didn’t make the pain go away. Gritting my teeth until I thought they might break, I waited for the supposed pain to ebb. I wasn’t sure how long it lasted, but just as I was about to pray for death, the pain ended abruptly.

  “There you go, like new. Or sort of.” Patrice shrugged and moved away from me.

  I eased up, afraid the pain would come back, but happily, it stayed gone. I tried to touch the wounds because I was a glutton for punishment, but all I found was smooth skin. I dug under my top, surprised as I realized all evidence of my injury had disappeared.

  Glancing up at Patrice who watched with a knowing smile, I asked, “What was in that stuff?”

  “Nothing much.” Patrice shrugged as she threw another bundle of sticks on the fire. She stirred a pot she had hanging over the fire, and a foul smell filled the cave ... well, fouler.