Flame Guardian

by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

  I work as quickly as I can, and soon I’m finishing the first swath. There are only a few minor setbacks when the flames rush out of control and start encroaching on me. I start on the next section to the west, lengthening the firebreak to another seventy-five feet, where the field ends in giant brown and gray boulders and rocks towering above me.

  As I near a cave-like triangular shelter under the rocks, a black bear runs out, followed by a little cub. I stand still, holding my arms ready, in case I need to shoot a spark to scare them. But they bowl right past me and up the ridge to the safer trees and higher ground to the north.

  Getting back to work, I glance at Torrent and Dr. Mara every time I finish a foot-wide row. They have their safety masks on and he’s shooting great streams of water at a small section of black, burning trees – more water than I’ve ever seen him control before. How is he doing that? His life force, his energy, must be really strong. It’s like he’s a fire truck. I can see Dr. Mara opening bucket lids from the back of the vehicle as Tor sends that into the burning areas.

  Good for you, my man!

  Wait, did I just think that?

  Yeah, yes, I did.

  He douses the fire in that section, black smoke obscuring the two figures. They move out of it quickly and start on another section as Dr. Mara drags more water containers.

  It’d be much easier for me to withstand the heat down there, than them. I hope they’re okay.

  During our training and experiments, we learned that the flames don’t burn my skin. I don’t know if it would burn me if I stayed in longer than sixty minutes. My hair singed when I let the flames get too close and my skin smoked and got very hot, hotter than I’d ever thought I could stand. But with my energy, my body creates a kind of protective bubble around me, where the flames don’t quite touch, though they flicker a few inches away.

  Torrent can stay underwater for a long time. He simply controls the flow so there is an air bubble around his face. Again, we don’t know if he can stay down indefinitely, but he can do a full hour.

  But that heat, right near the flames? That must be hard for him. He can be in warm to hot liquid, but he prefers the coolness of water. Just as I can withstand a high degree of heat, he can tolerate very frigid temperatures, those which would give others the kind of hypothermia that often ends in death.

  When we’re together, he can cool me, and I can warm him. He puts out my fire. As in literally. Tor uses his ability to smoother the flames. In a way, he’s a bit like my brother. Only Smoke knows what to say to get me back under the calm. Tor, he uses actions. Like when he touches my hand or brushes away a stray hair from my face. Sure, my brother’s done those things, but with Tor it feels a bit different. More romantic.

  We’re like a superhero duo, with Dr. Mara as our mastermind leader. At least, it sure feels like that today, with us finally doing some good, instead of the endless practicing we’ve done for the last few months.

  Elation fills me as I get the second ten-foot-wide firebreak finished. Being a superhero is slow, patient, hot, and sweaty work. Still, there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I’m learning to embrace my gifts and not working so hard to curb it. Control is the answer, not forcing it to cease. It’s part of me and I’m beginning to accept that.

  I start a new length toward the east from where I first began, along the ridge. The grass slopes gently for another couple of hundred feet or so. I stop at one hundred and make my way back.

  Torrent has now moved on to his fourth section. He’s doing well, but the wall of fire stretches as far as we can see to the west and east.

  This tiring work takes hours. I’m sweating, feeling a bit nauseated from lack of eating. I can barely stand and will need to recharge soon by eating a buffet with enough food to feed the entire army and a week-long nap. Torrent is keeping the wall of flame at bay, allowing me to get the firestop done. The flames rage for miles behind, burning the trees black to the south of this wall of fire. We’re at the front line.

  I hope he’s doing okay. I wish we could take a break.

  We’re barely keeping the fire at bay and if we stop, the flames will be at our sides in no time. We can’t lose ground. I’m used to pushing my limits by now. I check on him again, not sure about Tor’s strength.

  A spark lights to my right. I’d gotten distracted at the wrong moment, or maybe thinking of Torrent spiked my energy. The flame picks up outside my swath, on the south side toward the forest fire, and quickly starts racing and spreading through the dry grass toward my friends.

  “Torrent! Dr. Mara!” I scream as loud as I can, running as fast as my feet will carry me. They don’t hear my shouts with their masks on and the sounds of the wood breaking. I can’t catch up to the speeding grass fire that’s circling behind, trapping them inside the fire. Soon it will ignite the several trees and bushes dotting the field, growing thicker toward the forest. My friends are surrounded, and the patch of green is growing smaller by the second.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The long snake of red fire slithers quickly but unevenly down the green slope toward the trees, leaving black, smoking ground behind. Flames lick up each tree and brush, igniting one after the other, running to meet the giant blaze among the thick brown trunks further down the mountain.

  The two figures don’t see the flames skipping toward them, so intent are they on Torrent’s jet of water.

  “Torrent! Dr. Mara!” I pause a second to pour everything into my shout and then race down the slope again.

  Why don’t they effing hear me? I’m not going to make it.

  I stop, take a breath, and survey the situation: my military training kicks in. I have seconds before they’ll be caught with no escape. They’re too near the trees. Trapped.

  An idea pops into my head. I focus the intent into my hands. I put my arms up, fingers directed to the tallest tree to the right of them. I take a deep breath and force the fire out of my hands, in a direct line, right at the trunk. Aiming takes all of my concentration. I can’t hit them. My arms shake.

  My fire falls far short, starting a new blaze in the grasses to the right of what’s already burning. Sweat beads my forehead.

  Come on, Ash. You can do this.

  I close my eyes, pouring my force into the heat. So much fire rushes through me, my head bows in concentration and the blast pushes my feet back a few inches. I know I’ve been getting stronger with using my abilities more often now. I’m almost confident in it. My attitude has changed, taking it head on and seeing what I really can do. It’s been me holding myself back. Maybe it’s Tor helping me figuring out who I am. Not that I mind leaning against him mentally and physically.

  Looking up, I see a large, smoking char as the tree cracks from the directed blast. There’s a giant echo as the sound bounces back to me.

  Holy shit, I did it!

  The trunk slowly falls toward my friends. They notice it and are running out of the way, back up the hill, toward the leaping fire snake. They stop, fire in front and behind. Torrent puts his hands forward and shoots a powerful stream of water to a section of grass fire, sizzling a big enough path for them to dash through.

  Panting up to me, they remove their masks. The firebreak runs all the way to the line of burning trees. There’s no way the rage will be able to jump up here.

  “Are you guys okay?” I ask as I lean onto my knees. I’m spent. That last blast took a lot out of me.

  “Yeah, Ash, we’re fine,” Dr. Mara says. She wipes her brow and inspects the fallen tree.

  “That was close.” Tor nods. “Thanks.”

  “I yelled to get your attention, but you guys couldn’t hear me. It was the only thing I could think of.”

  “Let’s do this last section and then take a break.” Dr. Mara points to the ground around us.

  I get back to work, finishing the swath to the east. When I’m barely standing, I signal Dr. Mara and she radios in the firefighters who take over battling the raging fires. I’m not sure what Dr. Mara has told
them about Tor and me, why we were up in a secluded section of the mountain, but no one asks us anything. We do get strange glances our way. They’ve probably been informed that our business is top secret.

  We head back, exhausted, as the experts do their work and keep an eye on the disaster. We’ve managed to stop it at one ridge, but what about all the other acres of angry destruction? Dr. Mara drives and I lean my head on Tor’s chest. He wraps an arm around my shoulder.

  We’re beyond tired, sweaty, and covered in soot. In my tent, I wash myself with a bucket of cool water and a bar of soap. Toweling myself dry, I meet the others in the Chow Tent.

  “You did well, both of you,” Dr. Mara’s voice is weary. “Get some rest. We have more work to do. Hopefully it can wait until tomorrow. They’ll keep an eye on the blaze all night.”

  “Great job, Soot,” Torrent teases. As we leave, he pulls me into a hug. We hang out in my tent for a while, before turning in. He’s a breath of fresh air when we’re surrounded by heat, smoke, and burning ash.

  I like the nickname Tor has come up for me. It makes me feel loved. Does he love me? Or at least the beginnings of love? Do I love him?

  “I thought I was going to lose you, Tor. I almost killed you with that tree.” Even with all our practice, there are times when I still feel unsure of myself.

  “I can take care of myself, no worries.” Torrent smiles. “I think you were just showing off, trying to get my attention.” I punch his arm. His blue eyes turn stormy. I think he’s going to kiss me.

  Do I want him to kiss me? Hell yes. I want to feel his cool lips again my warm ones. I’ve been wanting him to kiss me for a long time now. His arms snake around my waist as my fingers thread his soft blond locks. He’s a lot taller than me, so I stand on my tiptoes.

  We sink into each other, kissing.

  Finally. I can’t lose this man.

  Tor slowly leans me back on the cot. My hands pull his body closer to mine. I can’t get enough of him.

  He balances his weight on his arms as he gently trails kisses down my neck. “Is this okay?” he murmurs.

  All I can do is nod. His smooth lips leave cool dots up my jawline.

  I arch into him, granting him more access to me. My fingers leave his hair and clutch the hem of his T-shirt. Moving them under, I drag my nails up his back.

  He moans through a kiss. I feel it against my lips.

  “Ash.”

  That’s all he needs to say.

  The shock of this moment and adrenaline from today, bring us together. In more ways than one.

  And I love every moment of it.

  ***

  It takes us two weeks to get control of the forest fire. Working together, Torrent slows the front line while I create the firebreak. It’s utterly exhausting effort, but by the end, Dr. Mara, Tor, and I move as a seamless unit.

  Acres of black tree trunks spike into the sky, stripped of all needles. The mountain looks like a bunch of sleeping, lumpy porcupines. Brown smoke wafts into the air from hot spots, but the raging fire is gone.

  We fly back to Fort Carson. Tor slings his arm around me as we walk to our rooms, tired but happy. Dr. Mara’s used to seeing us together-together now. It’s not a secret since we always hold each other’s hands.

  “We need a name for this dynamic trio,” Tor says. “What do you think, Dr. Mara?”

  “I’m sure you’ll come up with something clever. Good night.” She leaves us.

  “How about the Torrent Trio? Or the Trio Torrent?”

  “That’s ridiculous,” I laugh.

  “The Power Pack?”

  “Give it a rest, Tor. We’re not superheroes.”

  “Yes, we are, look at what we did. Colorado may not know it, but we just saved its ass.”

  ***

  Opening my novel to read that night, a folded letter drops to the floor. Smoke’s letter, which he sent a few months ago. Unfolding it, I read it again.

  Ash, I went to the cemetery where our parents are buried. It was really weird. I did feel close to them, just being near their graves, though I don’t expect their spirits are there.

  The stones were old, but I cleaned up the leaves and made the grass look as nice as possible. I left the flowers I’d brought, from the both of us.

  The strange thing was, under their names there were some markings – I think they may be Egyptian hieroglyphs. I’ll try to draw them here so you can see.

  Under that were these words: Enûma Eliš

  Isn’t that strange? I’m going to research it when I can, in my free time. What do you think, does any of it mean anything to you?

  Say hi to Torrent for me. You’re lucky you guys are at the same base for your AIT. I wish our group was together again. I miss you both and Tage, too.

  -Smoke

  It is strange. What do the hieroglyphs mean? What does Enûma Eliš mean?

  On a whim, I decide to show Tor. He’s studying at my desk. He looks at the letter closely.

  “That’s very weird, Soot.”

  “Have you ever seen anything like it?”

  “No, but it could be significant. Do you mind if I borrow this? Maybe I can work with Smoke.” I give it to him.

  “Sure thing.” I have no idea what to do with it anyway.

  The symbols won’t leave my mind. They float in my inner vision every time I close my eyes to sleep. There’s something strange going on. I decide to bring it up in my next session with Dr. Mara. I’ll borrow the letter to show her so she can see the symbols instead of me drawing them. I’m sure I’d get them wrong.

  ***

  I open the office door as I enter Dr. Mara’s office. “I have something to show you.” I hand her the paper. Her eyes scan it quickly. “What do you make of it?”

  “Interesting, that’s for sure. See here.” She points to the first symbol. “I’d have to check some books before I tell you about the meaning. But I think I know what it says.” Standing, she makes her way to the copy machine. “Do you mind if I take some copies? My superiors will want to know about this. We’ll get the very best working on it. The clue may lead to others like you and Tor. This could be what I’ve been looking for.”

  Dr. Mara’s reaction was like a spark plug with the hieroglyphs. Maybe I shouldn’t have shown her. How many others will she tell? Do others know about mine and Tor’s abilities? I don’t think anything good can come about more people knowing about us.

  I kind of like our special trio, though. I don’t want anyone else to join us.

  Why did I show her that damn letter?

  ***

  Now there are forest fires raging in California. We’re flown there to help, so everyone can have happy holidays. Once again, we work together, getting the firebreak done much faster this time. It’s hot and the smell of burning wood and houses is overpowering, but the work is important. I am elated, though wiped out, each night as we drop to bed in our tents.

  After shooting that directed laser blast of fire in Colorado, I began practicing shooting flame in various forms and intensities from my hands. Torrent, too, has perfected changing the force, shape, and width of his streams of water. We practice together often. I shoot a blast at a teepee of branches and sticks, and once alight—and I’m gleaming in jubilation—he puts it out with his directed streams. Last time, he ended by spouting some grenade-size blobs of water right onto my head. They arched from his hands like a fountain, and before I knew it, I was soaked in freezing water, my hat and hair wet. He bent over laughing at my expression of surprise, frozen on my face for several seconds.

  I don’t want to burn up my boyfriend, so I punched him in the gut and then he was really doubled over, gasping in laughter, tears filling his eyes.

  Most of our time is spent practicing and honing our abilities at Fort Carson. Disasters don’t happen often.

  Now we’re serious, as we methodically control the fire. Only one neighborhood of homes has burned down, four people dead. Normally it would have been much worse. It could have
been with all the Christmas decorations hanging in trees, extra string lighting on rooves, garland wrapped around porches.

  We return to Colorado, satisfied with a job well done. Dr. Mara calls us to her office the next day.

  “Our experts have discovered some unusual Egyptian hieroglyphs, in an ancient temple. We think it was a special sect of a religious order, originating in Babylon. The words Enûma Eliš refer to an ancient Babylonian text about the four gods of sea, earth, sky and wind. Our researchers believe the hieroglyphs spell out a version meaning ‘Children of the Elements,’ or maybe ‘Elemental Deities.’” Dr. Mara turns to me. “It plainly refers to the four elements: Fire—being the great sun in the sky—Earth, Air and Water.” She glances at Torrent. “The text repeats what we’ve found: that where there is one, there are four.”

  Tor and I look at each other.

  Shit.

  Smoke,

  I asked Dr. Mara about the symbols and she looked into it. Said they are for the four elements: Fire, Earth, Water and Air. That doesn’t sound good for us.

  Oh, and Tor and I are on our way to Hawaii! I hope there’ll be some downtime for us to explore.

  ~Ash

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ash,

  Hum. Let me think on it. If I’m reading between the lines here, sounds like you and Tor are hitting it off. I hope you do have time away from your training. He’s a good guy. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. You deserve to have some happiness when I’m not physically there for you. Smart choices!!

  ~Smoke

  The flight to Hawaii takes many hours over boring, blue sea. I try to sleep, but I can’t.

  At the airstrip on the Big Island, we transfer to a helicopter and are taken straight to the top of Mount Kilauea. Nothing is disclosed to us so I can only assume that we’re here to fight more fires. It is 2300 and not really dark out, even though it’s close to midnight. We do several fly-bys, observing the bright orange lava spurting a hundred feet into the air and running down the mountainside.