Looking contrite, Raymond had the decency to blush. “Sorry, Lacey. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. You’re not dumb. You just don’t know what I do. I don’t want you to get burned just cause you don’t get it, and aren’t as smart as me.”
Yep, just like his uncle
.
Flame began teaching the children how important it was to get their entire family involved in fire safety. When she flicked the lighter to a flame, she saw Ignis smiling at her. She ignored him. Using a small, teddy bear-sized cloth shaped in the form of a small pajama shirt, she showed the children just how fast a flame caught and held—and burned. Visual was everything. She didn’t want to provoke nightmares, but there was a need for deep respect.
The children sat straighter in their chairs, wide-eyed, interested and ensnared as fire transfixed them, as the pint sized pajama shirt was soon emblazed. The fiery cloth was dropped into a metal garbage bin and she dowsed it with a cup of water. Flame went over ‘stop, drop, and roll’ briefly. They had already learned that. What she wanted was to avoid getting to that point altogether.
“Make certain you find two exits in any room. If one is blocked you need a plan B.”
“But my room is too high up. All our bedrooms are upstairs in our home; if I jump I’ll get an owie. That’s what my mommy says when she opens the window in the summer, ‘Lacey don’t push on the screen or you could fall and get an owie,’” Lacey said, looking worried.
“You can ask your parents to invest in a ladder and all of you can benefit from learning how to use it. Something that can be on your window if you’re on the second story. You also need to have a place outside the front of your house or apartment to gather.”
“Why the front?” another boy asked.
“Because when help arrives they need to see you. You need to tell the emergency crew fast if someone is still inside, if firefighters or police and ambulance have to go looking for you it will take more time. Fire is fast. You need to be faster and smart.” Flame had everyone’s attention. “Where in your front would be a good place to meet?”
Lacey tossed up her hand then yelled: “Our car.”
Flame saw Raymond roll his eyes again so she jumped in quickly. “That would be a good guess, Lacey. But instead I want all of you to choose something that doesn’t move. Raymond, why don’t you tell us your family’s meeting spot and why you chose it?”
Raymond sat up straight, looking important. “We chose a big rock on our front lawn. Firefighters can see us from the road; we won’t be in their way. Plus,” he swiveled around to look at Lacey. “The rock never moves, there isn’t a chance it won’t be there when and if we need it.” Lacey narrowed her eyes onto him—certain he was being condescending but unsure as to how.
“Very good, Raymond. Yes children, please pick something that won’t be moved, like a big tree or rock, or even your neighbor’s porch. As long as your meeting place is away from the fire. Now I want to know if all of you have heard the sound of a smoke detector?”
Lacey clamped her mouth shut. Another boy tentatively put his hand up. “I’ve heard the ones in school.”
Flame picked up a fire detector. “Do you have one of these in your home?” she asked the boy.
“I don’t know.”
“When you get home I think you might want to check, in fact all of you check with your parents. Go to each one and press the button to make certain the batteries are working. It sounds like this.”
Flame pushed the button and a few children slapped their hands over little ears, others laughed.
“When you hear this sound, you are to immediately follow your escape route. Do not stop for toys; do not hide under your bed or in a closet. Fire can find you anywhere; it’s the best there is when it comes to hide-and-seek—do
not
play its game, you will lose. You need to move fast, but not so fast you fall or trip over someone else. Now, let’s take this lesson outside. I’ve brought you each a gift—a whistle—and I want to hear you blow it. If you get trapped, someone will hear it. And, I want to teach you how to use a fire extinguisher.”
“Cool,” a couple of children yelled.
Flame found it to be an enjoyable afternoon, she loved kids. She hoped what she taught them today could save their lives. A good friend from the fire department came to help and brought his outfit to show the children there is a human under the sometimes scary mask and bulky gear. A human, not a strange monster, who very much wants to help them and they are not to be afraid if they see a firefighter in full attire.
She ended her visit by giving a sheet of red paper to each child and told them to go home and draw their escape route of their entire home and practice. Knowledge was power. They needed to know how to get out of anyone’s room—
yes even their smelly brother’s room.
It was also a good idea to notice the emergency exits when they went out to a restaurant, or movie. Everywhere, anywhere, stay aware, were four words that could save their lives.
* * * *
Flame tossed her keys onto her coffee table in the living room from the hallway. They clinked, skidded for a brief second, almost toppled to the floor, and then settled, their teetering motion stilled. She locked her front door behind her, snapping the deadbolt and lock into place. It was late, it was dark outside, and she was tired—exhausted really. They were still on the hunt for James Barkley. His wife and children were missing, but Ignis swore they were safe. Annoyingly, he wouldn’t give them up. He insisted they were better off where they were. Fire hinted he was privy to private information discussed near fireplaces while fat cats drank brandy and held the lives of others in their greedy paws. His statement had conspiracy written all over it and made Flame fume. The almighty dollar was rearing its ugly head while four lives hung in the balance. Damned political bullshit. Flame had no use for those in power hiding under the ruse of diplomacy and fairness when all they wanted was to make a fast buck.
Barkley did indeed have money and leverage and a great deal of influential power. Any corrupt individual would have a hard on for his wife if she ended up in ‘protective’ custody. Word had hit the streets; his wife was wanted dead or alive—preferably dead. Barkley wanted his kids and it seemed he couldn’t care less if they suffered trauma because of his actions. The idea disgusted Flame. Ignis had informed Flame there was no greater protection than from an element. Any individual who had ventured near the woman’s cabin was met with a flood across the road, a fallen tree, a sudden storm. Well-placed lightning bolts—this last had been said with a sinister smile, making her shudder. She’d made a mental note to never piss off an element.
A fire suddenly blazed in her fireplace, startling her momentarily. She kicked off her shoes and sat on her couch. One by one, her tired legs were lifted by strong hands to settle her feet onto the coffee table. She smiled as she sank back into the soft material behind her.
“A drink would be nice,” she commented aloud.
“More Fireball?” Ignis sounded amused.
“I’m starving, too.”
“I know a little café in Paris.”
“Mmm, Paris. Sounds wonderful, but I’m too tired, and I don’t speak much French—even less when I’m pooped.”
Ignis sat beside her. He lifted his fingers to brush a lock of her red hair back behind her ear. When she looked into his eyes, they were flaming with passion. She gave him a tired grin. Her head settled onto his shoulder and he curled her body into an embrace. Ignis sighed.
“Humans have the most annoying habits,” he stated. “You must sleep and eat, you must expel bodily waste.”
“Yet you choose a human form when you come to me,” she countered.
“What would you have me look like? A three headed chimera? An alpaca?”
“Well you have three cocks. And an alpaca would just be silly—and fuzzy not fiery.”
“I don’t have three cocks. I just invade, I enter, I…”
“Raid? Conquer? Control?”
“I love you everywhere at once so no part of you feels left out.”
Flame yawned. Just envisioning having sex with him was wearing her out. She pulled away from him; he was reluctant to let her go. She walked into her kitchen and, famished, grabbed the cold chicken leftovers from the fridge. She snapped the lid off a cold beer and guzzled half. Ignis was leaning against the doorframe. He was frowning.
“Am I grossing you out?” she asked around a huge mouthful of meat.
“You are technically meat, why do you eat meat?”
“Because the taste fucking rocks.”
“Hmm, I suppose I can’t argue the fact. You taste delicious.”
“I’m too tired tonight.”
She knew she sounded irritable. She just got her period and her belly ached. She finished the chicken and pulled out a tub of Heavenly Hash from the freezer. She dove in, spoon first, and made short work of half of it in no time.
“Are you working tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes. I know Melinda Barkley and her children are safer in your care, but that doesn’t mean my boss isn’t screaming for her to be found. Our division is working overtime on this high profile case because of the parties involved. James Barkley has dropped off the face of the earth too. There is a rumor going around he’s gunning for her—now that he can’t even see his kids. No doubt he expected her to come crawling back. Instead, she’s defied him and is hiding; he’s threatening more legal action, kidnapping and failure to comply with a joint custody court order, putting the poor woman between a rock and a hard place. Why can’t you find him? I gave you pictures of the family.”
“Your Mr. Barkley isn’t a true arsonist, doesn’t smoke, or cook, there is no portal he’s opened for even a peek. He’s not really into fire. Just intimidation.”
“He’s not
my
Mr. Barkley.”
“Are you all right?”
Flame slumped in her seat. “No. I’m sorry. I’m tired and crampy. Another irritating human quality. I’m on the damned rag, yip frickin’ yay. My stupid blood flow feels hot. So I feel hot and disgustingly sweaty. I just need a good night’s sleep. And also to find that stinking bastard before he hurts his wife and kids.”
“Then off to bed with you. I’ll see what I can find while you sleep.” Ignis’ look was thoughtful.
“What?” she asked.
“Perhaps your woman’s time has changed to include your lover. I flow through you now.”
“Great, you mean I’ll keep bleeding that lava junk each month? I swear it steams. So help me if my panties and ass catch fire and my pubies go up in flames…”
That made him chuckle. “You can never catch fire, my Flame. You are immune to that particular element.”
Flame was a little worried. “I won’t wake suddenly with my sheets on fire will I? I mean a stain is one thing, but a burning bed is a bit much to handle for the next four days. I’ll need new furniture. Shit I could burn the entire fucking house down. Crap. I’m getting a headache.”
Ignis sighed and pulled her into his arms. “You might—I mean about burning the house. Your pubies, as you call them, will be safe, no worries. Never mind, I think tonight I’ll take you to where you’ll be safe and cannot harm others.”
Ignis took her hand and walked her into the fireplace, Flame groaned as her clothing burnt to ashes. He took to the skies after opening the dimension into his world with the help of the flames that followed. She groaned louder when he set her down, after reaching his destination a short time later, crashing from the sky and striking the ground with a crack of lightning. Flame walked effortlessly from the lightning onto soft foliage which smoldered only briefly. The ground was saturated; the air was warm and humid.
“A rain forest? Oh come on. You can’t be serious. Ignis, is this really necessary?” She watched as an agouti scrambled past her. Just gazing around, she knew she was in an undisturbed section of the forest because of the Brazil nut trees. The canopy trees were perspiring.
All right transpiring, same difference.
Ignis kissed her forehead. “It’s for the best for now. I’ll be back later to check on you. For now, my brother, Nimbus, will watch over you.”
“Your brother? You do realize I’m buck naked?”
“You do realize you have gone skinny dipping before, surrounded in my brother’s element?”
Oh, well there was that one time.
“And you shower and bathe…”
“Point taken.” It was a little unnerving understanding every element had most assuredly seen her nude at one point or another.
Weird, creepy.
Fire chuckled and chucked her under her chin with a finger. As he walked away, a flash of lightning burst near to him and he was gone—riding the brilliant streak into the Heavens.
As the rain drizzled down her bared breasts, Flame settled back into a pile of soft, moist leaves which cooled her hot flesh. There was no way she could get home from here alone. The water did feel good. She spread her legs and let the dampness drip between her lower lips, she watched the droplets sizzle and spit when they collided with the lava-like substance. It was an odd sight. No doubt it would freak out a mortal man. Nevertheless the water felt wonderful, cooling. Flame drifted to sleep. She was certain the water caressed her nether region. The droplets swirled around her breasts. Her body was massaged into slumber. She felt safe. She let the elements care for her needs and drifted to sleep.