Seared by Desire (2 page)

Burn the demons,
the strange voice
hissed, sounding as though nothing would give it greater
satisfaction than to do just that.
Burn
the demons!
The fire on her skin seemed to
explode from her body, burning even the air that it came into
contact with. The fire spread, extending past the limits of her
skin a few inches acting as though it were a shield. Her thoughts
became clouded, her control over her body slipping as the strange
voice became clearer.

“
Come to me demons.”
The words left
her lips but it wasn’t her voice that spoke.

Seemingly helpless to resist her call, the demons turned from
their intended victims and walked, as though in a trance towards
her. Sara’s eyes connected with a horrified Abigail, the sight of
her friend made her struggle against the stranglehold the voice in
her head had over her body. She didn’t know what it wanted but from
the malevolence in its voice it wouldn’t be good. She had to get
away from the village. Wresting control over her limbs from the
unwanted presence, Sara turned from the village. The demons, still
in a trance from her earlier command, followed helplessly as she
strode further and further away. The fire on her skin grew hotter,
burning away at the earth beneath her feet as she walked. Her head
was in agony, a blinding pressure building within her until she
felt as though she would explode, but she kept walking, drawing the
enemy’s wrath away from her home.

The meadow was now in sight but the strength was draining
quickly from her body. When she stumbled, her legs weak, she knew
time was running out. There was something within her that wanted
out and whatever it was, was dangerous. Lifting her skirt, she ran
blindly, desperate to increase the distance between her and the
village. She didn’t make it far. She had barely reached the meadow
when the power washed over her, bringing her to her knees. Flames
poured from her body in waves as she clutched her head in
agony.

“
No!” she screamed. “Please stop.”

Hungry,
the voice hissed.
Demons. Feast.

Headless of the fire emanating from her, the demons continued
onward. The dam burst, pulling Sara into unconsciousness as a
pillar of fire exploded from her. The demons were sucked in, dead
in mere seconds as the fire ravaged their bodies until it was
satisfied.

Minutes passed before people from the village came upon the
scene, their eyes widening as they took in the devastation Sara had
caused. A scorched path led them easily to where she lay, the grass
on either side shockingly green in comparison to the blackened
earth beneath their feet. Sara lay as though sleeping in the middle
of the swath of destruction she’d made, a crater of scorched earth
acting as her cradle. As soon as she saw her, Abigail ran towards
her but an elder quickly stopped her placing a restraining hand on
her arm.

“
Let me go,” she demanded, reaching for the fire within her to
strike the man down.

“
Look,” he instructed, pointing to the earth near her
feet.

There were no bodies, no bones, no trace of the demons at
all, only ash. The ash covered the ground but its placement was so
strategic, so calculated, that all gathered knew it had been no
accident. Spelt in the ashen bodies of the demons, one word was
written over and over again, surrounding Sara’s unconscious body.
‘Seraphina’. Fire itself had spawned a child and now it was awake,
awake and hungry.

Chapter Two -
Discovery

Sara’s head was pounding, her limbs felt leaden and the light
from the candles around the room felt like needles piercing her
eyes. Her mind instantly edged away from waking as the
uncomfortable sensations wracked her body. It was only when she
became aware of the sheets that she was lying against that she
fought to wake. The sheets beneath her were soft, gentle on the
skin, a world away from the rough cotton of her own bed. There was
something going on and she fully intended to find out what it
was.

Her eyes burned when she opened the lids so it took her a few
moments to orientate herself with her surroundings and realise
exactly where she was. Even then she wasn’t entirely sure she was
awake. Her surroundings were entirely too opulent to belong to her.
It wasn’t just the sheets that were luxurious, the entire room
screamed wealth. She was lying in a large four-poster bed, draped
in what appeared to be satin sheets of the deepest red. The red of
power and wealth; the red of the elites. Now that she was awake,
she could look at the lights that had so blinded her and the golden
holders only served to reconfirm that wherever she was was a world
away from her own modest home. Her parents were of reasonable power
and so as a child she had not been as poor as she was currently but
even the comfort of her childhood was nothing in comparison to her
new rooms. A sense of fear filled her.

“
What’s going on?” she mumbled to herself.

“
Sara? Sara, thank the heavens you’re alright.”

The relieved voice came from beside her and Sara immediately
turned towards it. Her apprehension lessened as soon as she saw
Abigail sitting at her bedside. Abigail would explain exactly what
was going on and no matter what it was she would help
her.

“
Abi, what’s going on? Where are we? ”

“
New Kennington,” Abigail answered simply.

“
What in the world am I doing here?” Sara spluttered. New
Kennington was the capital city of the fire elementals and only the
strongest could enter its walls, all others were forbidden from
even approaching it. She in particular shouldn’t even dream of ever
seeing the city, she wasn’t even allowed to leave her village. What
was going on?

“
Don’t you remember?” Abigail gasped shocked.

“
Remember what?”

“
My wedding,” she prompted. “The demons….”

Memories of what had happened flashed before her eyes. The
sight of so many demons making their way towards her, the look of
hunger in their crazed eyes; the malicious voice echoing through
her mind; the raw power that had filled her and finally the horrid
stench of burnt flesh before she had fallen into
unconsciousness.

“
What have I done?” she whispered horrified. Her head fell
heavy into her waiting palms.

“
There’s no need to sound so ashamed, you did what any fire
elemental would have done in your place. You should be proud. But
that power Sara…why have you been hiding it all this time. You were
amazing.”

Remembering the pure menace in the voice’s words, Sara
shivered though as a fire elemental she was never cold. “That
wasn’t me Abi, whatever that was, it wasn’t me.”

“
So the power’s gone?”

Sara delved within herself, reaching for the power that had
been conspicuously absent her entire life. Where once there was
nothing, now she was overflowing with strength, the reservoir of
power strong and certain. She probed at her newfound powers,
surprised at the familiarity she felt with powers she’d acquired so
recently. “No, wherever the power came from, it hasn’t left
me.”

“
Sara, that’s wonderful. You’ve always wanted to be stronger
and now you are! Life is going to be so much easier for you now.
You’ll be able to do whatever you like and after that demonstration
of power who’s going to dare say no to you? You can move out of
that horrid little shack into the village centre. With your power
you’re going to be an elite. The heavens are smiling on you
Sara.”

A faint smile was creeping onto Sara’s face as her friend
listed the benefits of her new found power. There were privileges
to be had for being strong amongst the fire elementals. Any
pleasure she might have taken in the advantages of her new strength
disappeared quickly when the voice returned, reminding her that her
power came at a price and that price was probably her
sanity.

Listen,
it hissed.

I’d rather not,
Sara countered,
hoping to keep her interaction with it short and her sanity
intact.

Her abruptness only served to anger it.
Listen!
The voice commanded. Her
skin warmed as the fire in the room flared to life.

“
Sara, are you okay?”

“
Not really,” she answered honestly, her tone rueful.
“Wherever this power came from, it saddled me with something and I
think it’s evil. Whatever it is that’s inside of me now enjoyed all
that destruction and I think…I think it might want
more.”

“
As it should do. Those demons were the enemy, they ruined my
wedding day and tried to kill us.” Sara rolled her eyes at
Abigail’s reasoning. She should have known better than to expect
for them to see eye to eye on this particular matter. When it came
to the acquisition of more power, Abi was just like every other
fire elemental.

Listen!!

“
Fine,” Sara groaned in exasperation. “I’m
listening.”

Unaware of the second conversation that had been taking
place, Abigail was confused. “Haven’t you been
listening?”

“
I wasn’t talking to you Abi, I was talking to your new
friend.”
Now what exactly do you want me
to listen to?

The flames in the fireplace seemed to explode, spreading
upwards from their confines as figures emerged in the
flames.

Abigail looked between her friend and the fire, confusion
written on her expressive face, a silent question in her brown
eyes. “Sara?”

“
Listen,” she instructed.

The figures in the fire solidified, gaining shape and form
until they looked human, though it was impossible to make out their
faces. Voices soon filled the room, the words sending a shiver of
concern down Sara’s spine.

“
Spark to Ember. Ember to Flame. Flame to Inferno. Inferno to
Ash.

Such is the life of fire.

Into the world shall be born the child of the
flame.

Fire given flesh.

Gifted with the truest spark of the blaze, the child of the
flame will burn hotter and brighter than any fire elemental for
they will be the most powerful of them all.

But there is a price to pay for such power, a burden to be
borne, for the child of flame shall carry within them the spirit of
fire.

Seraphina.

Destructive. Incinerating all in its path.

Voracious in it’s hunger, constantly seeking more to fuel its
cruel path of devastation.

Uncontrollable. Once the flame has been kindled to life
nothing can halt its path. The flame shall spread consuming all it
touches until it is satisfied.

None shall be safe from its power…not even the child of the
flame. The wild flame of the spirit of fire will burn within them
briefly but brightly, allowing for the annihilation of the enemies
of the fire elementals.

But a cost must be paid and the child of flame shall be the
one to pay it, with their life as the fire consumes even them,
unless they find the one.

The one with the power to cool the flame.”

The words sounded strange to Sara’s ears but she logged each
one in her mind, she had a feeling that they were very
important.

Another voice spoke up, this time a familiar one. How could
she ever forget the head of her village and all the hate filled
slurs he’d directed her way over the years? “Now that we have all
reacquainted ourselves with the Oracle’s ancient prophecy, I think
it is time we decide what to do about it.”

“
How are we to be sure that this woman, Sara?” One of the
figures nodded in confirmation. “Is truly the child of the flame?
You have always sought glory Geoffrey, it would be just like you to
bring one of your strongest to our doors and claim that she is the
one to fulfil the prophecy.”

“
I have done no such thing. Sara is the one.”

“
And your proof?”

“
She is everything the prophecy speaks of. That woman was the
weakest person in our village; she was a disgrace to the name of
the fire elementals. This is the first time she has ever been
allowed to leave. Just as the prophecy states all that she had was
a spark of fire, that spark has now morphed from an ember to a true
flame and more. If you had seen her demonstration of power then we
would not even be having this conversation for there would be no
doubt in your minds that she was the one.”

“
But there is doubt elder Geoffrey. Can you give us anything
more definite?”

Geoffrey sighed. “Yes. When we found her unconscious in the
aftermath of the destruction she had caused, the word Seraphina
surrounded her written from the ashes of the demons she had
destroyed in the ancient language. It was written just as it is
written on the ancient scroll. None know that language anymore. She
is the one.”

There was silence for a few minutes as the figures reflected
on what they had just heard while Sara’s heart was pounding at the
implications of their words. The child of flame? It was impossible
for it to be her but the voice in her head was all that they had
described and more.