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.

"What am I going to do?" she sighed.

The figures began to speak again, quickly drawing her attention away from her own chaotic thoughts. "So we are all agreed that this Sara is the child of flame." All those present nodded. "The question now is what do we do with her."

"That is obvious," another voice inserted. "We use her as any true fire elemental would. Listen to the prophecy again. The 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. This woman will either die or become useless to us again, it isn't possible for a single body to house the spirit of fire and survive. All that we can do is as the prophecy asks, use her to destroy our enemies before she is gone from the world."

"All in favour of using Sara's flame before it is extinguished say aye." Geoffrey's cold words were like daggers to her heart, the blades sinking deeper as each figure responded with an unequivocal 'aye' of agreement.

"What should we tell her?"

"Nothing," Geoffrey instructed. "The less she knows the better."

"Come, we have much to plan for and not much time to do it in. The prophecy says her time is short but it gives us no warning of just how short that time is, we must act swiftly."

The flames spluttered before sinking back into the fireplace.

I'm dying. Sara's mind was reeling.

Hungry, Seraphina whined.

Be quiet, she snapped. This is all your fault, I'm going to die. Unless…unless I find the one to cool the flame. Her eyes widened in realisation. The prophecy had spoken of a way to save her life. The figures in the flames had discarded the option, as it would take away the power they were so desperate to have, but there was a chance she could survive this thing. Power was all well and good but there was no point in having it if she wasn't going to be alive to enjoy it. I've got to find them. Whoever this person is I have to find them.

"Sara," Abigail's voice was finally able to penetrate the fog of her mind, her brown eyes were watering with unshed tears. "You're going to die."

"No I'm not. Weren't you listening? If we find the one to cool the flame, I'll live."

"Sara, the elders have spoken, you can't go against their will."

"I have to Abigail otherwise I'll die."

"It will be for the good of the fire elementals Sara, you heard the prophecy, before you die, you'll destroy our enemies. That's a sacrifice any fire elemental would be willing to make. You'll be a hero."

No, I'll be dead. She smiled warmly at Abigail, the wheels in her mind working frantically. While Abigail was her friend she was first and foremost a fire elemental and she was good at what she did. One didn't become known as the red terror without a reason. Abigail's loyalty to their people was paramount and Sara's heart sunk as she realised that nothing she did or said was going to change that fact. From the cradle strong fire elementals were raised to believe that they were better than anyone else because they were stronger than anyone else and that to put their own selfish wishes before those of their people was tantamount to treason. With her vast reserves of strength Abigail had been groomed very well to believe that sacrifices made for their people were worthwhile. Having suffered nothing but cruelty and injustice at the hands of her people Sara couldn't say the same especially when the sacrifice they wanted was her life. She forced a smile to her lips while Abigail rambled on about what they should do during her last days on earth. Apparently I'm in this alone.

Hungry, Seraphina grumbled.

Rolling her eyes, Sara brought the flames in the fireplace to life again, letting the fire burn through the wood, Seraphina purred in response. Well as alone as I can be considering I have a vengeful elemental spirit wandering around my head endangering my life. I've got to get out of here, no matter the consequences.