Catalyst(5)

CHAPTER 2



I’m trapped in the heart of the flame, white-hot and eternal. There’s no escape, nowhere to run, no place to go where it isn’t there before me. When I step, it’s there. When I sway or turn, it’s there. When I move my hand, it’s there. It pulsates with each breath I take. I hold my breath. The flames move with a life of their own, twining around me. They bend inward, as if to whisper a secret. I strain to hear, but the roaring fills my ears and I can’t understand.

The flame dances, pulling me into its rhythm. We move together, closer, closer. I am not afraid.

Without warning, it leaps at me.

The fire fills my mouth and pours into my soul, filling my essence with its own. I fall to the floor, feeling my body burning to ash, consumed. And yet I’m still whole, stronger than before. The flame is in me. It is both power and comfort. It speaks, and now I understand.

I am no longer alone.

I opened my eyes to the night sky. There was a small fire burning nearby; its warmth reminded me of my dream. The pain in my head and my belly reminded me of the fight in the forest. And what I had done.

The girl placed more branches on the fire. Her once fine clothing hung awkwardly on her, exposing the curves of her body. She was beautiful, even with her tattered clothes and the streaks of dirt on her face. The soft glow of the fire accentuated her high cheekbones, and she seemed to shine faintly in the moonlight. She was like no girl I had ever seen. I forced myself to remember to breathe again. I had no idea what to say to her. I shook my head and struggled to sit upright.

She turned when she heard me move. “You're awake,” she said. “Are you all right?”

“I am now.” I couldn’t draw my gaze away from her.

“Why do you continue to stare at me?” Her voice and face hardened.

I turned my head away. “I'm sorry.”

There was a brief silence. “It's quite all right. Just don't let it happen again.”

Who was this girl? She had to be of high rank if I wasn’t even allowed to look at her. I bowed my head. “I won't.”

She crouched down by the fire and warmed her hands.

I remembered the man I had knocked out with the branch. I nearly jumped up then fell back and grunted from the pain. “The third man! He's still out there. He might—”

“I took care of it.”

“What do you mean?” Just then I saw Bruno's sword lying next to her. I strained to see if there was blood on it, but couldn't make it out. “Oh.”

I tried not to gaze at her, but it was hard. I wanted to know more about her. She looked angry as she stared into the fire, and the anger grew as the silence stretched out. She was one of those rare women who grew more beautiful the angrier she became.

“How's your ankle?” I asked, trying to break the silence.

“Fine.”

I had no idea how to treat this stranger. There were so many questions I wanted to ask. I was more nervous now than I had been when facing those men. I moved closer to her and squatted in front of the fire. She didn't look at me, seemingly lost in her angry thoughts. I blew on my hands before holding them out to the flames.

I tried to get lost in the fire like she seemed to be, but I couldn't do it. While her mind appeared focused, mine was confused and jumbled. I wanted to know how I did what I did, but I also wanted to know more about her.

The oppressive silence overwhelmed me and my curiosity won out. “So…what are you doing out here and why were those men chasing you?”

She said nothing, continuing to gaze into the fire. I thought she hadn't heard me, and then she turned her head so fast her sun-streaked brown hair whipped her face. Her fierce eyes settled on me. “Do you always ask so many questions?”

My body stiffened. I wasn't going to back down from this stranger. She should be grateful that I risked my life for hers. “Are you always being chased by men who mean you harm?”

“What I do is none of your concern.”

“It is when it almost gets me killed!” I tried to jump up but stopped when the pain in my side stabbed me once more. “Unbelievable! Ungrateful,” I muttered under my breath.

Forget her. As much as I wanted to know about this mysterious girl who wore fine clothing and could make a fire, fight, wield a sword, and had no problem killing people, I wasn't going to beg her to talk to me.

I turned away from her, grabbing a twig. I poked at the dirt with it, trying hard not to think about her or feel her presence near me.

She held her breath for several long seconds before letting out a sigh of surrender. Then she placed her hand on mine, stopping my dirt drawings and taking my breath. I felt my cheeks grow hot.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You're right. I shouldn't have been so rude to you. You did save my life. Forgive me?”