Chapter 28 The Fire Within

Chapter 28 The Fire Within
The next morning, the atmosphere was unnaturally quiet as though everything were afraid of me.

I couldn't withstand staying at the packhouse. I couldn't look into the eyes of people mourning and the dead bodies. I decided to walk into Crescent's woods even without knowing where I'm headed. As I moved deeper, the ash remaining from the war that still stocked the leaf branches, fell on my clothes.

Guilt pressed against my ribs like something sharp. “They died because of you.”

These thoughts chased me through the trees.

“They died because you lost control.”

My steps trembled as I approached leaves that had been swallowed by frost. The forest was colder than Crescent usually was. I didn’t notice it at first… until I breathed out and saw mist curl from my lips.

It was strange because this part of the woods was always warm.

My flames had made sure of it, so I stopped walking. I knew something was wrong.

I rubbed my shaking hands together. Sparks flickered out of instinct, small, weak flames that sputtered like dying embers.

Even the fire in me felt tired and broken.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to no one. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I never meant…”

My voice cracked.

Then I heard another crack. A branch fell behind me. I spun around but there was nothing asides shadows.

Another crack came but this time, ahead of me. The forest seemed to be moving or rather breathing.

Then came the scent of smoke and heat… but not from the ashes. It was within the forest, from something that seemed older.

A familiar warmth curled around my wrists, my shoulders, my throat. It wasn't harsh, not wild, but… knowing.

And then she stepped forward – A woman woven from fire and smoke, her hair like a river of flame, her eyes molten gold and ancient.

It was the Ember Queen.

My breath ceased. “No! You’re gone….”

Her smile was sad. “My body burned long ago but my soul… never left.”

I stumbled back but she followed me effortlessly as her feet was hovering above the charred ground.

“You’ve been running from yourself, child,” she said. “But fire does not bow to fear.”

I shook my head, choking. “I killed our warriors, I burned them alive…. I….”

“No.” Her voice cut in, ringing like a bell. “The ones who fell, gave their lives to protect you. They chose loyalty but you chose fear.”

I flinched as her flames softened, curling gently around me like warm hands.

“Your flames are not destruction,” she whispered. “They are the truth.”

She lifted a hand and fire flared from her palm, but instead of burning, it passed through the nearby withered tree and the bark glowed gold. The rotten wood turned smooth and fresh leaves sprouted instantly.

My eyes widened. “You can… heal?”

“Not heal.” The queen’s voice echoed with old power. “Purify – the Ember line does not destroy, it cleanses. It burns away corruption, darkness and lies.”

I stared at my hands, the same hands that had killed Crescent wolves hours ago.

“Then why did my fire kill them?”

“Because you lost control,” she said simply. “Because you listened to fear, not purpose.”

She stepped closer, her fire haloing around us until the entire place glowed.

“Your power is growing too fast, the Hollow Flame awakens and she is coming.”

My stomach twisted. “The frost twin?”

The Ember Queen nodded in affirmation. “She was my shadow, born of imbalance. She will not stop until you are ash.”

Fear crawled up my spine and I whispered, “What do I do?”

The queen held out her hand – flame swirling around her fingers like threads of gold.

“Learn the fire within not suppress it… but to master it. Only then will you survive the twin born of frost.”

I took a hesitant step. “Teach me.”

Suddenly, the forest trembled with a low rumbling pulse that made the ground crack under my feet. The queen’s head snapped toward the north and her flames flickered.

“No…” she breathed. “It’s not time yet.”

“What isn’t?”

She grabbed my wrist and her touch was warm at the same time strangely heavy, like carrying molten stone.

“Listen to me, Aria Blackthorn. Your power is not your curse. It is your inheritance. And you must claim it before she does.”

“Before who?” I asked, voice shaking.

She opened her mouth to answer.

Boom! A shockwave ripped through the forest, slamming into us like a tidal wave. Trees split and Ash flew into the air. My knees buckled…

The Ember Queen’s form flickered violently, and her image disappeared gradually.

“No!” I lunged forward, reaching for her. “Don’t go!”

She cupped my face for one brief, blazing moment.

“When the moon bleeds,” she whispered, “one flame must fall for the other to rise.”

“Which one?” I begged.

She just looked at me with ancient, sorrowful eyes.

“Survive, Aria. Survive and the world will know the true fire of your name.”

Then she shattered into sparks as flame turned to embers and embers turned to smoke till smoke turned to nothing.

I was alone and my heartbeat thundered in my ears as I staggered backward. The shockwave still vibrated through the ground, sending dust spiraling.

Distantly , very faintly I heard horns. It was a horn of war from Crescent. My heart froze…

“No,” I whispered. “No, no, no….”

Then another sound came sharp, chilling, unnatural.

Just then I heard a howl of a wolf, then frost followed. I knew instantly that she was here.

I ran as branches were whipping against my skin, leaves crunching underfoot as I was sprinting toward Crescent’s walls. Smoke rose in the distance, white and cold, mixing with the warm haze of sunset.

The more I got closer, the temperature dropped lower and lower.

By the time I reached the treeline overlooking Crescent village, my breath came out as white mist.

And then I saw it.

A jagged wall of ice slicing through the center of Crescent territory and Crescent wolves was frozen mid-movement.

Frost was spiraling through the training grounds then I saw a shape standing on the highest point of the ice, her hair blowing in the cold wind, blue flames licking around her hands.

Her eyes locked onto mine instantly, as if she’d been waiting for me.

It was the frost twin.

Her voice carried loud across the frozen air, clear and cruel:

“Found you, sister.”

Behind me, the last ember from the Ember Queen rose from the ground and a tiny, glowing spark floated toward my chest.

It sank into my skin and heat surged through my veins.

The frost twin smiled.

“Oh good,” she said softly. “Now it’s a fair fight.”

The ground split and the moon above bled red.

Everything in the Crescent Pack had shattered into war.