Soul Fire

8.4

Bloom wasn't sure when, exactly, the specialists had found the shrine. There's a chance they could have seen her flames from where they were in the forest, and ran towards it. Or they could have been there for all of it, watching, waiting to see what she would do.

Bloom wouldn't have been surprised. The other faeries didn't seem to be in danger. Just Bloom.

It only wanted Bloom.

It was difficult for any of the specialists to comprehend what they were witnessing. Bloom had stood between the creature and her friends. Rhonan had expected her to look scared, to resemble the cowering and shaking earthling that hid behind him on the steps of Alfea. But she didn't- she looked brave. She would do what she needed to for survival. It took a step towards her, and then it was like something within Bloom changed. Like a switch was flipped. Her posture changed- still strong, and sure, but different. Not like Bloom. She smiled, and it wasn't the type of smile Rhonan had seen before. It wasn't just taunting, or cocky. It was the smile of bloodlust. And it was terrifying.

The Rarøkner lunged, and Bloom sidestepped him easily. She had been given very little physical training, but somehow she had moved with near-flawless footwork. She dodged another blow, her red hair whipping through the air as she watched him swing his axe at the space where her head used to be.

Perhaps it was adrenaline, instinct. Perhaps all faeries had a subconscious ability to fight. Rhonan wouldn't know whether that were true. But the specialists were suddenly wondering- what secrets did the faerie race hide? Alfea and Red Fountain have long since been allies, but really, they knew nothing about them.

If it was instinct on Bloom's part, the Rarøkner was refined. Patient. Bloom would eventually make a mistake- they all knew it. She could only act on instinct for so long.

The faeries, now on their feet, made a move to help her, but the Rarøkner roared at them, causing them to freeze. Bloom could only act on the defensive, as she had no weapons in her arsenal, so she used the opening to put space between herself and the Rarøkner.

"Nobody else needs to get hurt." The Rarøkner growled out, "But I will kill them if they try to interfere." The specialists heard this clearly.

"Should we-" Timothi started to ask, but then stopped. He threw his hand up over his eyes to shield himself from the heat and light. After the light disappeared, the specialists stood frozen, blinking to readjust their eyes. The bracelet that was around Bloom's wrist was on the floor beside her.

The Rarøkner seemed to feel it, because his head whipped towards Bloom and he snarled. Something like fear clouded in his eyes.

Bloom flexed her fingers, and blinked. "Get away from them." Bloom commanded. She summoned flames in either hand. She wasn't so helpless now.

Her hair glowed as the ends floated up as if they were weightless. Her hair burned, a fire in its own right. Flames danced in her palms and in her eyes.

The Rarøkner roared at her. It charged. And Bloom unleashed herself.

It had been a sight to behold, the battered faerie, shoeless, with scrapes down her bare legs and dirt covering her skirt and arms. Her hair floating around her head as she summoned her magic like a halo of fire. But as quickly as her magic had revealed itself, it had disappeared. Slumbering within her. Leaves were tangled in her hair, and dust coated her face, masking the subtle freckles on her golden skin.

And then it was over, and she stood there, perfectly still. Her eyes trailed down to the bracelet by her feet, and she stared at it for a moment. Her shoulders slumped, like she had been holding her breath and finally released it.