In the Heart of the Fire (a KOTLC fanfic)

XIX

"No!" We all yell, minus Athnamas. I sigh. Welp, so much for an ambush. The others apparently think the same and we come out from our hiding place.

I keep my mouth shut. This is not my battle, though I want to fight it so bad.

"What do you want, mother?" Keefe's voice sounds as dry as the desert Exile is in, but his emotions are sour on my tongue. He is scared and sad.

"I just want to check in on my only child. Maybe kill a few important people along the way." I feel her eyes on me.

Oh no, you don't, you sick woman. Keefe's emotions writhe on my tongue. It's making me slightly sick.

Keefe's jaw is clenched tight. "We both know that isn't going to happen. Leave my friends alone."

"Your friends? I'm sorry. I don't see any here."

I'm about at curse words. My fingers start sparking and I can't help it.

"Mother, go away."

"Keefe, dear, you know that will never happen. I will always be in your head."

My emotions are starting to get the better of me as one finger after the other bursts into flame.

"Oh my." Lady Gisela takes her hood off and studies me, tilting her head. "This one has a temper."

Keefe looks back at me. "Haesel...don't."

Lady Gisela laughs. It's ugly and it makes me want to burn my brain until I remember it no more. "You are not a leader. It is funny to think that you believe they will obey. Now, where is the true leader? The teal-eyed one with sense? Or even the precious Moonlark?"

My flames start creeping up my hands, covering them like gloves. The fire is brick red in my anger.

"They are not here." I growl. "We have no leaders. We are friends. Friends fight for each other."

"'Friends fight for each other.'" She mimicks me. Keefe cringes. "Friends are not worthwhile, silly girl. Those who fear you will fight for you. To the death. Underlings and henchmen. Let us show you that power."

I'm so happy Keefe didn't inherit his mother's insanity.

"No." I snarl. "Let's settle this like women. Let us break ourselves with the blood of the other. Let us be insane together. Leave my friends alone."

"You? A teenage Pyrokinetic with no control over her flame? Challenge me?" She laughs again. "I may be only a Conjurer, but my other abilities are quite intact. Very well, dear, prepare to die."

"Haesel...stop." Keefe steps over to me and places a hand on my shoulder. He immediately pulls back, yelping. Even my skin is hot. "You cannot possibly beat her."

"It would be a shame not to try." I spit back.

"It would be more shameful to make me lose another person I love." Oh boy. The trump card, or whatever it is the humans say. His eyes are steel. He will not back down.

I take a deep breath. I open my mouth to talk, but instead, a torrent of water is dumped on my head, evaporating my flames to harmless smoke.

"Linh!" I yell, my fingers already sparking.

She waves her hands and another waterfall pummels my head.

"He's right. Calm down." She says. She keeps her hands up, threatening more rain should I show any sign of using my own ability.

I huff, smoke coming out of my nostrils like a dragon. A hand tentatively lays upon my shoulder and I spin around, prepared to attack.

It's Keefe. "Better now?"