Born in the Flame

Chapter 22

Uzlos Birchwood

    When I awoke, I was surrounded by multiple elegantly dressed up dusk elves. Yet none of them were Elwin. It was difficult to move, my back ached from the bullet wound. I knew that it would easily heal. If I cared to look, I'm sure I'd find the gun's bullet.

    Groaning, I picked myself up from the cobblestone. I was covered in blood. Honestly, this wasn't the first time this had happened, but having the earth magic flowing within me helped me heal from these near-fatal wounds. Looking around the crowd that stood around me, I scanned for the blue dress I had watched flowing around me as we danced. Shades of blacks, blues, and purples were around me, but not one like hers.

    "I was with a dusk elf. She wore a blue dress with slits on the leg. Have any of you seen her?" I asked in the elven tongue.

    "You need to get to a doctor." One of the elves said, pushing me to sit back down. I slapped the unwanted hand away from me.

    "Who has seen her?" I repeated, growing increasingly irate.

    "I saw someone with wings carry someone after the gunshots." A male dusk elf, dressed in a navy blue suit offered.

    "What direction did they head in?" I asked, trying to hold back the culminating rage I had. I needed answers, not to lash out at these people.

    The man pointed north. Without hesitation, I sprinted in that direction. I ignored the pain in my body as I ran; that would heal. Dawn elves were the fastest of the races on their feet, but I happened to be one of the fastest among them.

    As I ran, my eyes darted for any signs that she may be alive, that she may have left a sign for me. I begged for even the simplest of signs of where she went. That was when I smelled it, just past the city gates. I could smell her. She had been close enough to me that her perfume unintentionally drove me insane. Orange blossom and jasmine. I could tell she didn't care about her appearance too much on a regular day, but tonight she had taken extra care. Gods, I didn't even remember when she went out to buy that perfume; but it was the only thing I could hold on to.

    It was not easy running while constantly smelling the air, but it was something I had done a few times when it came to tracking and hunting. Never had I obtained this all-powerful rage while I hunted. Knowing that it was the deidae that took her infuriated me even more. I had been so confident we had exited the lounge in the safest way. Honestly, I had expected the deidae to die from the injuries I gave him last time. He must have sought out either a water mage or an earth mage to heal him, both had the gift of healing.

    I passed through all types of terrain. Sagebrush, dunes, and beach were all the terrains I passed through as I followed that gentle scent of orange blossom and jasmine. When it began to fade, I panicked. If I lost that scent, how would I be able to find her?

    Pausing my legs, I darted my eyes around the sagebrush terrain I stood in; taking in the scenery, and the ground. I had been running for hours. If she had been flying for just as long, her perfume may have left her skin. Instead, I searched for another familiar scent. I first searched for the smell of his magic. Air magic smelled like an approaching storm. Elwin's magic was that of burning embers. I couldn't smell either.

    I thought about what I remembered of the deidae. I remembered the tanned face, red eyes, and of course the leathery wings. That's when it came to me. The leathery smell would be something following the orange blossom and jasmine. Again, I looked up to the sky that had the moon declining, preparing for the sun, and searched for the perfume. Finding it, I let my senses dissect it, pulling apart every single note that came with it. Finally, I found that leathery wing smell and launched myself into another sprint.    
    My legs had carried me six hours away from Yaanlian; to a small, run-down manor. I knew she was in there. The sunrise illuminated the sky in shades of pink and oranges. If I had to guess, Elwin would be alive. Salim was obsessed with her, but wouldn't kill her. That didn't mean he wouldn't harm her.