Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 58

Breathing exercises and meditation was was Charlie's most common form of training, this being because her powers were connected to her emotions. The flame was among her greatest abilities and feelings such as anger, stress, and fear were like bottles of kerosene. She had to learn to prevent herself from letting those feelings take control and add fuel to the fire. In other words, her first step was learning to remain calm.

"Are you relaxed now Charlie?" Solomon asked her.

"Yes. I am."

"Good, now I want you to think about the fire inside of you. Think about what you want it to do."

"I've done this before Solomon."

"I know but practice makes perfect. Now do it."

She closed her eyes and envisioned a white flame. The one inside of her, the one that the morning star had blessed her father with and said father than passed down to her. It was once a holy flame, one that burned only to bring forth light and warmth, but then Lucifer's pride and anger turned the flame dark and made it a beacon of destruction. But Solomon had theorized many times that perhaps, the compassion and love within the heart of Lucifer's daughter could purify the flame and make it holy again. But for that work, she must recognize the flame's benevolence.

"Now tell me what you think of that fire?" He asked her.

"You know what I think."

"Tell me anyway."

"I think it's dangerous. I think it all it does is hurt people. I wish it just go away! Leave my body!"

"You're right to be wary of it my dear Charlotte. Just as we are all right to be wary of natural fire or guns or any form of weaponry. But much like natural fire and weaponry, the flame inside of you was not created for evil purposes. At least not originally. It was created to provide light for those trapped in the darkness, to keep others warm from the bitter cold, to protect families and loved ones. You think you are like Sekhmet, a mythical woman of fire who uses her gifts to punish and kill those who offend her. But in truth you are meant to be like Hestia, the mythical maiden who's flames are gentle and protective, flames that are reserved to provide a warm home and hearth."

"Then why has it never protected anyone? Or warmed anyone? Why has it only killed?"

"Because that's all you have seen it as. When something is in your possession and the only thing you view of it is something to be fear, then that's what it will be. Once you see it as something benevolent, then it'll become so."

"I just can't do it."

"You must. It can't ever be removed from your body Charlie, it's apart of you. Therefore you must find a way to accept it and use it for good. That is what we must all do when struggle comes into our lives. We must accept that it is and that it is there, and then we must try to make it work to our advantage. And you're not the only one in this family with that same problem. Alastor, Vaggie, and Angel have all been given powers, strengths, and even afflictions that can cause massive danger and destruction. For Heaven's sake, Alastor has craving for flesh and blood, you think that's easy for him to keep under control?"

"Doesn't he take pills for that?"

"Medicine can only do so much. The pills I give him are made with iron and potassium extracted from blood banks that I paid for, just to give him proper nutrients so his craving doesn't feel like he's starving. The pills make it a difficult want that he has to resist instead of a difficult need. But the craving still exists, it's not as strong once he's taken his pills yet it's there and he has to will himself not to indulge. And when you are in a line of work where blood is spilled very often, it's a struggle that's almost equal to trials of Job."