God's Gaze

Part Two Chapter Four: Kindling to the Fire

       A couple days later, Jeremiah sat in his office as he recorded the Heart of the Crystal into the company's databank. One of his employees took the gem off his hands and headed to the vault where it now rested amongst the other Hearts. Something inside him regretted collecting these stones. They are what helped Patrix's parents retake their kingdom and yet here they are being locked away for God knows how long. How did that old Aenon maid even decide to start up this company? Maybe he should ask Patrix sometime.

       Jeremiah leaned back in his chair with a sigh and rubbed his wounded arm. Florian forced him to get it patched up at the hospital the moment they arrived in Baesary, despite his own protests. Florian claimed it was because he didn't want to worry Vivienne, but that was redundant as the girl floundered over him the second he got home.

       When the falcon-shifter squeezed his gigantic wings through the mansion doors, Vivienne stood there with her mouth left agape. A flurry of questions was asked with Florian calmly answering all of them. The girl grabbed his arm and excitedly led him through the house to one of the vacant guest bedrooms. "Finally, somebody that isn't a total bore in this house! I was starting to worry Jeremiah would become an old man before he turned thirty!" Vivienne said with a chuckle.

       Over the course of the week, Vivienne clung to Florian like he would fly away any second. Jeremiah's glad she warmed up to Florian as much as she did, but dread washed over him. "I'm sorry that I have to work this holiday weekend," he said.

       "Psh," Vivienne said with a wave of her hand, "don't worry, I have Florian here! I promise to keep an eye on him for you!"

       Florian's lips quirked up. "That isn't necessary."

       In his office, Jeremiah grinned and tidied up the papers strewn across his desk. He sure was never organized when it came to his own office. When he finished, he slid on his coat and was about to head out when a bright light etched across the corner of his eye. That's weird, the sun set a long time ago.

       The light grew brighter when he glanced out the floor to ceiling window. The sun was not, in fact, rising again, instead a fire ball hurtled right for his office. His eyes widened and swiftly spun around and lunged through his office's glass door. All the windows shattered as the fireball impacted his office; everything inside combusted into flames. Glass fell all around him with some sprinkled in his clothes and hair.

       "GET DOWN!" he screamed just as another fireball hit close by. His employees ducked under their cubicles while some crawled to the elevators. Jeremiah got to his feet and leapt out of the way before another ball scorched the space he laid on. He slammed his body through the emergency exit and sprang down the stairs- his feet not once touched the steps. Bright light followed him through the stairwell and by the time he made it to the bottom floor the light warmed up his back.

       He spun around, materialized his claymore, and shielded his face with the blade just as a fireball collided with the weapon. He flew back from the impact and smashed through the building's front doors behind him and tumbled into the busy street.

       Citizens out and about with their families for the holidays screamed and hurried away from the scorching fire left in the ball's wake. Jeremiah struggled to breathe as he used a car to heave himself off the ground; his legs shaking. A pompous laugh echoed from inside the burning building making his eyes flicker up to the gaping hole where the doors were.

       Citadel appeared before him, waving her fan as if the smoke was too much to bear. "I don't care if you're a God's son, but you shouldn't be stealing what is rightfully mine," she said, a tinge of venom to her tone.