Hellbound Hearts

14. The Blue Fire

A few days had passed since Cody's visit. I'd spent hours racking my brain on how to keep an eye on him, but trouble never comes alone.

We had another hunt—this time, a rather unhinged woman, around forty, with frantic eyes and completely out of control. Though she was only level one, her intense desire to kill us made her act wildly. Banishing the demon inside her wasn't difficult, but before it was dragged to its eternal prison, it managed to put on one last show.

I gently rub my left cheek, still stinging from the slap she gave me yesterday. There's no mark left, but my pride is a little bruised.

Besides the hunt, I have other pressing matters. I need to keep training. My gift is strong, but without full control, I can't help anyone. Tightening my shoelaces, I head out for a run. I don't have a set route; I just weave through the familiar streets.

To summon my fire, I need to stay focused. Running helps me stir up adrenaline and clear my mind, creating the perfect conditions for my power to manifest. After a few kilometers, my heart is racing, my thoughts are sharp, and I'm ready. Satisfied, I head back to the bookstore.

I always joke that this place is a real multifunctional center. The first floor is open to everyone. After work, we retreat to the second floor, a private space where we can unwind. But the most fascinating things happen in the basement. Down a creaky set of stairs lies a sizable training room. With only a small window, it's the perfect place to practice our gifts away from prying eyes.

I enter the basement, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light. The air is cool, a stark contrast to the heat outside. The quiet is interrupted only by the faint hum of the light bulb. After stretching a bit more, I slow my breathing and close my eyes. 

Concentrate. You can feel it—the energy inside you. 

I raise my hands in front of me, slowly moving them outward. My fingertips start to warm up, though I can't tell if it's real or my imagination. When I'm ready, I open my eyes.

A blue flame flickers in front of me, so small it makes me snort. I try to expand it and shape it into a ring. It holds for a moment, but before the two ends of the slender flame can join, it grows too difficult to maintain. Just before the flame sputters out, I lower my hands, clicking my tongue in frustration. While today's flame was larger than last time, the progress feels minimal.

My ears buzz, and my temples throb from the effort. Bracing my hands on my knees, I steady myself. A couple of drops of fresh blood fall onto the concrete floor—a regular part of training. Summoning fire drains me, and I can't imagine what would happen if I could use its full strength. Or maybe nothing would happen at all. After a moment's rest, I straighten up.

"Still torturing yourself?"

Eleonora stands in the doorway, leaning against the frame. Looks like she's been watching me for a while. I quickly wipe my bloody nose on my sleeve.

"I have to," I say simply. "If I can master this, it'd be a huge help."

She nods but sighs.

"It would. But if you keep pushing yourself like this, you'll kill yourself before you ever master it."

"Trying doesn't hurt," I reply with a chuckle. "Honestly, no matter how it looks, it doesn't hurt. Believe me."

She gives me a sad smile. "Alright, but it's time for a snack. I'll be waiting for you upstairs."

After lunch, the usual work routine resumes. With Kaja at soccer practice, more duties fall on me. I handle my tasks well, but thoughts of Cody keep resurfacing. It's frustrating how a complete stranger has become the focus of my life in just a week.

Finally, I reach my breaking point. Without saying a word, I leave my apron on the table and head out. I vow to return soon—I don't want to leave Eleonora and Arthur short-handed during peak hours. But I need to assure myself that I'm taking my assigned task seriously.

When I arrive at the university, I head inside and recall Cody's class schedule. It's already halfway through, so instead of disrupting the lecture, I decide to wait for him outside the lecture hall.

After about half an hour, students start to trickle out. I wait until no one else exits, then peek inside, only to see the professor packing up his things. Cody isn't here. I double-check my phone, but everything seems correct—he was supposed to be here.

I try to calm myself, but unsettling thoughts keep surfacing. What if he's being followed? No, that can't be it. To make sure, I linger near another lecture hall, but he doesn't appear there either. Feeling uneasy, I decide to go back and inform the others.

When I arrive back at the bookstore, I'm shocked to see a "Closed" sign on the door. This place should be open at this hour. Unless... Crap. I quickly grab my phone, but it's dead. Damn it.

Genuine worry gnaws at me. If Kaja ran into another demon, they probably tried to reach me, and when I didn't respond, they went without me. Running a hand through my hair, I pace in front of the door. With no way to contact them, all I can do is wait.

After a while, a familiar van turns the corner. I leap off the doorstep and onto the street as it stops. The driver's door opens, and Arthur steps out.

"Nate, for fuck's sake, can't you answer your damn phone?!" Arthur yells, clearly frustrated.

I know I was careless, so I accept his scolding without arguing.

"I'm sorry, it died. I'll be more careful next time," I mumble, guilt creeping in.

"Never mind, we've got bigger problems," he says urgently.

Simultaneously, the other doors open, and Kaja, Eleonora, and Cody climb out. I quickly notice Cody's split lip and the dried blood on his gray shirt. Despite his calm demeanor, he looks pale.

"What on earth happened?" I ask, eyes wide.

"Kaja spotted one. When we got there, we found Cody. They were already fighting," Arthur says, stepping closer and whispering, "Fucking hell. That kid's like a magnet. I swear, he draws them in."