Intrigue

Chapter 15: Burning Hell

Earlier this week, I think around Saturday or something, this book got up to #889 in Fantasy! The rating disappeared later on, but I am so happy that this book got on the rating system at all! Thank you for all the support and everything that you guys have done for this book!

From now on, I'm going to dedicate each chapter following this one to anyone who commented, voted, or added to their reading lists on this book! This chapter goes to SilvernightBreaker, an amazing author and reader!

By the way, for some weird reason, the updated version of the website doesn't display who commented or voted on your book, and on my phone, the notification tab only goes to July 16, so if I miss you in any of my dedications because of this, just comment or PM me if you want a dedication or anything.

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Hell is cold. That's a fact. Don't ever forget that.

-Anonymous

Chapter 15: Burning Hell

Lana leaned her back against the twisted redwood, staring up through the bare branches up at the sky. She had used the earth to mask her presence, dampen her raging potential, in such a way that neither Fiera nor Cole would be able to sense her.

Right now, she needed to focus. That was weak. Pathetic, to let down her walls in front of them and burst into tears. Really, it was actually funny how fast she had reduced into a blubbering mass of tears and snot.

No doubt if Xandra had been here, Ailana would have felt the lightning strike of pain before sensing the potential worming its way into her skin.

It was all Reed's doing, she realized for the first time, that Xandra could hurt her so.

Well, maybe not just his. Xandra had been working for quite some time to perfect her techniques, but it was the 2014 Dancing of the Elements that finally gave her the boost she so sorely needed.

Training from then on had been Lana's own personal hell.

Lana's lips twitched as her mind suddenly dredged up a memory-an old, cherished memory that she had buried in the back of her mind. She had never wanted to risk letting it cross her mind in that place, for reasons that she, back then, couldn't understand.

Now she did, but now she was free. Well, to some extent.

"Hell is cold. That's a fact. Don't ever forget that, Lana. Burning, ravenous fire is a mercy compared to the soft, cruel ice that awaits you."

"Why are you so certain that I will go to Hell?"

"Because everyone in this house will end up there, one way or another. You're no exception."

"That seems...comforting."

"You're a strange girl."

"Hell is cold. But I think it would be a mercy to have the ice covering my body rather than the flames."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Then, it will be just me and my mortal enemy. The ice and me. The fire will not have betrayed me. And even if she would have been more merciful, I know that I don't deserve mercy."

"My gods, you know I was joking, right, Lana? I didn't mean a single word I said-I just-just wanted to have a little laugh, but you're taking it too far."