Sounds of Fire

1

The voices were loud this morning.

Anatolia stared absentmindedly at the ceiling, her plush blankets strewn about her body, her ears wriggling as she listened to the voices in her head. They said everything and nothing all at once. She didn't try to catch any of the words for now. If they had something important to say, they would say them clearly, and loud. She sighed and dreaded getting up for the day. It was early, the sun barely streaming in through her window, but it was hot and she was already tired. The voices had told her what was going to happen some time ago to prepare her. She sat up and swung her legs over her bed, her socked feet grazing the floor. The air was warm as she stuffed herself in clothes that she had set out the night before. Her mind drifted to what she knew was going to happen sometime within the next hour, probably sooner than later. It was going to be stressful.

Sighing, she cocked her head, letting the whispery voices bounce off her inner ear, allowing the words to become clearer. Here he comes. Turning herself around, Anatolia watched her room's door. It opened about thirty seconds later to the chorus of voices and she recognized her twin.

"Your favorite," Derek said when he poked his head into the room. He smiled and opened the door wider, bringing a plate of toast and berries with him as he entered.

Anatolia held out her hands and waited for her brother to hand over the plate. When he did, she popped a berry into her mouth, rolling it around for a moment before squishing it between her teeth. Juice slowly coated her tongue and she didn't start to chew until there was only thin skin between her top and bottom teeth. She did the same with the next berry.

Derek sat primly atop Anatolia's bed. He let her finish all of her berries before he spoke again. "You already know?" he asked softly, concerned.

She nodded, her gaze downward. "They told me."

"What do you think about it?" Derek knew very well about the situation. His visions had shown him, and he was worried about his sister's well being.

"Things are about to get rough for us."

Derek bobbed his head. "How do you want to play it?"

"Let it happen as it should. Nothing good ever comes from our interference with death." Anatolia sighed inwardly. The truth was if you tried to stop death, it only came back later, and with a vengeance. She had learned that the hard way.

"We shouldn't try to stop it?" said Derek. There was no force behind his voice, the truth obvious to him too. "That is our job. That's why Sir Den bought us."

Anatolia pursed her lips. The voices had already told her every outcome, and she didn't need to tell her brother that. The voices also told her that what was going to happen needed to happen, though they didn't tell her the reason. That she didn't want to tell her brother. "We can't. We have to take it." She placed her empty breakfast plate down then held out her hand for Derek to take and, when he did, she led him downstairs for the panic to come. She squeezed his hand reassuringly and he squeezed back.

Sir Den was adjusting his tie in the mirror by the front door, licking his front teeth, making sure they were sparkling white. Anatolia and Derek watched, patiently waiting for him to finish his routine, knowing it would only take a moment. They would say nothing about what was to come. Sir Den smoothed out a wrinkle in his shirt with his heated hand, using his power as a fire elemental to his advantage. He shook out his hand to cool it then ran it over his hair as a final touch, then he turned to open the front door. He left it open for Anatolia and Derek to follow. They did, closing the door behind them before getting into the back of Sir Den's car with him.

Derek scooted close to his sister, squeezing her hand tight. Anatolia didn't stop him. No matter what position they were in, the situation would end the same. Sir Den placed a briefcase on his lap and clicked it open as the car begun to move. The driver rolled down the back windows slightly, as Sir Den always requested, and Anatolia looked out through the crack. The sky was hazy and eye aching sunlight spread over the car window. She noticed a speeding red truck coming to the intersection they were nearing and she shut her eyes tight. The voices rose in a cacophony of ugly shrieking. It was only mildly annoying and she was partly glad that they were still talking to her.