Blaze

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Dad had said that the sword would be ready within a month. When I asked who was making it and how, he only winked.

"A magician never reveals his secrets." he had said.

That was three weeks ago. I had been visiting Dad every Saturday, and I'd met Kat again twice during that time. It had become a new tradition.

As for Helena, she didn't bring up the issue between us again, and Emily said nothing about why she'd done it, but I was pretty sure she knew.

But another new tradition began, the tradition of me storytelling what had happened while I was out on my runs to Emily. Every night after I got back from a run, Emily would be waiting in my room with her pajamas on. After I'd told my story she'd go back to her room. What interested her about me beating up crooks, I did not know.

And so my life continued.

*****

As I climbed up the wall of a slummy apartment block, I heard a police car cruise past. The Rooks were getting frustrated with me. I kept meddling in their business, whether it was personal or professional. A week and half after my first run, they sent patrols of Rooks out to survey the streets. A few days after that the police got onto the case, probably after a bit of nudging from the Rooks.

I liked taking out the patrols of them. It was good fun, and I was taking criminals off the street. I knew if I just beat them up and left them for the cops, they'd just be out and about again within a few hours. So now I had a new set of protocols. Beat them up, then break their right hand. At least that took them off the streets for a few weeks, and they deserved way worse than that anyway.

As soon as I was atop the building, I heard the rowdiness of a patrol. I moved over to the other end of the roof, and peered down onto a group of seven Rooks. Easy prey.

They were joking and horsing around, pushing each other and mock fighting. Little did they know that the hunters had just become the hunted.

During the three weeks, I'd learnt a few tricks with the fire. The more I used my abilities, the more they seemed to improve. I could now manipulate fire to create shapes and detailed images. A few other neat tricks had popped up here and there.

I clenched my fist, and felt the searing heat building within my fingers. When I could visibly see burning orange light pulsing through in-between my fingers. I dropped it down into the alley.

The blob of liquid flame dropped onto the ground behind the group. There was a slight boss before it went off. Flames engulfed the alley, and I only heard them yelling before the flames subsided. Those still conscious were patting themselves down, or rolling on the floor.

I leapt onto the next building and continued on my way. I found another bunch of them, but this time I wasn't so lucky.

I was sprinting along the buildings, and couldn't stop in time when I heard them. I skidded along the dusty top of the building, stopping right at the edge. Dust and sand fell down into the alley, where the patrol was passing through. One of them looked up, his eyes widening.

"Bla-"

My fist smashed into his face, and I somersaulted to land perfectly. My acrobatic skills had improved noticeably. The guy fell back onto the wall, sliding down unconscious. One of his mates pulled his revolver out of his belt and fired. The bullet skidded off my shoulder and into the wall. I stepped forward and grabbed the barrel of his gun, and squeezed till the metal crumpled in on itself like paper.