City of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Zane"

He was home...

He sat against a tree, the soft breeze coming off of the mountains caressing his face. The light flickered down through the branches and leaves, casting him in shimmering light. He kept his eyes closed, letting the warm sun seep into him. He could smell the earth; hear the laughter that drifted towards him from the gardens. The grass was soft, the birds singing to one another. Everything was alright, he was home.

"Zane!" Called a sweet voice and Zane smiled, warmth filling his heart at the sound of it. He heard a little girl, her laughter like the bird's singing overhead, come racing up to him. She wore a dark dress, her straight black hair coming to her chin. Her eyes, large and round and the color of the earth itself, seemed to dazzle him with their brilliance. She held a feather in her hand, a raven's, and grinned at him, her pink lips spreading wide.

"Look what I found!" She eagerly held it up to him and he felt himself smiling once more. He reached out, but instead of his large, long fingers, small ones replaced them. It wasn't odd, it was perfectly normal.

Considering he was only a boy...

"It's wonderful!" He grinned at her and she grinned back.

And everything was alright...

Because he was home...

But then it changed...

The air turned suddenly bitter, losing its warmth and the birds stopped singing. The sun darkened, turning an ash gray and the girl, her face happy and seeming to glow, paled and lost all emotion. It became a cold mask as her large eyes lost all feeling, becoming dull.

Dead...

"Why?" She asked her voice a cold monotone. It was eerie and unsettling and Zane felt terror rising up inside himself.

"Why what?" He leaned forward; trying to grab her hand, but when he did it was suddenly covered in blood.

Her blood...

"Why did you do it?" Her eyes had turned suddenly accusing and Zane was alarmed to see blood trickling down from a gash in her temple, her throat turning raw.

"Do what? Ella?" He screamed panic engulfing him as he stared down at his small body. It was soaked in blood.

Her blood...

"Kill me," she whispered.

Then lunged at him...