Feeding the Fyre

Chapter 1

12 years later...

"Up, up, up! Come on, everyone, you have to get your bags packed for the Academy! Lynk, I can see you turning your back; don't make me come over there!" The deep voice belonging to Silas echoed around the cramped bedroom.

Enya opened her eyes slowly, wishing she could lay in bed forever. The pale blue fabric of the hammock above her stared back at her, worn from 15 years of use. Her own red hammock wrapped around her slightly, as if begging her to stay, to rest a little while more.

Raising her head, she noticed that all of her siblings, excluding Lynk, the Dark Mage of the family, were already awake and moving. Silas was currently threatening to dump cold water on him if he didn't get up. He hadn't noticed Enya yet, so she leaped out of her disappointed hammock and tried to look awake.

Talia, Enya's triplet and a Water Enchantress, winked at her and tossed her a mirror and brush. "You might want to do something about your hair," she giggled, her crystal blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

Enya glared at her reflection, her crimson eyes gleaming with annoyance. Her pitch black hair was a tangled mess, like always. Sighing, she dragged the poor hairbrush through her hair as she gazed around lazily.

Firth, Enya and Talia's other triplet, was quietly meditating on his own hammock. He mumbled some calming magic to himself as he traced the outline of his Forest Mark, an emerald leaf identical to Silas'.

Feng, now 14, almost threw Firth out of his hammock as he raced past. "Watch out!" he called, whizzing between his siblings. Firth was almost knocked over again when Feng's twin sister, Eira, sped by, evidently chasing Feng.

Feng slipped behind Talia, his breeze gently ruffling her hair. She slightly turned her head to ask, "What did you do this time?"

He shrugged. "Just told her the truth: that her Ice Magic sucks."

Talia sighed, stepping aside and putting Feng right in Eira's line of sight. He gulped and took off running again, with his twin chasing furiously behind him.

Lynk had finally gotten out of bed, and his twin sister, Aura the Light Sorceress, was currently beaming happily at him as he gloomily packed up his belongings. In between quick pauses of more smiling, she was telling him how excited she was and how her many friends would miss her.

Firth was the only one who was ready. Currently, he was trying to stop Eira from tearing Feng to pieces. Enya hoped Silas wouldn't spot the fighting siblings. She shuddered as she thought of his blazing temper.

As if on cue, Silas suddenly exploded, "The agents will be here to pick you up any minute now, and if you are not ready, so help me, God, I'll throw you out of this house myself!" he fumed as Eira finally released Feng, deciding it was better if she didn't infuriate her father anymore.

Everyone started to prepare with a sudden urgency, for when Silas got angry, which he seldom did, they knew it meant he was actually very nervous. Too early a sharp quartet of knocks was rapped on the cheap front door.

Maia straightened her curly blond hair before opening it, bowing her head as two figures walked inside the humble dwelling. Both were dressed in formal robes, showing their connection to the prestigious Wizard's Academy of Magic and War.

They did not immediately ask for the children, but Silas and Maia noticed that the taller one kept checking his watch. Eventually, the shorter one questioned them, "Do you mind leading us to your children? Your house may be our last stop, but we have other first-years waiting on the bus."

Before Enya could protest or ask for more time to get ready, they were swiftly swept out the small entrance. Enya started toward the bus but was held back by a firm grip on her arm. She turned around to face her beloved father.

"Hey, En," Silas said, cracking a half-hearted smile. "Your mother and I are really going to miss you." His eyes began to water, but he pushed back the tears that threatened to overflow. "I... I... just wanted to tell you... oh, just be careful." Silas pulled his daughter close to his chest and let the tears slide down his rosy cheeks.

"I will, Dad," Enya promised.

"And don't forget to protect your siblings," Silas whispered, still holding Enya as tight as he could. "Especially, Lynk. You know how some people treat Dark Mages."

"I know, Dad." Enya couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Clasped in each other's arms, Silas and Enya cried waterfalls.

After a minute or two, Silas pulled away. "I love you, En."

"I love you, too."

Talia grabbed Enya's arm and dragged her across the cracked ground towards the bus. "Come on, En. We're holding them up."

Enya obliged and jogged towards the rest of her siblings, who were already boarding. She gave one last look at her mother and father, and climbed onto the bus as they waved goodbye.

The old purple-and-blue bus shook and rattled loudly as it raced down the streets at top speed. Enya was jerked back and forth in her seat and almost collided with the young girl next to her. "Sorry," Enya mumbled to her.

The girl smiled at her. "It's fine. This bus is pretty crazy." She paused. "You're a Fire Mage too, right?"

Enya began to feel flustered, and she sensed heat rising to her face.

The girl looked shocked. "Oh my gosh, I'm so rude! My name's Hadyn." She held out her hand, revealing her Fire Mark.

Enya took a breath and shook her hand, smiling gently at Hadyn. "I'm Enya."

Hadyn and Enya made small talk until the bus came to a sudden, wrenching halt. Hadyn peered out the window, suddenly uninterested with Enya's story about Lynk "accidentally" spilling squid ink all over Aura's favorite cream dress.

We can't be at the Academy yet, Enya thought to herself. We've barely passed through the outskirts of the city! Hadyn gasped, and Enya followed her gaze.

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Pronounication Guide:

Silas: Sigh-lis       

Maia: My-uh

Feng: Fehng

Eira: Ee-rah

Lynk: Link

Enya: Ehn-yuh

Talia: Tah-lee-uh

Firth: Fur-th

Aura: Or-uh

Hadyn: Hey-din