The Spark And The Flame

Ignorance is Bliss, Sorrow is a Luxury

Moments passed, all that could be heard was the popping of the fire that surrounded Willow as she sat next to her father's smoldering body, sobbing silently. She barely noticed the fact that the fire started to get louder and hotter as the popping turned to more of a sharp crackle. The sound then turned to laughter, as if to mock the death of the one who controlled it. Through her tears she saw the fire start to creep toward her, seeming to laugh at her. She slowly angled her head to the flame, still looking at the ground.

"Silence" she muttered.

The flame stoped spreading, and the laughing ceased, once again turning to a quiet popping.
"Go away!" she said, nearly screaming.
Instantly, the fire vanished, like a candle blown out by the wind. She barely noticed as she turned back to her father, and placed her forehead on his shoulder, seeking some sign that he was still there, just as they connected, he started to fade away, turning to ash in his daughters arms.

"No!" She cried out, as the last of him scattered to the wind. She dropped her head in defeat.

                                                                                      ...
Theran found himself surrounded by darkness; an empty, open expanse with no discernible features, yet it was so familiar. He quickly turned around, and found himself face to face with an old acquaintance. 

"What am I doing here? Our business ended with the war." Theran said to Torak; a massive, twenty-foot tall figure, flame zipping around him like a particularly obsessive sprite to it's shinny object. His nearly human face, seemed fierce, and sharp, unlike most of the other gods.

"That it did, Morta-Summ, but it is not my business I have summoned you to discuss, it is that of my master." Torak said in his booming voice.

"Your telling me that Sol-Sha-Tor, the God Of The First Sun, wants me, of all people, to do something for him?" Theran questioned skeptically, trying to remember the history.

The first of the old gods, first of the two suns, 100,000 years of war with the new gods, who are more powerful, but were still defeated, Theran thought.

"That about sums it up. I thought you of all people, would know a bit more than that, given your history." Torak said.

"Please don't read my mind, bad memories, anyway, all I did was fight an army, and ask for a favor." Theran said dismissively.

"For which you paid in full, at this point you could probably guess whats going to happen next." Torak said, slightly amused. Theran blinked, shook his head sightly, and looked him in the eyes, as if he remembered something. "I forgot the effect this place has on the mind. Is my daughter safe? When can I go see her?"

Torak's expression softened slightly, "I'm truly sorry, but you may never see your daughter again, to her, you died, so you must stay that way."

Visibly distraught, Theran took a step back. "You're wrong!" He yelled, "I will not help you, not unless I can be with my daughter again!"

"You don't have a choice." Torak said solemnly. He got on one knee to be more level with Theran, but was still quite a bit above him. He reached out and held in his hand a flame; one that danced in his hands like an excited puppy about to meet his new owner. After it jumped about it stopped, and became stationary, like an ordinary flame, only to dart towards the face of its beholder. It seemed to vanish when it got close, but its heat was still present, and its glow remained, as if the flame was still in Torak's hand. Theran was so transfixed, that everything else faded away.

Suddenly, Theran found himself in his home, it was dark, the fireplace was cold. Only the dim glow of the moon illuminated the room, and the body on the floor. Before him was the body of Quaral, an old friend from the war and godfather to his daughter. He knelt down next to him and whispered, "Shel Loktear, shall you find your son in the afterlife." He got up to look for the strongbox, which he found on the mantle. Inside it was both the candle and its holder, he picked up the candle and used the flintlock-hammer fastened to the handle. It made a single spark, which he caught and held in his hand. It grew to full flame, as he put it on the candle. He walked forward, brushing his hand over the cuts and grooves on the wall, he could remember how every one of them got there. Immediately, he came across the stairs to the basement. The steps lead to a dark chasm, the void seemed so inevitable, so all encompassing. It looked like it was getting closer, slithering and shuddering. It writhed, spreading through the walls and started to whisper. Voices started flowing through Theran's mind...', You are alone child... there is only darkness for you... and death for your world, what you see is only the beginning, our great and terrible void shall decimate your world, so fear not the dark, soon it will be all you know, and your only friend' The voice ceased as a scream pierced the darkness, coming from the basement. He immediately bolted forward into the dark, he knew who it was. As he flew down the steps, he started to feel different, or rather, not feel. In the darkness, his core started to change, he felt empty, void of happiness, and light. For the first time, he felt... cold, the heat he had known all his life was gone, the memory of his wife's warm smile started to fade, he couldn't remember his daughter's name. "No! Please, not my daughter, don't make me forget her too!" he pleaded to to the darkness, his voice sounded muffled, as if on the other side of a wall. He fell to his knees, not noticing the black water that he now knelt in. He stared blankly into the dark liquid surrounding him, he could have sworn he saw something moving. He could make out a faint orange glow coming from the water, as the moments passed, it got brighter, and a figure came into focus. Just below the water was Willow, her eyes expressed deep fear, like she was staring into the soul of whatever horrid beast had sucked the light out of the room. She didn't even seem to notice Theren, who stared in shock. This moment of hesitation was brief, nearly to the point of non existence as he immediately started to frantically reach for Willow. His efforts were futile, for multiple black slender hands grabbed and scraped his daughters arms; beginning to pull her under the darkness. "No! No! Don't! I will find you! I will get back to you!" Theran yelled as he plunged his hands into the water. As she began to fade into the water sinking deeper and deeper, she reached out a hand. Theran took it and began to pull, trying to bring his daughter back. Then suddenly his senses dampened, he couldn't see, he couldn't hear, he couldn't even feel Willow's hand in his. I swear to you, I will return.