Within The Flames

Chapter Ten

~ Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous.

Chapter Ten

I was angry, not beyond the controlling type, but I was still angry. My parents sat on the large sofa, while I was on the sofa to their right – the one-seat sofa. My fingers were intertwined and rested on my lap. They were fighting about me again, only, this time it was openly right in front of me.

"Look, Elaina, let's just tell her everything." Dad looked ready to give up, but pushed one last time.

"I thought we agreed that it was for her protection." Mum had her arms crossed against her chest, her face red with frustration. She always wanted it her way, and usually it was, but this time, Dad refused to back down. She was on the verge of tears, arguing the same point for the tenth time since I sat down.

When they returned from wherever it was, they called me downstairs. Well, Dad did anyway. Mike was still at the house, but he left as soon as we got downstairs with his hoodie, which had dried by the time my parents came back.

"Did you call me down here to listen to your argument?" I questioned through gritted teeth, desperate to keep my anger locked in. I couldn't let the fire incident happen again.

They turned towards me, as if noticing me for the first time.

"Honey, we ––" Dad's voice was calm when directed towards me.

"Where have you been anyway? And don't say you can't tell me," I interrupted. The longer they were secretive, the more frustrated I became.

Mum sighed in defeat. She gave a side glance towards Dad before speaking, "we went to see the king."

That was it, that's all she said.

"And..?" I prompted, feeling the heavy beats of my heart in my veins. Could I hold this anger in any longer? Mike said I could get in trouble if I let it all out; he explained that the fire thing wasn't normal and very dangerous, especially if I can't control it.

"We weren't allowed to see him. He was attacked in his dream," Dad continued.

"What does that even mean?" I screeched.

Mum gave him a warning look; she thought he was telling me too much. Dad shrugged before shifting closer to me, towards the edge of the sofa he sat on. He reached out for my intertwined hands, the warmth from his instantly engulfing mine.

"Honey, we're not humans." His hazel eyes bore into mine, displaying the seriousness of his comment.

"Okay, that's enough, David, you'll freak her out," Mum spoke in a stern voice.

I wasn't sure how to take that new piece of information. I mean, I wasn't exactly shocked, nor was I unaffected by it. I knew there was something up, but to listen to the truth was harder to digest.

"Then, what are we, Dad?" I chose to completely ignore Mum. She refused to cooperate and that wasn't my fault. Why was she always so detached to my feelings?

"It'll take longer than one word to explain it," he began, tightening his grip around my hand to show that he understood it was difficult for me.

Mum's phone buzzed with a message. As she checked it, her face lit up.

"C'mon, David, he's awake now. Let's go talk to the King." Mum stood up and dragged Dad to his feet.

Mum smoothed down her chocolate brown hair, and when unsatisfied with the result, she took the hairband off and retied her hair in a tight pony tail, in an attempt to distract herself.