The Heart of Sarrador: The Little Flame

Chapter 11

"You betrayed us!" I snarled at Siritara, feeling the rage within begin to heat up.

"No! I haven't told you the rest!" She looked genuinely shocked that Sophia had appeared.

"Keep quiet Siritara, we both know what he'll do in the future and we can't let that happen." Sophia began to visibly radiate elegyn.

"No stop it! Get out of my head and listen!" Siritara shook as if to cast away Sophia's powers.

"It's just to calm you down, relax Siri." But Siritara got up and flung that yellow fire towards Sophia and screamed. Her scream penetrated deep into my mind and I felt the wall preventing the fire within begin to collapse. I could feel the relentless burning rage begin to rise from my chest again and everything seemed to become a fiery orange. My screams merged with Siritara's, though her's were no longer screams of anger but of fear. My mind was filled with pure hatred for all living beings and left little room for any control on my part. I lunged at Sophia but she feinted to the side and struck me in the kidneys. Something was wrong; my power was far less than before. Something was preventing it from coming out in full force. Then from somewhere under the malice I remembered the elegyn seal John had given me and I reached to rip it off.

"Not a chance Grey!" A man's voice yelled. The breath was knocked out of me with a flurry of blows to my stomach and then the power vanished and I collapsed to the floor.

"Eabhar! Good timing, how long can you negate his power?" Sophia asked and I was dimly aware of her jogging to his side.

"Not long..." His voice was strained. "Can you capture the spirit? I can hold it for maybe five more minutes."

"That's not enough; we need a Tokara High Bounder." The Tokara are similar to the Evokers but only study the art of spirit, angel and demon containing and summoning. Did they want my power for themselves? I could feel the rage beginning to trickle out, Eabhar's hold was weakening fast.

"Just knock him out already!" He roared and Sophia began to radiate elegyn again. They weren't alone now, about thirty or so soldiers had filled the small rooftop garden. I could feel Sophia's touch begin to drain my energy and blur the edges of my vision. Siritara was where we'd left her at our table, her eyes wide with fear and her hands clasping her elegyn seal as if it would protect her. Our eyes met and she mouthed something that I couldn't make out.

"Mama, aita isa." I mumbled as the world began to darken. I struggled for the fading light and was surprised that the sounds of fighting had begun again but I couldn't hold on to consciousness any longer and slipped obligingly into the abyss.

It was light when I came to but the hazy light of the Gormscot region. As my mind began to unravel I realised a number of unpleasant things. My body hurt all over from the beatings I had received from both Sophia and Eabhar, my head was pounding from the elegyn fever caused by my uncontrolled use of my power, my clothes were soaked through from the freezing mizzle and I was lying rather uncomfortably in the gutter. I managed to pull myself up but nearly toppled over as dizziness flowed through me in waves. I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temple. I needed to find out how I had gotten here and just where the hell here was. I risked opening my eyes and winced for a moment as the light bombarded my senses. I was on a dirty, rotten smelling street with a few early risers going for walks or rides passing by without paying any heed of my existence at all as if I was a perfectly normal sight in this degenerative city. After a while of groggy unwillingness to move I staggered up the road, hoping with all my heart to see either John or Cloud's faces but to no avail. I was lost in a strange city far from home, all alone... What am I supposed to do? I cried helplessly in my mind. In all the days I'd been free I'd never had to make a decision about the journey for myself, John or Cloud had always been there for me. I'd be dead by now if it wasn't for them.

"What am I supposed to do?" I cried out loud this time. A hand gripped my shoulder and turned me around to gaze into the dirty yet still beautiful face of Siritara.

"You can be quiet for a moment and follow me Beahblahd." She whispered with a sad smile. I thought a second about it and then pulled away.

"How dare you even talk to me you traitor. Because of you John and Cloud are probably dead and I... I'm all alone now! Just leave me alone!" I wanted to run but I hadn't the energy, instead I crumpled onto the floor and burst into tears.

"Me a traitor? Get up, now!" I made no attempt to move so she pulled me up without me offering any resistance and slapped me hard across the face. It stung and I should have been angry but instead I just stared at her.

"Look at you, you're a waste of life and power. I shouldn't have even bothered to risk my life saving yours. Ungrateful idiot, if you want to rot here then fine go ahead. If you want to save Al'Gabh and your other friend then act like a man and be of some use." Her words stung almost as much as her hand had.

"You... You saved me?" I managed after a few seconds.

"That's right and destroyed my old life at the same time. I've just made a mortal enemy out of a person I considered as close as a sister and you show no gratitude whatsoever." I wondered what had happened after I'd blacked out. She couldn't have defeated them all; it wasn't possible.

"How?" My eyes dropped again to the ground.

"Never mind that now, I'll explain later but it's not safe here. Now, do you want to save your friends or not?"

"Of course!" The response came rushing out from deep within. I couldn't leave things as they were, I had to save John and prove to him I wasn't a monster.

"Then come, we've got things we need to prepare." She grabbed my arm and I was forced to follow her as we raced up the road, where we were headed only she knew.