The Fire Within

Severed

"Promise you won't forget me?" Cirice asked, her bright green eyes watching the young boy beside her. Alex looked over at her. his gray eyes holding hers for a moment.

"I could never forget you, Cirice." he countered softly.

"But I'm scared." Cirice pushed as Cosette sounded from below.

"Go to sleep children. Tomorrow will be long and taxing." Little Cirice sighed, averting her eyes to the thatched roof above her as Alex snuggled in closer to the feather bed. Wind whistled through the cracks of the house as Cirice sighed ruefully. 

"It will be alright Cirice. I know it will." Alex slipped his hand into Cirice's and closed his eyes, his long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks from the firelight.

Cirice blinked, her eyes heavy. When she opened them, she was no longer in the cottage with Alex and instead was standing in the forest, staring into an all too familiar mirror. She was no longer a child either. Behind her cries and glowing firelight could be heard in the distance.

Cirice stared at the mirror as a figured appeared. It's long shaggy mane and antlers towered over her, it's red eyes glaring at her. As it came into full view, the creature transformed into her mother.

"Mom?" Cirice asked, her voice echoing. Her mother watched her with knowing eyes as she held up something and pressed it against the glass.

A tarot card:  Strength, looked back at her.

"B-But what does that mean?" she asked, confusion plaguing her as her mother placed a hand gently against the glass. Cirice went to touch it, but as soon as her hand made contact with the glass, the creature reappeared and burst forth, consuming her.

"Argh!" Cirice cried her back arching as she shot straight up in the bed. Ithica came to her side, hushing her and pushing her back into the bed. Papa, who had been resting in the chair beside it, jumped up to help Ithica restrain her. Soon, Cirice calmed back down as Ithica went to fetch a new rag for her head.

"What is happening to her?" Papa asked in distress as he watched her body twitch, her eyes still closed. Ithica sighed and returned, coming to Cirice's side and gently dabbing her forehead.

"It's the fever, no doubt. It will pass Papa, you must have hope that our Dark Lord will heal her." Ithica urged, gently taking his gloved hand. He sighed and met her eyes.

"Ithica, I don't think I have thanked you for everything you've done for me," he said softly, holding her deep brown eyes in his. Ithica gave a small smile and nodded.

"Always." she whispered. Papa smiled back at her as he released her hand. There was a knock at the door and Mason appeared, looking much more windblown than he normally did. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and his joints ached. 

"Alex has returned. He is waiting for you in the study." Mason reported, stepping in. "How is she?"

Ithica ran a soft hand over Cirice's hot cheek and shook her head. "She will survive. Go Papa I will sit with her."

Papa left the room and started towards the parlor. As he walked, he mulled over what he would say to Alex. He imagined how he would maim him, even kill him for questioning her safety. Cirice was all he had left, and he refused to allow anyone to take her from him. He came to the parlor door, reaching for the handle as he prepared himself. Papa entered the room, Alex jumping up from his place by the fire and standing straight. 

"Sir I-" Before Alex could finish, Papa had flown across the room, robes billowing in the wind he created as he grabbed Alex by the shirt collar. He slammed him against the wall beside the hearth, the action so strong it caused the portrait above the fireplace to shake. Alex's feet were at least a foot above the floor as Papa glared at him.

"She could have died!" he bellowed as Alex fought to remove himself from his iron grip, thrashing and clawing at Papa's gloved hands. Papa's eyes were wild as Alex's hand began to ignite.

"No! You will not burn your way out of this! You have been a thorn in my side since I first met you!" Papa's voice echoed throughout the room as he tossed Alex across the room and into a sideboard. Alex recovered from the action and stood, his hands igniting.

"You of all people should know I would never intentionally harm her." he cried, glaring at him. Papa fumed, his fists closed tightly as he prepared for Alex to make a move. 

"I should have never allowed you to take that bloody oath!" he snapped, sighing and staring into the fire. Alex scoffed. "That changes nothing." 

"I love her." he shot, his hands slowly simmering out. 

The words bounced off of Papa's back and floated around the room. It was as if the air had been sucked from the room around them as Papa glared into the fire. For a moment he was transported back to the moment he had told his Father and Sister Imperator about her. How he had proclaimed that he could go no further without her at his side. But that was Evelyn, not Cirice. This was Alex Idris he was considering, certainly not himself. He huffed and glanced up, taking in the portrait above him.

"You would do best to keep these fantasies to yourself," he urged, gripping the mantle. Alex laughed mirthlessly.

"She loves me too. She always has," he added, more to himself than to Papa as he smiled softly. 

"Lies," Papa muttered, shaking his head.

"Really? Because you know everything about her, don't you? You've followed her from the moment you met her, huh? Where were you when she was thrown into a world she had no idea how to navigate? Where were you when she needed you most!?" Alex screamed, his voice growing more and more hysterical by the word. Papa whipped around.

"Don't you dare begin to question me." he threatened. Alex moved towards him.

"I will and will not stop until you see that I am everything she needs," Alex said, his voice returning to his usual even tone. They both glared at each other, now a foot apart. The only thing that they could agree on was the rate of their breathing as they held each others gaze. 

"I won't allow it. Today could have taken a deadly turn and then what would you have said for yourself?" Papa snapped, eyeing him in disappointment. Alex dropped his eyes, running a hand through his hair as he shook his head.

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself. You may question my worth and my capabilities, but don't dare suggest that I don't love her with everything I am. I have been her protector for fourteen years and I don't plan to stop anytime soon." Alex said softly, exhaling deeply as he glanced at the portrait above Papa's head. He marveled at her likeness to Cirice and wondered if she would share Papa's disapproval.

"Your services to the crown will no longer be needed. Go home Mr. Idris and prepare for your nuptials." Papa said dismissively, strolling to the door and pulling it open. Alex fumed, his teeth clenched together as he walked past him. He wanted to ignite the whole room but knew it would only hurt her more in the end. 

"Can I at least say goodbye to her?" he pleaded as Ivy, who had heard the entire conversation from the hallway opened the front door.  She watched the two, their auras firery from their fight. Papa steeled himself.

"Go home, forget about her." he commanded as Alex angrily stalked out of the room and into the snowy night. Ivy watched his color fade as she closed the door. She could sense Papa was still standing in the doorway when she turned to him.

"This is not what she would have wanted, and you know that," Ivy said as she gathered her skirts and left the room.