The Fire Within

The Story

Dark smoke billowed towards the clear blue sky as Alex's raced toward the church. His horse's hooves pounded against the snow, the biting wind ripping at his skin. His hands burned as he dodged trees and finally came to the iron fence of the graveyard. He dismounted the horse, weaving in and out of graves as he came to the open doors of the church.

A fire raged through the already decrepit church, pews blazing and windows shattering. There, unconscious was Mason. His face was heavily bruised and scraped, blood pooling behind his head. 

"Mason! Mason!" Alex knelt and threw Mason onto his shoulders, carrying him out of the building and into the cold afternoon. He dropped Mason into the snow, the cold jolting him awake.

"Alex?" he asked, confused and sore. Alex started back towards the church.

"S-She's not there," Mason called hoarsely, his head falling back into the snow. Alex turned to him, his chest violently rising and falling. He took in Mason's battered body and approached him.

"What happened?" he snapped, crouching down and eyeing him. Mason shook his head, pushing himself up onto one arm, the snow pooled red with blood from his head.

"She left the castle this morning while I was in the library. When I got back I went looking for her and found her here," Mason said, gesturing to the building as Alex watched him intently.

"I tried to get her to come back but she was so angry. She screamed at me, set some stuff on fire and that's when they appeared." Mason said breathlessly, sighing.

"Who?" Alex pressed. Mason shook his head and ran a bloody hand through his hair.

"The gargoyles, Cardinal's messengers. They knocked her clean out before I could reach her. I tried everything but they took her." Mason cried, his head falling into his hand as Alex stood.

He screamed, fire forming in his hand and blasting into the church. The current fire sputtered at the disturbance and continued burning and he ran a hand through his hair. How could he have allowed this to happen? Alex ran a hand down his face and turned to Mason.

"Come on, we gotta get you back to the Vale. We have to let Papa know and form a plan." Alex said forcefully, more to assure himself than Mason. Mason nodded and reached out, taking Alex's extended hand. Alex patted him on the back as they stumbled across the graveyard towards Alex's grazing horse.

Something wasn't right, and Alex was determined to find out.

***

When they returned to New Vale, the village was ablaze with murmurs. People stood outside of their homes, others chatted hotly, asking if anyone had seen Cirice. It seemed Papa had launched a Vale-wide recovery process that had started at the castle and fanned out from there. Alex and Mason stomped their way to the castle, arriving at the front door.

Ithica pulled it open, her hair frazzled and her eyes red. She watched Alex for a moment before her eyes flipped to Mason, noting the absence of Cirice. She shook her head as Alex sighed.

"Where is Papa?" he asked harshly, his hands balled into fists as Mason stood calmly at his side. Ithica gestured behind her, opening the door wider. They entered the parlor where Papa was standing. His makeup was disheveled, his robe haphazard. When his eyes met Alex they softened.

"Please tell me you found her," he said softly, knowing very well that she would not be far from Alex if he had. Alex shook his head and pointed at Mason.

"Tell him what you told me," Alex commanded, his face hard. Mason sighed and recounted the exact events to Papa. Papa stood, hands coiled into fists as he listened. When Mason finished he flopped into a chair, rubbing his head.

"Where do we start?" Alex asked quickly, his eyes narrowing on Papa. Papa sighed, sinking into a chair by the fire. His eyes were worried as he ran his hand through his hair.

"We storm the castle right? Take her back." Alex pushed eagerly, approaching him. Papa shook his head and glared at him.

"It will not be that easy," he replied as Alex's brow furrowed.

"He's right, the Cardinal will have the place heavily guarded," Mason interjected. "Plus we don't even know if she is there," he added when Alex glared at him. Alex sighed and went to the sideboard, uncorking a bottle and taking a generous sip.

"Mason, you are the only one who is able to get past the guards. We will need you to go and collect information. Locate Cirice and give us any information you can. We will await your return." Papa instructed, looking at Mason. He nodded and stood.

"I'd better go with him." Alex insisted, lowering the bottle.

"You'd give me away. Let me handle this, I promise I will return soon." Mason said gently, placing his hand on Alex's forearm. Alex eyed it, unsure of his motives. Mason bowed to Papa and left the room, Alex watching him.

"Come, Mr. Idris, you and I have much to discuss, ah bring the bottle too," Papa added when Alex went to replace the bottle on the sideboard. He sighed and linked two glasses in his hands, taking a seat near Papa.

"We will get her back, I promise," Alex said, his words meant to assure Papa. In truth, they were to assure himself.