The Hunters Saga #3: The Hawthorn Pearl

Chapter 14: Fire Burning

A/N: Hey, everybody! :D Long time, no see! Sorry about the delay in the first place; I really didn't expect my college course to take up all my writing juices :P I'm back with a new chapter! X3 Woo-hoo! >.< Yeah! You ready for it? Of course you are ^__^ Enjoy, and thanks so much for reading!

NOTE: Italics = Henri's POV/Past/Flashback (got it?) Regular Text = Toni's POV/Current Times

Chapter 14: Fire Burning

   Paris, France, June 30, 1365

   HENRI

   There was no escape. At least, not that I could see. My vision, while limited, was blurred from the smoke and flames, but I still managed to run down the narrow hallway, searching.

   "Maman!" I called loudly as I sprinted. "Le Papa! Where are you?"

   The smoke became trapped in my lungs, and I doubled over, eyes stinging from the chemicals, muscles clenching as I struggled for breath. I needed oxygen, not smoke. It was dark behind me. The debris-filled space became that of a monster.

   Before I moved forward, a voice seemed to come from nowhere: "Henri!"

   "G-Giselle?" I stuttered in confusion, eyes desperate as they looked to find the source of the familiar voice.

   "Henri!" The voice seemed louder now. I was going in the right direction. I'd left my twin brother and little sister in a bedroom two floors above me. It was foolish of me to come alone. So foolish...

   "Bonjour?" I asked into the rising flames in my path. If it'd been hard to breathe before, it was unbearable then, and becoming more difficult with each inhale. I didn't want to suffocate. I had to find my parents!

   A boy of only 18, I wasn't afraid of the dark, but the blackness of the smoke seemed like oblivion. Deep, senseless, nothingness.

   At one point, I gave up on searching for them. Turning on my heel, I found myself trapped in the corridor by a multitude of flickering demons and shadows. The fire came alive then, and I scampered backward, only to be trapped in fear.

   I was going to die.

   I'd never see my family again. My love, Giselle... her voice had been a mere mirage, hadn't it? She couldn't be here; she hadn't shown her face at the party. Then... what...

   I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining my family, as if for the last time before the lack of fresh air smothered me. My siblings, Giselle... Giselle had proven herself a vampire the previous night. According to ancient myth, would she be frightened by the flames of this fire?

   Fire was dangerous to both mortals and immortals.

   I should've taken her offer of eternal life, and I no doubt regretted my decision. I'd been hesitant and she had been angry when I refused. Maybe that was why she hadn't returned to me, or why she hadn't attended Kira's birthday celebration.

   "Kira... " I coughed, imaging my beloved sister's smiling face. "Je...vous aime..." Once again rubbing my eyes, I embraced the situation. I knew there was no way out.

   No escape.

   "Henri... " a voice whispered to me, calling me softly, seductively. The name penetrated my ears, and the voice connected with a memory.