The Fire Within

Fiamma

"The Order has been making advances again, burned down a whole set of barracks in Enoth! Lost twenty damn soldiers! Those Order fools are positively insane, I'm sure Hadeon is just fuming, he can't seem to stop them," I heard a gruff voice say as I started to open the door to the living room, holding a tray of coffee with sugar and milk. Pausing, I left the door open a crack to listen.

"I heard that Hadeon has found an Elemental with the ability to sense other powers with just a touch. I'm sure with that kind of capability, the Order won't stand a chance." I strained to hear Mr. Abbott's whispered words.

Hadeon is the head of the Onyx Council, a group of powerful Elementals who rule Estedel beneath Hadeon. His shadows are a formidable force, only rivaled to that of his son Ignatius's fire. Some say his shadows have even corrupted their wielder, turning Hadeon into a hollow shell filled only by pure darkness. These rumors have branded him with the name: The King of Shadows.

The door I was leaning on gave out a low groan underneath me as I shifted against it, accidentally announcing my presence behind the heavy wood.

Pushing the door fully open, I awkwardly presented my tray, "Coffee?" I prayed to Alessia that the four old men in the room before me didn't hear the fear soaked waver in my voice. If I was found to be eavesdropping on their talk, I'd surely get in trouble worse than Mrs. Abbott's beatings. But if they had noticed anything that hinted at such, they didn't show it; to my relief.

Mr. Galligar, Mr. Bellwood, Mr. Haddich, and Mr. Abbott were seated in front of the crackling brick fireplace. The four men were long time friends, their relationship going back to their days fighting for Estedel in the Onyx Guard. They've all retired now and bought shared investments in the Onyx Council so they meet ever so often to catch up and talk about the money works.

"I'll take a cup with two scoops of sugar, dear," Mr. Bellwood winked at me, his kind eyes scrunching in a smile. Smiling lightly in return, I handed him his cup and turned to the other three. I enjoyed when Mr. Bellwood came over, the chubby man with his long grey beard and signature baritone laugh has always colored the usually grey house.

"It's in Hadeon's best interest to solve this problem as soon as possible. He can't afford to look weak with a possible war looming over us from Aebrious," Mr. Galligar shook his balding head with a sigh. Aebrios is the country north of Estedel, a frozen kingdom with some of the fiercest warriors; their hearts as cold as the ice that coats every inch of their land.

"Abraham you never change," Mr. Abbott chuckle, "there's no need to be so paranoid, they're just rumors." Clearing his throat, Mr. Abbott waved his hand at me, "Hurry on girl, these are not things those ears of yours should be hearing."

Nodding, I gave Mr. Haddich his requested cream filled coffee and grabbed my tray, quickly starting for the door. In my haste to leave the room, my foot caught on the wooden leg of his chair and I collapsed to the ground. My tray, holding the rest of the steaming brown liquid, flew into the air and landed all over Mr. Haddich.

With a shout, the old man stood up, his face reddening in fury to match the ruby chair he had departed from. "You stupid, clumsy girl!" He yelled, towering above my small form where I lay on the ground.

"I'm so sorry sir! I didn't mean to, I fell," my voice shook with fear. The door opened, revealing Mrs. Abbott's large frame, a leather belt in her hand. Her tiny lips pursed in a look that shouted oh how I am going to enjoy giving you a beating for this, girl. "Please!" I begged, while scrambling backwards, away from the advancing Mrs. Abbott. "Eve," Mr. Abbott started, but his wife interrupted him, "Don't worry Max, I'll take care of it."

Like a lion chasing a gazelle, Mrs. Abbott pounced, grabbing my hair. Screaming as I felt the hairs being ripped from my scalp, the fat lady dragged me towards the stairs behind her, holding her leather belt in her other hand. Hot tears of shame raced down my freckled cheeks, feet scrambling to find purchase on the ground moving beneath me. One last hard tug to my hair and I'm being thrown down the carpeted stairs to land in a heap at the foot of my bedroom door.

"Get up," Mrs. Abbott growled. I knew what she wanted. Pushing myself up on weak arms, I stood and opened the door, waves of dread crashing through me. As soon as the handle was turned and the heavy wood was pushed open, she shoved me onto the cold stone floor inside my room.

My head hit the hard surface with a loud thud and lights danced across my vision. Pain soared through my body as Mrs. Abbott's black leather sword scored across my back. I cried out as another hit came thundering down on my arm. I swear I could see her pudgy face curl into a sinister smile through my sobbing eyes when she made me scream again with another hit to the back again.

Anger soared through me, a fiery blaze burning through my mind. Its red hot flames licked behind my eyes, and yet I couldn't get up. I couldn't fight back. My fire burned inside me, heating me to the core with indignation. But the restless nights had drained my strength and my bones carried no muscle. I was weak, when I needed to be strong. The blaze slowly dimmed to mere embers, my screams grew tired and I only muttered low groans, my eyes had no more tears to shed. I barely registered the door slamming shut, signaling my torment was over, before darkness overtook my consciousness.