Flames by TearfulMop ~ (red white royal blue txt) 📕

I try not to look too eager as I walk to greet him. Flora gives me a thumbs up before closing the door. I bet gherkin boy's coming round later.

“So, are you going to tell me where we're going now?”

“Nope. It's still a surprise.”

As we walk down the road, I realise that my choice of clothes might not have been a good one. The cold wind stings at my arms and legs.

Blake notices my goose bumps and laughs. Then he grasps my hand. Warm begins to run up my arm and into my body.

“Another advantage to being a fire spirit.”

I grin right along with him until I realise where we're going.

“The lake?”

“Yes. This is one of my favourite places.”

We walk over and stare peacefully at the wildlife; not talking, just sitting together.

We stay like this until the sun sets.

“You know, I really like you Mia.”

I stiffen.

He'll even say he likes you...

I look at his face. The ice spirit was telling the truth! What a good liar!

And if he's trying to kill me... I have to get away from him.

“I, uh, like you too.”

He grins.

Then he leans down towards my face.

He's trying to kiss me!?

I have no choice but to lean up to him. He gathers me in his arms and presses closer. Our tender touch ignites a fire in my chest.

I can't let him get to me like this.

I push away and turn my head. Hopefully he'll take it as me being shy.

He takes a deep breath and turns to face the sunset.

“Listen, I have to go to the ice rink now. Will you be okay if I let you walk by yourself?”

“Yeah.”

I watch him walk away.

As I walk home, I pass some of the empty warehouses. Someone walks out.

The man from my dream.

“So, have you seen his deception yet?”

I sag. I really thought we had something going on.

“Yes.”

“He will keep on trying to harm you. Come into the warehouse.”

I follow.

As I step inside, I see about five other men.

Ice spirits?

“Mia, the fire spirit will only keep trying to harm you. We must get rid of him quickly. Will you call him?”

My hand reaches for the phone. It's like i'm controlling it but i'm not controlling it.

“Blake? Can you come and pick me up? I'm at the fifth warehouse.”

He smiles with an icy glint in his eye.

Before I can stop them, tears start running down my cheeks.

Chapter Seven

“Mia?”

Blake walks throught the door without checking if anything's in here.

He trusts me, I realise.

He stops in his tracks as he realises who's behind me. Suddenly, he lunges at me and I realise what he's got in his hand.

A knife.

My throat closes up as he's restrained by two ice spirits. He did exactly what the ice spirit told me he would do.

“Hello fire spirit. Nice of you to join us.”

The ice spirit walks up to him and pushes him to his knees.

“I want you to watch this.”

He forces Blake's head up and grins devilishly.

Suddenly, ice chains capture my two arms and holds them up. They grow until they connect to two ice poles, securely fastening to each other. I struggle against them but they hold tight.

“No!” Blake shouts.

“I want to thank you for your co-operation Mia. None of this would have been possible if it weren't for you.”

“What are you talking about?” I spit out with as much venom as I can put in my voice.

“See, this fire spirit is a very good fighter. In fact, he's legendary. He just didn't die because he didn't have anything to die for. No achilles' heel to bring him down. Do you understand?”

I glare at him. Blake continues to struggle, and his skin begins to glow a bright orange.

Fire spirit.

The ice spirit's eyes flash silver.

“If you even spark, I will put an icicle through her heart.”

Blake sags.

“As I was saying. He used to have no weaknesses...until he met you.”

I stop struggling and stare at him for a moment.

“Now he does have something to die for. But we're not going to let him die unscathed, are we?

He's going to watch you suffer until he breaks, and then we're going to kill him. Slowly.”

I try to sink to the ground, but the chains hold me up. I betrayed Blake. He had real feelings for me, and I let an ice spirit get into my head.

“I'm sorry,” I whisper.

The ice spirit roars with laughter.

“It's too late for sympathy. You betrayed the only one that loved you.”

Then he touches my neck with his fingers.

Cold seeps in slowly like wisps of smoke.

“The ice phantom will slowly freeze her to death. It will take about, oh I don't know, ten minutes? If that?”

Suddenly, Blake tears his arms away and burns his captives. His skin glows brightly.

“Yes fire spirit. Kill all of us, but you can't save her.”

With a roar, he lunges towards him. He dodges and the other ice spirits take his place.

A fight breaks out.

Cold fingers start crawling down my throat. I find myself shivering uncontrollably and weakening against my bonds.

“Come on, fire spirit!”

The ice spirit throws ice at Blake. He throws fire back.

The whole room starts to rise and fall in temperature like a warm and cool breeze.

Suddenly, a shock wave explodes my chains and I crumple to the ground. I look at my hands.

They're blue!

“Mia, don't die!”

I find myself laughing inside at the remark.

Footsteps. Arms around me. Cold. I'm so cold.

I stare up to see Blake's eyes blazing. The flames are so beautiful...

Warmth floods through my abdomen when he places a hand there. I smile.

“The ice phantom can't be stopped. You heard what the ice spirit said.”

“No. There has to be a way. It's inside you, we just have to get it out!”

He stares down at me with a fierceness I've never seen before. He's always been gentle to me, like that kiss we shared by the lake.

Kiss!

“Blake, kiss me!”

“What?” the shock is written all over his face.

“Kiss me with your fire. It's inside me right?” I take a breath- even talking is hard now,”So, if you kiss me, you can burn it from the inside!”

“But it might do the opposite. It might kill you anyway.”

I smile weakly. It doesn't look like I've got many choices to live.

Reluctantly, he puts a hand around my head and touches his lips to mine.

We move in sync as the warmth builds up in his chest.

Suddenly, warmth from his mouth starts flowing into mine. Fiery serpents slither down my neck into my heart. Fire starts to spread out across my body.

I start to scream.

Blake holds my shaking body as the ugly sound escapes my lips. It isn't coming from me!

It's the ice phantom- we must have killed it!

“Mia!” Blake shakes my shoulders.

I can hardly hear him. The world is growing dark a bit.

“Mia! Wake up, do you hear me? I won't let you die!”

I widen my eyes at Blake as tears start to splatter on my cheeks. Tears, for me?

“Don't cry, Blake.”

I reach out and wipe away the wet. He smiles down at me.

Peace.

Prologue

“See you later!” I call out to Flora.

Then I slam the door.

Wow, it felt good to do that.

Then I walk as quickly as I can to to my next destination.

I cling onto the sides of the ice rink with uncertainty. I can skate now.

Barely.

“I guess you need more lessons,” Blake laughs.

He takes my hand and leads me to the centre of the rink. Then we start spinning slowly.

“Could I have more lessons on kissing?” I smile.

“Gladly. As long as I'm your only teacher.”

We laugh in each other's embrace and then I lean up to him for a kiss.

My skates trip over each other and I fall hard onto the ice.

Ow.

“Are you okay?”

He crouches down to me. Still skating.

Show off.

“Come here!”

I grab him and pull him towards me and we share a passionate kiss.

We're safe and happy together in this little world we have.

For now.

Publication Date: 08-06-2017

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