Chapter 45: The Alpha & The Flame

“I am not the Flame Keeper!” Desiree shouted to the old woman’s back as she walked away and took up her perch on a nearby tree stump.

She struggled against the rope made of vines holding her captive as the spectators became bored and moved on to their daily lives, playing games, completing chores, and socializing as if a woman tied to a tree and struggling for her freedom were boring.

Her arms were beginning to hurt from being spread out for so long. She stopped struggling in order to rest but she was so uncomfortable that rest was impossible.

“Why do you not free yourself? I see the magic all around you,” the old woman called out.

“I don’t know anything about magic!” Desiree called back out to her.

“The great winds have brought you here. You must have called upon them.”

Desiree took in the confusion of the woman’s words.

“Great winds?” she repeated. “You mean the storm?”

“The great winds brought you here. Why?”