Chapter 74

This anger was different, it felt different even to her. She felt it the same way she could feel someone's touch on her skin.

The anger was alive in more ways than one, and with each breath she took she felt it manifest itself into something bigger. 

A rage that was indescribable. Impossible to put into words.

" I'm tired of having other people in my head, and interfering with my thoughts! "

And she was not only referring to Phoenix,but to Aurelia as well. She truly was fed up. Why couldn't everything just be simple. Earth had been hard enough, she didn't need the added drama in that foreign place as well. 

She understood it was her destiny and all that but still...not having answers was driving her insane. 

" I know you are, " Nuriel said calmly. Then he moved closer to her and realized that the air was now coated in his scent much more than it had initially been. It aimed to calm her, to get her into the Laviel state where she'd find a place within herself to calm down.

It was natural for the mates of angels to quickly respond to it, and Flame had done so once. This time however, it didn't seem to work. 

" It's just one bad thing after another, " she said defeatedly. And Nuriel saw as the flames that encased her slowly grew wilder. More fierce. 

He reached and touched her but the touch didn't seem to comfort her at all.

       Be the flames child

       You feel overwhelmed because you refuse to heed my words....

That voice again.

What do you mean! She shouted and Nuriel frowned, wondering what she meant. Then he felt that tranquil calm again and he realized that she wasn't talking to him.

            You are the flames

The voice was soft in her head. She huffed out an exasperated breath and tried to control her breathing. Nuriel called her name and she absentmindedly told him she was fine. 

Aurelia was saying the words as if it was the easiest thing to do. But she really had no clue. It's not like she'd gotten into the thing knowing she'd be handed a manual on all things fairy,but all she needed was a little clarification.

                Close your eyes then, I shall help you

                But there's only so much I can do child, you will be required to fight this battle on your own.

Looking around nervously, Flame reached out her hand to Nuriel, she needed him inorder to feel secure. He held onto it immediately and nodded when she asked him not to go. But he didn't say a word. He didn't feel like he needed to. She knew he'd never leave her. 

After taking in another deeper breath, Flame closed her eyes. And this feeling like she'd never felt before completely engulfed her.

It was like a blast of heat so hot even she couldn't withstand it. She felt her skin as it slightly hurt, and for the first time since she discovered her ability, it hurt even her. She felt as if she was literally on fire. 

Her lower lip began to tremble and she tried to contain the pain within her, but it was more that she could bare. 

           It's not as easy as you thought

           This is not child's play, this gift of yours comes at a cost. 

           You must hurt inorder to heal. You had only discovered but a fraction of it.

She gasped in pain, then she groaned outloud once it increased.

The fire was all she could feel, burning her flesh, seeping into her skin and almost drying the blood in her veins.

" Flame?" Nuriel sounded frantic and once she opened her eyes, she saw that his own face was concocted in pain as well, she looked at where their hands were joined and realised that she was burning him. But he wouldn't let her loosen her hold.

She was crying by then, and the intense pain dragged her down to the floor. Nuriel went down with her, going down on one knee. The warriors as well as Barin had heard Flame scream and immediately dashed in, but all they could do was watch in silence as Flame struggled to breath.

        You are the fairy of fire. The holder of the first account....a position I granted you because I saw you fit. You were born and lived in pain child, it's not something that should get in your way. Of all the chosen you were the one with the spine edged in steel.....be the flames, they shall not hurt you because pain is what you're made of......

Flame slowly closed her eyes again. And all these images flashed before her eyes. She saw everything she had ever gone through,every last painful thing that she had ever had to endure. Things that she had been trying to put past her with limited success. 

All those memories that had scarred her and almost made her hollow inside. She saw them all,and it was like the pain she felt, the emotional anguish was mixed into this one great feeling of hurt that slammed into her and had her screaming until her throat hurt. Everyone in there was nervous for her. 

Except Nuriel.

He knew he ought at that point to be panicking, but he wasn't. Because he knew that whatever was happening to her was for her own good. And he was an immortal that had been used to pain. But what he was currently feeling in his hand surpassed any other physical pain he had ever had to endure. 

And he had endured quite a lot over the course of his life. 

And it led him to wonder what his lovely mate might have been going through. The fire was so strong he saw a couple of sparks emanate. And that scream, that scream was like none he'd ever heard before. She screamed with the same intensity as a banshee.

Perhaps even more. 

          Be the flames....

Something suddenly clicked in Flame's head and she stopped focusing on the pain, both the mental and physical one. Instead she focused on the slight feeling of power that had somehow taken root inside her. It gave her this new level of confidence that she had never before had. Reaching for it in her subconscious, she clung onto it and used it to steady herself. 

She was powerful. Something was forcing her to believe that she was. She felt it as that ' something ' wiped out any fragments of doubt and washed washed away those feelings of inferiority. 

The next time she opened them they weren't the same pretty allure that Nuriel was used to. They were blazing. 

They were the kind of eyes that commanded respect from anyone who saw her. They instilled fear and drained the will from anyone who wished to defy her. Slowly she rose. 

She was strong. It wasn't something she had to try and convince herself. It was a fact that had been written in her very own blood. She let go of Nuriel's hand and he unwillingly let her, then he watched her as she slightly raised her hand and blew. 

Little wisps of her flames left her hand and danced around in the air. 

It was magical to simply stare at her. The warriors were so enthralled they could hardly blink. 

" This is our kingdom, " she turned to Nuriel and said. And there was clarity in her voice. She wasn't asking him, she was reminding him of the fact with more sureness than he'd ever heard from her before regarding such matters. Usually he had to convince her that she fit in there. That she was who she was. 

" I am THE QUEEN! " She ground out the words. Thinking of Phoenix. Of the nerve the female had to name Zalian as hers. To try and claim a throne that already had an owner. 

Nuriel narrowed his gaze, wondering where this new version of his mate had come from but not really caring. 

This was who he'd always wanted her to be, and it had taken long enough for her to realize that. 

" She has no right to hurt my beings, "

She recalled what Aurelia had said and within herself she could feel the truth of those words. She was the strongest holder of the accounts. Fire was the most primal element that there was. And despite not knowing what the other accounts were, she knew that she was the leader. 

That was indeed her throne to sit on. And she would not give up until she found that bloody terrorizer and burnt her to a crisp.

          Command them...they're yours to instruct

          Helpers as dependable as they come

Aurelia told her. And at first she thought that she was referring to the warriors who were still clearly in awe. They stood in the doorway with all their swords drawn but forgotten. 

But then she saw the little wisps as they began to dance around her. They were five as far as she could tell. Frowning, she reached forth and touch one, there was pain,she knew there was. But she managed to withstand it. 

With one final glance at Nuriel she turned to the wisps.

" Take me to her, " She commanded.