The flames consumed the doorway to the warehouse. There
was but this door, which led to a foyer and then another door
into the main warehouse, and roof access. All the windows
were shut up with steel plates. A sprinkler system had been
installed years earlier, but obviously it wasn't doing the job
on the outer walls.
Nikolaus hoped it had turned on inside.
Without a second thought, he walked through the doorway.
Flames attached to his legs and arms and hair. The crackle of
the blaze drowned out the sound of his gasping breaths. Unconcerned
for his own danger, he kicked at the interior door,
which fell to emit clouds of thick gray smoke.
Drinking in the smoke and choking, Nikolaus plodded
blindly forward. He felt water spatter his arms. The sprinklers
were working. But had they saved the witch?
Though he still could not see a thing, he knew instinctively to walk straight forward. They had tied her up in the
center of the-
A body slammed into Nikolaus. "Ravin?"
"So much-" she coughed and clutched his arms; only now
did Nikolaus realize his sleeves had burned away and everywhere
she touched him it ached with raw flesh "-smoke."
"You're free."
"A spell. Air. It's all gone. Can't...breathe. Help..."
She collapsed and Nikolaus caught her in both arms. Overhead
the ceiling showered cold water and the smoke had
begun to settle.
Racing for the door, where the flames mastered the wooden
frame, he paused, just under a sprinkler. Holding Ravin there for
what seemed an eon, because he just wanted to get her safe,
Nikolaus steeled his impatience. If her clothes did not get soaked,
then she risked burning.And he wasn't sure how much flame it
took to kill a witch, only that it wasn't going to touch this one.
Nikolaus stepped outside and entered the dawn. A rosy
sheen painted the horizon, topped by a copper band of sky.
There were no vampires to be seen, and the few wolves remaining
groaned and loped about, favoring their injuries.
As he descended the steps, Ravin in his arms, he brought
the attention of the six or seven wolves up to him. From the
left, Severo appeared, limping, and blood dripping from his
nose, but hewalked straight and pushed up his chest at the sight
of Nikolaus.
Stopping before the pack leader, Nikolaus stood there.
Come what may, at least he had rescued the witch.
Not the witch. Your lover.
The woman he loved.
