A Step In Fire

Set aflame

Mine is a land of fire and ash. I travel through the empire of men, whispering softly in their ears. I tell them of a new world, of dancing fire and flaming wind, of a land so perfectly destroyed it became heaven. I breathe seductive words and, step by step, they join me, turning away from their flat prairies and ugly towns. I do not take them, they are always free to follow. Yet, they always do.

That is why I exist, to drive men away from their home land when their time has passed. So I ask them to come out of duty. But sometimes, a life shines so bright that I cannot look away, dreaming of dismantling its soul, taking away its love of humanity. There is such joy in feeling a person crumble under your words.

This one, I have to admit, is taking a great deal of work.

Maeve woke to the sound of yelling, turning around to catch Eliza shivering and sobbing next to her, the scream still resonating in her throat.

"Another nightmare?"

The anguish was palpable in her voice as she got closer to take her girlfriend in her arms. Eliza had not slept soundly in weeks now, dreams of fires and demons leaving her shaking and distressed for hours. They had already tried everything they could think of to alleviate the pain. Every Grand Sorcerer had failed, leaving Maeve powerless, reduced to feeble words and hugs.

"Shhh... You're back home, you're safe Liz. I'm with you" She whispered in the crying girl's ear, gently stroking her damp cheeks, murmuring soothing words until the shivering stopped.

"It was a big one tonight... Do you want to tell me?"

She gave Eliza time to step back from the terror, leaving that reality behind to let it become a dream.

"It always starts the same, in those burned lands, buried under ash and embers. Fire raging, flames striding along the world like a storm. I can feel the terrifying heat on me, brushing against my face and tangling in my hair, and yet the burn never comes." Her gaze changed, turning blank, the vision once again clawing inside her brain. "You should see it Maeve, that world burning so brightly it feels like the sun. And then I see it. With its gold skin and blazing red hair. I can feel that soul calling me, whispering into the wind, and I almost want to go because it is the lord in this land, shining even brighter than everything else." She spoke fast now, barely breathing, blue eyes almost turned to glass. "Yet somehow it feels wrong, it's not where I am meant to be. I know that, I have responsibilities here, a life, people who desperately need my help. You. But I can feel a tie between us, so strong and powerful it's frightening. Until it takes a step towards me and the fear becomes so great I think I might die. And then I wake up."

She came back to herself at the second her lips sealed, eyes gaining focus, turning back to their normal shade of blue. Despite all her efforts, Maeve could not keep the worry out of her face. Those moments after the dream were getting worse, more vivid, almost like a trance. "It's okay, you are here with me now. And I'm not going to let anyone snatch you away." Eliza smiled and turned to face her girlfriend, their lips touching softly.

"I love you. I don't know how I would do this without you."

"You're Eliza Eiward, you're the most powerful magician in this land. If you cannot face this, no one can. I can only make you forget sometimes, hopefully."

Eliza kissed her again harder, with more passion. "Then make me forget."

My lips curl up. She cannot forget forever. I can feel my grasp getting stronger with every dream. Her unfathomable love for humanity weakening. She cannot feel it yet, but I sense the light in her dim, her magic wither.

Soon, I know, she will be mine.

When Eliza was out saving the world, Maeve was still stuck in school, with such dull teachers that even magic became annoying. They had been working on converting energies with plants for months now, and she just wanted to work on something bigger than an orchid. She stepped obediently through the rampart in her mind, focusing a sharp wave of Energy towards the flower, when a wave of pure power shattered all her defences.

Her eyes flew open.

All thirty orchids were now ten feet tall, petals the size of a window and columns so large they reached the ceiling.

"Eliza", Maeve whispered, for such power and sheer will could be no one else's. She broke through the rampart without even thinking. She had no idea how she could contact someone that way, they had obviously not reached that part of the lessons yet. So she let go of her Will, opening her mind completely, giving Eliza total control over her. She didn't have to wait long.

She could suddenly feel power spreading through her, embracing her the way Eliza's arms would, every hint of her own Power defiled with rage, confusion and fear. She could barely pick up her own thoughts enough to ask "Where are you?"

Energy burned through her bones and she could only remember screaming before opening her eyes in front of Eliza. The pain stopped at once, her own Will free again.

"What is it, love? What's going on?"

"I don't know... Something happened." The complete disarray on her face clashed with the wrath blazing in her eyes. "I was on the battle grounds, desperately fighting for our people's lives. But suddenly all I could see was the hate, the violence, how meaningless this war is. And just like that, my power vanished. I couldn't get even a glimpse of energy in focus. I could only stand there, waiting. I wanted to exterminate every person on that field, just to see what people would think of that war then."

After a few minutes, Maeve dared ask "And how many of them Vanished today?"

"On our grounds, you mean? More than in the last two years of the war." Regret started peering through her face, realisation breaking the raging flames dancing in her eyes. "What was I supposed to do? I couldn't use my power."

Eliza buried her face in her girlfriend's chest, hugging her fiercely, tears finally pouring down her face.

"It wasn't your fault, you can't always save the world. My beautiful genius." Eliza smiled. Maeve had used that nickname since the very first day they met at school when Eliza's power baffled even the greatest teachers. They were barely fourteen at the time, over three years ago. "You saved so many, we would have lost the war years ago if it wasn't for you. You can't do everything, and I will destroy anyone who says otherwise so hard."

And just like that, nothing else mattered. The power so many craved. The people she saved every day. The people she killed every day. Maeve was the only steady thing in her life.

"Where are we, by the way? And how did you bring me here?"

"In the palace. And I don't know, I just wanted you near me so I raged it out, I guess?"

"Well... don't do that if you can help it... It was very painful."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Maeve's kiss cleared up her remorse. She knew all was forgiven.

I vanish to their world again, witnessing the two girls' sweet embrace and slide to the blonde's ear to whisper my dream, to get in her brain. I am fire, I am ash, I say. See how simple and beautiful chaos can be when we do not mask it with false morality and excuses. Come with me, come with me, I whisper, just to see her bending.

She comes closer every night and I see her moving forwards, leaving footprints on the cinders. There are more every day. Tonight, I can almost touch her. And just like that, I know that I have won.

I am surprised, and perhaps disappointed.