2 Chapter 2: Safe From The Flames

It's Piers's face that keeps me focused and safe from the flames as I run for home. The fire licks at me, begs me to dance with it, to be part of it forever. I whisper love for it even as I slip free, the lid of my lighter snapping shut to gutter the pleading flame.

It's dark in the stone hall, a single lamp ahead lighting the way, though I don't need light to navigate this part of the sanctuary. It's been my home my entire life, and I know its walls, halls, and meeting places like I know my own soul.

-his lips meet yours, warm and soft, his breath sharp with peppermint. When he kisses you, your heart expands, so far, so fast you are certain you won't survive the need building in your chest. Strong hands grip you tight, your own winding in his silky hair, tongue invading his delicious mouth, one knee parting his legs, stepping into him, pushing against him until you feel as one-

I snap out of the vision, panting for air, one hand impacting the wall beside me to keep from keeling over. I've frozen in position, lost completely to the future I've seen, cheeks flushed and body heated from the experience.

Thank Gaia no one is in this part of the sanctuary. I've avoided being embarrassed by my steamy future. Piers and I have, as yet, to connect this way, so I know it's pending. Our brief, stolen moments together are so few and far between, spent wandering the city together or just talking, I wonder when we will ever find the chance. There is nothing shy about him, so perhaps it's me he's waiting for.

And I confess, I'm not ready to give anyone my heart, not until I know for sure whose side I'm really on.

I need to stop wasting time. Sibyl's attention has moved on, gone elsewhere, so at least there's that small miracle. She's notorious for checking in with me from time to time, at the oddest moments. I can't help but think she's stalking me. I'm just grateful I learned long ago how to mask my position, to bring with me through my power the feeling of the sanctuary so she would only know the difference if she actually came to find me.

The first time I snuck above was the first time I learned that lesson and I've only slipped up once since.

My feet carry me forward as I finally discard the last of my reticence, though a tiny jolt of nerves worms its way through me. I've gone too long pretending at finding answers. This future I just visioned, it's close, very close, the intensity telling me my time with Piers could happen soon. Which means if I'm to follow through, as I know I will, I must have some resolution to my divided mind.

Head down, I march for my room, winding my decision over in my head, though I know it's the right one. I can choose to continue feeling conflicted, letting doubt tear me apart. Or, I can dig for answers and uncover the truth behind what I'm seeing.

If this blue-eyed woman truly is the Light One and not the Dark as I've been told, I need to understand why we are so misguided and who, exactly, is the real enemy.

I almost feel better as I take the short flight of steps to the next level and the living quarters. I pass a pair of young girls who giggle behind their hands, soft cream robes whispering around their feet as they skip on. I owe it to them, to the Oracles of my family, to find out why we are being misled, or, if we aren't, to clear my mind at long last.

I'm so deep in my contemplations, I miss the fact someone waits by my room. When I finally realize I'm not alone, it's too late to slow my pace, too late to avoid the grinning, handsome young man leaning against my doorframe.

A soft groan tries to rise, but I smother it with a forced smile of my own, turning sideways to Kayden as I unlock my door with a touch of flame.

His hand brushes my hair and I twitch away, the lock making a soft sound under my touch. "Looking beautiful, as usual," he says. His voice is a warm tenor, full of meaning and song, and is sighed over by some of the younger girls. They can have him. That angel's tone disguises a dark core, needy and hurtful. I've seen him destroy more than one Oracle's heart with a careless glee that leaves me with a vile taste in my mouth.

I open the door, but only a crack, staring up at him with my blankest expression. Anger does nothing, kindness is worse. The only response that seems to frustrate him is empty nothingness. "Excuse me," I say.

His green eyes flicker with anger, but he's still smiling, one hand falling on my upper arm. It's not an overt move, but I know if I try to pull away, he'll tighten his grip. How Kayden loves the chase. I refuse to become a toy for his pleasure.

"Dinner awaits." He gestures with his free hand, straightening to his full height, a head over me. His dark blond hair spikes artfully, chest broad under an expensive shirt. He's spent hours in front of the mirror, I can only guess, as self-absorbed as he is arrogant. "Thought you'd join me tonight." White teeth flash as the touch of his dark magic makes its way from the floor at his feet to pool under mine.

My flames react before I think, burning away the black tendrils of sorcery before they can advance any further. He hisses at me, squeezing my arm, but flames erupt there, too, and he pulls back, shaking his singed hand.

I see the fury in his eyes, the monster of hate he hides from everyone, pass through his gaze and know he will hurt me if he can. My fire rises from the depths of me, ready to act, flames disturbing my view of him as they burn in my eyes.

"Zoe!" I spin at the sound of my name, Kayden's hand grasping once again, squeezing hard enough to leave a bruise before dropping away. Dark hair bobs around full cheeks as my cousin, Rena, comes to a halt next to me, bright smile turning up toward Kayden. Her full breasts strain against her t-shirt as she turns her head and winks at him with blown kiss. "Hello there, handsome."

Kayden is all charm again, leaning past me to kiss Rena's hand. She giggles when he releases her, smiling like nothing just happened between us.

"I'll see you two at dinner, I guess." He doesn't look at me, sauntering off with his ass stuffed into tight jeans, long legs carrying him in smooth strides down the hall to the stairs. Rena sighs audibly, leaning against the wall next to my door, fanning herself.

"That," she says, "is the definition of hotness."

I roll my eyes, pushing open my door. "I prefer flames," I say.

She follows me into my quarters, flopping down into the large sofa next to the fireplace. I shed my jacket, draping it over a chair, before heading to my bedroom and the bathroom attached to it.

"Where have you been?" Rena's high voice sounds petulant, though I know she's only teasing me. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Walking the deep halls," I say, crossing my room to the bathroom door. The light switch rewards me with a reflection in the mirror, my tired face still angry. I need to learn not to wear my emotions so clearly, and am usually much better at it. But Kayden and his dual nature bring out the worst in me.

"Whatever for?" Rena appears at the bathroom door as I twist my long, dark hair into a bun at the base of my neck. She wrinkles her small nose. "You spend far too much time alone."

I turn to meet her brown eyes, as dark as my own, though that and our thick, black hair are the only two traits we share. She has her father's build, the sorcerer who mated with her mother a stocky man with round cheeks and thick limbs. My father was tall, from what I've been told, and lean, like Piers.

I must not think of Piers. My cheeks heat as I turn from Rena's watchful gaze, to splash water on my face in the hope of cooling the sudden burst of flame rising when I think of him.

"Helps the visions," I say, hoping she'll drop it.

She does, though when she speaks again, I almost sigh and wish she'd go back to her previous line of questioning.

"Rumor is, Kayden asked Sibyl to be your Pyros." Rena sounds like she's jealous, but I couldn't care less for her hurt feelings as I gasp and turn to her again, water still dripping down my face. She hands me a towel with an irritated expression. "Oh, for Gaia's sake, Zoe. Surely you knew it was coming. You're twenty-one, already two years past choosing a partner. And Kayden is the most eligible of all the sorcerers."

I shrug, patting at my face to cover my disgust. "Considering there are so many of them, and so few of us, I plan to take my time choosing." Rena can't argue with my logic. Nor can my grandmother, though Sibyl has tried. I suppress a sigh as I think about it. Over a hundred young sorcerers live in the sanctuary, all men hoping for one of the dozen or so Oracle women of mating age to choose them. There are times I feel like I'm living in a game show and I'm the prize.

Rena hooks my arm in hers, all smiles. "Then let's go examine a few and see who fits the bill." She throws me a saucy wink, leading me out of my room and down the hall, barely giving me time to lock my door.

It's hard not to laugh at her antics as she flirts with the first pair of young sorcerers we encounter, flashing her busty chest and wiggling her walk as we pass them. She's only seventeen, still two years from mating, but I can tell she'll have no problem deciding who she wants to claim as a partner, though maybe it will be an issue for Rena. Not that multiple partners are frowned on, but she might wear herself out.

I snicker at the thought and Rena grins at me, clearly thinking I'm into her little game.

"At least this batch is cute," she says, whispering to me as we descend into the main level and our encounters with others grow more frequent. I avoid eye contact with the black-clothed sorcerers, as much as I take time to smile and wave to the cream-clad Oracles who are my family.

"Time was we could choose from any normal men," I say, hearing the complaint in my voice, knowing it stems from thinking of Piers followed by Kayden's assault. From the tenderness of my arm, I know he's left a dark bruise with his heavy handedness.

"I think it's a great idea," Rena says, snotty nature showing. "No more hiding who we are from our suitors. No more worry our normal mates might betray us." And what of the sorcerers? I wonder. She goes on, oblivious. "And no more running a risk of having a talentless and unseeing baby." Rena shudders. "Imagine." She's always been more than a little pompous about our position, though I find nothing to be arrogant about. We have a sacred gift, given to us by our beloved Gaia. Feeling superior about it seems disrespectful to the Goddess. "And considering it was Grandmother's idea?"

Sibyl's plans for us seem promising. How many times have I heard her tell us tying our fate to the sorcerers only makes us stronger?

I'm not so sure, especially now, though Piers himself is a sorcerer. I lick my lips as we pass through the arched opening and into the dining hall, the pressure of sound almost sending me back out again. The weight of the presence of so many people, the volume of their voices and the closeness feels like an invasion every single time.

Only a hundred and fifty or so souls, but enough to pull me to a halt with my heart in my throat. Being around so many people can trigger my visions, especially the family. And sorcery seems to feed the flames, rather than the other way around.

Rena pulls on my arm, keeping me moving, while my tension slowly eases. No visions, at least, not yet. I sink into the seat she pulls out for me with impatience before landing hard in her own next to me with a gusty sigh of irritation.

"For Gaia's sake, Zoe," Rena rolls her eyes at me. "We don't bite."

She's never experienced the level of connection I have to the future so I hold back an angry retort. Instead, I look up, and find my grandmother watching me.

Sibyl waves, like a queen on her throne, dark hair gone steel gray, though her face is as young as any woman here. Her deep brown eyes observe me, making me squirm under such scrutiny.

How was your walk, dear? She smiles ever so slightly.

Fine, thank you. I try to look away, but her mind holds me, her fire that of old coals and heat.

Anything new to report? She's heard the same excuse I gave Rena, that walking the halls helps me with my foresight. It seems to keep her placated enough she doesn't hunt me down every time I disappear.

Not today. I very firmly cut her off, though I know I'll pay for it later. But I can't have her in my head right now. Haven't I just decided to prove she's been lying to me? Being in her presence makes me feel like small, as it always does, though I surpassed her own power at visioning long ago.

Her partner sits beside her, face tight as he devours his meal. I look away quickly so I don't have to meet his sharp gaze, the way his goatee hugs his thin mouth always stirring feelings of unease. Perhaps it's because he's a small man he works so hard to appear larger than life. But the result simply raises the hairs on the backs of my arms. It doesn't help he and Sibyl are always preaching preparedness, stirring fear. I look around the room, at the eager young sorcerers, the Oracles of my family. I hope I'm wrong, though I know now, more than ever, I'm right about being lied to.

Something is coming, all right. Liander Belaisle is correct about that. But the cause and the future are far different than I think he and my grandmother are willing to admit.

"Rena." I look down at the plate of steaming vegetables and the slice of rare meat before me, the scent suddenly making me ill. "Do you ever doubt what you see?"

She stares at me like I've grown a second head. "You've been so odd lately," she huffs, filling her mouth with mashed potatoes, washing it down with water. "Are you all right, Zoe?"

I shrug, hands tight in my lap. "It's nothing."

Her hand reaches for mine, covering them with her pudgy little fingers. But her intense gaze is caring, not judging as she speaks.

"I'm worried," she whispers. "You've been too much in the flame."

I pull free of her, smile, shake my head. "I'm fine, I promise." I sigh and lift my fork, prodding my dinner. "Just not hungry."

Rena nabs my plate with a wink. "Can't let it go to waste."

I sit in silence in a room filled with sound and wonder if she's right about me. While I think of Piers and hope.

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