Page 56 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Elodie.”

The voice rang out sharp through the clearing, familiar yet I couldn’t place who it belonged to. It wrapped around me, pushing hope through my body and I closed my eyes, drinking in the feeling as I tried to grasp onto it. Make it stay.

Behind my closed lids, light flared through the dark and they flew wide expecting the inferno that would consume all in its path. Instead, a glowing orb hovered in front of my face. Stepping back in alarm, it mirrored my movement.

The flare of hope I had felt moments ago blazed renewed within me. As the weird floating thing began to move, drifting towards the still pool, and pull in my chest forced me to follow.

It stopped at the willow tree as memories of the last time flooded me.

The memory of my family stepping out one by one before burning alive right in front of me while I was unable to reach them, unable to save them. I couldn’t watch that again. Even in a dream.

The thud of my heart was a low thrum in my ears as I shook with the growing anticipation.

But they didn’t come; no one stepped from behind the willow’s wide trunk.

The orb hovered close by, and as I slowly reached a trembling hand towards it, it bobbed out of reach until it hung above the water that emitted the same glow. For the first time, I took a proper look into its depths, seeing the huge gemstones that made up the bedrock of the pool. There were stones of every colour blanketing the bottom, the water so clear I couldmake out every facet and edge. In wonder, I dropped to my knees, edging closer until my face was almost pressed against its glassy surface.

I could feel the hum of their energy through the water and my own struggling magik ached to reach them—almost painfully—through whatever barrier was holding it back.

Was this new or had I not paid the pool enough attention before?

Considering I was normally being burned alive, that was hardly my fault.

Before I could argue with myself that it might not be a good idea, I dipped my hand into the water. The gems were too far for me to reach, but the call of them was strong.

I wanted to dive in, submerge myself and feel their magik connecting with mine. I had never seen so many in one place, let alone the sheer size of them. The cool water caressed my hand, and I could feel the connection warring inside me to take hold. These stones wanted me, they were reaching out, but no matter how hard I pushed it, my own magik couldn’t break free.

I strained my mind, searching for whatever was holding me back, but it was no use. Panting with exertion, sweat beaded on my brow by the time I gave in and pulled my hand back. As my fingers pulled free, the orb began to descend, slowly at first until it shot down into the pool without a single ripple pebbling the surface.

And then it began.

The roar was an overwhelming orchestra of sound that battered against my ears as I stumbled to my feet. Whirling around I took in the wall of orange flames that already surrounded me, consuming everything at once until not a single green leaf was left.

The instantaneous attack of the fire had my heart bursting in my chest, as the panic that the orb had been holding back resurfaced. I could feel the heat of the flames reaching for me, teasing at me as sweat to dripped down my face, plastering hair to my skin in white streaks. Cloying smoke invaded my lungs as I heaved down choking breaths sparse of oxygen. I knew it was pointless, but still I pulled at my magik, pleading with it to help. I tried to run, to escape the flames at my back, but I couldn’t move. In typical dream fashion my legs were rooted to the ground, and I could only watch in horror as the fire broke away in three places. Three angry, flaming lines carving across the wildflowers straight to me.

As one, they barrelled into me, combining to engulf me in a fiery ball of flames. Heat scorched my skin, and I screamed in agony as I burned in their embrace.

Pain was the only thing I knew, the only thing I was. It was all I was. I wasn’t Elodie anymore. Just a vessel of agony that had no beginning and no end.

There was no way out, no way to wake myself. All I could do was scream as the blaze tore at my skin, my hair a ball of fiery whips. My skin reddened under its assault and I should have been a smoking husk on the floor, and yet I wasn’t. I was still standing, forced to endure this torture, this torment that showed no signs of stopping.

At least if I died the pain would stop.

“Elodie!”

The voice in my ear was loud, insistent. The only noise I could hear outside of the raging inferno I was now reduced to.

Didn’t they know I was busy burning alive? I didn’t have time for them right now.

“ELODIE—"

24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ELODIE

“Wake up!”

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