A single lick of my flame begets irrevocable change
Be like me when you seek to transform
“Damn it, Seeker—do what I say! Look at me!”
The light grows brighter. So bright I can no longer bear it.
I shutter my eyes against the flame.
“Open your eyes, Seeker! Don’t make me—”
The flame flickers and flares against the back of my lids, but it’s too late.
Outraged by my refusal to obey, Cade squeezes so tightly my whole world goes black.
Only this time, unlike the last time, there is no one to save me.
My limbs are the first to go. Turning into numb, deadened stumps.
My torso goes next.
And then—
A horrible scream fills the air, as I’m flung to the far side of the room where I roll to my side, gasping and wheezing, as the burning, demon version of Cade twirls and dances before me.
I scramble to my feet, my fingers softly exploring the damage he’s wrought on my throat, as Cade flails about the room. Screaming in agony, searching for something in which to put himself out.
Would’ve been far more effective to stop, drop, and roll, but it’s not my place to interfere.
I stagger toward the hall. All too aware that while I may have survived this one, I’m in such bad shape I have no idea how I’ll go on. A trip to the Enchanted Spring is out of the question. There’s no time to waste. Now that the Richters are on to me, I need to get deeper into the Middleworld as fast as I can and find Dace.
I’ve just barely made it to the back wall when a sudden surge of warmth rushes up from behind me, as the final line of the Fire Song repeats in my head.
Be like me when you seek to transform.
The fire beckons. Curling and twisting, inviting me to join it.
Be like me when you seek to transform.
I look past it to where Cade, still overtaken by flames, continues his hysterical dance.
Be like me when you seek to transform.
This is no ordinary fire. This is my Fire Song—my magick at work.
Be like me when you seek to transform.
Without hesitation, without fear, I move toward the inferno until I’m fully engulfed in its flames. Trusting they will restore me, transform me, heal me, just like the song promised. Its warm loving fingers coaxing me through, urging me safely toward its other side where I emerge completely renewed.
I steal one last glance at Cade, seeing him already beating the flame. Without a second to spare, I plunge through the wall, landing in the first of many dimensions of the Middleworld.
nineteen
Dace
Another visitor.
Since Suriel left there’ve been many—most of them demons working for Cade.