Fire is Blazing

All Or nothing

18

I looked at her eyes full of rage, thinking over the information I was able to get. I take a deep breath before speaking pushing the anger deep down for when I will truly need it. They didn't deserve the anger they have been the key to helping me find Apheina. I clear my throat doing my best to keep my tone even.

"She was able to give me a few names Nicholas, Elaven Ticheli the two she mentioned last time they are the oldest and who I believe plan all of this, Jay, Sky, Ricky and Gabriel of course meaning he was definitely the one who took her, we knew that already, but we can now tell the council that it really was him I think we can use that as a case to let me go." I frown as I recall her in my arms, she was extremely cold, so I make sure I stress this next part, "She was colder than last time, whatever they are doing to her she is losing her heat from it I felt the chilling hold around my wrist and ankles. My fingertips hurt and I could barely feel my feet, I know I was experiencing the things she is having done to her because my body was heavy. I felt like I was being crushed under a pack of snow." I rub my hand over my face my rough hands scrapping at my skin I refuse to let her go not without a fight. "I thought I had felt my own powers were being drained when I touched her it was a piercing cold as if I was being stabbed with needles all over." I shiver at the thought. "I'm worried we don't have much time left before whatever is happening to her will cause her to... I was able to finally see one person's face, but it was not a normal face. Whether he was an Ice kingdom citizen or not there was something very off about him."

"Could it be more ancient magic like the one that is fogging her memories if they are using the dark earth magic then I know the earth around them with be effected like the trees rapid death in the same radius around the house." Clay asks looking up, "I was surprised that I could find so many books of the old style of earth magic here. I stumbled onto something about it in passing as her but without the book I'm not really sure how it works but it here somewhere," He groans as he, beings to look through the books, "It was here just a moment ago." He mutters the last part under his breath pushing his hair out of his face. As he looks, I continue with what I saw.

"This time it was as if I had help and I was flown over the path straight to her but I still had to look for her through the mansion she was in for her and as I was, I could hear these voice talking I heard one of them say something about a sphere and thermal energy they said a few more things about stuff that made no sense to me they were talking about mellow leaves, hibernation sage, and winter dill seeds. That sounded like ingredients to a potion to me so do with it what you will. When I was finally able to get to her room there was an older man with her. His voice was strange it was rough around the edges like he was swallowing glass, I could also smell something awful throughout the house, it was like rotten meat and old beans with dead leaves all rolled into one. For a moment I thought I saw his face but it's kind of impossible to believe since it was something out of a horror movie. Can anyone draw?" I am asking the two other teens knowing grandma is more of an athlete than an artist, Raven looks at Clay with a smile,

"Clay is a jake of all trades, he is a great artist." I look at him as he rolls his eyes halting on his search for the book,

"I'm known to dabble a little in the arts." His voice had a touch of sarcasm in it I take a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

"This is going to sound strange so just work with the best of your imagination and see how much we can get." He nods, "A white man I mean his skin is completely pale of any pigment in his late 30's dark eyes that have sunk deep into his skull with dark circles underneath as if he hasn't gotten sleep for months, his nose was pointed and small. His hair was stringy and to his neck, on the left side of his face his check and lips were melting off his face, so the skin just hung there I saw a few teeth, I think." Clays hand is moving quickly over the page,

"Any facial hair?" He asks smudging the drawing with his pinky.

"No." We all sit there while he tries his best to do a realistic picture of the monstrous face I described. Clay just nods I look at Raven and my grandma who are both very quietly waiting for the finish piece. Five minutes pass in silence the only sound was the crunch of the cookies as we all ate the sweet treat. Once he finished Raven lets out a gasp as my grandma says a quick prayer from her homeland down south. She told me how her mother had survived the attack when she was pregnant with her older sister, they lived on the border in hopes that one day they could go back. The only reason she has an accent from the south today is from living around all her mother's old town growing up.

"That is, it, at least we have something to show the council members." I say taking the picture studying the face as best as I could.

"Not that they will believe it." I hear Clay mutter.

"Did you see anything that could help us locate her?" My grandma asks. I shook my head groaning,

"That was the most difficult information, she had tried to show me the stars but when we looked up there wasn't anything in the sky a few dots but there weren't any constellations or even the moon, when I looked at her and there was moonlight, but it was only the reflection of. If I stared at it to long it started to get fuzzy and make my head hurt."

"Where was the reflection?" I look at my grandma not understanding the question but answer,

"It was on her right shoulder, coming down for this angle," I make a jester motion going from my right shoulder to slant upwards to the ceiling.

"What about her surroundings?"

"We were in her room so I didn't see what the outside look like too much, but I could tell you that it was nighttime, and she was on the second floor of the mansion. The place was falling apart." I sigh feeling the headache forming in the front of my head. "I'm going to take a few minutes and rest my head is starting to hurt." They understood and waked out silently. I look at the notebook in Clays hands I need to go over all the information we have one more time I have to make sure we are adding all the details but for now I have to lay back down. I lay back not bring my legs back up from the edge letting out another sigh before closing my eyes.

I didn't realize I fell asleep until I start to see a white hall with doors in all different colors, styles and material I test a few but they were all locked. It's similar to when I tried to get in touch with Bunny's except for when I was trying to connect to her, her mind was a void of black with a brick path where this place was white and filled with doors. Not sure what to do I slowly walk to each big bright door or quiet ones doing my best to skip the ones that have crying or screaming behind them. I end up at a red door with a black silhouette of a women her eyes were closed, and hand clasped in front on her chest as her head is tilted up with a gold halo behind her shining bright illuminating the hall. I reach to grab the twisted handle that had thorns and flowers on the top but when I took hold, I felt none of the thorns or the smooth pedals it was a cool feeling as if it was strangely frosted over that doesn't mean it didn't hurt because it did and it pierced my skin with the numbing temperature. I take hold of it anyways not quite sure if I would be able to remove my hand once I open it. To my surprise it did open, and I was able to release the handle with no problem however the inside was frigid and dark. I put my hands out and search for the light switch, but I couldn't find one so I try to navigate blindly, I inch into the room slow doing what I can to not knock anything over if there was anything in here. I felt a table and chairs in the dark, but they went up to my knees and I bumped them a few times as I try to make a flame to no luck. I felt a doorway and continued right towards a faint light that was a speck all the way at the end of the hallway. The closer I got the clearer two figures appear one was Aphiena my heart jumps out of my chest as I look at her back her long hair in a braid and she is wearing black plaided sweats and a big sweatshirt.

"Aphiena?" I practically shout picking up speed she turns, and I see recognition in her eyes when she sees me, and she starts to race my way relief washes over me when I hear my name come out of her mouth.

"Angelo?" I gasp at the angelic sound. I could cry right now. Her head crashes into my chest and her arms grip around me so tight I might have passed out if she hadn't back up enough to look me in the eyes.

"Aphiena?" I whisper, tears really did start to follow out now and she whips my face she gives me a soft look as she waits for me to calm down and by the time I do I whisper into her ear as I pull her in close, "Bunny? You said my name. You remember me." I couldn't bring myself to go an octave higher, she looks at me keeping her head resting on my chest, she nestles in closes. A rush of relief washes over me as I feel her exhale she was really in front of me saying my name.

"Angelo? Angelo? Where are we? What's going on?" I hold her closer she has a mixer of anger and fear in her voice,

"I'm not sure where we are I don't think physically we left anywhere so your still being held captive and I am at my grandmothers looking for you. Do you know where you are?" I ask but a voice cuts her off and we both remember the other person in the room the silver hair women in a black void dress of the night sky. She had a matching halo to the goddess on the door,

"Because she is the goddess." Apheina mutters reading my mind freely, my body stiffens as I look back at the girl in my arms then back to the goddess. I quickly turn whipping my face doing my best to rid any of the tears and snot from it as I do I bow in front of her going down on one knee and begin to stutter over my words,

"G-goddess, I am-m sorry I didn't pay my respects earlier." Apheina suppress a laugh as I wait for the goddess to acknowledge me.

"Rise my child no need to bow I am the one that should be bowing you have been able to help protect our land with a great deal on your shoulders and at such a young age, no less." I stand as she speaks by the time I was standing straight she has her head bobbed down in bow. Flustered I clear my throat and clasp my hands behind my back.

"No, no need Goddess I was doing my duty." Before I could say more, she moves towards me resting a hand on my shoulder and with a sorrowful look she says in a low voice.

"Child you were much too young to have joined the fight you were no ready. That is my fault, and I must apologize. I should have done more to stop my sister. There is much I must tell you but not a lot of time please take a seat." She jesters behind her and there is my living room from my house before it burned down. I can't move forward and Apheina noticed, she takes my hand in hers and pulls me forward,

'Remember the good times, Angelo, movie nights of horror, tent day in elementary school. Birthday parties, the happy moments.' I look at her as her memories of the times we spent together in that room with her, our parents, my parents I give her a small smile letting her take me to the couch.

"I would like to start by saying I am quite impressed by the two of you, out of the last two hundred years I have never see two so compatible and not to mention the strength you both have mentally and physically. I couldn't believe it if I hadn't watched it myself."

"You've been watching us?" I hear the anger in Apheina's voice as she speaks up. Gratphy has a sad face one that holds a world of grief and guilt.

"Yes, sadly that all I was able to do. You see my power has never been the most powerful I was just a low-level goddess that was lonely when I created you all the others were happy as they were, but I was longing for more, so I made Magi's. My sister Cigyn had taken noticed and had decided to place a seed in this world. Born from hate and chaos Borislav Volinskaya the one you know as the Ice king he began destroying my people turning a few into loyal subjects with lies, she placed all the blame on me and so for one hundred and twenty years I helped fight the monster she created but I couldn't stay down here without letting the time age me, so I had to stay back at the temples to recover. I had left this land with four sets of great worriers to receive the gift of teleo to harness my magic together and keep the barrier up until I was able to come back and stop Cigyn's beast."

"So, you will be coming back?" I ask eyes popping out of my head. She shakes her head.

"No, not yet, she has put in place a group that is using my original type of magic and is keeping me here at the temples I need you both to find them and find a way to remove it then once that and the Fire clan is free then I can return. You both will have to do it for now I can only get a hold of you in your dreams. It would be easier if you were both together and not on opposite sides of the worlds." She looks at Apheina. "My dear, I know that you had no say in where you were placed but I will do what I can and give you a head start on escaping if you are ready wither, it now or in a few days think of me before sleeping and I will be listening. Just remember it won't be much unless you can find that spell."

"Is it in the mansion?" I ask Apheina tenses she was excited. I stop myself from smiling the twitch on the side shows and she nudges me,

"Can you really help me get away? I will get whatever you need I will even knock a few heads off if need be." I could feel the vibration of her excitement she was thinking about the possible fight with the people that kidnapped her and getting back home. I tap her hand,

"Easy, there killer I think stealth would prove the best for less chances of dying to happen when looking for info trust me." This time I couldn't hold my smile back and I look at her she pouts but nods,

"Not dying is always good to have as a rule." I see a wicked smile appear on her lips, "Doesn't mean I won't hit someone on the way out." I shake my head and look at the goddess.

"What do you need to find out? If she can't find it, I bet I know someone who might be able to locate it."

"It is an old spell to block the holy powers and contain it. It must have each element included in the spell that would be the only way to keep me locked up like this." I make the mental notes needed to tell the guys at the house and then look between the two.

"Now how can I get her home." I ask in a voice full of determination.

"Your grandmother will be getting the coordinators for the island when you wake up and I will be gifting you both with a little more of my powers to withstand the freezing cold you are both going to encounter, Angelo I ask that you have Clay look for the heating potion it will help those going on the journey with you to stay warm. Apheina, my sweet girl, it is time for you to start your part alone. I am so sorry, but this is the only way I can help you. I will increase your powers for a short time to get free when you are ready. Angelo you will not need to use that mind-linking potion anymore I have fixed the knot in the path however it is going to be very draining to use at such distances so use it wisely. I would only do it while you sleep until you are closer so you can recover while you communicate." A ding is sounded in the background and the goddess stands. "That is my timer we must leave now. Apheina now? Or would you like to wait?" We both stand with her, and I look at my angry Bunny she wasn't going to the offer, so I speak before we ran out of time.

"If I can, I want to let her have my flame, I can eat some soup and what not. Let her have my power. This way she can do some snooping and planning, and I can be forces to help in research otherwise I don't think I will sit still at my grandmothers."

I feel the heat go into her hand I was holding she gasps the color in her cheeks are pinker, I smile. "There's my strong partner." I put my hand on her cheek then rest my forehead on hers taking her into my arms so that we are chest to chest my warmth seeping into ever inch we touch. I see her eyes glow red as the last of my available power goes to her. She reaches up and kisses me pulling me in close,

"I'll see you soon Angelo, I'll be safe and sneaky." She whispers against my lips her curling into to a grin before she disappears.

"Angelo!" I hear my name being shouted over and over again.

"No one throw water on me I'm awake." I gasp eyes shooting open. I sit up seeing Raven my grandma on the phone and Clay looking me over with worried expressions on their face. "I'm fine." My grandma snorts placing a hand over the phone she says,

"You are freezing, you are not fine. I have the ambulance on the way." I take the phone from her as she comes over to check my temp,

"We are fine, tell them to back." I hang up and give her back the phone. I reach for my blanket and wrap it around myself. "I really am fine; Ray can I get a cup of that one hot tea you made last time and another bowl of soup if there is any left." I look at Raven who pops up with a smile a worried smile, but she says in her cherry tone,

"Sure, one second I'll go warm it up be back in a second. Start without me I'll be more than that second." I smile and nod and before she leaves, I say,

"Apheina is going to be okay if that helps. I can guaranty you that." She nods a hint of apprehensive pokes through.

"What happened?" Clay asks taking a seat next to the bed as my grandmother goes to the front door after a knock sound through the house brings a chair over,

"Well, I'm not really sure. I close my eyes and I appeared in a hallway that had several strange doors that were locked, and I find one was open it led me to my old house that I live in as a kid, it was the house across Aphiena's home it was pitch black but I walked and found a door with light behind it, when I opened it she was there," I pause fully grasp the words I am about to say thinking I should wait for the other two. So, to keeping myself from having to repeat myself I ask, "How long was I asleep?" Clay looks at his watch and answers,

"You were asleep for six hours when we came to wake you up, you didn't answer, and it's been thirty minutes trying. For a moment I thought that the mink-linking potion was too potent the last time and something went wrong." He was still wearing a stone look, but his eyes showed his worry. I slap his knee.

"I think I'm putting too much trust in you if you are doubting yourself this much. Don't worry about it, you had nothing to do with this, I don't think anyways. If you did, I would say it was for the best outcome we could hope for." With a short moment of silence my grandmothers come to the door and says,

"We might have an idea on which island she is on. The map is big so let's use the dining room." She doesn't wait for a response and heads over. We get up, I take the blanket with me and follow after Raven sees us as she comes out of the kitchen with a hot cup of tea. I take it out of her hand thanking her we all go into the room, and I see a clear table for the first time. She spreads the map out and there was a circle on the islands on the south-east of the nation before the Ice king overlord came and f****d things over. It was a chain of Islands two of the largest had volcanos on them with about five to six smaller ones around them. "They believe that it is one of these four." My grandmother points to the circles on the map. I look at them and try to think about the moment on the roof of the dilapidated house, it was a small island so I could take one of the second largest island out. I rule out another one for being mostly beaches and cliffs, the island she is on is small with lots of trees and had a tall, large volcano in the back I point to the one that I knew she was at.

"Here, I am certain of it, she is on this island on the far east side." I take a seat and sip the warm tea. "Now that we have that out of the way I have some info to relay to you all and I would advise you all to take a seat." All but Raven sits,

"One sec, soup should be done." Once she was back, she sets the bowl down and take her seat next to Clay who has a new notebook in hand.

"When I went to sleep, I was pulled into this place where Apheina was at as well. She remembered me and everything that has happened. I'm not sure how but she wasn't the only person I met." I pause taking a sip of tea, "The goddess, Gratphy appeared to us and removed the block from us." I tell them what happened and what she had told us. There was a few times Clay wanted to ask questions but waited for me to finish.

"Did she say anything else of the spell? Is there any more information she can give me?" I shake my head what I told him was everything I knew. There wasn't much to go on for him. Raven shakes her head.

"It's funny that you think your books have all the answers when the main halls archive is being digitally downloaded daily." I look at Raven.

"How do you know that?" I ask my grandmother equally curious." She shrugs.

"The council tends to come to me from time to time to update their firewall. Oh, but you didn't hear that from me okay." She winks at us and leans back in her chair, she has visibly relaxed after I finish telling everything. Then she sighs looking at the celling then at the computer. "I can start looking through the old spells that are downloaded, I still have the backdoor from the last time I did their update.

"I will be at the main hall giving reports and checking in with my teams. I will be back in a few hours try not to do anything reckless while I'm gone." She looks directly at me. "Oh, and Siggmon will be stopping by in a few hours no sleeping until you two talk." I roll my eyes,

"Am I still not allowed at the main hall?" I ask smirking knowing the answer. Her eyes narrow into a scowl,

"You know damn well that you're not, it hasn't been a more than a day since you punched councilmen Vilata." I laugh drily.

"Oh yeah, how's the eye?" I saw no amusement in her stare I clear my throat and look away to Clay,

"Do you want some help searching the books?" I see the two other teens suppress laughing.

"Hmm, oh yeah." His lips twitches holding in his laugher. Grandma leaves with the map a guard was waiting for her at the door. I sigh she was understanding but she is terrifying when you push the wrong button. I look over at Raven she looks tired.

"Did you get any sleep?" I ask, she shrugs one shoulder.

"Define sleep." Clay puts an arm around her shoulders.

"That would be a no." She looks at me hair following out of her messy bun on top of her head.

"How can when I'm in the room upstairs I try to close my eyes but when I open my eyes, I expect her to be there when I know she isn't. Don't get me wrong I know that she is a tough b***h, but I don't know what is happening to her as we speak. I am finding it really hard to just believe that the goddess has a plan."

"You should get sleep before getting on the computer. I'll be up looking through the books with Angelo."

"Go sleep on the couch if that makes you feel better but get some sleep." I sigh look at her. She shakes her head and Clay sighs he stands and grabs the thick blanket off the couch in the living room then looks at me.

"If you are done eating, I put the books back in the library along with all my notes. I can show you which books to start looking at." He looks at Raven, "You are getting some sleep." She starts to protest but he picks her up bridal style and processes to walk to the stairs. Ravens' hands go to cover her red face. I take my warm tea and drink the rest of it before going to grab a heavy sweater and then follow up the stairs. I get the library, and Raven is in front of the fireplace on the small couch in here while Clay is grabbing books off the shelves. I move the table and look at the notebooks that has started to pile up.

"Where did all these notebooks come from?" I ask opening one, he looks over his shoulder and answers as he goes back to searching.

"I stopped at the free and cheap store."

"You take a lot of good notes." I mutter as I take a book off the stack.

"Being a nerd has its advantages." He jokes in a serious tone; I look up to see the glint of humor in his eyes.