Fire is Blazing

Lost

Cold water splashing onto my face wakes me up abruptly my body in shock bolts up off the couch almost crashing into my grandmother's chin in the process. I gasp whipping the water off my face. I feel my anger start to boil the sound of sizzling and smoke was a clear indication that I was pissed so much so I was drying myself off. I had finally after hours of trying reached Apheina but was pulled away when I finally get to her it had taken too long to reach her. Too many delays and that fog, it was so much worst.

"Angelo?" I hear my grandmother start at the same time I hear a shuffle of the pail hitting an object.

"Sorry." Clay mumbles putting the pail behind his back taking a few large steps away from me as my glare darts his way. I open my mouth to start yelling but Raven stops me putting a hand up. She lets out a large sigh I couldn't tell if was from the mess or relief my guess was a mixer of both by the way she looks over the room then me in a quick once over.

"Hold it there my guy, you were under for more than seven hours we had to wake you up." She folds her arms over her chest she was clenching her fists but tried to hide it, "You scared the hell out of us what were we supposed to do let you stay under longer? We didn't know what the best would be, so we talked about it, and we decided to bring you back. Seven hours is a long time you know. You should have seen your grandma and Clay they were so worried about you. I know you thought it through, but you should have never done two doses, we don't know what could have happened, we could have found another way to reach her besides they must have done something to her to have caused the block to be stronger don't get me wrong my girl is a fighter but six people are a lot to handle when you are alone and well..." Her speech starts to get fast and jumbled that I tune her out as I help clean the mess, but Raven sees this and waves me away taking the wet blanket from me with a huff, "Sit down over there we got this, there is iced tea in that pitcher drink some and munch on the pie I made. Your grandma said I have to stop feeding the guards." She twisted her lips about to start nagging when I speak up,

"At least I was able to get in contact with her thanks to the extra dose." I sigh falling back in the chair I close my eyes as I press my palms against them rubbing the tiredness from the sockets as best as possible hoping that with the whip of my face, I can get rid of that smell in the connection. Ravens gasps and freezes in place at my words, then we fall into a deep silence for long moment. Clay laughs killing the tension hanging in the air we all state at him. He clears his throat combing his hair back,

"I can't believe it worked." He starts, "I mean my great grandma always talked about how earth magic was strong, I'm not going to lie I really thought I either killed you or cursed you forever into an eternal slumber, that was defiantly the craziest magic I ever did." He lets out a dry laugh again looking me over getting lost in deep thought then puts up his index finger suddenly he makes his way up the stairs mumbling to himself. I stare after him then the two lady's grandmother sighs and Raven shrugs.

"I'll go see what he's doing." She sighs as she follows up the stairs no doubt to the dining room.

"So, what should we do now?" I look at my grandma she had put the wet blanket and pillow over in the corner next to the door then comes to sit down in one of her old fluffy chairs.

"Well let's start with seeing what we have for information and what we can report, Let's start with why you were under for so long? It should have only been at most two extra hours not almost five." I run my hands over my face as if I could push the smell out then worked them threw my hair a headache forming.

"I'm not sure, gram I am feeling extra tired this round I feel like I used a bit too much energy having to push through so much smog," I stare at her my energy draining I reach for the tea then look at her. "There is something in the bridge that is making it difficult to trug through onto the path plus there is the case of the large knot in the road it was more like a mountain. It had taken a lot longer to get over to her and even then." I pause thinking back of Bunnies face how she looked so innocent as if she was in peace, my gut tightens as her words ring in my ears asking who I am. The way she glazed at me like we were strangers meeting of the first time. "I'm worried she doesn't remember anyone of us, her parents, her friends, me." She reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder. "She did mention a person name Ricky and showed me a yard with a tree line thick of pine trees, willows, and the ocean was behind it. It was dark there and I think I saw a house a big one, but the details are fuzzy." I stand, "I need coffee." I grumble as I head to the kitchen. Before I could reach the kitchen, my grandmother following behind so we can continue talking.

"What is strange is the fog," I sigh, and I hear footsteps entering I turn and see the couple walking in with his notes.

"Please continue." Clay says sting his pad on the counter.

"When I was following the path there is this smell that get heavier in the air around me the closer, I get to her side of the connection," I was cut by Clay asking me to describe it, "Last time it smelt like fungus, and mildew but this time it was an earthy scent with a sweet minty after note. When I walk into it, I was getting the feeling like I am being pushed down by this overwhelming power. The knot that was in the middle road is growing in height it's getting harder to climb it." I pause and look at her two best friends, "When I was able to reach her, she didn't remember me, or anyone else."

"WHat!?" Raven stops herself from shouting halfway from the shock her face falls.

"I have been looking through some of the older books on potions and I saw that there are a few different kinds that can do that. If we can reach her again, we should warner her on eating anything." Clay says writing everything down.

"She mentioned a guy name Ricky." I clench my teeth and suck in a breath to keep myself calm. "They have altered her memories; she thinks she's an orphan and that people name the Ticheli's are her guardians. There was no hint of remembrance the first time we interacted."

"First? Does that mean you reconnected more than once?" Clay asks I motion for us to move to the dining room where the books were, he keeps glancing that way it was distracting.

"Yes." I say as I take a seat at the table but before I could continue Raven sets the pie down Clay sits across from searching for the right books as he says. "Just eat I'll tell you what I found from the potions volume as soon as I find it, ah-ha, so, there is a mind-bending potion, and it has some seriously strong stuff in it, for example, Viper Marjoram it is easy to get the wrong dose and that alone can be deadly. You said something out a minty smell that is probable the Abyss Mint that is part of the Mind-bending potion to much mint at a time and the person can become addicted, I wasn't sure if it was possible to even make it since after the Ice king took most of the woodland that could produce the plants were frozen over so I wasn't sure if there was any left." I eat quickly and drink some of the coffee to wash it down. "This kind of potion can easily be disguised as a food item like jam or sweetener. It's blue in color thanks to the way its blue burry leaf is boiled down and the Ice barberry mushed into it makes it have a pasty texture. Now I'm not a hundred percent on the other potions they could have used yet it's between the restricting potion or the mind confusion they are both similar. Either way both are not great to intake for long periods of time." My stomach drops and I don't think I can see straight. If they are using old magic they do not understand, if they kill her by any means I squeeze my hand together rubbing away the thought from my mind. No, I will find her, and I will do it before anything happens to her, I take a breath.

"Well, then we should first tell her about the potions, Clay, can you get me a blank paper please." He rips a page from his notebook. "I was given a rough idea of where she is the first time we were able to reconnect. She is on an island it isn't that big, but I was able to see a volcano on the horizon to the right of the mansion, which looks to be on the far right on the island since the ocean was on it left side there was a lot of dead pine trees." I pause trying to think about what the sky had looked like to have some type of indicator of her location, but I only saw a dark sky. I sigh and close my eyes. "She looked tired." I say in a low voice but force myself to thinking pass her I look around thinking about her surroundings I start to mutter what I see, "It was a large grassy field with a forest of trees lined the large house in a large half circle but the circle was cut off because of the shoreline the circle was also strange because it has surround the house evenly it was obviously not nature."

"Why?" Raven asked eating a cookie.

"Because the circle wasn't just the distant of the trees from the house but also the number of dead trees from the house was the same as well it had to be a good few miles like the life was being sucked away from this island. I saw behind me to the left of the house two smaller houses one was clearly for gardening and the other look as if it was a second home just a bite size copy of the big house. But when I looked up..." I blink and close my eyes to picture the sky and when I open them staring at a white ceiling my brain found it hard to see the sky it was like the sky was just a blank space. 'Did I not look up? No, I had to look at the stars. Did I not see any? Was it cloudy?' I shake my head remembering the moons light glowing against her pale skin. 'Why was she so pale?' I picture her again but when I saw her for the first time in our first hour class, she looked as if heaven sent her down with a burning glow around her, she was gorgeous, radiant I couldn't even begin to explain how beautiful I thought she had gotten. Then the face of pure pain and then feeling as if it was my own when I pushed her away, it was like a punch to the gut, but I thought what I was doing the right thing. I was finally strong enough to protect her if she ever needs it, but I didn't want anything to cause her pain, I couldn't lose her to a curse that wasn't even going to hurt her. I groan again louder this time,

"How can I have been so stupid." I sigh. I try to focus again on the surrounds but there was nothing definitive that I could see. "I can't remember the sky, but this is a start."

"Okay. So, this is what we will tell the council, we found out that she is on an island, and they can take it from there to find out which one I will give them this picture for help hopefully they can find something using the world atlas. I hope they can be somewhat useful. Clay you can keep looking at the potions they could be using. Angelo, you go over all the smells and taste you can so you can help him narrow it down once that is done get some sleep and we will get you back into the connect with Aphiena and hopefully we will pinpoint here whereabouts." Grandma says standing and tries to take the map I drew but I place a hand on it,

"One sec I am going to copy this." I say reaching for the paper Clay is handing me. I nod as a thanks and do a quick sketch before handing it to her keeping the original copy.

"What about the second time?" Clay asks looking up from his notebook.

"I wasn't able to talk to her for too long. It was strange, one moment we were talking then I was just there standing on the roof alone. I had taken the opportunity to look at the area so not being able to remember the sky has me second guessing my brain." I rub my face I am starting to feel the seven hours in that gummy fog.

"Did she tell you why she disappeared?" I nod look up to the sound of a plate being set in front of me.

"Foods done." I stare at the bowl of soup in front of me and the small girl in front of me.

"I didn't know you were cooking." She shrugs,

"I started it a few hours ago I'm not good at researching though books nor can I fight well, I can do a few computer tricks enter places I shouldn't look at things that I shouldn't. Cooking keeps me calm right now while I wait on the computer I ordered arrives." She looks at her phone, "Speaking of the devil it'll be here in an hour." She smiles muttering that she can finally be useful. I must be off my game because I haven't noticed how much these two have been moving about until Clay comes back in the room and taking a seat again at the now empty table with two bowls of soups, I was only just now realizing he left as he places one in front of Raven and himself once he got his he takes a seat next to Raven. Once everyone gets settled and I down half my food doing my best not to think of the strange smells from the connection because it was ruining the soup that I was enjoying.

"I need to try again." I say after my third bowl feeling better, we had gone over all of the small details that I can remember.

"Okay but this time I think you should lay in a bed." Clay says around a spoon full. Raven on the other hand give me and him a look,

"Your grandmother said to rest after this so you are going to take the rest of the night to get some sleep, and we will back at it in the morning bright and early. I sigh but nod she was right my body is feeling heavy after that run and no doubt it is going to be the same the next time I try.

"Fine but you two need some sleep too, you both look like shit." Raven twisted her mouth but nods,

"After my computer gets here, I'll sleep."

"Then I'll stay up with you until then." I cross my arms and look at her, "Doesn't my grandmother's library have a computer. She nods,

"Yes, but it to out of date and I need a few programs from my computer that would take too long to download and more than likely fry it."

"What the plan once you got it?" I ask as she gets up to take care of the dishes, but Clay stops her and does it instead.

"I was thinking if there is no record of Mr. Gabriel then what else could the council be hiding. There is no way they would have missed him not with all the security and the background checks that are emplaced. The fact alone that he was able to get that close to Apheina is suspicious enough for me to do some digging." The thought had crossed my mind a few times, but I wasn't sure what I could do about it. Impressed with her thinking I ask,

"Is there anything that you need when it gets here?" She shakes her head,

"Just a corner to set up. Which I already picked out and set up." She smiles but it is halfhearted.

"Let me know if I can do anything for you. I really apricate you both helping so much I don't know I would have been able to get this far without you both." Clay had taken a seat as I was thanking them but before he sits down, he punches my arm.

"Come on man we are just doing what any good friends would do. Aphei is our best friend we could leave her rescue to just you that's no fun." He smiles and takes a seat putting his arm across the back of Ravens chair, "Also don't let Ray fool you she is a master behind the computer." I stifle a yawn the two teens look at me worried.

"Angelo, I really think you should get some sleep you look like shit." Raven says worry dripping out of her voice. I shuffle in my seat having someone that wasn't my grandmother worry about me makes me uncomfortable.

"I know I should, but I can't. I feel like I have to find out where she is. I have to know if she is okay because when I saw her, she didn't feel right, she was getting cold. She was pale, I..." My voice cracks a little making me slightly embarrassed, but I push passed it I am visible worried, and I won't hide that I can't. "I just can't lose another person close to me." I clench my fist and take a deep breath my vision is started to become blurry with red anger.

"You are going to have to take better care of yourself if you plan on going and getting her though. I doubt that wherever she is being held is nowhere near us. The same can be said about us since we are obviously coming with you. "

"I thought you didn't like me." I said glancing at over to the two, they had dark circles under their eyes and were in sweats and baggy shirts. They need rest just as much as I did. I wasn't sure that when I was ready to go after Apheina that they would join but the thought of them coming made my anxiety relaxes a little.

"That's because you made my best friend cry so yeah, I didn't like you, now you are jumping into a crazy unused practice of magic risking everything including getting stuck in another person mind just to save said bestie I am obvious going to worried." She gets red from her admission and shuts her mouth firmly.

The hour went by quickly and the computer arrived on time, we helped her set it up in the corner and just as we turned it on my grandmothers gets home and ushers everyone to bed letting Clay use her last spare room for the night.

"Be safe and come back soon." My grandmother pats my shoulder and takes a seat next to me on a chair. This morning, I was forced to eat some oatmeal and toast before Clay could give me my two doses of the potion. Now back in my bed I drink the weird concoction Clay mixes and close my eyes focusing on the chant Clay found while eating this morning apparently this is a slightly different potion, the book said that this magic was stronger using the ability to ask the goddess herself to care me to Apheina. I am not sure how Clay was able to find it and when I asked, he said it was because a strange dream he had that night. I make sure to, but all my thoughts focused on where Apheina is right now. Like a star I feel myself shoot from my body to the sky and into her mind, but it was a struggle to see or hear anything, I couldn't even lift my arms or move my legs like there was a hold around me. This is different than last time, it's as if I was being flown across the bond over the obstacles to reach Apheina faster than before.

'What is going on?' I try to connect with Apheina but don't see her I am outside the house, so I rush in shouting her name till my throat hurt but she doesn't respond so I try to focus more on what she is seeing, my vision obscured by the fog. Something is defiantly wrong as I am running through the house, I am seeing people she has seen, but the faces don't match like a tv with the static they had monster like part and human part meshing together I cannot tell what I am seeing. Then a smell hit me making my nose flare from the rotten stench I gag trying to run from the smell I take a few steps back, but I couldn't escape it if that is what she smells but she isn't reacting to it. I blink through the fog as best as possible running up the stairs and I find her in a small cold room she is in a bed I walk over and take her hand the phantom feeling of her freezing skin shocks me my stomach drops, and I almost gets flooded with the memories of when I was cursed but I push past it I can't let myself loss focus not now not when I am this close to being able to finding her. Her skin feels like it is turning to ice my chest tightens and I have to push my nausea down to speak,

"Bunny?" I whisper this time pain to clear in my voice I brush my hand against her cheek she was so cold. She begins to shiver asking who's there but as much I try to let her know I was here I can't reach her completely so I do my best to force my heat into her hand as I grasp it in hopes that she will get strong enough to sense me back thought the bond. Someone else voice appears around her it was a man's voice rough and old,

"It's just me Apheina."

"Nicholas?" She grunts. "Why do I hurt so much?" I try to shout at her to ask where she was or how she got hurt asking if her is okay, but it falls on deaf ears.

"You had a fall don't worry we will make you feel better." The two sets of cold air sneaks around her wrist and ankles she shouts in pain, and I have to let go of her my heat felt like it was icing over, and I feel panic rising in my throat from both her and I as another rest on her head and she passes out. I can feel someone pushing me out, but I fight to see her one more time using a circle of fire with the small orb I had in my pocket I push the flames out and all round me filling the room until I hear a shriek in the corner that gets farther away the longer, I keep the flames lite. The room we are in goes black as if we are now in a void.

"Who are you?" I feel a tap on the shoulder when I turn, I see a hollow shell of my favorite person in the world.

"Bunny?" I say taking her hand, she was so cold almost ice cold, so I hold them closer breathing life back into them transferring more of my heat into her.

"Who are you?" She asks again, "Why do you call me that?"

"Bunny where are you?" I ask she was clearly confused but doesn't pull away,

"Your warmth is so comforting. No one's at the mansion feels this nice." She mutters rubbing the back of my hand on her cheek. She talks as if her voice has no life to it and my heart starts to break.

"Do you know where that is at?" She shakes her head,

"No, I've been here for as long as I can remember I don't think I've ever left here."

"Can you picture the sky for me." She looks up and try so see the sky, but it never shows. She shakes her head.

"I can't sorry, who are you?" She looks at me hard studying my face her cold starts to spread to me my fingers start to feel numb, but I don't move,

"I am your best friend, and partner. Bunny honey I need you to think is there anyway, you can help me find where you are? I just need a little information, and I will come get you. I will take you away from those cold hands and bring you home where it is warm and safe. This time you will be safe I promise I will never leave your side. I miss you; do you think you can tell me who is with you?" She wraps her arms around my waist and cuddles up against my chest getting as close as she can pulling my warmth from me trying not to be so surprised at her chillness as it seeps through my clothes. She sighs as I put my arms around her holding her close letting her have all my warmth. Apheina?" I whisper in her ear bring her back to my question and she nods listing names they were all plain, Jay, sky, Ricky but the second she says Gabriel's name I get a shiver down my spine then she says,

"The people that take care of us all are Nicolas and Elena Ticheli." Just then I start to feel the pull from the others.

"Apheina, I am your other half I know that makes no sense right now, but it will when I come find you. Don't eat anything that you don't open yourself they are drugging you with things that can alter your mind and make it harder for me to reach you. Do not eat anything that smells minty or have blue jam it can hurt you. Don't tell anyone about me when you wake up and be weary of those around you, they are not your friends, Raven, Clay and I are your friends you and I grew up together you have parents and grandparents you have a large family worried about you. Please stay strong till I find you okay. I will find you." Her hold on me gets tighter as she looks into my eyes then reaches up planting a soft kiss on my lips the feeling of her had intensified as if she was right there in my arms, I can feel her solid form against my chest I grip my hands on to her waist deeping our kiss the last of my warmth was given to her. Then just as fast as I got here, I was just as quickly pulled back into my own body. I sit up and hit the wall leaving a large soot mark of where I aimed and release some anger out.

"That couldn't have been Five hours." I shout anger laced in my voice I look at them,

"But it was." Clay says taking a step back. I sigh.

"Any new info?" Raven asks coming into the room with a tray of glasses oblivious of my anger until she spots the soot on the way. "What did I miss?" I run my hands through my hair and groan falling back on the bed.