Chapter 1 – The Witch Hunt

Chapter 1 – The Witch Hunt

The bells of Kyrrath rang out like war drums in the night.

The sky burned red, echoing with cries of the dying. Smoke from burning trees and homes mixed with the sharp stench of blood. Soldiers in black steel armor marched through the city, dragging witches from their homes—ripping them from their families.

“Mercy, please..I’m not a witch, I—”

“Shut your mouth, you cursed hag! You’ll burn before the moon rises!”

Laughter followed, cruel and loud.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!”

I crouched in the shadows of my room, trembling, as they dragged my mother outside. My father and siblings were already dead. their blood soaked the stone floor beneath me.

They poured vervain around the house. The poisonous mist crawled in, choking. My mother, barely conscious, couldn’t fight it. I wrapped cloth around my face, holding my breath as they pulled her toward the fire pit.

I wanted to stop them. To burn them all. But even one breath of that poison would kill me.

They tied her to the stake.

Raised the torches.

“No,” I whispered.

I tried to run out, but a hand grabbed my arm.

“No, Kyra!” Laura hissed. Blood streaked her face, but she was alive. “If you go out there, they’ll kill you too.”

“But my mother- ” My voice cracked. Tears blurred everything as flames lit the sky.

She screamed.

Then...silence.

Just like that, she was gone. My family, gone.

I clenched my fists until blood dripped from my palms.

“Kyra, I know it’s hard,” Laura whispered. “But we have to go. If we die here, so does our revenge. We survive. Or it’s over.”

She was right.

I was the last of the Flameborne.

I would not let them snuff me out. Not tonight.

We ran through the woods, feet pounding against the earth. My lungs burned. The vervain was still in me, I could feel it. But I didn’t stop.

We found a half-collapsed cottage, hidden deep in the trees.

“Let’s just… rest here,” Laura panted. “A few minutes. I can’t think.”

"We can't stay long" I whispered, glancing nervously back the way we'd come." The soldiers could be close".

"Just a few minutes" she said between gulps of air. " I don't think I can take another step right now".

" Fine. just a few minutes" I said reluctantly, my voice trembling.

Smoke still clung to my skin. My mind wouldn’t stop replaying it, my family, the screams, the fire.

All because of him.

King Zareth.

Tyrant of Kyrrath.

His decree had sealed our fate: burn every witch and their families. Even those who had never done harm. My mother. My aunt. Me.

They called us monsters. But they were the ones with fire and steel.

A sound broke the silence. Boots on dead leaves.

My stomach dropped.

“Aye! I know they’re out here,” a soldier’s voice cut through the woods. “Most of them inhaled the vervain. They won’t get far.”

“Check the other side,” another barked. “I’ll take this way.”

Laura and I froze.

“What do we do?” I whispered.

“I-I don’t know…” she wiped her brow, shaking. “We sneak out the back. Quietly. Then we run.”

“But, what if they’re everywhere?”

“Then we move like shadows. No noise. No mistakes. Or we’re dead.”

I nodded, swallowing my fear. “Okay. Let’s go.”

We crept to the back door. It gave a faint groan but we slipped out.

And ran.

Until—

“Ahhh!”

Laura screamed. She collapsed, her leg caught in a steel trap. Blood gushed from the wound.

“Laura!” I dropped beside her, trying to pry it open.

“Sir! I hear something!” A soldier’s voice cut through the trees.

“Laura, no. We have to move!”

I reached for my magic, but nothing came. The vervain still clung to me.

“Not now,” I whispered. “Please…”

“Try yours,” I begged.

“I… I can’t,” she rasped. “It’s too strong.”

“Laura, please!” I cried. “They’re coming!”

She grabbed my hand. “Go, Kyra. You have to. I can’t run.”

“No. I’m not leaving you, tears blurred my vision, I'll carry you". I said hooking my arms under her, trying to lift her.

“If you carry me, they’ll catch us both,” she said, firm despite her pain. “One of us survives. It has to be you. Don’t let them end the Flameborne.”

I sobbed, shaking my head. “I can’t…”

“You can. And you will.” Her eyes locked on mine. “Don’t look back.”

I stood, my heart breaking.

“Goodbye, Laura,” I whispered.

And I ran.

Branches clawed at me. My lungs burned. I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back.

Then...

A scream.

Laura’s scream.

And silence.

They had killed her.