Heart Of The Flames Novels & Stories

Ember is dressed in fire-forged armor, standing over my chained body. “You were always too soft, Bastion.” She says. “Too foolish and self-centered to see what I really needed.” The same man stands behind her, arms folded, looking like a muscle-bound god. “You want me to kill him, Flame?” She smiles “No. let him rot. He was never worth my time.” The vision faded and I screamed, not out loud, my dry throat couldn’t handle it. But inside, where it counts. Where she wants it to hurt.

The fire around us twisted and surged, reflecting the chaos inside me. “Moon Goddess,” I whispered, falling to my knees. “Please… help me. Help me burn him out.” The air shimmered. The fire turned white-hot, pure and blinding. The whisper of the Goddess filled my ears...not words, just warmth, like mercy itself brushing against my soul. Zac screamed, his form flickering. “You’ll destroy yourself with me!” I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face. “Then so be it.” I reached into the flames and pressed my palms against my chest, right over my heart. Pain exploded through me. My entire body trembled as the fire spread under my skin, burning through every shadow he left behind.

There was something glowing in my mind that was about to explode. The fleeting feelings of unknown was at the center of my thoughts. At this moment I am a prisoner in a free world. Every corners of my mind seemed to speak by themselves and my heart seemed to be in ablaze. I stared blankly at the bright light in house in daze. It was like my eyes were roving around for something which I was not there. Something beyond its reach it persisted and jammed my heart with queer thoughts. In this night, I felt like embracing somebody. My heart felt lonely and devoid while my whole body seemed into be in flames.

I hold my arms to my sides and call to the flames. The flames seemingly turn in my direction, and I brace myself, preparing for the flames to hit me in the chest. The icy pain of the flames hits me in the chest. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the pain until the flames from the buildings begin to extinguish around me. I open my eyes and breathe in a sigh of relief. The fire is almost gone. I call out one last time for the flames to come to me, and they do. The remaining flames hit me in the chest with such force that it causes me to drop to my knees. I turn around, look at the fading figure, and offer her a smile.

--- That night, Aria sat in a high cliff shelter overlooking the Heartspire. Its spire glowed faintly in the distance—like a sleeping dragon’s breath. Kael sat beside her, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. “Tomorrow, we enter it,” she said softly. “And if it fights back?” he asked. She looked down at the glowing mark on her neck. “Then I fight harder.” --- Far below them, in the deepest root chamber of the Heartspire, something stirred. A heartbeat not heard in centuries. The Flame had awakened. And it was waiting.

I let out a hollow laugh as I heard Benedict's explanation. "Benedict, spare me the nonsense. If things were really as you said, I might feel wronged, but I wouldn't be divorcing you over it. "Do you think I don't know? When a firefighter is faced with a life-or-death choice, the protocol is to save the closest person first. I was clearly nearer to you. Celestine was lagging far behind because she ran slower. Yet, you didn't even look at me—you went straight to her.

“He feeds on your fear and doubt. You must banish both.” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, diving inward to the part of me that still believed, still hoped. The memories of my father’s kindness, my mother’s gentle touch, the fierce loyalty of my pack—they all became fuel for the Flame. It flared brighter, swirling around my arms and chest like liquid fire. Nytheras roared, a sound that shook the very foundation of this place, and surged toward me. I barely had time to react, feeling the icy chill of his claws grazing my skin before I unleashed the Flame in a blinding wave.

Midnight’s strength combined with mine, and with one silent command, I unleashed the flames. A brilliant green fire erupted from my palms, searing up his limbs and enveloping him in seconds. He released me with a howl, thrashing and stumbling backward as he was consumed by the unearthly flames. I pushed myself to my feet, stepping back and watching as he tried desperately to roll in the snow, to smother the flames. But I knew these were no ordinary flames. They wouldn’t extinguish until they’d burned through his arrogance, his cruelty, and every last shred of his confidence.

Third-person POV At that moment, Frank was sitting in his office, reviewing the investigation report his subordinates had sent him. The first report was a miscarriage report, which clearly stated that Darcy had suffered a miscarriage on the day of the fire. The cause of the miscarriage had also been determined through investigation and reviewing surveillance footage. Frank had shaken off Darcy's hand during the fire and hadn't heard her cries for help. The second report stated that Johanna had been deliberately spreading rumors to manipulate public opinion around this time.