I Sit Beside The Fire And Think Novels & Stories

Something up there that I'm spotting for the first time now, and it makes me yelp in sudden joy. “There’s a fire up there…. could it be Eve? Could she be right there? What else would that be?” It’s a warm, unmistakable glow of campfire in oranges and yellows. Distracting me from his frown. “Unless what I'm sensing isn’t a dozen or two, and closer to triple numbers…. I don’t know. The fire could be anything, Eden. Don’t think on it too much. Humans reside close by; it could be hikers.”

What would it be like to hold the sun? Warm, I thought as I shivered. “Then that’s what you have to do,” I said, an idea popping into my mind. “I’m going to build a fire. Then you’re going to use magic to light it.”

It makes me feel grounded. I take in the sights in front of me. First off, I'm not sure Ike knows what a bonfire is, because this isn't a bonfire. They've got store bought fire pits set up in the middle of the clearing, about four of them, rather than one large fire. Each has its own group of people sitting around it, some in chairs, some on the ground. There was music coming from somewhere, though I wasn't sure where yet. It sounded like a radio station. I could smell alcohol and meat cooking. My stomach growled at me, reminding me that I had not eaten dinner yet. I knew where my first stop would be. "Are you hungry?" Ike asks, looking down at me.

“Come on. Just for tonight, let’s be two people sitting by the fire.” Evelynn let him pull her to her feet. And in that quiet room, while the world waited outside with its claws and secrets, they let the fire soften them. Let it be warm instead of wild. Safe instead of sharp. Just for tonight.

Ruby jogged to the Quarry and saw Andy and Stefan at the top of the hill with Nicholas. She placed her hand on her chest, sucking in a deep breath, "Yeah. I ain't going up there." She started walking towards the fire altar, spotting two figures sitting on the ground, surrounded by a fire ring each, so she stood back behind a tree. Ok. I am here. What do I do? Think. Ruby. Think! Ruby. I thought I am not good at thinking. What should I do? Maybe I sh--- Her train of thoughts was cut off as someone grabbed her arm, pulling her from behind the tree.

“Is that what you think I am? A weakness?” His gaze snapped to mine, sharp and conflicted. He didn’t answer. And that silence spoke louder than any words could. I took a slow step forward. “I’m still here,” I whispered. “Despite everything, I’m still here.” Damian exhaled, setting his glass down with more force than necessary. “And that’s what scares me the most.” --- The fire burned low in the hearth, casting shadows across the wooden walls. I sat on the worn-out couch, my mind spinning with everything Damian had just said. He stood by the window, looking out at the darkened forest beyond, lost in thought.

Rain sounded on the broken pavement, cold and pitiless, as I sat on the curb in front of the gas station, my heart sinking a little more with each buzz of my phone. One cruel message from Jace lit up the screen: “We’re done. I can’t be with you when you’re like this anymore.”

My hatred towards this entire goddess-forsaken pack has grown exponentially. Ares has been roaring in my mind the entire time about how we are going to burn this pack down to the ground. And you know what? I’m already contemplating where to get the gasoline when I get out of here.

A maid was standing on the other side with a tray laden with two mugs of hot chocolate. In the prevailing silence, my attention drifted to the sound of fire crackling in the fireplace. I stared at the flames dancing and disappearing. Peculiarly, something about the fire seemed so fascinating to me that I couldn’t stop gawking at it. All of a sudden, I gasped as if pulled out of a trance. Sophie was shaking my shoulder. I blinked several times before I fully came back to my senses. She looked at me with confusion, “What happened? I’ve called you several times but you seemed to be zoned out. What are you thinking?”

The ashes were gray. I built a new fire. I sat on the bed. I watched the flames. I thought about Derek. His tears. His cane. His broken smile. I thought about Luca. His hands. His hunger. His smirk. I thought about Eli. His patience. His forehead kisses. His promise. I thought about myself. Who was I? What did I want? What was I afraid of? The fire crackled. I lay down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling. No cracks here. Just wood.