my mirror, though.
“And the mirrors? Can they travel through mirrors?”
“Mirrors?” Rowan frowned. “I’ve never heard of it before. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Why?”
“It’s just something I experienced in Earth Realm,” I sighed, not wanting to tell him about Kellin watching me through my mirror.
“Then perhaps it’s just an ability one can have when in Earth Realm. Like I said, I’ve never heard of it here, but there’s probably lots of tricks that happen there which I’m not privy to. I am but a lowly swordsman.” He grinned at me, the smile lighting up his eyes. He was so easy to talk to. Even if I wasn’t a fan of Tarek, at least Rowan wasn’t so bad.
We finally reached my door, and I turned to him tiredly.
“Thank you, Rowan,” I said, opening the door. “I hope I get to see you soon.”
“Oh, you will.” He smiled at me. “I’ll be on the grounds tomorrow too. I’m training some new soldiers in defense.”
“You train?” I asked, surprised. He mentioned Tarek doing the training, and I knew Soran did a lot of it too. I had no idea Rowan was a part of it.
“I do,” he answered proudly. “I’m rather good at defense. Maybe I could show you a few moves sometime.”
“That actually sounds good, especially since I’ll need them against Tarek. I think he fights dirty.”
“Tarek fights to win. Dirty or clean, a victory is a victory to him. That’s probably why he’s so good at what he does,” Rowan mused.
“And that’s what scares me,” I sighed, stepping into my room, bidding Rowan good night.
Chapter 13
“Analia.”
My name was a whisper on the wind, deep, commanding. A man’s voice. I turned my head, looking for the source, but saw no one. The field of wildflowers surrounded me, the smell so sweet and overwhelming as the gentle breeze blew through my white-blonde hair.
“Analia.”
“Who’s there?” I called out, stopping to pluck some of the lush flowers from the field.
“Analia, come.”
“Where are you?” I asked, confused. I walked slowly toward the edge of the field to the dark forest beyond, a chill running down my spine.
“Fire,” the voice breathed as I got closer to the edge of the woods.
“I don’t understand.” I begged for an explanation to the cryptic words. “Who are you?”
“Lost,” the voice answered softly.
“Do you need help?” I stopped on the edge of the dark forest. A coldness seeped into my skin as I tried to gaze through the thick, twisted trees.
“Yes,” the voice answered, a note of sadness ringing in it. “Help me, Analia.”
“How do I help you?”
“The storm! Tempest!” the voice shouted, making me quake in my shoes. “Burn with the fire. Burn, Analia. You must master all the elements. Wind. Fire. Water. Earth. Void.”
I dropped the bouquet of wildflowers I was holding and stared into the woods as it erupted into flames, my heart thudding unevenly in my chest. The flames rushed toward me, hot and thick. I backed away before turning on my heel and racing as fast as I could away from the heat, but it was no use. The fire was fast, and it ruptured out of the forest and swallowed the wildflowers like the predator it was. I screamed as my white dress caught fire. I tripped, trying to extinguish the flames.
Falling to my knees, I gazed up wide-eyed at the faceless form of a man, dressed in a suit of shadow, dancing flames crackling along his surface.
“It comes for you. The storm. The thunder. Embrace it.” His deep voice tickled my skin, even from a distance.
“Please,” I begged, shaking. “Who are you?”
“You know me, Analia,” the flames replied, flickering in and out.
“Who are you?” I whimpered again. “What are you?”
“Look inside,” the voice murmured. “Let it out.”
“Let what out?” I asked fearfully, needing the answer.
“Incaendium. It’s inside. But you must master the four to command the fifth,” His words licked at my mind. “The ash is born beneath the red.”
“I-Incaendium? Inside what?” my voice cracked, the heat from the flames making me sweat.
“You,” the voice declared, the blaze rising. The flames plunged like rampant waves at me, consuming me, burning me, changing me.
I screamed, knowing there was no way to fight it, the all too familiar pain blanketing me.
Chapter 14
I awoke to the smell of smoke.
I leapt from my bed and stared horrified at the charred sheets I’d been lying on. A small flicker of flame still danced lazily along the ruffles. I tried to put it out using my abilities. When