Firebranded

Rhia screamed. The pain, it hurts! Mother…. Lightning hot pain seared through her brain. It stabbed into her eyes, fire flickering across her vision.

Rhia screamed. Her voice was joined by another: a woman’s, deeper. The scream contained endless years of hurt and suffering, reflecting it back, echoing it, doubling with the anguish of just a few moments.

Rhia screamed. Tears streamed down her face, pouring from ravaged eyes. She raised her hands to her face, as if to stop the pain, then lowered them, afraid of what they might find. Her shoulders shook in convulsive sobs. Mother, where are you? Mother, it hurts! Make it go away....

Rhia screamed. The pain intensified, doubling back, filling her entire body. Light sliced into her eyes, becoming brighter with each moment that passed into dark eternity. The light faded, returned in an intensely bright white light, then all was dark.

Rhia screamed, but it soon faded. Her mind slid deeper into darkness, her hand outstretched, imploring someone to save her. She smiled as a hand clasped her own: the woman’s. Even now, when she felt it was too late, when she felt death was but a whisper away, she was comforted by the fact that she was not alone. A single tear slowly wound its way down her soot-streaked face. She felt arms fold themselves about her, even as a small whisper escaped her numb lips as memory claimed her. "Mother…."

* * * * * * * * *

Rhia shot up in bed, face flushed with excitement. Today was the day! Her very own special day: her birthday. The day she had anticipated for what felt like years. For today was not just her birthday; it was sweet-sixteen day.

She threw off the covers, barely noticing the chill that struck her body. Bounding down the stairs, a cry escaped her lips: "Mother!"

And there she was, sitting at the kitchen table, laughing, green eyes sparkling, those wonderful green eyes! Rhia skidded to a halt in front of her, then her face broke into a mischievous grin and she leaped into her mother’s arms, nearly bowling her over.

Warm laughter fell from both of their lips as they hugged each other fiercely. Then Rhia’s mother held her at arm’s length and finally spoke.

"You’ve become a beautiful young woman, hon, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud." Then she slowly reached behind her back, her fingers wrapped around a small box, and presented it to Rhia. "Here," she said softly. "I thought you might want this."

As Rhia’s hands shook with excitement and closed around the present, a gold chain fell from the top and hung, dangling, the thing on the end sending shafts of light shooting in every direction. Rhia slowly lifted it up until it was on level with her eyes. A gasp of wonder and awe slipped out of her open mouth. "Oh, Mother, it’s absolutely beautiful."

For from the chain hung a diamond cut into a crescent moon, the color of waves pounding at the shore, dragging reluctant sand back with them. As it glittered, catching the light and reflecting it, multiplying it, to send it slipping and swishing over the walls and the two faces that stared at it, entranced, the color seemed to shift, sliding slowly between pale amethyst and green the color of new grass. Rhia blinked. "Does it really change color, or is that just my eyes playing tricks?"

Mother smiled gently, fingers reaching up to caress the stone. "It really does change color. It’s the stone’s way of getting to know you. Once it does know you, it changes to your true color and stays that way forever." Her fingers dipped to her throat, and, gold chain wrapped around her fingers, she drew out a slightly larger version of Rhia’s own stone. It was a light hazel color, flecked with gold, blue, red, and black. As Rhia watched, it seemed to glow ever so slightly. Mother grinned and rolled her eyes.

"It always does that whenever I hold it. It seems that over the years it’s grown overly fond of me." She let the necklace fall. Rhia breathed out, watching her stone change from a brilliant crimson to a washed-out blue.

"You talk about that like it’s alive. Like it can feel things." Mother looked her squarely in the eye and spoke two words that sent small chills creeping up Rhia’s spine.

"It is," she said matter-of-factly. "It’s as much a part of me as my heart, hands, or eyes. It feels what I’m feeling and knows what I know. It’s been my best friend for over thirty years, so I have to treat it like one. Fortunately, it’s pretty hard to offend it." She smiled briefly. "Soon you’ll be able to talk to yours, too." A thoughtful look settled on her face. "What are you going to name it? Not a silly name, either. Jhycelle here wouldn’t appreciate having a sibling named ‘Happy Sally’ or something like that."

Rhia took a deep breath. This was all just a little much. Stones with feelings? When did that happen?

Mother noticed the small frown wrinkling Rhia’s forehead. "Why do you act so surprised? I thought you always knew that we were different. It’s always been that way." Rhia shook her head. Different, she knew, but not like this. Mother sighed and replied to Rhia’s inability to comprehend. "Well, we are. We’re different from this world and everything in it. There are only a few…select…others like us. Just know that the world won’t always accept us, and all we can do is just bear it." She looked gravely at Rhia. "I knew this, and I still accepted this path. Soon you will too."

Rhia still shook her head. "Why?" she whispered. "Why did you choose this way?"

"Let’s just say I had to." Mother laughed then, and wrapped her arms around Rhia. "I love you, Rhia," she whispered fiercely. Then she pulled away and said, "C’mon. This is too serious! It’s your birthday! Let’s go and open the rest of your presents, then have some cake, okay?" She pulled Rhia after her; Rhia shook her head again, this time with humor. A giggle bubbled up as Mother’s infectious laughter began its work, and made them both extremely giggly. The joy that spread over Rhia like a blanket might have been helped along by the fact that Mother’s "Let’s eat some cake," meant in normal speech, "Let’s see how much sugar we can eat before throwing up."

Rhia stumbled after Mother, still laughing, to the family room, where presents resided, the small wrapped box still clutched in her hand. The presents shone and reflected the afternoon sunlight that bathed everything it touched in a golden warmth.

* * * * * * * * *

Later that day, Rhia strode down the narrow sidewalk, her brown, almost black hair teased and tossed by the wind. She raised her face to let the wind caress it, cooling and healing. Letting her book-filled bag swing lightly in her hand, she slowly gazed around, taking in the familiar scenery on the return journey from the library. Oak and elm trees shading green, clipped lawns. Marigolds and chrysanthemums marching proudly next to sidewalks, occasionally even wrapping lazily around a dogwood tree, whose blossoms were spread open to greet the sunlight. Her pace increased as glowing images of Mother’s homemade chocolate cookies bloomed in her head.

Suddenly, she noticed a rapidly growing trail of smoke stretching up to the sky, illuminated by sparks and a strange, flickering light. Cold fear pierced her heart, stabbing into her stomach, chilling her far more than any winter storm could ever have done. Her formerly slow stroll quickened into a brisk jog, and then into flat-out sprinting as screams reached her ears. Her forgotten bag was flung from her hand as her arms pumped up and down, lungs burning. She skidded around a corner, then another one, as she came out onto her street, her fears confirmed. For even as her aching legs carried her down the street, she saw it was her own house that was burning, her own house the crowd was gathered around.

To her relief, she also saw a fire truck there with firemen swarming out of it, hoses already spraying water out onto the raging blaze. Policemen were also there, keeping the crowd away. But this small comfort was quickly replaced by a growing horror: her mother was not there! Nowhere, among anyone, could she make out her mother’s raven-black hair; no sparkling hazel eyes were to be seen. No strong arms to hold her and comfort her, no soothing voice crooning to her, telling her it was all right. Which could only mean one thing: her mother was still inside the house!

A screech that matched that of an eagle’s tore from her throat, and she forced her legs to go faster, powered on by reserves of energy she didn’t even know she possessed. Leaping toward the blazing house, she didn’t notice the two pairs of arms reaching out to stop her. She was nearly hurled to the ground by the force when she collided with them.

Rhia flipped herself upwards, stomach muscles burning and eyes blazing. "What do you think you’re doing?" she yelled, viciously throwing herself against the arms that imprisoned hers. "That’s my mother in there, you idiots!" She suddenly found herself wrenched around to face a pair of angry, glittering brown eyes.

"Kid! Listen to me! There is nothing you can do. She’s already lost." The eyes softened for a minute, then the face that owned them turned harsh again, and the fireman shoved her at another of his workers. "Hold her," he said gruffly. "And don’t let her do anything stupid, either," he added. Then he turned and began bellowing orders at his men.

The fireman who now held Rhia captive looked at her, bewildered, and she saw a flicker of indecision in his eyes.

She immediately began struggling, tears of frustration and anger trickling down her face. The captain’s words had struck like an arrow in her heart. Before this very instant, she had always believed nothing could happen to Mother, that she was immortal. But now, that didn’t appear to be true.

The fireman holding her shook her gently, causing her to stop tugging at his arms. His formerly confused look turned to one of relief, and he looked away towards the fire. The building wind had crept up behind Rhia, then, choosing its moment carefully, it pounced. The strong breeze whipped across her face, blowing tears away. She gazed upon the blazing remains of her once beautiful house. The sky was lit up by the yellow flames, and smoke reached for the sky, vainly trying to touch the clouds. The once proud, stunning vine showing off dazzling, deep purple morning glories that had crept up the side of the house to display its finery was now a burned, blackened mess. The front door was intact, but barely, as Rhia suspected the fire had been in the kitchen. She turned her tear- and soot-streaked face away, unable to gaze upon the wreck any longer.

But as she did this, a frighteningly real vision flashed into her mind. There was her mother, alive, but trapped underneath an enormous pile of books behind some smoldering boards. She was struggling to get out, her face creased with pain as the spines of the books dug into her already cut and bruised skin. She was close to the fire, too close, and Rhia could tell the heat was intense. Her mother, sagged, clearly exhausted, with no thoughts of help in her mind; the fire was out of control, and there was nothing anyone could do. She collapsed, and Rhia could see her lips form a word: "Rhia."

Rhia formed a plan, faster than the wind. With a moan, she went limp. The fireman looked at her quizzically, then his eyes lit up. He dropped her gently on the ground, then went to join his comrades, which was what he had wanted all along.

Rhia cracked her eyes open, saw her ruse had worked, then with a heart-stopping cry, she leapt to her feet and hurtled into the blazing remains of her house. Her former guard stared unbelievingly into the bright yellow flames, puzzled by what he saw: the girl who had just fainted, or so it seemed to him, plunging into the fire, and inevitably, into danger. The captain of the fire brigade turned, saw the back of Rhia’s bright green shirt disappearing between falling timbers, and cursed loudly. He grabbed a passing fireman’s arm, yelling into his face, "Go get her! Can’t you see she’s gonna die? Go!" When the man hesitated, he bellowed, "Move, man!" The unfortunate worker dropped the bucket he was holding onto the captain’s foot, and scurried off, the captain’s parting curse lingering in the air behind him.

He ran up to the house, fully prepared to throw himself into the furnace, when an unbearable wave of heat rolled across his face, making him choke on the tainted air. He threw his arms over his head and retreated until the heat abated. He tried again, to no avail. Turning to his captain, despair glinting in his eyes, he said quietly, "It’s too late, sir. Ain’t no way we can get into that. She’s gone."

The captain sighed heavily and passed a hand over eyes smarting and stinging from the smoke. He turned from the burning pyre and began limping away, calling back over his shoulder, "Let it burn. We can’t even save that now." Sitting on an overturned bucket, he cradled his head in two soot-smudged hands.

* * * * * * * * *

Running into the fire, Rhia was almost physically forced back from the heat. Her hair began to give off a very unpleasant smell, and her skin began to turn red and hurt like crazy. Fire played across her body, dancing in strange circles. She jumped when a tongue of flame licked her arm. Strangely, it didn’t burn her anymore, just warmed her skin like the sun on a breezy day at the beach. Her skin slipped back to its normal color, and her hair stopped smoking.

A sliver of flame began slowly creeping up her arm, looking so much like a caterpillar she giggled in spite of herself, then jumped again as it flitted off of her arm to circle lazily before landing again.

Suddenly her mother’s face appeared in her mind, weak and despairing. Rhia pushed the strange little fire out her thoughts and struggled farther into her house, not noticing as timbers and chunks of blazing plaster just missed her, not noticing the warmth they gave off, instead of the searing heat that should be there.

Finally, she stumbled into what had once been her family room. "Mother!" she cried, spotting two tear-filled hazel eyes peeking out from between two boards. At that exact moment, the tiny flame, creeping unobserved up to her neck, drew back from her face and plunged into her still partly opened mouth.

Rhia doubled over, coughing, though the fire didn’t affect her too much; it just felt like one of Mother’s soothing teas, slipping and sliding down her throat, to eventually reach her heart.

The coughing fit subsided, and she straightened, gazing into the awe-struck eyes of her mother. "Help me!" she gasped. "I’m stuck!" Immediately, Rhia reached between the two boards that had blocked her mother’s fallen body, and pulled them apart. They collapsed, and she pulled them away to reveal Mother’s body trapped under the pile of books.

Uttering a low cry, Rhia knelt and swiftly kissed her mother’s soot-stained face. Then she began shoveling books off of her imprisoned body until she had freed one of her legs. It only took a matter of seconds to pull her out until she was standing. They embraced fiercely, then Rhia beckoned. "Come on, Mother, the fire won’t hurt you." With a look of amazement on her face, mother followed daughter, who she now knew to be one of the fire sisters.

* * * * * * * * *

The sliver of fire swam through Rhia’s veins; unconsciously warming the parts of her it passed through, which cooled as it swam on. It dodged other vehicles of oxygen and protein, racing faster as it neared its destination: Rhia’s heart.

Finally it burst through the heart wall, leaving nothing to mark its passage. Reaching the center, the tiny light drew itself up and began addressing the beating heart surrounding and holding it.

Many things were said and conferred upon, until at last the flame nodded, as if sealing a bargain. Having done that, it began slowly spreading, stretching like a cloud of mist about to be laid over a slumbering land, though retaining the same thickness. It finally laid itself over the entire inside of Rhia’s heart. A small piece detached itself and slipped out to do the same to the outside.

At last, the process was finished, and the fire-blanket settled itself, becoming more comfortable, before readying itself to train the arts of the elements to the fire sister in which it now lived.

* * * * * * * * *

As the two stumbled through the burning house, untouched by heat and flame, Rhia suddenly folded over, gasping and choking. Her eyes were watering; there was a brief lull in which she caught her breath, and then it struck. Pain, pain as such she had never felt before. Pain that seared into her brain, accompanied with alternating white light and darkness that flashed across her eyes. She screamed, then with a brilliant flash, it was gone, and she felt herself slipping into blackness. But before it claimed her, she felt a warm hand clasp her own, and a breath of a whisper escaped her lips. "Mother…."

* * * * * * * * *

Weeks later, Rhia awoke in the hospital. She panicked at first; all she could see was black, until a cool hand descended onto her forehead. Then she was wrapped in two warm, familiar arms, rocking back and forth.

"Mother!"

There followed a long moment of quiet, in which no words were heard, but many spoken. Finally, Rhia pulled back, and put her hands up to her eyes; there was a bandage over them. "Mother? What happened?" Her fire-encased heart beat faster as she realized the answer. Before she could be stopped, she ripped off the bandage, tears popping at the corners of her eyes as the skin stung and prickled. A look of confusion swept over her face, the skin without flaw or scar.

Mother’s face swam before her vision, gentle and loving.

"You’re blind, sweetling."

Rhia’s hands began to shake.

"Then why can I see?"

Mother took her trembling hands and covered them with her own.

"It’s the fire, hon."

"What?"

"The fire that took up residence in your heart." Mother smiled gently at the look of total incomprehension on Rhia’s face. "Remember, back at our house?" Rhia shook her head. "Well, when you came to save me, the fire that was consuming our house was going to destroy you, but then it saw something on the inside, something that changed its mind. It recognized you as a fire sister, someone whose soul is connected much more directly to fire than any of the other elements. And so it claimed you. The fire you accidentally swallowed," here she laughed a bit, "made a bargain with your body so that the two could live in harmony. The fire didn’t damage your body, and it took your eyes, so that you can’t see all of the time; only when the fire needs to, and everything will look a little different when you do. You can see now because the fire is getting adjusted."

"Different how?"

"Well, you’ll be able to tell who is of the elemental brethren, and to which one they are most strongly connected. Look at me, and tell me what you see."

Rhia stared hard at her mother for a moment. "I can’t see anything."

Mother shook her head. "Not like that. Concentrate hard on the fire in you, and try again. If you do it right, the fire will understand what you’re trying to do, and sort of push you in the right direction. Got it? Okay, try again."

Rhia closed her eyes and thought hard, her mind’s eye racing down to the fire at her core, a bright, merry blaze, and tried picturing to it what she wanted to do. The fire seemed to give a little nod, and, still looking at the fire with her mind, she opened her eyes.

She started a bit. There, behind the green eyes of her mother, was what looked like a playful breeze, darting and dancing around the irises. She stared at it for a bit, wonder painted on her face, enjoying the game the small wind seemed to be playing.

At last, Rhia blinked once more, and the breeze disappeared. She looked at her mother in amazement.

"It’s wind, isn’t it? You’re a wind sister."

Approval glinted in Mother’s eyes. "Very good. Soon, it’ll be easier, and will come to you naturally and faster." Suddenly Mother leaned forward, peering into Rhia’s eyes. Then she smiled. Taking Rhia by the hand, she led her over to a small mirror and positioned her in front of it. "Look. The fire has left its mark."

Rhia gave her a curious look, then gazed at her reflection. "My eyes!" Indeed, her deep blue eyes were now flecked with orange, yellow, and a dark gold. Rhia turned her head, looking at them from every angle. "Wow." Mother grinned.

Then something occurred to Rhia. Reaching into the neck of her nightgown, she pulled out the necklace she had received on her birthday. The crescent at the end of the chain was still changing from color to color. As Rhia brought it up in front of her face, the colors flicked by faster and faster. Mother watched on in curious silence.

The colors became a rainbow blur, until at last, they stopped suddenly, the chosen hues swinging back and forth until they settled into place.

In the center was a very bright, icy blue, outlined with a darker tone almost exactly the same shade as Rhia’s eyes, in which burned embers of flame. Orange and yellow licked towards the center from the sharp points.

"Well, there you go," said Mother. Then she smiled. "What are you going to name it?"

Rhia thought for a moment, then grinned, too. "I think I’ll name it Lontinyras."

Mother nodded. "Good choice. I think Jhycelle will like that." Then she pulled out her own necklace and compared it to Rhia’s. "Look!" she exclaimed, and pointed to Rhia’s pendent. "I thought that would happen."

Rhia was confused, once again. "What?"

Mother replied, "See, normally stones of different elements have completely different colors. But look, ours both have blue and gold. Do you know why?" Her eyes sparkled as she challenged Rhia, who shook her head. Mother began to explain. "Well, although wind can kill fire, it can also be its friend. It can make fire bigger, and allow it to feed more."

Understanding dawned on Rhia’s face, quickly replaced by a look of puzzlement. "If fire doesn’t like wind most of the time, why aren’t we at each other’s throats for most of the day?"

"Because we love each other," Mother said simply. "There are some things greater than the elements." They looked at each other for a long time, then embraced.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them had rather misty eyes. Dabbing at hers, Mother tossed a bundle at Rhia, who caught it, sniffing. With a watery smile, Mother said, "Go get changed. Then let’s get out of here."

Rhia nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. She couldn’t resist taking a shower, and emerged much later than she had planned. Mother grinned at her slightly guiltly expression, then took her hand and pulled her out the door. Rhia followed close behind, clutching the crescent stone on the gold chain in her fist, close to her heart.

The End