Fire and more fire. Can't a girl get some noodles instead of a complete catastrophe taking place?

No? Cool, not like I haven't eaten since breakfast or anything.

"Is this normal for the city?" Ben stood there looking like a surprised tree. Hair bristled and claws out.

"Just a typical Monday."

I took in the area. A couple of the street vender's booth were on fire. people running around looking for places to hide. A small group of Fae linned on side of the street looking bored. I'm sure that this seemed like something small to them. Sight seeing or something. Black smoke billowed from down the street.

I started running toward it.

"Do you always run in the direction of danger?" Ben kept an even pace next to me.

"Of course. Don't you?"

He just blinked.

I stopped by some of the vendors trying to keep their stalls from catching in the blaze.

"Get some water and use some of the rugs to beat the flames down." They looked at me then nodded. Despite the difference in origins, people and others came together. Never surprised me.

I pushed forward through the smoke as it got thicker. I must be getting closer.

"Can't tell where it's coming from." Ben yelled above the roar of the flames.

"It's everywhere." I countered.

I closed my eyes and waited. The pull from the magic around me called to my center and I ran for it. In the middle of the market, a great pillar of fire billowed into the air. At its core I could hear... crying?

"Oh my Brad. It's a person. There's a person in the center."

"How are we going to get to them?"

The heat coming off the fire vortex blazed. If I liked having eyebrows I probably shouldn't get any closer. The crying echoed softly making my heart ache.

"We have to do something."

I could feel the panic taking control as my hair whipped around my face. My blood rushed in my ears and everything began to lose focus. I stepped forward. I needed to comfort the person inside the flames. My fingertips tingled and I stepped forward ready to do something, anything to save her.

"Katherine."

The roaring of my blood quieted and a face came into focus. His hands clasped my shoulders.

"Damon?"

I blinked up at him and his steady eyes. Blotches of cinder cover some of his face and his clothes had holes where the flames wrought out their damage.

"Your chest is showing." I grinned then shivered.

He shook his head. "You're one to talk."

I looked down to see my t-shirt barley covered my assets and my jeans hung in singed shreds. The remainder of fabric dripped excess water on the ground.

"Why am I wet?"

He gestured his chin to Ben. The wolf had burns all over his skin in various stages of healing. Fur replaced cloths and the air stunk of burnt hair with everything else. He must have shifted to part wolf part man.

"He did his best to keep you from dying. Looks like it worked. You aren't harmed anywhere."

"I'll take her from here." Ben's voice was more of a growl then before. He looked like something from a comic instead of man. Pretty dang cool if you asked me.

Damon hesitated but I couldn't figure out why.

"I have to save her Damon. She's in there. I can hear her crying."

"I will take care of it."

Ben led me to the edge as I watched Damon walk toward the vortex. The flames covered his body and I reached out to him.

He just kept walking. His body leaned into the winds and he seemed unaffected by the fire's touch. His steps seemed heavy but he pushed forward until I could barely make him out. The fire raged higher seeming to enjoy the newly added fuel of the council officer.

Ben wrapped some fabric around my shoulders. My gaze stayed on the center. I wanted to help. To pray. Anything to make sure they would be okay.

Then the air took on a heaviness and the flames began to surrender. Falling to the earth and disappearing before my eyes.

Damon held a young girl in his arms. Tears streaked her cheeks as she peacefully slept.

"Eva? That's Eva. One of the girls from my pack. She looks different. Younger?" Ben caressed her face.

The gesture didn't disturb her.

"She needs to come with me. I need to find out about her magic." Damon looked at Ben dead in the eyes seeming to wait for a challenge.

People started to come out from hiding. White eyed, startled and faces covered in soot. Ben didn't waiver but gave a curt nod.

"I'm coming with you." Ben's tone left no debate and Damon accepted.

"I'm coming too."

Neither argued with me but Ben's cheeks turned a little red.

"You may want to find some clothes first." He looked away.

I looked down seeing more skin than fabric. My front pockets looked relatively unharmed but the rest of the legs were victims of the fire.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Where are you taking her?"

"My precinct. I'll tell them to let you in when you arrive."

"Fine, I'll hurry. What about you?"

Ben answered. "I'll call my Beta for some clothes. They need to know that Eva's been found."

I pulled the fabric from Ben closer to my body.

"Thank you, both of you."

"You can get a ride from Francis." Damon called over one of his people. "Take her home then wait for her. Bring her to the station when she is ready. Don't leave her side."

I followed the portly man. He seemed more like a beloved uncle than a council goon. He helped me into one of the cars and closed the door behind me.

"Where to?"

"Take me to the Hideout."

He started the ghostly quiet engine and we were off. I shook, fighting the chill in the air. What was I thinking? Running into flames like that. How careless of me. I knew better. I trained for better. Lila would probably give me an earful. I shivered. Her anger could out heat a fire.

I looked toward Francis. I wanted to ask about Damon and how the flames didn't seem to bother him at all. I bit the inside of my cheek and focused on my breathing. I needed to thank him properly. I frankly didn't know that much about him despite knowing him for so many years. He never failed to be there for me. Ben too. I barely knew him. But he did what he could to keep me safe and even got burned because of my foolishness.

I would do better. I had to. My hand found the necklace and ring dangling around my shoulders and exhaustion overtook me. I pictured the two men that helped me before I fell asleep.

"Kat." A cool hand shook my shoulder as Lila's face came into focus. I smiled then saw her face change from loving and concern to hell have no fury like a pissed off big sister.

"Oh Holy Brad." Where was a fiery inferno when you needed it?