5

From the smoking ground, a bone creature with clumps of blistered blackened flesh rose. Flames danced along the charred body as if animating the bones to move. The creature clutched her book by its side. Her mother’s wedding ring: silver with three entwined hearts, remained on its left hand.

“Is this how you repay my love?” Her mother’s voice husky and hoarse.

“Don’t listen to it…this isn’t your mother.” Javan pulled her back with him. “Not any more.”

The creature laughed. “Was it not I who found you at the willow tree? The creature wobbled closer. “And I who convinced your father to address the council before your first birthday to ensure you had a chance at life. All because I love you.”

Fear snaked around Eden’s chest, slowly squeezing her air from her lungs.

“Grievol’s don’t have feelings. It’s got your mother’s memories, but it isn’t your mother.” His words did not calm her mounting dread.

“Come closer, daughter.” It shook the book at her. “And I will let you take your filthy abomination that you brought into the house.”

Her legs trembled as she took a step forward, her gaze focused on the forbidden tome in the creature’s hand.

“No.” Raissa’s dagger flashed in the sunlight. “If you let it touch you, it will devour you.”

“Yet you took my body.” The creature answered. “Isn’t your flesh fair payment?”

Eden felt a tug deep in her chest toward the creature like it was controlling her, bringing her closer. Unable to stop, her feet moved forward again despite Raissa and Javan’s attempt to hold her back and she was jerked from their grasp.

In her mind, Eden echoed their screams. But she could not keep her body from moving closer to the skeleton with charred blackened skin still clinging to half of it.

“Yes, let me hold you one last time.” Black fires danced along the bones.

The heat of the flames seared her skin as she grew closer. It was unlike a real fire, its heat scorched her underneath her skin.

The skeleton snatched her arm and she was in the creature’s embrace. The stench of burned flesh made her eyes water. Suddenly, her body was under her control again, and she wrestled to escape the invisible lure.

“You are mine.” The black fire hissed, and she thought her eyes would melt from the heat.

The book dropped from its grip and hit the pile of ash and bits of timber.

Flames licked away the sleeves of her crimson gown. Her skin felt as if lava fried her.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Javan creeping toward her and the creature.

“Careful,” the creature laughed, “you are next, small man.”

One of the flames leaped out and struck him in the chest. He flew backward about a yard, before falling.

“Think of the book.” Javan moaned as he struggled to rise.

“Nay, your death greets you. Nothing can save you.”

Eden struggled to focus, to move…anything.

But she didn’t want to die.  After all, she’d just discovered magic was real.

Her kicks only made the creature laugh louder. So, she closed her eyes and ceased to thrash. The creature hugged her closer, and she felt the flames skitter across her face and neck. Smelled the singe of her remaining tunic and skirt.

“Eden!” her father’s voice bellowed across the void.

She struggled to focus, figure out where the sound was coming from. Had she imagined him calling her? Is this what death felt like?

“Let her go, demon!” Her father was close?

She opened her eyes to see if he was indeed here and not some trick. The creature would kill him, she’d already lost one parent and the thought of losing another hurt worse than the monster’s fiery grip. “No,” her voice was raw as she forced the words past her dry throat. “Go away.”

But she opened her eyes and her father charged the creature. A black flame hit her father’s chest and he was flung backward. No! Panic swelled in her chest. She couldn’t lose him too. Tears stung her eyes. This was her fault. Her mother, her father…how many would die or be hurt because of her?

Her father rose, shaking his head, blood pooling across his face. “I said, let my daughter go.”

“No, Dad,” she choked, “Please leave while you can.” Pain slammed into her again and she fought back a scream.

“It’s magical,” Javan rushed to her father’s side, “you can’t stop it.”

“Magic? Did you two do this?” He grabbed Javan by his red tunic.

“Give me the Damned and I will release our daughter, love,” the Greviol rasped.

“Eden?” Her father’s eyes welled with tears. “What have you done? This is why magic is forbidden. It’s evil and must be purged out of all of you.”

“Y-you knew?” Her heart shrunk in on itself. “About the magic and you never told me? I mean that Damned had magic that the council sucked out at our eighteenth birthday?” Sure the council had forbidden magic but she’d always thought it was superstition not real.

The Greviol shook her and pain shot through her skull. “I will give you the girl if you sacrifice those two in exchange. The book stays with me.”

“What book?” He scowled. “Eden doesn’t have any books or know how to read.”

“Guess your family is good at keeping secrets,” Raissa mumbled.

“Is that true?” His expression was full of hope and the fear of betrayal.

“I’m so sorry, father. I didn’t know all of this would happen. I swear. Mother’s dead and it’s all my fault.” Her throat closed and she couldn’t say anymore.

“This is what happens when magic isn’t brought to the council! Why we have the binding ceremony! It’s to keep everyone safe from things like this, bred upon hate and evil.”

“No,” Javan stepped forward. “This happened because of the council’s rules and ignorance. Magic is a tool and used in the right way can yield good.”

Her father shook his head. “I don’t believe you. For all I know, you’re working with this creature to harm my daughter and me.”

“It’s true,” Eden choked out. “Magic isn’t evil, only how it is used. The Damned were created—”

“Enough talking.” The creature tightened its hold on her, searing her flesh from the inside out. “Give me what I want or I will destroy you all.”

Her father raised his fists, hunching his shoulders as though readying to fight. Then he twisted a gold ring on his finger. A glow pulsed around him. “You’re not the only one with safeguards.”

“Wha—?” Eden tried to form the question of how her father could fight this monster but the words wouldn’t scrap out past her swollen throat.

He met her stare. “When I give the word, you and your vile friends get out of here.”

“But—”

“Don’t make me change my mind or I will feed you to this creature myself for what you’ve done.” His face hardening.

“I will kill her!” the Greviol roared. “Don’t come any closer.”

Javan nodded as her father passed him, heading straight toward the monster. “You crave magic…this talisman is powerful…even you can feel its power from there.”

“A trade.” Her father held up his hands. “Me and this ring for them.”

“No,” she croaked out.

“Obey me in this, Eden. My last request and I know your mother would agree with me. Take my sacrifice, live.”

Tears burned her eyes. She hadn’t wanted this. She hadn’t wanted any of this.

Stiffly, her father walked forward.

“Stop,” the creature shuddered, “this is a trick.”

“And you’re a filthy, lying demon,” her father retorted.

“Don’t test me.” Fire crackled down its arm as it rose a finger to point to her father.

“Now!” he shouted, the energy snaked out across the ground, pinning the creature’s legs and racing up its body.

With a yell, it dropped Eden, and she fell to the ground.

A golden glow surrounded her father, tethering the creature to him. “Go now!”

“We won’t get far without the book!” Raissa started forward.

“Don’t cross the magic!” Javan shouted.

A scream rose from her throat as Raissa froze in midair, golden light throbbed along her skin, pulsating out against them.

Eden scrambled up, leaping toward her father, but Javan hauled her back with him.

“Let me go!”

“The only way to save them now is to get the book!” he hissed in her ear.

“I-I can’t.” The damned book was buried, burned. Had to be. “It’s destroyed.”