Chapter One: The Flame
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Ruth’s husky voice shouted over the loud music. That made the third time that week that she’d thrown someone out of the bar. Another boozer who’d had too much drink, thrown punches and hit on waitresses. But that was to be expected in that part of town. Fifth District: inhabited by hustlers and sleazers. Also home to some of the best damn people around. That was why I chose to spend my time there every night after work.
I finished my drink and straightened up. Time to leave. I could stay and watch the drama unfold, but it’d been a long night and seeing two guys duke it out was not high on my list of entertainment. So, I hopped off the stool and gave Ruth a quick nod and wave.
She smiled back then resumed her attention to the drunk asshole she was about to throw out. I felt bad for him. Ruth may have been two foot shorter than him, but the strength of her magic was enough to make even the toughest grown men bawl like a little bitch.
The tavern door closed behind me, and I walked down the sidewalk along the cobblestone road. With a flick of my fingers, a spark of light ignited from my fingertips, simmering down to a dim glow. Magic does have its perks. If only I could supply some real light for myself and not some stupid candlelight glow that hardly illuminated the path ahead. Oh well, that would have to do.
It was late, so most of the people who lurked around were troublemakers or someone trying to make it home in one piece. At least, that was how everyone saw Fifth District. The reality was that a lot of locals were good folk. Sure, you had a few bad apples that lingered around, looking for trouble, but I was convinced that even the mighty Third District had its share of hustlers trying to make a quick coin.
How would I know? I’d never been that far out.
A crunch on the bits of broken cobblestone sounded from behind me, and I jerked around looking for the source—though I had a hunch who it was. A shadowy figure emerged from the dark alley I passed, two enormous men stepping out into the barely lit road. Fuck.
“Hello, boys,” I said, my voice dry and lacking any enthusiasm. “That time of the month already?”
They settled in beside me on both sides to ensure I didn’t run. Why would I? It wasn’t like I’d tried to run the other five times they’d stopped me that week. What I would give for them to leave me the hell alone and go on about their business with someone else.
“We’re just here to remind you that your payment is due by the end of the week,” one of the giants said, his deep and monstrous voice rumbling through the silence.
I was pretty sure his name was Donk, a name that suggested his dimwitted nature. Intimidation and threats were the only thing this guy was good for. That, and knocking someone down with his massive arms. When it came to brains, poor Donk just didn’t stand a chance.
“How could I forget? Tell Romi he doesn’t need to send his goons after me every damn night. I’ll deliver.” I stepped forward but Donk cut me off with his huge bicep, separating me from my freedom.
“Well, you better,” the other one chimed in. His name? No idea, but I liked to call him Dink. Dink and Donk. Romi’s bounty, so to speak. They were always waiting for me. Every night.
Dink leaned in close, and his hot breath reeked of boiled eggs and sour milk. It made me want to gag. “You know what happens if you’re late.” He used his thick fingers to make a cutting motion against his throat.
Once upon a time, I winced and cowered, terrified of what Romi would do. But now, I knew it was all talk. Bullshit was what it was. Well, not all bullshit. I didn’t dare risk missing a payment. However, I had grown a taste in waving them off like they weren’t nearly seven foot tall with hands that could crush my skull in one swift motion.
“You’ll get your money,” I said with the flick of my wrist, pushing past Donk’s arm. “Now, can I go? I’ve had a long night and the last thing I need is two assholes giving me a hard time.”
You’d think I’d have been a little nicer to men who were the size of bulls and held magical weapons at their disposal. Nope. Not me. I’m not that smart. I found a thrill in pushing them. If they were going to stalk me, I might as well have some fun with it. Besides, so long as I made my payments, they’d never do anything. Romi wanted me alive.
They backed off in sync, allowing me to continue my walk home.
“See you later, boys,” I called out, waving to them them away with the hand that wasn’t producing my pitiful amount of light. They couldn’t see it, but I gave them the finger. My own little form of rebellion—one that would go undetected and unpunished.
I needed coin and I needed it fast. If only my magical skills were better. I could get assigned to a job that would pay the big coin and finally be rid of my debts. But no, my magic sucked. I could hustle, like some of the other broke losers in town, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that to some unsuspecting victim. They couldn’t help their naivety and I wouldn’t allow myself to take advantage of that. Stupid morals.
Almost home, I noticed a man standing by the corner of the street, attempting to read the sign in the dark. I lifted my hand to light the street name, as well as his unfamiliar face.
I knew just about everyone in town, whether it was personal or general knowledge, but this guy was someone I didn’t recognize. He looked to be around my age—mid-twenties—with dark, scruffy hair and stubble that claimed his chin. His shirt was partially tucked in, wrinkled, and covered in splotches of dirt. What a mess. Eh, who was I to talk?
“Ah, I’m on the wrong street.” He sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. “Say, do you know where the closest inn is?”
He looked like he needed a good night’s sleep (and smelled like he needed a shower). Might as well take him to the inn. I could use an escort, anyway. Too many undesirables who lurked around that part. Besides, maybe Dink and Donk would keep away if they saw me with someone else. Yeah, fat chance of that…
“Sure. Follow me,” I told him as I led the way home. Without hesitation, he followed me down the dark cobblestone road. “So, are you new to town?”
His eyes were on me. I felt his gaze burning through me. Maybe it was my purple hair. If he was from another district it might look strange. Not that I would know. I’d never been outside of Fifth.
“How can you tell?” His lips curled into a smile. “I’m just passing through and need a place to crash for a few days.”
“You on a magic job?” Most travelers through this town were. Fifth District wasn’t a place for tourists. It had its charm for those who lived there, but outsiders tended to stay away unless it was business.
“Something like that.”
The walk home was short. I used one hand to open the door while the other produced the light and we entered the old building, the door shutting and locking itself behind us. Self-locking door. Couldn’t blame the landlord for that one, with all the thugs who passed through.
“The door on the left is the owner’s room.” I pointed to the end of the hallway. “They can help you.”
“Thanks.” He shifted on his feet a moment, like he’s debated whether he should leave. Then he turned to face me. “Fire magic is based on your inner heat, drawing on your passion and inspiration. If you want your flame to be bigger, you need to project that heat into your magic.”
He grabbed my hand, the movement unexpected. I almost pulled away, but a tingle in my fingertips stopped me. My flame grew an inch and I was tempted to pull my hand away to inspect the unexpected increase, but I didn’t want to lose the flame. So, I let him continue to hold my hand, directing my energy.
He flipped my hand over and traced his finger along my palm, a surge of electricity following the lines where his fingers had touched. It was a raw, energized tingle that halted my breathing.
I’d never felt my magic that much. Usually, I felt a slight tingle on my fingertips like when my hand would fall asleep and have that zinging feeling when it woke up. But this, it was different. It felt like my hand had pulsed to life. Baffled by the sensations, I gasped.
“This is where you’ll feel the core of your magic. Here,” he tapped on the palm of my hand, “and here,” he tapped on the tip of my finger. “Don’t hold back on your power. Fire needs to be unleashed. If you hold back, it douses the flame. Be careful, though. Fire can be unpredictable if not contained.”
I couldn’t speak. Literally. Not one word could be formed on my lips. Maybe it was the magic that pulsed through me, but for some reason I was utterly speechless. All I can do was stare at my hand in disbelief, even after he let go. But the absence of his touch, his heat, left me craving more.
“I’ve never felt magic like this,” I said in barely a whisper.
“I know. You hold back a lot of it.” He noticed my skepticism and added, “I can sense it.”
“How did you make the magic do that?” I stretched my fingers as they returned to their ordinary feeling. So lifeless and boring.
“You like that trick?” He smiled and I noticed a dimple on one cheek. He didn’t answer my question, but I let it slide because even I could admit his smile had charm.
Perhaps avoiding my question, he ended the conversation, quick to leave. “Well, I need to get a room, so I’ll see you around.”
He disappeared into the shadows of the hallway, while I was left standing there, questioning if that had really just happened or if the long night had taken its toll on my sanity.
I shrugged it off and climbed the stairs to my room. My apartment was on the second floor. The upper floors were rented to tenants while the bottom floor held rooms for guests who passed through town.
Once I entered the comfort of my own space, I threw my keys on the counter and slid off my bra. Every time the bra came off, goosebumps covered my skin. It felt so fucking fantastic. I should throw the damn thing in the trash—it had been rubbing me raw since the wire started poking through—but I was too broke to buy a new one. I suppose I could cut back on my coffee spending... The thought made me chuckle out loud. That was out of the question.
When I stepped into my bedroom, I tossed my pants to the floor and climbed into bed. Fresh sheets against bare skin was the single most divine sensation in the world. Well, second to losing the bra.
I settled into place and pressed my fingers to the wick on my nightstand candle. It flickered to life and illuminated the small space around me. Reaching into my drawer, I grabbed my copy of Fire Magic for Beginners and flipped to the page I had left off on the night before.
Somewhere between The Origins of Fire and Producing Sparks, my vision went fuzzy. Once the words blurred together, I decided it was time to sleep.
So, I tried. And tried. And, oh yeah, I tried. But damn if I couldn’t fall asleep. All I could think about was the electricity that buzzed through my hand earlier. The spark that followed my flame that ignited brighter than it had ever burned before. It was incredible.
For a moment, I had pondered the possibility that it was the handsome man holding my hand that had sent a thrill to my very core. After all, it had been a while since I’d enjoyed the company of a man. But I shook the thought away and assumed that it was the energy of the magic that I had felt. I wasn’t used to feeling that much magic in my fingers and radiating from my palm.
After months of reading, I’d made about zero progress in my pursuit of magic. I had started to lose hope of ever being a decent Elemental, but a few minutes around that guy and my possibility was restored. Just like that. There might be a chance for me to learn after all.
Who was that guy and how did he do that? And what did he mean when he said I was holding back?
There was no way I could be holding back. I didn’t even know how to produce a decent flame. If I could then Romi wouldn’t be on my ass constantly. I would finally get him off my back and be free of my debt.
Maybe that guy was the ticket to my freedom. I needed to ask him how he did that to my magic. Hopefully I would see him again before he left...
