9
1480 Words
Chapter Nine
“Millicent,” She said, her voice smooth and knowing. “I’ve been waiting for you and your shadows.”
“This place feels... wrong,” Flint muttered. I followed his gaze as he looked at the trees just past the seer’s hut, their gnarled branches twisted into unnatural shapes.The hut where the seer was standing was small and nestled in a clearing surrounded by stones carved with what looked like runes. The air was thick with energy, almost crackling, and my skin prickled.
“Stay alert,” Orion said sharply, his eyes scanning the shadows that seemed to cast themselves unnaturally around the hut. “This is her territory. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”
I brought my gaze forward, the pull in my chest growing stronger as I began to walk towards the seer.
She was an older woman with piercing green eyes, her silver hair falling in wild waves around her shoulders. She wore a cloak of dark furs, adorned with beads and feathers that clinked softly as she moved.
“Millicent,” she said, once again speaking my name even though I hadn't told her it. “The Flame-Bound has arrived.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
“Flame-Bound?” I demanded.
She chuckled softly, not answering my question, her gaze swept over the triplets. “You brought your shadows with you. Good. We’ll need them.”
She walked backwards into the hut, creating space for me and my mates to walk in. Inside, the hut was dimly lit, the walls lined with shelves of jars filled with strange herbs and glowing stones. A fire burned low in the center, casting flickering shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own.
"Those are just things I have collected over many years." She said proudly, "I would give you a tour but I don't think your shadows would enjoy an extended stay in my humble abode."
I nodded. I don't know if it was the mate bond, but I could almost feel what each of my mates were feeling. Even though they didn't always agree on, I knew they were itching to leave this place already.
The Seer gestured for us to sit on the floor around the fire. Orion hesitated, his eyes narrowing, but eventually sat, his tension palpable. Flint lounged casually, but I could tell he was ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger. Evan sat beside me, his calm presence grounding me.
“You’ve come for answers,” the Seer said, her gaze fixed on me. “But answers often come at a cost.”
Cost? I swallowed hard. “What do you mean by ‘Flame-Bound’? What am I?”
She tilted her head, studying me. “You are one of the rarest of your kind. An elemental wolf tied to fire—a force of destruction, but also creation. Your kind were once leaders, sought after for their strength and wisdom. But that power made you a target, hunted by those who feared what you could do.”
"Are there other elemental wolves? Where can I find them?" I asked.
The Seer smiled, "You don't find them. They will come for you."
The triplets exchanged tense looks, their wolves bristling beneath their skin.
“Why now?” Evan asked. “Why is she only awakening now?”
The Seer’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Because the time is right. The world around her demands it. There isn't a set age for elemental wolves to awaken, but your case is different.”
I frowned. “What does that even mean?”
“You’ll see,” she said cryptically. “But first, the truth buried within you must be unlocked.”
The Seer stood and retrieved a bowl filled with a shimmering liquid. “This ritual will guide you to the memories and truths your wolf has hidden from you. You'll drink this, it will put you in a trance-”
Orion was on his feet instantly, moving to stand between the Seer and I. “You expect us to trust you with her life? We don’t know you.”
“Her life is already in danger,” the Seer said coolly. “If you don't trust me, you are more than welcome to leave, I am already putting myself in danger having you lot here. Do you think the rogues will wait? Or that her powers will remain dormant until she’s ready to accept them?"
No, they wouldn’t. If the rogues knew about me since my birth, then they had an 18-year lead over us. We needed to make up as much ground as possible.
“It’s my choice,” I said, standing. “Let’s do it.”
Orion growled low in his throat but didn’t argue further.
The Seer motioned for me to sit in the center of the firepit. I was a bit skeptical at first, fearing being burned by the fire but my worry disappeared when I saw the flames shrink as I stepped into them, l*****g at my skin without burning.
“Drink,” she instructed, handing me the bowl.
I hesitated for only a moment before tipping it back. The liquid was warm and sweet, sliding down my throat like liquid fire.
The world shifted.
I was surrounded by flames, their heat intense but not painful. In the distance, a figure stood before a group of wolves, their eyes glowing red.
“The fire will bring order,” the figure said, his voice a low rumble. “We will rise from the ashes, unstoppable.”
“What I have long promised you will come to fruition soon. The fire has awakened.”
The vision shifted.
I saw myself as a baby. I couldn’t be more than a few days old. Flames surrounding me in my cot, my screams echoing in the distance. But I wasn’t hurt. The fire was mine, bending to my will, protecting me. I could hear a soft, comforting, voice around me but I couldn’t make out what it was saying until it whispered, “The fire can forge or destroy, my sweet powerful child. I won’t be around to help you. I can only lock away your element until you are able to defend yourself. When the time is right, choose wisely.”
The flames surged, blinding me with their intensity.
I woke to the triplets hovering over me, their faces etched with concern.
“Milli?” Evan’s voice was soft, but the tension in it was clear.
I tried my best to sit up but my body felt extremely weak. When I finally managed to sit up, my body trembled in a cold sweat. “I saw... him. The rogue leader. He’s planning something—he’s using fire to control them.”
The Seer nodded. “The leader has harnessed elemental power, but it is not his own. He seeks to use you to complete his hold over the rogues.”
“Why me?” I asked, my voice breaking.
“Because you are fire,” she said simply. “And without you, his power is incomplete. Weak. Easily overtaken.”
That was similar to what the triplets had told me, meaning whoever their source of information was had been correct.
***
Back outside, the triplets and I faced each other. The weight of everything the Seer had said hung heavy between us.
“You knew something about this,” I accused, glaring at them.
“We suspected,” Orion admitted, his jaw tight. “But we didn’t have proof.”
“And you didn’t think I deserved to know before?”
“We were trying to protect you!”
“Well, you didn’t!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “You just left me in the dark all these years, and now I’m supposed to trust you?”
“Enough,” Evan said, stepping between us. “We don’t have time for this. The rogues won’t wait.”
“He’s right. We’ve got bigger things to deal with, Plum. We can fight it out when we are back home.” Flint’s attempt to lighten the mood fell flat, his usual humor subdued.
As we left the Seer's area, her words echoed in my mind: “Trust the fire. And trust the shadows beside you.”
How was I supposed to trust them when they were hiding things from me?
The triplets suggested seeking out wolves who might know more about elemental powers. I agreed, though the tension between us remained unresolved.
That night, as we camped under the stars, the wind carried a whisper that sent chills down my spine: “The fire will burn brighter in darkness.”
I didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear—this was just the beginning.
- Writer
