The Amaryllis Curse

Chapter 8

The council. A collective group of elders in charge of magic and the people who wield it. Vincent told me all about them in the few days I had been in this place, which I nicknamed "The Cavern" since that's all it was.

The council always wore blue cloaks, with one sigil of three intertwined circles on the chest. Vincent says no one has actually seen them, no one except for Lilith.

Lilith had been gone for three days now, no trace of where she could be was found either. Renee suspected she went to see the council, but I doubted that much.

From what we could gather from the little information we had, was the council wanted to destroy the Amaryllis flower and any trace of its destructive qualities. I doubted they know it was in me, a part of me rather. Not that it would make a difference, I was going to be killed either way.

The books in the library weren't much help either, just telling that the flower had a will of its own in a way. Appearing and moving to where it wished, healing and destroying to no logical end.

The flower must have chosen the time and place to be in order for my parents, no, my adoptive parents to find it. At least that was my opinion.

Pararu had grown silent, almost a recluse as he practiced his magic. His ability of fire wasn't what I expected, having the ability to create solid objects that were engulfed in ember.

Renee called him a "Fire Shadow", someone who burned bright in the dark yet still concealed within it.

I tried to talk to him, but all I'd get was a small shoulder shrug. His deep thoughts were impenetrable despite my questions.

Renee and Vincent weren't much help either as they prepared, looking in books and stocking weapons. The other people who lived here taking no part in it, living their lives as usual.

My own thoughts seemed to have a hold over me. The feeling I should run swept over me, yet I knew there was nowhere to go. Even if I made it out I had no clue where I would go.

I'd been lying in bed for hours thinking about what was to come. My panic-filled mind chasing away any notion of sleep.

Glancing at the clock, it was almost midnight. The room I was in was silent, the low rumble of Pararu and Vincent snoring across the room every once in a while. Those two could sleep through anything.

I rubbed my face a moment before slowly rolling out of the bed, my bare feet silent on the stone floor. I froze a moment as I listened. More snoring. I grabbed my jacket and put it on, pulling it close around me.

I stepped quietly to the door, opening and going through it with no sound. The hallways were silent, no one except me was awake.

Making it past the gardens and houses I'd seen before, I saw a path that went on an upward slope. Immediately walking faster, I made it to and up the slope in a matter of minutes.

A metal door greeted me at the top, causing me to pause. The handle on it was difficult to move, even with me using my full strength. Wiping sweat off my brow, I gave another hard push as it squealed open.

The midnights' stars sparkled above me as I took a few steps forward, the soft grass meeting my feet. There was a river about 20 yards in front of me and a forest to my back. With one look back at the door, I then chose the path of the river.

Jogging to it, the night air had already caused me to be pouring with sweat. It amazed me it was so hot with no clouds in the sky.

I reached down and felt the water, it was just as hot as the air around me. Footsteps behind me caused me to spin around, my right foot slipping on a stone within the river's bed. With an ungraceful splash, I landed on my side in the water, looking up at someone.

"So, this is where the flower elected to hide. Very well. You might prove valuable to us." The male's smooth voice sent a chill down my spine.

The water in my eyes may have clouded my vision but I recognized the sigil on his chest.

The council.