King of Darkness and The White Flame

Chapter 17

"Gammy, you said we could stay. You said I could bring her here." Hunter pleads with his grandmother. 

"I know what I said Hunter, but you failed to mention that she has the mark on her." her face contorts in agony and she's fighting back tears. 

"What mark Gammy? What are you talking about? This is the same Lilith I grew up with," he says and then whispers "you know she's like a sister to me." I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. I thought Hunter had a deeper interest in Lilith than just as siblings. I'm relieved, although now is not the time to think about my jealousy.

"I know my son but they've claimed her. She's theirs now." The tears spill over onto her wrinkled, grey cheeks, "she cannot stay here."

We hear shouting outside. I peek through the curtain to see soldiers next door and all down the street, barging into peoples houses. Two soldiers approach the fence. "We need to go now!" I tell everyone. 

"The back," Hunter says. We push Bear ahead of us, Hunter follows, then myself, and Jessie. Bear opens the door slightly, sticks his head out then whispers "All clear." Hunter pushes past him and guides us all through a back wall. The walls between the houses in front and behind are high with a passage between them. We race through the passage to the end that opens up to a hole in the perimeter wall. 

Hidden by the trees, we continue to run even after we no longer hear voices. Around 1 or 2 kilometres South, Hunter turns East instead of West so we find ourselves climbing up the hill. We follow suit and run till we notice the rocks are all levelled with each other. We must be on the other side of the hill but I cannot be sure. Hunter turns again, this time North. He slows down. We all struggle to catch our breaths. Bear is grappling to hold onto Lilith. 

"We need to rest," I try to get out between breaths. Hunter nods. He looks back and around us then nods again. Jessie takes his coat off and lays it on the ground, Bear puts Lilith on it. Hunter walks around the area and picks up dried sticks. I follow suit. We gather the sticks and Hunter takes a flint out of his pocket and lights a fire. Bear moves Lilith closer to the fire for warmth. The fire starts to change. It turns a bright white and then comes the Whisper. "Bring a stick" instinctively I know that it's speaking to me. I grab the closest one I can find. "Put it in the flame. Hold it to Lilith's arm." I do as I'm told and I notice that I don't get any protests from the others. I don't look at them however, I'm focused on the task at hand. The closer the flame gets to Lilith's arm, the more her arm glows red. She's dressed in an all-white, flowy dress. Her arm has what seems like a mark with ink. The pattern is a strange swirl with what seems like snakes and crow symbols between them. The white flame glows brighter and I hear it say "It's ok Jo, put the flame on her skin." I'm afraid now. What if I burn her. I hear the whisper repeat softly "It's ok Jo, It's ok." I slowly put the flame directly on her skin. At first, the mark burns bright red. Lilith doesn't flinch. The others don't stop me. At this point, it's starting to bother me that they have yet to react. The mark stops glowing and starts fading. The steam that comes off the flame is ice cold. When the mark has vanished, I remove the flame from her arm. I watch as Liliths' chest rises in a deep intake of breath and then release. Gently her chest rises and falls as if in a deep sleep. My gratitude once again for the White Flame is overwhelming. 

For a minute I just watch her sleep, then I hear a crackling in the fire and I realize, the White Flame has not left. "You're still here," I say.

"Yes, there isn't much time, but ask what you need."

"Why didn't you help me in the cave?" the question bubbles up before I can stop it. I feel a pang of guilt for asking. 

As if it can sense what I'm feeling it says "It's ok, you don't have to feel bad for asking. I needed you to really understand something Jo." The way the Flame says my name: My name is wrapped up in the cosiest of blankets, around a warm fire, drinking a hot cup of the most delicious drink and surrounded by belly-laughter from people you know will always protect you and never let you down. 

"What did you need me to see?" I choke out. The white flame, I now know, knows me better than anyone ever could. I'm drawn to it. 

"I needed you to see that there are terrible things in this world and there are amazing things in this world. You need to decide, which part of the world are you going to contribute to." 

"I obviously don't want to contribute to those monsters."

"And yet you did." The white flame says, his tone is stern but there's no trace of judgement in it at all.

"What was I to do? Let her die? I couldn't. You know I can never. And besides, they're fine, just ask Jessie, right Jessie?" When I turn to look at Jessie, I notice for the first time that all three of them, Jessie, Bear and Hunter are in a deep sleep. 

"Jo," the white flame whispers "you need to decide."

"It's hard. How do I let someone I..." I can't get the words out around the lump in my throat. 

"Trust me, Jo. I won't let you fall." And then the white flame is gone.