Chapter 285Fire to Fear

The fire had consumed both of them, leaving nothing but ashes on the wet earth. It would pass (I hoped) completely unnoticed. Muriel had stood patiently at my side, unsure of what to do or how to act. For the first time since I saw her she felt like a normal person instead of the powerful, unstoppable goddess she'd been so far. She didn't cry, panic or stare at me, she just peered into the distance thoughtfully. Pondering her existence.

"What will you do now?" Muriel's voice politely asked when the fire had gone.

"I don't know." I whispered onto the wind. I turned to her. "Did you know this almost happened before?"

Muriel frowned. "What did?"

I sighed. "I think that Isabel attempted to kill them before, on the same roof, by having them fall through glass into a pool. When I found them they were almost gone."

"Why didn't you kill Isabel before?"

I sighed again. "It's not like that. She has helped us... somewhat. But the past few times have been nothing but aggravation for us. Where Isabel has steered me only to see my friends suffer."

A spark of her former goal resurfaced. "So do you agree with me she is evil and needs to be stopped?"

I nodded, slightly. "I do agree her actions can be seen as no other than evil. Especially how she stopped us both, she wanted that to happen and was almost disappointed when you didn't go all the way anymore."

Muriel responded slightly annoyed. "I've never experienced anyone with the power to stop me like that. And seers are notoriously hard to surprise, so I don't think I'm going to kill her easily."

I blinked. "Because they can see you coming?"

She smiled a little. "Something like that." Then, looking up at the sky. "It's getting light. We should go."

I looked up at the sky, being forced to take a decision. "I don't want you to act without me, Muriel. Please. This is something I need to be part of."

She looked up as well, for a moment, before answering. "Alright. I'm assuming I won't come with you to sleep, so where do we meet?"

I smiled. "Thank you. The park, as early after sunset as possible?"

She nodded. "Fine." She paused for a minute. "Amy, I have a question."

I looked at her with surprise. "Ask?"

Her next words were so drenched with curiosity and... love? Surpassing even the state of her clothing.

"How is Afentis?"

I suddenly giggled.

This was not just because of her question, but because something else just happened that was almost too perfect to be true. Part of me wondered how it was even possible, but I presumed the fire had done some to lead the way. If one flies high enough, things like that become quite visible.

Muriel just looked at me with confusion. But her expression became even better.

"I'm doing fine."

Afentis's warm voice cutting through the night caused an expression of fear, disbelief and shock on Muriel's face all at once. She turned around with a wide open eyes, as if she'd heard a ghost. She just stood there, frozen.

Afentis just landed quietly on the gravel path. He was clothed very much like usual, though just as wet as us. "I've been looking for quite a while tonight. You're not that easy to find, Amy."

If only he knew what lit his path.