Solange’s feet. One log fe d the next as flames ignited in a frenzy , encircling her . With hands bound behind her back , the slightest movement caused the coarse rope fibers to cut deep into her wrists. Solange stared at the flames roaring about her feet and screamed. Tears dripped on dry lips and tasted salty as they settled on her tongue when she opened her mouth to yell.
“ Why do you do this? ” Solange shouted through the roar. “ The firestorms gave us these gifts —gifts that could help you. Your fear of us will only result in your own demise. ”
Solange cursed silently, wishing the firestorms had never happened—but they had. Over two hundred years ago, the earth had changed when a multitude of monstrous electrical storms and swarms of multiple tornadoes pummeled the earth, destroying almost everything, killing billions of people. Many took shelter underground, others above ground in caves. Those above ground who survived developed capabilities never before possible for human beings. Those gifts, as her people referred to them, became genetic and were passed down from generation to generation, laying dormant in some but active in others. Thus, a new race was created, feared and forced into hiding, living secretly among human kind .
Broderick, a normal man and city councilman of great prominence among the townspeople discovered Roland’s extraordinary talents and set out to destroy him . Solange knew him to be a simple - minded man, full of hate and jealousy. Killing her was his only way to capture Roland.
How could Roland allow this to happen? He had promised , promised to be back before Broderick was able to gather enough men to find and capture her . He made a vow from his heart and the core of his soul with h is last breath of spoken love —he would retu rn before hysteria took charge, but h e had to leave — to secure their passage to safety .
Roland, left with two choices —destroy the town or flee —decided that he and Solange must leave . His heart —too pure, too loving of nature —never allowed him to destroy towns with anything but guilt and remorse. Solange closed her burning eyes as the smoke rose, choking her.
The unbearable torture weakened her and, f ighting hard to keep her faith, she prayed. Not for herself , for Roland—her love so great for her mate, she feared not for her own death—that he would recognize the trap Broderick set for him. She was the mate of a Taiman King, an elemental with powers beyond any one’s imagination. She herself possessed a small gift of telepathy but only with Roland. Roland …
Damn it, where are you, for Zola’s sake? Hurry, Roland.
Solange looked to the sky for a sign. She'd need a torrential downpour to cover this blazing hellhole of a town where Roland persuaded her to settl e with him for the rest of their days. Instead, she would die here like the witches in the fable s Poppy once read aloud to her during her childhood.
“ Zola will curse you. Zola will curse you all…, ” she sobbed, her chin lowering to her chest in defeat, knowing her cries w ould n ever be heard over the roar of the blaze.
The air thickened. Peeking through strands of smoke-filled brown curls, Solange could no longer see her captors. The wind that would have cooled the stagnant air became fuel for the fire. Its swift movements swirled over each log with blazes of blue and orange vortices , each peaking , then curling, hugging close before spurting out again. The fire danced close, licking the bottom of her sandals. As her feet burned , she screamed in agony.
Lumbering sounds of horses' hooves and snorts drummed in her ears. Men shouted, whistling and hooting as they rode around the fire, as though their vociferations would help feed the flames. Solange heard the roar of thunder. Was it merely thunder or was it Roland?
Birds shrieked and headed toward the trees. Rain streamed down in curtains —much like water falling from the side of a mountain —dousing
“ Why do you do this? ” Solange shouted through the roar. “ The firestorms gave us these gifts —gifts that could help you. Your fear of us will only result in your own demise. ”
Solange cursed silently, wishing the firestorms had never happened—but they had. Over two hundred years ago, the earth had changed when a multitude of monstrous electrical storms and swarms of multiple tornadoes pummeled the earth, destroying almost everything, killing billions of people. Many took shelter underground, others above ground in caves. Those above ground who survived developed capabilities never before possible for human beings. Those gifts, as her people referred to them, became genetic and were passed down from generation to generation, laying dormant in some but active in others. Thus, a new race was created, feared and forced into hiding, living secretly among human kind .
Broderick, a normal man and city councilman of great prominence among the townspeople discovered Roland’s extraordinary talents and set out to destroy him . Solange knew him to be a simple - minded man, full of hate and jealousy. Killing her was his only way to capture Roland.
How could Roland allow this to happen? He had promised , promised to be back before Broderick was able to gather enough men to find and capture her . He made a vow from his heart and the core of his soul with h is last breath of spoken love —he would retu rn before hysteria took charge, but h e had to leave — to secure their passage to safety .
Roland, left with two choices —destroy the town or flee —decided that he and Solange must leave . His heart —too pure, too loving of nature —never allowed him to destroy towns with anything but guilt and remorse. Solange closed her burning eyes as the smoke rose, choking her.
The unbearable torture weakened her and, f ighting hard to keep her faith, she prayed. Not for herself , for Roland—her love so great for her mate, she feared not for her own death—that he would recognize the trap Broderick set for him. She was the mate of a Taiman King, an elemental with powers beyond any one’s imagination. She herself possessed a small gift of telepathy but only with Roland. Roland …
Damn it, where are you, for Zola’s sake? Hurry, Roland.
Solange looked to the sky for a sign. She'd need a torrential downpour to cover this blazing hellhole of a town where Roland persuaded her to settl e with him for the rest of their days. Instead, she would die here like the witches in the fable s Poppy once read aloud to her during her childhood.
“ Zola will curse you. Zola will curse you all…, ” she sobbed, her chin lowering to her chest in defeat, knowing her cries w ould n ever be heard over the roar of the blaze.
The air thickened. Peeking through strands of smoke-filled brown curls, Solange could no longer see her captors. The wind that would have cooled the stagnant air became fuel for the fire. Its swift movements swirled over each log with blazes of blue and orange vortices , each peaking , then curling, hugging close before spurting out again. The fire danced close, licking the bottom of her sandals. As her feet burned , she screamed in agony.
Lumbering sounds of horses' hooves and snorts drummed in her ears. Men shouted, whistling and hooting as they rode around the fire, as though their vociferations would help feed the flames. Solange heard the roar of thunder. Was it merely thunder or was it Roland?
Birds shrieked and headed toward the trees. Rain streamed down in curtains —much like water falling from the side of a mountain —dousing
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