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Flames burn and crackle around her, encasing her within a ring of fire. They didn’t hurt, merely a warmth that tickled at her ankles every now and then as they licked at her once again. Smoke clogged her lungs, though it seems breathing wasn’t necessary in a void like this.
Everywhere else was dark and empty, a pit at the bottom of the world perhaps. The only light, really, was the ring around her. She squinted, a figure forming and approaching her. It was familiar– Flaming hair wrapping around deep purple skin, red and purple cloaks draping around him, a tail flicking from side to side with flames trailing it.
Vulcan.
She felt relieved to finally see a familiar face. For her entire time staying here she’d either had silence or phrases and words whispered through the flames to her from people she once cared about. But part of her felt like it wanted to run, leave from Vulcan and go away from him forever. But the fire remained, she remained. And he got closer.
“Vulcan? You’re- You’re back?” She asked, voice echoing out in the empty void of…wherever this was. She was confused, really. Out of everything confusion was the prominent emotion she felt.
He stopped just before the ring of flames, gaze as something unreadable, something Dune couldn’t quite understand. “Welcome back, Little Spark.” His voice echoed the same any gods would, and crackled through the flames like every other time. “The healing process took a little longer than expected. My apologies, truly.” He sounded…sincere.
They say gods are never sincere. Yet, Vulcan seemed as sincere as Rue. It was soothing to hear it, in all honesty. She wanted to hear something that wasn’t quite the screaming of flames. To which…they seemed to have gone silent in the presence of the god. Odd.
“It’s okay I suppose…” She paused, watching as Vulcan eyed her up and down, studying her. “Am I able to go back now?” He continued to measure her, resting a few fingers on his chin and elbow propped up on his wrist. He was thinking.
“Perhaps.” He stated, a blunt answer that held something a little more. He began to circle her, slowly walking around to inspect. Now, the hunter becomes the hunted. She eyed him closely, watching his every movement. An ear twitched, and she grew curious.
“What do you mean, ‘perhaps’?” She asked, and silence met her answer. She didn’t wait for a response, instead fire began to burn within her eyes, her curiosity melding into an annoyance. “Why can’t I just go down there and see everyone again? I’ve been here for like- too long!” She argued, voice raising a little. Impatience. That’s what she had. She grew impatient waiting.
Vulcan stopped in front of her again, gaze firm and locked on hers…though it seemed like a firm father’s gaze than a mentors angry one. “You’ve been doing a wonderful job back down on your lands, Little Spark. Truly, You’ve been extraordinary.” He smiled. Something flashed in the smile, glistening in the flames he stepped through. Although, he was…proud of her? She calmed, confusion taking hold once more. She watched him closely, watching as the flames parted for him.
“I knew you had it in you.” He lifted a hand to cup Dune’s cheek, and uncertainty washed through her. She began to doubt herself silently, gazing up at Vulcan like a child who was too scared to properly do anything. He was so proud of her work, but she had barely done anything that she promised.
“Vulcan…I-” She stopped, taking a sharp breath before continuing. “I don’t know if this is something…” She paused, gaze falling away from him as she looked for the right words. Her ears dropped down a little, a glistening in her eyes. “I don’t know if this is something I should be doing…”
Vulcan blinked, confusion written clear on his face. He let his hand drop to her shoulder, a gentle weight on it. “What do you mean, Princess?” The name reminded her of her status, the times she’d be called that back in the kingdom. It was subtle in her mind, and she pushed it back a little further with a sigh.
“I just don’t think this ,” She pointed to the flames around her, encasing her, and to the void she was stuck in. “Is for me.” Vulcan stayed silent, a prompt for her to continue, to give reasoning. “I’ve tried, I’ve really tried to do what you wanted from me. But Vulcan, can’t you
see? I’m not cut out for this! I’ve only burnt down one house when I promised to burn everything down! And even then, I still had to have you come in and save me from dying! I’m just not cut out for this kind of thing. This is why my parents never let me do anything that was harder than reading and studying. Because I’m a clutz and can’t do anything right…”
The fire around them eased, becoming a flame less than a burning cage. And Vulcan sighed, his head dipping a little. “You don't know if this is right for you? Oh, no, no. Tell me, little wolf... Don't you want to punish those who have wronged you?” He took a step closer to her, a small grin growing on his face. There was something behind it, something more than wanting what’s best for Dune. “Put them in their place, they should not treat royalty like this. Show them who you are.” He whispered the final part, though it sounded like the flames in wind.
She stared at Vulcan, assessing the offer. Sure, it would be nice to prove she’s not weak, not some pathetic runt worth protecting. She wanted to show people that she can take care of herself. Maybe then Rue would finally let her go…
“Don't you want to show that you're more than just a pretty face? That you're more than just a pawn for that Dark Star of yours?” She smiled, just a little. It’s exactly what she wants.
“I mean…it would be nice to prove something.” She blinked, realising the next part of the sentence. “Wait- what do you mean ‘pawn’? Rue isn’t making me her pawn out of everything.” She tittered, not willing to believe that.
“Oh Little Spark, there is so much your Dark Star isn’t telling you.” He looked at her with something of pity, a small click of his tongue. She stared at the god with confusion, and slight annoyance. She grew impatient as time went on.
“She’s made you into a pawn for her game. If you weren’t of use to her, she wouldn’t have gotten so close to you.” He paused, contemplating his next part. “Do you ever wonder why you only know Rue and Rue only?” He waited once more. No response. That was enough of an answer for him. “She’s kept you isolated from the outside world, she’s making you into something that can be weaponized.”
He sighed, clicking his tongue in annoyance, as if looking in hindsight made him realise of the mistake. “You should never have told her of your gift. Now, she’s using that to her advantage. She’s making you wait until it’s the right opportunity for her , Little Spark.”
Dune shook her head, denial in his truth. “She- No, you’re wrong. She wouldn’t do that.” Vulcan kept stern eyes on her, watching her every movement. He analysed her determination, her stubbornness, her potential . But he can’t access it without her agreeing.
“And what makes you think that?” He shifted on his feet, regaining the weight of the flames engulfing his cloven hooves. Dune’s eyes narrowed, ears pinning back just the slightest bit more. The rage of a fire began to flicker in her eyes. If she could channel that anger to help him…so much would happen.
“Because-” She paused, gaze frantic around him, trying to find the right words. “Because it’s Rue! She doesn’t- She wouldn’t do that. Especially not to me.” Her tone was dark, offense deep within the sharpness of her tongue.
Perhaps, however, there was something here to be of use. A spark flared in Vulcan’s hair, and in turn his mind. “Oh Little Spark…” His tone was condescending, catching her immediate attention. He stepped forwards, just a little, and she took a small step back. “What do you know of that Dark Star of yours?”
Dune fell silent, mouth agape. She found herself speechless with the question, almost taken aback. Vulcan hummed, but there was no smile. He was right, and she knew it. “That’s what I thought. She isn’t the one for you, nor is she the safest for you to be around. She’s killed more than you can count, Dune. She’s a danger to all of society.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t get exterminated…” He turned on his heels, stepping out of the ring of flames and stood, back turned to Dune. Silence met the response, and Dune stared at the flames now stronger and repaired, encasing her once again.
“What do I need to do to get home?” Her voice was distant, as if her mind wasn’t quite there, but when Vulcan turned his head over his shoulder and saw him looking up at her, she seemed as if she was determined as ever to do what he needed. He smirked. Perfect.
“Get home?” He turned fully, walking back to her. “Dune, my girl, Let me help you, guide you, into the right path. I promise you, full power can be restored to us all.” He took her hands, his voice full of passion and determination, breathy to the ear. He stood tall, dropping Dune’s hands once again.
“However, I need time to recover after fixing your wounds. I can only do that through the fires you ignite, though.” She nodded, waiting for instructions. Only, he gave no further instructions. She jumped in, deciding to make her own claim. This time, she’ll be able to uphold it.
“You can communicate to me through the flames of fires around me. Tell me what you want, and I will provide to the best of my ability.” She promised, a look on her face that reminds one of a child promising to do something small for a parent or mentor.
Vulcan smiled. To her, it was something soft, a ‘thank you’ one might say. But within it, he held all his intent. She had fallen for it once again. His plan may finally work. And he knows exactly how to access what he needs. The flames around Dune eased, and soon become none. The light in the void was drowned out, all warmth gone apart from Vulcan and his hair.
“Wake up, Dune.” She furrowed her brows, confusion drawn clear on her face. “You are free.”
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A finger twitched, then an ear. Aragon took no notice of it. He merely slept by her side, the distant sounds of nightbirds entering the house. Dune woke with a gasp, finally returning to her wakefulness.
Aragon jumped, falling off the bed by accident. She lifted a hand carefully up to her once-open wounds. Bumpy skin covered them, scars had formed and now protected the wounds.
She felt awfully awake for just returning from a coma. Her veins pumped with blood, her mind swelled with different plans. She could see the flame within her pulsing in her scars. Her hands…a tingle appeared on her fingertips, and she smiled. Power. But not just that. With all the plans that swarmed her, one stayed focused.
Rue is no longer.