Inferno Page 3

  Nathan rolled over and stretched his arms above his head. “Good morning, Fin.”

  I grumbled at him and proceeded to get dressed. I was starting to understand why Reese was so cross with me every morning. This new kid was driving me insane with his happy attitude. But least I didn’t get stuck restocking the woodpile anymore.

  Hunched over, I dropped the stairs. It had been a lot nicer sleeping up here when I was a foot shorter. I hurried to the kitchen, twisting out the night kinks as I went.

  Mrs. Haywood eyed me as she placed a bowl of mush on the counter. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble one of these days.”

  “Mr. Hobbs doesn’t mind.” I grabbed my spoon and started to eat.

  “Exactly,” stated Mr. Haywood. He was at the table with the girls. “You need to get yourself a real job.”

  “I have one,” I muttered.

  “That’s work for a child,” he stated, puffing out his chest. “You should let Nathan take over and find yourself a good-paying job. Something that can support a family.”

  My shoulders rolled forward as I did my best to hold in a groan. “Mr. Hobbs pays me fine.”

  “You only have a couple more weeks before your birthday, boy.” He pointed his spoon at me. “Then you’re out of here. We can’t be having a grown adult sticking around. Who knows?” he breathed. “The governor could come by with a new boy any day ready to take your place.”

  “I know, sir.” I sighed. Hearing this every day for the last couple of months was starting to grind on me. The man didn’t care about having “space” for a new kid. He just hated that I didn’t have a proper job in the mines. It wasn’t like he was crawling around in that giant pit, either.

  “You can’t support a wife on a salary like the one Hobbs gives you.”

  “I know, sir,” I replied calmly.

  “You need to start thinking about your future.”

  “I know.” I tried to keep the annoyance out of my voice. This was going nowhere for either of us. I just had to wait until he figured that out.

  “Look how well Reese turned out.” Folding his arms, he held his head high. “You have the same capabilities.”

  Finishing my bowl, I slipped off my chair and grabbed my jacket front the hook on the wall. “Thank you, Mrs. Haywood. It was great, as always.”

  “Fin,” called Mr. Haywood.

  “I’ll see you all tonight.”

  “Fin!”

  I quickly escaped through the back door with Mr. Haywood still yelling my name.

  Shoving my hands in my pockets, I marched toward town. It was starting to get cold, which always left me in a horrible mood. Everyone else seemed perfectly fine with the dropping temperature, but I hated it.

  The town square was the same as always. People were preparing for the day ahead, except for kindling being piled in the center clearing. Did they find another? I wandered over and stood on the outside of the permanently scorched ground. I ran the tip of my shoe through the dirt. Ever since I saw the woman burn as a boy, the number of public executions had been growing.

  “Fin,” said a familiar voice.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Reese. He tossed another load of sticks and twigs on the pile.

  “Did they catch another shifter?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “No, the governor just wants to be ready. We’re burning a shapeshifter practically once a week.” He went over to the wagon piled with kindling and grabbed a bundle.

  “Hmmm...” I could suppress the thought that I wished they had. It was only during a burning that enough heat was generated that I received a break from the constant cold buried in my chest. “Well, I better be going.”

  “Hey.” Reese dumped my arm as I passed. “The Haywoods asked me to talk to the governor about a job.”

  I kept my eyes pointed at the street toward Hobbs’ shop. “I’m fine with the one I have.”

  “The herb boy?” He raised an eyebrow. “Come on Fin. You’re not a little kid anymore.”

  “Doesn’t mean I want to be stuck in a mine.”

  “I’m not stuck in a mine, Fin,” he laughed, pressing his hand to his chest. “Those aren’t the only jobs out there.”

  “I don’t want to work for the governor, either.” I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my upper arm.

  “Fin.” He pulled me over to him. “Don’t be stupid. You’re going to be eighteen soon and on your own. You need a better job, and one that doesn’t make you look like an outcast.”

  “I like being alone.” I shrugged.

  “The woods are messing with your head.” He tapped the side of his own head. “Working in a mine is a lot better than having rumors spread about you.”

  I sucked in my cheek. “What kind?”

  “Look.” Reese leaned up against the wagon and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You’ve helped us capture plenty of shapeshifters. The governor is very grateful about that, but it comes across a little suspicious with all the time you spend alone in those woods.”

  An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I glanced around, but no one acknowledged us. “It’s my job. The plants Hobbs need don’t grow in the local family garden.” I gave him a sour look.

  “Don’t be like that with me.” He dabbed a dirty finger in my chest. “All I’m doing is telling you what I think is best. So don’t get that attitude with me. I beat you as a kid, I can still do it as an adult.”

  I nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

  Reese smiled and shrugged. “That’s all I’m asking.”

  “Well, I have to go.” I backed away from him before taking off down the street toward the shop.

  People were talking about me? I clenched my fists. There was nothing wrong with the woods. People just needed to mind their own business.

  Arriving at the shop, I found my sack sitting outside and a list in the pocket. Shaking my head, I read through the items. Nothing was very difficult to get, and I’d be done a little after noon. I glanced at the dust-marred windows. There were blurred shadows moving around inside, but whoever it was, Mr. Hobbs didn’t want me to disturb them. But it still annoyed me when he left my stuff on the doorstep.

  Grabbing my bag, I wandered down to the cliffs in no particular hurry. This was why I loved the job. It was easy, and I had all day to myself. Just how I liked it.

  Chapter 6: Follow the Smoke

  Crossing the last item off the list, I double checked that I had everything. Looking to the sky, I saw that it was just past noon, which I was happy about. I had the rest of the day to myself, away from everyone else.

  I climbed up the rocky slopes to the forest above and dusted off my clothes. I checked to make sure no one was around before I hurried off to one of my secluded corners in the woods.

  Upon arrival, I tossed my bag against a tree and took out the flint and steel from my pocket. A rush of excitement came over me as I gathered all the small twigs around me. Using my knife, I scraped a branch to make some wood shavings and got to work on creating a spark. A small stream of smoke filtered into the sky. I leaned down and blew gently. Little by little, I helped it grow and felt like melting into the heat when it touched my skin.

  Placing some larger twigs on the pile, I laid down on my side. The coals at the bottom grew hotter, and I slipped my hand into them carefully. The warmth traveled up my arm. Closing my eyes, I had to keep reminding myself that I couldn’t make it bigger. The guardians tracked down any sign of fire. That was how they found the majority of the shapeshifters: they followed the smoke.

  Rolling onto my back, I dug my fingernails into the coals. I just wanted to rub them up and down my body, to finally be rid of this constant ache. As soon as I turned eighteen, I wasn’t getting a proper job. I was just going to find a way out of here. Go somewhere warm, where I could be alone and bathe in the heat of the sun and fire.

  “Fin!”

  I jolted upright, and the fire blew up beside me. I snatched back my hand, and the flame quickly died down.
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br />   “What in the hell was that?” snapped Reese.

  “The wind,” I breathed, staring at the black spot on the ground. Even the embers were starting to fade. That had never happened before, but then I had never had anyone catch me, either.

  “Are you alright?” He knelt down and looked me over. “That got pretty close to you.”

  I gave him a hesitant laugh and pretended to be checking myself for burns while wiping my ash-coated hand in the grass. “I’m fine. Just grazed me a little.”

  “What are you doing out here, anyways?” He stood and offered me his hand. “I’ve been looking for you for over an hour.”

  “Well,” I stood with his help and brushed the dirt off my pants, “I finished getting what Hobbs needed, and I was cold.”

  He gave me a sideways smirk. “It’s not that cold, Fin.”

  I glared at him. “It’s freezing out here, so leave me alone.” Pushing past him, I grabbed my bag and started toward the village.

  Reese jogged after me. “Still whining about the cold, then?” He looped an arm around my neck. “I thought you grew out of that.”

  I tried to shrug it off, but he just increased the tension.

  “You turned into such a whiner the last couple of months I was at the Haywoods. It was funny to see you bundled up more than the girls during winter.”

  This time I physically removed his arm from my shoulder. “I hate the cold,” I muttered. “It’s just how I am.”

  “I suppose.” He walked along beside me.

  “Why were you looking for me?”

  “Shapeshifter,” he breathed. “The creature is hiding up along the cliffs, and we need you to climb up there and scare it out.”

  “What kind of shapeshifter?” I muttered. The last one I’d had to scare out had tried to bite off a couple of my fingers.

  “Not sure. It’s a new one. Not the typical animal shifter. The thing has some control over fire.”

  “Fire?” My breath caught. “What do you mean?”

  “Every time we get close, he blows fire at us. Two men have already been taken to Hobbs to get burns treated.”

  “So,” I sucked in my lips, “you’re sending me there why?” My heart was close to breaking my ribcage. Every what-if scenario was swirling around my mind. At the top of the list was what-if this is a trap.

  “There’s a small passage through the back of the cave where it’s hiding. You’re the best at climbing up the mountain face, and the governor doesn’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

  I wrung my shoulder strap in my hand and kept my eyes on the ground. “How am I supposed to scare them out? The creature throws fire.” I mustered a nervous laugh. “I hate the cold, but that’s going a little too far. Even for me.”

  Reese looped his arm around my neck once more. “We’re going to give you some explosives. They were going to blow that part of the mountain up anyways, so might as well bring it down on a shapeshifter.”

  “Oh,” I breathed. Even with that added piece of information, I still didn’t feel good about this.

  I couldn’t stay still as the governor ordered the miners to safer ground. I stood with Reese to the side as we waited for Mr. Lockhart to give the final instructions. The governor spotted us and made his way over.

  “Alright, Fin.” He grabbed my wrist and slapped a stick of explosives in my hand. “It’s simple enough. Climb up there, slip through the back passage, plant the stick and get the hell out.” He handed over a long fuse.

  I nodded.

  “Light the end and run for it. Be careful. This shapeshifter is far more dangerous than the others.”

  “Okay,” I breathed.

  “Don’t be nervous.” He patted me on the back and pushed me toward the rock face. “You’re a grown man now. Don’t be afraid.”

  Afraid, I bit my lip; I was shaking and terrified. So many things could go wrong. I glanced up the sharp incline and turned around. “Do I have to?”

  “Now,” ordered the governor.

  With a deep breath, I started the climb. The whole village was gathered at the lookout to watch me try and blow up a fire demon as if it was some damn spectacle. All I could do was whisper a prayer to any god willing to listen that everything would happen as ideally as the governor suggested.

  I pulled myself onto the top ledge and walked through a narrow passage to the back entrance. Sitting on my heels, I examined the rather small opening. I would have to crawl. Between the cramped space and the fire shapeshifter lurking inside, I really just wanted to go back and tell Lockhart there had been a rock slide. Knowing how stubborn the old man was, he’d send me back up with a shovel and pickaxe to clear the way.

  I tied the end of the fuse to a bush and unraveled a couple feet.

  Making sure the explosive was tucked into my pants, I dropped to my stomach and shimmied into the tunnel.

  “Oh god,” I muttered as I dragged myself through. “Why does it always have to be me?”

  The rocks grated against my skin. By the time I reached the end, my shirt was torn and my arms were bleeding. I sucked on a cut along the side of my hand as I carefully maneuvered down the rocks to the main floor.

  The shifter didn’t seem to be this far back. Then again, I had never seen a fire one before. It could magically be able to blend into the walls. I laid out the fuse as far into the room as it would go and stuck the end into the explosive. I shoved it under a rock and stood with a little sense of pride.

  “Easy enough,” I whispered as I walked back to the tunnel.

  A rush of heat engulfed me. I dropped to the ground and covered my head as the flames burned the clothes from my body. It stopped, and my body was shaking with excitement. I ran my fingers over my reddened skin. It felt so good.

  I heard a screech and turned over. My moment of pure bliss had ended when I spotted the creature causing all the problems. That was not a shapeshifter. I had snuck a peek at enough of Hobbs’ books to recognize a dragon.

  It cocked its head to the side before letting out a scream and hitting me again with another wave of fire. I practically melted into the ground. This was heaven. I could die now and be at peace. I had waited so long for a chance to feel flames around me. Watching from the sidelines as shapeshifters were burned was a cruel torture. I wanted to be the one up there feeling the heat.

  I just laid there on the stones, soaking in the warmth. This was what I’d been searching for ever since the moment I saw the woman burn. I never wanted it to end.

  The dragon stood over me and nudged me with its nose. I didn’t move and secretly prayed it would hit me again. It snarled instead.

  My eyes went wide, and I was yanked out of my state of bliss. “Oh, no.”

  It raised a claw hand and it aimed at my head.

  Chapter 7: My Little Sparrow

  I threw my arms up to protect myself and heard the beast scream in pain as it was thrown across the room by a blast of fire. The flame left as quickly as it had come. I looked around, but the only explanation was that it came from me. But that couldn’t be true. It wasn’t possible. I couldn’t create fire from nothing. I looked at the creature in the corner, who was licking its wounds.

  “Leave.”

  My head snapped around to a dark corner. I struggled to my feet and covered my crotch as I backed up to the wall. They could blend into the walls. “Who’s there?”

  “Get out!” Black flames shot out of the darkness and hit the monster.

  With a yelp, the dragon hurried into the daylight and took flight. I heard yelling, and the beast’s shrill call soon after. A hooded figure emerged from his hiding place with a frayed fuse in his hand. The explosive was tucked in his belt.

  “Stupid boy. You haven’t learned much.”

  I sunk to the ground. “Don’t tell. Please don’t tell them.” I covered my face with my hands. “They’ll kill me if you tell.”

  I was yanked upright and turned so that I was facing the entrance.

  The man slipped behind me and wr
apped an arm around my chest. “You’ve grown up nicely.” He brushed my blond hair behind my ear. “I was worried you’d get too tall.”

  “Get off me!” I attempted to turn and face him, but a warmth far greater than even the dragon’s breath pulsed from his hand. I knew this heat. For the last five years, I had chased after it. My head rolled back to his shoulder, and I closed my eyes.

  “Don’t move,” he whispered.

  “What are you?” I breathed. “What are you doing to me?”

  “You don’t like it?” he laughed.

  His hand grew cold, and I whimpered, my knees nearly giving out. He held me up as I clasped my mouth. I had never expected such an embarrassing sound to come from my own lips.

  “Stupid little sparrow,” he said quietly with a sharp tone. “You nearly got yourself killed before I could collect you. You’re lucky I stepped in.” Removing the explosive from his belt, he tossed it outside. “Let’s hope my pet doesn’t find it.”

  “Pet?” I breathed. His hand was sending waves of heat deep into my chest. “The dragon.”

  “Oh, you are smarter than you appear,” he chuckled. “For a boy who nearly blew himself up. You’re lucky I was able to put out the fuse while you were enjoying yourself.” His grip tightened on me. “I’ll have to punish that dragon for breathing on you.” His breath warmed my neck before he lips grazed my skin.

  “Stop.” I lurched forward but didn’t put up much of a fight. My body felt weak in his arms. It couldn’t fight the addiction it had toward this man.

  “Close your eyes, Fin.”

  “Why?” I tried to look back at him.

  He grabbed my chin and forced my head forward. “Close your eyes, or I’ll leave you here to explain why you are naked without even a mark on your body.” His other hand brushed down my arm.

  “Okay, okay,” I breathed, closing my eyes.

  A piece of fabric was tied into place, and the man moved away from me. I felt like sobbing when the cold made it way back in. I hugged my arms to my chest and debated whether to just take off the blindfold and make a run for it.