Page 21 of A Fate in Flames

Rumours spread like wildfire.Some whispered of vengeance, that the Jinn lurked beyond the rift, plotting.Their fury festering.Others claimed the Jinn were gone, their souls devoured by the spell that had imprisoned them.

The Seers knew better.

Prophets spoke of a great war to come.They saw visions of shadows swallowing the sky, of fire consuming cities and the Heavens weeping under the weight of ruin.

And so, the mortals prepared.

Armies gathered.Fortresses rose once more along the Veil’s edge, banners of war marking the borders of a conflict they believed had never truly ended.They trained warriors, forged steel, and prayed to Heavens they had long since abandoned.

For years, they waited.

But nothing came.

No storms tore through the land.No fire rained from the sky.No monsters clawed their way free from the Veil.

The Jinn had been defeated.

The guardians of the world turned their blades inward, waging wars against their own kind.Kingdoms rose and fell, not by the hands of the Jinn, but by the greed of men.

“Come to me.”

A whisper slithered through the still air, curling around my body like a serpent.I clutched the covers close, my fingers digging into the fabric to shield myself.

“Come now.It is time.”

I felt her voice more than heard it, the words vibrating through my bones.My heart hammered a wild rhythm.Outside my window, the sky was black as ink, the stars swallowed by the abyss of night.

I pulled the covers over my head, willing my mind to believe I was trapped in a nightmare.But the call came again—more insistent—slicing through my hope.

I threw the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed.My limbs moved like they were weighed down with iron shackles.

I stripped off my night clothes before slipping back into my worn-out tunic and trousers.

I stepped carefully, movements quiet as I opened my door.

Moonlight spilled through the open windows, casting a pale glow along the short hallway.My mother’s door was ajar enough for me to see the steady rise and fall of her breath.The urge to wake her, to tell her everything, was almost unbearable.

My throat tightened with each step I took toward her.She lay curled beneath a thin embroidered blanket, lost in dreams I could only hope were kinder than reality.

A sad smile pulled at my lips.

How terribly I wanted to stay.To slip beneath the covers beside her, press myself into her warmth and let her hold me as she had when I was a child.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.My whisper barely disturbed the silence.

“I love you.”

She stirred, her fingers twitching against the fabric, but she did not wake.

I turned away, swallowing the cry that clawed at my throat.With one last lingering glance I pulled the door shut behind me, sealing her away in the warmth of her room.

The village was silent, every home tucked away in slumber.The faint scent of jasmine wafted through the air, calming my nerves, if only slightly.I crept through the winding paths, careful not to draw too much noise.I passed Theo’s home, wanting nothing more than to run in and tell him everything, or to at least say goodbye.

I had no clue what this bargain would entail, but something deep within my bones told me I wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

Zaheera didn’t tell me where to find her.She didn’t need to.I could feel the force of her pulling me forward like an invisible tether, as if I’ve always belonged to her.

I moved like a shadow through the streets of the village, each step bringing me closer to the edge where civilisation gave way to wilderness.The towering trees crackled softly in the night breeze—the leaves crunching beneath my sandals.As I went deeper, the moonlight disappeared, swallowed by the thick canopy above.Only scattered beams of silver were able to break through.