Zaphira's Flame's

Alex decided he’s driving; his car is parked behind mine, it’s a brand new dark red Camaro. He opened the door for me, closing it after I got in. “So where are we heading?”

I asked as he backed out of my driveway. He turned the heat up, for me, since he doesn’t feel the cold, since he’s technically you know dead. “I called my friend, we’re heading to their place, he can help.”

Heading down the road he looked over at me then back to the road. “So you know there are different kinds of demons right?”

“Yeah. There are fire demons, earth, water, air. Each control a different element, there’s also a kind that can shoot ice, and turn everything into ice. But I don’t really get, why they aren’t like the water demons.” He nodded without looking at me. “I asked that once, but I got shot with an ice dagger; it hurt like hell, so I never made that mistake again; trust me, and if you don’t want something like that to happen to you, then don’t ask if you meet any of them.” I nodded, looking out my window, wondering where we’re going. We kept driving; until we got to a nice neighborhood. A really nice neighborhood.

Looking at every house we pass, one is bigger than the one before.

“Are all these people millionaires?” Without looking at me, he nodded. “Yes, and yes they all belong to demons. The one we’re going to is a friend of mine; he’s a class A fire demon, and if anyone can help us, it’s him.”

Alex pulled into a driveway, with a fence around the property. He pushed a button and the gate opened for us.

The house is a mansion, bigger than all the others, with three cars in the driveway, two mustangs, and one BMV sitting there staring at me. “Well are you ready for this?” Sighing. “I don’t know. I still don’t see how I can be in transition, but if he can help us, then we need to go talk to him.”

“Good answer. I will be right by your side the whole time; you’ll do fine.”

We got out of the car, as I closed the door, I can feel the energy; change in an instant.

Walking towards the door, the energy caressing my skin; soaking into my pores as if it’s welcoming me home, like I belong here, with his power.

Something squeezing my hand; made me jump. “It’s okay. It’s just me.” Alex is beside me; we stopped in front of the door. Looking behind me, I had no idea we were walking. Looking back at Alex; he’s concerned about me. Shaking my head, feeling Alex’s hand around mine, tensing trying to stay calm for me.

“I’m all right.” His hand loosened around mine, but he didn’t let go of it. “What just happened to you? You were walking, you were here, but you weren’t here. What were you feeling?”

“I don’t know. Can you feel the energy around here?” He nodded. “It’s his power. The power of a fire demon. You can feel it now, you are most certainly in transition. Let’s hope he can help us.” He rang the doorbell, and someone came to the door.

“Mr. Mat Ms. Lane welcome. Please come in. Raphael will be with you in a moment.”

On the inside the house is so much bigger than it looks. A huge grand staircase, going up, two levels. Everything is in different shades of reds and oranges.

A flutter of wings, brings me back to attention, Alex points up, just as a large man floats down; from somewhere upstairs. He has flaming wings; coming out his back.

He landed in front of us, his wings folded into his body, vanishing as if they never existed in the first place.

“Alexander, it’s wonderful to see you again. It has been far too long.” He turned to me, and bowed slightly. “And you must be Zaphira. It is a pleaser to meet you.” “You as well. Alexander said you might be able to help me with my situation.”

He nodded, extending his hand, motioning for us to follow him through the house.

Alex never left my side, even retaking my hand, giving it a light squeeze. I’m not sure who he’s trying to convince; me or him. We walked into a living room; it’s much more modern then I would have expected for what the house looks like from the outside.

Leather furniture, antique lamps; fancy area rugs, and expensive painting covering the walls. He even has a baby grand piano in the corner by large windows overlooking the huge back yard. “Have a seat please. Would you care for some Coffey?”

He poured us each a cup, as we sat on the dark leather couch. Alex is so close to me; that his leg is touching mine, and he still has my hand. As Raphael pours, I can feel the power radiating off of him.

Handing us each a cup; he settled in across from us, raising an eyebrow as he looks at our entwining hands.

“Neither of you have to worry about anything while you’re in my house.” Setting his cup down, he said.

“Now tell me, what can I help you with? Alex didn’t tell me much on the phone. What is it you need?”

Taking a deep breath I said. “It started about two weeks ago. I’ve been having these dreams, where I’m on fire, my body burns, but I don’t get hurt. It’s as if the fire is a protective bubble around me. I told Alex this, and he.” I trailed off, not knowing how to tell a total stranger this. Alex took the lead, talking for me. “She was attacked by some rouge vamps, he tried to drain her, but I got him off, and saved her. I told her I wanted to keep an eye on her since I gave her quite a bit of my blood; to heal her, she started talking in her sleep, and she told me this morning about the dreams, and I said we should come and see you about them. That you would know what to do.”

He nodded. “Yes, I believe I do. You my dear are I am sorry to say, are in transition. It is different for everyone, but in this case you are slowly becoming a fire demon.”

Dropping my cup, my strength suddenly gone, Alex isn’t fast enough to catch it, before it hit the hardwood floor; shattering into a million little pieces. Finding my voice, standing.

“No. I can’t be, it’s not possible. You’re wrong, you have to be wrong.” Backing up till I hit the back wall; sliding down to the floor; hugging my knees to my chest. Muttering over and over.

“This can’t be happening to me, this can; not be happening to me.”

I can hear Alex and Raphael talking, but I don’t totally register any of it. “No don’t go near her.”

“What’s wrong with her?” “She’s in shock. It happened to me after I found out, but unlike her; I didn’t have anyone. She has you, and she’ll need you right now. What does she do for a living?”

“She’s a cop. She’s helped me a few times, as well as the wolves, and I will do anything I can to help her get through this.”

“Good. I was hoping you would say that. She has to stay here. If she really is in transition, then this is the safest place she can be right now. Does she have any family we should call?”

“Not that I know of. It’s just her partner Zack. But we shouldn’t bring him into this, at least not until we have it figured out.”

“You need to call her work, and get her some time off; and then go to her house, and pack some stuff for her, and come back here. But first we need to give her something to help her sleep, it will be easier on her right now.”

I didn’t hear anything else, except for footsteps, then nothing, everything around me went dark.