Touch of Flame

Ravina woke up alone in the room. Malachi was gone and, from the brightly shining sun, she guessed it was past morning.

As she rose from the bed, she wondered where Malachi had disappeared. Was he running away from her scent again, or was he in trouble again?

Nako came in after a knock. "Just in time," she smiled. "Shall I prepare a bath? You have been working so hard."

"I could use a hot bath." She yawned as she stretched her limbs. Today she would allow Nako to take care of her although it wasn't the same as when Ester did.

"Where is Malachi?" She asked.

"Nazneen came here and he left with her."

Nazneen?

"Was she alone?"

"Yes."

Did she not find Ares? Was there trouble?

"Was it urgent?" She asked.

Nako shrugged as she prepared the bath. "I don't know."

Ravina decided not to obsess over it and take one thing at a time.

Nako helped her bathe, washed her hair carefully, and then helped her put some moisture onto her skin. She put some new bandages on her wounds. "Don't worry about this. It will be gone once you mate."

Ravina frowned. "What will be gone?"

"The scars?"

"How?"

"Where you not told?" She sounded surprised.

"No..."

"Well... I don't know if I should say something then. Maybe ask Malachi."

Her curiosity peaked, but she didn't want to push Nako to tell her.

"Mara is making spicy chicken sauce. I hope you will like it." She said as she combed her hair.

Ravina was getting used to the spicy food but she also just had more appetite these days.

"Could you also get hold of sweets? Lots of them." Ravina said.

"Of course," Nako smiled. "I have such cravings when I am in heat as well."

In heat? Right... fertile days. Everyone had to know. So much privacy here. Ugh!!

"That is a nice mirror," she pointed as she combed her hair.

Ravina looked at the handmirror Malachi bought her at the festival.

"It is supposed to be a magical mirror," Ravina said.

"Really? Have you tried it?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"You got no instructions?"

"No. Malachi bought it for me at the festival from a witch."

"Never underestimate what those creatures say. They are so scary." She shivered.

Now Ravina became worried. Malachi had his doubts as well. Should she just throw it away?

Once Nako left, Ravina took the mirror and looked at it one last time. She only saw her reflection again, so she decided to get rid of it. Just to be sure she broke it before she could throw it away but as she carried held the hand handle and carried the pieces on top, the mirror was suddenly whole again before she reached the door.

Shocked, she dropped it on the floor and then saw someone passing by in the reflection. What was that?

An image began to form, something she couldn't see clearly so she carefully crouched to take a closer look.

A fountain and then... a woman.

Ravina could only see her profile but even that was hidden with short golden hair that blew onto her face. She picked up the mirror and watched carefully, with a strange feeling in her chest.

The woman stood up and her hair blew back so she could see her face. Ravina froze.

Corinna?

Her sister. This was Corinna? Where was she? Her hand began to tremble as she continued to watch.

A wide smile curved her sister's lips and she jogged forward, running right into a tall man's arms. She heard her joyous laughter as the man wrapped his arms around her.

Who was he? She couldn't see his face. It was blurry but she could tell he was happy too. Corinna pulled back and the man leaned forward to kiss her on the lips.

They were in a garden surrounded by tall hedges, bushes, and flowers. They kissed for a long moment and then he placed a kiss on her forehead as well. Corinna looked very happy and Ravina's eyes teared up.

"Cor... Corinna..."

Was her sister truly safe and happy? Was this true or was it some cruel trick?

Where was this? She could see nothing except for the garden. This wouldn't be enough to know where this place was.

The tears blurred her vision and as she wiped them away, the mirror was back to showing her reflection.

"No!" She shook it as if that would help bring back everything. "Corinna!"

Oh lord. She grew up so much and her hair, it was so short. She looked different yet the same. Ravina couldn't stop the tears that had already formed again. Seeing her sister, even in the mirror after such a long time, caused her to break down.

She didn't care to cry out louder than she intended to. She couldn't control it and soon the door swung open.

"Ravina!"

It was Malachi. He quickly came to her side and went down on his knees in front of her.

"What happened?" He grabbed her face and lifted her head.

"Malachi!" She sobbed and cried even more for some odd reason.

He looked worried at the mirror and took it out of her hand. "What happened, Ravina?"

"Corinna." She cried. "I saw my sister."

He frowned deeply and then drew her into his arms. She cried on his shoulder.

"It will be alright. We will find your sister." He assured.

"I miss her ... so much." Her heart broke from saying it out loud.

"I know." He stroked her back.

She had come here, gone through all of this primarily for her sister and now she wasn't even trying hard to look for her. How could she be like this? How could she be fine here without knowing the state her sister was in?

"I need to find her," she breathed through the pain.

"We will find her."

She wouldn't sit back now. First, she would have to find the witch who sold her the mirror.