The street was still. Too still.
Mariam panted. Her chest heaved as though she'd run for days. Adrian stood in the shattered doorway, sword trembling in his hand, his white face drawn with pain and betrayal. Samuel stood in the street, rock steady and cold, with that cold smile that cut into her very soul.
Her heart grew. Adrian or Samuel? Love or dominance? Light or fire?
The voices snarled in her head:
Choose. Now. No middle ground.
Mariam tried to utter a word, but her throat was dry. Her lips parted, but nothing was within reach.
Adrian stepped closer, tone rough. "Mariam… step back from him."
Samuel smiled the more. He inclined his head like a predator sighting prey. "Don't listen. He doesn't understand. Only I do."
Mariam's knees shook. Her hands trembled at her sides. She ached to rush into Adrian's arms, yet some of her was pulled forward, to Samuel, as if invisible chains tugged at her heart.
Adrian's eyes burned with desperation. "Please. Don't let him take you."
Samuel's voice was gentle, almost gentle. "He can't protect you. He never could. But me? I can give you anything. Strength. Power. Freedom from fear."
Her breast twisted. She wanted to scream.
Then the ground shook.
There was a blinding crack through the air as fire broke out in the market square. People screamed in the distance. The city was burning itself to death. Samuel's men roared, their voices echoing through the smoke.
Samuel stood in front of her, looking at her with unyielding eyes. "Do you see, Mariam? The city is mine already. The people are mine already. But I do not want the city without you. You are the pulse of everything."
Adrian's voice cut through like a sword. "Don't listen to him! He doesn't love you ,he owns you. He'll destroy you!"
Mariam put her hands on her head. The voices shouted louder, each word as knife-like.
He speaks the truth.
No Adrian is truth.
Samuel is power.
Adrian is love.
You can't have both. You must choose.
Tears streamed down her face. "Stop! Please stop!"
Samuel took another step forward. His eyes shone softly gold. "Mariam. Just say the word, and all of this ends. The pain, the fear, the weakness you will never feel again."
Adrian's hand shook on his sword. His voice cracked. "Mariam… Look at me. Please. Don't leave me."
Her heart broke. She was standing on the edge of a cliff. One step either way, and her whole world would shatter.
Then Samuel raised his hand. Fire sparked in his palm, glowing bright in the night. "Choose, Mariam. Or I'll choose for you."
The fire rushed toward Adrian.
Mariam screamed.
Unthinkingly, she charged forward. Her hands flared into light red, untamed, uncontrolled. The flame Samuel had released froze in mid-air, twisted, and was blasted back up into the sky.
The whole street was on fire.
Samuel's smile faltered. Adrian's eyes widened. Mariam stood in the middle, her hands glowing, her breath trembling.
The voices ceased.
She wasn't only listening for the first time. She was commanding.
Adrian dropped his sword, staring at her. "Mariam…" His voice was soft, almost broken. "It's you."
Samuel's face hardened. His control broke for the first time. "You awakened it."
Mariam retreated a step, staring at her hands. The flames still flickered, spreading under the skin like fire in the veins. She was alive and frightened at once.
"I… I didn't mean to…" she panted.
Samuel's smile returned, blacker. "Yes, you did. That is what you are. The power is yours. And it will destroy you if you attempt to fight it."
Adrian grasped her shoulders. "No! Listen to me you're not what he says you are! You can control it. You're stronger than him.".
Her breast heaved and fell in great sighs. Her heart thumped. She wanted to believe Adrian. She had to. But her palms still seared with that odd, terrible glow.
And somewhere inside her, she knew something was dangerous. She liked it.
The cadence of marching boots broke the mood.
Soldiers filled the road, Samuel's pennant held high. Black hoods, red armor, knives shining. Dozens of them.
Adrian grasped his sword, but his strength faltered. He came between the soldiers and Mariam, ready to fight to the death.
Samuel raised his hand, and the soldiers stopped. His voice was like thunder. "No one lays a hand on her. She comes with me."
Adrian snarled. "Over my dead body."
Samuel's smile was cruel. "That can be arranged."
Mariam's heart pounded. She looked at Adrian sick, bleeding, hurt, but standing like a bulwark for her. Then at Samuel strong, unyielding, his army behind him, his power endless.
She understood. If she didn't move, Adrian would perish on this battlefield.
She gasped. Her palms seared with heat. The voices spoke in unison:
Save him. Use it. Take it. Be what you are.
The soldiers charged.
Adrian charged with his sword, killing one, but stumbled. Blood soaked his side. He couldn't live.
"Run, Mariam!" he roared, throat rough. "Mariam!"
Her heart shattered. She would never abandon him. Never.
So she screamed.
The light within her exploded. Flame shot from her body, running down the street. Soldiers were thrown back, their armor sizzling, their screams ringing out into night. The ground cleft, fire boiling up like a hurricane.
Even Samuel tripped, his eyes popping.
Mariam stood in the center, radiating like a hot flame, her eyes blazing.
Adrian stared at her in disbelief. Samuel stared in craving.
And the voices exclaimed with pleasure: 'Sir.' This is what you are.
When the fire had extinguished, bodies lay on the ground. There was smoke in the street. Only Samuel stood, unharmed.
He looked at her proudly. "Beautiful. At last, you accept it."
Adrian fell to his knees, gasping, eyes locked on her in horror and amazement.
Mariam shook, tears running down her face. "I didn't mean to"
Samuel cut her off. "You don't need to mean it. You simply need to be it."
Adrian struggled upright, blood dripping. His voice was gruff, broken. "Mariam, don't listen he's playing you!"
Mariam pressed her palms to her chest. Her heart beat wildly. She had no idea she could trust anyone. The power still stormed within her, beast-like and hungry.
Samuel went to her, blocking out Adrian. "You can sense it, can't you? That high. That sense of freedom. You don't need to hide anymore. With me, you burn the world and make it in your name."
Mariam's breath shook. His words penetrated into the very marrow of her bones. She did feel it the rush, the fire, the freedom. She felt invincible for a moment.
But Adrian's face flashed before her mind. Shattered. Covered in blood. And still struggling for her.
Her heart shattered.
She whispered, "I don't want to spoil everything."
Samuel's eyes tightened. "Then you will never succeed."
Adrian roared, voice raw: "Don't you dare you touch her!"
Samuel raised his hand. A stream of fire blasted toward Adrian.
Mariam reacted without thinking. Her magic burst once more, creating a wall of flames between herself and Adrian. The fire burned her skin, but she didn't care.
Samuel's eyes flew open. For the first time ever, he was stunned.
"You… challenge me?" His voice was rough, menacing.
Mariam's chest rose and fell. She stood tall, fire still licking at her hands. Her voice shook, but she forced the words out: "I don't belong to you."
Adrian swallowed, eyes going wide. Samuel's face twisted with rage.
The soldiers who were left began to retreat, fear in their faces. The street was silent save for the crackle of fire.
Samuel stared at her for a last time. His voice, low and menacing. "This is not over. You can't fight me forever."
And then, in a blaze of flames, he vanished.
Silence.
Mariam fell to the floor, trembling. The radiance faded from her face, and she was weak and shaking. Adrian picked her up, cradling her in his arms. His voice was rough with pain but with love.
"You rescued me," he whispered.
Her tears moistened his shirt. "But I almost lost myself."
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, though blood gushed from his body. "Then I'll hold you every time you're lost. I'll remind you of who you are."
Her heart ached with love and fear. She wanted to trust him. She needed to.
But deep inside, the voices whispered.
This is just the beginning.