Page 108 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

Those who hear are quick to jump out of the way. Their wary stares tell me it’s not out of respect or urgency.

We turn and reach the tailor’s storefront. It’s off the street where the fire rages, so smoke is minimal. But there are a dozen people lying on blankets and piles of clothes as makeshift beds. Each one writhes in pain.

I ask, “How long ago did the fire start?”

“Less than half an hour,” Rolf answers.

I gape and spin back to take in the black plumes gathering in the sky. “But it’s so…big.”

It’s been raining on and off for days. How could a fire start and blaze so quickly?

Perhaps the Fae used an accelerant.

No. The Fae didn’t do this. They may be formidable and frightening, but they wouldn’t hurt unarmed innocents in their beds.

Would they?

A wail pierces my eardrums. I whirl around. A young man weeps, hunched over a raw, red palm. A young woman hovers over his shoulder, extending and retracting her hands, not sure what to do.

I rush forward and drop to his side. Gravel digs into my knees.

I suppress my wince. “Hello. My name’s Elara. I’m here to help.”

“Oh, thank the Gods,” the woman whimpers.

There’s nothing but appreciation in her gaze when I look at her.

The man continues to weep, so I ask her, “What happened?”

“Ike grabbed our bedroom door handle, not knowing the fire had already reached the other side.” Her face pales. “We had to jump out of the window.”

“Any rolled ankles or aching legs?” I ask as I reach into my satchel for the burn ointment and a bandage.

The woman shakes her head. “No. It was only from the second story.”

That’s lucky. I’m sure there will be others not so fortunate.

I dip my head to catch the injured man’s attention. “You’re going to be all right, Ike. But this is going to sting before it feels better. Are you ready?”

Tear-filled eyes meet mine, but he dips his chin bravely.

“Good.” I exhale and scoop up a quarter-sized amount of the effective disinfectant and numbing cream. “Now, take a deep breath.”

I rub the cream on his burn and tune out his scream.

Minutes pass. Or is it hours?

I lose all sense of time as I treat patient after patient, burn after burn. The warm power settled beneath my skin seeps into my patients, cleaning cuts and mending the deeper layers of flesh, sure to leave superficial burns in place to hide evidence of the unnatural healing.

I order able-bodied men and women to carry those suffering from smoke inhalation farther away, ignoring their reluctant glares. My magic has cleared away the worst of the smoke from their lungs, but they still need fresh air. And right now, a gray haze hovers over the street around us.

The magic that once behaved as if it didn’t want to help whenever I called now follows my every thought. Utilizing my gift is so easy, I have to take care not to be too obvious.

Thank the Gods the young girl in front of me wears a shawl. No one sees that her charred upper arm is now smooth, shiny pink skin, and the pain draught I dribbled into her mouth has put her right to sleep.

The last thing I need is to reveal my magic. Not when everyone already watches me like I’m a viper ready to strike.

Take it easy, I murmur to the power flowing through my veins.