Duel

She could not believe it had finally come to this.1

So it was now the results of a duel that would determine the fate of her children, and ultimately, their impact on the world. This would either make or break them. Four centuries of preparation, and things would finally end here – 2

Syrriene braced herself, then turned the corner – 3

Here, in a filthy, cluttered backstreet, of all places – was her finished thought.4

Vulcan was not there.5

She had made sure to arrive fashionably late, but perhaps he wanted to make a more impressive statement. She knew he liked to make an entrance. But the only person here to impress was Theodore.6

The one thing that she and Vulcan had agreed on is that, for very good reason, they did not want the whole Council involved in the custody battle under any circumstances, and so they asked for their most trusted earth-dweller and neutral friend to bear witness should this event ever be brought up.7

Theodore was already there, waiting in the darkening shadows of sunset. With him was a dark-haired boy, scrawny and possibly orphaned, by the looks of him. They approached Syrriene as she entered the alley. They stopped at an arm’s length from her, and Theodore and the boy each took a bow. Syrriene bowed her head slightly in return.8

Theodore held out his hand and Syrriene took it. Their joined hands moved to the side as they moved closer and embraced with a small kiss on each cheek, then parted.9

“Theodore, old friend! It’s been a while.”10

“Yes it has,” the ageing man agreed. His light brown hair was streaked with grey, and his sombre eyes drooped with fatigue, but his smile was something she had missed. “I’m sorry that our reunion had to be called for such circumstances.”11

“As am I,” Syrriene said.12

“Last time we met, you and Vulcan were raising two beautiful daughters. Much has changed, I gather.” Theodore stretched his arm out to the boy, and put his hand on the boy’s back. “This is my apprentice, Isaac.”13

The boy smiled politely and he was obviously shy, then bowed again. He held a digital recording device that appeared not to be in use.14

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked him to record this. Just in case.”15

“Of course,” Syrriene said, she turned and smiled charmingly at the boy. “Nice to meet you, Isaac.”16

Another shy smile trembled upon his lips. “Likewise,” he finally said.17

“Thank you again for coming. I appreciate it very much.” Syrriene turned away from Isaac and urged Theodore along. “But can we really trust the boy to keep quiet? You do not want the Council to get their hands on him.”18

“Of course. Our lips are sealed. We do not want to be involved with the Council, no matter what,” Theodore replied in a hushed tone. Syrriene turned back openly towards Isaac, but still faced Theodore.19

“Well, we must save chit chat for later. There is work to be done.” Just as Syrriene finished her sentence, there was a roar from a short distance, and a wave of orange swept over the chain-link fence on the opposite side of the alley. The metal glowed white then liquefied into puddles of silver on the bitumen.20

“Speak of the devil,” Theodore said. Syrriene chuckled at the irony of the statement.21

Through the sizzle appeared a tall, dark man. Subtle shades of red and maroon ran through his black hair and tinted its shine. He wore black pants, a black trenchcoat, combat boots, and most noticeably, the confident strut that came with all great power. A gold chain hung loosely around his neck, and a medallion rested on his chest.22

Theodore left Syrriene’s side and went towards the approaching man. Isaac followed like a puppy. Theodore and Isaac bowed, and an exchange of words followed. Theodore and the man shook hands, then embraced in a brutal, masculine way that still conveyed friendship.23

They approached Syrriene. Theodore and Isaac stood between her and the man.24

“Syrriene,” he said. “Aren’t you just the pretty little picture tonight? Out for an evening of whoring around when we’re done?”25

“Ah, typical Vulcan. Your subtle wisdom ceases to amaze me.” Syrriene raised her head and looked extremely smug. “Do not be jealous. I’ve no doubt you will find refuge in a loose bimbo downstairs. I do hope she’ll be kind to your current finances.” Syrriene wore the biggest smile as she spoke.26

“My finances are none of your concern. Not now that you’ve taken it all, you greedy bitch,” Vulcan snapped. Isaac retreated behind Theodore.27

“I did nothing. You destroyed yourself,” Syrriene said, now a little louder.28

“At least I worked for it. I’ve earned my power back. Now it’s time you returned what is mine.”29

“They are mine! The children belong with me.”30

Before Vulcan could respond, Theodore interrupted. “Let us get the formalities out of the way, first.” He turned to Isaac and gave a single nod. Isaac turned the camera on and moved away from the middle of the alley and up against the back door of one of the buildings that made it so narrow, then pointed it at the three most remarkable people he had ever met in his life. Theodore spoke to Isaac. 31

Syrriene and Vulcan were left alone for a few moments. In that short time frame, Vulcan examined his former lover. She was as stunning as when he had first laid eyes on her, with her pale skin and flowing hair. She reminded him of a river, peaceful and beautiful in parts, and ferociously merciless in others. Her overall physique looked delicate, but only once he and her other lovers waded in deeper did they discover her true power, akin to a calm stream with a magnificent undercurrent.32

She looked fantastic for a woman who was about to duel – with her teal irises almost as pale as the white of her eyes, her blond hair tinged blue at certain angles, her sandals that extended to mid-calf – and with the thin white rag she called a dress, that revealed all the right places in all the right ways to tease a man senseless…33

Of course, she was fading with the fading light, thus her beauty was too. With the coming of night her radiance was less and less visible, like with the coming of her darkness. It was that very darkness that had overpowered his attraction to her. If she hadn’t turned into unmeltable ice inside, he could probably have spent another millennium with her.34

“I’m flattered, but you’ve had your chance, and you and your primitive jealousy blew it.”35

“I’m sure you took delight in feeding that jealousy excellent reasons for being. Worry not, for I was merely inspecting what I certainly won’t be missing.”36

Syrriene shot him a warning glare. Vulcan mirrored the look and smirked.37

Theodore looked directly at the camera and introduced the situation. “Syrriene, Angel of the Sea and Mistress of the Universal Waters, versus Vulcan, Lord of Flame and Creator of All that Burns Below, in a custody battle for their two daughters Amber and Delilah.” Theodore stepped out of the view of the lens. “Go on, pretend we’re not here.”38

Syrriene and Vulcan stood awkwardly in the presence of Theodore and Isaac with his camera. After a few moments, Vulcan said, “Right. Let’s get to business.”39

“Are you sure you can take it?” Syrriene’s voice was elegant but carried a hint of menace.40

“I’ve no doubt my fire will turn whatever you throw at me into a fine, harmless vapour.”41

“Very well,” Syrriene said. In a matter of milliseconds, she flicked her fingers towards her palms and, surprisingly polished way, made a fist. With that action, the air around her hand vibrated and droplets of water formed and combined, building an unstable sphere of liquid hovering over her hand. She pulled her arm back and as she did so, she partially opened her fist. She then threw her hand forward, opening it completely, and the ball of water flew forward. Satisfied that she had done that in one single second, Syrriene beamed with pride.42

The ball of water split into many smaller ones, and as they flew through the air at Vulcan they lengthened and solidified. Dozens of sharp icicles were approaching him. Vulcan simply waved his hand in an arc motion before his face and the icicles became water that poured from the ever shrinking ice pieces in mid air. Vulcan looked at Syrriene and made a yawn motion at the small pools of water that rippled before his feet.43

“Well, if that is all then I shall be taking my daughters home, now.” He started to turn around to leave the way he came when a growl trembled the sky and stopped him in his tracks.44

“I see you have the weathergirl helping you out tonight.” Vulcan turned and faced Syrriene. She sneered at him.45

“Water is everywhere. I do not need help from anyone.” As she said this she aimed three handfuls of ice at him.46

The heat from Vulcan’s hands melted every one of them.47

“Unfortunately,” Vulcan said as his deep, transparent red eyes sparkled, “you can’t make water without oxygen.” He stretched his arms back and thrusted them forward. From his open palms, flames stretched all along both sides of the alley and curved around the back of Syrriene, setting fire to every crate, scrap, and mouldy cardboard box in its path. The heat shocked Theodore and Isaac, but the flames missed them. Vulcan began to close his hands and the flames ceased. All that was left was a chillingly electric atmosphere and the cadenced crackling of burning matter.48

Isaac marvelled at the footage he had captured from his position.49

“Those petty little candle flames won’t stop me.” Syrriene closed her eyes and summoned back-up. Her chest heaved up and down as she breathed deeply. In her head, she chanted ‘I call upon thee, vicious rain, hither come and extinguish flame.’ The words resonated in a lyrical, sinuous way that sounded like a lullaby with a trace of danger. The lost dialect echoed through the ages and recoiled off the darkening sky and building storm clouds.50

A cold gust of wind made the flames dance and her dress flutter gracefully. Without warning, thunder boomed and lightning lit up the alley, making Vulcan’s little fires look like torches pointed at the sun.51

“Just as I suspected. You are using the weathergirl, aren’t you?” Vulcan said calmly.52

“Lady Nexus and I are allies, but she has no doing in this.” Syrriene looked him dead in the eyes, and the thunder made the ground shake. “Why? Jealous you can’t make the earth move?”53

“To envy you would be to ridicule my dignity. I can not only move the earth, I can sink it and bury it.”54

“You certainly never made the Earth move under me.” Syrriene seemed to spray water from her hands at the fires lining the alley. They hissed in protest and diminished before returning to their initial size, engulfing and nibbling on their various fuels.55

“I don’t recall having to. You were cheap and easy,” Vulcan sniped. However that was not true. It was anything but true.56

Syrriene’s features glowed with rage. The air itself seemed to shift, then the fires died in a sudden whoomf!57

All was still. Alarmingly still. Slowly the atmosphere thickened to the density of lead, and the space around them was dangerously copious. Not a breath was audible.58

A streetlamp flickered, unsure whether to stay or go. Inconstant flashes of sheet lightning illuminated the outline of her slender figure from far behind, but there was no thunder. The alley was bulging with eerie somnolence.59

Syrriene broke her intense stare with a blink. In that moment, the sky seemed to crease open with light and thunder roared like an angry lion. Rain fell hard, stinging and burning. Vulcan’s body hissed at the sharp wetness. It whipped his exposed skin like tiny cords with incredible momentum.60

Wind grew to the strength where it was hard to stand up against – for a mortal, anyway. The rain and wind flew wildly all around. Lightning started and ceased every two seconds, as if goading the world below it. Thunder crashed like cymbals gone insane. All the while, Syrriene remained unmoving, like a ghostly blur amongst the chaos. Her blue silhouette flicked on and off with the lightning,61

Crates began to roll along the alley, and cardboard boxes and trash were pushed and pulled in all directions. Syrriene and Vulcan stood intently fixated on each other. The rain pelted down and loose objects tore furiously through the thrashing air around the alley, then out.62

Seeing that Vulcan appeared unaffected, Syrriene closed her eyes and breathed slower and deeper as she harnessed more power from within her. She opened them, and the storm had an added ingredient. Objects clanked as hailstones collided with them.63

Vulcan put his arm over his head to shield himself from skull fractures. He was tough, and he could take a few rocks. Syrriene would have to test just how tough he really was.64

Theodore and Isaac were gone. They had probably retreated into the building.65

Vulcan was barely audible in the rain, hail, wind, and thunder, but he seemed to be teasing Syrriene, daring her to try more…66

So she narrowed her eyes, and tightened even more. The hailstones that fell following that action were bigger. And bigger. Windows were breaking. The hail crashed harder into the plain grey buildings. They were now half the size of his fist, yet he never seemed to get hit. The ground was white and growing.67

A hailstone fell on the roof of one building, and snapped an electrical wire. The cord fell, sparks flying from its split end, and an unsuspecting Vulcan was in its path. The cord made contact with his wet coat, and he lit up and shook violently. The wind died, and the hail stopped. The rain was becoming softer.68

Vulcan collapsed. On the ground, he lay motionless except for the occasional flinch and spontaneous tremor. Syrriene moved closer to him. She watched him convulse every now and again, at irregular intervals.69

Feeling satisfied about her victory, she turned around and began to leave the alley when he rose. Vulcan was on his feet, tall and stable.70

“Come on, honey. You didn’t really think that a little zap would keep me down, did you?” He fixed his trenchcoat, smoothing out non-existent creases. There was a clumsily ripped hole in the leather on his chest. “You know me better than that,” he said. A corner smile surfaced on his face as he lowered his head sinfully and kept his concentrated gaze on her. The image flicked on and off with the flashing sky lights.71

“I’m very upset about this, though,” Syrriene heard him say. A flash of lightning revealed him covering a hand over his heart, where the electricity had struck him. “This was my favourite coat.”72

Vulcan threw flames over the sides of the alley. Despite the surroundings being wet, they caught. The orange luminosity revealed a street covered in melting white and a leaking tank of fuel upon ignition. No doubt that petrol is what had allowed the fires to light.73

A trail of flame snaked down the alley from behind Vulcan to an obscure point beyond Syrriene. Random fires crackled all around them on debris left from the storm.74

Vulcan came a few steps towards Syrriene. The hailstones he stepped on and the ones within a small radius from his body immediately gave in to his intimidating radiation, leaving a short path of bitumen amongst rocks of white.75

The alley was alight with the magnificent colours of the sun. Strange, elongated shadows dimmed and brightened on the building walls. The ice on the ground still fought the heat.76

Syrriene began to sweat. She had, after all, been most at home on arctic shores and in sub-zero climates. Water, however, she could bear at any temperature. The rain had ceased.77

Vulcan began to emit a red aura. The ice around him melted even faster. The electrical wire hung limp in the background, still sending sparks flying from time to time. All was peaceful one again, with the added charge of animosity lingering in the air.78

Theodore and Isaac were gone. Perhaps they were expecting this duel to be more of a verbal debate than a battle of the forces of nature.79

Vulcan cast balls of fire against the building walls. They hit solid and spattered, then spread.80

“Why don’t you aim one of those at me, darling?” Syrriene mocked.81

“Because,” Vulcan answered, “I am a man, and you are a woman….”82

“I can take it. You know I can.” Her voice was serious, but her eyes were playful. Something Vulcan hadn’t seen for decades.83

Vulcan’s veins bulged from his skin. “Don’t tempt me,” he warned. There was no playfulness in his eyes. His medallion shone more beautifully than ever in firelight. Just another perk from having your most sacred jewellery forged in the scorching depths of the Great Seethak Gorge.84

“I suggest we settle this before I try to destroy you completely.”85

“Oh, I know you’ll try,” Syrriene said.86

Vulcan ignored the comment. “Perhaps we should each raise one. Delilah has always had an affinity towards me.”87

“Are you suggesting we separate them?”88

“Why not?”89

“Because that would be cruel. Those girls stick together like glue, you know that.”90

“Well it’s not like we’d keep them apart. They could see each other whenever they want. Besides, they’ll find that they need more space as they grow up.”91

“If they grow up, considering you’re their father…”92

Vulcan sneered. He did not appreciate being called a bad father. If anything, he would teach them how to cope with life, rather than sugar-coating it with rainbows and butterflies. They would be stronger with him.93

“And since when does the almighty Vulcan stoop to negotiation, anyway?” Syrriene added a touch of theatrics to her already surprised voice.94

“I thought that perhaps I’d employ you methods rather than mine.”95

“And why is that?”96

“Because you’re sneaky and manipulative, and you still get what you want.”97

Syrriene laughed. “Straight from the horse’s mouth… I can’t blame you for wanting to try a little discretion. You’ve always been about charging in, guns blazing, completely lacking thought…”98

Vulcan stood perfectly still. An angry grunt loitered in his throat.99

“What’s wrong? Has somebody finally deflated your ego?”100

“The only thing that’s deflated in the past seven decades is my wallet, no thanks to you.”101

“Don’t blame me for your mistakes.”102

Vulcan became silent. How dare she lay blame on him. She stole his heart, his children, then his wealth. Now she was going to take away any role he had left in his children’s lives.103

The tingles in his fingers begged to be let loose around her neck. He resisted, he really tried, but he found himself flinging a ball of flame the size of a lion’s head at Syrriene. It grew larger and hollowed into a mouth with pointed teeth on an ambiguous animal’s head. Syrriene responded with a spray of water that flattened from a sphere and engulfed the flame. It hissed and extinguished in mid-air. A pool of water lay before her, the fire it smothered seemingly still alive and pleading to be let out of the cage that was the now murky water.104

Syrriene began gathering water from the air and flinging ball after ball of it at Vulcan. They all turned to gleaming points of ice, reflecting orange flame from all around and dispersing the light, creating semi-transparent shadows that waltzed on every surface of the alley.105

Vulcan drew a breath and brought his hands infront of him, his palms out and fingertips bent in slightly. A tiny spark of orange kindled in the space, then grew and grew. As the fire grew he stretched his arms out infront of him, and the icicles melted into little cubes that then evaporated when they entered the fire’s domain.106

Vulcan reached his hands out above his head and the ball of fire grew, some of it materialising. Swirls of orange, yellow, red and brown stirred and pulsated in mid air. Smoke formed and Syrriene began to find it hard to breathe.107

She continued to throw water and ice at Vulcan, but to no effect. His body emitted heat that could well have melted rock. His bare chest and stomach gleamed with sweat that said “beware.” Syrriene began to struggle for breath. His fire was using up all the oxygen, and all the water was gone. Her attacks were harder to make and impose, and eventually there was no moisture left in the air to work with. Her skin was drying out.108

She watched him a moment – taking one last look at what she’s giving up. The medallion that hung from his neck looked an eternity more valuable in the firelight. His eyes were a shade deeper red than usual. The fire was not just his power, it was his passion – it was obvious from the way he controlled himself when he played with it. She loved that about him. He was as spontaneous and unpredictable as the element was, and his heat was the only she could bear. Not only bear, but eventually crave.109

She watched as his tanned, muscled body tensed beneath his trenchcoat, and wondered if he still had the dragon tattoo that glowed the hues of fire on his left shoulder blade when he was overcome by fits of passion. The energy he held above was almost hypnotic.110

Syrriene snapped back into reality. She cringed in the choking smoke. She had to get away, preferably to some place open where there would be unlimited oxygen. She hated to run away from trouble, but she had to before she suffocated.111

She exited the alley and ran onto the open, deserted street. She gasped as air rushed into her lungs, but it was still polluted with Vulcan’s smoke. She moved further along the street.112

Huge clouds of black were visible, blacker than the rest of the town night had fallen upon. The light from the dull streetlamps was dimmed by the smoke coming from the alley she had just left – as if night was an ebony fog consuming all that was not dark. Then, the roaring from the ball of flames stopped. Syrriene could make out a shape emerging through the parting smoke, cutting through the blackness. Vulcan had come out to search for her.113

Syrriene retrieved her composure. She stood tall and waited for him, despite still being weakened from balancing on the threshold of suffocation.114

Somehow, he found her.115

Syrriene watched his shadow approach her, with the darkest of reds pulsing and of changing opacity like a swarm of angry bees. The light from the streetlamps was beginning to shine through the blackness again.116

Vulcan kept his eyes on Syrriene’s seemingly transparent body as he walked towards her. Suddenly it was more than his children he was fighting for; it was also his pride. He stopped right infront of her. She was motionless.117

He snapped his fingers and a flame swelled from the contact between his thumb and index finger. He held it by her face, illuminating her features. Her skin had remoisturised.118

Syrriene stared into the rubies that were his eyes. She had never seen him more furious. Not at her, anyway. She had seen his wrath, and she was the only one he had never directed it towards.119

Until now.120

“I’ve always been patient with you,” he whispered. The red in his eyes stirred. He was close to her now, their noses almost touching. Up close, firelight really wasn’t flattering for her. It unveiled fear in the face of she who appeared fearless.121

“Now I’ve had enough.” Syrriene felt his breath as he spoke, much too hot for comfort. He was bubbling inside, she could feel it from the ardour that his very presence radiated. It was like standing on a volcano that was about to erupt explosively. Syrriene thought she would almost literally melt. For the first time in her immortal life, she felt as though she were the inferior opponent.122

Syrriene took a step back, showing not fear, but disgust. “At last. I thought you never would.”123

Vulcan took another step towards her. Syrriene stepped back again. “It was all a game to you, wasn’t it? You loved to tempt me.” He stepped towards her, his nose millimetres from hers. “Test me.”124

Syrriene looked him straight in the eyes. “Gee, I don’t know Vulcan,” she said softly and with more sarcasm than was humanly possible. But then, they weren’t entirely human…125

Her freezing breath smelt of fish and sea water, and fell on his mouth. He wanted to gag, but held himself.126

Syrriene turned her back to him and walked blindly in the direction he had already pushed her in. “What on Earth makes you think that?” She turned swiftly and faced him as she said this.127

Vulcan’s heat intensified as he moved closer to her. “You were calm with others. Patient, kind. Yet I was the target of all your anger. All your hatred, your little irritations.”128

"That is because you were the source of it.”129

Vulcan’s nostrils flared. The force of the air that escaped them was close to that emitted by the death of a star.130

Syrriene stood her ground.131

Vulcan snapped his fingers again, and the flame went out. There was a cold void where he had been standing. He was gone. It was entirely black everywhere but the small areas around the streetlamps, he was nowhere to be seen.132

“This is not over!” Syrriene bellowed into the emptiness between her and the buildings around the street. “Show yourself, coward!”133

Then, as clear as if it has been right beside her ear, there was the snap of another click of the fingers. Syrriene’s eyes wandered to the rapid appearance of a new flame, much farther away, yet still slicing through the night with impeccable precision.134

Syrriene was drawn to it. She made her way angrily towards what she thought was Vulcan, with the grace and fury of white-water rapids.135

Another snap of he fingers, and it disappeared. She continued in its general direction. The air smelt of rain and decomposing paper matter. There was a flare of orange light, and flames made the two sides of a road around her.136

Syrriene felt the whoosh of the flames as they rushed towards and beyond her. Goosebumps appeared on her skin just before Vulcan rose from an aggressive booth of jagged flames. They spread out beside him like wings.137

He’d led her into a trap. They were in another alley, and he was blocking the exit. Solid concrete walls stood behind the fires, and behind her was the remains of a brick wall with barbed-wire coiled across the top. He had finally outsmarted her that night.138

Vulcan’s stance was as confident as always, and ready for battle. He wasn’t going anywhere.139

Syrriene did not let show her doubt, but Vulcan knew it was there, toiling and tugging at her every nerve.140

“I am no coward.”141

Syrriene grinned. She had finally said something that got to him. “You are. You always were.”142

Vulcan said nothing. The only thing that moved was his fingers, flexing and twitching as if he and Syrriene were in an old western shoot-out. But those glorious days were over.143

“It’s why you did nothing while I teased you. You resisted fighting back because you knew you had no chance up against me,” she continued. “Oh yes, I enjoyed it. I loved every tic of stress I inflicted on you. Every prick of pain, every icy breath that brought you discomfort.” Syrriene smiled, pleased that she had hurt him more than he actually deserved. She sensed danger coming, but the thrill of it kept her going.144

“Your every spasm of tension, I loved it. The pleasure that taunting you brought me was greater than any pleasure you ever attempted to give me.” A lie. Syrriene hated lying, but the moment took hold of her and she couldn’t resist.145

Vulcan’s blood was magma in his veins. It was beyond boiling point. He longed to rip her limbs off her torso and tear her flesh apart with his bare hands. They burned with desire for destruction. Torture.146

He watched her pale, glazy eyes reflect the fire all around her. There was a lot of junk for it to burn. Hopefully she would suffocate soon. He threw more flames, this time aiming at the rooves of the buildings.147

“Coward,” Syrriene cackled. She sent shards of razor sharp ice racing towards him. Vulcan stepped to the side and dodged all but one. One dagger of ice penetrated his trenchcoat and grazed his arm. Blood oozed out and singed the leather in its path.148

A glint in her eyes dared him to fight back. Vulcan restrained his hands. Let her throw her measly little icicles.149

He flinched as a piece of ice that had broken off dug its way into his eye. He closed his eyes and a single tear fell from one, melting the ice and burning a hole in the bitumen onto which it fell.150

Vulcan drew his hand back then flung it forward, and a trail of rushing fire was an extension of his arm. He let it go and the flame charred the air towards Syrriene.151

Syrriene threw open her palm before the line of flying fire and a fluttering spray of water hosed it down. It flared in protest, then vanished into thin air.152

Vulcan quivered as he gathered the energy from the natural and synthetic processes happening all around him, and transferred as much heat as he could into his right hand. He compacted it into a tiny ball that glowed afloat in his hand, and hurled it at Syrriene. It screeched through the air with incredible power.153

Syrriene tried to extinguish it, but nothing happened. She flung herself away from it, but even at an arm’s distance from it, the skin on her shoulder blistered and the scales on her forearm seared and popped. Part of her dress burned away into nothing. The ball of flame hit the bricks behind her. The bricks began to shift in their places and sputter. The ball of flame exploded like a supernova and broke up into many more fast-moving orbs of hot, orange energy that ripped through the atmosphere in all directions and multiplied into slightly slower ones upon every collision.154

Syrriene ducked and dodged, but she twice hollered in pain as she was hit.155

The sound of her screams and slowly sizzling flesh was music to Vulcan’s ears.156

Syrriene formed herself a protective shield of thick mist that enveloped her like a bubble, working against the weaker flames. Eventually they had all lost energy and died out. When they were gone, the corona of mist that had blurred her figure slowly thinned and dispersed into the night.157

Vulcan saw the damage he’d done. Syrriene’s left arm was raw and pink and white. The skin on her forearm that used to be covered in silvery-blue scales had turned a dark, fleshy red with streaks of black, burnt scales. Scabs were already forming. Some scales remained fully attached, while some hung loosely from the skin that was left.158

Guilt began to squirm its way into Vulcan’s conscious thoughts, but he had learned to ignore his conscience long ago. It was a useless tool of doubt that impaired judgement and stalled necessary actions. Vulcan justified that she would not hold back from hurting him, so why should he endanger his life for moral righteousness? The woman was every bit as strong as he, and she would use that against him. She deserved more than a little burn.159

Syrriene seemed angrier than ever. She couldn’t take it. So finally the bitch got a taste of her own medicine.160

She closed her eyes, her feet splayed and hands by her side.161

Vulcan produced flames and spread them everywhere within the alley. The papers and trash all around them dried up, then caught fire. The alley lit up and heat pulsed in waves, invisible to sight and not detectable by touch, but simply by being. Swirls of infernal yellows, oranges, and reds twisted and twined in the rhythmic patterns of Vulcan’s heartbeat.162

Smoke rose and created a roof over the alley, one as dense and dark as the road itself. Syrriene appeared unaffected. She stood immobile, except for her rising and falling chest. The flames avoided her. They seemed to be repulsed. She radiated a coldness that repelled any other element. Satan himself would get chills in her presence. He was glad it wasn’t his boss in his place – with the power to obliterate a god, he could – and would – certainly kill her. But death was not what Vulcan was trying to force on Syrriene. He has not the power to kill an immortal. Only his superior did.163

In the distance, there was a sound. It came closer by the second, churning and crashing. Syrriene had summoned water from the northern shore. It was close.164

Suddenly the fires behind Vulcan went out. A thin sliver of water covered the ground. Vulcan’s boots tread in it. It crept into the alley from behind him and engulfed each and every inch of fire in its path. Vulcan turned to see where it was coming from, but there was nothing but darkness.165

Water seemed to cut through the darkness behind him and creep into the alley, slithering over everything and extinguishing all fires. A layer of wetness coated every charred and damaged surface, and made them glisten in the silent lightning.166

All the fires had ceased.167

Vulcan looked up. The night sky was clear. The smoke was gone. Something had scared it away. Behind him, Vulcan heard crashing and tumbling. It was loud and much, much closer. It sounded like the surf on the coasts of Hawaii.168

Out of the darkness, half a lake of sea water fell down on him. There was hissing and steam as the water made contact with him. The alley filled up with cold, crisp liquid. Vulcan tumbled and thrashed in it. The water rose.169

Syrriene floated on it, watching Vulcan struggle, savouring the sweet musical notes of his desperate gasps for air being drowned out by her dearest friend.170

Vulcan took hold of a cable hanging from the roof of one building – it was in his reach now that the water had risen so high. The water pushed his body towards the back of the alley, but he held onto the cable with all his might. He hoped it would not snap.171

The water crashed into the back wall of the alley and curled over, starting in the other direction. Vulcan’s body was pulled the opposite way.172

Syrriene glided across the water’s surface to him, in complete control of her movements and not in the least distressed by the water’s violent thrashing. Suddenly the currents slowed, then stopped.173

From the street, the alley looked completely filled up, with the water being retained by some invisible shield to stop it flooding anywhere else but that alley.174

Syrriene offered Vulcan a hand. He took it to stay afloat, then let go once he realised what he’d accepted. He would not let his enemy lend him help; have mercy, or pity him. The water was calm and still.175

Vulcan held on to the cable. Syrriene stood on the water’s flat surface as if it was solid. Her feet were right beside him. He had to get out of it, but his energy was waning. He tensed his muscles, and felt the heat from inside his body seep out of him. The water around him started bubbling. Syrriene felt the heat, but did nothing. The water bubbled more violently, and then steam rose.176

“Come on, darling. You’ll have to try harder than that,” she said.177

She was right. There was far too much water to evaporate. Vulcan stopped. He felt weak. He used the last of his strength to pull himself up higher using the cable. His head, shoulders, arms and chest were above the water. He held on to the cable, and his head hung limply.178

Thunder rumbled softly, accompanying the bright but harmless flashes of lightning that lit up the surroundings frequently.179

Syrriene crouched and touched her hand to the water. The water grew cold. In the brief flickers of light, Vulcan could see the entire surface of the water crust over and solidify. His body grew cold. Light.180

He saw in a split second the surface turn white from him to the radius of his body length.181

Darkness. There was nothing but the coldness stiffening around his body.182

Light. The whiteness had spread to the walls of the buildings on either side of him, and was spreading further forward and up the walls.183

Darkness. He could only hear the sound of distant thunder, and felt cold and numb. Unable to move below the chest. Paralysed.184

Light. The entire surface had turned to ice. The white, solid water held him captive.185

Darkness. A soft touch caressed his face. Syrriene spoke to him. Her breath on his cheek was colder than the ice that held his body. She was colder than anything he’d ever known.186

“I think this is a fair indication if who is better able to protect the children.” The ice rendered him painfully numb, but her breath chilled him to the bone. His head drooped. One of his hands let go of the cable and rested on the ice.187

Syrriene sighed. “Aww…” She stroked his face gently. “I almost take pity on you.”188

A flash of lightning allowed him to see that she was sitting close beside him.189

Minutes passed.190

Syrriene bent down and wrapped her arms around his chest, pressed her face against his.191

“What are you still doing here?” Vulcan managed to grumble.192

Syrriene pressed her face harder on his cheek. “Can I not have a moment to enjoy my victory?”193

Vulcan cleared his throat.194

Syrriene went on. “You’ve never felt so cold before. It’s almost bearable. Except for this little flame inside I know is still burning…” She caressed the other side of his face. Her hands were frosty, but also soft.195

Vulcan groaned. Perhaps he could switch the roles around. “May I?” he asked softly.196

“May you what?”197

Vulcan shivered in the cold. A flash of lightning illuminated the whole scene. He exhaled and his breath was visible, floating away into the night sky. “Have one last kiss?” he whispered.198

“Hahahahaha!” Syrriene cackled. “You are in no position to mock your superior.”199

Vulcan’s teeth chattered.200

“Oh,” she breathed in a sympathetic tone. “You’re serious.” Syrriene took a moment to consider. She had once really loved him. Was it possible that he still had feelings for her? This would be her last chance to set things straight. She would never again be able to feel him this cold, this vulnerable or inferior. This weak.201

Even if he still loved her, it didn’t matter. She would grant him his last wish, then take the children.202

Syrriene moved her hand over his jaw and pressed her lips on his. They felt glacial and almost dead.203

Vulcan closed his eyes and felt the transfer of her coldness. The hair all over his body stood up. Memories of every ungrateful, sarcastic and contemptuous moment they’d ever shared flooded back to him. He felt anger build and rise from his center. As much as he wanted to pull away, he held the connection for longer. He restrained his heat to his center and drew more coldness from her chilling tongue. Before he knew it, his anger turned to wrath.204

They both enjoyed the very last moment as a glimpse of the good old days showed itself. Syrriene felt the warmth on his lips. She quickly pulled away. The ice was still hard as diamond.205

She stood and walked away.206

Vulcan was actually glad he had relived an instant of the love they once shared, because he was about to destroy her.207

Vulcan tensed his body to the point of shaking. He placed his hands flat on the ice. That beneath his hands returned to liquid form. Suddenly he was no longer cold.208

Heat exploded from his body and spread like wildfire. The resistance that the ice upheld was audible.209

Syrriene turned around. Veins of orange snaked through the ice from Vulcan in all dimensions, like tree roots grew into earth. Within moments they had extended to where she was, then further. Cracks appeared in the ice, following every slithering trail of glowing orange. The cracks extended down the wall of ice that closed the alley in.210

Vulcan breathed fast and heavy, then balled his hands into fists. He lifted them slightly then brought them down on the ice. The entire surface quaked. Syrriene froze.211

He expelled heat from his feet and the ice beneath began to melt, however the wall remained solid. Vulcan flexed every muscle in his body with all his might, and held it. The ice began to shake. The buildings trembled. The earth rumbled. The concrete walls that formed the alley grew weak and unstable.212

Suddenly pieces of ice fell away, and the centre of the block collapsed into a crack in the ground.213

The buildings beside them shook violently, but Vulcan tried his hardest to contain the energy to just the alley.214

Syrriene slid into the lower part of the giant block of ice. Sharp edges protruded from the center line.215

Vulcan hauled himself out of the ice, then went over to her and offered her his hand. She took it and he lead them to the back of the alley, where he had been holding on to the cable. Everything shook dramatically.216

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. The noises all around drowned out as he spoke. “Trusting people has always been your biggest, most fatal flaw,” he smirked. Syrriene tore away from him. She was on the other side of a crack of ice.217

The ice began to rise, then plummeted down with Syrriene still standing on it. Vulcan looked down at her. For the first time in eternity, he had seen her not as a powerful goddess, but as a lost little girl.218

No. He wasn’t going to let his conscience make an appearance now. It was dormant, close to extinct, and he would not let it wake when he was so close to victory. He could almost taste it on his lips.219

The ice below began to melt. Bright red appeared beneath it.220

Magma rose from a crack in the ground, and vanquished the ice slowly, steadily. The water cooled the magma’s surface, forming a brown, solid crust that floated on that underneath.221

Syrriene was still sinking.222

The ice Vulcan stood on fell down to her level. The higher walls of ice came crashing down all around them, cold succumbing to hot in a theatrical display of weak white and ferocious red splashing and gurgling. Before long, the lava had spread across the entire alley and illuminated the whole scene, and swallowed every piece of ice except for one column. Vulcan stood on the solid crust of cooled lava.223

Everything smelt of sulphur.224

The column of ice shrank by the minute.225

Vulcan stood coolly and watched as Syrriene came closer and closer to the lava.226

“What’s the matter, beautiful?” Vulcan’s deep voice was menacing. “Afraid?”227

Syrriene did not respond.228

“You have no chance of dying, and I have no chance of killing you. But I shall really enjoy watching you suffer. Watching you do what is your own impossibility. Drown.”229

The column melted and her feet inched closer to the scorching, glowing surface. It swirled and snaked in masses of rock, red and brown dancing beneath her like fish in water. It was waiting for her.230

Vulcan set fire to some of the surfaces. It was a burning inferno contained in a single little alley that lit up the sky.231

Vulcan and Syrriene turned their attention to a lineup of colourful, diversely scattered people. There were eleven of them, each unique and standing together on the street behind the shortening wall of ice, watching.232

Among them were feathers and bats, blacks and violets, rare gems from the most distant lands, dresses, suits, and a rainbow of different coloured eyes.233

Suddenly all thought of victory evaporated from Vulcan’s mind, and all thoughts of being swallowed by the raging blood of Earth escaped Syrriene’s conscious. Their hearts sank.234

It was the break of dawn, and the Council had found them.235