As soon as Mara spoke, I tensed, waiting for Remiel's outburst. His knuckles whitened around the staff of his scythe, and darkness writhed around him. The bands were so thick and viscous I almost believed they might actually overpower Mara's fire.

Almost.

Which is why when I caught his eye, I shook my head ever so slightly and prayed he understood my message. More importantly, I prayed he would accept what I was asking. To take the chance to save himself.

It was foolish of me to hope, of course. Considering that moments ago he had been willing to sacrifice himself while I escaped, but really, this was different. Mara hadn't said she was going to kill me. If Remiel left quietly, we might both survive this.

"Morana," he whispered. Pleaded. It was the same tone I had used when he asked me to save myself.

"Morana," Mara repeated, rubbing her lips together as if tasting my name. The flames in her eyes roared brighter. "Moranthia."

"Yes," I said, nodding enthusiastically while gesturing toward Remiel to leave the way we came. He could find a place to hide and think. His shoulders slumped, and he took the first step backward. "That's my name. Moranthia Bedisa."

"We have the same last name? That's odd." Mara snapped her fingers together and settled on the ground beside me. I flinched as her body heat washed over me.

"It's not odd. We're sisters." Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Remiel melted into the trees. "That's why you recognized my name."

"No."

Mara shook her head and flicked a blade of grass with her fingers. It shriveled at her touch, but when she pulled her hand away, the blade sprang back bright and green. The magic protecting this place was strong.

"No. I know your name because the woman in the archway calls for you often."

"T-the woman?" I looked at the archway, its center once again nothing more than an empty space between stone columns. It had been her who had called out for me. "That's our mother."

"I don't think I have a mother." She put her fingers against her temple. "But I must have, right? Why don't I remember?"

I snorted. "Sounds like we have that in common, too."

She brushed the soot on her shoulder and looked at me with curiosity. It was strange seeing her look so innocent. The few memories I'd regained had portrayed my sister as someone strong and commanding. Perhaps even a little unnerving. But this version of her seemed little more than a child.

"You can't remember things, either?"

"I couldn't. Not for a long time, but..."

My thoughts spun. How could I turn this to our advantage? My attention drifted to the sparks rising from her body, and the fresh burns on my shoulder flared in pain.

"But what?"

"But I, uh...I got rid of the flames."

Her back went straight, and the freckles across her nose bunched together as she scrunched it. "You had the flames too?"

"I did. They took my memories."

"I think I'm supposed to keep them."

The wind blew and rustled the leaves in the trees. I saw no sign of Remiel or any other souls. It was just my sister and I out here now, and I tried to tell myself it was for the best. Remy was safe.

"How did you get rid of the flames?"

"I had a portal like yours. I poured the flames into it." My hand hovered over my scars.

Mara leaned in to look closer. "That's just where I burned you. I'm sorry. Sometimes I lose my temper, and it just spills out."

"No. Look beneath it. See the scars? That's where the fire came out of me."

Her hands shook as she touched the ridged lines. She was careful not to touch the fresh wounds, but even the old wounds hurt. They had never fully healed, and the second I winced, Mara flung herself away from me.

Curls bouncing around her face, she shook her head. "No. No. That's not true. That's not true."

"Mara, it is." I knelt in front of her, heart pounding harder as her veins turned molten. "Please calm down."

"I can't. You're lying! You're lying. I have to keep the flames, and...and those scars. Those wounds..."

"I'm not ly–"

"I did that!"

The childlike quality in her voice vanished. This was Mara. This was how she spoke the night she burned me. It was the voice of a woman. Deep and husky and right now, filled with anguish. She raised her eyes to mine.

"Morana. Little sister, how you've grown."

"Mara," I sobbed, wishing I could throw myself into her arms.

"You shouldn't be here. Go back to wherever you've been all these years. You were safe there."

"But I'm not. Dycidium has to be relit."

"Does the Edreshian king still live?"

"Yes, he does, but–"

"Then I cannot. He cannot have access to the Other Realm."

She rose on unsteady legs and backed away from me. Already, the haze returned. I was losing her.

"None of that will matter if the portal isn't relit. Souls cannot be judged and cannot be reborn. It's causing our world to splinter."

"That's not true. You saw the souls enter earlier."

"Because you fed the portal. You opened it long enough to let a few through."

"No. This is what I was told to do. We have to keep it unlit. It's the only way to stop the king."

"Mara–"

"No!" She turned into a living pyre. Tongues of flame flicked out of her mouth and ears. Her eyes were circles of darkness within the orange. "Be gone from here."

"Please. Sister."

Tears welled up in my eyes, vaporizing as soon as they fell. Blisters bubbled on my skin, but I did not turn away. What point was there in leaving if I could not convince her to relight Dycidium? All would be lost.

The ground rumbled and flames raced down Mara's legs, spreading across the grass, and disappearing into the forest. The trees closest to us did not ignite, but the scent of smoke grew heavy in the air as the horizon caught fire.

Araphel was burning.

My lungs constricted and my eyes watered. The skin on my lips cracked. In the distance, I heard my name. It wasn't Mara. She stood right in front of me, and her mouth never moved. It only burned. Like the rest of her.

Arms went around my waist, and a piercing shriek rattled my bones. Mara covered her ears with flaming hands and dropped to her knees. The screams continued as I was dragged away, my feet tangling together until finally my savior lifted me off the ground.

"Hold on."

Moments later, icy water rushed over my body, and when it went over my head, I didn't panic. Nothing had ever felt so wonderful. Frost crystals spread across my skin as the cold fed my ice magic. Down here, Mara's flames could never touch me. I was safe.

Until someone dragged me back above the surface. Spluttering, I flailed about to stay above. Only once I was comfortably treading water did the hands of my rescuer release me, and I pushed the wet hair out of my eyes.

"Foolish girl."

I blinked to clear my vision and found a pair of pale green eyes glaring at me over the edge of a dinghy. Three more boats just like it floated nearby, and in every one of them sat a glaring elf. And from every one of them, a familiar dark power radiated. As far as I could see, the water appeared black, but the night sky at the edges of my vision had a hint of orange.

"This fit will have Araphel burning for a full moon cycle."

That came from a woman to my left. She had corn silk colored hair and black eyes. Her skin was as pale as mine, nearly glowing in the rising moonlight. A dozen diamonds glittered in the shell of her pointed ear, and her dress, while aged and worn, showed signs of having been of the finest quality.

"A moon cycle or a sun cycle? What does it matter?" This from the green-eyed elf. She held out her hand. "Araphel always burns, and we always make it."

The boat rocked and water sluiced against its side as I scrambled into it. My companion gripped the edges to keep it steady as I settled on the seat across from her. Only a few frost crystals remained on my skin, and I tugged the ragged edges of my shirt down to try to hide them.

"Wait," I said as she gripped the oars. My stomach clenched in panic. "There was a male with me. Tall with dark hair. Have you seen him?"

The blonde sniffed in disdain. "He waits for you. Foolish Reaper."

"The island?" I rubbed the back of my neck. "How is this possible? How have you all survived all these years?"

"The better question is, how have you made it this far without dying?"

"Sheer luck." That earned a chuckle. "Who...what are you?"

"Oh...I think you already know, child," she replied. "Don't you?"

I swallowed hard and licked my lips. Blood coated my tongue as the skin cracked and bled. "You're Deathsingers, aren't you?"