I awoke on the forest floor, lying before the Tree of Life in a cold sweat. My robes were covered with dew, and the dawn was just starting to peak out along the horizon. I must have been asleep for hours.

Nearby, Seraphina was arguing with someone in an angry whisper. "I want to stay and protect you both," she insisted. "Minningen needs me."

"Go to Castle Eismark, Phina."

Peter's voice! I leaped to my feet. Oh, my gods! He's really back!

"You spy on the castle," she retorted. "You're a bird, after all."

"Father will know it's me. I need my new body before I can confront him."

"Liselle doesn't have the magical strength to transfer your soul into a new form."

"I believe in Liselle," Peter said. "And I believe in you."

She heaved a heavy sigh.

"Find out Father's attack strategy and inform us so we can tell the Ministry."

Seraphina crossed her arms as I entered the clearing where she was arguing with her brother. Peter ruffled his feathers and cawed when he saw me. He was a large, black raven. Just like the Tree had promised.

"How can I get word to you without Father intercepting my message?"

"I'm clairvoyant," I replied. "Tell us through one of my visions. If you don't make it too obvious, he'll never know you sent it."

"That might just work." Seraphina raised a quizzical eyebrow at me. "When I contact you, I'll appear as a Dragonborn make your medallion glow blue. All right, Liselle?"

I nodded.

"Clever," he replied. "That way we'll know it's a real vision and you aren't a Gatál spy."

"Time to face dear old Papa Wraith," she said in a facetious tone as she began to fade from view. "Take care, brother."

"Strength and honor, Seraphina."

Once she'd left, the raven flew to a nearby branch and cocked his head at me. "We need to speak to your father. He runs the Fireborn program and may know about the Lost Fireborn."

"Can we trust him?"

Peter paced on the branch. "It's a start," he replied. "Besides, we may be able to recruit some of his Warriors to save your sister."

"Father and I aren't exactly on speaking terms."

"You'd be surprised what families can forgive," he replied with a croak. "Father has killed both Phina and me three times. We've abolished Father's spirit more times than I can count."

My stomach churned with nerves. Father might forgive me out of his love for Bragda.

But at what price?

"Fine, but the Tree told us to find Alicia first," I said in a vain attempt to delay the inevitable. "Besides, she has the right to know her soulmate is still alive. Having another ally couldn't hurt."

"Right, let's go there first and make a plan."

Peter perched on my shoulder. In his deep, mellifluous Human voice, he said four words.

"Liselle, I've found you."

❄️🔥❄️🔥

Later that evening, I trudged through the dark streets of Minningen to meet Father, a small flame dancing in my palm to illuminate my way. Peter darted from tree to tree even though I'd asked him to stay in the dorm. He refused to let me face him alone.

True to her word, Alicia stood in front of the entrance to The Hungry Goblet, breathing into her hands and stamping her feet to keep warm. She raced towards me when I approached.

"I knew Marcus wasn't dead!" she exclaimed, enveloping me in a warm embrace. "Thank the gods we can still save everyone."

The raven cawed in approval.

"The Tree has given us hope," I replied.

"Right, so what's the plan?"

"We can ask Father for help and recruit the Fireborn." I cast a wary glance at the basement side entrance, patrolled by two massive Human Barbarians. "We can't rescue our friends alone, but with their help, we can break through enemy lines."

"The Fireborn?" Alicia squawked in dismay. "That's your big plan? Recruiting unpredictable monsters to save Bragda and Marcus?"

"Do you have another idea? We need to find allies. Father's our best hope."

"We have Peter!"

He darted from an evergreen to a nearby fence post. "Powerful though I am, I'm not a one-man army. Even after I get my new body."

"You told me that you're a draconic hybrid," Alicia said in a frustrated whisper. "They can turn into anything, can't they?"

"I don't have that power until the Tree heals my original body."

"Are you a damned dragon or not?"

"Hey, enough!" I said in an angry whisper. "Do you want the whole village to hear you?"

Alicia crossed her arms and lowered her voice. "How do we know that the Fireborn will be loyal to us?" She cast the raven a dismissive wave. "I saw one in the flesh when this guy tried to recruit me for the Fireborn program."

"So did I."

Alicia threw her arms in the air in disgust. "Need I say more? He broke a flipping tree trunk in half with his bare hands. They could kill us all!"

"Look, do you want to rescue Marcus or not?" Peter asked. "I need a body, and we need their help to rescue our friends. Liselle and I are going, and that's final. You're welcome to come."

Alicia stared him down with a defiant look. Tiny flashes of lightning crackled and hissed in her palms as she fought to contain her magical rage. I took an involuntary step backward and prepared a shielding spell just in case.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly until the flashes of magical lightning subsided. Clenching her fists, she extinguished the final sparks.

"Fine, I'll do it. For Marcus. But don't say I didn't warn you."

We made our way towards the giant Barbarians, who stood a foot taller and broader than any of us. Peter darted into a nearby tree so as not to attract suspicion. The taller guard crossed his arms, making his giant muscles bulge like small hills.

"Just where do you think you're headed, ladies?" he asked in a deep, brusque voice.

I handed him one of Peter's invitations. "We're Risa, and we're looking to speak to Director Alta."

He turned the invitation over with a grunt. "Old ones, but they check out. Where did you get them?"

"Listen, sir. My name is Liselle Carolina Alta," I said, jutting my chin. "I'm the daughter of Director Gregory David Alta, and we're here for the Fireborn Program."

The Barbarian blanched and pursed his lips. "Why didn't you just say so?" he asked with a slight tremor in his voice. "The Creator has been expecting you."

"The Creator?" Alicia whispered to me, incredulous.

A shiver crawled down my spine when we entered the foyer. A Fireborn stood guard, twice as tall as me and five times as muscular as the guard. Alicia and I exchanged a wary look. Giant black horns protruded from his massive skull. Black talons several inches long curled around the hilt of a colossal broadsword.

How in Hades do they even get through the door?

Alicia drew a sharp intake of air and grasped my hand. I could feel her trembling.

"Stay calm," the guard whispered. "She can smell your fear."

It's a woman? But she's enormous! She has no hair, no curves--

"The Queen is here," the Barbarian barked. "She's brought recruits. Escort her to the Creator."

"Recruits?" Alicia squeaked. "I didn't say--"

I jabbed her in the ribs and cleared my throat.

The Fireborn bowed to me with reverence, and I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Follow me, my Queen," she said to me in a bass rumble that hurt my ears.

Have they confused me with someone else?

"Queen?" Alicia breathed. "What do they mean?"

I shrugged. "No idea, but if it gets us inside..."

The basement of the tavern was empty, and every creak of the floorboards echoed in my soul. In the corner, I saw a floor-to-ceiling portal on standby.

Ah, hah! So that's how they manage not to break down the door.

Two other Fireborn stood guard, wielding swords as long as spikes with blades as wide as two palms. The snakes returned to my belly, twisting and contorting until I felt nauseated.

Did I make a mistake?

"This way, my Queen," the Fireborn said to me once we reached the hall. "Your friend will stay here with Berthold."

Slightly shorter and less bulky than the female, Berthold had grey horns that still almost brushed the lower wooden cross beams along the ceiling of the half-timbered tavern. He glared at us with azure eyes, a sharp contrast with his matte-black skin.

"I'll face Father with Alicia," I insisted. "We are both equals."

"No, my Queen. With all due respect, you shall face the Creator alone or not at all." She clasped her hand over her heart and bowed her head. "As He commands, so shall His will be done."

Great, Father has a god complex now.

I turned to Alicia and gave her an apologetic look. "It's okay," Alicia said. "I'll wait here."

Facing the guard once more, I said, "Very well, lead on."

"Yes, my Queen."

As we walked up the creaky, dilapidated stairwell, a cold draft swept across my shoulders. Floorboards creaked as we walked, and an unclosed door open and shut of its own accord. The torchlight flickered on the decrepit walls, illuminating giant black spiders weaving intricate webs in neglected corners.

This place gave me the goosebumps, and I drew in a deep breath to calm my nerves.

When we approached the door at the end of the hallway, the Fireborn knocked. Without waiting for a response, she swung open the door and beckoned me to enter.

With a nod of thanks, I stepped into the dark room. A cold draft whistled as it pierced the air, making the flame of a solitary torch dance and quiver.

How could Father work in such dismal conditions?

"Father?"

No response.

My stomach knotted as I peeked into the room. High arched windows allowed the moonlight to brighten an otherwise dreary room. To one side stood an elaborately carved writing desk and a matching chair. Only two other pieces of furniture adorned the decrepit office--ornate wooden armchairs whose backs alone were five feet high. One chair stood with its back to me, while the one facing me was unoccupied.

"Come in, child," Father said in a deep, unfamiliar voice. "I've been expecting you."

"How could you be expecting me, Creator?" I mocked him with a heavy dose of disdain. "I didn't even know I would come until today."

He gave me a wry chuckle that crackled like thunder. "It was only a matter of time."

When Father gestured to the armchair opposite him, I swore I saw long, dark talons extending from his fingertips. My eyes finally adjusted to the meager light. Two giant curved horns extended from either side of the armchair like antlers and glistened in the moonlight.

Oh, gods. No!

But the snakes of fear in my stomach grew more insistent.

"Please sit," he commanded.

With tentative steps, I approached Father, tingles trailing from my stomach to my chest, my hands trembling in the darkness. I'd never feared him until that moment.

I yelped.

Father had transformed into a Fireborn.