One Reality

Fiona Masters
Fiery Heat

Shit, Fiona thought, That’s what Los Angeles was; absolute shit.

She rested her fiery head against the window, her fingers touching the cool glass as well. Rain coursed down
the glass in torrents, lightning flashing and thunder cracking high in the heavens. She hated rain, and she
hated LA. She hadn’t been in the city for even a night yet. Never mind she was a city girl, just not from this
city. She wanted to go home.

“I hate LA,” she muttered, pulling away from the window and rubbing a weary hand across her brow.

A cheery Australian accented voice spoke from behind her, “Ah, come on sis, it isn’t so bad.”

Fiona turned, and narrowed her bright blue eyes at her older sis, “Yes it is, Karin.” She pushed her glasses
higher on her nose. Her accent was the same as her sister’s, but stronger

“Ah, cheer up, at least it is summer here, and winter down under!”

“That’s true,” she murmured. She stood from the window seat, “But I don’t see anything to be cheery about.
Its pouring rain and our bloody neighbor is an ass.”

Karin’s hand pressed to her chest, “Fiona!”

Her red brows arched, “What? He is, he’s down right ghastly.”

Karin’s mouth tugged in a frown, “I know that… but if mum…”

Fiona’s face twisted in anger, “Well mum isn’t here! She never will be again!” she snapped.

“I-I know, Fiona. Please don’t get upset.” She bit her lip and stared at the cold fire place. “Mr. Walker is
supposed to have a daughter your age… but I gather they aren’t all that close… Umm …I’ll go make a spot of
tea, see if you can get a fire going, it is pretty chilly in here, the kitchen window was left open since I left last
week to go and get you.”

Fiona glared at her sister’s retreating back. She stomped over to the fireplace, and chucked a few logs into it.
She opened the vent and dropped to her knees. She stared at the wood, and narrowed her eyes. A flame
curled from the log, and then blazed up the chimney. Heat and light seared the air. Within seconds, a steady
fire was going. She tossed another log on, and closed the grill.

Fiona stared absently into the flames, her mind drifting.

Up until a month ago, she had been living in Australia with her mother. They had a small apartment in Sidney,
and while Fiona went to school, her mother painted, at home. She was a talented artist, something which both
Fiona and Karin inherited. Fiona wasn’t the type to sit and practice, yet drew or painted whenever the mood
struck her. Karin, on the other hand, was practice nonstop. She had originally come to America on a scholarship,
in California, for her work. But the thing is, Fiona was much more talented than Karin, or their mother. Combined.

Fiona turned her back on the fire, and tucked her legs underneath her, lotus style. She lifted her arms, bringing
her hands hovering over her lap, and then turned her palms face up. She cupped them together, creating a
flick of flame, the light danced off her features. She separated her palms, so they were several inches apart.
The flame leapt from palm to palm playfully. Fiona was thinking.

Fiona’s father had run out on them when she was young, leaving Fiona’s mother penniless and without job.
She turned to painting to bring in money while she raised her kids. There was just enough money for clothing,
and food. Karin was twelve at the time, Fiona almost six.

As the years progressed, Fiona’s mother’s fame grew rapidly, and soon they were fairly wealthy. At eighteen,
Karin was granted a scholarship to LA, she took it, and moved. Fiona was sad that her sister was gone; they
were close, at the time. Fiona attended a top private school, and though it had uniforms, she didn’t care.

She was also quite popular, though she never tried to be. She was a quiet girl in public, never saying much.
In private, with her friends or boyfriends, she wasn’t so quiet. She had a short fuse with people who angered
her ---though, she rarely was angry. She was beautiful and deathly when she was angry. Her fiery hair was a
match to her temper, when angered. People learned not to cross her.

When Fiona was nine, she discovered she had a special gift, one of fire. She was scared, because she knew
that this power was unnatural. She told the only person she completely trusted, her sister. Who didn’t believe
her at all. Until Fiona, her powers untrained, set Karin on fire. Accidentally, though.

They had to keep it a secret, who knew what would happen if word got out? So secretly, Karin helped Fiona learn
to control her powers, until Karin left for the States. Fiona had it pretty much under control. But when Karin left,
she began experimenting, something Karin had told her not to do. She fooled around with what she could do
with the fire, aim, distance, et cetera. She also discovered she could create fire that had no heat; and heat
that had no fire.

A shriek pierced Fiona’s ears, she winced. She always hated the sound of a whistling kettle. She clapped her
hands together, and the flame extinguished. She wished she could go back in time, and rewrite history. If she
did… If she did, then maybe Mom might be…

“Hey, you awake?” it was Karin, carrying a tray of tea and biscuits.

Fiona glanced over at her sister, “Yeah, I was just thinking about mom.”

Karin set the tray on the coffee table. Her sweet, heart shaped face looked sad. “It wasn’t your fault Fiona.”
she propped her hand on her plump hip.

She glanced over her glasses, “I know,” she said bitterly, looking down.

Karin knelt in front of Fiona, taking her hands in hers. “It wasn’t.”

“I know,” Fiona repeated her eyes stinging. She pulled her hands away.

“Fiona, Fiona,” Fiona reluctantly looked at her sister, “You weren’t at fault.”

Fiona sobbed, her voice cracking, “I was driving, Karin. It was my fault, I was driving.”

“No!” she shook Fiona, “That drunk driver would have hit your car whether you or mom was driving.”

Her lip trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks, “Yes, but if she was driving, it would be her alive, and I
wouldn’t be.” She pulled away from her sister.

Karin opened her mouth to say something, but there was a knocking on the door. Insistent. Karin heaved a
sigh, and went to see who it was. Fiona took the opportunity to stand up and flee into the bathroom, where
she took off her glasses and splashed cool water onto her face.

Laughter rumbled from the hallway, male and female. Fiona grimaced. Great, company. From the sounds of
it, Karin’s boyfriend Carl was here. She rubbed her face with the towel, and then put her glasses back on.
She only really needed them for reading, but she just liked wearing them, better than forgetting them
everywhere, anyway. She stared at her reflection, then fluffed up her razor layered edges, and setting her
bangs just so on her forehead.

She trudged into the living room, eyes on her feet. The voices grew louder.

“Fiona!” she heard her sister exclaim. “I’d like you to meet my fiancé Carl, and his friend, Tobias.”

Fiona sighed, and flicked her eyes up; she hoped she wasn’t interrupting anything. She froze. Her sister
was standing in between two men. One was tall, gangly, and blonde, the other equally tall, muscular and
brown haired. He was utterly gorgeous, Fiona couldn’t help but stare. This must be Carl.

Embarrassment seared her cheeks, and Fiona jerked her eyes back to the carpet. “Hi,” she mumbled, quietly.

“It’s nice to meet you Fiona, I have heard so much about you, and I am Carl.” Fiona lifted her sapphire
blue eyes, and was startled to see the blonde extending his hand.

Numbly, Fiona shook it. “Hi, Carl, nice to meet you, I haven’t heard that much about you…”

His puppy dog eyes rounded, “Wow! Your accent is so much stronger than your sisters!”

Fiona smiled faintly, “That’s not true; it is you, who has the accent.”

Carl grinned, and joked, “Then how come when you sing, you sound like us?”

Amusement glittered in her eyes, “If you’ve ever heard me sing, you wouldn’t say that.”

“Hey, hey!” Karin darted in between them, laughing and pushing on Carl’s chest, “I’m glad you two
are getting on, but I don’t want to be looking for a new boyfriend just yet.”

“Maybe I can be of service?” Tobias’s voice was soft and smooth. Fiona had forgotten he was there,
though that was a feat in itself, he was strikingly handsome.

They all laughed, Fiona’s depression completely gone. When the laughter died down, Fiona asked,
hesitantly, “But wouldn’t your girlfriend mind… or… boyfriend?”

That earned another round of laughs, Tobias laughing along with them, even though it was at his
expense. “I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment.” There was slight emphasis on ‘girl’.

“So, how’s Tom?” Fiona couldn’t help uttering, fighting laughter. Karin and Carl, were trying very
hard not to laugh.

“Tom? I-” Tobias caught himself, and grinned at Fiona, then wagged his finger at her. “There is no
‘Tom’, I’m only interested in the girl variety.” His blue eyes twinkled, and Fiona felt a new rush of
heat.

“Ah great! You can take Fiona out then!” Karin beamed.

Fiona, with red hair and fair skin, had a transparent complexion, her face turned beet red. “Karin!”
she squawked. Then her gaze narrowed on her sister, and then to Carl’s grin. A setup! Oh, they
had this… planned!

And then to her horror --- “My pleasure, Karin.” --- He walked up to her and bowed, “I am Tobias
Whitaker, but you can call me Toby.”

“I’m Fiona Masters.” She answered. She didn’t know what to say.

“I know.” He grinned.

“Okay guys, Carl and I are outta here, we’ll catch up later. You two have fun, and don’t do
anything we wouldn’t!”

“Oh, like that leaves many choices,” Fiona muttered.

Tobias laughed, and Karin frowned, “I heard that Fiona.”

“I know.” Fiona sounded smug.

“’Bye Fiona! I’ll see you tomorrow night!” Karin called. The excursion was of the overnight variety,
grand.

“Nice meeting you Fiona!” Carl pitched in.

“You too, Carl. Cheerio!” The door clicked behind them, and Fiona glanced down at herself, suddenly
self-conscious. She wore black cotton pants, and a red tank top that complimented her eyes. I
guess that is okay, she thought to herself.

“So…” Tobias said.

She rocked on the balls of her feet, “So…” she continued, awkwardly. She crossed to the window seat,
and retook her earlier position, watching the storm. She was so nervous! Fiona wiped her clammy
hands on her pants, then turned back to Tobias. “So, were you in on it?”

“In? On what?” he seemed puzzled.

She waved her hand, “The setup.”

“Meeting you? Oh…” he paused, “Well, yes and no.”

Fiona picked up a small ornament, turned it in her hands, “It can only be one.” She blinked, and
looked up at him, “Which was it?”

He was staring at her eyes, the bright blue orbs, as if entranced. “Well… I..” he seemed tongue-tied.
His hands stuffed into his back pockets. “My cousin Carl---“

“You’re cousins?” Fiona interrupted. They didn’t look a thing alike. Carl was tall, gangly, and not
quite handsome, he had a long nose and thick eyebrows.

“Our mothers are sisters. Anyway… He dragged me up here tonight to meet Karin, I didn’t know you
were going to be here.”

“And… how was this part of the setup?” she was confused.

“Before you came into the living room, your sister started spouting praises of you, how nice you were,
how talented and smart you were, and how beautiful you were…”

Fiona frowned, “Thanks, I think….”

“I mean it.”

Fiona blinked. “Okay. Sorry, I don’t know if I am ready to see anyone, even if it is a one time thing.”

Tobias was sympathetic, “I’m sorry, I hoped…”

A corner of Fiona’s mouth curled up. He seemed so bummed. “On second thought…”

“Yeah?” he has seemed to gather he let slip a little too much, and appeared offhand.

“I was only teasing you, Toby.” She smiled, faintly. “I would love to go out with you.” She patted the
cushion beside her.

He crossed the room, and perched on the seat. And looked out the window. “Man, it is black out there!”

She scoffed, “I know, and it’s barely evening.”

They talked for hours, until the rumble in their stomachs roused them. Fiona sent Tobias on a food and movie
run, which they ate, and watched. Fiona felt herself being drawn closer and closer into Tobias, as she were being
sucked into him via a spell. She had felt a connection with him the first moment she had set her eyes on him,
and now, on the couch, it was drawing her in deeper, and deeper.

Her brain didn’t know what it was, but her heart did, it hummed a word, which Fiona strived to drive out. She must
have dozed off, because suddenly, the credits on the movie were running. Tobias didn’t seem to notice. Fiona
walked to the window again, clearing her head of its fuzziness. Tobias hit stop, and then rewind. The TV clicked
off seconds later, and darkness engulfed the room. The only sound was the tape rewinding in the VCR.

Hands touched her shoulders unexpectedly, and Fiona jumped. “Sorry,” Tobias apologized.

“It’s okay.” She leaned into his embrace, and felt comfort.

They stayed that way for a few minutes, then Tobias went and flicked on the overhead light. Fiona didn’t wince at
the sudden flash of light, she was used to light and heat.

Thunder rolled over in the sky, cracking, booming, and shaking the windows. What a fierce storm. Suddenly, the
apartment plunged into darkness. “Toby?” she turned, questioningly. But he was right beside her.

“Power must have gone off.” He reasoned.

“Huh.” She murmured. Without knowing why, she stepped over to the glass doors, opening them, and went out
onto the balcony. She rested her arms on the rail, and leaned down to look. She was kept dry by a canopy.
Tobias came out beside her, then nudged her side.

She looked up at him, and they shared a half smile. But another, brilliant flash of light struck the night air. But
it didn’t come from the sky, it came from beneath her. Eighteen floors, to be exact.

“What in the ... what was that?” Fiona peered down into the darkness, she could just barely make out shapes. A
small shape, a human sized shape, ran out of the complex, and began down the street.

Fiona’s breath caught in her throat, she knew this person was in danger. She didn’t know how she knew, she just
did. She raised her eyes into the sky, and noticed a peculiar sight. The storm had been hovering over the apartment,
but now it seemed to follow this person. The lightning flicking in the clouds… it was unnatural.

Fiona jumped up, and dashed for the door, shoving her feet in her boots and grabbing her slicker from the rack,
not that it would do much good. She fought with the door, and threw it open. She burst into the stairwell,
running down the steps as if her life depended on it.

Her lungs burned, and her legs became jelly, but she didn’t stop. She was vaguely aware of someone
shouting her name, and crashing down the stairs behind her. But she didn’t stop.

Once in the lobby, Fiona slowed to catch her breath. Her eyes took in several things. Passed out guard;
he seemed to be sleeping. As she walked farther, she saw a phone dangling off the hook. Further
inspection proved that it was dead. Her pace quickened and she neared the doors. She gasped.
Something weird was going on. Something like her weird. The door was melted through.

Fiona exploded through the hole, and then down the street. She saw it! She saw the lone figure, staggering.
Lightning struck frighteningly close to it, following by rumbling thunder. Her lungs burned, and her legs were
on fire.

She was just about there, half a block. She saw the figure buckle, and noted it was a female, African American.
She held out her arms to catch her at the same instant the stranger passed out. Fiona was barely able to catch
her as she fell. They both tumbled onto the wet pavement.

At the instant the black teen passed out, the thick, dark clouds rolled into nothingness. Rain ceased to fall, the
thunder was silenced, and there wasn’t even a flicker of light.