In Flames

*This is dedicated to my little brother, Daniel, who inspires me in fantastical ways everyday. Love you, Squish.*

Flames, hot inviting flames.  They had been all around her ever since she could recall.   

Even as a small auburn headed child, she had been enthralled by their seductive dance,

their bright colors.  Had that led her to the choices that ultimately decided her fate?  Only 

the goddess who took interest in her at an early age would ever know.

Growing up in small Aeternitas City, Desiree was always a quiet girl. She liked it that way.

Soon, Desiree went from a small, meek girl, to a quiet woman with a statuesque figure who

stood head and shoulders above her peers, literally, at five feet nine inches tall.  Her brown

eyes darkened to an almost black that flared and almost scorched when she became angry. 

The only thing that didn’t change about her physical appearance was her auburn hair.  Once 

her tenth year in school arrived, she was known as the girl who would fillet her opponents with

her rapier wit whenever she got the chance, and everyone was a potential opponent.  That was 

until she met Kyle.

Kyle was much like her, quiet and withdrawn from their peers, but something about him always

drew her in.  He introduced her to a whole new world, or rather, a whole new religion.  Kyle

taught her about the Roman pantheon of gods and explained that even their own city was derived

from one of the gods’ own virtues, eternity, timelessness of ideals, truths and realities.  He 

worshiped all of the gods equally because, as he once explained, they all had their value.

Desiree wasn’t convinced however.  One goddess drew her in and kept her soul on lockdown.

Vesta, goddess of home and hearth. Vesta had created the Flame for the Roman Empire, 

warning them that should the flame ever be demolished, so too would Rome.  The rest, as they

say, is history. She smirked to herself as she recalled that particular fact.  There were those 

damn flames again.

Kyle, and the change in her lifestyle, seemed to center her.  She kept her sharp tongue to herself

more often than not, and her classmates were glad for it.  She was glad for it; things were finally

falling into place for her.

That was until the night of her seventeenth birthday.  Kyle was never one for celebrating birthdays.

If he wasn’t going to surprise her, she would surprise him.  They could at least spend time together.

She crept up to his bedroom window and peered in.  She thought her heart would stop beating 

right inside her chest.  There, she saw Kyle, her Kyle, on his bed with his lips attached to the thing 

she despised most, her rival, Lisa Foster.  The breath went right out of her.  How could he do this 

to her?  He told her he loved her, well in his own way.  She would make him pay.

Summoning whatever strength was left in her body, she stood and marched herself back to her house.  

Without a word to her parents, she stomped down the basement stairs and crumpled in front of  her 

small altar. Lavender candles stood unlit in front of a large silver pentacle that hung from the wall.  A 

bundle of lilacs was flanked by those candles, as an offering to Vesta.

Grabbing a lighter, she ignited the candles’ wicks and closed her eyes.  She murmured to herself for 

a moment and then started again in a stronger voice.  “Great goddess Vesta, keeper of Rome’s Eternal 

Flame, keeper of home and hearth, I need you.”  She swallowed thickly and continued.  “I need you to 

make Kyle pay for what he did to me. Take his soul and make him see what his actions do to others.” 

She closed her eyes and before she could continue, she felt a disembodied energy push her back with 

such force that she hit the wall opposite her alter. 

Desiree woke up soon after, though she wasn’t sure how long it had been.  Judging by the look of the 

candles on her altar, she had been out for at least 15 minutes.  She grabbed her head as she sat up and 

looked around.  Why was she down in the basement?  It was only then that she remembered Kyle’s 

betrayal and felt her anger flare once again.  Something was definitely amiss though.  As her anger 

grew, so did the flames atop the lit candles. 

Not wanting to take any chances, she tried to calm herself and watch the flames die down as well.

 Leaning back against the wall, she closed her eyes and willed her soul to slip from her body, 

something she did often.

As her eyes opened, she realized it had worked.  She was now in a field of flowers and in front 

of her was an enraged woman.  “V-Vesta?”

The woman almost snarled with a reply.  “Oh, so at least one part of your brain is working.   

What were you thinking invoking me for your petty revenge?”  She waited as if she wanted 

Desiree to answer but as soon as the girl opened her mouth, she held up her hand causing the 

girl to flinch as if she were struck.  “You weren’t thinking.  You need to be punished.”

Desiree was uncertain on how to reply, so she merely said, “How?”

“You tried to use my gift for harm.  You wanted his soul seared so instead I seared yours.   

You are now my vestale.  You may now create fire and control it.  It is up to you to figure out 

how to use this for the good of mankind.  Please me, and you will be rewarded.  Defy me, and, 

well, I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.  Do I make myself clear?”  Vesta didn’t wait for an 

answer.  She waved her hand and Desiree slammed back into her body.

Desiree looked around and made sure she was back.  She slowly stood and walked back over 

to her altar.  She could control fire according to her goddess.  She looked at the extinguished 

candles and willed them to ignite once again.  Nothing happened.  She demanded they ignite, 

and still nothing.  

Sighing, she was about to  give up in frustration when her younger brother came running past the 

door, shouting to their mother about some new comic book he wanted that Kyle had told him about.

She felt her anger flare and suddenly felt as if something dark was swirling inside of her.  She pointed

to one of the candles and was amazed when it lit itself.  

“Desiree, when did you dye your hair?”  She turned around and was face to face with the last 

person she wanted to see, Kyle.  Her eyes flicked to the side to look at the mirror just over his

right shoulder and noticed that her hair was a vivid blood red.

She studied herself for a moment longer as she fought to control her anger.  Meeting his 

cerulean gaze with her own black one, she replied, “I thought it was time for a change.  A lot 

of things need to change, starting with you.  We’re through.”

That was almost a year ago.  Her brother had given her the inspiration she needed to control

the flame.  She was now Vestale, the reluctant hero.  The seductive dances of the flames that

had enchanted her so long ago now took place to her whim.  She spent her time chasing the 

worst of the worst and never gave up until they were in someone’s custody.  She just hoped 

Vesta would be pleased.