Chapter 13

What day was it? What time was it? How many hours had it been since his last meal? How many days had passed while in his own, personal Hell? Shea's head swam with questions of 'what...'

He passed the time just sitting in the corner, glaring at the wall in front of him. Dark circles had grown under his eyes from lack of sleep. Shea had found, that he couldn't. No matter how tired he was, he couldn't find the energy to actually lay down and close his eyes. His theory was that he was afraid of dreaming, of hearing his father scream. He was afraid of seeing the fire again, afraid of feeling the pain.

His pain. His arm was nothing compared to the torment going on deep within his chest. It felt as though his heart was being squeezed. He felt as though his emotions and thoughts were being wrapped around each other to form a huge knot... there was no discerning happiness from sadness, restless from relaxed. He was angry. Angry all the time. At any of the Exelians who entered in the room, or looked through the door, it was all Shea could do to not leap upon them and tear their eyes out, to mangle their faces, to kill them. He hated without reason. He hated with a fiery passion.

Finally, it was a day that Shea couldn't stand it anymore. He was pacing, like an caged animal, when the door opened. He froze, tensed and ready to attack. His eyes were unfocused and wild. He clenched his hands over and over again, waiting...

A familiar face walked in, shutting the door behind him. His white bangs was the most visible part in the room. Save for his eyes. They were the brightest red Shea had ever seen. Fire red. "Long time, no see. What brings you here?" Blaize smirked.

Shea straightened but didn't say anything.

Blaize's eyes bore into Shea's, before he sighed, running a hand through his black hair. "Listen, I happen to know that you aren't going to live very much longer-"

"-well, isn't that surprising? Well, I will have you know, that I died a while ago. Along with my father." Shea snapped.

"-But I have a proposal for you," Blaize continued as though he hadn't heard Shea, "I can get you out of here."

...what? This was Blaize, offering to help him. Since when did the cow-haired boy offer help? Shea was sure that there was a catch. He crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow. "What's in it for you?"

Blaize shrugged. "I don't really know. Listen, do you want the help, or not? They are going to march you right out of here and straight on to Hyrule. Apparently, they -meaning the other Exelians- think that you are some god reincarnate," he coughed before continuing, "The leaders have been doing some research on this particular god, Rhairu. It is said that he, along with his sisters, created Hyrule. But two of the goddesses, Din and Nayru -one representing power, the other representing wisdom- could never get along. It has been told that Rhairu was always the one to calm the Goddess of Power and the Goddess of Wisdom so that they could finish creating the perfect land. Rhairu is Balance, and Restoration. Without him, there would be no peace. He is the middle, missing part of the Hylian's so-called Triforce."

Shea had cocked his head, and yawned. "Yeah, that is very interesting and everything, but what does that have to do with me? I don't have any special, great power, or anything," Shea turned around and sat back down in a corner.

Blaize exhaled, exhasperated. "Well, I'm going to get you out of here whether you like it or not. I'm going to leave this door unlocked, and when you hear my signal, you go. Your horse will be saddled and ready to go." Blaize wheeled on his heel and walked out of the cell.

After some time, Shea wondered aloud to himself, "What signal? The idiot forgot to tell me what it-"

And then there was a huge explosion, and a cry: "HOLY SHIT!! My bad!"

That was the signal. Shea leaped up from the ground, and pushed himself out the door. The entire fortress was going up in flame, and Shea barely was able to see Blaize, leaping from building to building, a wild look in his red eyes. He glanced over at Shea, flicked a sword in the direction of Arsion before disappearing into the flames.

As Shea ran, he heard disapproving scowls coming from many of the Exelian men running to put the fire out. He jumped behind some crates as they rushed past.

"I thought he had control over it!"

"Apparently not. Not if he caused another explosion. This one is the worst! We have to hurry!"

"What diety gave that boy those powers? What were they thinking?!"

Shea cocked an eyebrow, waiting for the water brigade to run past. So... Blaize could start fires. He had power over fire. So that explains what happened a few years ago with the torches... that explains the fire back when he was six.

Shea ran, and ran. He saw his horse. True to his word, Blaize had already saddled the animal. Arsion stamped his hooves and nodded his head. Without any hesitation, Shea leaped into the saddle, and slammed his feet into the barrel of the horse's torso. Arsion reared, and leaped forward, wild eyes sighted only for the slowly closing gate...

Shea leaned deep over the racing horse's neck, intent on more speed... time slowed to almost nothing, only the roar of the fire was only thing audible, aside from Arsion's heavy breathing... horribly recent memories came flooding back to Shea like an open dam. He heard a scream... felt the pain in his arm...

And suddenly, they were out. Arsion kept putting more distance between his rider and the fire with every stride. But that didn't stop the Exelians from chasing. Soon, at least six large, black horses were following... and gaining.

A wall of fire leaped up behind Shea; he heard the screams of the startled horses. Shea slowed Arsion, right as Blaize ran out of the surrounding trees. "That fire won't hold them for long. You need to get as far from here as possible. I'll catch up later." He turned to run again, but Shea stopped him.

"Blaize! Why are you helping me?"

Blaize shot him a very exasperated look. "Just ride!" He slapped Arsion's rump- hard. The chestnut horse squealed and kicked out at Blaize before running. Shea could swear he heard the older teen mumble something that sounded like, "That is why I do not like horses."