Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer. You've read it a hundred times.

House of Fire

The house wasn't exactly on fire: the house was fire. The walls on both sides were fountains of flame inclined at slight angles to meet far above. Occasional fireballs spewed from holes in the floor. As Gatomon and Ken tentatively walked into the room, the door behind them was engulfed in flame and disappeared. The heat was nearly unbearable.

"At least it's not cold," Gatomon said blandly.

"Way to think positive, Gatomon." Ken looked around nervously. "I suggest we get out of here before we run into whatever digimon lives here. I don't think I want to meet it." Strands of his longish black hair were sticking to his forehead in damp clumps.

A shout suddenly rose above the crackle of the flame. "Pyrospiral!"

They both managed to dodge the swirling comet of fire. The flames of the wall parted and their attacker entered. Another humanoid. She had a dress like fire flickering behind glass, trimmed with ruby red. A ruby belt held a large gemstone the color of blue flame. Her skin was gold, her wild hair blue at the roots, then yellow fading to orange fading to red at the tips. She stared at them from white-hot eyes. They braced themselves for the next attack.

"Where's the other one?" the fiery digimon asked.

"What?" Ken said after a moment of confused silence.

"There were supposed to be two humans, no digimon."

Gatomon huffed. "Why wasn't I invited?"

"What I want to know is why we were brought here in the first place." As Ken spoke, a droplet of sweat slid down his face.

"Oh forgive me. You must be hot. Here." Their hostess waved her hand, causing the fire to subside. "Let me introduce myself: I am Pyromon, keeper of the House of Fire. You must be the boy Ken. I wish they'd told me you were so handsome." She shifted her gaze to Gatomon. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are. I was only briefed on the humans, not their digimon."

"I'm Gatomon. And what do you want with Kari?"

"Kari, the girl with the Crest of Light. I don't know what my lord wants with her, exactly. My only instructions were to attack them, but not to kill them."

"So that's why the other digimon attacked us," Ken concluded. "And why the ice digimon didn't kill me when she had the chance."

"That would be my sister, Cryomon," Pyromon informed them. "We don't get along well."

"I thought digimon didn't have families," Ken whispered to Gatomon.

"So did I," she replied

"Underworld digimon are a little bit different," Pyromon said, having overheard them. She didn't elaborate.

Ken took the opportunity to ask the question that had been bothering him. "Who is your lord?"

"Balaammon. You'll probably meet him soon enough."

"When can we get out of here?" Gatomon asked.

"I don't know," Pyromon said sympathetically. "I'm not even sure if Balaammon's plans can go through without the girl."

"Is that why you stopped attacking us?" Ken inquired.

"My natural curiosity got the best of me. Anyway, the next house…" she frowned and looked distracted. "In the next house," she suddenly sounded grave, "as soon as you walk through the door, run left along the wall until you reach a tunnel. Hide there until it gets light, then it will be safe."

Ken contemplated that advice. "I suppose we should be on our way," he finally said.

"Yes, you should," Pyromon didn't sound happy about it. "I'll show you the way to the door." They walked down the fiery hallway until they reached the door at the other end. "Remember what I told you," she said as a farewell. "Be careful: I hope to see you again someday. Alive."