I think I've just broken my tradition of giving all the portal chapters a journal entry. Oh, well. I did it as often as I could.

But, anyway, this chapter is super important! The next one will be too! And, the one after! I should really write a fun chapter just to give us all a break from the intensity!


Chapter Seventeen: Fireproof

A cool breeze ruffled Nadia's hair, making her wish she'd brought a hair tie or rubber band or something. Although, she supposed that her biggest concern right now was what the heck they were doing in the forest. She'd tried asking, but Ford just told her to trust him. She did, but, he was really confusing her. She had told him the truth about her powers and how dangerous she was. Did he truly not mind? Or, was he faking it? He did seem a little on edge right now. What was he planning?

"Well, here we are," Ford said, stopping in front a cave.

Nadia tilted her head, trying to make sense of this. "I don't get it."

Ford smiled at her. "Last week, Tad and I heard about a group of Zubat that were living here. But, by the time we got here, they'd already migrated." He scowled and muttered, "Damn, our luck."

"So, why did you bring me here?"

"Just a little theory I have. You say not using your ShimmerFlame screws with your mind, for lack of a better term. Ever since the Zubat migration, this cave has been totally deserted. You can head on inside, use the ShimmerFlame, and be out with no harm done at all."

Nadia frowned. It was a good idea, except… "I told you, Ford. Using it will still drive me mad."

Ford quickly turned away from her but not quick enough to hide his frown and sudden paleness. "Uh, I planned for that."

Liar. He obviously hadn't thought this through. "Ford, I don't know about this."

"Just-Just do it. If my theory's correct, then you should be back to your old self. If it makes you feel better, I'll even stay out here and wait for you."

Nadia stared forebodingly into the darkness. She couldn't risk getting addicted, and he would be so close to the flames… She sighed. "This is a bad idea."

He placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, his blue eyes both fierce and pleading as he said firmly. "I'm not losing you."

The intensity of his gaze was giving her goosebumps, and she knew that he wouldn't let this slide. So, she simply sighed and forced herself to head into the cave.

"I'll be here when you're done," Ford called.

Heart racing, Nadia walked deeper into the cave. Eventually, she was far enough in that the darkness would have been blinding without her "night vision," as Ford called it, and she stopped, shivering from more than the cold. She turned around. The light of the entrance was far enough that it looked about the size of her hand, so she prayed that it was far enough for her husband to be safe. And, that he wouldn't get curious and come in after her. She let out the breath she'd been holding and let warmth flow through her skin, slowly smiling as she felt the euphoria of the flames.


Ford knew that he shouldn't have been doing this, but the scientist in him couldn't resist. He walked into the cave as quietly as he could, not wanting Nadia to know what he was doing. What she doesn't know won't hurt her, he reasoned. Besides, if the ShimmerFlame was as dangerous as he'd heard, he was doing the world a favor by learning more about it.

He stopped. There was a golden light up ahead, getting closer. He proceeded with caution, wary of getting burned. But, at the same time, he couldn't stop staring. The flares were beautiful, like a glittering sunset. And, in the middle of them… He walked a little closer. The flames were close, maybe too close, but he didn't care. He was far too transfixed.

Fire burned throughout the cave. And, in middle was Nadia. She was twirling, dancing, a look of utter bliss on her beautiful face. Her clothes were gone - burnt off, perhaps - leaving her dark, heavily scarred skin exposed to the inferno. She didn't seem to mind. She just danced among the flames. Her dark gray skin glowed silver in the golden light. Ford planted his hand over his heart, as though that would somehow stop it from beating its way out of his chest.

She's...beautiful…

He froze. Nadia spotted him. But, she didn't appear to be upset about him following her. She skipped over to him, a dopey grin on her face. Ford backed away as the ShimmerFlame approached him, but…it didn't hurt him. The flames were touching his skin now, but they didn't hurt. Even his clothes seemed completely unharmed. Fascinating. Was she somehow controlling the flames in a way that protected him from injury? If so, why hadn't she done the same with her own clothes?

"Dance with me, Stanford," Nadia begged.

And, Ford shivered despite the heat radiating around him. Nadia's voice was...different somehow. More...wild? Desperate? Ford wasn't sure what to call it, but something was off. And, her eyes… The gentle violet eyes he adored were now dark with something that curdled his stomach. And, now that he was seeing her naked body up close, and smelled what he had assumed was simply smoke, he saw that she wasn't just glowing.

She was burning.

This was a terrible idea!

"Nadia…" Ford said shakily. "Nadia, I-I think you've got it out of your system. You-You can stop now."

"No!" Nadia snapped, stomping her foot like a child and sending another wave of heat swirling around them. "I'll never stop! I love it!"

Oh, God, he should have listened to her about the addiction! His entire being burned with adrenalin as his Protector instincts kicked in. "Nadia, please! Just listen to me! You have to stop this!" Parts of her skin glowed brighter, burned harder. "Good God, you're killing yourself!"

Nadia laughed, a mad sound that made Ford's skin crawl. This was turning out worse than he could have imagined. Not knowing what else to do, he slapped her hard in the cheek, accidentally sending her stumbling into the cave wall, knocking her unconscious. As she collapsed to the hard ground, Ford stared at her in horror. He'd hit her. He'd hit his wife.

To his amazement, the flames shifted and moved in one direction. They appeared to be somehow absorbed back into Nadia's body, and darkness returned. Interesting. Perhaps the fire somehow was able to determine if its creator was capable of control. Did it somehow sense that its master was incapacitated?

Ford's musing was halted by Nadia groaning and groggily opening her eyes. Relief and guilt suddenly clashing in his heart, he knelt down beside her, lifted her gently, and cradled her naked body in his arms. (Under normal circumstances, he would have been enjoying this.) "Nadia?" he whispered, unaware of her current mental state and trying not to startle her. He wished he could see her better in the dark. Then, he could better determine her condition. "Darling, I-I'm sorry. This is my fault." Tears pooled in his eyes as the realization crashed into him. She'd come so close to death... And, it was because of his damned theory. "I shouldn't have pushed this. I-I shouldn't-" He felt something drip on to his arm, and he traced a wet trickle up to her temple. She was bleeding. A few tears slipped down his cheeks as he swallowed back his sob. "I'm so sorry, Love." But, apologies didn't change anything. He still brought her here. He still made her use the ShimmerFlame. He still hit her. Oh, God, he'd been abusing his wife without even knowing it. Some Protector, I am.

"Don't cry." He felt her reach up and wipe his wet cheeks. "I'm okay."

Was she really? It was too dark to tell, but at least she sounded better. A bit dazed, but better. "Can-Can you stand? You don't have concussion or anything, do you?" Stars above, if he'd given her a concussion…

"No, I-I think I'm okay." There was a faint white glow as she reached up and healed the injury on her head. Then, she did the same with her burns. She slowly stood up, Ford holding her, steadying her the entire time. He kept his hands around her waist even when she was upright. "What did I do?" She asked suddenly. A sob broke out of her throat. "Oh, dammit, what did I do?"

Ford really wished that he had night vision like her. Then, he would probably be able to see what else was injured, assuming that was the current problem. "What's wrong? Are you hurt anywhere else?" Did she remember what she'd been doing?

His question was answered, when she tearfully exclaimed, "I could have killed you!" Then, there was amazement and confusion in her voice, as she cupped his cheeks in her hands. "You're not hurt. How? How can you not be hurt?"

Ford blinked in surprise. He had just assumed that she had been controlling the flames. What other explanation was there? Was it his powers? Did being a Protector have something to do with it? "Uh, let's wonder about that later. Here." He took off his trench coat and handed it to her. He would have draped it over her shoulders, but he couldn't see as well as she could right now. He forced a laugh, trying to keep himself from crying again. The guilt was eating away at him. "As much as I enjoy seeing you naked, you, uh, you should probably cover up."

Nadia wordlessly took the coat from him, and he heard the fabric ruffle as she put it on, even though it was probably huge on her small frame. He kept one hand around her waist as they walked silently out of the cave.

SRHGLIB IVKVZGH RGHVOU.


You know? I've been really into Melanie Martinez lately, and one of her songs reminds me of the ShimmerFlame. And, of Guardian. The song is called Milk and Cookies, and it is not as happy as it sounds.

Speaking of Guardian, do you have any theories on who he is? If so, I'd like to hear them!

The next chapter will be another glimpse into Ford's past. Review!