The Sorceress hadn't been lying about how far I was from them. Finally, after a half-hour of scrambling along the road, I find myself in a haze of smoke. The smell of freshly burned wood hangs in the air.

As predicted, the fire and smoke leave my lungs unharmed. I'm immune to it, but that still doesn't make it pleasant. The village being burned is not far from the main city of Underland. I am hesitant at first as I notice the blazing inferno I'm about to enter.

That is lot more fire than a gas stove.

My hands curl into fists and I hold my breath, stepping into the flames.

It's hot, but pleasantly so. Nothing I can't handle with ease.

Wow. I have super powers!

I squint my eyes, searching through the thick shroud of smoke created by the inferno before me.

Alvar must be at the center of this. He's the source.

Movement catches my eye as I travel along the scorched alleyways. A large creature moves in the flames with scales as black as the charred wood on the buildings.

Alvar. He's here. Now I just have to find Saul and not let Alvar see me before then. I reach for the gun and realize my clothes are on fire and I hadn't even noticed. Crap. The holster is made of leather and leather isn't fire proof and the gun itself... oh shit. I'm so stupid. The bullets haven't gotten hot enough yet, but I need to get out of the fire.

I hurry to outside the flames and practically fall into a sturdy person I hadn't seen until too late through the smoke.

"Well, what have I here?" A dark male voice asks. "A little mouse falling right into my trap? Did your home happen to catch fire, little one?"

I'm face to face with Saul. He's lost weight from the time I saw him as ruler of Underland and he's taller than I thought he'd be, but maybe that's because I'd seen him through Alvar's memories and Alvar is taller than me.

Saul takes my gun before I can think to put it to his chest.

"No need for that anymore," Saul whispers and grabs my wrist, bringing me up against him, he buries a nose in my hair. He's much stronger than me. I shriek and he shoves his soot-covered hand over my mouth. "Hush, mouse! What a lovely thing you are! You're quite warm to the touch, do you know that? Why aren't you completely singed, mouse?"

Is he just going to keep asking questions and expect me not to answer him? I bite down on his fingers. I'm not a complete loss yet. I'd rather die than go through the nasty stuff I know this guy can dish out.

"Little bitch!" He shouts and slaps me across the face. "Don't do that!"

Ow!

My jaw stings and blood heats my face as it races to the abused area.

"You've got a lot of spirit. Have you not heard of me?"

He removes his hand, and I say his name as if it belonged to the Devil, "You're Saul. The enemy of Underland that King Alvar defeated."

"Wrong, my dear, your beloved King never defeated me, he only gave me a temporary holiday to another world," Saul chuckled and he bent his arm around my neck so that it was like a steel trap, cutting into my throat.

I grasp his forearm and dig my nails into his skin as hard as I can.

"Stop that!" He growls and tightens his arm around me so I am gasping for air. "I'm not going to kill you yet. If I just keep you like this eventually you'll pass out. I wouldn't expect you to understand, but I've had quite the hiatus from a woman's touch here in Axus and since it seems most people have been smart enough to evacuate before my return, you're my first taste of Axus wench to enjoy." The wetness of his tongue against my cheek makes me wince.

"Mmm," he moans. "I'll save you for later after your little town is burned, mouse."

I struggle against him, fighting the effect of his choke hold, but a flash of optimism comes upon me when I realize Saul doesn't know who I am and how that's a good thing. He'll underestimate me if he has no idea I'm Lucy, the one immune to Cursed fire. As my world fades away to black from his constricting the blood flow to my head I'm unrealistically and illogically hopeful.

*

I wake up and I don't know where I am until I notice the decor of the room. I'm in Alvar's room.

Unlike in the wonderful memories I share with Alvar in here, the room is darkened. The windows are closed and the lights are turned low. My wrists and ankles are bound together so I can't move.

My situation is bleak at best, but I won't stop fighting. Won't stop until I'm dead.

"What are you doing here?" Alvar's voice says in a harsh whisper. "I made you safe. Why would you come back?"

I strain in my vision to figure out where his voice is coming from. He's in the corner of his room, near the bathing pool.

"I'm going to get that collar off you," I state.

"That's impossible!" Alvar growls and his eyes flash red, he walks over to me. "Saul has it on him at all times."

"I'll just have to get close to him," I say.

"That's exactly what I didn't want to happen!" Alvar snaps, "you were supposed to be somewhere he couldn't find you."

"He doesn't know who I am," I snap back at him, "You have to trust me. I'll figure out a way."

"What do you mean?" Alvar asks.

"I can't be burned, Alvar," I whisper in his ear. "If you wanted to burn off these ropes I myself wouldn't burn."

"I can't do that, Saul has me locked in as a human right now," Alvar says, and kneels down next to me. "I love you, Lucy. I thought Saul had done the worst things to me already, but if he hurts you..." He voice trails and he chokes up, his hands fist in my hair as he kisses me madly.

I kiss him back, melting into his touch like I always do. He reaches for my bindings and I shake my head, pulling away from his kiss.

"No, I must look like you don't know me. What if he comes back and finds you like this with me?"

"He's eating right now, he has another captive he found and you were still knocked out. Since he likes his victims awake for his pleasures he left you up here with me," Alvar says. His voice is gruff with arousal from our kiss. "Before he returns I must have you, Lucy."

Whoa, slow down, honey. Let's escape first!

"You realize this is the most inappropriate thing you've ever done?" I blink at him, shocked at his lack of sobriety from the situation we're in.

"More inappropriate than when I asked you if I could kiss you in that grocery store back on Earth?" Alvar challenges and grins before kissing me again.

"Alvar, you're being stupid," I say, trying not to be caught up in his words. "It's not that I don't want you too, it's just... we're on the precipice of disaster and need to keep clear heads."

"I want you, Lucy, right now," Alvar murmurs against my ear, and bites lightly into my neck, prickling to life so much desire that I'm doing all I can not to let him continue.

And then it dawns on me: My worst fear is being realized.

Saul knows who I am. I don't know how he does, but this isn't how Alvar would act were he in his right mind.

As much as Alvar loves me, he wouldn't compromise our escape like this.

Saul's game has begun.