My bare feet pounded against the wooded ground as I ran for my life. It was no use. He was catching me up.

I cringed as a ball of flames flashed past me, narrowly missing my neck, but I didn't stop running. I had to keep going.

Trees hemmed me in on all sides; every direction looked the same. I knew that I had to make it to the shore, whichever way that was. East? West? Running at this speed, with the sun hidden above the trees, could I even work out which was which? My face was wet, whether from tears or sweat, I didn't know.

I heard another cannonball of fire approaching and this time I had to lunge to the side to avoid it, losing my footing as I stepped and tumbling to the ground. He was on me within seconds, a manic glint in his eyes and flames wrapped around his fingers, caressing his skin.

The desire for warmth consumed me; I was drawn to it even though I knew it would burn. I needed the flames, the fire, the power.

As Cinaer lent down over me, I opened my arms to receive him.

"Wake up! Wake up you useless Helian, wake up! We need to get out of here!"

"Wh-what?" My vision swam in front of my sleep filled eyes, but I could just about make out Tristan's face as he shook me frantically by the shoulders. I must have still been half-asleep, because I could feel the heat from Cin's flames.

"Come on, Roxy! The city is on fire. We need to get out; now!"

The room snapped into view at the urgency of his words. I could see the haze from the heat filling the room and thick black smoke billowing outside the windows.

"What's on fire?" I asked, my head still fuzzy.

"The capital! Almost a third of the trees. The fire is spreading with unbelievable speed. If we don't leave now, we might not get out at all!"

He pulled me to my feet and towards the door, not even giving me time to throw shoes on before he bundled me down the rope and into the black smoke below.

He met me at the bottom and grabbed me by the hand, dragging me blindly through the smoke.

I could hear the flames as well as feel them now, as they crackled through the branches. I was gripped with a sudden desire to turn back through the trees and head towards them, finding solace in the fire. But with Cin's manacles on, I would never survive.

Instead, I let Tristan lead me out of the capital and into the woods, where many of the other Sephans had gathered together.

As we ran into the group, I realised instantly that it had been a bad idea. All eyes turned towards me, full of accusations.

Of course, the only possible cause of the fire currently sweeping the capital was the powerless Helian being held captive. Not the many campfires or stoves or the candles in the trees. The big, bad scary Helian must be to blame.

"Tristan," I whispered, tugging on his sleeve to get his attention. "I don't think that I should be here."

He looked past me, to the Sephans glaring at us. "I'm sorry, Roxy, but I have to be here. There is a crisis going on and I can't miss this opportunity for canvassing. I should be talking to people and promising to rebuild the capital, bigger and better than before. I need to show them that I can be a leader. I have to stop them from panicking." He must have seen the anxiety in my eyes because he added, "You should wait out of the way if you feel it will be best."

I definitely thought that it would be best. I moved away from Tristan, to the safety of thicker trees, trying to get away from the stares, but they followed me anyway. Even when I ducked out of sight behind a particularly thick trunk, I could feel them on me, making sure that I didn't go far.

Only a few minutes past before I heard the footsteps heading my way.

"Come out, Helian." Erica. I would recognise her voice anywhere.

"What do you want, Sephan?" I snapped back as I stepped out from behind the tree, trying to sound less rattled than I felt.

"Retribution." Erica wasn't alone. She was surrounded by dozens of furious Sephans, most of whom were armed.

"What do you mean?" I glanced around frantically for Tristan. Where had he got to?

"For the fire you started. We are here to make you pay."

"It wasn't me! I can't even use my powers!"

She laughed. "So you say. But can you prove it?"

"Of course I can't, but do you really think that I would still be here if I could?"

"Maybe that was your plan all along—to torch our capital and leave."

As if the Helians would go through all this, just to destroy a Sephan city. If we wanted to strike them, it would be openly. They would know that we were here for them. "Erica, come on! This wasn't me."

She only smirked at me before turning to some of the men beside her.

"Secure the prisoner."

Three of them advanced on me with ropes and I backed towards the tree, readying myself to fight. Even without my powers I could take out a couple of Sephans. But even more of them were milling behind Erica, plus I had no way out of the Realm without Tristan's help.

Tristan. He would help me. He needed me; for now at least. If I let them tie me up now, he would get me out later. That would wipe the smile off Erica's face.

So, instead of fighting, I held my hands out defiantly in front of me, waiting for the Sephans to bind them.

If Erica was surprised, she did well not to show it.

Minutes later I was sitting on the floor, bound to the tree I had hidden behind, waiting for Tristan to come and rescue me. Why did it feel like lately, all I was doing was waiting to be rescued? By useless boys too.

Like Brae, Tristan didn't come.

I sat alone by the tree for hours while the fire was put out in the capital and the Sephans returned to their largely ruined homes. Well, that was what they deserved for living in houses of wood and material. Everything in the Helian Realm was fire resistant—a necessary precaution.

When the smoke finally cleared and the night was dark, I heard him approaching. The leaves crunched under his feet.

"Roxy?"

"Tristan!"

He emerged from the trees on my right. "Hey, sorry I couldn't come sooner. Things have been pretty hectic, I've only just been able to get away."

"That's fine. Now hurry up and cut me loose."

He looked uneasy, transferring his weight from leg to leg and playing with the end of his shirt.

"Roxy, it's not that simple—they're all blaming you for the fire—some of them are calling to 'burn the fire demon'!"

"What the flames, Tris! You can't let them kill me!"

"Of course I won't—I'm talking them round. No one can do anything until after the election and when I win I won't let anything happen to you." I didn't point out that he had a 50:50 chance of winning and his opponent was itching to get her hands on me.

"So what do I do? Sit here, slowly starving and freezing to death until the election?"

"It's only a couple of days away and I'll make sure you are fed. But... Roxy, I won't be able to come and see you again in the meantime."

"What?"

"It's bad for votes; I can't be seen being lenient towards you. You don't want to help Erica win, do you?"

I wasn't surprised; I knew that he was only using me for votes and now that I was an uncertainty he wasn't going to risk his Presidential future by rescuing me.

A rustling sound suddenly came from our left, as though someone was walking towards us. "Look, I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll make sure someone brings you some food though, okay?"

He had vanished into the darkness before I had a chance to respond and moments later Erica emerged through the trees.

"Not so high and mighty now, are we, Helian?" She spat the final word, her face ablaze with anger.

"What do you want, Erica. Have you just come to gloat?" I really wasn't in the mood for her jeers. I was uncomfortable and hungry and I really wanted to go back to sleep.

"I'd watch your tone, Helian; your fate lies in my hands."

"Don't you have to win first?"

She laughed. "Don't worry about that. Your actions tonight will wipe the smile off Terra's face and his voters will come flocking back to me. And when I win—" She smiled gleefully, "I am going to enjoy watching you burn, Helian." She laughed again; a manic, high-pitched laugh, then turned and left, leaving me alone in the dark gloom of the forest.

Alone again and increasingly frustrated, I rested my head against the tree and looked up into the sky. Or tried to, anyway. I could make out the moon through the trees, but the stars were hidden. I was fed up of leaves blocking out the light, keeping me in the cool and shade.

I stared down at the floor in distaste, watching the small patches of moonlight which had made it through the trees.

Something glinted in the leaves to my right and I shuffled over as much as I could, hooking it with my feet to bring it closer.

It was shining, silver and sharp—a knife? In fact, it looked like Tristan's knife. He must have dropped it in his panic to rush away from Erica!

I didn't think twice. I wasn't hanging around here to wait for Erica to win or for Tris to decide that it was better for votes if he turned against me. I grabbed the knife and cut at the ropes, then I was up and running through the woods.

{What do you think? Is Roxy making the right choice? Please vote/comment to let me know}