Free Erin The Fire Goddess: The Beginning by Lavinia Urban Page B

was no one helping me? Why had no one got her off me? Why me? What had I done? Why? Why? Why?
    I started to feel angry. The feeling of heat from my anger was building and building. To the point where it took over the pain. I couldn't control it. I'd never felt so angry before. That's when I heard Jessica scream.
    “ She's burnt me!” Jessica yelped both in pain and confusion.
    “ There's a towel and a couple of bottles of water in the back of the car.” I heard Kelly say. “Paul? James? You go get them. Justin?” She paused for a moment. I was still curled up in a ball. I had no idea what was going on. Who burnt who? All I knew was my anger was starting to fade and the pain was taking over. Tears streamed down my face. I still couldn't look up when Kelly continued. “Get her out of here!” she snapped.
    I expected to feel hands on me, dragging me up, but I felt nothing. It sounded like I was alone. All I could hear were my muffled cries of pain.
    “Erin?” I heard the concerned voice of Sean whisper in my ear.
    I didn 't move or speak. I started to take deep breaths to try and overcome the pain.
    “ Can you hear me Erin?” Kelly asked in a soothing voice.
    Then I felt someone stroking my left cheek. I froze. Was my mind playing tricks on me? My breathing started to accelerate and the stroking stopped, but the hand didn 't move off my cheek.
    “ Shhh, it's okay, we won't hurt you.” It was Sean again. It must have been his hands on my cheek. He went back to stroking my face as I heard footsteps approaching.
    “ We phoned Kate, and she's going to meet us at the cottage.” I heard Paul and James chorus.
    “Erin?” Kelly spoke this time. She didn't wait for a reply. “I'm just going to put some water on you and wrap you in a towel.” She told me gently, as I curled up tighter in a frightened ball.
    I couldn 't feel water on me, just the sound of something hissing. I did start to feel cooler though, which was a plus, but the pain was still there and taking control of my body.
    I didn 't even want to look down to examine myself. If I was in this much pain, I could only imagine how bad I looked.
    Suddenly I felt someone put a towel around me and lift me up into their arms, in one quick movement.
    Before I could open my eyes or try and get away, everything went black.
     
    ***
     
    I wasn't sure what had happened next, or how I even got here, or even where I was. I could just hear voices around me whispering heatedly. I was sure I recognised my parents, but I couldn't be certain.
    What I was aware of was that I was lying in someone 's arms. Their shirt was open and my head was pressed against their chest. I could hear the rhythmic beating of their heart. But what I really noticed was their hand stroking my left cheek.
    It felt like I was dreaming. Not in a million years would I be lying here in a boy's arms. The only man 's arms I'd ever laid in were my dad's.
    I slowly opened my eyes and peered through my lashes. I was in a room made purely of stone blocks. There was an unlit fire place next to me, with a shelf above it that held candles and picture frames. I couldn 't make out who were in the pictures, but there was something familiar about them. I was sure I'd seen them before.
    My eyes continued to search the room. I 'd made the conscious decision not to move my head yet. Along one wall stood a giant bookcase, full of old books I'd never seen before.
    I could still hear voices coming from somewhere behind me. Now I was more than positive that my parents were there, as I heard my mum 's furious voice saying something about Justin and how he should train his pets better.
    Slowly, I tried to move my head up.
    “Hi.” Sean whispered gently. I could feel his warm breath on top of my head. I managed to slowly pull my head up to meet his gaze.
    His eyes were full of concern. I couldn 't believe my face was so close to his. His eyelashes were so long, and his eyes so deep and tranquil.
    I could feel and smell his