Trial by Fire

“The trees, Rowan. The trees are freaking glowing.”


“Yeah,” he said, amused by Lily’s obvious shock. “They share properties with deep-sea creatures that naturally create their own light. Witches married the aspects of the sea creatures that made them glow with the seeds of the trees to provide free light at night in the cities. They look normal during the day, though. They only glow in the dark.”

“Bioluminescent trees instead of streetlamps,” Lily mumbled, awed not just by the beauty, but also by the cleverness behind their creation.

“Oh, the richer neighborhoods still use street lamps—just to prove they can afford it. Now will you please look down?” Rowan asked, smiling.

Lily obeyed. In the eerie, almost neon light, she couldn’t see much more than the dirty concrete beneath her feet and the swing of pedestrians’ arms and legs as they walked. But even with her eyes downcast, she noticed people stepping out of Rowan’s way and then stopping to take a second look as he and Lily passed.

“Everyone’s staring,” she hissed.

“It’s okay. They don’t know who you are.”

“Then why are they looking at us?”

“Because they know who I am.” Rowan paused before continuing. “And they’re not used to seeing me with a girl.”

They wove through a brightly lit neighborhood that used electric lights as well as bioluminescent trees. They passed bars and restaurants that spilled strange thumping music and even stranger looking people onto the streets. Lily couldn’t quite put her finger on the style of dress. Some of the women wore wearhyde breeches and boots with tunics or jackets over them, and some wore gowns and gloves. There was no distinct time period of dress, at least not any time period from Lily’s world.

Walking quickly through what Lily assumed was the young and trendy part of town, they made their way to a quieter, more polished neighborhood. The buildings were a bit taller here, and instead of foot traffic, there seemed to be more of the silent automobiles that Rowan had called elepods.

“What do they run on?” Lily asked, watching a particularly sleek one glide by.

“Electricity,” Rowan answered. He bounded up the outside steps of a six-story brownstone, his spirits visibly lifting.

Lily followed him up the steps. She gestured to a shining street lamp. “What do you use as a power source? Oil, coal, natural gas?”

Rowan gave her a puzzled look. “Witches are our power source. I wasn’t kidding when I made that comment about who runs this place. Witches literally run our world, Lily.” He waved his hand in front of the door. His willstone glowed slightly and the door slid open. “And they never let us forget it,” he added under his breath.

Rowan pulled Lily inside and practically ran up the steps to the top floor. He waved his hand in front of the penthouse door, and it opened, but before he let Lily inside, he paused and closed his eyes. His willstone glowed brightly and then faded. He opened his eyes and smiled at Lily.

“Come on in. It’s safe,” he said.

Lamps flared to life as Rowan passed them, revealing a large loft space with hardwood floors, soaring ceilings studded with skylights, huge windows along two sides, and graceful columns throughout the central area. Simple, elegant furniture created distinct living spaces like a sitting area, library, and dining room, without the use of walls. It was a beautiful, modern-looking space, vastly different from the tents and cabins that Lily had heretofore associated with Rowan. And yet both environments suited him. He was just as at home in this tasteful penthouse as he was roughing it in the woods. Lily followed Rowan through his apartment with an intrigued smile on her face, wondering if he was ever going to stop surprising her.