"Ma'am, isn't that illegal?" Fiammetta's dark hair, pale face, and bright coppery eyes turned in the direction of the voice of the surly guest over his half-consumed inn supper.
    
"What?" she questioned, not knowing what she had done wrong.
    
"You whispered something to the fire, and it flared, an action like magic. You know in this city magic is banned. Must I summon the guard?"
    
Fiammetta had forgotten. She couldn't do magic--the city had declared it illegal. With nervous glances, Fiammetta sneaked away from the crowded inn, knowing she couldn't return until the man had left. She decided to go to her friend Cyane's house. She hurried into the deserted street outside the inn and rushed down a path into the Black Forest. The continuous drip of water off of pine branches felt ominous, somehow scary.

Without warning, a noise--then the feeling of cold on her cheek, mouth. Fiammetta gasped and attempted to scream, but the hand on her face pressed harder, drawing blood. A coarse, cruel voice sounded in her ear. Thrusting the hand away, Fiammetta spun around.

"If you make a noise, you die." An evil man blending with the shadows stood there, his skin icy white. A death threat, but she was not dying here. The only thought on her mind of twisting flames; she lost awareness.

Fiammetta felt pain, aching, throbbing pain, and a soft pillow behind her head.
    
"Sh," murmured the voice of Cyane. Her eyes finally opened, Fiammetta surveyed her sapphire-eyed friend.
    
"How did I get here?"
    
"I fancied a stroll and found you unconscious in the forest. The guards reckon the strange air around was work of a dark spirit. You're staying, luckily not in prison."
    
"What?" Fiammetta cried.
    
"The spirit's wasn't the only damage. Half the forest burned from your fire. That was lucky, too."

Fiammetta was astounded. "My fire? The only fire I can conjure is a small flame. And . . . the forest was a living thing. How is it lucky I burned it?"

Cyane smiled. "It convinced the guard that magic can be good again. All because of you."