In the direction of Crawford’s House.
A cold chill stole down his spine and, seeing an orange glow in the sky, Christian took off at a sprint.
Chapter 13
Testing the Curse
When Christian finally tore around the corner to where his mother-in-law’s house sat, heat from the inferno met him from over one hundred feet away. Not only was Lady Crawford’s house aflame but practically the entire block.
A few fire brigades had been organized and were handing buckets off, and a man stood atop one of the fire engines with a hose spraying water into one of the homes. It was more than apparent, however, that all they could hope for was containment.
Where was Lillian?
Christian rushed around one of the fire wagons, stepping heedlessly through puddles of water. All the while, his eyes frantically searched for the small, blonde-haired figure of the one woman whom he was not prepared to lose.
Whom, he realized, he would never be prepared to lose.
“Lillian!” He shouted her name as he pushed his way through a crowd of onlookers.
Growing more panicked with each step, he checked the huddled clusters of evacuated residents, some wrapped in blankets, others dressed for dinner but all of them staring in horror at the destruction of their homes.
Where was she?
The grumble of thunder sounded, but it did not herald rain. One of the houses collapsed on itself.
Lady Crawford’s house was fully engulfed but remained standing. If she was inside…
He ran toward it.
“Hey, Mister! Stay away from there! No one will be going in to save you!” One of the firemen called out in warning, but Christian ignored him.
“My wife…” Scorching heat grew in intensity as he moved closer and then climbed the steps to enter.
“Get away from there, Mister!”
“My wife’s inside!” he shouted over his shoulder.
He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and covered the metal lever that opened the door.
It was locked.
Unmindful of his own safety, he stepped back and kicked at the door. “Lillian!”
With a third kick, the door flew open and Christian could just barely make out the interior.
She could not be inside. No person could remain inside and live.
White, orange, yellow, and blue flames snaked across the floor, up the walls and licked at the ceiling.
Christian had no choice but to look for her. He couldn’t go on without her. At the same time, he was haunted by the words he’d promised his sister less than one hour ago.
“I won’t die.”
“Lillian!” Christian shouted and brushed at a spark that had landed on his jacket. He would not die. He could not. He would do everything in his power to find her though.
He would find her.
He could not die for her. He’d promised…
