"I think there are only a few left." The red fledgling's hand was shaking as she wiped sweat and soot from her face, gasping the words. "I-I grabbed Diva 'cause I always liked her and thought she might remember me. But even she was scared. Real scared."

Then Lenobia recognized the girl-Nicole. She'd had an aptitude for horses and a natural seat, before she'd died and then undied and joined Dallas's rogue group. But there was no time to question the child. No time for anything except getting the horses-and Travis-to safety. "You did well, Nicole. Can you go back in there?"

"Yes." Nicole nodded jerkily. "I don't want them to burn. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."

Lenobia rested her hand on the girl's shoulder. "I just need you to open the stalls and get out of the way. I'll guide them to safety."

"Okay, okay. I can do that." Nicole nodded. She sounded breathless and frightened, but without hesitation she followed Lenobia and they jogged back into the swirling heat of the stables.

"Travis!" Lenobia coughed, trying to see through the increasingly thick smoke. "Can you hear me?"

Over the crackling flames he yelled. "Yes! I'm back here. Stall stuck!"

"Get it open!" Lenobia refused to give in to her panic. "Get them all open! I can call the horses to me, to safety. I can get them out. Follow them. I can guide you all out!"

"Got 'em open!" Travis yelled a moment later from the pit of the smoke and heat.

"These are all open, too!" called Nicole from much closer.

"Now follow the horses and get out of the stables! Both of you!" Lenobia shouted before she began sprinting, backward, away from the fire and to the double doors of the exit she'd left open wide behind her. Standing in the doorway she lifted her arms, palms open, and imagining she was pulling power directly from the Otherworld and the mystical realm of Nyx, Lenobia opened her heart, her soul, and her Goddess-given gift and cried, "Come, my beautiful daughters and sons! Follow my voice and my love and live!"

Horses seemed to explode from out of the flames and the inky smoke. Their terror was so palpable to Lenobia it was almost a living being. She understood it-this terror of flames and fire and death-and she channeled strength and serenity through herself and into the horses that galloped past her and into the school grounds.

The red fledgling staggered, coughing, after them. "That's it. That's all the horses," she said, collapsing into the grass.

Lenobia barely spared Nicole a nod. Her emotions were focused on the restless herd behind her, and her eyes were focused on the thickening smoke and the licking flames before her from which Travis did not emerge.

"Travis!" she shouted.

There was no answer.

"The fire's spreading fast," said the still-coughing red fledgling. "He might be dead."

"No," Lenobia said firmly. "Not this time." She turned to look at the herd, calling out to her beloved black mare, "Mujaji!" The horse nickered and trotted toward her. Lenobia put up a hand, halting her. "Be calm, sweet one. Watch over the rest of my children. Lend them your strength and serenity, as well as my love," Lenobia said. The mare reluctantly but obediently began moving around the clusters of frightened horses, herding them together. Satisfied, Lenobia turned away, drew two deep breaths, and sprinted into the mouth of the burning stables.

The heat was terrible. The smoke was so dense it was like trying to breathe boiling liquid. For an instant Lenobia was transported back to that terrible night in New Orleans and another burning barn. The thick ridges of the scars on her back ached with a phantom memory of pain, and for a moment panic ruled, rooting Lenobia in the past.

Then she heard him cough, and her panic was shattered by hope, allowing the present and the true strength of Lenobia's will to overcome her fear. "Travis! I can't see you!" she shouted as she ripped off the bottom of her nightgown, stepped into the closest stall, and dunked it in the water trough.

"Go-back-" he said between hacking coughs.

"Like hell I will. I've watched a man burn because of me. I do not like it." Lenobia pulled the soaking cloth over her like a hooded cloak and moved farther into the smoke and heat, following Travis's coughs.

She found him next to an open stall. He'd fallen and was trying to pull himself up, but had only made it to his knees where he was bent over gagging and coughing. Lenobia didn't hesitate. She stepped into the stall and dunked the ripped cloth into the stall's water trough again.