Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart by Ashley Du Toit Page A

Although I’m not sure exactly what fire’s heart is or what it could do, she thought as they walked on.
    After some time, they reached another opening off the main tunnel, and entered it, to find themselves in a large cavern. Bella looked around. Rock shards lay scattered around, and natural rock formations that resembled miniature mountains dotted the floor. Her eyes travelled upwards to see more of these formations hanging from the cave roof. They shone, reflecting red and orange lights. Trailing up the wall was a series of notches, obviously not natural formations, which led to a high ledge.
    And on that ledge was a blazing fire.
    Bella gazed into the flickering, deep red and orange flames. Inside rested a deep blue heart that pulsed with life. She could feel the life force flow around the room. She shivered. The goblins beside her dropped to their knees.
    â€œIts beautifuls,” said Pronkzie.
    â€œAhhhh,” Gariz breathed out in awe.
    Bella also sank to her knees, content to just watch the flames lovingly cradling the heart, flickering against its blue depth as if caressing it. The flames swirled higher, then sank, only to rise again. She sat silent for a long time, mesmerised, lost in no thoughts at all, until Pronkzie disturbed her, bumping into her as he was rising.
    â€œOh, hellos,” he said smiling at her. “Who are yous thens?”
    Glancing at him, Bella thought, I have to get out of here soon, before these caves make me like them.
    The goblins asked Bella question after question; no sooner would she finish telling them the answer, than they would forget and ask again. Sighing after a few attempts, she gently mentioned that she had to get the heart of a fire for her quest. Pronkzie looked at Bella, then turned to look at the heart that burned deep blue.
    He seemed to consider something, then he said: “Ifs we helps you gets the heart, yous’ll takes us outs of heres.” His words were strained now, as if he had to think very hard before talking.
    Bella nodded her head. Pronkzie stood up, gesturing to Gariz to do the same; they walked up to stand just under the ridge. Gariz pushed Pronkzie down to the ground and then he climbed onto his back, trying to balance himself as he pushed upwards, but he was still short of the ledge.
    â€œStands ups, Garizie,” he said to his brother.
    Gariz began to follow his brother’s direction, wobbling a little as he did so. In danger of falling, Pronkzie grabbed at Gariz’s bold hair, yanking it as he tried to regain his balance.
    â€œOwie,” screeched Gariz, at which point they both toppled to the ground.
    Bella was too lost in her own thoughts to pay much attention to what either of the goblins was doing. She knew that she had to work fast; already she could feel her thoughts dissolving almost as soon as she could grasp at them.
    Bella really needed some help, and not the sort the two goblins were giving her!
    Her thoughts turned to the King of the Water Sprites and the gift he had given her. If she could find water, perhaps she could the use it to summon his help. Water would also help get past the bright flames that danced around the fire’s heart.
    She looked around, trying to find a small stream or trickle of water of some kind, but there was nothing to even suggest a drop of moisture would be found anywhere in the cave.
    She looked over towards the goblins who were now sitting in a corner playing together—they’d already forgotten all about her.
    Just great, she thought, but at least they are out of the way.
    She frowned as she noticed that Gariz had a fat water bottle sticking out of his pocket. Walking up to them she asked for a sip of water. The goblins, believing they were meeting her for the first time, asked her name and were having great fun just teasing her. Bella was patient with them, playing their game, until finally Gariz gave her the bottle. Losing interest, the brothers returned to their