by Martha Woods
I keep my eyes focused on the window as he bends down and looks at me. I hear his breath catch in his throat, causing me to lose my focus and look at him. He looks confused as he continues to stare into my eyes. I had imagined this moment so many times, and now that I was sharing my secrets with a normal human, I was becoming as scared as Darien.
“It’s like watching a fireplace burning at the back of your eyes,” Darien says softly as he sits next to me on the bed. I move back to rest my body against the pillows and to adjust the IV line that is tugging at me.
“What you see are my powers, constantly moving and burning, ready to be used. My people call it ‘hell fire’ because the flames were acquired from the beings we destroy. It’s our only defense against supernatural creatures. And though I rarely use it, I had to unleash every ounce of my power to free myself from the trap I had fallen into.”
“So, that was the trouble you were in?” Darien asks, the color in his face seeming to return and his voice sounds stronger. I can tell his concern for me is over riding the fear he his.
I can’t help but chuckle at the memories of Malbious. “Touching a token released the trapped spirit inside. But each token has a contingency spell for such occasions. The creature is trapped with the person who touches the token and they are given an unknown amount of time to escape. If they don’t find a way out, the person who touches the token is destroyed and the creature is sent back to its realm. This way the creature can’t be unleashed on our Earth and the person who touches it is never given a chance to do something so foolish again.”
“So, you found a way out?” Darian then asks softly.
I shake my head as I look away from him. “I created my own way out. I burned everything and everyone trapped with me. Then I woke up.” For the next few minutes we were silent. I could tell Darien had more questions but for a moment he simply thought about what I had said.
“Is this what happened in the house all those years ago?” he finally asks as the sun dips below the horizon, allowing me to hide once again. I nod my head as I close my eyes and fight back the tears that want to spill through. Now that I know more about the environment of these token traps, it tempts me to rethink if there would have been anyway out for both my uncle and me. It would be easy to lose myself in the idea of what I could have done differently, allowing me to be with my uncle this day instead of continuing to mourn him through my guilt.
“I’m glad you alive, at least. For now, I can just focus on that thought and try to forget everything else,” Darien says after a while. I open my eyes as he stands from the bed and walks over, leans down, and places a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I grab his shirt and hold tightly to keep him close to me. I hear him chuckle as he raises his hand and starts to run his fingers through my hair. At that moment, I’m thankful that Morgan took the time to clean me as I smell the sweet aroma coming from my hair.
“There was a moment that I honestly thought I would never see you ever again. I tried to keep your image in my mind as I prepared to destroy everything, including myself. I was so relieved when I woke and saw you next to me, even if that meant I’d have to tell you the truth,” I ramble as I try to calm my breathing and keep myself from having a complete breakdown.
“Shhh…” Darien speaks into my ear as I continue to hold him and he keeps his face pressed up against mine as his fingers stay tangled in my hair. It is only when we hear a knock on the door that Darien straightens up and I pull my hand back to my side.
“Come in,” I call as Darien steps back so I can see who has come to visit.
“Are you feeling better?” Morgan asks as he immediacy enters the room and begins checking my IV bag.
“Yes,” I say confidently as I take another bite of food.
“Then let’s get this out so you can get up and shower. You need to get up and move around before your muscles start to weaken,” Morgan instructs as he removes the IV with one swift motion. I ignore the pain as I keep my eyes on Morgan, seeing if he’ll fall into temptation and lick the blood from the IV line.
“Since when do you care about my strength?” I joke with Morgan as he deposes of the medical supplies in the bathroom waste basket.
“Since you’ve been battling against demons,” Morgan replies. Based on his choiceswords, I can tell he heard the whole conversation I had with Darien.
“A djinn and a muse, to be more precise,” I explain as I use my arms to keep the sheet wrapped around my body as I scooch to the edge of the bed and finally stand. Blood rushes to my head as I wait for the wave of dizziness to pass. I feel Morgan’s arm on me but I quickly shrug it away. A warrior always wants to prove their strength when given an opportunity to.
“Will you be needing any further assistance?” Morgan asks, the familiar sly grin crossing his face. I can’t help but smile back as I take a step towards the bathroom.
“Thank you, Morgan. But your exceptional skills are no longer needed at this time. If I need anything else, I’m sure Darien can give me a hand,” I say as I glance over at Darien. His face seems to brighten as his checks flush.
“As you wish, Princess,” Morgan speaks as he crosses the room and shuts the door behind him as he leaves.
“Princess?” Darien questions as he offers his arm. I gladly take it as he leads me steadily to the bathroom.
“My people are called ‘warriors’ in English. And my father just so happens to be their ruler and King, making me their Princess. Titles are used more for political use than anything else. My people are ranked more on their ability to fight than what families they are born into,” I explain as I take easy steps till I can rest against the vanity in the bathroom.
“Sounds interesting enough,” Darien comments as he steps back and pauses at the door. “Do you need any help?”
I can’t help but smirk as I consider dropping the sheet right in front of him. “As tempting as that offer is, I’m sure Monica wouldn’t appreciate your assistance.” It sounds good to hear Darien really laugh as he looks away.
“Actually, I don’t think Monica will be coming around any time soon. She wasn’t particularly pleased when we left her to come rescue you,” Darien admits before he gives me a wink. “I’ll have Elizabeth come check on you in a bit, if you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all, thank you.” Darien responds by closing the bathroom door. I let the sheet fall as I stretch and lean over to start the shower. I enjoy a few minutes alone as I let the hot water run against my skin, forcing my blood pressure to rise. I enjoy the sensation as it confirms that I’m really alive and that everything I see and hear isn’t a dream. I take the time to lather my skin in scented soap and wash my hair several times before I turn off the water. I pat my skin dray with a plush towel, then wrap it around my body before I step back into the bedroom.
“You’re looking better already,” Elizabeth says as she fusses with the clothe that Morgan had acquired for me. “I had picked these for you from Mom’s closet.” I can tell it’s upsetting for her as she wipes a tear away. I near her, I can smell her mother’s scent in the air.
“I appreciate all your help,” I say as I help her lay the clothes out on the bed. When she looks up at me, my breath catches in my throat as the last rays of the sun reflect in her eyes. I step closer to her and raise my hand to her chin to steady her face so I can closely analyze her.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice quivering from the intense look I am giving her.
“It can’t be….” I say softly as I look into one eye and then the other, switching back and forth as I angel her face towards the last bits of sunlight.
“What? What do you see?” I can tell that I’m starting to scare Elizabeth as I release her face and turn away from her.
“I just can’t believe how much you look like your mother,” I lie as I start dressing into a simple t-shirt and dress pants. I hear Elizabeth sigh as she rings her hands against the bed post and I try to calm myself after looking into the hell fire
in her eyes. My mind is racing, trying to understand why Elizabeth possess not only my people’s ability, but particular my blue hell fire.
“Anna, do you mind if I ask you something personal?” she asks as I look back at her. With the sun now set, her eyes have returned to normal.
“Of course,” I say as I walk back into the bathroom to brush my hair and tie it back.
“Well, something happened earlier today and I don’t feel comfortable talking to Darien about it,” she starts as I motion for her to sit on the small sofa in the room. “Well…you see…I started my period and I don’t know what to do.” She is fidgeting with her fingers, unwilling to look at me. I sigh, happy to hear that it isn’t a serious issue I was fearing. A part of me wondered if she had accidently burned something. But it makes sense since I also started my period when my hell fire first appeared behind my eyes.
“I understand why you wouldn’t want to talk to Darien about it. Let’s get you the stuff you’ll need and we can talk more about it,” I offer. She looks up at me and smiles as I take her hand in mine and lead her from the room.
Chapter 8
“She has my blue flame, Morgan,” I speak once we are back in my room and I’m confident everyone else has fallen asleep. After a long evening of watching movies and eating a ridiculous amount of junk food, I was ready to sleep. But my bothered thoughts kept me awake. Thankfully I had a night creature to keep me company.
“What do you mean? Who?” he asks as kicks off his shoes and stretches out on the bed. After being unconscious for the better part of three days, I wasn’t ready to get back into bed. Instead, I start pacing the room as I try to understand how Elizabeth acquired my hell fire.
“Elizabeth. I looked into her eyes in the setting sun and I saw my blue flames in her eyes,” I explain as I continue moving.
“How is that even possible, Anastasi? And is that why the little girl smells of dead blood?” Morgan asks as he props himself up on his elbow and throws aside his glasses, finally revealing his pitch-black eyes.
“Yes, Elizabeth has come of age. But I have no idea how she has my powers. Her parents are not of my people and she has obviously shown no signs of possessing these powers till now. When I was a child, I often scorched my surroundings and the people around me every time I had an emotional fit. That’s why I was sent to work with my uncle. But I never learned to control it until I finally used my powers for the first time. But already she shows signs of full control and yet she has no clue what is inside her,” I ramble out loud, trying to sort out my own thoughts.
“So, what are you going to do about it?” Morgan asks dryly, obviously not as concerned as me. I don’t blame him though. This is a matter that doesn’t affect him in the least.
“She can’t stay here. She needs to be trained before she hurts someone or herself. But I’ll need to contact my mother in order to obtain permission to bring three humans home with me. She is going to have a heart attack as it is once she learns what’s been happening here and how I already told Darien everything.” I finally stop walking as I sit on the edge of the bed and try to control my breathing. What was supposed to be a simple mission has turned into a complete chaotic situation.
“One step at a time, Princess. I suggest first securing the trade route before talking with the Queen. At least then you’ll have some good news to report. Also, I suggest finishing your dealings with Mr. Yung. I’m sure he’ll want to know why his life has suddenly gone to hell.” Morgan chuckles as the irony of his words. I can’t help but smirk as well as I turn towards him.
“But what if Darien refuses to let Elizabeth go?” I ask him, more concerned about Darien’s opinion than dealing with my mother.
“Don’t ask him to let Elizabeth go. Ask him to go with you. The whole lot. Introduce lover boy into our world,” Morgan suggests as he motions for me to lay down beside him. I roll my eyes at him as I obey, laying on my side so I can look at him.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask softly, afraid that someone might hear me and Darien would then know my true feelings about him.
“If your powers weren’t contingent on your virginity, I would encourage you to go jump his bones now,” Morgan teased as he presses lightly on my shoulder as though to shove me from the bed.
I can’t help but smirk as I realize how good of a friend Morgan is to me. “Do you think that is really true, or something parents tell their children to keep them focused on the war?”
“Well, there is only one way to find out, I guess,” he says as he rolls away from me and slides off the bed. “But if you’ll excuse me, I need to eat and ravish a young woman or two.”
“Geez, Morgan. Spare me the details,” I say as I watch him leave. I hear him chuckle even as he walks down the hallway. I sit up in bed, listening to the silence of the house as I debate whether I should remain alone in bed or risk my friendship with Darien and attempt to share his bed tonight. After my near-death experience, I know that I should take the chance now, knowing in the morning when I explain everything to Darien about his sister that I could possibly lose him forever.
I creep slowly from my room, careful not to wake anyone as I walk slowly to Darien’s room. I’m surprised when I see his door is cracked and the light is still on. I knock on the door and he calls ‘come on’ without even bothering to see who it is.
“You’re up late,” I say as I peek inside and see him sitting on his bed, with his sketch pad beside him. Momentarily I am distracted by the fact that he is shirtless and only wearing pajama shorts. I guess I never realized how handsome he is with a toned chest and well-built arms.
“I guess I have a lot on my mind,” he responds as he closes his sketch pad and sets it on the table beside him.
“What are you working on?” I ask as I step inside his room and shut the door behind me. I see a grin cross his face as I cross the room and sit on the edge of the bed. It feels like old times when I used to come to his room and watch him paint or draw, but never had I ventured to his room at night. It had always been the other way around when he used to wake me to play hide and seek during the night, when the house was dark and no one would shush us to behave.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Darien says quickly as he takes the sketch pad and tucks it into the drawer. I raise an eyebrow at the action, tempted to fight him to learn what he has been drawing. But I let it go as I lean against the pillows. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Stronger. But unfortunately not tired. Or I should say, I’m a little afraid to fall asleep. Every time I think of sleeping, I fear that I will never wake up or that’ll I’ll wake up back in that place.” My words stagger at the end as I struggle against the thoughts and memories. It’s hard to believe it all happened. I guess it will become a more permanent reality once I report what has happened to my mother.
“I can tell your stressing out. Is there something else that is bothering you?” he asks as he turns his body towards me. I want to move closer to him and feel his bare skin with my hands, but instead I try to focus on his question.
“I will have to tell my mother everything that has happened since I’ve been gone. She will not be happy with what I have to tell her between being compromised by a token trap, to telling you the truth about our people,” I explain as I try to keep my eyes locked on his, instead of traveling over his body.
“Is there is problem with you telling me about what happened?” he asks. Good, another question to keep me focused, I think as I try to form the most convincing words.
“My people have many alliances with other creatures in order to form a peaceful alliance. And this alliance is contingent on us keeping the secret of their existences from the human population. By telling you about me and my powers, I threaten this alliance,” I explain. The realization of my own words is a sobering moment as I look at Darien.
“For example, I would guess that Morgan is not human,” Darien suggests. I nod my head, unwilling to share Morgan’s true identity without first gaining his permission. Wh
en I don’t say anything more, Darien motions for me to move closer. I obey without hesitation as he places an arm around my waist.
“Well, if I can help you relax tonight, I will do my best. Though I don’t have a large bed, you can share it with me tonight it will help,” Darien offers as his arm raises from my waist as his fingers brush along my face. I love the feeling of his hands on me as I forgo all logic and restraint as I reach out and bring his face to mine. I enjoy the sensation of his lips on mine as he parts them and forces his tongue into mine. He grabs my hips and pulls me into him to where I can now feel his bare chest. In return I pull him on top of me so I can wrap both arms around his torso as I enjoy every kiss his plants on my lips. I part my legs as he leans into me and slides his hand under my shirt to feel my skin.
I let out a small cry when he pulls away from me, forcing me to open my eyes and look at him. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asks in complete seriousness. It is obvious that we both desire the same thing, but Darien is a true gentleman through and through.
“Just kiss me, Darien. Kiss me and let me fall asleep in your arms. And it doesn’t have to be anything more than that,” I say in return. Despite my desire to allow Darien to kiss every part of my body, I can’t forget the warning so engraved into my mind. I couldn’t risk losing my powers until after the war or until I have entered into the proper rituals with Darien. The thought of being bonded to a human frightens me for a second knowing the uproar it would cause amongst my people. I try to forget that thought as I pull Darien’s lips back to mine as he rolls me on top of him and we enjoy the taste of each other for several minutes.
After the heat between us begins to die down, I rest my head on his chest and allow him to run his fingers through my hair. He pulls a blanket over us as I close my eyes and focus on the sound of his beating heart. Eventually I fall asleep comforted by the rhythm of this breathing.
