The Flames of Arathia

by Jordan Liberatore

  “That is true, my dear,” Avariana sighed, reaching out to brush back Drusilla’s bangs. “You are no exception. There be things at work that you shall not understand. Some of these have already begun to turn. Others have not done so as of yet. The fulfillment of that, however, shall not come to pass until your task is complete. This,” she pointed to the Fireblood Gem, “is only the start of many things you must do. I have come to show you things of the past.”

  Avariana waved a pale hand and the air rippled like the surface of a spring. A figure appeared next to her like smoke, unclear at first but soon taking more shape. It was a woman standing in a deep purple dress. Her thick locks of black hair tumbled down her back, curving bangs on her brow. Her eyes were shimmering between lilac and black. Fear came from her, into the room like a shadow. It emanated, kissing Drusilla in a way she had never known, stirring up emotions Drusilla had never felt. With it the room seemed to shift. It was no longer a temple, but the majestic throne room of a castle.

  “Darkness shall fall over the land. Doom shall prevail at the enemy’s hand. Arise with three a new dawn bright, led first by an heir, followed third a betrayer of light. Flames shall leap at the end of the night,” the woman whispered in a shaking voice. She began to fade in wisps of smoke, followed by the castle. The room felt empty, as it was now once again the room in the temple. Drusilla was breathless, captured in shock. She looked over at Avariana with a questioning gaze.

  “That was the Dinthlayi Amarca,” Avariana whispered in Drusilla’s ear ever so gently and softly. “Take heed for this was only a part. There is only one alive who knows it in whole. It is to he that you must visit next. Take this gem and continue on your journey. I will be watching. We shall meet again.” With that the Queen pulled back and smiled, showing teeth whiter than her dress. Drusilla’s jaw dropped just a bit, stunned by such a woman, such a creature as the mysterious Queen. Avariana disappeared the way she came: a soft burst of white light. Again came the wind sucking back into the gem, and the burst of red. Time unfroze. No time had passed at all during the entire interaction.

  The woman felt it in her bones. Huddled on the dusty floor of her cell she could tell. It was all starting. A deep force was starting to stir. The flames that were dying were woken again. The words were echoing in her head. It was time. There was still hope left. There was always hope, and now it was rekindled. Now… Now the war would be ended and the real fight could begin.

  He was an old man, yet not so. For his people he was still in his youth despite how silver his hair was. For the rest of mortal races, he was ancient. And he was standing facing the horizon, that knowing intuition tugging at his guts, at his mind. He let out a heavy sigh. It was time to send out some letters. The time had come, and he had to step up. There was no more hiding in secret. He was born with a purpose, and it was time to rise to that. It didn’t matter who was there and who was gone. The ancient words were screaming in the silence. The prophecy was coming to pass. Annloe the Great would have to make sure he did all he could to aid it.

  Chapter 14:

  Nathan turned around sharply, his sword in the air. “The hell…?” he muttered, but Drusilla ignored him. She followed the strongest urge to step forward quickly, reaching out towards the gem. Flames danced around her finger tips. As she got closer the flames grew hotter and brighter, fading from orange and red into a cold blue and white. The flames touched the gem as she did, engulfing it in their power. Nathan just stood behind her watching in wonder. A huge flash of bright crimson filled the room. The two firebloods closed their eyes to fight the brightness of it. The light faded softly, leaving just the torch lights. Drusilla opened her eyes, her hand holding the cold Fireblood Gem. Was it meant to be so cold? It was strange. A glow pulsed from its glassy surface as Nathan looked over Drusilla’s shoulder.

  “We must go to the one who knows the Dinthlayi Amarca in its whole,” Drusilla muttered. “Don’t ask me why. We just… We must.” She placed the stone in her leather bag with a shaking hand. Nathan slowly nodded, looking back at the entrance to the room with a heavy sigh.

  “I understand. We shall go to the Isle of Serenity. First we will stock up and rest at the island of Tiarta. Let’s go. We should check on Lu,” Nathan agreed. They began to wind their way back through the temple. It was eerie how quiet it had become, how much colder. They were silent, and in the silence Drusilla reflected. Something had woken in her back in that room. Fear… Fear of loss. But it wasn’t a loss she considered before. It was the loss of Malcolm. Drusilla’s mouth grew dry. Where in the world did that come from? One word kept running through her thoughts: Love. A chill ran down Drusilla’s spine. But she knew it was true. It was always true.

  Melody turned to Malcolm, running her fingers down his bare chest. Malcolm smiled at her. “You’re most beautiful here, completely natural,” Malcolm cooed.

  “You’re just being kind,” Melody chuckled. Malcolm shook his head.

  “No, I’m being honest. Ask me anything and I will only ever be honest with you,” Malcolm explained. Melody studied him.

  “How much do you love me?” Melody asked.

  “Beyond the universe and back a thousand times. I love you with every ounce of my being, more than I have ever loved another before,” Malcolm insisted. He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “And I will love you until the day I die.” Melody smiled against his lips.

  “I love you too,” she muttered, not knowing that at that moment her son had begun to grow within her.

  They’d come to the entrance of the temple. Malcolm was waiting. He stared straight at Drusilla. “Get away, Miss Free Strider. I’ll take care of this,” Nathan growled. Drusilla shook her head.

  “No,” she breathed. “I think it’s time I talk to him.” Nathan looked at her quizzically. Drusilla stepped forward, crossing her arms. “You once told me that if I asked you anything you’d tell me the truth.”

  “I did and I still mean it,” Malcolm assured.

  “Why did you kill her? Why did you try to kill me?” Drusilla demanded, her voice breaking.

  “It was my job. It was the worst job I could have ever taken, but when I took it I didn’t realize what would happen,” Malcolm explained.

  “D-Did you ever love me? Was any of it true?” Drusilla asked. Malcolm stepped towards her, resting his hand on her arm.

  “From the very start,” he breathed. “I loved how beautiful you were, and how smart. I love the warmth you have when you smile, and how you used to laugh at me. I loved sitting next to you listening to your mother. I loved you then and I love you even more now.” He rested his forehead against hers.

  “You’re a Brethren,” Drusilla muttered. Malcolm slowly nodded, tightening his grasp.

  “I did it for someone I cared for, someone I was supposed to protect. And they have made my life a hell killing such innocent people. You changed me, Melody Kloy. You made me a different man that hated the life he had been given. Because I would rather love you than protect that damned Eknar and do her bidding any longer,” Malcolm hissed. Drusilla hesitantly kissed him. Malcolm kissed her back desparatly, taking her hand which had been holding the dagger.

  “Malcolm,” Drusilla argued.

  “We all know that I can’t make it out of this unhurt and then walk away from the Brethren. I will meet you after I leave, because I will,” Malcolm pushed.

  “You think we’ll just let you join us?” Nathan growled.

  “Nathan… I think we can trust him. He wouldn’t lie when I’m holding the very thing that could kill him,” Drusilla assured. “We’ll meet in Tiarta.” Malcolm stiffly nodded, kissing Drusilla again.

  “I love you like a thousand stars,” Malcolm breathed, forcing the blade into his side. He hissed in pain, his other hand gripping Drusilla tightly. It was only then that Drusilla realized she was crying. Malcolm stumbled back. “Go, Melody. Tiarta… I love you.” Nathan grabbed Drusilla’s arm and dragged her away.

  “What the hell was that?” Nathan s
napped.

  “I saw truth in him,” Drusilla breathed. “Nathan… He’s a pawn not a cold blooded killer. He never… he never really wanted to hurt anyone. The Eknar, it’s all on her.” Nathan stopped as they got to the beach.

  “You love him,” Nathan pointed out. Drusilla slowly nodded.

  “I don’t think I ever stopped,” Drusilla mused. “Now isn’t the time though, Nathan. You made me a promise about my past and I expect you to keep it. Let’s just go.” Nathan sighed heavily, but they quickly returned to the ship where Adam was waiting. They got on deck, Drusilla taking off her bag and jacket. She looked at Nathan, and for a moment all tension broke and they just laughed. Drusilla looked over at Adam, noticing the same deep blue as the specks in Avariana’s eyes.

  “Did you get it?” Adam asked. Drusilla smiled, taking the gem out of her bag proudly.

  “It was Drusilla who got it,” Nathan explained. “She’s a fireblood.”

  Malcolm stumbled back to the boat he had docked on the sand. His head was spinning with the pain in his side, but he felt happier than he had in years. She’d forgiven him. He smiled, resting his head back. “Beings above…Thank you,” he laughed. She loved him. She still loved him. Malcolm felt the strength needed to leave the Brethren. He could do it. He would. For the first time in years Malcolm felt as though he could have what he always wanted: a real family. Now he just had to fight for it and overthrow the one person he had sworn his life to.

  Chapter 15:

  Adam just stared at Drusilla in awe. Nathan had gone down to see Lu, suddenly tense. “Sill, you should have told us. Nathan won’t be too happy,” Adam argued. Drusilla put the gem back in her bag and walked towards the side of the ship.

  “I had to keep it a secret. I never asked to be one. My mother was killed because of who I am,” Drusilla hissed. However she no longer felt such anger at Malcolm’s actions, but rather at the one pulling the strings behind it. The two pulled up the anchor. “That is not the only reason why I got the stone,” Drusilla muttered. Adam raised an eyebrow.

  “What is this other reason?” Adam asked. Drusilla hesitated to speak, but what was the point of secrets anymore? They’d know of Malcolm soon enough, and Declan. She might keep this much from Nathan, but not Adam. For some reason she couldn’t.

  “I saw the Elven Queen, Avariana. It was almost like a vision. She told me to grab it. It was my task,” Drusilla explained. Adam paled at the mention of the Queen’s name. He crossed his arms as he looked out on the sea. “She also told me I am to meet one of her own.” As Drusilla spoke, Adam slowly looked back at her.

  “She would have probably meant a close relationship. I have heard that rarely ever does she visit those not of noble blood unless predestined to. It may even be that that has already begun to unwind,” Adam argued. Drusilla slowly nodded, thinking of what she had seen.

  “So she said. She said that some of that fate has already begun to unravel and things have already been set into motion,” Drusilla mused. Adam just slowly nodded. “How is Lu?” Drusilla asked. The sun was already starting to set. Drusilla couldn’t help but wonder just how long they were in there. She also wondered about the future. Malcolm… Should she be the one to say something to Adam?

  “She is resting, but she will live,” Adam muttered, as though he only cared because he had to.

  “You risked the gem to save the woman you love,” Drusilla remarked, shaking her head. Then again, she had risked everything for Malcolm. She was lucky Nathan hadn’t just killed him. Could she have seen that and gotten through? Drusilla didn’t think so.

  “I did so only because I am her husband,” Adam argued. Drusilla looked at him.

  “Surely that means you love her. We all do the most insane of things for those we love,” Drusilla pointed out. Adam’s eyes turned cold and dead. For a moment he thought, and then the warmth returned.

  “I do not know what I feel anymore, Sill. I try to figure it out, but I feel as though I made a wrong choice those years ago,” Adam sighed. “Besides, since when do you know so much about love?”

  “You’d be surprised at what all has conspired today,” Drusilla laughed.” Lu is a wonderful person. You may have made a better choice than you believe.” Adam stepped forward, grabbing her arm gently.

  “She hides her secrets more than I can care for. I barely know her. Being with her may sometimes be as bad as falling in love with one whom it may be forbidden,” Adam revealed carefully, whispering to her. “I fear she may be hiding something that may be the doom of us all.”

  “A good man once told me that fear was a wretched thing that we must overcome,” Drusilla argued. Adam had the flicker of a smile.

  “Yet I believe he also told you that fear is in every being that lives,” Adam countered.

  “Tell me Adam Brightheart: What is it you fear?” Drusilla asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I fear that what I feel will be the death of me,” Adam muttered. They fell quiet, looking at each other. Suddenly Drusilla understood. She feared herself, and what she felt. She was in love, and not just once. She loved a murderer who worked for some unknown, a man who was willing to give her the world. She loved a man she had somehow forgiven and was afraid of losing. Yet… She loved another. She loved the man who was married, the man with the ocean eyes that she could open up to. And Drusilla was torn. She was torn between the two and feared the results of both. She feared her past, and she was terrified of her future.

  “Same… but I must… I must tell you,” Drusilla stammered. Nathan walked up though.

  “We’re off to Tiarta,” Nathan announced, going to the wheel.

  “Tell me what?” Adam asked. Drusilla looked back at Nathan, crossing her arms.

  “We’re meeting someone at Tiarta,” Drusilla explained. She put her hand in her pocket and took out the ring, handing it to Adam. “The man who gave me this.”

  “You make it all seem so horrible and forbidden,” Adam teased. Drusilla glared at him.

  “I let a man live today, a man I have been wanting to kill for the past four years. Nathan isn’t just upset because I never told him of what I was. He is upset also because I let Malcolm the Dark live because I love him,” Drusilla confessed. Adam looked at her, processing it all.

  “Malcolm… He… Oh,” Adam breathed. He slowly nodded as though hurt. “Oh… I should go see my wife.” He walked away, leaving Drusilla to help Nathan.

  Lu was propped up in bed, feeling a bit better. Adam just sat watching her. “You seem quiet,” Lu pointed out.

  “I’m thinking,” Adam admitted. Lu raised an eyebrow.

  “About what?” she asked. Adam sighed.

  “How does someone fall in love with a man like Malcolm the Dark?” Adam mused. He shook his head. “I didn’t pin Sill as the type for that.” Lu frowned.

  “She and Malcolm?” Lu inquired. Adam nodded.

  “She mentioned a son not too long ago. It must be Malcolm’s. How Nathan let the man live I don’t know,” Adam sighed.

  “You should be up helping,” Lu muttered. “I want to rest.” Adam looked at her for a moment before deciding to comply.

  Lu wasn’t well enough to come up and help until the next morning. The night had been rather silent. Nathan was focused on the tasks at hand, and Adam was lost in thought. The top deck was just quiet, a strange tension of the unknown in the air. Lu walked up with cold glaring eyes, cutting straight to Drusilla. She had a venom in her stare, and more than ever Drusilla was reminded strangely of Malcolm. It reminded Drusilla of something she had almost forgotten, the time he had proven just how strongly he felt.

  Malcolm stood staring down the man, a boy Melody’s age. They’d grown up together, but he had always hated Melody. “Don’t. Touch. Her,” Malcolm hissed, his fists balled. There was nothing but rage in his eyes, rage and hate for the man who once again tried to taunt Melody and threaten to rape her. She’d gotten use to ignoring him, but Malcolm wouldn’t stand for it.

  “And who are yo
u to make me stop?” the man laughed. Malcolm frowned, his eyes narrowing.

  “A man who can kill you with just his hands,” Malcolm growled. “Now… Leave Melody alone.”

  “Killing’s a crime though,” the man taunted. Malcolm laughed, that near sadistic laugh that always sent a shiver down Melody’s spine.

  “I have enough connections,” Malcolm assured. “And no one would cry at your funeral, I am sure.” The man lunged at Malcolm, but he was quick to grab one wrist, bringing his knee to the man’s gut as he pushed him on the ground. The snow began to fall again.

  “Malcolm, let’s just go home,” Melody urged. Malcolm looked over at her, his gaze softening.

  “Of course,” he sighed, leading Melody away.

  Adam was silent as well, not daring look at either Drusilla or his wife. Drusilla couldn’t blame him. He was probably as confused as she was. Which way was her heart leading, and which was right? That wasn’t a simple answer. By evening the sight of an island came onto the horizon. Drusilla went to lock the gem away, it being safer on the ship than on Tiarta. While Drusilla had never been there, she’d heard enough stories to know how shady the place could be. Locking the gem away, Drusilla also grabbed some money, just as Lu stormed into the room. She caught Drusilla against the wardrobe, arm against Drusilla’s neck.

  “You are nothing but a pathetic liar and a whore,” Lu spat. “You have no place on this ship, pirate’s daughter. In the Elvish language you’d be called kiklo. I’d suggest you leave at Tiarta. Leave with that damned Malcolm and never return.” Drusilla began to softly smile. She’d had enough of Lu’s antics and it was time to put the woman in her place. Thus Drusilla slowly reached down to grab her dagger as she took a breath.