by N M Thorn
The Burns Fire
THE BURNS FIRE
N M THORN
Contents
Copyright
Prologue
1. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
2. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
3. ~ Tessa ~
4. ~ Tessa ~
5. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
6. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
7. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
8. ~ Aidan ~
9. ~ Tessa ~
10. ~ Tessa ~
11. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
12. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
13. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
14. ~ Aidan ~
15. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
16. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
17. ~ Tessa ~
18. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
19. ~ Tessa ~
20. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
21. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
22. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
23. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
24. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
25. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
26. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
27. ~ Tessa ~
28. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
29. ~ Tessa ~
30. ~ Aidan ~
31. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
32. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
33. ~ Aidan ~
34. ~ Aidan ~
35. ~ Aidan ~
36. ~ Aidan ~
37. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
38. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
39. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
40. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
41. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
42. ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
Epilogue
Book 2 Excerpt
About the Author
Copyright © 2019 by N.M. Thorn. All rights reserved.
[email protected]
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.
Cover art design by www.originalbookcoverdesigns.com
Prologue
Approximately 480 B.C.
Somewhere in Ireland
“Nuala, Nuala, wake up,” Aodh whispered, tugging at his twin sister’s hand, but she wouldn’t wake. She was crying and moaning in her sleep, her beautiful golden hair soaked with cold sweat, tears streaming down her tender face. He glanced over his shoulder at the two little boys who were sleeping peacefully in their beds – his two younger brothers, another set of twins, Fiachra and Conn. He didn’t want to speak any louder out of fear of waking them up.
Come on, Nuala, wake up already, he thought, shaking her shoulders, almost lifting her off the bed. Finally, her long eyelashes fluttered, and Fionnghuala opened her blue eyes, flooded with tears. Her terrified gaze halted on Aodh’s face and she smiled weakly.
“Aodhán…” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck, hiding her face in his shoulder. He embraced her, pulling her closer. “Oh, Aodhán, it was horrible.” She cried again, her whole tiny body trembling in his arms.
“It was just a nightmare, Nuala,” he said, softly stroking her hair and shoulders, trying to calm her down. “It’s over now. Do you want to tell me what frightened you so much, my dear sister?”
Fionnghuala shook her head, pulling away from him. “No, brother. I am afraid that if I say it out loud, it will come to pass.” She lay down and pulled her blanket up to her chin. Aodh got up, ready to return to his bed. “Aodhán, don’t leave. Please stay with me.”
No one called him Aodhán except Fionnghuala. And he could never say no when she begged him, staring at him with those great blue eyes. Clever and full of life, Fionnghuala was always the mastermind of their mischiefs and pranks, and he already stopped counting how many times she got him in trouble with their father. But there was no other person in his life who he loved more than his beautiful twin sister.
Aodh sighed and climbed on top of her bed, sitting next to her. She turned to her side, pulling her hand through the crook of his elbow and rested her forehead against his arm. “Aodhán, don’t leave me… I am scared.”
“I shall never leave you,” he promised, putting his hand over hers. “Do not be afraid, my fair-shouldered sister. I shall never let anything happen neither to you nor to our little brothers. I swear, I shall protect you with my life.”
Fionnghuala sighed and closed her eyes. Aodh watched her for a few minutes, thinking of what could scare his fearless sister so much. When he was sure that she was finally sleeping, he shut his eyes and slowly drifted to sleep, still holding his sister’s hand in his.
The morning turned out to be beautiful. As they all gathered for breakfast in the light hall of their father’s castle, Aodh watched his sister with concern, but Fionnghuala seemed to already forget about her nightmare. Laughing happily, she rushed toward their father and gave him a tight hug. Lir, the god of the ocean, greeted his children with love, embracing them one at the time. He loved his children and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to see them happy.
Aodh didn’t notice a dark shadow of fear crossing Fionnghuala’s face when their stepmother Aoife walked into the room. Aoife greeted her husband and children with a warm smile and told them that the carriage was ready. She was going to take the children to see their grandfather.
Fionnghuala backed away from her and stepped behind Aodh. She took his hand and squeezed it. “Aodh, I do not want to go. Let’s ask Father to cancel this trip.”
“Why, Nuala? Do you not wish to see our grandfather?” he asked, searching her colorless face with concern. “Are you not well? You are so pale.”
She lowered her eyes and her shoulders hunched. She thought for a moment and then shook her head, like she was trying to get rid of some troublesome thoughts. “You are right, Aodh, I do not know what came over me. I am fine. Let’s just get going.”
Aodh watched her kissing their father goodbye, not convinced by her words and wondering what that was all about. Their father walked them toward the gates, helping them get into the carriage.
As the carriage took off, Aodh was expecting a long ride, but just a few miles away from their father’s castle, Aoife ordered her servants to pull over. She walked out and pulled one of her servants away. Fionnghuala watched their stepmother talking to the old guard and her face got ashen, tears gathering in her eyes. She turned to Aodh and he met her fearful gaze.
“Please, sister,” he begged, taking her cold hand in his, “you must tell me what’s going on with you? If you don’t tell me, I cannot protect you.”
Doubt reflected on her face as she silently stared at him with wide open eyes, breathing heavily. “Aodh…” she whispered finally, her voice faltering. “It’s the dream I had last night… everything is happening just the way I saw it…”
He had never seen his twin sister so terrified. Aodh felt a cold lump of fear stuck in his throat and he swallowed hard. “Fionnghuala, I am begging you, tell me—,” he started to say when the door of the carriage swung open and Aoife peeked inside, smiling sweetly at the children.
“Come on, my little darlings, get out of this stuffy carriage. The sun is shining, and the lake is calm,” she said, gesturing toward the Loch Dairbhreach. “It would be a shame, not to enjoy its warm waters. Do you not want to have some fun before we continue our long journey?”
Aodh’s younger brothers squealed in delight and rushed out of the carriage. They ran toward the lake, taking their clothes off on their way. But Fionnghuala remained in the carriage, frozen w
ith fear and he decided to stay with her.
“Mother,” said Aodh pleadingly, putting his arm around his sister’s shoulder, “Fionnghuala is not feeling well. Please allow us to stay in.”
Aoife frowned and shook her head. “Don’t be silly, Aodh. She will feel better as soon as she steps outside this carriage. Come on, do not make me wait,” she ordered coldly, scolding him with her angry gaze.
Aodh threw a quick glance at his sister and slowly climbed out of the carriage. He stopped at the door and extended his hand to Fionnghuala. She gently placed her trembling fingers into his hand and walked out. Slowly, they headed toward the lake, encouraged by their relentless stepmother. They stopped next to the water and undressed. By this time, Fionnghuala started to sob quietly. Aodh glanced at Aoife and shuddered. Flames of anger were burning in her eyes as she glared at them, making sure that they would do as they were told.
He sighed and stepped into the calm water of the lake, where his little brothers were playing, splashing each other, laughing joyfully. Fionnghuala followed him. For whatever reason, Aodh couldn’t get rid of the feeling that they were led to the scaffold. They both walked until the water reached their waist and turned around to see what Aoife was doing.
Aoife was standing right next to the lake, a carnivorous smile playing on her face. She bent down and touched the water with her fingers, whispering something. Aodh couldn’t hear her words, but he felt a nauseating wave of jealousy and ill wish rushing through him and he shivered like from a cold wind. He stepped forward, spreading his arms wide, shielding his sister and his little brothers from the unknown danger he sensed.
The water around the children rippled, like it was boiling. Fiachra and Conn cried, clinging to Fionnghuala, hugging her waist with their little arms.
“Mother, what are you doing?” yelled Fionnghuala, desperation and fear ringing in her voice. “Why?”
Aoife didn’t reply. She was chanting, her voice sounding like a song, getting louder and stronger. And as she continued to chant, wielding her merciless dark magic, a pain like nothing Aodh ever felt before, pierced his body. He cried out, bending forward. Like through a wall, he heard the screams and cries of his siblings. His soul burned with the desire to help them, but there was nothing he could do.
“Mother,” he moaned, struggling against the malignant effect of Aoife’s spell, “please, Mother. Why are you doing this to us? We loved you… If you want to punish someone, take me, but let my sister and my brothers —”
He couldn’t finish his statement, as he began to transform. Large white wings sprang out of his back. His whole body got covered in feathers and his neck was growing longer. Every bone in his body was breaking and every muscle was stretching, plummeting his world into a shapeless mush of sticky torment.
His eyes were tearing from pain and his vision blurred, but he registered a flash of blinding light somewhere behind Aoife’s back. He didn’t know what it was, but it couldn’t be scarier than what he was going through right now. Aoife stopped chanting and spun around. That gave him a moment to breathe as the pain slowly subsided.
He looked down, breathing hard. A large white swan was gazing back at him from the reflection in the water. He yelped in horror and turned his head to see his siblings. In place of his sister and his little brothers, he found three beautiful swans.
“Mother, why did you do this to us?” cried the bigger swan and Aodh recognize Fionnghuala’s voice. But now her voice sounded even more beautiful and musical than before.
“Yes, mother, why did you do it to your children, who loved you and trusted that you would never hurt them?”
Aodh heard a deep unfamiliar voice and snapped around. A few feet away from the lake, he saw a giant man. His body was emitting such bright white light that he couldn’t see his features, but he was positive that he’d never seen this man before.
Aoife stared at the stranger intently. As his reproachful words sunk into her mind, clouded by anger and jealousy, she turned around and looked at the children-swans. Her face changed and for a brief moment, an expression of regret and sadness crossed her features.
She stretched her hand toward the swans and a few tears escaped her eyes. “What have I done?” she whispered, taking a step forward. “I thought they stole the love of my husband from me. He was so different with them, loving them unconditionally, no matter what they said or did…”
“Surely, you can recognize the difference between fatherly love and the love to a woman, Aoife. These innocent children could never steal your husband from you!” boomed the stranger, shaking his head, blazing with the white light. “Reverse your spell, witch, all is not lost yet.”
Aoife turned to face the man and Aodh couldn’t see her face anymore, but by the way she squared her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips, he knew that the evil in her took over again.
“It is too late,” she objected dryly. “I cannot reverse this spell and even if I could, I would not do so. Yet I feel merciful today, I shall leave them their human speech and their beautiful voices.”
At her words, the white light around the stranger exploded with a new strength. He growled like a mighty tiger and shifted closer to Aoife. To Aodh, this man looked terrifying, but Aoife didn’t seem to care. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed mockingly. “There is nothing you can do to stop me. You are out of your domain, out of your place. You have no power here. What brought you to this lake in the first place, Hunter?”
The man sighed and bowed his head, his white light dimming just a little. “The pain and the screams of these children’s souls,” he replied quietly. “Their cries were so loud that I could hear them all the way from the Otherworld… And even though I knew that I have no power here, I had to at least try and help them.”
Aoife laughed. “Leave, Hunter, you do not scare me,” she huffed. “Leave, before you make it worse for them.”
“I am not the one you should be scared of, Aoife,” said Hunter with a sigh. “But I want you to know that you will be punished for your evil deed and your punishment will be so terrible that thousands of years from now, people will shudder thinking of your fate.”
“You have no future sight, Hunter, and your words do not concern me.” She shrugged her shoulders indifferently, ready to leave.
“How long?” the man asked stopping her, his voice hardly above a whisper. “Your curse cannot be eternal. How long must they suffer, Aoife?”
“Nine hundred years,” screeched Aoife.
Aodh heard his sister’s tearful gasp and loud cries of his brothers. Nine hundred years they will have to live as swans, alone and scared, deprived of love and care of their father and missing everyone they cherished. “Mother, please, punish me for eternity, but let my siblings go,” he begged his stepmother hopelessly.
She gaped at him, an uneven arrogant smile curving her lips and shook her head. “You never knew how to keep your mouth shut, Aodh. So, let me improve my curse a little, and you will have nine hundred years to blame yourself for that.”
Aodh opened his wings and bent his long neck, bowing to his evil stepmother, silently begging her for mercy.
“Three hundred years, you will spend here, at the Loch Dairbhreach and these will be the easiest part of my curse,” she continued frostily, evil dripping from her every word. “The next three hundred years, you will be tormented by the stormy Sruth na Maoile. And for the last three hundred years, you will fly to the Iorras Domhnann. And no one in this world or the Otherworld”— she glanced quickly at the man, whom she called Hunter — “can break my curse! Only when the King from the North will marry the Princess from the South will this curse be broken.”
After her words, silence enveloped the lake and only the two little swans were weeping softly, clinging to their older sister. Fionnghuala opened up her wings, covering them, trying to console them in their sorrow and dismay.
“Do not shed your tears for nothing, sweet Fionnghuala,” seethed the evil witch, gloating over the ch
ildren’s pain and suffering. “You all would do well to thank Lord Hunter. He cannot help you, but because he interrupted my spell, you get to keep your sweet voices.”
Aodh raised his eyes and met the blazing gaze of the man without blinking. “I shall not say my thanks to Lord Hunter now,” said Aodh, and his voice, loud and clear, was carried far by the light wind over the still waters of the Loch Dairbhreach. “But I shall pray to Lord Hunter every moment of my existence, begging him that one day he will help me get my vengeance. And I swear that I shall not rest in this world or the Otherworld until I have it.”
Aoife hooted laughing. “Hunter does not belong here, sweet child, and he is powerless in this domain. He cannot give you what you desire so greatly. Have a nice nine hundred years.”
She waved her hand and disappeared into thin air.
But the man extended his arm toward Aodh and nodded to him. Then he waved his hand, opening the door of the blinding light and walked through it, leaving the terrified little swans alone and miserable. And even though he didn’t say anything, Aodh knew that he would see this man again. In this world or the Otherworld.
~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~
Modern days, South Florida
