First Flame (Stories of Frost and Fire Book 1)

by Kimbra Swain

  Soraya giggled, and I winked at her. “Maybe Rory likes tassels.”

  “We are about to find out,” I said. I could almost taste that merlot now, as I leaned back into Kyrie’s arm.

  The Raven chased Aurora around the stage. Her blue dress flowing around her in a sensuous and teasing dance. The Raven grabbed the edge of the dress peeling it off Aurora. All the while, the Maleficent stood grinning with her staff. The Raven helped Aurora remove her gloves and shoes in the chasing dance. On one side of the stage, a spinning wheel appeared. The Raven chased Aurora right into it.

  Aurora jerked away from it, pulling off her blue glove which was red silk on the inside. It floated to the floor as she stepped back and melted to the floor. The Raven finished her portion of the show by removing her corset to reveal the pasties we all knew were there. She danced around the sleeping Aurora, and the crowd cheered her.

  I watched Rory drop his gaze from the stage, refusing to look at the display. Once the Raven took her leave, the Maleficent character danced around the sleeping Aurora. She competed her dance with a similar swing of a boob adorned with sticky jewels and tassels.

  We clapped for her portion of the show. The lights dimmed and a spotlight focused on Aurora.

  A man walked out onto the stage in a tuxedo.

  “Our dear princess has fallen to sleep. Only true love’s kiss from a prince can awaken her. I have a crown here,” he said, holding up a golden plastic crown. “Perhaps a volunteer from the audience.”

  The men in the crowd jumped to their feet, hoping to get to kiss the beautiful dancer. I nudged Kyrie.

  “I’m no prince, Love,” he said. “Besides, I have no idea where her lips have been.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek.

  “You!” the man exclaimed, pointing at Rory who hadn’t moved or raised his hand to volunteer. He began shaking his head violently.

  “Go save her,” Soraya pushed.

  “No, I don’t want to do this,” he grumped.

  “You are a prince,” I offered.

  “I’m losing the bet right here and right now,” Kyrie groaned.

  “Damn straight you are,” I replied.

  The man came down off the stage and stuck the microphone in Rory’s face. “What’s your name?”

  “Um, I…” Rory stuttered.

  “Look at that everyone, he’s speechless due to her beauty,” the man teased.

  “She is pretty,” Rory said. “I just don’t think I’m the man.”

  The host wasn’t listening to Rory’s protest. He plopped the crown on Rory’s head, and the crowd cheered him on. “Now, Prince, come with me.”

  “Go!” Soraya said, pushing him out of the chair.

  Rory reluctantly followed the man on to the stage.

  “Now, Prince, you must kiss her. Gently. No tongue. But with feeling. Cheer him on, everyone!”

  The crowd screamed and yelled for Rory to do it. The blush started in his neck, and I gripped Kyrie’s arm. He covered his face with his hand and shook his head. Prince Rory leaned over and kissed the sleeping Aurora. He rose up and her eyes fluttered.

  She looked at the crowd, winked, then laid one on Rory. I thought the walls were going to explode with the whoops and hollers. When she pulled away, Rory’s face looked like a tomato. I clapped with glee, and Soraya stood up and cheered.

  “Did you have a dream about this?” Kyrie asked.

  “No, apparently, I only dream about death and bad things,” I replied, trying not to let it affect me.

  “Oh, shit, I’m sorry,” he said immediately realizing his joke wasn’t so funny.

  I kissed him, harder than Aurora had kissed Rory.

  “Wow. I need to be insensitive more often,” he said, when I released his lips.

  “No, you really shouldn’t,” I replied.

  The action on stage caught our attention. They brought out a chair, sat Rory on it, and Aurora began to repay him for his kindness. She finished her dance, never touching him, but showing him all the goods save the small parts covered by her jeweled pasties and vagina.

  When the curtain closed, we all stood and cheered. The tuxedoed man told us that there would be a short ten-minute break to prepare for the next act. The house lights came up, and Mr. Abs returned to inquire about drinks.

  “Bring my friend a whiskey. I think he will need it,” Soraya said, pointing to Rory’s spot.

  “I’m good,” I answered.

  “Me, too,” Kyrie said.

  The waiter hurried off to get the drink for Rory while we talked.

  “So, what was the bet?” Soraya asked.

  “If Rory would blush while we were here, I had thought I’d lost since he’d kept his composure here at the table, but when that guy pointed him out, I knew I’d won!”

  “What’s the prize?” Soraya said, waggling her eyebrows.

  “Merlot,” Kyrie answered.

  “Boo! That’s no fun,” she said.

  “Fun for me,” I replied.

  “Are you going to share?” Kyrie asked.

  “Maybe. If you are good,” I teased. I waited for a sly smirk, but it didn’t come.

  “I’ll endeavor to meet your expectations,” he replied.

  Two men brought Rory back to us. He sat down in the seat just as Mr. Abs returned with the whiskey. Rory took one look at it and knocked it back.

  “You okay, man?” Kyrie asked.

  “She was a nymph or maybe a siren. I can still taste her,” he said.

  “What did she taste like?” I asked.

  “Berries. Like blackberries,” he said, touching his lips. “I gotta get her out of my head.”

  “Maybe she did something to him,” Soraya said, feeling suddenly concerned.

  “Surely not. I’m willing to bet that they knew exactly who he was. They don’t want to tangle with Ella or Astor,” I said.

  “Fairies will be fairies. Plus, we are on their turf,” Kyrie said.

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll shake it.” Rory shook his head as if that was going to erase the fairy’s effect on him. I’d known seductresses in my day. Whatever she was had to be very powerful to faze Rory.

  The lights dimmed, and the curtain slid open once again. The lighting effects made the stage look like water. From the ceiling a large glass aquarium was lowered. The massive container could have held a whale. Instead, it held a single mermaid.

  “Holy shit, that’s real,” Kyrie muttered.

  Her red hair spread out in the water around her. Her scales shimmered a deep blue and green. She was possibly the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen in my life. She swirled around in the water as a slow sensual song played. A light melodic humming came from the tank as she swam.

  I concentrated on the small amount of Winter magic that I could control, placing a personal ward around me. I knew the dangers of a mermaid’s song. Not quite as enthralling as a siren, but almost as bad. Kyrie’s magic moved, too. I didn’t know if Rory and Soraya had protected themselves, but I didn’t dare move to cause any attention to us. The room had gotten very quiet as the tank was lowered into the floor of the stage. When the top lip reached the edge, the mermaid flopped out on to the stage.

  The lighting changed, and spotlights began to flash. Feet and legs formed on the woman. A bright flash blinded us all, but when we regained our sight, the woman stood on the stage in a dress that shimmered and flowed the same way her scales had.

  She tried to sing, but her voice would not come out. So, she danced. She danced across the stage and down into the crowd. Removing her gloves and shoes as she went. When she came to our table, she rubbed against Kyrie, who smiled politely at her. She pulled a string on her corset with her teeth, and the damn thing popped off into Kyrie’s lap. He didn’t move or react as she lifted her eyebrow at him.

  Stalking away, she rolled her hips, stomach, and chest causing the tassels on her nipples to jump up and down. Then, she began the signature rotation of the boob ornaments faster than any of the others who had perfor
med. The crowd began to cheer, breaking the silence. The spell on everyone had been broken. The mermaid stood and bowed to the crowd.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, please show your appreciation for the fantastical Scarlett O’Lear!”

  The assembly of admirers jumped to their feet with applause and cheers. We joined them, standing in appreciation of the show.

  The announcer caught us as we walked out the door.

  “Miss Riggs,” he said. Kyrie’s hand tightened on mine.

  “Yes?”

  “Miss O’Lear would like to meet you and your friends. She has invited you back to her dressing room for a nightcap,” he said.

  Sometimes I wished I had the ability to talk to Kyrie or Soraya like Mom talked to Uncle Levi. They had a telepathic connection. Then again, it would probably drive me nuts. I squeezed Kyrie’s hand back.

  “Of course, lead the way,” I said.

  He turned to walk up a twisted staircase with golden bannisters and a red carpet. Rory whispered to Soraya who told him to cut it out. He was probably whining that the Prince of Summer didn’t get invited to the back room. It was the girl from the trailer park who was adopted into a queen’s family and given powers that a human could never have. I knew what Rory thought of me. His sister treated me worse than he did. Ruby used Mark to get under my skin. Thankfully, King Astor hadn’t sent her to Steelshore with her twin brother.

  “She is waiting,” the man said pointing to a door adorned with a sparkling gold star. Scarlett’s name was written across it in black glittered letters.

  I knocked lightly, and a man with large black horns opened the door. “Come in, Dear.” When the door opened further, I saw his hooves. He was a faun. He also wore the adornments of the Maleficent character. If he was her, then he had one hell of a boobie glamour.

  “Hello,” I said, dragging Kyrie in the room with me. Scarlett sat at a vanity brushing the red waves of hair that cascaded down her bare back. She had removed her pasties and sat before us in all her glory.

  “You honor me, Wynonna Riggs. Had I known you were attending, I would have provided you with a private balcony booth,” she said, taking my hand in hers.

  “That’s not necessary. Allow me to introduce, Kyrie Babineau, son of Niles Babineau.” She shook Kyrie’s hand, then turned to Rory and Soraya. “And this is Soraya Harris and Rory Knight, Prince of Summer.” Scarlett stepped back.

  “Your majesty,” she said, placing her hand on her chest. She bowed to him. Rory had spent plenty of time in Summer, and nudity wasn’t a rare thing for Summer creatures. The bet with Kyrie was risky because of it. Either way, I knew I’d be sharing Merlot with him tonight. Rory offered his hand to her. She clutched it placing her forehead on it.

  “A Summer royal hasn’t stepped in my establishment for many years. The old Queen did not approve of our show. What did you think of it?” she asked all of us.

  “I enjoyed it,” I said, keeping my mouth shut about the pixies.

  “We all did,” Rory assured her.

  “You are welcome back any time you would like. The show changes every two or three days. Please bring the Faeborn wolf with you the next time you come,” she said, handing her card to Rory. I’d been replaced as the most important person in the room. That was until Seamus walked in.

  “Scarlett, my dear, your performance was your best,” he said, doting on the mermaid.

  “You always say that, Seamus,” she said, blushing.

  “And I mean it. Every time. Well, Miss Wynonna, it is a pleasure to see you and Miss Soraya,” he said, ignoring the guys.

  “I will pay you back for the drinks,” I said.

  “Nonsense. One day you will learn that my generosity is genuine, and that I expect nothing in return,” he said.

  “That’s not what I’ve heard about you,” Kyrie muttered.

  “Ah, Mr. Babineau, you would be right, but I have since reformed myself. Being a scoundrel over so many decades gets boring. I’ve turned over a new leaf,” he said.

  I doubted that Seamus had undergone any sort of transformation other than my mother knew who he was. She knew how to hunt him down if he didn’t straighten up. Levi had told me that Seamus worked for Tennyson for many years, but that Tennyson did not require his loyalty. My mother did.

  “We should get going,” Kyrie suggested.

  “Yes, we should. Thank you, Scarlett. We will return,” I said.

  “You honor me,” she said, giving each one of us a smile.

  As we stepped out of the dressing room, a large man with curling horns topped the stairs. He wore a top hat between the horns. He carried a large amount of cash in his hands as he passed us.

  I listened to him as he talked to Miss O’Lear. “The take tonight was glorious.”

  “It should have been with both acts killing it tonight,” Miss O’Lear responded. There was a pause. “Mr. Melville, you are simply the best manager I’ve ever had.”

  To keep from drawing attention, we kept walking. At least we knew who Melville was. We exited the building into the darkness. Kyrie draped his arm around my shoulders.

  “So, merlot tonight?”

  “Maybe tomorrow. I’m tired, and I want to go check on the dwarf. I kinda stormed out of there today,” I said.

  “She’s fine,” Rory said.

  “I still need to see her,” I said.

  “I’ll drop you guys off at Soraya’s place, then take Winnie to the office,” Kyrie said.

  “You can drop us all off. I can walk back to the office,” I said.

  “I’m not going to argue with you, but walking or riding, I’m going with you,” Kyrie insisted.

  “You shouldn’t be on the streets alone, Winnie,” Soraya backed him up.

  “Thanks for being on my side,” I grumped.

  “You can get mad, but you’ll get over it,” Soraya said.

  “Where are you staying?” I asked Rory.

  “With Raya. She offered me her room.”

  I started to tease her, but then I really heard what he said. She’d given up her room to him, and he hadn’t asked to share it. She would be sleeping on the couch while the spoiled prince slept in her bed. I kept my mouth shut.

  “I’ll allow you to go with me,” I said to Kyrie which pleased him. Those stars in his eyes twinkled.

  We traveled back to our side of town, talking about the pixies in the trees and how we would find out if they were enslaved or free. I wanted to talk to Seamus to find out what he knew about it. I didn’t know how to contact him, but I knew who would. I shot a text off to Uncle Levi who responded quickly that he would have Seamus come for a visit.

  We dropped Soraya and Rory off at the apartments. Once again, I kept my mouth shut for my friend’s sake. Maybe she could work her magic on him once she got him alone, but if tonight was any indication, I doubted he had any interest in my friend. His loss, because she was magnificent.

  We parked across from the office, as Nick stood at the door talking to a woman I’d never seen. Chances are I’d probably heard her through the wall in the apartment.

  “He is a player,” Kyrie said.

  “I think he’s lonely,” I said.

  “Why doesn’t he just find one girl?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Because your mom jilted him?”

  “No, I think he’s fine with that. There is something else there. I’d like to know since we put our life in his hands.”

  “His personal life shouldn’t affect our lives, though. He’s always been professional,” Kyrie said.

  “Bros before hoes?” I asked.

  “Of course, but you, dearest Sunshine, are no hoe. You are a fine woman.”

  “You win this round, but I’m still getting my merlot.”

  “You name the time and place and I’m there.”

  We exited the car after Nick’s friend had walked away. She disappeared into the darkness which made me wonder what sort of being she was. When we walked in, he was surprised to see us.
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br />   “What are you two doing here?” Nick asked.

  “Just want to check on the dwarf,” I said.

  “Who was the chick?” Kyrie asked. I groaned.

  “None of your business. How was the Savoy Palace?” he returned.

  “Titties and tassels,” Kyrie responded. “You should have come.”

  “Anything suspicious?” Nick asked.

  “Seamus was there, which isn’t entirely suspicious. We saw Melville, but he didn’t seem odd. He had some of the biggest horns I’d ever seen though. Seamus paid for our drinks. But there are a lot of pixies working that show as stage props,” I said.

  “Stage props?” Nick asked.

  “Yeah, the leaves in the trees and flower blossoms,” I said. Nick only hummed by way of answering. “Scarlett invited us to her dressing room. She was polite and excited to meet Rory.”

  “You took Rory?!” Nick asked.

  “Yep, he’s fully corrupted now,” I said.

  Nick smirked and shook his head. “I doubt that.”

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” I said, making my way to the back room.

  “Winnie, she’s not afraid of you,” Nick said.

  “I hope not,” I replied, then stepped into the dark room. Opening my sight, I could see the purple glow of the dwarf laying on the cot. She rose up as I approached.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. Nick said I should go to Shady Grove, at least for a little bit,” she said.

  “Will you tell me your name?”

  “Renata. My mother called me Ren.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, and yes, you should go to Shady Grove at least until things settle down here,” I said.

  “I will go if you think that is best.”

  “I do.”

  “Okay.” Relief flooded over me. I would have to thank Nick for convincing her. She laid back down on the cot and went back to sleep pretty quickly. I stepped back into the room with Kyrie and Nick.

  “Thank you for convincing her to go to Shady Grove,” I said.

  “I told her that you had a lot to deal with here, but Winnie, you can’t forget about her. She’s attached to you whether you like it or not. Do you want to take her to Shady Grove or should I have the Ravens take her?”