The Fire Maiden's Desire

by Jr Steven Sterup

  “Yes, dad. This is my boyfriend,” Dave said angrily. He took a step toward his father and stared into his eyes. His dad was as tall as he was but built like an ox.

  “Good, you finally quit being a pussy and admitted it.” He turned and walked away.

  Dave just stood there looking at his father as he left. The look of shock and amazement on Dave’s face nearly made Jack laugh. He tried desperately to hold it in but the look on Dave’s face was priceless.

  “Did he just…” Dave started.

  “I think that means he’s ok with it.” Jack couldn’t hold it in any longer and laughed loudly.

  “Did you ever even try?” Chuck asked Dave.

  “No,” Dave admitted, lowering his head.

  “Now if you’re coming you better get on a horse. I’m not protecting you either. You’re my sidekicks for this one.” Jack mounted his horse.

  “Do you know where we’re going?!” Dave asked.

  “I should. I was going to rob that place once. I hope I still know how to get in.” Jack grinned at them then took off.

  Dave and Chuck got themselves horses then followed Jack out of town.

  Chapter 15

  After three days of nonstop riding they reached the town surrounding the castle. While Jack continued on to the castle itself, Chuck and Dave took their horses to the stable and prepared for their part of the plan. Jack had instructed them to come to the castle as night fell. Jack found the entrance he had used to scout the place out. It was a broken piece of wall that, luckily, no one had found yet. He pulled the heavy rocks away from the wall and soon a small hole was visible. It was just large enough for him to fit in, but just barely. As he squeezed through he laughed at how much weight he’d put on since his first attempt at stealing from the castle. It had been three years ago, before he met Rachel.

  Rachel sure did take care of him. In the last year, since he’d met her, he’d put on about twenty pounds. Before he met her he’d be lucky to get one meal a day. She was adamant about them getting three meals a day, even if two of them were oatmeal. It also helped that they walked a lot. Every other day they were off to a new town so Rachel could search for the man that was supposed to help her. He almost laughed thinking of how funny it was that he’d been the one helping her to find this man and it turned out to be him.

  Jack sat at the outside wall of the castle in the dark corner near the opening. Dave and Chuck were late. The sun was down and the torches were being lit around the courtyard. If they didn’t hurry someone would stumble across him. Then Jack heard the commotion. A loud crash followed by guards running to the front gate. He was close enough that he could hear the yelling and make out most of what was being said.

  “What the hell are you doing?!” the guard yelled.

  “I was told to bring this keg of ale to the castle,” Chuck said confidently.

  “Then why didn’t you just knock?” the guard answered back quieter but no less frustrated.

  “You think I told my ox to go smash down the castle gate?!” Chuck yelled back. “Yeah, I planned to send my ox careening through the door and dump my entire month’s work all over the ground. That’s exactly what I planned.”

  When the last guard headed toward the gate to help clean up the mess Jack made his move. He quickly crossed the courtyard, carefully avoiding the torches that were lit. This hadn’t been his original plan but this one was better. The addition of two accomplices made it much quicker and easier to get inside. When he hit the inner wall he crept along the base, hidden by the shadows until he reached the inner door. Beside the door was a pillar on either side. He climbed the one near him and then grabbed the balcony to the second floor bedroom.

  He thanked whomever was watching over him as he realized the bedroom was abandoned. He cautiously opened the balcony doors which weren’t even locked, then made his way across the cobweb covered room.

  “You’re good,” a voice came from a dark corner in the room and Jack froze. Soon a man stepped into the dim light. A man he would never forget. The man that killed his family. “I mean if I hadn’t been looking for her mysterious man I might have been caught off guard.” Xavier laughed evilly.

  “I won’t be so easy to beat this time,” Jack snapped and pulled out his sword.

  “Do I know you? I’m horrible with faces. Have we met?” Xavier taunted.

  “You killed my family. You even thought you killed me.” He started toward Xavier.

  “I’ve killed many families. You can’t expect me to remember them all,” Xavier laughed again.

  Jack swung at Xavier but the evil mage blasted Jack in the chest before he could reach him. Jack went flying against the far wall and slumped to the floor.

  “I guess that is the end of that,” Xavier smirked and walked to the door. “Almost disappointing.”

  Jack opened one eye and when Xavier was facing the door he lunged at him and thrust his sword through the evil mages back. Xavier spun and backhanded Jack. Jack flew to the other side of the room and smashed against the dresser, crushing it.

  Xavier put his hands on the blade and the metal melted.

  “Looks like this might take longer than I thought. You’re stronger than I was expecting.” Xavier crossed the room as the rest of the sword melted and fell from his body.

  Jack was dazed and a little out of it but he was able to get to his feet. He watched the ominous man walking toward him. How the hell was he supposed to beat Xavier? He had just shrugged off a sword that went straight through him. There was no way for Jack to beat him. Then he realized that he didn’t have to win. In fact, he had to lose.

  “Kill me,” Jack laughed. Apparently this was how he was going to handle it. He laughed again as he remembered telling Dave.

  “If you insist,” Xavier said as he put both hands on Jack’s shoulders. “This is probably going to hurt…a lot.”

  Energy formed on Xavier’s hands, dark energy that soon surrounded Jack. The pain was excruciating but Jack stood in spite of it. He might be destined to die but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy his last moments. Knowing that Xavier would soon fail brought a cruel smile to his face.

  “Why aren’t you dead?!” Xavier yelled as he tried to let go of Jack but couldn’t. “What are you doing?!” He pulled as hard as he could but his hands wouldn’t leave Jack’s shoulders and Jack was physically stronger than he was. Without his magic Xavier was no match for the man who had virtually been training nonstop since he was nine years old. This last year alone, with Rachel taking care of him, he’d become stronger than he’d ever been. He could have crushed Xavier with his bare hands if it wasn’t for the evil man’s magic.

  The smile on Jack’s face turned even crueler as he realized that Xavier was afraid. Jack looked down and saw the reason for Xavier’s fear. He wouldn’t have to crush Xavier, he’d already dealt the blow that would kill the mage.

  Xavier could feel all his magic draining quickly into Jack. He screamed in agony as the wound in his chest reopened. Without his magic the wound was deadly.

  “You tricked me!” he screamed as the blood pooled at his feet. In a few seconds Xavier lost consciousness then died. As the last of his magic drained away his lifeless body was able to release Jack and it fell to the floor.

  Jack walked painfully to the door and opened it. He saw the seer from the shop in town standing on the other side.

  “She’s at the top of the stairs, in her room.” The old woman pointed up a winding staircase.

  Jack ran up the stairs taking two or three at a time and finally came to a locked door. He pushed against it a few times then kicked it open. Rachel jumped up from the bed, her eyes red from crying. She stood up and stared at Jack, unable to believe her eyes.

  “You’re supposed to be dead,” she said then a smile filled her face. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  “Believe me, I tried to die. Someone else had a different plan.” Jack rushed to her and picked her up. She kissed all over his face before finally reachin
g his lips. She suddenly stopped and Jack turned to follow her gaze.

  The old seer stood in the doorway.

  “Your father is in the dungeon, he’s alive,” she said. She appeared sad and Rachel couldn’t stop herself from asking.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Nothing, my child. I’m just sad to say goodbye but I am happy. I’ll just miss you.” The woman began to walk toward them and she got younger with every step. Her white hair turned fiery red and her face started to look like Rachel’s. As the woman got younger Jack recognized her but not before Rachel.

  “Mom?!” Rachel started crying.

  “You!” Jack said releasing Rachel.

  “Hello again Jack,” the woman smiled.

  Her body started to become translucent and she waved a hand in front of her face. She looked at it sadly.

  “I don’t have much time. You set me free.” She smiled at Jack and then at Rachel.

  “You saved me,” Jack said.

  “Not exactly,” the woman said. “Don’t you remember?”

  Jack struggled with his memories but these were the ones he’d tried desperately to forget.

  “Xavier was trying to kill me. Your mother offered me help and he killed her for it. Your father attacked him so he killed your father. Then he killed your brothers and sister because he could. As he moved in to finish me off you grabbed a pitchfork and stabbed him. In his anger he tossed you on top of me so I shielded you. Of course, I didn’t realize how special you were then. It wasn’t until I realized that I was dead that I knew what I had to do. I had to lead you to Rachel. You were her only chance. The only one that could save her from Xavier and her curse.” The image of Rachel’s mother faded a little more.

  “But what if I get pregnant?” Rachel asked.

  “Don’t worry. Jack can’t have children. Whatever made him what he is does not want any more like him. He is literally the only man you can marry.” Rachel’s mother smiled and her body faded even more.

  “I love you, mom,” Rachel said, tears streaming down her face.

  “I’m sorry for what comes next,” the ghost said as it faded away. A voice came from where she was standing. “All the women in our family have the gift. When I’m gone it will pass to you.” Then there was a cold silence in the room.

  Jack turned to Rachel and looked into her beautiful green eyes.

  “Marry me?” he asked.

  She smirked at him.

  “I don’t know. I think I might have to go over all my options.” She reached out and grabbed his hand then gasped as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  Her vision started out cloudy then the clouds parted to see a large, young man with fiery red hair running across a field with a sword in his hand. His face looked determined and angry. On the other side of the field stood an older woman. Rachel knew right away it was herself.

  “No, the demon!” Rachel screamed in her head but it didn’t affect the vision. The man kept running straight for the older version of herself.

  When the young man reached the older version of Rachel he dropped the sword and picked her up, smiling.

  “Where have you been mother?” he asked, spinning her.

  “Put me down, Seth. I’m not as young as I once was,” she smiled down at the man.

  The young man put her down and Rachel’s heart raced as a man with hair to his shoulders walked up to them. His brown hair was speckled with grey and he wore the crown of the king. This man must be her future husband. She knew this vision was real, what must happen.

  The man put his hand on Seth’s shoulder and laughed.

  “Don’t abuse your mother, that’s my job,” he laughed. Before he turned Rachel knew it was Jack. He had changed physically but that voice she would recognize anywhere.

  “Sorry, dad,” Seth laughed then started to walk off.

  “You ready to be commoners again?” Jack asked Rachel.

  “We’ll be parents of the king. We’ll hardly be commoners,” Rachel laughed.

  Rachel’s vision shifted and she knew that it was many years from the previous one.

  An old woman stood in front of a mirror brushing her red hair. Her future self again. An old man, who used a cane, opened the door and limped toward her. It was Jack and he had to be at least seventy years old.

  “We have another grandchild, dear. Care to come meet her?” Jack asked with a shaky voice.

  “Be right there,” Rachel said.

  As Jack closed the door the future version of Rachel looked into the mirror.

  “Find him, Rachel!” she said to herself. “You must find Seth!”

  Then Rachel was pulled from the vision as she hit the floor.

  “Are you alright?” Jack asked, bending down to help her up.

  “Yes, Jack. I’ll marry you,” she smiled up at him.

  “Was that a vision?” he asked.

  “I’ll explain everything,” Rachel replied. “Let’s get my father first.” She stood up and led Jack to the dungeons.

  Chapter 16

  Five years later Jack sat on the throne. His crown was tipped on his head and he looked deep in thought. A general in his army rushed up to him.

  “Your majesty, the raiders are pushing in farther. We need to close the grain stores and force the peasants to fight.” The general stood there waiting for Jack’s response.

  After a few moments Jack threw his crown across the throne room and it smashed into the wall.

  “Open the grain stores! All of them! Any man or woman willing to provide resources, carry a sword or help the wounded can have a year’s worth of grain for every member of their family,” Jack said angrily.

  “We’ll be out of grain by this winter,” the general argued.

  “If we don’t stop them there will be nothing left by this winter!” Jack paced and picked up his crown. “The peasants have as much to lose as we do. They need to understand this.”

  “Yes, sir,” the general saluted and headed out.

  Chuck and Dave came running in. Chuck’s smile told Jack that it was good news.

  “The kingdom of Kolara has agreed to trade our lumber for their ore,” Chuck announced, out of breath.

  “That’s wonderful news Chuck, now if we can get someone to forge us more weapons,” Jack paced again and put his hand to his head.

  Jack noticed Dave’s sour expression and knew his news was not as good.

  “No word about her?” Jack asked, worried.

  “Queen Rachel hasn’t been seen in a week at least. She was last seen at the front,” Dave looked down.

  A guard walked in with a peasant woman who looked at least eight months pregnant, she carried a large basket. Her head was completely covered by a scarf. The only thing visible was her eyes.

  “Sorry, your majesty.” He bowed and held the woman’s arm. “She says she has news about Queen Rachel.” He bowed once more and backed out of the room.

  “Everyone out!” Jack commanded, staring at the peasant woman’s eyes. All the guards filed out of the doors. “Not you two,” he said smiling at Jack and Chuck. The doors shut and the smile on Jack’s face grew.

  Rachel unwrapped her head and her long red hair fell across her shoulders.

  “I found him!” Rachel exclaimed. She lifted her coat and a bundle of clothes fell to the ground. “No need to keep pretending to be pregnant,” she said with a huge smile.

  “You sure he has no family?” Jack asked and walked toward her.

  She just smiled at him.

  “Of course, you’re sure,” Jack laughed.

  “What are you going to name him?” Chuck asked.

  Jack opened the basket and a beautiful baby boy lay inside, fast asleep.

  “He already has a name,” Rachel said looking at Chuck.

  “I’d like to introduce you to Prince Seth,” Jack said with a huge smile.

  Epilogue

  Fiona Craylet walked up the steps to the throne room. The bright red carpet and gold trimmed
curtains that would normally calm her only served to increase her anxiety today. Last week she had turned twenty four and it felt like a weight had been placed on her shoulders. She took every step purposefully, hoping some emergency would send her father’s guards running to cancel her meeting with her father, King Seth Craylet. She had been holding her breath and avoiding her father since the night of her birthday party but today she had been summoned. She didn’t hate her father, in fact, she was sure that he was the most caring and loving father anyone could hope for. Her anxiety was due to the words she knew her father would say.