Forged of Fire

by Stacy Von Haegert

  ****

  Ash narrowed his eyes at the tailor when the male held out two shiny silver cufflinks with the initials DS engraved in them. “Let me guess,” Ash adjusted his tie, trying to focus on anything other than the damn parade he was about to have to endure. “Dante’s slave?”

  The smaller Vampire averted his eyes at Ash’s clipped tone but remained holding the velvet lined box. “The King said you were to wear them.”

  “Yes, just like the rest of this shit material.” Ash brushed off his sleeve, annoyed. He might have to be present for this folly but he damn sure did not have to temper his attitude regarding it. Besides, after he found a way to free Marsala, Ash fully planned on killing Dante once and for all now that he had regained his strength. “What do the initials represent?” He glared down at the Vampire. The tailor looked to the left and then right nervously as if he were unsure how to answer. “I already know.” Ash changed tactics. “I am just curious if you have been honored with the knowledge. Since Dante obviously trusts you enough to dress me.” The other male’s color brightened and sure enough the idiot blushed. Right in front of him. Like some simpering maid about to swoon. No doubt the imbecile wished to be the one laid out on Dante’s bed later tonight. Ash resisted the strong urge to vomit in his mouth. “We both know how rare it is for the King to trust others.” Ash continued. “You must be very special to him.”

  The Original’s joy slithered off his face, turning into a frown and he looked down at his boots. “It is you that is most special to him as he has chosen you to be his…To be his mate.”

  Ash put a hand out on the vanity to steady himself. “What!”

  The tailor’s eyes snapped up. “You didn’t know?” He turned whiter than the sheets on Ash’s bed. “I have to go. I should not have said anything.”

  He began to turn to escape, but Ash shot a hand out grabbing him by the elbow. “Wait. I won’t let on that I know.”

  The other male’s eyes darted around worriedly. “You said you knew what the engraving stood for.” He accused. “DS, Dante’s sponsus.” Ash wanted to retch. Dante’s spouse, sponsus in Latin. Insane, Dante had literally lost his fucking mind. “I need to confess my sins to him.” The tailor jerked out of Ash’s hold.

  “No!” Ash halted him with only his word this time. “He will kill you for this slip.” Ash needed to pretend to remain clueless to buy more time. If Dante knew this simpleton had given away his torturous surprise he would likely cancel the festivities out of anger. No, Dante was clearly saving this secret for later in hopes of Ash’s protest. Protest that would lead to more torture. Ash had to remain as healthy as he could if he were to get Marsala out of here. He had drained two Gilcolm’s after yesterday’s beating and completely healed his wounds. There was no way he was letting Dante weaken him so again. This idiot’s slip of tongue confession needed to stay exactly what it was supposed to be, a secret. Ash looked at the scared Vampire in the eyes. “Listen, if Dante hears of this he will kill you and beat me. We both would lose. I won’t tell him. This will be our secret.”

  The servant sighed. “Death is better than never being looked at affectionately again by the King.”

  “What if I could guarantee that you will not fall out of favor with the King?” Ash was literally grasping at straws and he knew it, but he had to make this moron an ally. He leaned in closer. “I do not return the King’s affections. He will grow bored with me overnight.” The male looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “This is a win, win for both of us,” he lied. Dante would never grow bored of torturing him, but this goon did not know that. “He will return to your bed when he realizes how cold mine is.”

  “You would do that?”

  “Gladly.” Ash wanted to crush the idiot’s head between his palms until his skull popped like a ripe tomato, but he somehow managed to channel Stefen’s cool facade. At least he hoped he was channeling it as he added. “This will be our little secret. Deal?”

  The tailor shook his head enthusiastically. “Yes, our secret. You will act surprised when he announces it?”

  Ah, his little puppet was suddenly a wealth of information Ash mused. Ash grinned and hoped it looked friendly instead of how sinisterly it felt playing across his features. “I will act completely surprised but,” he tilted his head. “It will help me prepare if I know when he is planning on announcing it. So I can get into character better.”

  The servant smiled. “Right after he announces the victor of the fight between the Princess and the Prince. It is the grand finale.”

  Ash nodded, pretending to care. “Around what time do you think the finale will be? Is it just to be the one organized fight?” Ash desperately needed to know the schedule of events. He knew these celebrations normally took hours and usually involved a few slave executions along the way. If he were to make a move to free Marsala he needed a clearer picture on how the day might play out.

  The Vampire began to rattle off the schedule as if he were chattering with an old friend. Ash was pretty sure he hated Dante even more, for the simple fact that he employed such shitty staff. With every finger the prissy tailor ticked off, listing in detail every event lined up for the day. Ash’s mind only stopped fantasizing the tailor’s death when he heard him say benders. “What is happening with the benders?”

  “The king is going to have them fight to the death.” The Original said.

  Despite the feeling of blood draining from his face, Ash tried to keep his tone unaffected. “Interesting.” Had Marcus and Skyler also been caught? Surely Dante would not go back on his word about freeing Marsala. The bastard wanted Ash to be strong the first time he took him. To do this, Ash would have to force the Dragon down in order to give himself over to Dante freely. None of that would happen if he killed Marsala before that and Dante knew it. But, just like with Kielyn’s release, there were always catches and Dante loved finding ways to torture him. “What sort of benders does he have?”

  “An Air-shifter and an Earth-Bender,” the servant said. “Their fight is right before the one with the Princess and Prince.”

  Fucking hell! There had to be more to this sick plot of Dante’s. The cards were not lining up. Perhaps it was just another opportunity to scare him, remind Ash just how quickly Dante could turn the tables. Or, perhaps Dante had changed his mind and decided he did not need the Dragon to submit. No, he would not do that. Ash mentally corrected. The monster needed that high too badly. What on earth could he be up to now? Ash schooled his features. “Thank you for this. If will help me with seeming utterly shocked when he announces our union.”

  The tailor beamed up at him. “It will be a marvelous day!”

  “Indeed.” Ash turned back to the mirror, clearly dismissing the other male. “See you at the festival…friend.” He could barely keep the bite out of the last word. Ash would make sure the idiot was in his crossfire when he released the Dragon on Dante. All the cockroaches would burn!

  ****

  Zander’s eyes shot open and he sat straight up, sweat dripping down his forehead, his heart hammering in his chest. What the fuck! He pushed off the rough wool blanket that had pooled around his waist and swung his legs over the cot’s edge. The images in his dream had felt more like a premonition than a random dreamlike sequence. Was it simply his anxiety about having every one of his plans foiled or was it something more. He paced to the cell door and yelled for a guard. One appeared within seconds at the tiny cut out square window. “Go get my sister and tell her it is urgent I talk to her.”

  “No prisoners are allowed guests, my Prince.” The rotund faced male stated as if reading from a script.

  Zander grit his teeth. “As you just stated, I am your fucking Prince! Go get my sister!”

  The guard looked worriedly down the hall before lowering his voice. “There would be dire consequences from the King if I were to break protocol.”

  Zander leaned in close to the door. “Then you better do so without him finding out.” The large Vampire furrowed his brows i
n contemplation. “Look, after today I will no longer be behind this door. Do you really want to meet me on the other side of this cage if you don’t do as I say?” Zander growled.

  The guard, clearly persuaded, turned and swiftly headed away. Zander walked over to a chair and snatched up his shirt, dragging it over his head. He had to make Katara see reason. They needed to work together. He began to pace the small cell mentally reviewing the events of the last twenty-four hours. Someone had snitched, Kielyn and the Air-bender had been released. Well, released only to be hunted. He would need his sister to fill him in on if they had escaped or not. And, Ash was in custody. He rubbed his eyes wearily. It was like the stars had aligned perfectly to destroy him.

  An aggravating and expected delayed thirty minutes later he heard the cell lock being jostled and the door opened. His sister leisurely sauntered in looking bored already. “What? Want to memorize my face before I kill you?”

  Ok, off to a typically bad start. Check. At least she was consistently annoying. “I know this is going to be hard on you, but I need you to think Katara.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “So you want your death to be slow?” Zander shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was like rationalizing with a brick wall. “Originals can’t get headaches brother. You should leave the dramatics to me as it is clearly another thing you suck at.”

  He looked up. “You just made my first point for me.”

  “That you suck? Yes, point made.”

  “That you are the one prone to dramatics,” Zander corrected. “You can never run Hell alone.”

  Katara’s nostrils flared. “I will do so a lot better than you could! You’re not strong enough.”

  “And you’re not smart enough,” he volleyed back. She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “How many soldiers do we have on the east embankment?” She snapped her mouth closed. “How many new recruits were enlisted last month and what is our debt to profit return on manufactured supplies?”

  “These are all numbers that I could have at my hands with a snap of my fingers,” she said. “It’s called an accountant.”

  “No, it’s called being informed.” Zander folded his arms. “Our allies, name them all and their mates. Better yet, tell me which ones would stab you in the back first?”

  “Again, all things that can be learned!” She waved her hand.

  “When?” Zander walked towards her. “Before or after they find you inadequate and muster the forces needed to dethrone you?”

  “They would never!” She huffed!

  “They would gladly. You have spent your life like a pampered little brat, your only claim to fame is that you are untrustworthy and insane.” Zander stopped in front of his sister. “Sure, they will fear you, but it only goes so far when you are looking at the bigger picture. Our father, damn his soul, has earned the right to this empire by being both evil and smart.”

  Katara folded her arms. “Except that Ashdon LaGoryen has made him weak. You saw him bend to Ash’s will yesterday.” She rolled her eyes. “The bastard was bleeding out, close to death with the whole town watching and father still did as my brother asked. He obliged a slave.”

  “He obliged a Dragon,” Zander corrected. “Which brings me to my next point. How long do you think it will be before Ash kills him? And please, save the tough girl act. The bruise on your neck yesterday was all the proof you needed to know he is far stronger than you. Hell,” Zander chuckled. “And that was even without him releasing the Dragon that lives inside him.” He studied his sister, looking for any signs of understanding. “You are correct in one thing. Ashdon is our father’s one weakness. If we work together, he will also be his death.” Zander leaned in so that his nose was only a few inches from his sister’s. “I for one would rather have him on our side after he does.”

  Katara’s chest rose with a deep inhale and fell with a resolved exhale. “What do you suggest?”

  Finally! Zander paused. “I suggest we rule together.”

  “That’s not possible,” she said. “There is only one throne.”

  “There is only one throne currently for one King. A duplicate could be made to sit beside it for a Queen.”

  Katara recoiled. “You are not suggesting? Ewe! I’m kinky, but you are far from my type, brother!”

  “And trust me, you are far from mine,” Zander scoffed. “It would be for appearance sake only. We would only have to be together long enough to provide heirs. Think about it. We could do more than just rule together, we could build a family empire together. Instead of pitting our children against each other, we could do the smart thing and bind them together creating an ultimate force.” He stepped back. “With my intelligence and your passion, we could be unstoppable.”

  Katara stared at him in silence for a long time before lifting her hand to rest under her chin. “Ok.” Zander released the breath he had been holding. “Now, how do we provoke a Dragon?”

  ****

  Kielyn jerked, scaring herself. Damn it! She had fallen asleep against a tree root. She ran a hand through her tangled hair. “You needed the sleep.” Kizer said as he stood and walked over from the ravine’s ledge. “My mother would sleep for hours at a time when she was carrying my brothers and sisters.”

  He extended his hand to help her up. “Yea, but it’s only been a week, surely I should not be tired this early on.”

  He laughed and cocked his head to the side. “You’re an immortal now. Everything is accelerated. Your vision, hearing, speed, pregnancy. All of it.”

  Kielyn digested the words. She had never considered the pregnancy would be less than nine months. “So how long does it…”

  “Six months is typical.” Kizer read her mind. “However, I’m not sure what a Dragon’s gestation period is.” He smiled.

  Kielyn felt herself blush and she had to look away. His gaze, how Ash always held her captive. His voice, it haunted her memory and his touch, was etched into her skin like a brand…She was his. Mind, body and soul…God, she missed him so much. Being separated from Ash felt like a physical loss, as if someone had painfully removed a limb from her body. And what was worse than the pain, was the mourning over the loss, like it had no end. With every minute that passed, her heart cried. She wondered if it was possible to ever stop the invisible tears and the unquenchable void. She was not whole and deep down she knew if anything happened to Ash, she would never be again. The light would dim in her soul and she would fade into…no one.

  Kizer reached out as if to comfort her but froze in place, his eyes turning from compassion to all business. His hands flew to his temples as if he were trying hard to concentrate. As if the pressure of his fingers would force clarity to a puzzle unseen. “What is it?” She asked.

  “Skyler! I can hear her.” He waved his hand for silence. “She is in trouble.” Without another word he was running towards the denser tree line. “She needs me!”

  Kielyn charged after him, grabbing his forearm. “Kizer, no! We can’t leave this spot.”

  He brushed her off. “You stay, but I have to go to her.” His eyes looked worried. “She is in pain.”

  “It could be a trap? We need to keep our cool and wait here.” Kizer winced as if he was experiencing pain and Kielyn grabbed his arm again. “Are you ok? Are you in pain?”

  His eyes began to grow hard with anger. “She is in pain!”

  “Kizer!”

  “I have to help her.” He looked down at Kielyn, his stare boring into hers. “She is not Ash!” He spat. “She has nothing that Dante wants! They will kill her without even blinking. If Ash were as insignificant to Dante as the others, if his life was worthless in that monster’s eyes and you could get to him, would you stay here?”

  Kielyn dropped her hold on his arm, understanding dawning. “No!”

  She turned and began to lead the way into the forest, but Kizer’s hand shot out to stop her in her tracks. “My maker. My mission. You cannot come with me. You are the only key to everyone getting out.”
>
  “I’m also the only one that could stop you from being killed. If Dante harms me, he will face Ash’s wrath. You need me to go with you.” She said firmly.

  Branches snapping and tree tops swaying cause both their heads to turn. Something or someone was moving through the thicket. Kielyn looked back to the clearing by the canyon. They had moved in too far to leap back over from where they stood. “Kizer.” She took a step back. “Get back to the edge.”

  No sooner were the words out, Skyler’s broken body landed at Kielyn’s feet as if tossed from the sky. Kielyn heard herself scream as Kizer bolted past her to scoop up the lifeless body. “Run!” He ordered as laughter began to ring out from the multiple voices sounding like hyenas on a hunt.

  Kielyn turned to flee but collided with the equivalency of a mountain. Her vision raced up the gigantic male’s chest as her hands shot forward. The blast that followed sent her would-be attacker’s body, encased in blue fire, flying across the ravine before it disappeared into thin air. Her path cleared, she ran. She ran until she was one step away from jumping, one step away from freedom, and one step away from living the rest of her life as…no one.