Keeper of the Flame

by Stephanie Burke

  “Come here,” she smiled sweetly at him before rolling onto her side and motioning him forward with one finger.

  He didn’t need to be asked twice. In a flash, Flame dropped his wounded look and was on the bed beside Kendall pulling her naked self into his arms, and taking her mouth in a gentle kiss.

  “Are you mad at me?” he asked, even though he knew she was not. It was fun to tease his mistress.

  “No, I’m not mad,” Kendall said between the light kisses she peppered across his chin. “I can never stay mad at you when you do the sad puppy dog eyes.”

  Flame did not know what exactly that meant, but he would remember “The Look.” It served to get him out of hot water with his Mistress.

  “I have prepared food for you to break your fast. The convection ovens used here are not very big, but they operate on the same principle as the solar-powered ovens on Testrios. I have prepared you muffins for you breakfast, along with fresh fruit and coffee. I have sampled several cups of it and have found that I like the stimulating effect it has on my body.”

  Kendall took one look into his bright eyes and suddenly knew the reason for the early morning wake-up call. Flame, her adorable alien, was on a caffeine-induced high.

  “No more coffee for you, big guy,” she murmured. “I’m going to take a shower and then when I wake up, we’ll talk about you and your new coffee addiction.”

  Flame grinned as he reclined on the bed and watched her bare backside as it swayed across the room. And to think that he never noticed that portion of the female anatomy before.

  After her shower, Flame insisted that she sit on the now stripped bed and let him brush her hair. “Any man worthy of his house would do this every morning for his life-mate. It is required of him, to show his willingness to perform even the meanest task for her pleasure.”

  Kendall let her head fall back on her neck as Flame gently detangled her freshly-washed hair with gentle strokes of his hairbrush. He paused for a moment to add fragrant oil to her hair that instantly softened the dark strands and added a brilliant shine.

  When Kendall saw her hair in the mirror that Flame had produced and held up for her inspection, she was amazed at the condition of her short mane.

  “What is that oil you used in my hair, Flame? It’s never looked this good before!”

  “I have pleased you, Kendall?” he asked, pretty sure that she would answer in the affirmative.

  “I am more than pleased, Flame.” Kendall was amazed as she shook her head and watched her usually unmanageable hair flow softly around her face. “It hasn’t looked this good since I first had it cut! What did you put in it?”

  “Meertat oil,” he replied as he watched her feminine reaction to the minor cosmetic.

  “Meertat oil?” Kendall asked. “What is a Meertat?”

  “The closest comparison I can come up with, My Mistress, is one of your Earth Skunks.”

  The pleased look on Kendall’s face melted in a heartbeat to one of utter disgust. “Skunk?” she croaked out.

  “Yes, My Kendall. The malodorous smell is processed out and fragrant herbs are added to help give luster and shine to any woman’s hair.” He sounded like a commercial for a new hair product as he smilingly told her of the oil and it’s properties.

  “You put skunk oil in my hair?” she all but shrieked as she raised and lowered her hands to and from her hair. Her eyes widened so much, that Flame was afraid that they would pop right out of their sockets.

  “Meertat oil,” he corrected as he watched her act...well, a little insane over the simple oil in he had brushed into her hair.

  Finally, Kendall turned disbelieving eyes to his content face. The knucklehead acted as if he had done her a favor.

  “Don’t ever help me with my hair again unless I give you the hair products to use.”

  “But you liked your hair, My Mistress,” Flame almost stammered in his confusion.

  Meertat oil was highly prized by the women of Testrios. Often it was sought out by any member of the Brotherhood and bartered for fresh supplies since only the Brothers knew the secrets of turning the distastefully smelling oil into a wonderfully scented hair tonic.

  “I liked it before I knew what that...that...stuff that you put in my hair was!”

  “Meertat oil is highly prized, My Mistress, and I thought that you would enjoy its lasting effects.”

  Once again Flame wore the wounded puppy dog look and Kendall felt contrite and guilty. Damn that soulful look!

  “I am not from Testrios, Flame.” Kendall spoke softly to soothe his wounded ego. He was trying to show his feelings for her in the only way that he knew how.

  “I know this, My Kendall, but I thought that you too would enjoy a little pampering.”

  Now she really felt like pond scum. “I enjoyed it ,Flame, I really did, but I guess I’m not used to Testrios hair preparations. I apologize if I hurt your feelings, but the skunk oil was a bit much. Try and understand my point of view. How would you feel if I put...uh, one of Ember’s dirty diapers on your face and told you that it was good for the skin?”

  Flame’s face at once screwed up into a mask of revulsion as he eyed his mistress. “That is disgusting, Mistress! Why in the name of the Matriarch would I do that?”

  “That’s exactly how I feel about skunks and by comparison, meertats.”

  Kendall knew that she had proved her point when Flame’s face cleared and a thoughtful expression settled onto his handsome visage.

  “I think I understand now, My Mistress. What I find commonplace you will probably find outrageous, and what I think is strange on this planet will probably be normal.”

  “You’ve got it, big guy!” Kendall crowed as she again felt her hair, brush against her face and strove not to cringe.

  Flame noticed her reaction and did the only thing that a true man would do. “Will you allow me to wash you hair, My Kendall?” he asked, wishing to help ease her discomfort.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Kendall stated after a moment of deep thought. “I guess if you can try and get used to Earth things, I can try out a few Testrios items. Just tell me what you are doing next time, before you do it. Agreed?”

  “Agreed, My Kendall.” Flame was happy that his Mistress was possessed of such a deep understanding of human nature and that she was willing to open her mind to new things.

  “Now, let’s take my skunk oil do, and go get that breakfast that you have so thoughtfully prepared. What kind of muffins did you make?”

  “I made the muffins from this wonderful substance called scrapple!”

  “Scrapple muffins?” Kendall croaked. That sounded disgusting.

  “Yes, My Mistress. And it is of Earth so you will not find any difficulties in eating them. I have made you two dozen to eat with these small fruits called prunes. They are truly the staples of the gods.”

  Flame never understood the tears that filled his Mistress’s eyes as he served up her meal of hot scrapple muffins, pitted prunes with grape jelly, and the thick black coffee that took over seven tablespoons of coffee grounds to make. But because he wanted to make sure she stayed healthy, he sat and watched her consume almost every bite.

  This is for my mother, she thought. Who compromised and ate pancakes made of corn meal and pickled sausages and orange yogurt eggs for her breakfasts! Thanks Mom, she groaned, for teaching me compromise. Now I know why there were so many antacids in the house! God, I must love this man!

  Moments after the last bite was downed, Kendall raced for the bathroom, to the delight of the grinning red-haired. They looked into each other’s gray eyes as if to say, “Thank goodness for soy baby formula.”

  Flame eyed his offspring for a moment, before he shrugged his shoulders and left the room to begin packing the minivan.

  Yes, thank goodness for formula, the babies seemed to confirm as a slightly green Kendall returned from the bathroom and shakily poured herself a tall glass of water. Grownup food seemed to be an acquired taste.

 
“I want to drive,” Flame declared later as they fastened the children into their seats.

  “I don’t think so, Flame.” Kendall ran her hands over yet another pair of jeans, cream ones this time, and eyed the disappointed look that replaced the one of joy that filled Flame’s eyes.

  “Just to the end of the timberline?” he pleaded.

  “No.”

  After their breakfast fiasco, Kendall and Flame had begun packing the minivan for the trip home. Flame had worn an expectant expression on his face all morning and Kendall had expected a question like that to pop up.

  “But I can operate the combustion engine on this vehicle, Kendall. Please?” he asked shooting her the puppy dog eyes.

  Both of the babies in the back seemed to look on in amusement at the interaction between their father and their adopted mother.

  “No.”

  “I can fly a space ship, Kendall. I flew it hundreds of light years to reach this planet. How hard can it be to drive this primitive vehicle?”

  Primitive! I’ll show him primitive, she thought before she looked into his expectant eyes. She felt like she was kicking a puppy! I know I’m going to regret this, Kendall thought as she handed the keys over to Flame.

  Like an eager child, Flame latched onto the keys, and like most men instantly began to get possessive about the controls.

  “Gas, brake, gear shift...” he rattled off each part of the car so quickly and accurately, that even Kendall was impressed.

  “How did you learn all of that?” she asked satisfied that he knew the basics. She climbed into the passenger seat and locked her safety belt into place.

  “I read the manual while I was preparing your breakfast,” was his distracted reply as he adjusted the seat to fit his tall frame. “I had hoped that you would allow me this opportunity.”

  “Can you start it?” she asked.

  Flame shot her a disgusted look before turning the key in the ignition and smoothly starting the car. In that universal way that all men have, he told her that she asked a stupid question with one sarcastic look.

  “Damn man,” Kendall mumbled at being the recipient of that particular look. “A few days of freedom seem to have gone to your head.”

  Flame grinned sheepishly before turning to look down at the dashboard in embarrassment. She was right. A few days of freedom and he was starting to act like a House Mistress. Reminding himself to censor his actions and treat his Kendall with all due respect, he took his foot off of the brake and eased the car forward. And they were off!

  He did it! He was driving this earth transport! He was so elated that he cried out to Kendall, “I have mastered this vehicle, My Mistress! Soon I shall know everything required to see properly to your welfare!”

  They were moving, but at about two miles per hour. If they traveled at this rate, they should be home by the time the children entered elementary school!

  “Sure...yeah, right.” Kendall mumbled after watching the trees pass in slow motion. “Oh, great provider,” she intoned. “We have been driving for a few minutes and we haven’t even left the front yard. Use the accelerator.”

  Flame felt a bit foolish, but did as she asked and the car shot forward like a bullet.

  “The Brake!” she screamed as what was left of her unusual breakfast threatened to exit her body the same way the bulk of it had earlier. “Use the damned brake!”

  So he did. He stomped on the brake pedal and slammed the car to a tooth-rattling halt.

  Kendall grunted as she was slammed forward, caught by her safety belt and slammed back into her seat with the force of a cannon blast.

  “I have stopped, just as you have commanded, My Mistress,” Flame cheerfully chirped from the driver’s side. “Do I not have great control over this vehicle?”

  Before she could wait for her brain to settle back into it’s proper place, Kendall was again jolted as Flame began accelerating once more. This time she felt all of her skin try to leave her skeleton behind as they roared down the dirt path that led to the main interstate, I-95. The babies seemed to encourage their fathers’ new need for speed from the back seat. Kendall was too busy praying with her eyes tightly closed to pay much attention to the twins.

  They soon came to a traffic signal.

  “Red means stop and green means go.” Flame recited as they approached the nearly empty intersection.

  As they were approaching the standing green light, Kendall saw that it was turning yellow. Now I can reclaim the steering wheel from that mad man, she thought as they approached the intersection.

  But then she noticed that they were not slowing down. Actually, they were starting to move faster.

  “Uh, Flame?” she questioned as they came closer and closer to the traffic light. “You do realize what the yellow light is for?”

  “Yes, My Mistress. Yellow means to go faster!”

  With that, he slammed his foot on the gas and they shot forward. The roar of the engine was surpassed only by Kendall’s shriek of fright as she tried to cover her head with her flaying arms and again slammed her eyes shut. But amazingly enough, they were safely passed the light and Flame was slowing the car.

  “Where did you learn to drive, you numb-skull! You could have gotten us all killed!” Kendall nearly screamed as she saw that they were alive and that he had slowed the car down to a tolerable seventy-five miles per hour. “Are you trying to kill all of us?”

  Stunned by her behavior, Flame pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road and let it coast to a stop. “I learned by listening to a very intelligent Earthman on one of your communications devices. I think that his name was Jeff Gordon.”

  “He is a professional automobile racer, Flame.” Kendall’s chest heaved with her efforts to keep under control. “He gets paid to race like that on a closed track! You don’t drive on the highway like a Nascar racer!” She was shouting and feeling the urge to overcome her physical restraint, she balled up her fist and socked him right on his rock hard bicep.

  “Damn!” she yelled as her fist came into contact with his muscular arm. She felt like she had just hit a brick wall.

  “You can hurt yourself, My Kendall, by hitting me when I am not prepared. If you wished to pummel me for some error, you should let me know so that I might loosen the muscle first.” He was all contrite expression and subservient attitude.

  “Green is go, red is stop and yellow is go slow, prepare to stop!” He even took the fun out of aggravated assault, she groused as he gave her a sunny look of understanding.

  “Oh, I see now, My Kendall. Thank you for correcting my error.”

  Again she felt annoyed by his way of making her feel guilty. She felt like a child who needed to be taught control so as not to hit her playmates. “I apologize for punching you, Flame. That wasn’t necessary and it was mean-spirited.” She looked up at him, regret on her face and waited for him to tell her that she was no better than the women that he had escaped from on Testrios.

  Flame had understood that her frustration needed an outlet and was truthfully unfazed by her attack. He had scratches that made more of an impact. But the fact that she was willing to humble herself and apologize to him made him feel like a true house leader. Only a person concerned for his welfare and feelings would have done so.

  “There is no need to apologize, My Kendall. You did not harm me in any way.” He smiled at her and gave her a little shot of the puppy dog eyes. “May I continue driving now that you have corrected my skills?”

  Flame was no fool. He knew that Kendall was ready to take the keys and ban him from driving for life. He also knew that she was feeling guilty and would want to make up for what she was sure to feel was a lack of control on her part. Allowing him to drive would ease her conscience and let Flame have some fun while learning all about Earth customs. It was a win-win situation.

  Kendall cringed inside, but looking at his sorrowful face, she decided to let him continue to drive. He had his own bank account and could easily afford any speeding tic
kets he got! If the police took him away...well, she could take the children home and he could get a first hand look at the American judicial system. It was a win-win situation.

  “The speed limit is sixty-five, Flame,” was all that she said as she sat back and let him start the car.

  Flame eased the car onto the road, vowing to follow all of the signs posted on the road.

  Driving was easy.

  Kendall reached over and turned on the radio, only to hear George Michael singing his heart out about freedom. They both thought that the song was appropriate as they continued on down the road. Freedom indeed.

  * * * * *

  Flame was doing so well with his driving, that Kendall let him continue to drive them until the children cried to be fed and changed. By that time, Flame with the help of Kendall had memorized just about all of the traffic rules that she could recall as well as the do’s and don’ts. After that first horrendous start, he was now driving like he had been operating a vehicle for years.

  “You are a great driver, Flame.” Kendall complimented as she took charge of Spark. After a few days of baby care, she changed diapers like a pro, hardly ever flinching at any of the smelly surprises she found inside.

  Flame flushed with pleasure over her comments as he watched his little girl savage the latex nipple of her bottle like she had not been fed in weeks.

  The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Flame had never felt this good in his whole life. He openly smiled at his small family. He would fight the whole Matriarch to keep them safe.

  He looked at Kendall and delighted over her antics with Spark. She was blowing raspberries again on his little tummy causing him to giggle and kick his chubby legs.

  His hair was still mostly a red-gold color, but the silver streaks were becoming more prominent. Ember’s soft red hair was liberally streaked with the silver and again he thought about what it meant. Their natural mother was Keeper of the Snow, so did that mean that the twins had inherited the power of the House of Ice?