Fanning the Flames (Going Down in Flames)

by Chris Cannon

  Rhianna nodded. “I see. Maybe we should go downstairs to the restaurant.”

  “That might be a lot easier.” Bryn hopped off the bed. “Let me go ask…I mean tell Valmont what we want to do.”

  “Are you planning on being mean to him?” Rhianna asked.

  “Maybe,” Bryn said. “But I’m also practicing playing my role as a Blue. My grandmother would never ask an employee if they wanted to go somewhere. She’d just tell them what she wanted to do.”

  “Don’t let the power go to your head,” Rhianna said.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Bryn exited her room and knocked on Valmont’s door. He opened it a few inches. “Yes.”

  “Rhianna and I want to go down to the restaurant for lunch.”

  “Give me five minutes, and I’ll be ready to escort you.” His tone was flat and unemotional.

  “Fine,” Bryn didn’t let on that his response cut deep. She’d hoped maybe he’d had a change of heart. Apparently not.

  The seating arrangement in the restaurant proved interesting. “Table for three?” the waiter had asked.

  “I don’t know.” Bryn looked at Valmont. “Are you eating with us or do you plan to stand off to the side staring at nothing.”

  He pressed his lips together in a thin line but didn’t respond.

  “Why don’t I set a table for three and you can figure it out as you go?” the waiter suggested.

  “I insist he eat with us,” Rhianna said. “It’s more efficient that way.”

  “Okay.” The waiter looked at Bryn and then at Valmont. Since neither of them argued, he followed Rhianna’s instructions.

  Bryn was halfway through her steak before she noticed what was happening. “Everyone is staring again, aren’t they?”

  Rhianna nodded. “Who wants to take bets on whether it’s because you’re eating lunch with your future husband’s future mistress or because Valmont is being an asshat?”

  Bryn almost choked on her food.

  Rhianna giggled. “I’ve always wanted to say that, and it does seem to fit the occasion.”

  Valmont continued eating as though he hadn’t heard her. Bryn wanted to poke him with her fork and ask if he was awake, but she didn’t. “I wonder what Jaxon will have to say about all this staring?” Maybe he could play the alpha male and make them all back off.

  “I’m sure he’ll deal with it in his own way,” Rhianna said.

  Kah-boom! Bryn froze. “Is that thunder?”

  Kah-boom!

  “It could be a normal storm,” Rhianna said.

  Kah-boom-boom-boom!

  The lights flickered.

  Bryn stood and headed for the front door. Valmont caught her arm. “Don’t.”

  “Back off,” Bryn growled at him, literally. “You can follow my lead or you can go back to being a waiter.”

  He dropped her arm like it burned his hand. “Think, before you act. That’s all I’m saying.”

  Too bad. If he didn’t want to be a part of her life anymore, then he didn’t get to have input on how she acted. She headed for the front door and peered out through the glass. Wind whipped the trees around. Lightning flashed through the sky. She didn’t spot any dark shapes flying around, and the lightning didn’t hit the ground.

  Rhianna came up and stood by her side. “What’s the verdict?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “What should we do?” Rhianna asked.

  “Let’s go back to my room and make a few calls.” Bryn headed up the stairs. Valmont would either follow her or he wouldn’t. She had more to worry about than his allegiance right now. She sprinted up the steps and down the hall to her dorm room. Jaxon pacing in front of her door didn’t make her feel any better.

  “Where’s Rhianna?”

  “She’s right behind me,” Bryn said. Should she feel bad that she ran when Rhianna couldn’t move as fast? She opened her door and went inside to grab the phone. After punching in the number to Sinclair estates, she paced back and forth.

  “Sinclair Estates, this is Rindy. How may I direct your call?”

  “It’s Bryn. Can you put me through to my grandmother?”

  “Just one moment.”

  Bryn listened to the dead air on the line, hoping it wasn’t some sort of foreshadowing for what might be happening.

  “Bryn, what’s wrong?”

  “Is it storming where you are?”

  “It’s raining, but I haven’t seen any lightning.”

  “There’s lightning on campus. There’s no evidence it’s an attack, but it’s making me nervous.”

  “Stay on this line. I’m going to call your grandfather on my cell.”

  Rhianna entered the room with Jaxon by her side. Where was Valmont? Bryn covered the receiver, “Valmont?”

  “I’m keeping watch by the terrace window,” he called out. “I’ll alert you if I see anything suspicious.”

  “It could just be a storm, right?” Rhianna said.

  Jaxon frowned. “Whenever Bryn is involved, the answer is usually no.”

  And then there was a big blank space in the conversation where Valmont would have said, “I have no valid argument against that statement.” And Bryn’s eyes burned. She turned away so Jaxon wouldn’t notice she was about to lose it. She blinked trying to hold back the tears. Damn it. She’d been feeling better staying angry and now it felt as if someone had ripped the emotional rug out from under her again.

  “Bryn, your grandfather isn’t concerned at this time, but I’m not sure I share his optimism. Are you in your room?”

  A single word she could fake her way through. “Yes.”

  “Do you know where Jaxon is?”

  “He and Rhianna are here with me now.”

  “I see.” Her grandmother didn’t sound like she approved of the situation. “In any case, he should escort you to the library. Your grandfather mentioned he wanted to speak with both of you, and the library was designed to withstand a siege.”

  “Okay. We’ll go now.”

  “Wait a moment. There’s something else wrong, isn’t there?”

  There was no point in lying. “Yes, but I can’t talk about it.”

  “Is it Jaxon?”

  “No. It’s not him.”

  “Valmont?” her grandmother guessed.

  “Yes, he’s changed.”

  “I think I understand,” Her grandmother said. “Your marriage contract made him withdraw his…friendship.”

  That was one way to phrase it. “Pretty much.”

  “Would you ask him to come to the phone, please?”

  “You know I don’t need a babysitter. And we should probably head over to the library.”

  “Bryn, you put him on the phone right now or I will fly there and speak to him personally.”

  Crap. Her grandmother was not one to make idle threats. “Valmont, my grandmother would like a word with you.”

  “Why?” Valmont came around the corner with a concerned look on his face.

  Bryn held the phone out to him. “I don’t know.”

  He accepted the phone like it was a snake that might bite him. “Mrs. Sinclair?”

  He nodded along and said, “Yes, no…but…I see.” And then he hung up. “We are all going to the library.”

  “Why?” Rhianna asked.

  “Because Marie Sinclair has spoken.” Valmont gestured toward the door. “After you.”

  “What did she say?” Rhianna asked.

  Good question. Valmont didn’t seem inclined to answer.

  “Give me a moment,” Bryn went into her room and put on her elemental sword bracelet. When she returned to the living room, she pointed at Jaxon. “Are you wearing your cuff links?”

  Jaxon pointed at his shirt cuff. “As soon as I heard the thunder, I put them on.”

  “So I’m the only person who is unarmed?” Rhianna said. “That hardly seems fair.”

  “I could give you a cuff link,” Jaxon said.

  “No, you’d lose the elemen
t of surprise in a fight.”

  “I can offer you a dagger,” Valmont said. “It isn’t magical, but it is sharp.”

  “Thank you,” Rhianna said. “I’ll take it.”

  Valmont went into his room and retrieved a dagger in a leather pouch about ten inches long with a strap that buckled. “This is meant to go inside your boot.” Valmont pointed at Rhianna’s heels. “I’m not sure how you want to wear it.”

  She accepted the dagger. “I have boots. We’ll stop on the way to the library so I can change outfits.”

  …

  After Rhianna changed into very stylish, more than likely designer, black leather knife-hiding boots, they went out onto her balcony. It was raining, which put Bryn at ease. Maybe she’d been worried over nothing. Sometimes lightning could just be lightning.

  “Maybe we should go down to the lobby and walk to the library,” Valmont said.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Jaxon said. “We can fly there in five minutes.”

  Valmont sighed. “I’m not sure Bryn and me flying together is a good idea.”

  “Why?” Bryn asked. “Are you afraid you might feel the power of the bond and realize you’ve made a huge mistake?”

  Jaxon pointed at Valmont. “I don’t care about your personal life. We’re flying because it’s faster. End of story.” He shifted and launched himself into the sky, treading air above Rhianna who shifted and dove off the terrace toward the library while Jaxon shadowed her from above.

  Damn it. This was going to totally suck. Flying with Valmont had always been one of her favorite things. The power of the bond flowed through them making her feel powerful and like she was part of something wonderful…something warm that had felt like love.

  “If we’re going to do this, we might as well get it over with,” Valmont said.

  Well, that put an end to the warm, fuzzy moment she’d been having. Jerk. It was his fault this was going to be emotionally traumatizing. At least she wouldn’t be suffering alone.

  Bryn shifted and whipped her tail around for him to use as a step. Valmont placed his hand on her flank. It was the first time he’d touched her since he’d broken up with her. The familiar warmth of his hand made her breath catch. He climbed onto her back, sitting between her shoulder blades. Bryn braced herself for the familiar rush of power, but it was more like a flow of water. Not nearly as powerful as the crashing wave she’d experienced every other time they’d connected. Maybe their relationship had enhanced the bond rather than the bond enhancing the relationship. She didn’t have time to think about that right now, so she dove for the library. The air was unpleasantly wet and cold. It felt like flying through fog.

  They landed in front of the library doors without incident. Bryn stumble-stepped a little, but no worse than usual. Jaxon and Rhianna stood waiting for them. Valmont hopped off Bryn’s back as quickly as possible. She shifted before his feet touched the ground. The sense of loss she normally felt after they flew together was absent, and that felt wrong.

  Ferrin and her grandfather stood waiting for them inside. Ferrin didn’t bother to hide his disdain for Rhianna. Jaxon either didn’t see it or chose not to acknowledge it.

  “Bryn, I believe this is a natural storm,” her grandfather said, “But we could use Jaxon’s and your help with a situation that’s come up.”

  “That’s nice and vague,” Bryn said.

  “Come with us, and we’ll fill in the details.” Her grandfather headed to the entrance of the vaults rather than up to his office. Ferrin followed.

  “Any idea what this is about?” Bryn asked Jaxon.

  “No.” He took off after his father.

  “Since the two crappiest things I can imagine have already happened, I guess I have nothing to be afraid of,” Bryn said. She walked toward the entrance to the vaults with Valmont on her heels.

  They descended through the hatch and down the stone steps to the landing where Red guards stood waiting for them.

  “What you are about to see might disturb you,” Bryn’s grandfather said. “Be assured that we are treating them as humanely as possible.”

  “Maybe you should go back up to the library,” Jaxon said to Rhianna.

  “I’m staying.” Rhianna crossed her arms over her chest.

  “This way.” Ferrin headed down one of the newly excavated hallways.

  “Does this lead to where we woke up after the ambush?” Bryn asked.

  “We won’t be going that far down,” her grandfather said.

  “Not comforting,” Bryn mumbled as she followed behind him.

  They came to a door, which resembled the first door they’d uncovered in the main room. Ferrin produced a key from his pocket and unlocked it. Bryn entered the hallway. Ahead of her on either side she could see openings, like rooms without doors. As she came closer to the rooms, the acrid scent of sweat and fear grew stronger.

  “What have you done?” Bryn asked her grandfather.

  “We have done what was necessary,” he replied.

  When they came even with the first room on the right, Bryn saw the entrance was blocked with metal bars, like a prison cell. Inside the ten-by-ten room, four young men, probably no older than herself, sat on the bottom bunk of two bunk beds that had been crammed into the space. The remains of lunch or dinner sat on a tray in the corner.

  “What’s going on here?” Bryn asked.

  “We found these cells when we excavated the lower level, and we put them to good use,” her grandfather said. “Anyone found living in the forest was rounded up and brought here for questioning.”

  “How long have you had them here?” Valmont asked.

  “We keep them until we are sure they are no longer a threat,” Ferrin said.

  “How do you determine if they are a threat?” Jaxon asked.

  “The medics have assisted us,” Ferrin said. “We’ve given them the same potion we give students who are out after curfew which makes them answer our questions truthfully.”

  “And what have you learned?” Bryn asked.

  “We learned the location of several Rebel camps,” her grandfather said. “We were able to send Guards out to capture or kill them if necessary.”

  Bryn’s stomach twisted. “So you’ve been rounding up anyone who lives in the forest? What about the people who moved onto the deeded land?”

  “The deeded land is under strict supervision.” Her grandfather continued walking down the hall.

  The next cell they passed held one man, who sported a black eye and a swollen lip. “Why is he injured, and why hasn’t he been healed?” Bryn asked.

  “He was injured resisting arrest. Once here, he bragged about his participation in the attacks on campus and Dragon’s Bluff.”

  “This entire campus will burn,” the man stated.

  Okay. Her sympathy level dropped.

  Rhianna moved closer to the bars. “What did you hope to accomplish by injuring students and humans?”

  The man smirked. “Our goal was to create chaos and to show the Directorate that they were no longer in control.”

  “Then you and your friends are the reason I was injured and my marriage contract voided.”

  He shrugged. “You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.”

  Metal flashed and then the man looked down, his mouth open in an “O” of surprise at the dagger Rhianna had thrust into his chest, stabbing him in the heart. Blood spurted from the wound, spattering Rhianna’s blouse. She didn’t seem to notice. She just stared in apparent satisfaction as the man stumbled and then dropped to the floor.

  No one spoke a word. Everyone in the hallway had gone silent. Rhianna turned to Valmont. “Sorry about your dagger. I’m sure Mr. Sinclair can have someone retrieve it for you.”

  “I have other daggers,” Valmont said.

  Bryn had no idea what to say. Rhianna deserved some sort of satisfaction or vengeance but Bryn never expected to see it in action.

  “Good thing we were done interviewing him,” Bryn’s grandfat
her stated. “Let’s keep moving. There’s someone we want you to see.”

  He couldn’t be talking about her parents, could he?

  Two cells down, Onyx sat on a bunk bed, playing solitaire with a deck of cards. He didn’t appear inconvenienced by his current situation. When he caught sight of Jaxon, he stood. “I was wondering when they’d bring you to see me.”

  “How long have you been here?” Jaxon asked.

  “Around forty-eight hours,” Onyx said. “I willingly drank their potion and answered all their questions, but they haven’t answered any of mine.”

  “After thorough interrogation, we determined that he is aware of the Rebels, but he doesn’t encourage them. Although he does encourage dragons to work toward changing the way the Directorate governs.”

  “If he’s not a threat, why haven’t you let him go?” Bryn asked.

  “We plan to place him under house arrest once facilities are made ready,” Bryn’s grandfather said.

  “What about all these other people?” Bryn asked. “Were they all involved in the attacks?”

  “Most of the ones who admitted their guilt have been executed,” Ferrin stated. “The rest will be released and confined to the deeded land after we are assured they aren’t working against us.”

  “Why show us this?” Bryn asked.

  “We wanted Jaxon to see that we honored his promise to keep Onyx safe if he wished to speak with us. We wanted both of you to be aware of what we’re doing, in case students come to you with questions,” her grandfather said.

  “Why not share this with everyone so they realize what the Directorate is doing to keep them safe?” Valmont asked.

  “Because we aren’t done yet,” Ferrin said, “and there could still be traitors among us.”

  “Did you find out anything about the Orange dragons who ambushed us?” Bryn asked.

  “We have pieced together some details,” her grandfather said. “They were retrieving herbs from storage and another box of Tyrant’s crowns.”

  Bryn shivered, “We need to find those things and melt them down.”

  “That is the plan,” her grandfather said. “Now, I’ll escort you upstairs.”

  What about her parents? Had they learned that her mom and dad were still alive? If they were monitoring the deeded land as closely as they claimed, it would only be a matter of time until her parents were discovered.