Open Flame (Dragon's Fate)

by Lacy Danes

  She pulled up the dress, and a long skirt and elbow-length sleeves fell to the sides. Her breath caught. Much too pretty for a clockmaker’s daughter to wear. Everyone would wonder where they got the coin to pay for such a dress.

  She shook out the fabric, and a piece of parchment skittered to the floor. The script consisted of clean looping lines. A perfect steady hand. She picked the note up.

  Fina,

  A dress not nearly as enchanting as you. It is beyond words how I regret the pain and confusion I have so unexpectedly thrust into your life. I am overjoyed to have found you.

  Please wear this gown and accompany me to dinner tonight at half past eight in the gardens off the Hotel De Louvery. I have asked your friend Jonathan to join us.

  Enraptured,

  Madoc

  She stared at the note on top of the dark pink fabric. Half past eight with Jonathan. How would she even get there? She had no idea how she got here, and she honestly didn’t want to go back.

  A moan and scuffling came from the other side of the door.

  Fina stood and placed the dress on the end of the bed. She pressed her ear to the crack in the door.

  “You must be quiet.” Catherine’s hushed voice echoed in the hall.

  What was afoot?

  “We can use this room.” The handle on her door jiggled. Fina panicked and darted under the bed and into ice cold. She shivered as the dark mist from the hotel smothered her.

  The door swung open, and Fina quickly tugged on the dress at the foot of the bed so it slipped down to the floor. The note landed just out of reach beyond the end of the bed.

  The door closed.

  Fina held very still and locked her breath in her chest.

  The cold mist hissed a whisper in her ear. ”You are mine now.”

  “Make this quick. And pay me first.” Catherine’s voice cut through the fog.

  Cold pressure covered Fina’s mouth. She tied to open her jaw, but the icy hand held in her words. Fina concentrated on Catherine, wanting her to leave and quickly.

  “Always the coin with you.”

  Whose voice was that? Fina strained to try to get a look at the man. Scuffed brown boots with black laces walked along the edge of the mattress.

  “If you don’t want to pay, then don’t waste my time. I have others who would be glad to have access to my body and my husband’s designs.”

  Coins jingled. “Here. This etching better be sounder than the last.”

  “Make haste as he is only down the hall.”

  Her skirts rustled, and then Catherine’s long dress and shoes blocked part of Fina’s view. The man’s boots tucked up behind Catherine’s. A moan came from him.

  Catherine sold her pa’s work and herself for coin. Fina’s heart sank to her stomach. How dare she. Pressure built in her mouth, and she narrowed her eyes, fighting the urge to breathe fire all over the room.

  How long had Catherine been betraying her father?

  “That’s a nice wet pussy for me,” the man said, and the bed shook repeatedly above her.

  No. The sides of her cheeks swelled out. She needed to get out of here quickly. The fog held her tighter. Her skin prickled with cold heat. She wiggled and squirmed but could not move. She needed the fire. To let the flame burst out and burn the fog away, then run. But to where? Her heart hammered, and her chin trembled. She couldn’t breathe. She jerked her head to the side, trying to dislodge the frosted grasp.

  “Wish where you want to be,” Carmen’s voice rang.

  She wished to be anywhere but here. Even with Carmen in her damned hell. The window shimmered under the bed, and there, in the bright light, darkness loomed. Nothing but darkness. An eerie cold, as if the temperature dropped well below freezing point, seeped out of the light. Fina shivered, but the pressure in her cheeks had not diminished. She could not control the fire in her mouth, but she needed to dislodge this thing that held her. She stared at the black, glimmering window.

  White eyes squinted, then vanished. The bars of a cage a shade lighter than the black of night shimmered.

  The eyes came closer to her. “Do not come here.” Carmen’s voice rang in her ears. “If you do, you will not be able to use your magic and leave.”

  Fina closed her eyes. She needed to get out of this house. Her stomach roiled, and she could not keep her mouth clamped shut. Fire spilled out of her mouth. The cold clamp released, and flames burst into the room. The note caught and curled up into cinders on the wood floor. Catherine’s skirts smoldered next.

  No, no, no, no.

  The black mist clawed at her as it convulsed in pain. She crunched herself up and let another burst of flame go from her mouth, directly at it.

  I wish to be back at the hotel.

  Carmen’s dark cell window closed, and then a new window opened, filled with warmth and light. Fina rolled into the light and out into the hotel room. Large arched windows let in the night… The yellow-and-blue blanket covered the four-poster bed. She’d burned her sleeves in this room.

  Madoc’s room.

  The dark mist skittered into the room before the window closed. A loud, agonizing screech filled the air. The dark fog floated straight up to the ceiling and filtered out a crack in the windows. She closed her eyes and inhaled deep. Nothing could calm her. She opened her eyes, glanced around and pushed up to sitting. What had she just done? The fire. Her chest tightened. Her pa. Catherine. Her home. The shop!

  “Good evening.”

  She jerked her attention to the doorway. The short, fair-haired man who had handed her the package on the street stood in the archway to the parlor. “Did you have a smooth journey?” He offered his hand.

  She grasped his thick hand and pulled herself up to her feet. “No. The worst. Who are you?”

  “Madoc and his brothers call me Hudson. Please do so as well.”

  “Is Jonathan here?”

  “I am uncertain. Why don’t you change into that pretty dress on the floor and join us in the parlor? I will let Madoc know of your arrival.”

  She didn’t want Madoc to know of her arrival, but what choice did she have? She had no control of anything.

  Chapter Five

  Hudson appeared from the doorway to Madoc’s bedchamber. “Your pretty thing has arrived.”

  Madoc surged to his feet. “Where is she?”

  “Changing in the bedchamber.” Hudson walked to the side table and poured brandy into a glass. The caramel-colored liquor splashed up the sides, and a few drops hit the table. He must need to feed. His hands shook terribly.

  “How did she manage that?” He walked to Hudson’s side and placed his hand on his shoulder to steady him.

  She would not be leaving this time.

  Hudson stared at him and his eyebrows rose. “It seems she has the ability to jump distance. I saw her create a window in space out on the street. She went home.”

  “To England?”

  “I believe so. She impressed me.”

  Madoc knitted his brow. Why had Hudson not told him when he arrived back to his room? It did not truly matter. “Why did she come back, then?”

  “That I will leave for you to find out. Have you finished the drawing?”

  “No. I have been too distracted with her about.” The image of her eyes staring at him as he wheeled from the window and found her alive flooded his mind. He’d found her. That image burned his soul.

  He closed his eyes and sighed. It took everything in him not to go and take her.

  She needed to come to him.

  Her desire to know about her new self would make her understand what she possessed in this life. What they promised to each other.

  The image in his mind shifted from her warm face and flaming eyes to the image fire foretold—his fangs extended as he lay naked behind her; their bodies joined in mind and soul. Magic. Power. Love.

  He closed his eyes and pulled that image deep into his gut. She filled him. Yet the image the fire foretold had not come to pass. He opened h
is eyes.

  Hudson stared at him.

  “I sent a letter to Ferrous to inform him of her.” As the family leader, Ferrous needed to know when issues arose.

  “I am certain he will be thrilled.” Hudson stepped away from him with glass in hand. “Please concentrate, Madoc.” He pivoted away so his back showed. “We are here to make our theories come true.” He circled back to face him. “I have worked with Franco, and he thinks he can use his jeweler to make the part. I need the drawing.”

  Madoc nodded. Creating this watch would be essential for the brothers and Hudson. If everything worked, they could rewind time and make changes. Hudson never wanted to lose someone again. The Zir wanted a way to find their mates without killing. There would be other consequences, they knew that, but killing more women was unthinkable. “You are coming to dinner tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t miss the celebration.”

  “See you at eight for claret before dining.”

  “I think the spirit will be something more potent than claret.” Hudson raised the glass to his lips and downed the liquid in a single swallow. He set the glass back on the table. “Until then.” He inclined his head and crossed to the door that separated Madoc’s rooms from Hudson’s.

  Hudson closed the door to his room. Madoc turned to the other side of the parlor. The door to his bedchamber stood open. Should he go in? No. He should give her time before intruding. Indeed.

  He inhaled deeply, and the scent of vanilla and nutmeg filled his nostrils. Tension rippled through his stomach. Fina. He hoped she remembered what her arrival meant. She would not be leaving his sight again. “Fina.” He walked to the door and rotated so his back was to the opening. “The dress will fit. Do you need anything else?” The sound of the clock ticked like a gong in his ears. His vision rippled like a rainbow moon.

  She said nothing.

  “Fina.” His throat tightened. She was cross at him or overwhelmed or both. “I am sure this is all…” He couldn’t help his desire for her. He needed to face her to talk to her. He spun around, and his breath caught.

  She stood before the mirror in the dark pink dress with blue embroidery. Perfect. Her slender arms, encased in pink silk with a flourish of blue embroidery about the elbow, fluttered nervously as she touched the bodice. The neckline scooped down, exposing the tops of her creamy white breasts. A long scar cut across the top of her left breast and disappeared into the decadent silk.

  What had happened to her?

  Tonight was not the time to ask. “You are so lovely.”

  Beauty, light, fire and passion swirled about her, but compassion, truth and destiny swirled in her soul. His partner for life. The mother of his children. He wanted ten or more. Would that ever come to be?

  His throat tightened. Odd that he had never allowed himself to think of such things, but he did now. He wanted the huge family he’d never had.

  Her eyes met his stare in the reflection of the mirror. “The dress is lovely. The best I have ever…”

  He walked to her and rubbed the small puff of fabric at her shoulder between his thumb and forefinger. “The first of many bests.” He withdrew his hand. “Fina. Why did you come back?”

  Her gaze stayed locked to his in the mirror. “I went home. I am uncertain how that happened. Something followed me, then I-I heard my stepmother, Catherine, as she sold my pa’s drawings to a man.” She bit her lower lip, and then raised her chin. “He can’t draw anymore. She is deceiving people and using my pa’s name.” She wet her lips and looked down at the vanity. “And…she betrayed my pa by allowing that man to have his way with her.”

  She sold her favors to another man. Madoc nodded. “I understand.”

  “You do?”

  “She is selling her body for other’s pleasure and selling your father’s lifework and his name.” His jaw tightened. The latter was the most important. It was bad enough Fina thought Madoc had stolen from her father. But for her stepmother to take from him could now give her more reason to believe Madoc had actually purchased the drawing. He couldn’t have more keeping them apart.

  “That is not all that happened on my trip home.” She closed her eyes, and her lip wobbled. “That dark mist that followed me… It smothered me. Said I belonged to it. I panicked. I-I lost control of the fire again. I was so angry. I have no idea what damage I did. I breathed fire on Catherine’s skirts, and I ran. Here is where I ended up.” She opened her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her chest heaved, and she choked back a sob. And sobbed again.

  “Fina.” He grasped her shoulder and turned her toward him. Deep pools of sadness shone back at him.

  She shook her head.

  He pulled her to him and held her. “I am sorry, Fina. You will learn to control your element. I am sorry I was not there to help you.” He shouldn’t have let her leave before.

  “There is nothing you could have done.” She pulled away from him and took a step back.

  He needed to show her otherworldly time and to help her understand his own abilities. “Tomorrow, Fina, I will show you all I know about time and being a Zir. Your father is a remarkable man. His designs follow the otherworldly. Franco sent me to him those five years past for that reason. I heard and felt the energy in his ticks and the etchings. The etchings moved to the tick of the clock.”

  “He knows nothing of what I have experienced today. Those etchings don’t move. I draw them.”

  She drew them. He nodded. “While it may certainly be true that he is not otherworldly as you are, he is an extraordinary human to have stretched his mind to understand there is more to time than what humans comprehend.” He continued to stare at her. “Your drawings… They do move. Next time you draw, you shall see what I mean.”

  The soft ice-fire eyes that had so captivated him were the mask to the strength that resided at her core. Complexity and protectiveness of those she held dear pulsed through her.

  “I don’t understand, Madoc. Time is made up. Time is not what we think at all, and after what I just did, distance is a fiction too. How else do you explain what I did?”

  His gaze dropped to the bites on the side of her neck. “Fina.” He touched the small round scabs.

  She trembled.

  “Those explain why. I don’t know everything about what I am. I do know that life is made up of things we cannot see or understand. It does not mean they are not real.”

  She stared at him, and her brow pinched. “I need more of an explanation than that.”

  “I shall explain what I know of time. Humans hear time in a clock like this, tick, tock, tick, tock. For me, when I concentrate on time, I hear tick-tick-tick-tick-tick, tick-tick-tick-tick-tick.” He glanced to the left and out the window into the evening’s gray light. “All otherworldly creatures that are time benders or timewears hear something similar but with slight variations, depending on what they do with time. When you concentrate and pop distance, do you hear the ticking?”

  “No. At least I don’t think so.”

  He concentrated his attention on her. “Try it. You need to check on Catherine to see if she is well. To know what your loss of control did. Open the window and look. When you wish, concentrate very hard on what your body is feeling, hearing, smelling. The more you know about how your power affects you, the more control you will have over your ability.”

  She bit her lip. “I do want to see what damage I did to my room and Pa.”

  “Well, then, let’s.” A smile curved his lips.

  She didn’t hesitate. “I wish to see my bedchamber.”

  She impressed him as well. “Concentrate and tell me what you are feeling.”

  A glow burst into the room. Within the glow, a small bedroom appeared.

  “I hear my heart pounding. I smell the fresh rain. My stomach is tense, and there is an odd popping sound in my ears. How strange I had not noticed those things before.” She smiled at him, and understanding flashed in her eyes.

  “Does your room look unharmed? Or do you wish t
o step through and come back?”

  “I need to step through.”

  “Very well.” He wrapped his fingers about her hand and squeezed lightly. “I will be right here waiting.”

  Fina stepped through the light, and the glow disappeared. Please let her be safe. Please let what she finds provide her comfort. He blew out a tense breath, pivoted to the window and the twilight that now captured the city’s rooftops. His stomach tensed. He should have tried to go with her. Her confession of her journey repeated in his mind. “Something came with me… The dark mist that followed me… It smothered me. Said I belonged to it…” The dark mist… Darkness. Hudson’s darkness or another’s mist?

  A flash of light reflected in the window, and he turned to the light. Fina stood by the end of the bed. Relief crashed over him, and he held in a rush of laughter.

  “How did your journey go?”

  “The room is fine. It smelled a bit smoky, and dampness slicked the floorboards. They must have poured water on the fire. I carefully walked to the kitchen to check and see how Pa and Catherine fared. She stood at the hearth cooking dinner, and Pa sat at the table reading. All looked well.” She walked to the vanity again.

  Madoc’s heart lightened. “Good. How are you feeling?”

  “Hungry, and relieved that I didn’t permanently harm my home and Catherine.”

  Madoc walked to her. “I have more questions about the dark mist…but they can wait. Dinner is soon. I had some lace sent from one of Paris’s best makers. May I get some to cover your bite marks?” He wanted to show off her marks to the world, but they would not understand.

  He gazed back at her in the mirror. Her eyes glistened with freshly shed tears and her lips were set in a firm line. She closed her eyes, and tears ran down her cheek. She fisted her hands on the vanity, then opened her eyes and stared at him. “If you wish.”

  She just said she was relieved, and yet she cried. A contradiction he would need to resolve. Forcing her to confide in him would not be the way to do this. She needed him. He simply had to prove that to her. “One moment. I will get the package from the parlor.”