Forged of Fire Read online

  Stefen’s acute hearing drew him out of his reflection and back to the shop’s interior. A man in jeans and a hoodie was seated across from where Kielyn had taken a seat. He was studying the beauty closely. Too closely! Lift your fucking head. Stefen silently ordered. I just need to see your eyes! As if he heard him, the man tilted his gaze up. There, plain as day in his pupils, Stefen read his whole life span like cliff-notes. He was a Vampire and he was likewise interested in Stefen’s young bender.

  Kielyn rose from her table and began to exit the shop. Fuck! Stay put! The silent command did nothing to sway his stubborn charge. The male rose and followed her out the door. Stefen watched Kielyn pass by the alley he was hidden in. The Vampire remained a few paces behind, just enough to keep up but not close enough to register his presence...Or was he? No sooner did the thought pass than Kielyn tripped, sending the contents of her purse flying across the concrete. The pretty redhead yelped and bent at the waist to retrieve the contents currently rolling across the pavement. Her short skirt lifted in accordance with the daring posture, providing all of Main Street’s oncoming traffic a view of long shapely legs that led up to a perfectly round ass outfitted in delicate pink panties. Bloody hell!

  The Vampire faltered a step before seeing a new opportunity and rushing to her aid. He was joined by four other scrambling men, all begging to assist the beauty. Stefen could feel the irritation radiating off the Vampire from his vantage point beside a nearby light post. However will you get her alone now dumb ass? He chuckled. Probably too loudly, for the fanger looked over his shoulder at him and narrowed his eyes. Stefen winked, challenging him right back with his own acknowledgement. As planned, the Vampire drew to his feet and began to stalk towards him. Stefen cast a glance once more to make sure that Kielyn was ok. She was just fine and being escorted into a local bar by one of the Good Samaritans. Correction! His ward was good to go on the supernatural predator front. Stefen would have to take care of the human danger after he killed the Vampire.

  He slipped back down the alley as the large male ground out a threat behind him. Stefen lazily turned around, drawing his weapon of choice, the double sided boomerang blade. “I am sorry. Were you talking to me fucktard?”

  The jarhead curled his lips in a sneer. “What the hell are you?” He sniffed the air. “Fae?”

  Stefen lifted a brow. “Really? That’s all you got?”

  “Doesn’t matter much.” The fanger said in a thick baser-born British accent that dated him as young. “I like the taste of all blood.” He sauntered forward. “I bet yours will taste even better. And don’t worry, I won’t hurt you when I drain you dead.” He smirked.

  He was unsure which impulse was stronger, the one to laugh or the one to retch. Stefen knew he was considered a rather pretty male with his violet eyes, glossy long dark-hair, dimpled chin and high cheek bones. At 6 foot flat Stefen was not a huge muscle bound male either, making others think that he would be easy prey. When he was younger the constant attention from both males and females was both flattering and annoying. Stefen had mastered the art of enlisting his good looks to get what he wanted and then he learned to fight like a Tasmanian devil to defend himself from bullies who did not take no for an answer. Between the combination of his natural charm and “pretty boy” good looks, he had not had an easy time growing up with some of the more audacious and perverted vultures at court. Both assets were a blessing and a curse. Stefen grew tired early on with the gift of attraction, however, he had learned to foster his irritation with superficial idiots into a more practical use - cunning manipulation. Anger always rose up in Stefen when faced with shallow fuckers like the meat head standing before him now. No matter if they were men, women, humans or immortals, anyone set to take what they wanted by victimizing those they viewed as weaker received his wrath. Maybe this was another reason Stefen was watching out for Kielyn. He saw a target, proverbially painted on her, similar to the one he himself had grown up with.

  Stefen shook off the annoying notion that he might actually have a heart and focused on a more selfish train of thought, one that would bring immediate satisfaction in dealing with the piece of shit in front of him. With the quick snap of his wrist, he manifested the weapon housed inside his jacket sleeves and let the blade fly. It severed the Vampire’s head from his body before his shocked eyes could even grow to their fullest extent. Stefen caught the boomerang on its return, walked over to the body and pulled a dagger from his back. He knelt and plunged it into the idiot’s heart. A popping hiss from inside the chest cavity confirmed the death. Stefen withdrew the knife and wiped both weapons clean on the Vampire’s white t-shirt. He stood, stepped back from the widening pool of blood on the cement and looked down at his kill. “I’m a fucking Angel ass wipe!”

  Stefen sheathed his blades and started to head back towards the main street when a shadow moved across the surface of the damp pavement. He spun, the hairs on his arm lifting. She was here, the presence that had been consistent since he had taken to watching the bender. The same way he had been keeping up with Kielyn, someone had been keeping dibs on him. He could not get a read at all on what she was either. Fucking ironic considering how annoyed Stefen had been with the fanger for thinking he was Fae. “Show yourself!” He called out.

  “You are not going to take her.” A haunting feminine voice replied.

  “Bloody hell! Is everyone and their mother after this damn woman?” Stefen searched the recesses of the darkness but even his vision could not lay claim on the voice’s owner. “And who are you to stop me if I desire to?”

  A soft, feathery chuckle answered him. “You’re not stupid. It’s rather unbecoming to play that you are.”

  Stefen canted his head to the right. “One might also conclude that it’s unbecoming to lurk in the shadows and taunt strangers.”

  “One might.”

  “Why don’t you come out so I can see who exactly is threatening me?” Stefen stepped forward. “I promise not to kill you.”

  “That’s sweet.” A hot wind rushed forward as if challenging his advancement and collided hard with Stefen, whipping his hair about his face. “I have never made a threat in my whole life. Nor a promise.” The temperature rose several degrees as the wind retreated as quickly as it had formed. “Leave the girl alone,” she continued. “Watch her all you want but do not dare touch her.”

  “And if I am ordered to take her?” Stefen asked, too stubborn to concede and definitely too willful to comply.

  “Then I will be forced to stop you by any means needed,” she answered.

  “I see. Can I at least get your…” She was gone. He felt the absence of her energy like a shift in atmospheric pressure. A chill raced up his spine. There were very few beings more powerful than his kind…Surely she was not…

  Kielyn emerged from the bar. Stefen heard the distinct click of her awkward gate on the cobblestoned sidewalk. He would have time later to contemplate the strange supernatural that was tracking him. Right now he just had to make sure the redheaded beauty arrived back at her dorm in one piece.

  ****

  Stepping out of the private jet, Ash brought his sunglasses to his eyes. His pupils had already started to sharpen into razor thin slits as the first smells of the southern city’s sins began to wash over his tongue. Aww, New Orleans…He had missed it greatly.

  The trip over the pond had been quite nice in the spacious jet Mr. Bane had sent. Ash had gotten a great deal of correspondence done with Marsala sleeping and the Gilcolm, Samson, ordered to stay quiet. Ash would have Marsala awoken once night fell and brought with Samson straight to his new residence. He always liked arriving by day, it provided him the upper hand on the surroundings while most other immortals were shade seeking, safe from the sunlight.

  Looking out over the tarmac he had to smile. Smith, his man of affairs, had done a great job of securing the proper means of ground transportation. Nice!The car pulled closer as Ash took the last step of the landing set. An enthusiastic valet jumped out an
d handed him the key-fob to the expensive piece of machinery. Ash slid in and quickly programmed two destinations, the first to his house he had purchased on the flight over and the second to Bane’s place on Napoleon Street for later that evening.

  Ash whistled to himself as he shifted the car effortlessly into first. The Maserati Gran Turismo sang to life as Ash took the exit ramp, seamlessly passing through its third and fourth gears in less than twenty seconds. Not quite as fast as he could on foot but not too damn shabby for an Italian sports car. As he steered south towards the city he could not help but think back on some of Samson’s earlier ramblings. Turns out Bane was a Water-bender, also turned Vampire around the same era that Marsala was made. Marsala had been asleep for most of the trip so Ash had not yet inquired as to if she knew Bane. Perhaps they were enslaved at the same time. Ash would get all his answers tonight including why he had been sought out to help with the supposed chosen one. However, Ash already has his speculations. If all of this was indeed not a ploy and the child did really exist, Bane’s purpose in seeking out Ash would be a simple one. He would want him to train the young bender.

  Ash was a Fire-bender born of nobility, same as all benders. But, unlike other royal benders, Ash was of the Ushum bloodline, the house of the Dragon. The Ushum house was forged from Dragons and was thus, the strongest of all the fire realm’s benders. Ash’s parents ruled over their realm until the fateful day Dante’s Vampire army invaded and slayed half their village, while enslaving the other half. Ash felt his hands tighten on the steering wheel. He had only been a small child. His father had died in battle defending their people. Ash, his mother and older brother were among those taken hostage. Ash could recall nothing else in the years between the age of seven and sixteen. Dante had his physicians erase those middle years for reasons unknown. The only thing Ash knew for certain was during that time his mother had been forced into marriage with Dante, or who the humans referred to as Lucifer, the Devil.

  It was said that his mother died giving birth to a daughter born of their union but Ash never saw the Princess. His days were spent training with Dante’s army, his nights were spent in painful experiments trying to tap into his unique gift of fire manipulation. The only time he saw his brother, Teakin, was in the arena when they were forced to battle. On Ash’s twenty-fifth birthday, he was turned by the Devil himself into a Vampire.

  Ash turned the car onto Constance Street and began winding through the lush surrounding of the Garden district. After three lefts and one right he pulled into his driveway, parked and climbed out of the vehicle taking in his surrounding with deliberate care. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The air around him seemed alive and heavy, drugged and sated as if the fragrant honeysuckle breeding on the vines and the Spanish moss dripping off the ancient Oaks had impregnated the atmosphere with their lust. The sound of softly cascading water, falling and splashing in its gentle pool signaled a fountain. A mocking bird’s song carried effortlessly through the trees that danced like wind chimes in the whimsical Louisiana breeze.

  Ash opened his eyes. The old southern colonial house before him was just as described with its floor to ceiling windows, wrap around porch and massive columns. The expert craftsmanship of the hand carved trim work added a luxurious Victorian inspired detail that made it a one of a kind on the lane. It was simply the best of both styles, practical for its original era and just flashy enough to appeal to Ash’s appreciation of the finer things. He walked up the wide stone steps with their potted ferns lining the entrance to the large porch. In four long strides he was in front of the twelve foot tall double doors. He entered the code on the realtor’s lock, just as instructed and turned the handles. Both wooden doors parted with ease, introducing a massive foyer with a gorgeous marble floor rivaling any he had seen in Europe. Ash stepped in and turned around. Yes, this would do nicely and if anything did not come of his meeting later with Mr. Bane, at least he had a wonderful new residence in a city he loved.

  ****

  The dark moved in slowly, taking its calculated time with every silk-laden step. The light broke apart and retreated into the shadows as the fight was, painfully over. A stillness cloaked the air, heavy and laborious in the battle’s aftermath. A voice crept into the mournful silence as the wind began to rise up once again. Faster and faster it swirled around her, victoriously dancing atop devil wings. The black pulled and drank from the control she now willingly laid at his feet. A thin chuckle laced its bony fingers around her soul and whispered the words… “Come home…”

  Kielyn was dragged upright by her own scream. Her sheets were bunched around her waist and her breathing was coming in painful, racking waves as her eyes fought to adjust to the lightless room. Her hand shot out, knocking over a water glass before she could tap the bedside light on. “Damn it!” She muttered as the light flickered on, effectively smothering the nightmare. Kielyn shot her eyes quickly over to her roommate’s bed. She was out cold, not even a hint of movement from the snoring bundle of covers across the small dorm room.

  Kielyn kicked her covers from her legs and stood, swiping a tee shirt from a pile of clothes and began blotting up the water. Another loud snort came from the corpse in the other bed. Kielyn sighed. There would be no getting back to sleep now. She always tried to get to bed before her drunk roommate could stumble home or else she would spend the night awake with a pillow over her head. Maybe she should try getting shitfaced. Seemed to be a fantastic sleep aid.

  She stood and tossed the shirt in the dirty clothes pile on a sigh. She might as well take advantage of the time to get a head start on her new class project. Kielyn shrugged on a pair of worn in jeans and pulled a hoodie over her head before grabbing her bag and slinging it across her shoulder. Thank the heavens Mr. Panacia had trusted her enough to give her a key to the art room. She closed the door and headed down the dormitory steps, tip toeing past the sleeping guard in the main lobby.

  The spring air washed over her skin as soon as she stepped out into the lush manicured courtyard. Sounds of merriment in the near distance signaled other partied out college students were making their treks back to their campus dorms. Kielyn hurried across the lawn and took a left. Cutting through the park was the fastest way to reach the fine art building that housed her sanity. Painting was everything to Kielyn. She could never remember a time when it did not serve as a distraction and an escape. Art was also how she could afford to go to the prestigious university. A full scholarship was her way in. She could not credit herself though, her grandmother had applied for her. Kielyn never believed she was good enough but her Nana always claimed she would someday rival the great masters.

  Kielyn smiled as memories of the elderly woman’s loving smile came to her mind. She had passed away a year ago today and was buried beside Kielyn’s parents in Lafayette cemetery. Every week, after dark, she would sneak in through a gap in the fence and bring flowers to their tombs. Kielyn had no memory of her parents unfortunately. Her grandmother, her father’s mother, had taken her in after they died in a car wreck. Kielyn and her Nana managed to squeak by with just enough money to live a peaceful life on a small farm just outside of New Orleans. God she missed her.

  Distracted by thought Kielyn turned absentmindedly down a tree lined path and ran into something hard. She heard herself yelp and leapt backwards. Three large fraternity boys stared down at her. “Well, well, what do we have here?” One of them raked her over with his wild eyes.

  “Sorry.” Kielyn sidestepped in an attempt to pass but was instantly blocked by the second of the three giants.

  “Hey, I know you.” He gave a crooked smile. “You’re the artsy chick my buddy here wants to get drunk and take advantage of.” He nudged his friend. “That’s her right Chuck?”

  Kielyn felt her knees began to shake as she took a cautious step back. “I am flattered but you see I don’t drink…” The third one moved around her so she was circled. “I really must be getting back. My roommate…”

  “Is the campus slut a
nd probably sleeping off what will be a nasty hangover.” The one named Chuck cut her off. “You see, she sucked Billy’s dick for the better part of a half hour. She must have worn her mouth and knees out cause she left soon after.” He laughed and it sounded deranged and heavy, just like the little boy that used to live next door to Kielyn when she was eight. He would laugh the same way when he pulled the wings off butterflies. Kielyn felt her stomach flip. He stepped forward. “Now, you’re a good girl aren’t you? You would never willingly suck my cock would you?”

  Kielyn tried to step back again, but her back met up with the third guy’s chest. She felt panic welling up in her chest. “I can see why you like her.” The frat boy behind her chimed in before squeezing her ass in his hands. Kielyn jumped forward only to be met with laughter from the other two, Chuck was not laughing, he was staring.

  “Please let me pass.” Her voice was dry, the words were barely a whisper, a plea.

  Chuck sneered. “Sure thing.” He stepped to the side.

  “Thank you.” Kielyn started to pass but his hand darted out and grabbed her arm, yanking her back to face him, a sick smile painted on his face.