Forged of Fire Page 8

  Stefen held out his glass as the clicking footsteps of a servant approached. “Do you know you are the one Ash or is that stubborn streak so wide it allows you to lie to yourself?”

  “What do you mean?” Kizer bristled. It was the first emotion Stefen had seen out of the young man.

  “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news kid but Ash here is the one for Kielyn.” Stefen lifted the newly filled crystal to his lips. “Or rather, she is the one for him."

  “I thought she was the chosen one?” Kizer looked from Skyler to Bane. “That it just had to be a strong Water or Fire house to unite the bloodline.”

  Both Bane and his mate looked genuinely confused. “You are saying it is not Kielyn that is the chosen one but rather, a Water or Fire Lord?” Bane asked.

  “That was how the Oracle explained it.” Stefen explained. “Kielyn’s uniqueness is a gift to be joined together with the chosen one’s original gift. Both parties are needed obviously to make this happen. However there is no telling what would happen if Kielyn did not end up with the right mate. Pythia said that the destined male’s bloodline was the only one that could create a life that would one day rule supreme. She did not say what powers could be gained if the male was anyone other than the chosen one.”

  “Why did you not state this last night?” Ash asked.

  Stefen spread out his hands. “I was waiting to see which one of you it was.”

  “What makes you think it is Ashdon?” Kizer bit out. “If you are so knowledgeable, why did you not know right away?”

  “Really?” Stefen looked at each set of eyes in the room before continuing. “If you all really look at your personal reactions and feelings when Kielyn first arrived, then, fast forward up to here and now, can you not answer that question yourselves?” When no one volunteered to answer Stefen turned to Kizer. “When you first spoke with Kielyn, what did you feel?”

  “I. Well, the first thing I thought…”

  Stefen cut the Water-bender off. “Not thought. What did you feel?”

  “I felt she pretty and kind.” Kizer answered.

  Stefen pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s an observation.” He turned to Bane. “Care to help your pupil out?”

  “I felt sorry for her.” The older man began. “I felt a paternal sort of protection for her. Similar to the way I felt when Kizer came to me. I wanted to help her and guide her.”

  Stefen looked at Skyler. “Forgive this next question in advance.” She nodded and he focused back on Bane. “So, you felt no sexual or spiritual connection to her?”

  “Not in the least.” Bane answered honestly. “The only connection I felt was due to the Water-bending connection.”

  Stefen looked back over to Kizer. “Care to go again?”

  “I don’t see why this matters. Connections take time to form. It’s not like one can simply…” The younger man protested.

  “Kizer.” Bane stopped him. “Please just indulge us.”

  “If you’re wanting me to say I am sexually attracted to her the answer is an easy yes.” Kizer pushed back, annoyed in his seat. “She is a pretty woman. I am a man. So yea, I would do her.”

  Ash’s glass shattered in his hand. All eyes snapped to him. “It started to slip.” He said as a servant rushed to clean up the spill and offer a towel for his hand.

  Stefen could not help but grin which earned him a scowl from the Ash “If we are being honest you must play too Ash.”

  “Not before you.” Ash challenged back. “Kielyn has a fondness for you. Who is not to say she does not belong with an Angel? You are on the water side of things after all.”

  “Well, the Oracle for one. She was very clear on it needing to be a bender.” Stefen could practically see smoke rising off the immortal’s shoulders. “And, just like Kizer here, I find her desirable but I don’t feel an overwhelming need to make her mine.” He eyed the blood quickly evaporating on Ash’s hand. “I don’t feel the need to kill when another man mentions wanting to fuck her.”

  Ash’s eyes narrowed. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”

  “Then by all means put them there yourself?” Stefen said. “What did you feel the moment you laid eyes on Kielyn?”

  Ash pushed from his chair and walked angrily towards the door. A Gilcolm opened it for him. “Ash wait!” Marsala called as she rose from her chair.

  The Fire Lord paused in the doorway, his spine straight as an arrow. “I felt like I wanted to recreate time, go back and decapitate the fuckers that tried to rape her.” He turned back to face them, the same resolve radiating from his eyes as when he proclaimed that Kielyn would be leaving with Alaric over his dead body. A silence filled the room’s space. “I felt like she belonged to me!” He growled, his eyes aglow, a thin flame fanned to life across the backs of his hands and licked at his knuckles as he stared pointedly at Kizer. “If any other man ever tried to touch her I would rip his limbs off. One. By. One…”

  ****

  Earthy, like rotten bark and worms mixed with sweet moss and clover. The rich soil screams at me from its beautiful destruction. With each fall of my bare feet, more of its lush aroma reveals itself to my intrusion. Its glorious rape bleeding into the night’s embrace like a virginal flower, open, ripe and honest. It’s intoxicating smell wafts up through the live oaks branches, dancing around the great trees’ roots and flooding the witching hour with magic. My senses grow in awareness and pleasure as the black envelopes me entirely, its thickening fog lacing around my legs as the cool mist lays a delicate sheen atop my skin. Come home…

  Kielyn hurried down the long intertwining maze of underground halls and tried to shake off the dream. The words still clung to her. She had been in that forest in her dream but the words that described it in whispering sensual tones were not her own. It was as if she were sharing the visions with another. She shivered. It was as if someone was trying to get in her mind and control her thoughts.

  Kielyn pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she walked. Perhaps it had been brought on by falling asleep reading the leather bound bible. She was only a fraction of a way into its pages and she was utterly spellbound by its contents. All the traditional stories were in there, in one fashion or another. But, it was the order of events and the addition of beings such as Vampires, humans with the ability to bend the elements, Dragons and other supernatural creatures that was so vastly different than what she had read growing up. Stefen was right, given the new information, nothing felt like an abstract concept to her anymore. The stories housed in the pages of the book were right on par with everything she had been witness to over the past forty-eight hours.

  It all seemed to make sense, but now she had even more questions regarding her own species. Had the Council at Nicaea and Carthage, the men that dictated the New Testament, not known of the other stories, or had they had chosen to leave them out? Kielyn could only imagine that utter chaos would have erupted if the bible she was currently reading had been presented to the masses back in the day. But surely, surely humans had an idea that others walked among them. Look at the pagan holiday of Halloween she thought. Angels were a commonly accepted idea, along with Demons. Why not the others? A grain of salt in every tale, her grandmother would say. Perhaps Angels and Demons were accepted because they were safely housed in a faraway places called Heaven and Hell. It would be a totally different story if humans knew they were also within arm’s reach. Regardless, there was more to it, that was for sure, and Kielyn could not wait to uncover every last detail.

  Her thoughts were interpreted when she entered the chosen meeting place of the library and spotted Stefen kicked back on an oversized leather sofa. He gave her a boyish grin and rose. “Are you ready?” He asked as he walked to meet her.

  “As ready as I will ever be.” She half chuckled.

  “This way.” Stefen led her towards the hall from which she had just come. “He is not that scary is he?”

  “I have never met a more intimidating person.” They took another hall to
the right. “I guess it’s all in my head.” She mentally chastised herself for feeling the way she did.

  “It’s not.” They paused to allow a Gilcolm to open a large door for them. “All in your head that is.” Stefen continued as they ascended the steps. “He is naturally intimidating. Some of it comes from the era he was raised in and the family he was born into.” Stefen paused, causing Kielyn to halt also. He looked at her. “Most of it comes from the spirit that he was born with and what he has had to endure to be the King he is today.”

  He proceeded up the stairway and Kielyn was forced to take the steps two at a time to catch up to him again. “By endure do you mean what Dante did to him and his family?”

  “That, and I am sure much more over the centuries.” Stefen pushed a button at the top of the stairs. “Think about all the joys and heartaches you have had in your twenty one years.” The door opened and Kielyn had to shield her eyes from the blinding natural light. She slowly opened them when the burning began to cease, giving her retinas time to acclimate. “Now multiply those experiences by hundreds of years.” Stefen concluded as he stepped into the foyer of the main house.

  Kielyn followed him as her eyes raked in the beauty around her. The downstairs quarters they had come from were lavish in its more modern, sleek lines and classy details but the main house was something out of a fairy tale. The old Victorian house had to be sporting 12’ foot ceilings with ornately carved crown molding. Every inch of every room that Kielyn passed was decorated as if from a magazine. The artwork was…Oh My God! Kielyn froze. Was that a Monet? Her feet carried her on their own accord towards the painting.

  “The owner has good taste.” Ash’s silky voice feathered through the air.

  Kielyn could not pry her eyes from the canvas. “I have never seen one this close.”

  “The house is a collector’s dream.” Stefen commented. “Perhaps Ash can show you the rest after your training is done later today.”

  The subtle reminder brought her head up. “Yes, sorry. Art is a passion of mine.” She smiled, turning toward the two royal supernaturals. Both of them stared at her from where they stood, looking as if the very fiber of their beings had been drafted in elegance and refinery for the finer things in life. They were both equally as exquisite as the very art that adorned the walls of this home. Feeling suddenly under educated, Kielyn cast her eyes back one last time to the Monet. “Perhaps you should blindfold me until we reach the outside.”

  Stefen laughed but Ash only studied her in a fashion that made her knees grow weak. How did he do that? Just a look and she was demolished. Utterly captivated by him and lost in those piercing blue eyes. “The idea has its merits.” He said smoothly.

  Stefen cleared his throat. “Proceeding on.” He turned.

  Kielyn and Ash followed him on down the impressive hall and through the double French doors that led to the most stunning grounds Kielyn had ever seen at a personal residence. The lawn was perfectly manicured and outlined with a high hedge row that served as a visual barrier. Various grassy paths wove around miniature gardens comprised of large palms, ferns, gardenias, hibiscus and other delicate foliage. Two live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss flanked an impressive stone water fountain. Just behind the water feature was an arched lattice tunnel covered with purple grapes and ivy leading away from the main yard.

  Just when Kielyn was about to inquire as to where it led, Ash spoke. “There is a clearing beside the river just through the archway. We will begin our practice there.” He turned to Stefen. “If you don’t mind I would like to be alone with Kielyn when we begin.” Stefen opened his mouth on what looked to be a protest but Ash cut him off. “I need her full concentration so I can best assess her strength.”

  Stefen nodded after what seemed a rather drawn out pause. “I will be right here. Waiting.”

  “Thank you.” Ash extended his arm, just as he had done last night. Kielyn looped hers over the crook of his forearm. It was a formal escorting, one Kielyn knew was bred into his bones but something about the way he held his arm perfectly straight to support hers, leading her in the direction of his choosing, felt sexy as hell. She had never thought herself a delicate woman that needed caring for but walking beside this man made her feel both respected and protected, feminine. Something about the simple gesture of accepting his control, giving complete trust in his guidance made the apex of her thighs ache. The feeling of his firm muscles beneath her arm served to both soothe and empower her at his side.

  Kielyn ventured a side glance up when they walked beneath the canopy of leaves. The sun broke through with every step alighting different parts of his flawless complexion. His jaw, brow line, bridge of his nose, his eyes…A knowing glint lit in the icy blue orbs. Busted! Kielyn quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed in her blatant voyeurism. A low chuckle vibrated from beside her. “Does the sun not affect you at all?” She tried to change the subject.

  “You seemed to be making a good study of my form.” A slow grin tugged at the edge of his lips. “You tell me Kielyn. And please, don’t leave out a single detail.” The smile spread to his wicked eyes.

  ****

  She looked away but her telltale signature blush did not lie. It swept across the top of her flesh in a most seductive fashion. Ash momentarily found himself envious of its caress. “We have all day so take as long as you need.” He teased.

  “I was only noting that your skin does not seem to be affected by the sun. Your complexion is darker than everyone else but Marcus. Does the ability to walk in the sun give you that tan?” Kielyn asked.

  Ash felt himself smile again. Clever girl. “No. The UV protection I create does not allow the sun to touch my skin.” They stepped out of the archway’s canopy and into the clearing. “Here feel.” Ash took her hand and raised it to his cheek. “Not a hint of warmth is there?”

  “Not at all.” Her hand stayed there. “But you’re not cold either. Another Vampire myth?”

  Ash nodded. “My core temperature is lower than yours but no, I am not made of ice.” He chuckled. “My skin tone is the same as when I was turned. My complexion is naturally a dark olive.” He eyed the perfect splattering of tiny freckles adorning the top of her nose. “Just likes those freckles would not fade from you if you were turned.” The thought slammed into his mind like a sledge hammer. She would have to be turned! No human could bare the birth of a Vampire child and live. Same as his mother, as strong as she was, could not live through the birth of Ash’s half-sister. Some beings could cross breed but Vampires could not. Not without killing the mother of the baby during childbirth. Ash felt suddenly sick to his stomach. He had not even considered Kielyn being forced to turn in order to live.

  “Ash?” Kielyn’s concerned tone pulled him from the thought. “Everything ok?”

  “Yes. I just remembered something I wanted to test you on.” He forced a half smile. “Shall we begin?” She nodded and followed him to the center of the clearing where a fire pit was set up. “Have a seat.” He motioned her to a stone bench and she did as bid. “I would like you to try and light the logs on fire.”

  Kielyn looked up at him from where he remained standing. “Are you not going to show me how?”

  “Not completely. I want you to try and figure it out on your own first.”

  “But Walter and Kizer gave me strict instruction before they let me begin.” She worriedly bit her bottom lip. “What if I cause an accident?”

  “You can’t hurt anything unless you are frightened and I intend to keep that emotion away from you today, dear.” Ash took a seat across from her on the opposite bench. “Water and fire are very different. While both can be deadly, fire is harder to control for the bender. It cannot be contained like water so it’s important that the bender let the fire guide their education, not the other way around. The gift to bend fire is very personal, very owner specific. I can’t show you how I would do it because I am not you. Each Fire-bender must come to know fire on their own terms and understanding. All I can
do is help you learn to strengthen and direct it when you do discover its power within you.”

  “Oh.” She looked at the wood piling. “But, I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Continue to focus on the logs.” Ash said. “Look closely at their specific patterns. There is oak, pine and cedar in that pile. Each has their own unique vascular systems. Follow those lines until you see a way in,” he instructed. “Do you see a splinter in the bark, a deep crevice, perhaps a knotted hole?”

  Her eyes searched the wood. “Yes, I see a deep ridge in one.”

  “Good! For now focus just on that one ridge and think about what it would be like to be able to see the inside of the piece of wood. Let your mind’s eye paint the trail.” She closed her eyes. “Don’t!” She opened them quickly. “You have to find the path with your eyes engaged.”