Chapter 26
CHAPTER
Coldness lingered inside me, like frostbite, clinging to my bones, refusing to let my flames burn past them.
I trembled, my teeth chattering.
The cold, the terrible cold that never disappeared, it stole my ability to move. I needed warmth, I longed for my people, my squad, my friends.
Malakai.
My eyes flew open and I shivered. The breath I let go turned into visible mist. Slowly, I looked around, burgundy silk embracing me.
A bed? Where was I?
My fingers twitched, trying to fight the cold holding them, it hurt. It even hurt to breathe.
The room was dim, with what I guessed was a flickering torch right outside of view.
Panic rose and I gave into it, letting the emotion fill me in the hopes of it feeding my flames. The embers sparked inside, hissing and pushing but they never reached the surface. At least it was enough to warm my body slightly.
I wiggled my fingers slowly, before pushing myself up. The air seemed to threaten me, but I did my best to ignore its chill.
My eyes widened at the sight of the interior; I had never seen anything like it before.
Dark, finely carved wood decorated the walls, with bookshelves and wardrobes lining one side of the room.
There was a regal set of furniture clothed in bright red in the middle of the room, a sitting area.
On the other wall a massive gold framed painting of Cindara.
I squinted my eyes, focusing. The painting even had details of small creeks and insignificant villages I hadn’t seen marked on other maps.
Well, unless my eyes were playing tricks on me in the poor lighting.
What in the hells was this place?
At the opposite side of the room, I saw a large black door, with a golden knob. It was closed of course, yet it was the only way out that I could see.
I scooted closer to the edge of the bed, noticing that the floor was black, just like the ceiling. No wonder there was such a looming darkness in here.
Where were the windows?
None.
Shit.
Wait… no, the ceiling was the window. I realised in the black darkness above me that there were faint shimmering lights. It was still night?
I heard something moving outside the door and I tensed. Quickly, I began tapping my sheath for… where the heck were my daggers!?
I looked down and realised that I had not a single weapon on my belt.
They had taken both daggers, my sword, and my gun.
My leather outfit had never felt this bare before.
I waited, listening for more sounds. It was quiet once more and I proceeded silently, trying to find anything to use as a weapon.
When I glanced up, I saw dresses hanging on the closest wall. A wine-red slip dress with black lace, it looked soft and smooth. Next to it was a black dress with see-through arm pieces, the bust made like a corset.
No matter how pretty they looked, I missed my weapons. Instead of admiring the dresses, I raised my hand, focusing everything I had.
“Come on,” I whispered, annoyed. “Give me a little spark.” My hand heated for sure, but rather from the embarrassment of talking to it than the magic.
Why was it being suppressed?
Was something wrong with me?
My chest heaved, emotions swirling wild inside of me and yet the place wasn’t devoured by my flames.
The doorknob turned—someone was coming, but there was no time to hide or go for the element of surprise. I simply placed myself in front of the bed and saw two figures entering the room.
A man and a woman.
The man had horns curving up from his head, his eyes a vivid burning yellow. His figure was humanoid, yet his face looked… like a goat? I had to press my lips into a thin line to not burst into laughter.
As our eyes met he grinned, his brown hair tied back in a strange ornament.
My eyes darted to the woman, petite and calm, the pure opposite of the aura the man carried. Her hair was ebony, her eyes a mixture of brown and red. I had never seen a beauty like her before, I almost felt like a joke in my leathers now.
The man was clearly not human but the woman looked… normal. Like Malakai.
“You’re awake.” Her voice was flat, neither joy nor hatred in it as she stared at me.
“Where am I?” I shot back.
The man huffed as he began strolling towards me, I curled my hand into a fist, my entire body tensing.
He grinned, showing off his jagged teeth, his hand rising, like he prepared to grab hold of my hair. I shifted and he missed, then I shoved my elbow into his side before connecting my fist with his jaw.
The sound of the hit echoed in the room, but he only took one step back by my assault. His eyes flared, and smoke followed his breath as he exhaled.
The man lunged again, this time managing to grab my hair tightly and tugged me towards him.
I hissed and kicked for all it was worth, while he dragged me towards the woman who had made herself comfortable in the sitting area.
Right as he intended to shove me onto one of the couches, he stopped, taking a big whiff off me.
“Mmm, her flames smell good,” he sneered, his voice dragging out the ‘e’s’ and ‘o’s’ far too long. “Maybe I’ll take one little bite?”
“The King wouldn’t be happy if he finds bite marks on her,” the woman said, her voice still blank as a paper.
The man grunted. “Maybe I’ll just bite somewhere he won’t see?”
I clenched my teeth, spinning around as I kneed him full force between his legs. He coughed and faltered for a moment, before growling loudly and tightening his grip on me. “That’s it, I’m eating her.”
My eyes widened in panic as I saw his teeth coming at me, I struggled hard but I was locked in place.
All of a sudden, he stopped mere inches from me. I looked confused at him, as I saw his whole body trembling. His hand let me go and I stepped back, watching his arms and legs twitch and break as they were forced to bend in ways they weren’t meant to bend.
I held my breath watching the sickening display.
The man screamed out in pain before finally collapsing on the floor.
“I thought I made myself clear,” another voice entered the room, but I saw no source. “No one is to touch the fire mage.”
I shivered as I turned back to the man on the floor, who was panting in agony.
The woman sighed low. “I apologize on his behalf, why don’t you sit?”
I glanced back and forth, confused, horrified. But eventually I slid down on the couch, facing the woman.
“And you are?” I asked cautiously.
“I’m Zinlia, I’ll be at your side during your stay here,” she said placing her hands neatly in her lap.
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Where exactly am I?”
She met my eyes, stroking her raven black dress smoothing out non-existent wrinkles. “You’re in Nighthold, the King’s castle to be more exact.”
“You mean the Demon King?” I said through my teeth.
Her blank eyes stared at me. Emotionless was the most fitting word for her. “He is our King, no matter his lineage.”
I chuckled dryly. “Oh right… So does this King kidnap everyone who opposes him?”
The man on the floor began cracking his bones back in place, slowly rising to his full height beside me again. I merely looked him up and down before returning my attention to Zinlia.
“You’re special,” Zinlia said simply. “He wants you to be comfortable here.”
“What about my friends?” I snapped, curling my hands into fists in my lap. “If he hurts them…”
“You’re in no position to threaten the King,” the man scoffed, leering at me. “If they serve him no purpose, he surely slaughtered them all.”
My breath hitched and I felt my blood beginning to boil. “If he has so much as touched a strand on their heads—”
“What? You’ll claw him with your puny human hands?” the man chuckled.
“Virraan, stop it,” Zinlia’s eyes slid to the goat-man, warning him. “She’s the King’s guest.”
“She’s still a filthy human; livestock is all they’re good for.” His eyes gleamed at me. “I hope he didn’t kill your people… Perhaps he brought them here, too, so I can eat them in front of you.”
Flames tore through my skin, the heat almost hurt me when I exploded. They climbed wildly, craving air, desiring flesh to burn, choked for too long. My fire cascaded towards the demon-man and swallowed him whole.
“Is that all you got?” He glared at me, his hands beginning to pat the fires on his clothes to smother them out.
I exhaled slowly and it was as if I’d breathed energy into my flames. They formed a cage around him, slowly shrinking, pressing against his skin, the flames carving like knives.
“Stop it,” he hissed, panic in his voice now.
A wicked smile spread on my lips. “I don’t feel like it.” The flames devoured him, tearing through him as his screams began echoing in the room. I watched every flicker, every sizzling burst claiming more of his body before he eventually became a pile of burnt flesh on the floor.
Slowly, my flames retreated, smoke rising from what was left of the man. My skin was smoldering, relief mixing with an unknown feeling.
I turned to the woman who simply sipped a cup of tea I hadn’t even noticed her having.
Was she going to attack me next?
“I’m a bit relieved, I must confess,” she said finally. “He was a pain to work with, and you don’t seem all that boring after all.”
I opened my mouth but found no words.
She was praising me, for killing him? Zinlia sipped her tea again, gracefully, not even reacting to the awful smell of burnt flesh.
“You—” I stammered. “You’re not mad or scared? What if I burn you next?”
“Oh, darling, let’s not?” she waved her hand like she was chasing off a fly. “Virraan’s life was forfeit the moment he tried crossing the King’s orders of not touching you. I doubt my Lord will mourn him much, if at all.”
I must’ve gone mad. Nothing made sense here and I had no information about why I had been taken. My eyes locked on her as I saw her stiffen, eyes sliding slightly backwards as if watching something behind her.
There was nothing.
Her focus turned back to me, eyes sharper than before as she placed her cup on the small table.
“He wants to meet you now,” she instructed.
“I won’t be summoned like a dog,” I said, trying to keep my voice cool as I crossed my legs and leaned back on the couch.
A faint smile spread on Zinlia’s lips. It looked oddly warm and kind, which made me shiver even more, because I knew it was probably the opposite.
“I admire your stubbornness, but I’m afraid it matters not,” she continued. “You will meet with him.”
Zinlia rose to her feet, hands clutched elegantly in front of her as she looked at me, waiting.
“And if I refuse?” I arched a brow at her.
She gave the remains of Virraan a bored glance. “Well, you want to protect your friends, right?”
I clenched my teeth. “Are you threatening them?”
“Simply giving you advice,” she corrected and looked at me again. “I’m afraid our King is not of the patient kind.”
I sighed heavily, letting the moment drag out for a breath longer before I rose. “Fine. Take me to the Demon King.”