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Chapter 23: Attack By Fire

Flamenca was livid to have found herself in the medical wing of the Fire Palace. It wasn’t so much the thought of her receiving medical treatment that bothered her (although, that did make her seethe), but why she was there.

Keahi.

That little bastard!

The gall of her dearest cousin. Not only had he questioned her decision, stated that he was more in tune with the people of this island, but he challenged her to a battle in front of the Fire Elders and the Fire Council.

And he had won.

Could you believe it? He had actually won!

He cheated somehow. He must have. There was no other explanation to be had. She would have no other. He cheated. And that was final.

And to add insult to minor, insignificant injury, the Fire Council revoke her proposition, without her approval! How dare they actually side with that bastard? Why would they bother, he was just going to die one day.

Not soon enough in her opinion.

Pacing the floor of her bed chamber, Flamenca clenched her bandaged hands into fists by her sides. She replayed the event over and over again in her head, and it only made her angrier. Her usually beautiful and flawless face was creased into a deep and hateful frown, her stunning golden eyes hardened into an intense and frightening glare.

There was only one thing on her mind – Revenge.

He wasn’t going to get away with what he had done. She was going to make him pay severely for humiliating her in front of the council, for questioning her and for suggesting that he was more worthy of leading the people than she was.

Flamenca had to find a way to get rid of him. He was becoming a thorn in her side, one that the Fire Kingdom could not afford. She was the Fire Princess, she was in charge here!

“You mustn’t let this defeat unravel you, my Princess.”

Spinning around to the man who dared to speak to her while she was in such a dangerous mood, Flamenca glared dangerously, her eyes narrow and fierce. “Are you saying that I lost?!” she hissed at him.

She didn’t lose. That Peace-Keeper cheated!

“Not at all,” Elder Aodh, a baldly headed man in a black robe, his arms folded into the sleeves and he bowed in respect. “The Peace-Keeper provoked you, my Princess. He is to blame.”

Flame snorted. “Of course he is.”

Elder Aodh had tried to protest the reversal of her order, but he had been outnumbered. He, too, believed that Flamenca was the best thing to have happened to this island. Although the man was nothing to look at, hardly handsome and especially not someone who should be seen in Flamenca’s far too beautiful presence, but he was one of her trusted and loyal advisors. He did everything he was ordered to do, and he did it well.

Unlike some people.

“I’ll make him pay,” Flamenca muttered as she went back to her pacing. “I’ll just have to battle him again. That’ll show him who the real ruler of this pathetic island is.”

Flamenca suddenly winced when a sharp pain shot from her wrist, all the way up her arm. She looked down at her bandaged hand, staring at it for a moment before hastily ripping it off. There, on the back of her hand was a thick and hideous burn, red and swollen, blistering and skin peeling. It was a hideous mark on her otherwise flawless skin.

Flamenca felt her eyes widen. “A burn?” she whispered, clearly surprised and shocked by how truly ugly it was.

“I’m afraid no amount of ointment is able to heal that, Princess,” Elder Aodh said, regret in his voice.

Flamenca could do nothing but stare at the burn. It disgusted her. How could such a thing happen to her? She was the Fire Princess! How could she sustain such a burn, such an injury? She had commanded the flames her whole life, they did her bidding? How could they possibly burn her? Why?

There was only one explanation.

“The fire has turned on me?” Flamenca muttered.

“Lady Flamenca?” Elder Aodh questioned, as if he didn’t quite hear her.

Her shock and disbelief soon turned to hate and anger. If the flames had indeed turned on her, she knew who was responsible. That obnoxious, bratty bastard.

“This has to be that Peace Keeper’s doing,” Flamenca said through clenched teeth, her trembling with suppressed rage.

Elder Aodh wrinkled his brow. “Why would he-?”

“Because he’s jealous of me, you fool!” Flamenca snapped at him. It should have been obvious. Keahi was jealous that she was the supreme ruler who would one day rule entirely over Fire Island with the Fire God himself as her husband. And he was to die to ensure that that happened.

Obviously, the bastard was jealous and didn’t want her to fulfil her destiny. So much so that he was trying to turn everyone against her, while he appeared the good and wholesome Priest.

“How dare he turn the flames and the Fire God against me like this?” Flamenca seethed as she quickly wrapped her blistered hand, clenching it tightly and ignoring the pain after doing so. “I’ll show him true power.”

Keahi will forever regret the day he crossed her. She was going to ensure that he fulfil his role in life, so she could carry on with hers. It was the way things were meant to be. How dare he think otherwise?

“Come,” Flamenca suddenly commanded to Elder Aodh, grabbing her sash as she headed for the door. “We’re going to train in secret.”

Ever dutiful, Elder Aodh bowed lowly, Flamenca missing the small smirk on his lips. “Yes, Lady Flamenca,” he said as he followed her out.

Sneaking out of the castle was easy for a skilled warrior and princess like Flamenca, so within a matter of minutes, she was standing in the middle of her personal training field. Not that she had to use it much. She was a natural Fire Dancer, naturally skilled at wielding Fire Magic. No one could match her.

Without cheating, anyway.

The training field was located near a tiny village, the people living in small grass huts as they lived near the ocean edge. It was a village that harvested oysters from the sharp rocks in the shallow waters. They were not a threat to someone like her. Although, it could be utterly annoying when a few curious and nosy villagers try to watch her practice.

She soon got rid of them, though.

“This should be enough,” Flamenca stated as she lifted her sash around her shoulders.

“Yes, my lady,” Elder Aodh said, a few steps behind her, where he belonged. “What are you planning to do?”

Flamenca rolled her eyes at his inane question. “I’ll show that useless cousin of mine just who is in charge here. How dare he disrespect me?”

“How indeed,” Elder Aodh agreed before he bowed again. “I’ll be here to assist you all the way, my Princess.”

“Shut up, fool!” Flamenca simply snapped. She was trying to train here, she didn’t need him interrupting her all the time. She was in a bad enough mood as it was, she didn’t need him making things worse.

Closing her eyes, Flamenca wasted no time in contacting her Fire Beast. Calling upon her own inner flames was easy for her. Especially when the flames were fed by her anger and hatred.

Adar Askook was as angry as she was. And rightly so. Keahi’s Fire Hawk humiliated her as well. She was thirsty for revenge, for retribution. She wanted it. She needed it. She demanded it.

“He will pay, Adar Askook,” Flamenca promised with a sneer. “You will destroy that Fire Hawk of his. He will understand the true meaning of fear.”

She will show the Fire Council and the people on this island who the grandest ruler was. She will prove to them that she had the Fire God’s favour. She commanded respect. They were to respect and fear her. She was queen. She was the ruler.

She was their everything.

“Power, strength, intimidation, anger, hatred; that’s what fire is,” Flamenca stated firmly, clearly as the flames that circled her feet flared up fiercely, taking upon a life of their own. “Respect it or get burnt, that’s all that there is to it. I am the ruler of this island; everyone must bow down to me.”

Yes, Adar Askook hissed into her mind. This is true power. They fear power, so they fear you. Let them. Fear is power. You are power.

“I know,” Flamenca replied as she opened her eyes, once clear and golden, were now red with fiery rage. The flames around her were now dark, as black as the night, but powerful. Oh, were they powerful.

“M-my Lady,” Elder Aodh stuttered, his breath taken away by her new level of power. “That’s-!”

“This is true power,” Flamenca said as she lifted the sash from her shoulders, moving her lithe and sexy body into a fighting position, the flames licking around her legs and thighs. “I will show everyone who earns the God’s favour! Fear the power of Dark Fire!”

The training field was completely overwhelmed and covered by her single attack. The darkened flames licked at every corner, devouring everything in its path. Nothing was spared. Nothing should be spared unless she deemed it so. No more holding back. This power was what she needed, what she deserved.

Elder Aodh watched the flames in awe before a smirk appeared on his lips. He then clapped his princess’s wonderful display of power. “Wonderful as always, my princess. You are the supreme ruler of the island.”

“Yes,” Flamenca chuckled as she wrapped her sash around herself again. She then abruptly turned her back on the still smouldering field, caring little for it. “Now, let us leave.”

Elder Aodh moved to follow her, but it indicated to the village in the distance, one that was now burning. “The huts?”

“Let them burn,” Flamenca replied flippantly, truly unconcerned for them. “It’ll show the people of this island not to defy me.”

“Yes, my Princess.”

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The Library of the Fire Temple was impressively large, filled with thick, leather covered books that were meticulously placed on shelves that were over ten feet in height. As Keahi wandered through the aisles, he felt intimidated.

If he was to research information on the Fire Dragon, it was going to take some time. Days, even. Prehaps he should have asked Bharath for help. But, then again, as the Head Fire Priest, Bharath was busy enough. Keahi didn’t want to burden him anymore than he already has.

Asking Brendis was out of the question. Brendis didn’t like sitting still for very long and would soon become agitated with going through all these books. He preferred action than sitting down and researching.

And Masou? He was probably as bad as Brendis.

Keahi had to smile softly to himself when he thought about Masou, that fluttering sensation in his stomach returning.

“There you are.”

Ah, thinking of the man. Here he was now.

“What are you doing inside on such a nice day?” Masou asked him the very second he approached him, his hands on his hips in a rather disapproving manner. But he soon smiled cheerfully at him. “Let’s go for a walk!”

“I’m just researching something,” Keahi replied to his question.

Masou frowned slightly and tilted his head to the side in question. “Are these books going to be leaving any time soon?”

Keahi blinked at him. “What?”

“Are they going to disappear?” Masou asked as he waved idly at the rows of books with his hand.

“Of course not,” Keahi replied quickly. “They have been here for countless decades.”

“Then they’ll still be here when you return,” Masou stated firmly. And, well, he kinda had a point. It wasn’t like they were going to disappear on him if he left his research for one more day. And it was a rather nice day outside.

But he really wanted to know more about the Fire Dragon.

“Let’s go,” Masou said as he grabbed Keahi’s hand within his, interlocking their fingers together before all but dragging him out of the library. “I’m not taking no for an answer!”

Once again, Keahi found himself stumbling after the taller man. This was becoming a rather reoccurring theme for them, it seemed. None of the other Fire Priests even looked in their direction anymore.

“W-wait a minute!” he spluttered.

“Listen,” Masou said suddenly, his voice taking on a serious edge to it. “Words do not teach.”

“Huh?” Keahi muttered, after he managed to find his feet, of course.

“It is life experience that bring you knowledge,” Masou carried on to say, having stopped in his movements to turn to face him, never letting go of his hand. “Remember that.”

Keahi found himself blinking at the man again. “Ah, ok,” he finally said, the words Masou had just spoken to him starting to sink in.

The wise seriousness of Masou’s posture was soon replaced with his usually carefree expression. He smiled at Keahi before he started dragging him away again. They didn’t get far, however, when a few steps later, they nearly collided with Bharath when he stepped out from one of the offices, a few scrolls in his arms.

“Ah, Master Keahi, Mister, er, I mean, Masou,” Bharath greeted politely, his eyes fleetingly looking upon their joined hands (making Keahi blush in the process) before turning his gaze back towards them. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m stealing for a few hours, ok?” Masou said as he gave Bharaht a playful smile. “It’s too stuffy in here. He needs some fresh air.”

“Ah, is that so?” Bharath simply nodded, still smiling gently. “You better hurry or Brendis will catch you.”

Masou laughed. “He’ll never catch me,” he stated. “But I’ll catch you later.”

“Have fun, you two,” Bharath said, smiling reassuringly when he caught Keahi’s gaze. He then shifted the scrolls under his arms and made his leave.

And not long after that, Keahi found himself outside in the warm rays of the sun. Masou was still holding his hand as he led him along. He didn’t say where they were going and Keahi didn’t ask. He simply let the man pull him along.

“Isn’t it nice to simply be once in a while?” Masou asked him as they wandered, seemingly no destination in mind.

Keahi had to agree. It was kinda nice doing, well, nothing. To simply walk around Fire Island, taking in the beautiful landscape and sounds of nature was soothing. Yes, it was nice.

Too nice, perhaps? A small voice in the back of his head was reminding him that he was the Peace-Keeper, that he was pushing his luck as it was. But that voice was drowned out by the gentle and soothing voice of Nootau Chatan.

You are a living being, living a life that you so wished. No one has the right to tell you how to live, how to feel. They are not you, you are not them.

Was all of this really ok? Holding hands with a man he kissed? He wasn’t pushing his luck? Not even a little?

Why do you not see for yourself? Nootau Chatan suggested in a light tone of amusement. What better way to learn the truth than to discovery it for yourself?

Keahi bit his lip. A little experiment to see if he was pushing his luck wouldn’t hurt, right?

Tugging on Masou’s hand, Keahi made him come to a stop. Masou turned to him, a look of curiosity on his face. Drawing a deep breath to calm his nerves, Keahi placed his hand on Masou’s chest, leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. Masou was momentarily stunned but before he could respond, Keahi pulled back, a light blush on his cheeks.

Masou blinked, and then smiled. “Worried that last night was just a one off thing, hm?”

The blush on Keahi’s cheeks darkened considerably. It was still unnerving how Masou seemed to read him so well. “Just a little.”

“Don’t be,” Masou said as he pulled Keahi into his arms. “I’m sure the Fire God wishes for you to be happy. And you’re happy now, right?”

Happy? Yes, Keahi was happy being with Masou like this. He didn’t realise how much so until Masou pointed it out.

“Yeah, I’m happy,” Keahi said as he rested his head on Masou’s shoulder, allowing himself a brief moment to simply enjoy this newfound peace.

“Hey,” Masou suddenly said with a sense of concern in his voice when he pulled away from Keahi, his head turned toward the ocean. “Is that smoke?”

Keahi snapped his head up and looked where Masou was looking. He felt his eyes widen when he recognised where they were on the island. “It’s coming from the village,” he said as he pushed away from Masou, his features creased with worry.

“That’s not ordinary smoke,” Masou stated after he sniffed the air, his usually carefree features darkening slight. “Something’s wrong. Come on.”

Keahi didn’t need to be told twice. He took off in the direction of the smoke, following the trail he knew would lead them to the village. Masou was right at his side. He was concerned as well.

And, as they drew closer and closer, they had the right to be concerned. Everything within the tiny village was on fire, the flames licking at everything. And the people, they were panicking. Screams and yells, names being called in desperation filled the air, the thick, black smoke billowing upwards. Everyone on the island must be able to see the ominous cloud.

“Ah, the huts are on fire!” Keahi cried as he stopped at the entrance of the village, his eyes wide in disbelief. The flames, they were nothing like he had ever seen or felt before. They felt…darker.

“There are people trapped inside,” Keahi whispered, fear heavy in his voice and he turned to Masou, not knowing what to do. He had never encountered anything like this before. “Masou!”

“I know,” Masou said as he lifted his arm to shield them from the roaring flames. “These flames, they’re not…”

Then, Keahi heard it; a faint whimper of help. Keahi immediately turned in the direction of the noise and knew that a child was trapped within the flames. And he had to get to the child before he perished. Without another thought, he rushed forward, leaving Masou’s side and into the leaping, roaring flames of a small hut.

“Keahi!”

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