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CHAPTER 11:
“I said drop him!” I ordered, watching the young girl struggle to flip her brother. “If you cannot take down a friend, you will never take down an enemy!”
“You’re a slave driver.” Trem chuckled from beside me.
“An absolute monster… the children look ragged.” Ven added.
“You are remembering to feed them?” Trem asked me.
“They’re fine.” I rolled my eyes, snapping my fingers. “Switch partners. If I don’t see you flip someone Iggie, you’re all getting an extra hour of laps.”
The children groaned, glaring at the skittish dragon. It was necessary, I told myself. They needed to be able to protect themselves. “I think someone is transferring.: Ven sang.
“Transferring?”
“You’re taking out your frustrations on the poor little dragon babies.” Trem explained. “You haven’t found the royal child and his friends. Now you’re overcompensating by forcing our young to train like grown warriors.”
“They’re capable of everything I ask of them.” I countered. “I haven’t heard any of them complain.”
“Of course they won’t complain. You’re the commander.” Ven pointed out. “It’s practically a sin to disappoint you.”
“I did it!” Iggie cheered, catching my attention. “I flip him! I did!” She raised her two small fists in the air. The other children congratulated her. “Did you see me? I did it!”
“Great job Iggie.” I told her. “That’s the end for today. Make sure to practice your defense stances and eat something, all of you.”
“He did forget to feed them.” Trem whispered to vem.
“It’s not my job.” I pushed the two idiots aside, walking toward the bunkers.
“What exactly is your job? Shouldn’t you be doing commander stuff instead of training the children?” Ven asked me.
“The welfare of the dragon children is Commander stuff. What are you two doing?” I countered.
“Well we were supposed to be taking care of the children, but you beat us to it.” Trem answered.
“Yes, by the time we were up, you were already training them.” Ven added.
“I started training at 11:00.” I told them.
“Exactly. Far too early.” They said in unison, making me roll my eyes again.
“Well, keep an eye on the children now. I’m going to the palace.” I informed them, tugging off my shirt.
“Why? Are the children there?” Trem asked.
“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t look so grouchy if they were.” Ven answered.
“Ugh, go bother Maja.” I groaned.
“Well, orders are orders.” Trem threw his arm over his brother’s shoulders. “Let’s go tend to sister dearest.”
“Be safe Kric.” Ven tagged on as Trem led him out of the bunker. “I’d hate to maybe lose a brother.”
The thing about Dragon mating was that heritage lines were often blurred. Due to the promiscuous nature of our race, pregnancies tended to be unplanned. While I was the only child my mother gave birth to, my father’s identity was unknown. Dragon blood was strong so while my father could have been vampire, human, or something else, the dragon blood would always be dominant. My mother had some guesses as to who my father was, but chose not to pursue the issue. After all, dragon children were community raised so odds are he took part in raising me anyway.
Still, it wasn’t hard to notice similarities growing up. For instance, silver eyes were their own commodity. Maja and I were some of the few to have that characteristic, possibly coming from an old dragon warrior named Pan that died a few years after we were all born. My mother never refuted this possibility, but never confirmed it either. If the warrior did father Maja and I, we would be related to Ven and Trem who were born to a fire elemental that had bonded with the late warrior. It was up for debate, but we had enjoyed the community of having siblings. The platonic relationship was a comfort to us all.
I hoped that the boys found that safe comfort in one another while we tried to find them. I hoped they at least felt connected to each other.
——————-
“They can’t just vanish! The witch only had a couple minutes head start!” Cyan was raving, the rest of the warriors in the room stepping back a few steps. I watched in mock-ease, leaning back in my chair beside him while he chewed everyone out. “And you, Kric! What the hell have you been doing?”
“Searching.” I told him calmly. “That’s all anyone has been doing.”
“Then why hasn’t anyone found them yet?” Cyan growled.
“Because there’s no trace anywhere.” I told him honestly. “We’re turning over every stone, checking every inch-“
“It’s been three days! Three!” Cyan hissed. “Elijah has been searching everywhere, trying to keep it quiet so we don’t cause a panic. He’s been trying to contact Solar as well, but she won’t answer.”
“Solar has never been the type to come when called.”
“Not for us, but for the fairy elders…” Cyan trailed off.
“I thought they told you they couldn’t contact her for you?”
“They did, but… Incendio-“
“No.” I cut him off.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” He whined.
“Whatever it is, you shouldn’t.” I told him. “There’s a reason the fairies said no. Solar doesn’t like to be bothered. She’s cursed a lot of people for a lot less. If you involve Incendio, you’ll risk damning him.”
“I know, but-“
“But what?” I cried.
“But I already volunteered.” Incendio finished from behind me.
“Volunteered for what?” I asked slowly.
“To call our goddess down.” He answered.
“Incendio-“
“It is going to be okay.” He insisted, fluttering toward me. “I have to do this.”
“Come here.” I growled, grabbing him by the arm and almost dragging him from the throne room. I slammed the door shut behind us, effectively cutting off any wandering eyes or ears. “You’re crazy to even think of doing this.”
“It is not hard Kric. Any fairy can do it.”
“And yet every one of them has refused… except you.” I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice. “There’s a reason that no one else will do it. Have you ever even met Solar?”
“Well… no.” Incendio confessed. “She prefers to speak to elders and i am not one yet.”
“Yes and lucky you. She’s a goddess, but that does not equate as kind or just. She cursed Bruftus for centuries for absolutely no reason. She is not the type of Being you disobey.” I told him. “You are better for not having met her. Your life is easier.”
“Every action has purpose. If she had not cursed Bruftus, Michellie and he would have never met. If they had never met and bonded, Iris would not have parents.” He tried to rationalize, which only served to anger me more.
“I know that i’m not the boss of you. I know I have no right to try, but you can’t do this. There will be a punishment.”
“The children are worth it.”
“Children die everyday. The world is terrible. That’s all the more reason to tell Cyan you can’t.”
“Could you really live with yourself knowing that we had the chance to save the children and squandered it out of fear?” Incendio asked me.
“Do you really have so little faith in my ability to find the children that you would risk your life?” I countered.
“This is not about faith.”
“It is always about faith, or the lack thereof.” I asserted. “Tell me, Incendio, why you never told me about how fairies find their soul mates.”
“What?” His eyes widened, jaw dropping slightly at my question. “How do you-“
“You failed to mention that a fairy knows their mate from the very first second.” I restated.
“What does that have to do with faith?” He asked, eyes still wide.
“Because the only reason you would keep something like that from me would be out of fear of my reaction.”
“You do not understand, Kric.”
“No, I do understand. I understand that everyone fears something. At Least I’m honest.” I grabbed his chin, not allowing him to break eye contact. “Now what aren’t you telling me?”
I studied his moss colored gaze, trying to see any twinkle that would suggest that he saw in me what I thought I saw in him. He didn’t blink, staring at me with a mixture of longing and pain. “Nothing.” He finally whispered.
“Nothing?” I asked, feeling something clench in my chest. If he saw nothing when he saw me, then I guess I had my answer. “Then what are we doing?” I pulled away from him.
“Kric-“
I shook my head, turning my back and walking down the hall. I felt robbed of something, as if I had been lied to. Perhaps I had been lied to and led to believe that Incendio and I had a future we actually didn’t. A part of me had hoped, in vain, that Incendio just hadn’t said anything because he wanted to move slow, but now it was apparent he hadn’t said anything because there wasn’t anything to say.
“Kric? Where are you going?” Michellie stopped me, her red eyes squinting in concern. “Cyan has called us all to the throne room. They’re going to contact Solar.”
“At least you are honest.” I told her.
“What?” She frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Thank you Michellie, for getting me out before I was in too deep.”
“I don’t understand.” She touched my arm gently. “Are you okay?”
“I’m going to catch up with Elijah and Bruftus’s search. Keep me posted.” I said instead, brushing her off and continuing down the hall.
“Kric!” She called from behind me. “That look on your face… It remind me of the night you got caught in the coat room. You looked so resigned and… and I really hope it’s not happening again. Whatever happened, you can talk to me about it. You don’t have to almost kill yourself with work to escape us.”
“He said he didn’t see anything Michellie!” I called, not even turning around to see her reaction.
“So?” She cried as I got farther away, panic leaking into her voice. “You wanted him to see something, didn’t you? That’s huge Kric! That’s a huge step! Please don’t go Kric! The kids-“
“I’ll find the kids!” I declared, turning a corner.
———————–
Incendio’s p.o.v.
“You don’t have to do this, Incendio.” King Cyan assured me.
“I do.” I replied, closing my eyes.
I needed to concentrate, but the images of what had just transpired in the hallways were swirling around my head. All I saw was Kric’s hurt face, begging me to tell him what we both knew. We were mates, there was no denying it, and yet I still did. I had frozen up staring into his silver eyes, unable to confess.
It was too late. The single word had left my mouth before I could stop it. The snapping of our newly budding connection choked me. I watched him walk away, knowing I needed to explain but not being able to.
Still, I had a job to do. I closed my eyes, shoving all of that in the very depths of my stomach to be revisited later. I was presented with multiple white strings, strung out along the black back drop of my subconscious. All but Iris’s connection was buzzing, showing me an open line of communication. All I had to do was grasp the string. I reached forward, toward the glowing white line in the center, my entire body burning. I had never done this before, just like most other fairies. The connection was there, but ignored by order of Solar. Now here I was, inches from it, heat making my skin tingle as I touched it with the tip of my finger.
“My, my, my. Haven’t we been naughty?” The words left my mouth, but the voice wasn’t my own. It seared my throat, coming out like fire. “I comeng you, King Cyan. Never would I have expected you could be persuasive enough to convince a fairy to disobey me.”
“Solar.” King Cyan was staring at me, but I knew his eyes weren’t seeing mine. “Please, you have to help us. The children-“
“I know all about the children.” Solar cut him off, seemingly bored by the conversation already. “Yes, Little Ciel, Iris and Kieran… such an interesting little trio. Remember Cyan, I know far more than you know.”
“I know.” King Cyan sounded desperate. “That’s why we contacted you.”
“Yes well, I don’t very much appreciate being called on without permission. Fortunately, you caught me in a good mood.” This was unlike any other connection I had ever touched. Iris had felt a bit warm, but nothing compared to the burning that overtook my body while hosting Solar within me. “I won’t curse you all.”
“Solar, please-“
“Before you say anything, understand that I cannot interfere.” Solar cut the king off again. “It would be against the rules to intervene.”
“What? What rules?”
“So many redundant questions.” Solar groaned.
“They’re not! They’re just children, our children! There has to be something you can do.”
“No.” Solar said simply. “Cyan, there are no innocent children in war. Sun people are not born naive or innocent. They possess something and that something protects them. If the children return, it will be because they deserve to survive. This war, whoever wins, it will be because they deserved it. Only the strongest survive, my dear Cyan, and we will see who that is.”
“So they could die?”
“Anyone could die, except myself.” Solar chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry too much, however. It is not the sun children that intrigue him.”
“What?”
“Enough questions.” Solar closed my eyes. “There is only so much you can know. The rest will reveal itself within time. However, i’ll throw you all a bone. Make sure you run with it.”
My eyes snapped open, the burning sensation leaving me.”Oh my god.” Michellie whispered. “Iris?”
“Mama?” My mouth moved on its own, alerting me that I wasn’t in control of my body again yet. “What happened?”
“Iris! Iris, baby, where are you?” Michellie asked.
“We can’t be talking. He might see. If he sees, it’ll be trouble.” Iris said. “I had it closed so he couldn’t tell. I don’t know who opened it.”
“Who might see? Where are you Iris?” Michellie questioned him.
“I don’t know yet. I have to go mama. I have to close it. I have to, before he sees.” Iris closed my eyes. “I love you so much mama.”
“Iris!” Michellie sobbed. I fluttered my lashes, letting my eyelids lift slowly.
“The connection is closed again.” I told her. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing has changed… we’re still just as lost.” Michellie mumbled.
“Have every guard in the kingdom brought here to search.” Cyan stated.
“What? Cyan-“
“We will find them Michellie, even if we have to tear this earth apart. We will not lose.” Cyan turned to the soldiers stationed in the corner of the room. “Call back every guard that is not deployed as a part of the war.”
“They’ll want to know why. Everyone will want to know.” A soldier pointed out.
“So tell them. Tell them the heir to the throne and two other children have been stolen.” Cyan told him, dismissing all of the guards.
“Cyan, it will cause a panic.” Michellie reasoned.
“So let them panic.”
“Cyan-“
“Incendio.” Cyan turned his attention to me.
“Yes King Cyan?”
“Have the fairy elders brought here. Their main priority until the children are found is to search for any and all futures they can make out.”
“Yes king Cyan.” I bowed.
“Where is Kric?” Cyan asked.
“He went out to search with Elijah and Bruftus. I think he’s doing that thing where he throws himself into his work until he does more harm than good.” Michellie told him.
“What? Why? What happened?” Cyan frowned.
“It is my fault.” I spoke up.
“What?” Cyan frowned deeper.
“No Incendio, you did the right thing. If you didn’t feel it with him-“
“What?” Cyan repeated, cutting Michellie off. “What didn’t you feel, Incendio?”
I couldn’t speak. Cyan turned to Michellie for an answer. “I don’t really know what happened. All he said was that when Incendio looked into his eyes, he saw nothing. He’s taking it hard.”
“Incendio?” Cyan looked at me, waiting for explanation.
“I could not tell him.” I finally said.
“Tell him what?” Michellie asked.
“Why not?” Cyan asked, ignoring her.
“I cannot say. I do not know how it will affect the future. I- I cannot make it worse.”
“Wait.” Michellie cut in. “Incendio… are you and Kric soul mates?”
I bit my lip, not knowing what to say. What if it changed something? What if it didn’t? “He can’t know.” I told them. “You guys can’t tell him.”
“Why not? He deserves to know.” Michellie tried to reason with me.
“She’s right.” Cyan agreed.
“You do not understand. I cannot risk telling him. Once he knows… once he knows what we are…”
“What? What happens then?” Cyan asked.
“He dies.” I replied. “Once he knows we are soulmates, I kill him.”
So there’s an update! Did you guys enjoy it? Special thanks to KhalenFlowers for commenting on every paragraph of the last chapter and getting you guys another update!
Remember, you’re guaranteed an update that same week if you comment on every paragraph of the most recent chapter! I’ll follow and dedicate the next chapter to you as well! (Reminder: Please make sure the comments are not ‘update please’ or anything along those lines. They must be related to the story to count.)
Anyway, feel free to leave me the feedback I so desperately crave:
-Do you think Kric will speak to Incendio again?
-Do you think Kric will find the children? Should he find them soon?
-Do you think Incendio should just tell Kric already even if it risks his life?
-Should Incendio have risked his life contacting Solar?
-What are you guys still waiting on? Any questions?
-Is there anything you don’t understand or need clarified?
Thanks so much for reading my darlings <3
Vote, comment, follow, etc. <3
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