Touch of Flame

Malachi was flying over the people that were screaming and running for their lives. Children were among them, mothers, and old people. The scent of smoke and burning bodies and woods reached his nostrils but the terror wasn’t enough. His heart kept pounding, closing in on the people below, and then he opened his mouth allowing the fire to leave his lungs.

“You are a coward,” his father’s words echoed when he shifted back sweating, people cheering upon his arrival after the terror he caused. There were praises coming here and there but all he could hear were the screams he silenced. The souls that haunted him at night.

And then his sister, her screams mixing with everyone else’s screams and his father’s insults.

“Malachi! Help me! You are a coward! She will be a breeder. No, please help me! You promised.”

“I will be the breeder,” his own voice boomed.

“This happened because of you, Malachi. Your own weakness hurt your sister,” his father’s voice spoke.

“No!” More screams followed. Fire, smoke, fast heartbeats, and sweat.

“Malachi!” He felt a sharp pain in his chest and opened his eyes with a gasp. When he found a white figure looming over him, his soul almost left his body.

His eyes widened in panic before they met her blue ones. It was just her. He let out a breath of relief while covered in cold sweat. He sat upright, leaning back against the bedpost as he tried to stabilize his breath. She watched him with a frown but said nothing. He could see her fumbling with her hands, nervously. She wanted to say something but she didn’t know what to say. She was really bad at this but he did prefer the silence.

After a while, “do you need some wat…er?” She asked realizing she could not bring it with her injured leg.

He almost smiled. “No.”

She continued to fumble with her fingers then glanced his way. “It is still night. Do you want to try to sleep again?” She asked carefully as if he were a scared child. “I can stay if you want. Not that I would help much…” she shrugged looking at her hands.

“You would,” he told her.

She gazed at him again, their eyes meeting in the darkness. He could feel the intensity in them as she tried to read him and then she nodded. “I will stay,” she said.

He moved to the other side of the bed, making place for her and they lay side by side, facing each other. He could hear his won fast beating heart in the silence, and in the distance the screams still echoed.

“You reap what you sow, king Malachi,” he remembered the priests words.

He closed his eyes taking in her sweet scent of blossom and then he fell asleep again.

In the morning, he woke up alone in bed. He felt the steam coming from the private room and the maid walked out. “The bath is ready,” she told him.

“I did not ask for it,” he said confused.

“Oh… Ravina told us to prepare it for you.”

Oh…

She excused herself and left. Malachi went to the private room, the still too hot water not bothering him. He stepped inside and a scent rose from the water. It was her scent. Jasmine and Lavender. She bathed with it. Not the way he wished to smell but it would do.

He tried to enjoy it as his head throbbed from the drinking and the nightmares. After he was done, he decided to put on more clothes than usual. He wore his robe instead, thinking of her. He remembered her gaze from last night, the way she had looked at his body. He was already aware of that but it wasn’t the only thing he wanted her to like about him.

The maid came back, “breakfast is ready, downstairs. Ravina is waiting for you.” She informed.

Malachi paused. Really? Did he wake up yet?

He went downstairs to the dining hall, and as he entered the room he found her seated at the table near the large windows where the sun shone through on her. Her light hair melted together with the sun rays and she basket in the warmth, facing the sun with squinted eyes. She wore two large golden pins of flowers in her hair and as the rest was minimal as usual.

He liked it. She needed no adornment. She was one, with her unique beauty. She wore a silky pink garment with lace straps on the shoulder and a heart shaped neckline. Malachi had never been so tempted in his life before but now was not the time for it.

Thankfully, his throbbing head pulled him back from the other parts of his body that hummed to life. He walked over and she turned to him, her eyes cold as usual. “Good morning,” she greeted.

Indeed, it was a good morning.

“Good morning,” he sat down across from her. Their eyes met, the blue in them reminding him of snow and ice in a sunny winter day.

God, he needed help. He looked at the food on the table just to stop whatever spell she was casting on him. The maids came with more food.

Ravina took one of the cups with strange smelling tea and placed it infront of him. “For your headache,” she said.

How did she… ? Of course, she knew. She had nightmares constantly, so this was how she felt every morning.

He suffered from nightmares too but it wasn’t every night that happened.

“Thank you,” he said taking the cup.

She looked at him surprised. He didn’t say thank you he realized, but no matter what she had often thanked him when he did something for her.  He watched her as she poured tea to herself. Even last night, she didn’t tell him she healed his people. She didn’t try convince him of making her queen by telling him about her new friends or helping Nelli. Even when he asked what she had been doing.

As a woman, Georgia had been offended for her but Ravina had not lashed out at him for the situation he put her in. She had only made it clear for him how things where going to be. She had remained calm while he was upset that she was smiling with everyone else but him. Why would she when he had given her every reason not to?

God, he had been so focused on his own misery. He took a sip of his tea. It tasted terrible.

“I know.” She said and he looked her way. “It is terrible. Not all herbs taste good but it is affective medicine.”

“Why are you doing this?” He asked.

“Doing what?”

He just looked at her.

She shrugged. “Just returning favors.”

“I was not doing you a favor. I don’t need you to return it.”

“Right. You were only following your instinct.”

“It was not my instinct.”

“Then what?” She said looking at him with challenging eyes. She was right. He dare not say it in this situation.

To his surprise, she smiled. “Are you trying to seduce me?” She asked.

He blinked confused.

She nodded toward the shelf. He turned and found the box of sweets he ordered to be sent home to her. It was wrapped beautifully, with a pink foiled paper and red ribbons.

Oh well…

He turned back to her and she watched him with a raised brow. “I see you have changed your game. It is not bad.” She nodded. “But don’t waste your time, King Malachi. I am not that desperate. I already told you the only way I am going to be yours.”

Yes, she did but that wasn’t the only way he wanted to have her.

“I was not trying to seduce you,” he lied.

Well, not entirely. He did want to seduce her but not with the sweets. That was just because… he got rid of the picture when she licked her fingers and tried to focus.

“It was just…” he tried not to say anything to make things worse. “I just thought you would like it.” He met her gaze, “I don’t even know what you like.” He said.

Something in her eyes changed, they seemed to swirl and chase his in search for something. Then she stopped, a faint smile crossing her lips. “I don’t even know what I like, how are you supposed to know.”

He saw the sadness in her eyes before they faltered. “But yes, I like sweets. Thank you.” She said changing her tone to sound less sad as she reached for her cup of coffee. She took a sip, hiding behind it.

Malachi remembered what she told him last night about Ares. He saw her. Understood her. Provided her with what she needed.

He saw her? That was deep and he hated it but it made him understand her a little more.