Touch of Flame

The word ‘father’ struck Ravina like a bolt of lightning, the realization sending a shockwave through her entire being. It was as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled, and she was left grasping for something to hold onto. For so long, she had believed her father was dead, and she had mourned him, feeling an emptiness and a loss that had gnawed at her soul for years.

Now, confronted with the truth that he was alive, the pain and sadness she had carried for so long overwhelmed her. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe. The tears she had held back for so long fought to break free, and she felt herself tremble under the weight of the emotions that threatened to consume her.

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Ravina’s eyes filled with tears, and she struggled to find her voice amidst the storm of emotions that raged within her. “I… I thought he was gone forever,” she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her sorrow. “How…”

She looked over at the only person she thought could confirm the truth. Ares met her gaze, looking apologetic. 

All of it suddenly made sense. The secrets, the death, the becoming of a monster, the distancing, and much more. It was all because he was dying. 

“What… what did he do?” She demanded to know. 

A muscle ticked in Ares’s jaw. “He experimented with dragon blood.” 

Ravina felt as though all the air was knocked out of her lungs. The room began to sway, but she held onto Darcy to remain still. She straightened herself. 

“I need to speak to Ares alone,” she said. 

She felt the tension in the room, and Ares gave Nazneen a nod as everyone else began to leave. Once the door closed, the air in the room became thick. 

Ravina looked at him for a long moment, not sure where to even start. “You knew all this time?” 

He looked down a bit. “Yes.” 

She sucked in a deep breath and then exhaled. She was a bundle of emotions that didn’t even go together. Happiness- sadness, pain- relief. But these two people lied to her face. 

“I trusted you. You were the first…” her voice broke. “the first person I trusted.” 

A pained expression washed over his face. “I know,” he said softly, his voice laced with regret. “I never meant to betray your trust. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I… couldn’t.” 

“Even when you saw me like that?!” 

“That is why… I couldn’t!” 

“You… you should have known that I would have rather spent a few days with him than none!” 

“I know.” He said, agreeing with her in silence. He had just worried about what she would have done after that short time. What would she do once her father was gone, and then when he was also gone? That was why he sent her away despite how difficult it had been, and now that he saw her like this, happy and more healthy with both Malachi and Darcy by her side, he did not regret it. Now he knew she could survive this. 

He could see the turmoil on her face. She wanted to yell at him, do something, but she wasn’t sure what. Then suddenly, she chuckled between the tears. 

“Oh… why am I even surprised? Of course, you can lie to me if my own father can.” She shook her head, more tears streaming down her face. She was heavily disappointed, and she gave him such a look. 

He couldn’t blame her. No matter the outcome, he wasn’t truthful with her, and that was hurtful. 

“You lied! I can at least say you didn’t know me well, and you knew my father much longer. You didn’t want to betray him.” 

But that wasn’t it, although that made sense. He would have betrayed her father for her. 

“But why did he lie?!” She asked him, desperation clear in her tone. 

Ares didn’t know how to answer that. That was still a mystery to him. He had known Ravina for more than just a week yet the secret had burdened him. Her father must have been too damaged to even function normally. He knew he was not the same Richard before the death of his wife, and the loss of his daughter and twin brother. 

Ravina loomed over him, slowly reaching for his face. When she touched his cold skin, he could see the fear swirling in her eyes. “He has to live. I can’t let him die.” She stressed subconsciously, forgetting about her sadness. 

She looked at him, more questions evident in her eyes, but he could see the resolution in them. 

“Ephraim and I have been thinking that… we need to take it all the way. We can’t find a way around it.”

“What do you mean?!” Her voice had such a sharp edge that he could feel it cut through the air. 

She would crush him if he said something wrong, and she would probably listen more to Ephraim at this point, so he suggested calling him. 

“No. You tell me first.” She demanded. “You did the same thing, didn’t you? You seem fine.” 

“I am a breedmate. Dragon blood won’t hurt me.” 

“Well, then my father is my father. That should do something.” 

“Yes. But not enough. The plan is to push the evolution of his blood before his body gives in. We give him stronger dragon blood to push it, and then we keep him alive through the transition with your or Darcy’s blood. Now, his body seems to get exhausted, and he could die before reaching his potential.”

“But… that is only a theory.” She almost whispered. “You don’t know if it will work.” 

He shook his head. 

“Then… it is another experiment.” He could see her shrink. 

It wasn’t an easy choice, and if things went wrong, she would be devastated. But what else could they do? 

Ravina went on her knees beside the bed and took his father’s hand. She cried in silence and Ares was riddled with pain. How much would this family have to endure? Richard had been close to him, a bright, intelligent, warm man. He was difficult not to love. He had welcomed him into his home and treated him like family. 

Soon after, Darcy stepped inside and went quickly to her sister. Ravina allowed herself to cry in her arms. Then men looked at each other, both pained to see their women in that state. 

Ares stepped out and Nazneen followed him. “Are you alright?” She asked. 

He took a deep breath. “We need to talk,” he told her. 

He led Nazneen to a separate room, away from the heartache and pain that filled the air where Ravina and Darcy were with their father. The room was dimly lit, casting a somber glow over their surroundings. Ares looked into Nazneen’s eyes, searching for the right words to say.

“Please sit,” he told her. 

“Ares, you are scaring me.” 

He grabbed her arms and sat her on the bed. Then he took the chair from the dresser and sat before her. Nazneen wore a deep frown. 

“I am ill,” he began. 

She tilted her head, still confused. 

“I always thought it was the experiment with dragon blood but now I know, it has to do with what I am. I have been away from the sea for too long, and that has caused my heart to weaken.” 

“What are you saying?!” She said impatiently and distressed. 

He took a deep breath. “I don’t… have much time left.” 

“What does that mean?!” 

Ares pressed his lips into a thin line. With her, he would have to spell it out. 

“I am dying!”

The world seemed to stand still for a moment, and Nazneen just stared at him. Then suddenly, she laughed. But her laughter was hollow and strained, born from disbelief and desperation.

“You can’t be serious,” she said between strained chuckles. “This must be some kind of joke, right? You’re not dying, Ares. You can’t be.”

Ares shook his head. “I wish it was a joke, Nazneen. I wish I could take back those words and tell you everything is fine, but I can’t. It’s the truth.”

Her laughter died away, and she stared at him in shock, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. “But… no. You can’t!” She shook her head. “I am sure there is a misunderstanding, and we will find a way.” 

“I have tried to find a way.” He told her. 

“Well then… we will try more. We will try harder.” She said standing up. 

Ares sighed, feeling the weight of the situation on his shoulders. “Nazneen, I want you to know that I have already tried everything we can think of. I don’t want to give up, but I also don’t want to waste the time I have left chasing false hopes.”

Nazneen’s eyes flashed with anger, and her voice took on a sharp edge. “So, what? You’re just going to accept this and do nothing? Is that what you’re saying?”

“I’m not doing nothing,” Ares said. “I just… I need to be realistic about my situation.”

“Realistic? Is being realistic giving up? I thought you were stronger than that.” 

Ares’ face fell, and he looked away from Nazneen as her words cut deeper than she realized. “Well, maybe I am not so strong.” He said. 

All this time, Ares had been stoic in the face of his impending fate, he had never allowed the luxury of crying in a corner, never complained to anyone, or put the blame everywhere else. He had never stayed in bed longer out of self-pity, nor had he thrown tantrums or shown his frustration. He had pushed himself to work harder every day, determined to continue with his mission even through the pain and confusion. He had never tried to run away, even if the ocean would make him live longer because… he was where he could make a difference. He was where his loved ones were. 

As he looked back at Nazneen, he stood up and walked closer to stand before her. “But perhaps, being strong doesn’t mean never giving up. Perhaps it means having the courage to accept the things we cannot change and the strength to face them with dignity.”