Touch of Flame

“I already had to stay here all day not knowing if you would come to eat or not. Do you treat your maids that way?”

“I was busy.” He said.

“With what, so you couldn’t even eat?”

“I was finding a way to destroy the castle with your inventions.”

Ravina frowned. She could understand why he wanted to destroy her inventions. She remained quiet, feeling nauseous. Every time she heard of something like that, she became sick. That was why she had to find her sister. Malachi’s joke of her being a breeder could become true and then her sister…

She swallowed. No. She would be fine.

“Do you think my sister has been made into a breeder?” She asked. He had mocked her with it but she wanted to know his real thoughts.

“Maybe.”

“It is true then? That dragons take humans as breeders.” She felt her stomach turn again.

He opened his eyes. “Yes.”

She took a deep breath. She had not wanted to believe that but her uncle was right.

“It is nothing new.” He sighed, closing his eyes again. “Already in the time of slaves, many human slaves became impregnated by their masters.”

Ravina stiffened. She had heard that some masters used their slaves like that. So that was where they discovered that they could breed faster with humans?

He shifted looking uncomfortable and she hoped it was for the same reason because if after what happened to his sister, he thought that human slaves being used for pleasure was fine, then he was sick.

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, then slowly he turned to her. “We have no breeders in my clan. It is forbidden.” He said.

She could breathe out a little relieved but she was already lightheaded. She lay down, watching the ceiling sway for a moment before it became still.

When she felt Malachi turn to face her she stiffened. “Are you not going to say something about how you are going to stop me?”

No. Tonight she was going to spare him that. She would understand why he was angry. She would be too. Just like she had been angry that destroying villages and homes left many women and children vulnerable to harsh circumstances where they could be exploited. It left her sister vulnerable, and only God knew what was happening to her or happened to her when she found herself out there alone in the world. Ravina was the lucky one.

Her stomach turned again and her hands itched.

“You are awfully silent,” he pointed surprised.

“You know, I need to sleep as well so why don’t you sleep so that I can go.”

“You can sleep here.” He said.

“I can’t.”

“Why not? I thought you wanted to become queen.”

She turned to him. “In my world, you make me queen first and then I will share a bed.”

“Like you did with your future husband?” He said sarcastically.

Was he calling her a whore again? So he thought she would just sleep with anyone because she did with one man? These men… who did he think he was?

She sat up, feeling her face getting hot from anger. “You are right. Maybe I don’t share a bed only with one who claims me but one I want to claim as well.”

Now he looked angry as he sat up as well. “So you want to claim him?”

Lord! Why did she say that? She did not want him angry right now. Just asleep. Now he would make her do some more chores out of jealousy.

She remained quiet.

“I asked a question,” he said, looking like he would go find Ares immediately.

Great.

But she could care less right now when he was acting like this. Ares could take care of himself and she would do the damned chores if she had to.

“Yes.” She replied.

His jaw clenched and his eyes flickered like candlelight.

“Look, I am not trying to fight.” She said. “But I am not a whore.”

She tried to leave but he grabbed her arm. He took a deep breath. “I was chained then. I did not mean the things I said and… that is not what I mean now.”

Then what? What did it mean to make her his mistress? She wished she could ask but didn’t want to put Aaron in trouble.

“Lay down. I will play the flute for you.” He said.

Play the flute? Could he? She blinked confused. No. She should not fall for this. Tomorrow she would be back to doing chores and meeting his future queen. Still, she lay down desperate to have a good sleep.

Malachi stepped out of bed and came back with a flute. He sat on bench near the window and began playing.

He could play.

She curled up and watched him at first. It was different from when Chanan played and even he felt it. He stopped, looking disturbed.

“What is wrong?” She asked.

“I can’t play this.”

“Why not?”

He looked at her, his eyes displaying pain for the first time. “It is a spiritual instrument that brings peace.” He frowned. “I don’t have that in me.”

They watched each other in silence. “Try again, but don’t play it for me. Do it for yourself.”

She had this strange feeling that he used to play it before and actually liked it.

He looked at it hesitantly and then taking a deep breath he brought it up to his lips again. The sound was unsteady at first and he played with hesitance but then slowly the sound changed to something calm. As if listening to soft waves or the night wind. She could see his face relax while his eyes remained closed.

Ravina closed her eyes as well and soon she was swept away by darkness.

Then the light came and the soft sound of the flute. The wind blew her hair as she played the instrument while sitting on the rim of a large balcony. A woman walked outside, in her glorious beauty and smiled at the sound.

Hiroshima.

Arshan sensed her arrival and stopped playing. He turned to her with a smile and hopped down from the rim. Hiroshima walked into his arms and he looked down upon her. “You have become excellent at playing it.” She said.

“I learned it for you.” He said caressing her cheek gently. She closed her eyes for a moment.

“What would I have done without you?” She asked.

He stroked her lower lip with his thumb and she opened her eyes. “You don’t have to think about it. I am here.”

“Will you always stay with me?”

“Always. I will always love you.” He said taking her lips with his.

Ravina opened her eyes as the morning wind blew inside from the balcony. She lay still.

No nightmare.

A dream?

Of Arshan. And she experienced everything through him.

What did that mean?