Forged of Fire (6 page)

“No dear, we are not police. You’re at my residence in the garden district,” the woman answered. “No one can hurt you here.”

“How does he know my name? Where are my clothes?”

A man stepped to the side of the woman just enough so that Kielyn could plainly see him. He was beautiful. Shoulder length brown hair and sea-green eyes that seemed to see right through her. As if he knew her… “I heard someone call you by name in the park before you passed out,” he smiled with his eyes. “Clothing is being located for you as we speak but we have a few questions in the meantime. Do you remember anything before you blacked out?”

“What happened to my clothes?” Kielyn felt herself begin to shake and she pushed away just to meet with the back of the sofa. “I need to get home!”

“Shhh,” the man reached out as if he intended to comfort her. Kielyn jerked away. “We are here to help you but we need you to tell us what you remember,” he stared deeply into her eyes as if reading what he wished to know by looking into her mind. “I’m not going to hurt you, Kielyn,” his words were like a strange drug, soothing, safe, and she felt her muscles relaxing as if she had taken a nighttime cold medicine or been given nitrous at the dentist. It was as if he were hypnotizing her. “Just search your memory and tell me what happened.”

Kielyn’s nerves dulled to all previous tension and her mind did as asked, racing backwards in time for information to provide an answer.
Becca had been snoring
.
I went to work on
my painting. Then cut through the park
.
The fraternity boys!
“They were going to rape me…” She was uncertain if she had even spoken the thought out loud. Her eyes glanced to the woman’s. The softened understanding residing in them confirmed that she had. Shame and embarrassment climbed up her spine at the admittance and she drew her legs under her body. She could remember nothing else. Tears sprung to her eyes and her hand fluttered to her mouth. “Did they?” Her voice broke on a half sob.

The man stepped forward like he might attempt to touch her and Kielyn scooted further down the leather, wedging her body into the crock of the couch. He stilled where he was. “No. They did not hurt you.”

A flood of relief washed over her senses then immediately crashed hard like a wave against rocks when a second man Kielyn had not noticed stepped into the light. His piercing blue gaze fixed on her and a muscle in his tightly clenched jaw pulsed. He might have been the most handsome man she had ever seen if not for the simple fact that he looked so dangerous. Like a wild predator the way he stood, rigid as stone just staring at her with those haunting eyes. Eyes that seemed to be judging her. Judging her for being the idiot whore that got herself in trouble in the first place. Kielyn wanted to hide. To get away from his scrutiny. She forced her eyes to break from his.

Kielyn looked to the left. There stood a third male. He was older than the others and his face was kind looking, understanding. “Please forgive Ashdon. He is a very serious sort of old chap,” he smiled. “I am Walter. Are you hungry?”

“No. Thank you,” Kielyn answered, trying to gather what little courage she could muster. What she needed was a way to get out of here. “I just need to be on my way.”

“That’s not an option,” the mysterious dark haired man named Ashdon bit out. “It’s not safe for you. You will stay here until I have trained you.”

Not an option! Trained me?
“Train me?”

“Yes,” his voice offered no room for debate. “You are ill prepared for the life you must lead.”

Kielyn felt her mouth fall open. What fucking rabbit hole had she slipped and fallen down? “Look, I’m not sure who you think I am but I promise you, I’m just a girl that will surely be reported missing soon if I don’t get home.”

“We will take care of that but first you must heed our warning and learn from us.” He said.

Kielyn shook her head. Had she hit it when she fell? Surely this man was not for real. “Ah, tell you what,” she wrapped the blanket tightly around her body and stood, stepping around the edge of the sofa. “Why don’t we all meet up for coffee in town in a few day and discuss whatever martial arts class you are selling. I have a midterm that’s due…”

“Sit down.” The dark one ordered.

“No!” Kielyn stood taller, incensed at his lofty tone. “I’m leaving,” she looked around hoping to see a door that would lead her to safety. “With or without my clothes.”

The man’s piercing blue eyes drilled into hers as they narrowed. “You will do no such thing!”

“What he means,” the woman introduced as Skyler stepped between them. “Is that we would really like to explain a few more things to you first,” she offered. “Something happened between the time when the boys were threatening you and when Stefen found you in the park.”

“Can we not go over the rest of this tomorrow?” Kielyn wanted to scream the words but instinct told her she should at least try and pretend to be cool headed with these strange people. She did want to know what happened to her clothes and why she had passed out, but she also wanted to be in her own bed. Surely anything they had to say could wait until she was sitting in a protected police station. “I have a paper due and I really must study,” she began to really survey the room for the first time. It was a giant library of sorts. Beautifully decorated. Clearly these people had money. “I thought someone had my clothes?”

“Kielyn,” the male that had rescued her spoke up. “The three men that attacked you are dead.” She froze. “By way of your own hands.”

“What?”

“You have powers. Unhuman powers,” he walked to the right of the others, securing that she had no clear passage to the door. “When they attacked you it triggered a self-defense mechanism and you killed them. If you leave and go to the police, they will arrest you. If you don’t end up in prison, a fate far worse will find you.”

Kielyn felt a shear panic rising up in her and her hand flew to her chest. “No! I did not kill anyone!” She took a large step back, got tripped up in the long material of the blanket and collided with something hard. Fighting to keep her balance as a sharp pain shot through her thigh, her arm flew out and a lamp went flying. She landed hard on the ground as the sound of shattering glass rained down on the hardwoods. Kielyn cursed when her hands pushed off the broken glass. She scrambled to her feet.

“Kielyn clam down,” the first man she had met said as she stumbled backwards.

“Don’t touch me!” She yelled before catching the look of pity in his eyes. He whispered something in Latin and her limbs slowed down. She was paralyzed. Kielyn started to fall and he lunged for her just as the room began to spin.

****

Ash sent one of Bane’s limos to pick up Marsala and Samson. For reasons unbeknownst to him, he felt compelled to accept Skyler’s proposal that he stay the night. It was probably wise. The little bender had gone into a full out panic attack when the Angel had explained that she had this magical power to produce lightning out of thin air and in doing so had barbequed her three would be rapists.

Ash tipped back his glass of brandy and stared at the Angel from across the massive library. So much for the misconception that all Angels had tact. This one, Stefen, was far from the pristine images Ash had heard about his kind. Sure, the male was attractive in an angelic way, same as the Water-bender, Kizer. But, unlike the young male bender, Stefen was hardened around the edges, a true warrior. The Angel’s power radiated off him but interestingly enough, only when he chose. When they first met him, holding the fragile female, there was not a doubt in Ash’s mind just how powerful the Angel was. He would have taken on all six of them single handedly if any of them had threatened the girl.

As soon as Kielyn began to wake though, the Angel had pushed every bit of that energy aside, as not to frighten her was Ash’s guess. A skill Ash himself did not have. Ash only made it worse for her, but he could not control the anger that overcame him when he realized she was almost raped. No one should ever have to feel that sort of fear. Her realization and emotional reaction only fueled more negative energy through Ash’s veins. She was so innocent. So beautiful…Ash shook his head. Why did any of that matter? Lots of women were lovely.
But she was beautiful.

Ash stood to refill his glass just to come face to face with Stefen. “Do you drink?” Ash lifted the decanter.

“Daily.” The other male replied. “Since I was ordered to follow Kielyn.”

Ash handed him a glass. “Is Kielyn short for Kielyndrian?”

“That I don’t know. She only ever went by Kielyn.”

“Why were you sent to watch her and by who?” Ash walked back to his seat.

Stefen followed and took a seat on the sofa across from him. “My brother sent me.” He stretched out and crossed his long legs at the ankles. “He did not tell me why, though I assumed it was to punish me at the time. That girl is a train wreck,” he lifted his glass to his lips. “I am surprised she has lived as long as she has with all the supernaturals hunting her down,” he swallowed. “Not to mention the mortal men. She is too pretty for her own good.”

“Other supernaturals?” Bane’s voice asked from the doorway.

“Well, just one but it was as if he was on a mission,” Stefen answered over his shoulder as Bane walked towards them. “After my enlightening conversation with an Oracle, it all makes more sense.”

“An Oracle?” Bane took a seat. “I have never met an Oracle. What did she tell you? Did she appear to you?” He rushed.

The Angel chuckled. “The first time she threatened me. The second time, after everything went boom,” he motioned with his hands. “Was to explain why Kielyn mattered. Or rather…” His eyes fixated on Ash. “Who she would matter to.”

Bane stood and began to pace. “It is most unusual for an Oracle to get involved,” he stopped. “Do they frequently aid in the affairs of your kind?”

“Never in all my years,” the Angel answered. “Pythia seemed to have a special interest in our little bender.”

The words “our little bender” irked Ash. He was not sure why but something about the show of possession bothered him. He mentally pushed the unwanted emotion away. “Pythia? Like the Oracle of Zeus?”

Stefen pointed his glass at him. “No like about it. She did not offer details. Just directed me to you guys.”

“She sent you to my address?” Bane asked.

“Not exactly. I won’t bore you with an Angel’s unique navigational talents, but let’s just say she steered me in the direction of Kielyn’s “destiny”.” A cocky grin painted his already confident face. “Which I am assuming is one of you,” he swirled his class lazily. “Unless there are other water and fire benders in this location?”

“The one she will mate is the blonde you met when you first arrived.” Ash offered but the words tasted like vinegar across his tongue.

The Angel tilted his head. “I was under the impression it was destiny not an arranged marriage.”

Ash downed his glass and sat it sharply on the side table. “I don’t believe in destiny but rest assure that she will be safe when you leave.”

“Oh, I am not leaving,” Stefen said. “I am not going anywhere until I am sure Kielyn has met up with her chosen one.” He stood pointing to himself. “You see, Angel here…I DO believe in destiny.”

Bane nodded to a waiting Gilcolm by the door. “Show our guest to his chambers. "Ash watched the Angel take his leave. “He is right you know?” The older man said when the two had rounded the corner. “You may not want to believe it but we all have a destiny. Yours is to rule over the fire clans.” He took a seat. “You are all they have left. Regardless of who the girl is meant for, you have a responsibility to your bloodline Ashdon.”

“It’s not my destiny. It’s my brother’s. Teakin was the heir,” Ash smiled thinly. “I was only the spare. It was his destiny.”

“Ah, but Teakin is not here is he?”

Ash looked away. “You would think after a hundred and thirty-five years, I would get over it.” He scoffed, ashamed of himself for not being stronger.