Page 5 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
Awaken me…
Was that real? No, Ash, you idiot. There wasn’t a voice in your head, and if there was, then you had bigger problems than the whip.
But that voice. It sounded like no voice I’d ever heard. It sounded as ancient as a mountain, as hollow as a deep, sacred cave. I didn’t think I’d ever forget that voice—if I lived through that day.
“You little bitch,” Garris seethed in rage, hissing through his yellow teeth as he pulled down the whip from the wall, uncoiling it with a sinister flick of his wrist.
Bella didn’t say a word. She was smart that way. Arguing always made it worse. Always.
I turned and faced the wall, torchlight flickering on both sides of me, casting a matte glow on the rock wall before my face. I slid both sleeves off my shoulders and down to my elbows, revealing my bare back to him. I heard him laugh in spite. He was going to enjoy this. He always did.
“Would’ve gotten her back quicker if you hadn’t disobeyed me.” I heard him take thick gulps of wine from a mug beside him. “Wouldn’t have been in that trouble in the first place. Next time you’ll do as I say. I’ll teach you the hard way not to give me lip.”
“She saved us!” Bella shouted. I spun to face her. I shushed her, but her fists were balled at her sides, and she’d got that mean glower I knew all too well. That’s the face I got when I knew arguing with her wouldn’t do any good. “That dragon would’ve killed your miserable ass if she hadn’t done that back there. She saved you! You’re only still breathing because of her.”
Over my shoulder, I saw the confusion in his beady eyes. “That’s another reason why you deserve this!”
The whip flew through the air with a thick uncoiling sound. It struck my back like lightning—searing heat shooting up and down my body like venom. The pain overtook me, but I clenched my jaw. I wouldn’t let him have the pleasure of my cries. Not this time.
“Magic. You had magic and you hid it from me? Who do you think you are?” Hate filled every speck of his words. “You think you’re special? You wanted to hide that? Not tell me? There’s nothing special about you, you brat. You’re a rotten, worthless, meaningless little tart who’s never gonna amount to more than the shite on the heel of my boots!”
He slithered the whip on the floor back toward him as thewarm blood dripped down the cool skin of my bare back. My lips quivered as I pressed my forehead to the wall.
You can get through this. You’ve been here before. The pain is temporary. It’s only temporary…
The latch to the door behind him suddenly clacked, and the door opened inward, pouring sunlight onto me and my exposed back, the shiny scars and fresh blood surely glistening in the light.
A pair of Garris’ men entered. They both worked in the forge, sometimes staring at me a little too long once they were too drunk to think to wipe the ale’s froth from their hideous mouths. They were perfect for Garris; dim, dull, the smell like a raccoon that had been stuck in an outhouse and couldn’t outsmart a pigeon. But they were strong, and once they got you by the wrists, there was no use in trying to escape.
“The whole town’s in a frenzy,” one said, waving his arms over his head, sweat pouring down his brow.
“She attacked the Blaze Prince.” The other swallowed hard, his eyes stricken with panic. “He’s gonna kill us all. We’re all gonna die…”
“The bitch used magic against him!” the first said. “He’ll burn this whole place to the ground because of her!”
I wanted to yell out that I hadn’t. I wanted to refute their accusations, but I couldn’t find the words. I didn’t use magic! But I did, didn’t I? I fucking did. Shit…
I had used magic. Magic. But I had to try to save the town. I had to try to save Bella.
“Magic wielders are forbidden in Allovan; any that use magic outside of the queen’s command are either turned or killed. It’s the unwritten law,” the second man said what we all already knew. “We gotta get rid of her. They might think you’ve, we’ve, been hiding her, and that magic, from the queen!”
“Wait a damned minute,” Garris said; fuming. “She belongs to me. I’m not sending her anywhere for free!”
“Sell her to the crown,” one of the men said. “The Blaze Queen would surely pay for her.”
“You moron,” the second said, shoving the first’s shoulder. “The queen doesn’t pay. She just takes.”
“She’s not going nowhere.” Garris slammed the whip on the table beside him and took another wet gulp of wine. “That wasn’t magic. That was some kind of… trick! Look at her. She’s as frail as a mouse. I need her here. We’ve got deadlines.”
The men looked at one another, unsure. They shook their heads; one itched his arm.
Garris took one long, menacing glare at me. Beads of sweat poured off his brow like a deluge rolling down a canvas tent. His dark eyes were unwavering as I saw the hate brimming deep. The side of his face twitched, and he snarled. Taking a long gulp of wine, he finished the glass.
“You’re always more damned trouble than you’re worth. Maybe I will gladly take some coin for your worthless hide. Should’ve never bought you in the first place. Should’ve stuck with my gut and bought girls that are at least something to look at.”
“Because going with that gut has always worked out so well for you. So devilishly fit and handsome, you are, master.” I couldn’t fight the words as they erupted from my mouth. “Sell me, you rotten oaf!”
Instead of picking the whip back up, he hastened and grabbed the club by the door. It was sturdy and thick, not something I wanted anywhere near me. The only other time he picked that up, I hadn’t woken up for a whole day.
