4Chapter Three: Fire's Bane
It was a quick walk from my home to work that day, after the police and others had cleaned up my apartment, and Richard had graciously offered to let me sleep in the library until they'd finished investigating the incident, since obviously my house was now a crime scene.
Of course, he'd only done this after he'd looked up why my parents had died. I hadn't told him anything about it, and had kept quiet.
Dreams reminiscent of the one I'd had a few nights before kept popping up, changing every time. Alistair seemed to grow more and more emotional each time I saw him, his golden bronze skin seemed to give off a strange otherworldly glow, and the only reason I'd noticed it at all was because I had to ask him to turn it down once while talking to him.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault, I got too excited," He'd apologized when I'd commented on it.
"That's fine, I'm just blind now..." I kidded, looking away from him.
Now I was standing in the historical fiction section, at three in the morning, reading a book about Queen Elizabeth as a child. I held a small reading light in my hand, and I was curled up on a squishy chair.
It was a good book, and I could practically imagine the vivid pictures and scents the author described, like the sweet scented mahogany tables, and cinnamon spiced candles.
Then I looked up to see Alistair grinning at me, eying me with faint amusement, violet gold eyes sparked in the darkness, "That book seems to have enchanted you, Kaisanara," He said smiling, teeth even glinting in faint light.
I glared at him, "Stop calling me Kaisanara," I growled irritably, "Just because I gave you my name does not mean you can start using it."
"Then what should I call you, if not your name?"
I blinked, I really didn't know. I just didn't want him calling me Kaisanara, "I'm not sure. Just don't call me Kaisanara," I replied softly, returning to the book.
He sighed and cupped my face, looking me directly in the eyes, ice cold evergreen met violet-gold, mine held annoyance, of that I was sure, but his contained something I couldn't quite place, something that scared me more than a little.
"Kaisanara Lorei Noelle Ianari Davininch," He breathed gently, not allowing me to look away from him, "What should I call you, if not your name?" It was then I noticed I wasn't imagining the mahogany and cinnamon, "You don't like it when anyone calls your name, I see you flinch ever so slightly, especially when men say it," He let go of my face and stepped back, floating on air, "Please tell me what I should say to get your attention."
I thought about it for a moment, I didn't want him calling me by name at all, but I guessed he had a point. But I wasn't about to tell him anything without messing with him first.
"How about, 'Hey you!'?"
He laughed, but not the soft chuckle I was used to hearing, (which I really shouldn't be, because I'd only known him for a week) a loud gale of laughter left his lips, I couldn't help but watch, captivated by it, "No," He said once he'd gathered himself, "I don't think that's appropriate for you," That smile of his never once left his face, and it was starting to make me nervous.
I rolled my eyes, "Right," I said sarcastically, then I brightened up just a little, "I don't want you calling me Kaisanara, but I suppose you could shorten it, and call me Kai, like most people do," I was barely paying attention to the book anymore, he'd caught my attention.
"That is far more appropriate," He replied, still floating. His gold-violet eyes darted around the room, examining everything, like he hadn't done that before.
I put the book down and got up, too distracted to read anymore, "I'm going to go to bed, once I find something to sleep on. Rick took out the couches..." I trailed off, looking around for a suitable place to sleep.
I couldn't find a spot that looked comfortable at all, "Damn him, he did this on purpose," I grouched irritably, returning to the chair I'd been sitting on earlier.
He chuckled dryly, amused again, "Poor you, I guess you won't be able to sleep tonight, perhaps your lack of sleep could be put to better use."
"Shut up," I snapped at him, annoyed, "Yes, I will find a way to get you out of that book of yours, but the methods for doing so are not located in a library."
He looked hurt by my sudden outlash of anger, I knew instantly I'd gone too far, even if my words seemed simple enough, the tone had taken effect a little too well.
The sound of glass breaking caught my attention, whispers filtered in through the room, the smell of gasoline hit my nose. My eyes widened in shock.
"Kaisanara, hide yourself!" He whispered sharply, his eyes commanding.
I shook my head, I would not run away from intruders, "I've got an orange belt in Aikido! I'm not about to stand and watch people try and deface this place!" I whispered quickly back, turning off my flashlight.
"Kyle! You sure we should do this man? Someone could be here!" A whiny voice said aloud, worriedly.
The guy I presumed to be Kyle spoke next, "Shut up Demile, it doesn't matter, we're going to burn this place to the ground! It's just taking up space anyway, no one comes here anymore."
Alistair looked at me, concerned, "Kaisanara Lorei Noelle Ianari Davininch, get out of here! You're putting yourself in danger!" He exclaimed angrily.
I ignored him, my fists shaking with rage, 'no-one comes here anymore'. I brought up my most agitated glare and walked over to face the potential arsonists.
They were dawdling, still standing by the front, though slowly heading towards the direction I'd come from, "Don't you know it's rude to break into a library? Even more so to try and burn it down," I growled at them, using my harshest possible glare.
They both glanced at me in shocked frustration, the one worried about being caught spoke up first, "See, I told you so!" He whined.
My hands were on my hips, and I put forth the most imposing, intimidating image I could, it helped that my curly hair was a mess, "I suggest you leave, now," I added angrily.
"I'll take care of her, start setting up Demile," Kyle announced cockily, cracking his knuckles, trying to match the image I put up.
I giggled, "It's not going to work," I sprinted after Demile and threw a kick at his neck, a resounding crack resulted, and he fell to the ground.
Then it began to feel like time was slowing down, pain was spreading from my shoulder to my spine, and blood was beginning to drip down my arm, covering my shirt. That hadn't been the sound of bone breaking, though I probably had broken his neck in the process.
"I don't think you'll be getting much farther lady," Kyle chuckled.
I glared back at him, "Oh, I'm just getting started, you little punk," I exclaimed, charging towards him, I balled a fist aimed straight for his face.
Kyle smirked lazily, "I'm a black belt in Shotokan Karate lady, you don't stand a chance," He chided.
I rolled my eyes, "Black belt my ass. Why would you even bother? I'm an orange belt in Aikido, and I highly doubt you'd be able to gain an advantage," And as I spoke, I punched with all the force I could possibly manage.
And he caught it, caught it like it was nothing, and threw me through a couple shelves. Books went flying everywhere, I could almost hear them screaming in shock and dismay at being moved so forcefully.
I was out of breath and in a state of complete surprise, I had not expected to be thrown so forcefully, nevertheless, I still had to defend the library. It shouldn't matter if my bones were cracking under pressure, or if I was about to die from blood loss, I had to keep standing.
He'd followed me, and was waiting as I got up, he appeared semi-impressed, "Most people wouldn't bother getting up, oh well. You're just a little fly, I need to get to work," He sighed, walking over to his friend and picking up the gas tank he'd dropped when I'd kicked him.
Then he started pouring it on the books, throwing it without a care, a fierce gleam of glee in his eyes, "It's all going to burn!" He yelled, laughing.
"Not if I can help it!" I yelled back, getting ready to charge him again.
He tossed the can and walked back over to me, a small smile on his face, he paced himself, walking over all too slowly. He stopped in front of me and pushed me ever so slightly, and I staggered back into something, it felt like a pedestal, or a stand.
I could feel myself losing conscientiousness, it wouldn't matter to him if I died, he was too busy occupying himself with the flames.
I can't lose! Not now! I won't let him set this place aflame! I struggled to stand again, to rise to my feet.
It was then I felt something alien to me, not physically, but like a mental tap on the shoulder, "I'll take care of this love. Sleep, you need not worry."
I couldn't place the voice that was resounding in my head, it was familiar, but not, it resonated within my head, and was like a soothing lullaby.
The world went gray, and I decided I was already dreaming, of the rain clouds that had formed in the place my heart should be. A bell tolled, and the world I was so familiar with shook with sorrow, and emptiness, something that took me by surprise. And for the first time, I felt cold.
And I couldn't figure out why.
Author's Note: It's been awhile, no? I finally finished chapter three! And while to some of you, it may be a bit disappointingly short, it's important!
I was told by a reviewer that they would beta for me, and I'm going to have to decline. I'm very late when it comes to posting stuff, and it's almost never on schedule. I'm glad you read this, and I'm glad you like it and could use growth, but I have my own objections at the present. Perhaps when I'm a bit more regular when it comes to posting, but then again, probably not.
Just keep pointing out my mistakes and I'll try to work on them. That may seem a bit overconfident and arrogant to you, but it's how I am. I have a friend who can correct my mistakes anyway...
This is my late Christmas present to you, along with Playing Dangerous Games. I'm glad I got the opportunity to finish this chapter, because this is the first climax of this book.
I've decided I would make this into a series. There's this, where you meet Kaisanara, then the other, where you meet Isra, then the part where it all comes together to make absolutely no sense.
Thank you for reading!
L'Archange So you did add this to your alerts list! ^_^ YAY! Hope you enjoy.
Anyway, next chapter may be longer, maybe.