The man screamed out in pain before finally collapsing on the floor.
“I thought I made myself clear,” another voice entered the room, but I saw no source. “No one is to touch the fire mage.”
I shivered as I turned back to the man on the floor, who was panting in agony.
The woman sighed low. “I apologize on his behalf, why don’t you sit?”
I glanced back and forth, confused, horrified. But eventually I slid down on the couch, facing the woman.
“And you are?” I asked cautiously.
“I’m Zinlia, I’ll be at your side during your stay here,” she said placing her hands neatly in her lap.
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Where exactly am I?”
She met my eyes, stroking her raven black dress smoothing out non-existent wrinkles. “You’re in Nighthold, the King’s castle to be more exact.”
“You mean theDemonKing?” I said through my teeth.
Her blank eyes stared at me. Emotionless was the most fitting word for her. “He is our King, no matter his lineage.”
I chuckled dryly. “Oh right… So does this King kidnap everyone who opposes him?”
The man on the floor began cracking his bones back in place, slowly rising to his full height beside me again. I merely looked him up and down before returning my attention to Zinlia.
“You’re special,” Zinlia said simply. “He wants you to be comfortable here.”
“What about my friends?” I snapped, curling my hands into fists in my lap. “If he hurts them…”
“You’re in no position to threaten the King,” the man scoffed, leering at me. “If they serve him no purpose, he surely slaughtered them all.”
My breath hitched and I felt my blood beginning to boil. “If he has so much as touched a strand on their heads—”
“What? You’ll claw him with your puny human hands?” the man chuckled.
“Virraan, stop it,” Zinlia’s eyes slid to the goat-man, warning him. “She’s the King’s guest.”
“She’s still a filthy human; livestock is all they’re good for.” His eyes gleamed at me. “I hope he didn’t kill your people… Perhaps he brought them here, too, so I can eat them in front of you.”
Flames tore through my skin, the heat almost hurt me when I exploded. They climbed wildly, craving air, desiring flesh to burn, choked for too long. My fire cascaded towards the demon-man and swallowed him whole.
“Is that all you got?” He glared at me, his hands beginning to pat the fires on his clothes to smother them out.
I exhaled slowly and it was as if I’d breathed energy into my flames. They formed a cage around him, slowly shrinking, pressing against his skin, the flames carving like knives.
“Stop it,” he hissed, panic in his voice now.
A wicked smile spread on my lips. “I don’tfeellike it.” The flames devoured him, tearing through him as his screams began echoing in the room. I watched every flicker, every sizzling burst claiming more of his body before he eventually became a pile of burnt flesh on the floor.
Slowly, my flames retreated, smoke rising from what was left of the man. My skin was smoldering, relief mixing with an unknown feeling.
I turned to the woman who simply sipped a cup of tea I hadn’t even noticed her having.
Was she going to attack me next?
“I’m a bit relieved, I must confess,” she said finally. “He was a pain to work with, and you don’t seem all that boring after all.”
I opened my mouth but found no words.
