Ashes (The Firebird Trilogy Book 1) Page 32

  I nodded, feeling panicked butterflies flutter in my stomach. I unhooked my arm from Jayson’s, quickly saying, “I’ve got to go, wish me luck.”

  He smiled, and to my surprise suddenly bent forwards to lightly kiss my lips. Before I had chance to react he pulled away again, “Good luck.”

  Blinking like a madwoman with a nervous twitch I followed Katrina away from Jayson and the Ashaiks, feeling judgemental eyes boring into my back.

  She led me around the bustling space. I’d never seen so many Phoenix in my life. Eventually we discovered a tiny room at the side of the ice building. Inside there were at least twenty scantily clad female dancers of different Tribes; each displaying their wings. Apparently it was an art form to dance like that, and very difficult. It wasn’t hard to imagine why.

  At least I wasn’t the only one hardly dressed.

  Then my stomach dropped as I noticed Sofia. She was one of the dancers and she looked absolutely breathtaking.

  I waited there, nerves bubbling in my chest until somebody called “Ruby?”

  “Yes?” I said, despite knowing what was coming.

  “We’re ready.” Katrina said, looking purposefully at the dancers.

  Good, I thought, at least somebody is.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Incandescent light burned brightly in spheres; the brilliant rays flickering down from the ceiling like trapped stars. They hung from the decorated ice rafters; dangling precariously in their thousands. I blinked against the light’s blinding harshness, but unfortunately still saw my waiting audience.

  My heart pounded so strongly it was like a fierce battle cry. Beads of sticky sweat formulated across my back, tumbling down my naked spine. I clasped my hands together; interlacing my fingers tightly like they were the only things keeping me clutched to earth. The drums began beating, imitating my pulse, and the beautiful wind and string instruments soon followed.

  Suddenly a blank wall hit me. What was I doing? I don’t remember the words! Seizing hold of my panic before it would grow overwhelming, I opened my mouth and began the song. The first word choked out, the next sounded like a strangled cat, but by the third I’d controlled myself.

  The rest of the lyrics flowed like water; shimmering and mesmerising. The music slowly melted through my hesitant system, my body awakening, reincarnated by the sound. My voice wrapped around me, then unleashed into the room, finally settling on each individual. The world and its inhabitants were at my fingertips, ready to grasp.

  No. These people were not mine to take.

  The dancers spilled around me as the chorus kicked in. Automatically, the dancers captured attention and all my nervous ideas vanished. Feeling relieved that the crowd was mostly distracted, their intense gazes divided, I continued my song while keeping my voice firmly under control.

  The dancers moved seductively, alluringly; in a sexy way that I could never ever pull off. They swayed their bodies back and forth tantalisingly, leaping elegantly into the air with their impressive wings. The dance was like ballet but with wings and sass. And, of course, Sofia was phenomenally talented and looked so beautiful that my self-confidence shrivelled and died.

  I bet Kieran was watching her.

  The song came towards the climax and I released my voice to its enchanting potential; mostly because Sofia was stealing my limelight. Now everybody was looking at me. The weaker Phoenix had blank faces.

  Shit.

  Not again.

  Thankfully the music came to an abrupt halt. There was a few seconds of startled silence and then the room burst into enthusiastic applause. It was over. I’d done it.

  I could feel my pulse racing. My lungs frantically gasped for oxygen. Exhaustion suddenly consumed me, smudging my vision and swaying my body precariously. I hadn’t realised how much effort it took to keep my voice under control for such a big crowd. Vaguely I heard surrounding noises, like the screeching of chairs on the stone floor but my head swam irrationally. I could feel myself falling…

  Strong arms caught me. Feeling that I’d played this scene before, I looked up. In a daze, I felt almost confused when I realised that the eyes I saw weren’t green. They were amber.

  “Are you alright?” Jayson asked; concern etched across his features.

  I frowned as my vision slowly adjusted. I heard a hollow ringing in my ears. I could also hear that the music had awkwardly started up again; the dancers were now joined with male dancers and were currently gliding gracefully across the room. This music wasn’t painfully intense, it was as smooth and tempting as chocolate.

  “I t-think so,” I spluttered shakily, then I shook my head and forced my unstable legs to hold my weight as I carefully straightened up.

  Jayson looked uncertain, a worried frown creasing his forehead, and he reluctantly removed his hands from my waist. Grimacing, I followed as he led me to a nearby table.

  Jayson sat me down on an unoccupied chair, ignoring the other twelve people sat at the table; who were gaping at me like I’d just drank mayonnaise through a straw. Instead, he gazed anxiously in my eyes like he thought I might shatter.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You look kind of green,” he queried probingly.

  “I’m fine,” I answered honestly, the dizziness had completely subsided.

  He offered me an expensive-looking crystal glass filled with a bubbling pink liquid. I made a face, but took it off him. It tasted like fizzy grapefruit.

  “You were fantastic, by the way,” Jayson complimented. “Up until the point you nearly fainted.”

  I laughed, “Up until that point.” I glanced at the dancers enviously, wishing I could look so graceful, and wondered “So what happens now?”

  “Well, now, there will be games, fireworks, flight displays, food.” I turned back to him; he was raising his eyebrows, “dancing; that kind of thing.”

  “Food sounds good,” I volunteered, suddenly ravenous.

  He smiled, standing up, but when I stood up too he shook his head and pushed my shoulder down again. I frowned at him, confused, and he said, “You just sit there, you still look pale. I’ll get you something.”

  “I always look pale,” I objected, but he grinned then walked off anyway.

  “That’s very true,” said an annoying, familiar voice. “Bleached almost.”

  “Are you being racist?” I wondered, not looking at him.

  “I just came to check if my damsel in distress is okay,” he answered innocently, with an irritating edge. “I know how difficult you find it to stand completely still and not find something to injure yourself with.”

  “Is it because it’s a special occasion that you’re being doubly irritating, or are you genuinely trying to be conversational?” I enquired, finally turning to look at Kieran.

  “Oh Princess,” Kieran retorted sarcastically. “Every day’s a special occasion when I’m with you.”

  “How sweet,” I said through gritted teeth. I glared angrily at him.

  “Sarcasm really isn’t that attractive on you,” he said lazily. “Leave it to professionals like me, who use it as an art rather than a final resort.”

  “Kieran, I’m hungry,” I moaned. “Can’t I ignore you some other time?”

  “You know, if I actually cared about your opinion, I might be offended,” he said. “I’m a very sensitive person after all.”

  “Oh yeah, I can see how emotional you are,” I muttered furiously.

  “I am,” he smiled edgily. “It must be hard for you to take in. After all, most emotion can’t fight through the gooey black stuff surrounding your heart.”

  I glowered at him, but he looked at me with that superior arrogance flickering in his eyes. A smirk rested on his flawless lips, a cocky lean in his stance. Jayson returned, staring pointedly at Kieran. Warning bells chimed in my head, but Kieran didn’t seem remotely fazed.

  “Alright, that’s enough,” Jayson said, a firm warning tone saturating his voice; an edge I’d only heard once. “You shouldn’t speak to her
like that.”

  Kieran examined him calmly, like he was merely curious. “How did you get here? You know you shouldn’t be wandering around without your owner.” Kieran put his hands on his hips, shaking his head with dramatic eyes. “Did somebody let you out of your cage again?”

  I saw Jayson’s eyes flash, but he composed himself, barely, before he spoke, “What do you want?”

  “To talk to Ruby,” he answered. Everybody could hear him. “You know, what I was doing perfectly well before you came.”

  “Your definition of talking is very different to mine,” Jayson responded.

  “Simple verbs like ‘talk’ can confuse some people; I’m sure you’re just a late developer.” Kieran assured him patronisingly, “Just sit down before you wet yourself in embarrassment.”

  “Kieran,” I said warningly but he ignored me.

  “Ruby’s right here,” Jayson said, not moving an inch or taking his animalistic gaze from Kieran as he gestured towards me blindly.

  “I know. I was speaking to her before you rudely interrupted.”

  “I’m rude?” Jayson scoffed.

  Kieran nodded, his face mockingly delighted. “There you go; acceptance is the first sign on the road to recovery. Soon you’ll have perfect manners.”

  “Did you learn that at anger management?” Jayson retorted bitterly.

  Kieran just looked at him, “You know, usually I don’t judge why parents keep their unwanted children, but with you, I can’t help but wonder what the hell they were thinking.” He said it so calmly, so factually.

  That was when Jayson snapped.

  “What were your parents thinking when they kept that human,” -he nearly spat the word– “your brother, alive? It’s disgusting.”

  My jaw dropped open in astonishment; shock froze my limbs where they were beginning to hastily stand. I gaped at Jayson. It was ten times worse than anything Kieran had said. I really couldn’t believe he’d just said that.

  “What did you say?” the quiet nonchalance in Kieran’s velvety voice didn’t fool me. Jayson had insulted his brother; that was unforgivable.

  “Everybody knows your brother is human,” Jayson answered. I moved to jerk forwards but my bones wouldn’t respond and I staggered into the back of a vacant chair. No Kieran, I thought pleadingly, people are watching.

  “I thought you did,” Kieran said, his voice way too rational. “I just needed confirmation before I beat an apology out of you.”

  I shoved the chair back, but I wasn’t fast enough. Even Jayson wasn’t fast enough. Kieran brought up his arm, as fast as lightning, and a millisecond later I heard a loud crack as his fist connected with Jayson’s jaw. Jayson rolled back on his heels from the impact, his expression almost surprised, and then he pounced forward like a cat.

  “Kieran!” I shouted as I rushed over.

  Jayson went to hit Kieran but he somehow managed to dodge out of the way. The scene blurred as fists flew at speeds too quick for my mind to comprehend. Charging at Jayson, I yanked him back as hard as I could, trying to avoid being accidentally hit myself, probably by my own arm.

  I was knocked to the side and Kieran furiously beat Jayson to the floor, growling. Jayson somehow managed to kick Kieran’s ribcage, the impact forcing him backwards into a table; the plates and glasses going flying. They charged at each other like wild animals, their faces unrecognisable with fury.

  Suddenly Adrian was there, grabbing the back of Kieran’s shirt with his iron strength and hauling him off Jayson. For once, Kieran actually looked like Adrian’s younger brother. Flint, Jayson’s friend, moved to restrain Jayson. Kieran was struggling viciously to escape Adrian’s frantic grasp. I could see the animalistic glint in his emerald eyes; they were unfocused and malicious, beyond the point of reasoning. Adrian was saying things in his ear but Kieran blatantly couldn’t hear him. He looked possessed.

  I went to stand between them with my back to Jayson; whose face was already swelling. I stared at Kieran carefully, waiting until he finally noticed me. His burning stare almost passed through me. A shudder rippled to my core. The hostile contempt wasn’t aimed at me but it still hurt to behold.

  “Kieran,” I spoke his name quietly, reassuringly, so he knew I was there. And then I breathed that significant, ancient word before I even realised I had spoken. My instincts took over entirely as I gently whispered, “Sungha.”

  His eyes flickered with a spark of comprehension, and then shifted to mine. I gazed into his eyes until eventually his dilated pupils shrunk and he looked slightly less insane.

  His perfect features softened, the tense muscles of his shoulders seemed to sag like rafters in an old cottage. Adrian’s strained-white knuckles relaxed slightly. Adrian looked at me for the first time without any hate. He looked almost grateful.

  “Sungha,” Kieran repeated quietly.

  When Lynk’s voice suddenly was in my ear, I jumped, startled.

  “Now boys,” he said. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for bickering?”

  “If so, then we’re too old to be called boys, aren’t we?” Kieran snapped bluntly; thoughtlessly. I exhaled in exasperation, mentally cursing.

  To my surprise, Lynk seemed almost amused. Well that was a first, that someone was actually impressed by Kieran’s bad attitude.

  “I suppose you’re right and therefore I won’t need to remind you, Kierakai Ashaik, that if you are brought before the High Council one more time, you won’t just be leaving with a few scars that your mummy can heal,” he warned delicately. “In fact, I doubt you’d leave at all.”

  “You want to keep me?” Kieran inquired, his voice laced with mocking amusement, “Well I’m flattered, but unfortunately I’m also straight.”

  Lynk stared calmly at him, “Pass me your sword.”

  “Excuse me?” Kieran seemed surprised. “I thought we’d just made my sexuality quite clear. I’ll save my sword for the ladies, thank you.”

  Adrian reached down to Kieran’s belt and withdrew his Gaborah blade, muttering something nasty in Kieran’s ear. He passed it to Lynk without a word. Lynk held the blade tightly, “I suggest you disappear, now, Kierakai.”

  I shivered at the black threat in his eyes but before Kieran could say anything Adrian answered, “My Lord.” He nodded respectfully, shoving Kieran away.

  I watched as he left, feeling strangely numb.

  Lynk then turned to Jayson. “I would have thought better of you, Wanowa.”

  “Apologies,” he grunted. “It won’t happen again.”

  “Ruby,” at the sound of my name my attention snapped to Lynk. “Why can I not help but think you were involved in this?”

  “Kieran was being rude,” I told him, “and Jayson was just sticking up for me.” I didn’t feel it was necessary to mention the finer details.

  Lynk shook his head disappointedly, but then something caught his eye and he seemed distracted. I turned to see what he was looking at, but frowned when I saw nothing.

  Lynk said, “Be careful. All of you. I don’t want anyone messing up the plan.”

  “What plan?” I enquired, instantly suspicious. It all begins tonight.

  Lynk glanced back at me, as if he’d just realised I’d been standing there. “The plan for a successful night, of course,” he answered guardedly. “Excuse me,” he said before walking off into a sea of constantly moving people.

  I turned to Jayson, suddenly realising just how angry I was. “I can’t believe you,” I scolded. “Why did you do that?” He looked almost shocked at my outburst but when he opened his mouth, I interrupted him. “Why would you say that? You know what Kieran’s like. He’s not exactly a friendly person on a good day; you knew he was going to be pissed. Like really pissed.”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking,” he answered pathetically.

  “Well, obviously.” I retorted grumpily, feeling exhausted. I plonked myself down onto a chair, digging into whatever was on the plate Jayson had brought me. I couldn’t taste anything; as
if the food turned to ash in my mouth.

  “I didn’t know you were close to Adrian as well,” Jayson said slowly, sitting.

  “I’m not really, but as a whole I’m close to the entire family.” Chewing something that tasted vaguely like chicken, I swallowed hungrily without savouring. I wondered, “Is that, like, abnormal?”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “It really is.”

  I mulled that over as I shovelled food into my mouth. I’m even less of a lady when eating, especially when I’m angry. When my plate was empty and the silence became too awkward for me to stand, I downed the rest of my glass; hoping it was filled with alcohol.

  “Hey,” Jayson said warningly. “Steady on, that’s stuff’s lethal.”

  “I’m no lightweight,” I snapped. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Look, I’m sorry about Kieran, okay?” he gushed suddenly, his words practically spilling out. “Just please stop giving me that look.”

  “It was more what you said about Adrian than anything else,” my eyes narrowed. “Do you really think that?”

  He shook his head, “I was just angry. Kieran just…gets to me. You don’t understand. We go so far back. They hurt me, I hurt them.”

  I nodded, wondering why he said ‘they’ instead of ‘him’.

  “He gets to me too,” I sighed eventually.

  When I didn’t say anything else, Jayson asked, “Do you want to go for a walk? I could use some fresh air.”

  I stood up and followed him around the outside of the Ice Palace. There were less people outside than inside and eventually we found a more secluded section. I sat down on some stone steps, Jayson sitting beside me. Our wings spread out behind us, interlocking like a plaits.

  It was darker outside. The music was muffled by the frozen walls. I glanced at Jayson. He was looking at me already, those sweet amber eyes staring directly into mine. He really was beautiful. I knew it was true. He had his flaws, I know, but he had been a really good friend to me over the last couple of weeks. It was nice to be with someone so relaxed and laid back; despite his questionable occupation and disputes with the Ashaik brothers. I felt truly calm around Jayson.