by Jadyn Chase
Burning Ashes
Jadyn Chase
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Copyright © 2018 by Jadyn Chase
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
Contents
1. Julian
2. Aya
3. Julian
4. Aya
5. Julian
6. Aya
7. Julian
8. Aya
9. Julian
10. Aya
11. Julian
12. Aya
13. Julian
14. Aya
15. Julian
16. Aya
17. Julian
Epilogue: Aya
More from Jadyn
1
Julian
The sun’s rays scattered between the leaves above me. Without a clear view of the sky or even the whisper of a wave off the water, my energy dwindled by the minute. I'd give just about anything for an ocean breeze to find me, if even for a few seconds. It didn't help that I was in desperate need of companionship. The Height of Passion for any Emerald Siren was potent enough to make us lose our minds if not careful. The tingles it sent down my body, from changing my hair to stark white and the insatiable urge to dole out untold heights of pleasure, made me want to claw out of my skin. Only the intimate touch of another Siren would sate me and stave off the impulses racking my body. But, my urges of lust would have to wait. I thought it would be done by now. I thought I’d be able to return home to rebuild what I’d lost, but the task at hand kept me occupied far longer than anticipated, months longer actually, and it would not be one I could drop. There was too much at stake.
The heat was unrelenting in the thick of the brush. A heaviness dripped over my body along with several beads of sweat. It wouldn’t be long before my scent betrayed my position. I’d been following the Sect of Zion, a group of zealots whose sole mission was to track and sacrifice rare Scalers. They had this ridiculous ideology that ingesting our blood and scales would lead them to immortality.
Idiots.
I refused to dwell on the reasons why they believed in what they did. My primary focus at the moment was to mask my odor so the traitorous Scalers traveling with them wouldn't track me. Anthros couldn't smell worth a damn, so I wasn't worried about them; at least, not all of them.
The one in control, their leader Cyrus, had the most enigmatic aura about him that I’d ever seen. Even after the eight months of trekking across the country behind these nutjobs, I still couldn’t figure out how he controlled them all; those Scalers included. They were Jade Sentinel Scalers playing security guards for the group. In any other setting they would have devoured every one of them; picked their teeth with the Anthro bones. These two? They quivered at the sound of Cyrus's voice. I didn't get it.
The Jade Sentinels were mighty, battle-ready warriors whose scales shifted with bone plates to create a practically impenetrable layer. They were fiercer than Onyx Skulls, and the most volatile of all Scalers. However, their numbers ran so scarcely, the volatility amongst their breed was necessary for their survival. Not to mention the female Jade Sentinel was even harder to find. Rumors had it there were only a dozen or so left, scattered around the planet. At least finding a female Emerald Siren wasn't that difficult. A day or two's flight tops would have me in the arms of a beauty that would satisfy my urges and then let me get back to my place. The greying strands of my dark brown hair let me know my bi-annual craving was waning for today. It only reminded me of how long it’s been since I’ve felt a woman’s touch. My urges hadn’t been satisfied in years. I’d always been too busy with looking after the people of Roselake.
Memories of Roselake, my home, of what it used to be, angered and saddened me at the same time. The Sect played a significant role in destroying what I once knew. There were too many emotions ravishing my body, and all I wanted to do was be left alone; like most Emeralds. But here I was, crouched down behind a massive tree trying to hide my solid 6'3 frame from a group desperately seeking to make my kind a part of some ritual that would never work.
The wind whipped around me, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before it carried wisps of my essence to the Sentinels.
"Cyrus," one of the Scalers called out. His name was Six, and he had a passion for chaos. The buzzed cut blonde hair on his head stood straight up as his hazel eyes moved around the camp. I wondered if he'd sniffed me out yet, but thankfully enough, he had something else on his mind. "Rations are running low. We're close to Black Harbor, but I think we should keep our distance."
Cyrus stood a few inches shorter than Six, but still wielded an unseen power over the Scaler. He gave him simple instructions, “Take Axel to go hunting while we continue to finalize our plans on entering Black Harbor. Those idiot scientists should have taken over the city by now, but it’s fine. We can succeed where they failed. Black Harbor will be a safe haven for Anthros.”
Something made the Sentinel's golden eyes dim. He blinked slowly as if waking up but he stared right at Cyrus, "I don't think that's the best idea. There are too many Scalers in the area. I can smell them all. Not to mention, there's a rumor of a Scaler city in the sky. Somewhere in the mountaintops that watches over them. We're going to need a lot more muscle than just Axel and myself. I think you should give up this idea. We can help you build a community and then we can-"
Cyrus tilted his head and leaned in close, speaking into Six’s ear, “That’s enough thinking for you today. You will do as I say. I will tell you what to do. You will do as I say. So what say you?”
He did something else that I couldn’t quite see, but as soon as he stepped away, the difference in the Scaler’s demeanor was drastic. While his eyes brightened, his shoulders slumped while rattling off, “I will do as you say, Leader of Zion, Cyrus.”
"Very good. Now take Axel, go hunt to get us food, and I’ll prepare to overtake the city of Black Harbor. Those monsters don't deserve it! They don't deserve the powers bestowed upon them by the great energy of Zion. They don't deserve to kiss the sky with their wings. They deserve to burn and have their blood and ashes gifted unto all of us who are without! They need to-"
Cyrus stopped his tirade as Six didn’t appear to give him the reaction he wanted. Six wasn’t listening. As a matter of fact, the more I stared at him, the more I wondered if Six was present at all. His mind was … it was gone.
Back to the task at hand, I needed to mask my odor before Six snapped out of whatever trance he was in. Blowing my cover after this long seemed a bit pointless. So I gathered as much of the dirt around me as I could. Once the pile was sufficient enough, I pulled out a vial. Its contents were too potent to use alone. The dirt would be the carriage. A few drops of my elixir along with some water made enough mud to coat my entire body. I rubbed and rolled around in it like swine, letting my clothes and skin get caked in the concoction.
Axel and Six were off on their hunt, and I kept to the perimeter of the camp, following Cyrus as he moved tent to tent until he moved to check on their makeshift shed. They were accumulating an arsenal of sorts. Older, antiquated weapons that wouldn't dent the bark of a tree let alone pierce the skin of any Scaler. My heart thumped against my chest. Moving in closer and clo
ser, I knew this would be the time to step in and strike. I could kill Cyrus and decimate this entire group before Six and Axel returned, but something stopped me.
The heavy panting of someone running up to the shed made me pause. I couldn’t make out their face, but I could certainly hear their voice.
“She’s there! She’s there!” they huffed out to Cyrus. “Six and Axel can grab her now if they hurry. She was by herself. We should go get her now.”
“Easy, young one,” Cyrus rubbed the teenager’s shoulder. “All in due time. Besides, just because she’s alone, doesn’t mean she’ll come easily. Six and Axel are out on the hunt so that we can eat and have the strength to invade tomorrow at first light. Patience has served us well. It doesn’t do us any good to rush into an unknown city without setting our plan in motion. When those two return, we’ll get everything in order to grab her. Once we get this last one, I’m sure the blessings of immortality from Zion will be passed onto us once we burn her at the altar. Was her hair white?”
“Yes, she must be old right?” the young informant wondered.
“Not at all,” Cyrus snickered, “They don’t age like you and I. Any Siren with grey or white hair signals they’re ready to mate and reproduce. She’s at the height of her potency. The only other time she’ll be more powerful than right now is if she were with child. Everything is falling into place. Even with the disappointing results of the militarized group we sent in with the scientists, it appears that we’ve come at the perfect time. For now, get back to your stations and continue to prepare. I don’t want a single one of you to be lost in the battle for immortality."
It's one thing for me to sabotage the group, but I couldn't stand by while they tried to attack one of my own. I had to figure out who they were tracking and where she was. The moment I made up my mind, it's as if a sign were given to me. The salty air of an ocean breeze caught me. The gills around my neck opened and pulsed, threatening to force my scale to dive into nearby waters. A few deep breaths got my inner beast under control but set me on a path into a city I'd never been. I hope I got to her in time.
2
Aya
Sitting on the edge of the dock, looking out to the choppy waters of the harbor left me wondering if I should hit the waves or not. It had been such a long time since I've swam merely to enjoy the feeling, but scaling takes so much out of me during the Height. On the other hand, I didn't have to save my energy for anything else.
The city of Black Harbor has been my home for longer than I can remember, and the volatility has died down significantly over these past few years. The internal struggles amongst the clans have been resolved. Anthros who still reside here live in their underground communities or thrive as pets. Many of the Scalers have decided to remove the Anthro from the menu. Any who wish to dine on them must leave the city to do so; hunting them like any other source of protein. It worked. The agreement brought peace to a town that probably would have destroyed itself.
That's not to say my work as the healing Enchantress was finished. Taking Anthros off the table simply meant there was one less thing to fight over, not that the fighting would end. I continued to care for the residents of Black Harbor, both Scalers, and Anthros alike. My temperament was becoming shorter and shorter as were my words with them. I thrived in solitude, but the calling to help those around me spoke louder than my need to be alone. There were a few I even dared to call a friend.
On a night like this, a friend would come in handy.
"AYA!" a familiar voice called out to me. I really should be careful what I wish for. Laura was a Black Sapphire who detested life in the Towers. She yearned to roam the land but was too scared to leave the city on her own. We found solace in being different from the Scalers around us. Me, being an Emerald Siren, and her not wanting to conform by hosting Anthros as pets. She detested the idea, and I was only against it because it meant caring for another life far longer than I deemed reasonable.
This evening, however, her mood was far bubblier than usual. Hopping down next to me, she bumped me lightly on the shoulder. I didn't want to play this game, but she'd been a bright spot in my day for years, so I let out a sigh and gave in.
“What’s going on Laura?”
She practically squealed, “I’m going to that party at the Onyx Skulls headquarters tonight.”
"Really?" I turned to face her. Her dark green eyes reminded me of the specks that swirled in my own. Her black hair pulled behind her ears and fell to the middle of her back. "When did you become so sociable?"
“When I started seeing Xander,” she swooned.
“Do I know who that is?”
“Kind of tall guy, long blonde hair, thick black wings.”
“Now the Skull party makes sense. Well, have fun.”
“Don’t be that way, Aya. You’re becoming more and more secluded. I love you, but you need to get out more.”
“I do just fine, Laura.”
She picked up my braid to show me its color in the moonlight. I shrugged and returned my gaze to the water in front of me.
“No, you’re ready to meet someone! Your body can’t hide or deny that!”
“You didn’t say anything about meeting anyone,” I sighed, “You just said I had to get out more.”
“Well the white hair says I’m right!” she laughed letting my locks slip out of her hand, “Come on. I know you have to be going crazy without someone to share those intimate moments with.”
"I'm not going crazy, and I do just fine!" I reiterated. "Emeralds aren't like the rest of you guys. We don't actively seek companionship, which is why our hair only changes twice a year. It's not a necessity."
“But it would be nice, right?”
“Yes, Laura, I will admit that it sounds nice to have someone that I can share my private moments with, but it’s not high on my list of things to do. My life is fulfilled caring for everyone who passes through my home.”
“And what about lately? Haven’t things slowed down immensely? Are you still hosting those Anthro parties? What about the warriors from Empyrean? Are they still coming down to be treated?”
Reality set in as the dwindling number of visitors multiplied by the vibrations of my sexual urges added up to Laura making sense.
“I guess things have been kind of slow.”
She clapped her hands enthusiastically, “You can use a night out to have some fun and maybe meet someone-”
I had to cut her off, "Listen to me, Laura. Just because you've found your forever doesn't mean that I'm looking for the same thing. I don't care what color my hair is. The only thing that says is that I'm horny."
“Fine, he doesn’t have to be your forever. When’s the last time you were with someone? Anyone?”
I had to think about it because it had indeed been a while. Over a decade if I remember correctly. It was before I'd left home. Home seemed as far away as my memories of it. Sadness shot through my heart with my mother's voice echoing through my mind, "Mi Cielo, always love as you've never had your heart broken."
Cielo meant sky; a name given to me as I learned to use my wings, but Papa told me I was far more graceful in the water than the clouds. Most Sirens were. Although our family was small, we loved big. When I thought I'd found the right one to expand it, he shattered my dreams. We'd loved hard as we traveled quite a distance to be together, and when it ended, I thought it would finish me. That's when my mother's angelic voice chimed into my thoughts, "Love as you've never had your heart broken."
There I was; a broken-hearted young Scaler dreading the world in fear of living alone only to realize that I thrived in my solitude. While I loved the peace, I couldn't deny that I'd enjoy a warm body every once in a while. Perhaps, if the right one came along…
I let my memories and thoughts fade away as I glanced at Laura with concession in my eyes. She practically shouted as she jumped to her feet, "You won't regret this, Aya! We're going to have such a good time. Even if you don't find your forever, I can promise that I'l
l at least help you find your Right Now.”
I warned her jokingly, “You’d better since I have to leave my home for the night.”
She hurried me inside to pick out what I should wear. It suddenly dawned on my sweet friend that I was the only Emerald Siren in Black Harbor and my attire reflected that. Many found comfort in the same clothes they wore as Anthros. I preferred the skin I was born in but to deter the stares and invasion of my intimate space, I typically wore enough to cover the essential parts. The wasn’t optimal for a party with the Onyx Skulls.
"Is there anything in here that isn't sheer or flowing? All of these dresses move like you're walking through water," Laura giggled.
“That’s what I’m most comfortable in,” I shrugged. “Anything more would be restrictive, and I never enjoyed being told what to do, especially by fabric.”
“I guess it doesn’t really matter what you’re wearing.”
Happy to be done rummaging through my closet, we settled on a black wrap dress, sheer of course, with one of her leather jackets to go on top. While undergarments weren’t exactly my favorite thing to wear, I wore some tonight. Rumors of Onyx Skull parties spread far and wide. Becoming the subject of any of those rumors didn’t make it onto my agenda for the evening. I wanted to be a friend to Laura while trying to have a bit of fun myself. It was going to be nice not being the Enchantress for one night.
When we arrived, I noticed the building had changed a lot since the last time I'd been there. The walls were fully erect, and the roof was attached. The floors were carpeted, and the rooms had closing doors that worked. Solomon Tate was the newest leader of the Onyx Skulls, and he greeted us at the door.