02 Wrath of Flames

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “Dammit, Magnus, I asked you not to remind me!” Ethan groaned. Brushing his hair back after recently cutting it last night thanks to Celestia helping bring it back up to shoulder level.

  The spell mentioned was aimed at Morgane when Ethan just happened to accidently step in the path unaware of Merlin testing out a new spell that had the adverse effect of changing a person’s inhibitions to make every female naked. As soon as Ethan was hit he was fully aware of reality, but his body moved, tearing off clothes from everyone. With his speed he shredded the fabric of over four hundred women before an anaconda over sixty feet long suddenly wrapped around him with hundreds of other animals flying off Tattoo’s body to subdue him before Odin managed to get powerful arms around his neck and choke him into unconsciousness. All the while Kanade was screaming for him to stop, not aware he wasn’t in control from the massively complex spell far beyond anything he knew or could counter. By the time he came back around the spell was stripped and Kanade was gone.

  She’d been telepathically blocking and staying away ever since.

  “She won’t even let me in her mind. What is worse is she and Floa are teamed up against me. Every time I get close they disappear somewhere else. I’m just hoping after three days I can see her again to explain.”

  “Good luck with that.” Blake teased, a running joke that hadn’t ended. “Reevy would have cut me into sashimi if I stripped every female in the hall. All you got were dirty looks and the silent treatment.”

  “I’d take getting stabbed just to see her. But I’m just glad all the Witches didn’t start cursing me or all the Centaur stallions try beheading me. Hell, I’m glad Ellen didn’t kill me herself when she was one of those women. At least the Nymphs got a kick out of it.”

  “And you didn’t use fire.” Magnus sobered, knowing it was both funny and dangerous. Only cloth was massacred. If Merlin’s spell was set up to kill using Ethan’s body, corpses would be littered like ash piles. “Cheer up, Pal. Weddings are a time to set aside grudges and get laid. I’m sure you’ll see your beloved today.” Ethan ignited another artfully stacked wood pile. “You know if Morgane let Merlin out of his cage for today?”

  “Sadly she did.” Ethan growled in anger. “I’m done learning from Merlin after what he made me do, even by accident. He is out of fucking control. But before I met up with you guys at Kira’s I got to speak with her father and he was more than happy and willing to allow me to become his new student. He’s a High Wizard too, but much more ideal. I’ve got the basics down and he will help me progress into a Master Wizard in a few weeks. At least he isn’t a loose cannon.”

  “We all figured you would find another who would teach you after that escapade.” Magnus nodded. “Don’t worry about Kanade. She’ll understand… eventually. You children are still so young. You’ll bounce back.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Ethan retorted dryly.

  “On another note, your joints still bothering you?”

  “Getting use to it. And I’m now eleven foot seven if you can believe it.”

  “No, I just can’t believe it!” Magnus exaggerated with a blue hand over his heart, falsely sounding as if he were wounded. “Not eleven seven! You hardly look a hair over ten.”

  “Laugh it up smartass. Morgane said she did Kanade sometime yesterday and told me she’s up to ten foot and a half. She’s officially taller than Val and our heights are steadily growing still. I can barely walk inside my own bedroom without my wings scraping the ceiling. I’ve even had to get permission to build up an addition next to the forge just so I have plenty of walking room. Construction will begin next week, but I’ve already destroyed the ceiling fan when I wasn’t paying attention. The height of my wings when folded is fifteen feet.”

  “You mentioned that two days ago… And that Morgane gave up searching for an ancestor. Now it’s just to track your body’s progression. Are the in-laws still mad?”

  “What do you think? They avoid me or threaten if I push too hard if they know where she is. Valande especially has it out for me and kicked me in the balls yesterday again. Mikhale laughed as they walked away.”

  “Again? Yikes! I remember last time’s sparring session you were sent airborne… and you didn’t have wings back then.” Magnus reached up and patted a folded wing as if he were slapping his back. “I’d be singing soprano forever. Just relax. Kanade loves you. Time straightens all things out. How many more bonfires do you need to finish.”

  “A dozen or so more.” He guessed and finished doing them, talking with good friends now half his height, but the electricity in the air help distract from depressing thoughts at how his true love hated him.

  With the field lit up by hundreds of twenty foot tall blazing bonfires the misty fog stood no change and had burned away to also knock most of the chill out of the area thanks to almost no breeze. Workers furiously finished laying carpets down over plastic sheets as technicians finished setting up the sound systems.

  Ethan, Magnus and Blake stood near towards the huge wedding stage that had been so artfully made that it seemed to have been magically grown from a single piece of cedar. Vibrant flowers wove around it all like a vine. On the platform were six brightly burning braziers placed in a half circle where the anticipated couple would stand. Out in front was a wide-angle video camera and several cameramen who would record this massive celebration. A single set of stairs allowed access to the open place where none other than Thor stood as Odin’s eldest living son in a thick suit, Mjolnir the most famous hammer of all time hung from his hip. Thick blonde hair hung straight down the half Naga’s back. Arms crossed out of comfort, not impatience.

  And with the dawn came the crowds. Many chose to Translocate to their designated areas from those of greater importance to not. TV screens below the speakers all around the grounds would afford everyone to see the momentous event for two special individuals. Gargoyles, Pixies, a few Pegesai, ethereal Spirit Guides came by the slight haze around their bodies since few chose to have physical ones and a few other flyers flew in rather than instantly being transported. Even Celestia’s fiery form came to watch though most stood far away when she glared and didn’t want to talk. She was a good actress at being mean and her body was plenty for a deterrent. Witches, Wizards, Ogres, Nymphs, Centaur, Nagai, a few Amazons came with Odin’s blonde hair and bore a striking resemblance to their Viking father, and quite a few human specialists who could do any number of unique things. Unlike the other races, humans had no specific pattern to their supernatural gifts. Nearly every woman wore a beautiful dress and men wore their finest clothes. Many loved modern suits, but some opted for more ancient traditions. Pelts, leathers or linen. Wedding gifts had already been put away since it would take weeks to open them all in front of the guests.

  Many of the heads of all the other Houses and royalty were put second to closest, closest reserved to direct descendants and divided by Odin’s offspring and Floa’s with distant friends stuck all the way in the back.

  As the area was filling up, the three men noticed a woman of Indian stock, dot not feather, approaching. She was in her early to mid forties and smiled slowly, taking full measure of the giant between a Naga and an Ogre. “Hello, you must be Ethan Volorum the… um… Fire Elemental.”

  “As far as I know, Ma’am. Might I ask who I have the pleasure of talking to?”

  “We’ve not met before, but we have something in common. Care for a demonstration and see if you can deduce my identity?” She smiled calmly again.

  “I’m game. We’ve got a few minutes till the wedding starts.” He returned the expression.

  Wind came out of nowhere and spiraled around her, but did not affect anyone else watching as snow shot around her till she lifted clear off the ground as self assured as possible. Sound though howled around her as she showed off until the vortex whipping around her began sparking with electricity. Soon she was surrounded by lightning that crackled till she all of a sudden stopped and the tremendous power vanis
hed to dissipate the energy through the very ground she stood on. Her lovely dress hadn’t moved or gotten even slightly dirty. “Can you guess who I am now?”

  He laughed, deep and rich. “I’d be blind if I didn’t know the leader of the Forty Third House was the only living Air Elemental associated with Order. Your power is almost as rare as mine, Cyllia. It really is a pleasure to meet a fellow Elemental that isn’t a nut-job.”

  “So I read in the report with the Lords. One day I’d like to see if our powers combine.”

  “They won’t.” He said confidently. “Once I conjured a flame in an oxygen rich room, but when I was in control it didn’t get affected. I can also light a fire in a vacuum. And no matter how strong a wind gets, you won’t make it flicker.”

  “Prove it.”

  Fire consumed his hand. Turning it red like it got too much blood. As he held it out and down, she brought her hand up and twirled her finger over it to make another miniature tornado in his palm. Nothing so much as a wave adjusted the licking flames. And she put as much as she could into making it move. It sounded like a siren wailing till huffing “How disappointing. There goes my idea of teaming up with you to boost our powers in a deadly confrontation. I would still like to get to know you one day. Earth and Water Elementals are so predictable and stubborn. Perhaps you have a free spirit too.”

  “Nope, just anger issues I’m in control of. And I get into a lot of trouble without intending.”

  “Can’t dispute that.” Magnus threw in.

  Cyllia smiled. “Nevertheless, just know that despite your appearance I still see you as a rare Elemental sibling and we are so few. We need to stick together. Farewell gentlemen.” She turned and left, her raven hair moving in an unnatural breeze.

  A familiar soothing presence suddenly rushed through him. After days of withdraw it was a pressure relief, like fresh air after burning lungs about to drown. But then as he relished the moment came thoughts. “Darlin’, are you mad at me?”

  “Me?” This stumped him. “Why on earth would you think I was mad?” He looked around, trying to fix her location. But she wasn’t there and he feared he was losing his mind and imagining her there.

  “No, I’m really here in your mind right now. But I’ve been avoidin’ you for days. Have you not asked Dress why?”

  “Dress? No. I’ve been trying to find you so I can apologize for making every girl go buck naked. I kept trying to find you for days, but every time I got close, you disappeared on me. Your mother kicked me in the groin when I told her to give you a message…”

  “Oh, Darlin… you assumed wrong again.” She laughed through the telepathic link.

  “What else was I supposed to think? You kicked me out of your mind. Avoided me using Floa and your parents. Our friends would tell me nothing when the girls went to you. I’ve been going bat crap crazy thinking I hurt you deeply again. And you laugh? The only thing that let me think of other things was work. And I did that a lot. I’ve gotten no sleep these three days… though I’m not too tired.”

  Her emotions calmed and tinged on sadness. “My Angel, I’m sooo sorry for the misunderstandin’. I was in your mind when Merlin took over your body. I know you weren’t in control of your actions. After Odin forced you to pass out you were taken for help. When I was told you were alright I had Odin promise to tell you I needed to do somethin’ important I’ve been neglectin’ since we always have rough sex… especially on our island durin’ the day. I avoided you only because I needed to focus rather than forget even my own name and about the weddin’.”

  “So you really aren’t mad?”

  “Why do you think all the women you stripped didn’t attack or curse you to lose your dick? Trust me, they wanted to do it in a bad way. I explained it was Merlin’s foolish and highly inappropriate spell. If not for me you would have been retaliated against by many.” Her thoughts lightened. “Before you collapse in relief, would you like to see what I’ve been busy with?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Look up.”

  Kanade dropped from the sky and landed right in front of him, glad to see his jaw hanging and mind go blank.

  A long, flowing dress covered her. It was a stunning gold that was embroidered with red flames mixed with purple, asymmetrically flowing up the gown. It hugged her voluptuous curves and emphasized those round hips begging to be held. Her arms were bare along the backless dress. It came up to just above the small of her back and arched up and around so it was held together at the nape of her neck. The golden cloth split to emphasize her wondrous breasts and crossed around her neck. In the center of her cleavage was the holding hands pendant that glowed as if it burned, drawling the eye all for his viewing pleasure. Her neck though was sleek, curved and proudly showed off the ring of scars encircling her throat. Clip-on earrings hooped artfully with her tumbling blue hair that framed her beautiful face. Not a grain of makeup touched it for it wasn’t needed. And her shoes were hidden, likely not high heels since they stood in snow.

  She made a pirouette to make the gown slightly flare out. “You like?”

  “I think you broke him.” Nell chuckled in an azure dress as the other women came out of the throng of visitors. All wore blue-green bridesmaid dresses, even Ellen though it was more of a curtain. Only Kanade as matron of honor got permission from the bride to wear the supermodel stunning outfit.

  Kira kicked his foot and didn’t elicit a reaction. “I think Nell’s right. Kanade, you really did break your husband.”

  They laughed. Kanade though came closer and touched his cheek, breaking his trance. “Yes, I’m wearin’ a dress and no, you aren’t dead again.”

  “You look…” He could find no word to describe her.

  “I know. With me growin’ so much, I had to start all over making a new dress. Thankfully Dressor and I got it right since my measurements are still proportional as I keep up with you. I made it myself by hand. This is why I’ve been gone.”

  “But I thought you couldn’t wear a dress without it blowing over your head like it did when you were a little girl. Flying makes too much wind…” He admitted, still wide eyed as he took her in.

  “From now on I’ll only wear pretty dresses thanks to Lady Morgane.” She turned around as the High Witch was already in the crowd nearby hearing everything. “This was perfect and everythin’ I dreamed. Thank you.”

  “Seeing Ethan as a bloody slack-jawed yokel was worth it.” Morgane twirled a strawberry strand around a finger, softly smiling unlike the frozen in place Merlin who’s eyes were wild with mirth as he sat cursed with immobility. She sat down beside him to make sure he didn’t make matters worse.

  Kanade returned her focus to her man. “Like your clothes, I’ve enchanted the underside of my dress to not flutter or move in any wind and a darkness spell so no one can look up my dress and see what kind of panties I’m wearin’.”

  “Like none at all right now.” Nell slipped in and laughed as Ethan’s eyes glazed and he growled low and deep, mostly making Gargoyles turn out of curiosity. “That’s right, Lover Boy, she’s not wearing panties.”

  “Nell!” Kanade shrieked and glared. “You’ve ruined his surprise for later.”

  “No, she didn’t.” He said after clearing his throat. “I can’t smell your usual silks. I knew, but until she said anything I was trying to tame my thoughts.” He gruffly cleared his throat. “ Fat chance now. Angel, you are stunning.”

  “Well I’ve given all my pants away since I can no longer fit in them. I’ve got only skirts and dresses now. I just wanted to make this one myself. I hated pants. Now I feel much more womanly.”

  “Ha, tits like those can’t hide the fact you are a woman if all you donned was a potato sack.” Nell hugged and kissed Magnus right after the comment. “You look good, Honeysuckle.”

  “As do you… and I love the new jasmine perfume.” He replied.

  Kanade bit back a retort, but didn’t take Nell’s bait and make a scene. Instead she gave Ethan a long ove
rdue kiss. It erased all the tension in him and she was glad she had such power over him. She pulled back to admire him too. “Dress is by far the best tailor there ever will be. You look almost like royalty. All you need is a crown.”

  “I missed you.” He said genuinely as he took her hand.

  She wove her soft, slender fingers perfectly with his rough calluses. “And I’m sorry. I really wanted to keep my handmade dress a secret, not cause you to worry my affections were changed in any way.”

  “And I wanted to kick you in the balls for blocking my way yesterday and trying to order me to let you see her.” Valande smugly said from behind without anyone noticing her approach.

  Ethan stood straighter and was about to return the kick till he laid eyes on his mother-in-law. Instead of wearing a blazing helmet she wore a her lover’s amulet glowing between two well endowed breasts larger than her daughter’s. Now that he got a good look, Valande did indeed look nearly identical to her child Kanade. Early to mid-twenties. Adorably smooth face, alabaster complexion, sinful lips, a small pert nose and darker brown eyes. Only bright yellow hair and wings along with a more muscular body made any difference between them. She too wore a long azure dress.

  Mikhale beside her looked the same, without his helmet. Only his hair and wings were metallic green. Only compared to more muscular son-in-law he wasn’t so daunting anymore. But he wore a modern tuxedo in a similar pattern as Ethan, only a dull gold with shoes to match those calculating yellow eyes.

  “Why did you both wear helmets all the time this past week when you could do like Kanade?”

  “Helmets are made to perfectly safeguard us from harming living creatures permanently.” Mikhale admitted and tapped the trinket on his chest. “These will last but a week or two at most. Plus there are other spells that protect our minds and words from catching the attentions of creatures we’ve wronged over the course of our immortal lives. It also allows us to be telepathic between worlds. As soon as the ceremony is over they will go right back on.” He turned his head. “Like your medallion needs to be replaced by next week. It is losing power constantly burning off your aura safely.”