by Jade Royal
The ash of Mage’s body slipped through Kapono’s large claws. With a roar, he lit the skies with flames. Every single person in town had stopped fighting. Seeing a man shift into a dragon was worth more than fighting. Kapono swooped back into the castle courtyard. His landing once again shook the ground, making the people below him struggle to stay on their feet. Some even fell. However, no one advanced towards him to attack or threw spears and swords at him. They just stood there gawking.
What the hell are they looking at? Do we need to stomp on them? Wrath grumped.
Shush, Kapono ordered.
“Whoa. Now you are truly a plum dragon.” The voice sounded so far away because of the magnificent size Kapono now occupied, but the voice would never be mistaken. Not being careful, Kapono swung his body around. He felt his tail rip the large gates from the ground, the spikes slicing through the metal with ease. The villagers shouted as they scattered out of the way.
Right in front of him, Ashbel’s was sitting cross-legged. She was engulfed in flames, taking on the appearance of a campfire. Through the flames, he saw her smiling at him sweetly although she seemed weak. The long scar across her neck was beginning to disappear.
“My beautiful king. You saved us all,” she called out to him. Kapono’s large neck lowered. With tender and care, he used his large nuzzle to brush against Ashbel’s face through her flames. The moment he touched her, her flames died out, leaving her body warm and fresh. He took her scent into his large nostrils falling over all again. Ashbel laughed tenderly and placed a hand against his large head. Although he was full of scales, his skin was still smooth. Her touch seemed to bring him back to humanity. Although his mind was present, his body was still trapped in that of a dragon’s. Her touch seemed to break that cast. Closing his eyes, Kapono envisioned himself holding Ashbel in his arms. Large bones cracked, scales receded, and the power of the shift shook his entire body. The pain was not as immense as he returned back to normal, his limbs slowly shrinking and sliding back into place. On the ground, Kapono’s muscles were so weak at first, he couldn’t pull himself up but nothing was going to stop him from taking Ashbel into his arms. He dragged himself up and gathered her warm body to his chest.
“How did this even happen?” she asked, looking up at him with tired eyes.
“I don’t know. I saw you go down and everything inside of me erupted. The shift took over and I couldn’t stop it. The same thing happened two years ago but I never was able to complete the shift.”
“Nothing is destroyed,” she commented.
“Nothing but that fool of a king. He’s finally gone from this world. Funny thing. I was losing complete control. But it was Wrath that anchored me. Told me that I needed to get the man who killed you and that was it.”
“Did you forget that I’m a Phoenix, plum dragon?” she asked. Kapono chuckled.
“I did. My heart was shattered seeing your throat slit. Thought I lost you again.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she smiled tenderly.
After all this damn trouble you done caused, you better not, Wrath grumbled. Kapono tossed his head back and laughed.
“What?” Ashbel asked.
“Wrath is a very interesting creature. He wants you to stick around as much as I do,” Kapono replied.
“I wonder why he likes me so much. Didn’t you say that he hates everyone?”
“Wrath?” Kapono questioned, wanting to know the reason he listened to Ashbel in the first place.
I’m a demon, that is true. But there are things even demons cannot handle. I am not just another force that lives within your body without attachment. We are joined at an intricate level that involves the soul. When we fight, I tell you where an attack is coming from because I feel innately to do so. I have to protect your body because I am one with you. You feel pain when I need you to sin because you are unaccepting of the reason to sin. But when our anger is matched there is no pain. I feel no need for sin when it comes to things you hold dear to your heart. The power of love is a force no demon and overtake or withstand. It renders us powerless because we are made of darkness and love is filled with light. As long as you love Ashbel, I cannot harm her. And I listen to her because I am not strong enough to do anything else when it comes to her. she renders me powerless and though I should hate her even more for it, the connection that steeps us as one allows me to feel the love and care you feel for her. So, hate her, I cannot. I am a demon of Wrath. The only thing I feel is the need for destruction and plight. Because of our connection; when you make love to her, I can feel that pleasure. That to me was as impossible as you turning into a dragon. Yet. Here we are. We can coexist as one force Kapono; even if my sin will still affect you. Kapono was speechless. Never did he think a coexistence with a demon would make him happy but Kapono wouldn’t change a thing.
“What did he say?” Ashbel asked.
“He listens to you because I love you,” Kapono grinned. “And apparently he can feel pleasure when we make love. Don’t know if I should be worried.” Ashbel laughed.
“Well Wrath, I like to be punished. Maybe one night we’ll have a good go of it,” Ashbel winked.
“Don’t provoke him. He won’t leave it alone until he has his way. But I don’t trust him that much yet. At least not with you,” Kapono ran his fingers through Ashbel’s hair. She smiled and closed her eyes. Being a Phoenix meant new life but it was exhaustive to be revived. Scooping her into his arms, Kapono pushed his own muscles to allow himself to stand.
He took on the crowd of townspeople still gawking in awe at him. Firya burst from the crowd and rushed up to him, carrying a long piece of cloth. With Ashbel in his arms, he couldn’t wrap the cloth around his hips so she did the honors for him.
“King Mage is dead,” Kapono announced. The celebration only consisted of gasps and shouts of surprise.
“Let this night and the ones after it be a time of peace as we all try to return back to a new normal,” Kapono continued.
“Is that why you’re back? To become the new king?” someone shouted.
“They’ll be problems! People will feel it unjust to crown you as king again!” Kapono shook his head.
“I came back for my wife,” Kapono said. “She was chained because of King Mage as much as everyone else was. That is why his death was important. You may know me as Prince Kapono, but that man is no more. I am simply Kapono Thorn, the carrier of the seven deadly sin of Wrath.”
“What are you going to do now?” someone asked. Kapono looked down at Ashbel’s sweet face. She was sleeping soundly, continuing to recover from her rebirth.
“I am going to love my wife. I am going to give her the babies she wants. I am going to try and seek retribution for my past sins. But most of all, I was blessed with the power to not only be born with dragon blood but to shift into the magnificent creature that was our ancestors. With that blessing, I will forever protect Emberdom. I will forever protect Fireland from anyone like King Mage who seeks to harm the people of this amazing land.” The stunned silence was all Kapono received. He did not expect to receive much more. It was a lot to take in but his words were true. He’d realized his true calling because he knew he could not be king. Even if people forgave him, there would still be those who hated him with the entirety of their being because he’d taken away the life of someone they loved. If that was the case, Emberdom would always be on shaky ground. Anyone could retaliate and war would be at their hands again. Emberdom would once again be riddled with more destruction. Fireland would need to be ruled on equal grounds. One day it would figure itself out, but for now Kapono simply wanted to do what he hadn’t done for two years. Sleep in his wife’s arms.
A soft sweet kiss was pressing against Ashbel’s neck when she finally came to. Groaning with delight she snuggled into the warm broad chest of Kapono. His scent had not returned to the scent he had before his sin but his new scent still gave her goosebumps. Even through all of that there was still the deep smokey scent like a campfire th
at had finally simmered and tinkered out. Ashbel loved it.
She opened her eyes slowly. Vibrant violet eyes were staring right into hers. There was such care and quaking emotion in those eyes, Ashbel nearly cried. There was one point in her life where she thought she would never be able to stare into those eyes again.
“Finally, you’re awake,” Kapono greeted her. He immediately pressed a kiss to her lips hungrily as if he’d been waiting on pins and needles for her to wake.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Rebirth is quite tiring. But I’ve been learning about my Phoenix side. The time I need to recuperate after rebirth will fluctuate based on the severity of the wounds that would have ended my life. This time was not too bad I hope.”
“No. You’ve only been asleep for three days. But still, I nearly went mad,” Kapono smiled.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic plum dragon,” Ashbel chuckled.
“You must be hungry.” Ashbel nodded. Kapono took over then. He scooped her out of bed. It was the first time Ashbel noticed she was not in the bunker, but she was in the room she’d grown up in the home she lived in with her parents.
“We’re in my parents’ place?” she questioned.
“Yes. With Mage’s death a lot of people were able to salvage the return of their homes that was seized by Mage. Your parents included. I live in a small cave alcove within a canyon and your parents did not think that was appropriate housing for their daughter so we have been here. I have not made any arrangements about where we will live little flame. I figure it was better to wait for you to awake to talk about those things,” Kapono said.
“That was very thoughtful of you,” Ashbel smiled.
“I’ve heard that about myself,” he winked. Ashbel wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly as he walked towards the bathroom. This was what she missed.
Kapono ran her a warm bath, taking tender care of her. He washed her body, running the sponge across her body with delicacy. Once he bathed her, he took his time drying her skin and then dressed her in a white wrap dress.
“Now I get you something to eat.” Walking hand and hand, they descended the marble stairs of her parents’ elegant home. Ashbel had used bird of fire to send messages to her parents often, but not too often just in case they were being watched. Seeing them sitting around the dining table made Ashbel feel as if she was truly home. They greeted her with smiles that she had not seen since that fateful night in the castle.
The table was piled high with food as if her mother was preparing a feast for a hundred people. It was like a normal day in their home. The sun was shining over Emberdom as if a war hadn’t taken place. The birds were chirping, Ashbel could hear children running around and playing outside. The life that Mage had sucked out of the kingdom was slowly started to come back, pumping virility into everyone.
“Where are the Drakaina’s?” Ashbel asked as she dove into her mother’s cooking. The roti was so soft yet flaky in her mouth, Ashbel couldn’t stop eating it.
“They are reunited with their families and clan members. Everyone has seemed to fall back into the normality of their lives before Mage took charge,” her father replied.
“That’s good to hear. I was hoping that would be the case.” As she ate, Kapono watched her intensely. She coughed slightly and he rushed to pat her back while pouring her a large glass of water.
“I’m fine Kapono, honest,” she exclaimed.
“Just slow down. You’re going to give me a heart attack.” He kissed her temple.
“I’m not that delicate you know!” Kapono could only smile at her as he gazed at her lovingly.
“How do you feel about Kapono not taking the throne?” her mother questioned her. Seeing her daughter reunited with her husband warmed her heart but she wanted to make sure Ashbel knew what Kapono was planning.
Ashbel looked at her husband. He was already smiling at her. Just a tiny smile that slightly curved the corner of his lips. Although she had passed out without knowing what had happened after the fighting was said and done, she already knew that Kapono did not want to be king. The fact that they were here instead of in the castle made that point clear. She had told him that he was just afraid of being back in Emberdom and taking his rightful place but it wasn’t until now that she realized she was out of line to say that. Not only had he proved her wrong and not only eradicated the town of Mage, he also conquered whatever fear he had to show his face in public and sport his sin tattoo with pride. She knew that if it was possible for him to be the king, he would have stepped up to do so because he’s already stepped up in ways he had denied before.
“There can be a thousand people who want me as king little flame. But if there’s just one person who doesn’t want me as king because of what happened, then Fireland will always be on shaky ground. As the capital, if Emberdom falls, the entire Fireland will fall. I’d gladly leave my crown behind to protect our land. And well, I think I’m not meant to be the king. The king doesn’t fight. He has people that will fight for the kingdom when he passes laws and rules. Baby, I’m a dragon shifter. The first fire dragon shifter in centuries. I need to use that power to fight for our land. Not sit in a throne room signing petitions and declarations. Not to mention I have a demon in me. Don’t think I can escape from endless duties as a king to find some justifiable way to commit my sins.” It all made sense. Ashbel wanted so bad for Kapono to be king because she wanted things to just go back to normal. Now she realized that life just wasn’t in their future. Now, they could start fresh, fulfilling a new purpose in their lives.
“I understand Kapono. And I’m so sorry that I didn’t understand it before. In truth, as long as we are together then that is all I want.” Kapono took her hand, caressing the firebrand and was around her ring finger.
“The kingdom is peaceful now because we are all relieved that Mage is gone. But there is no ruler. We need someone at the helm. What will we do?” Ashbel’s mother was ripe with concern.
A harsh rapping at the front door shook them from their conversation. Kapono stood immediately, charging towards the front door.
“Come quick! There’s a crowd at the castle and fighting is starting to break out!” The teenage boy that was at the door was in a panic.
“I knew it would only be a matter of time,” Ashbel’s father stated. The kingdom needed a ruler. Fighting would be inevitable.
Kapono motioned for Ashbel to come to his side quickly. When she did, he took her hand and led her out of the house. Her parents followed behind them as they rushed towards the castle. In the distance, Ashbel saw the crowd gathered in the courtyard. It didn’t take heightened senses to hear the volume of shouting coming from the castle. They’d just arrived to the back of the crowd when the pushing and fighting began.
“Stop it!” Kapono roared. One of the rowdy crowd members pushed Kapono before he realized who Kapono was.
Smack him, Wrath ordered. It was easy enough. Kapono smacked him on the back of the neck.
“Calm down,” Kapono warned him. The man held his neck but didn’t argue. Comfortable to use his flames, Kapono shot fireballs through the center of the crowd trying to break the fighting up.
“Enough!” Kapono was successful in breaking up the crowd and keeping people away from fighting. He and Ashbel stood at the front of the crowd.
“What is going on here?” Kapono asked.
“Everyone thinks they are capable of ruling. But the royal court that existed with Mage shouldn’t be allowed back in the castle. And the two strongest clans from before are not ruling the kingdom. So, who gets to be the king?” an elder stepped forward.
“We all need to be represented! Just choosing a king from one of our clans seems unfair! What about the clans who aren’t strong enough? Will we be just thrown away like before?” This time a woman stepped forward to voice her concern. The difference between that old man and the young woman was like a slap to Kapono, opening his eyes. In tradition, the king was chosen from a powerful clan and weaker clan
s could be forgotten and misrepresented. The people of the capital only represented a small fraction of the residents of Fireland. Not all of them were of dragon blood but the power of fire and heat made their hearts beat and the dryness of the land was what certain shifters made their home. They all needed to be represented.
“Wait,” Kapono said. “It’s true, a king is chosen from a strong clan. Although it makes it so that Fireland has a great ruler, some of us can feel left out or misrepresented.”
“What are we going to do?! Surely you can’t be king either!”
“No! I won’t be king. In fact, there will be no king.”
“No king? Have you gone mad?”
“Listen to him!” Ashbel demanded. Kapono winked at her before looking back at the crowd of people.
“We’ve used a royal court as just advisors to the king. But what if the royal court actually ruled the kingdom? Together, they’ll make decisions based off votes that they will make before passing any ruling to the public.”
“And who will be part of this royal court? Just more rich clan members?” someone scoffed.
“Not at all. The royal court will be made up of a representative of every clan, every pack, and every being of Fireland. We’ll send word out to every living person in Fireland. Everyone will receive a place in the castle by way of their royal court representative. No one will be left out again and no clan will be chosen to rule because of money or strength. And if someone wants to still try and start a war then I will be here to snuff that threat out as a Dragon shifter from the Red Dragon clan. I will protect every being at any cost.”