Inferno

by N. A. Carson

  Chapter 25: Tolerance

  “Come here, Fin,” called Zoran.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I hate this place. I hate it here.” I peeked over at him and saw him slip off his clothes and walked down the steps.

  “Come here.” He held out his hand.

  I shook my head again. “No. That thing will come back.”

  “He’s not going to hurt you.” Zoran grabbed my arm and helped me down. “Stupid boy, don’t be pouring things in the water with the hatch open.” He reached over by the waterfall and tug on a chain hooked into the wall. A grate fell over the hole.

  Breathing deeply, I leaned against his chest. “What was that thing?”

  “A different kind of shapeshifter,” laughed Zoran. “Obnoxious little creatures, but they were a great present to my cousin.”

  “Your cousin?” I pulled away from him.

  “A water god,” said Zoran with a smile. “The little swarm I created killed a lot of his mermaids.” He grabbed my elbow and led me back to the steps. “But that’s what happens when you kill one of my dragons. He’s never been stupid enough to try that again, but I keep a school of them around just in case.” He pointed to the mountain just outside the window. “There’s a large underground lake in there. I have around twenty-three or so of them living in it. I’m not sure on the exact number. They’re... cannibalistic at times.”

  I sat down on the floor and wiped my face. “Why is that stupid thing allowed in here?”

  Zoran picked up the discarded bottle. “Because sometimes, the water god like to piss me off, and I’ll send one to pay him a visit. I forgot to shut the grate, and you...” He grabbed my wrist and placed the bottle in his hand. “This is one of their favorite scents. The green coloring is made from mermaid tail.” He gave me a grin. “My human piranha thought I brought him a treat.”

  “Sorry,” I whispered. “I should have asked.”

  “Yes, you should have.” He walked up the steps and looked around the bathroom. “You did a great job of destroying this place.”

  Zoran went to the cabinet. A lot of the bottles were broken or tipped over. “Some of these were gifts.” He picked one up that has a small amount of silver blue liquid inside. “This took me two months to make.” Zoran smelt it. “My favorite one.” Tossing it into the pile of broken glass, he stood. “And you had to blow it up.”

  “Sorry,” I said softly. “It just happened.”

  “You need to learn to control that. Not everything is trying to kill you.”

  I turned around. “That fish creature was going to eat me! I saw it. It was swimming right at me.”

  “There are other ways of protecting yourself that don’t involve destroying my home.” Picking up his clothes, he pulled on his pants and walked to the exit. “I left some clean clothes outside the door. Get dressed and go wait for me out front.” He opened the door. “I don’t need you blowing anything else up today.” He disappeared outside.

  I rose to my feet and hurried out of the room. A towel was placed on top of my clothes. I dried off and slipped into the clothes. I didn’t walk, but ran back to living areas and climbed onto the bed, hiding under the blankets. I was so tired of things attacking me.

  This place was doing everything it could to kill me, and Zoran was simply letting it happen.

  I SAT AT THE TABLE as Rhoda slammed down a tray in front of me. Zoran glanced up at her before casually lifting his glass. The siren went to fill it. I took off the lid to see a slightly burnt red fish thrown across the plate.

  Staring at my dinner, Zoran put down his glass and waved the woman closer. “Teach your little parasites not to touch what is mine.”

  Anger turned to panic in the siren’s eyes.

  “Do something like that again, and I’ll let the local mages do some hunting.” He dismissed her with a flick of his wrist. “Your kind are disposable. Fin is not.”

  The woman stood behind him with pursed lips. She turned to me and snorted before transforming into a bright light and flying out the door.

  Zoran started eating and didn’t pay me much attention. I picked off the burnt area. The majority of the fish was fine.

  “She has a right to be mad,” I whispered. “I killed a lot of her people today.”

  He took a drink and swirled around the remaining contents. “Having the sirens here is more of a chore than an equal trade for me.”

  “They tend to the garden,” I started, separating the meat from the bones. “They put the plants to sleep.”

  “Something that can be done as simply as this.” He snapped his fingers.

  Outside, all the plants closed and glowed a dull red. The sirens filled the air and fluttered together in a swarm. A large light joined them, and after a moment, the flock flew away. I glanced at Zoran, who had a smirk on his face.

  “I’m more tolerant than you give me credit for. Having them live here weighs heavily to their advantage, not mine. Rhoda knows this, and if she continues to throw unneeded tantrums because a few sirens were incinerated, then she can leave anytime she wishes.” He tipped his glasses and then went back to ignoring me.

  I ate quietly. I wasn’t that hungry, but I didn’t want to get in a fight, either. Zoran finished his meal and moved to the bed. He took off his clothes and slipped under the covers. Grabbing his usual pile of scrolls and books, he settled in for the night. I was fighting with myself not to look at him.

  The day’s events had left me unsettled. After nearly being kidnapped and killed twice, I really wanted the comfort of being surrounded by a blazing heat. That heat seemed to be pulsing from this man at that exact moment, and I wanted it.

  I wouldn’t sleep with him again, but I couldn’t stop the undying itch to touch him. Finishing my plate, I stood and shuffled around the table. Turning my back to him, I sat on the bed.

  “If you’re sleeping here, no clothes,” said Zoran plainly. “I don’t enjoy sleeping with the filth you’ve gathered throughout the day.”

  “Then I’ll just sleep on the floor,” I muttered.

  “Very well,” said Zoran with a sigh.

  I ground my teeth together. This man was impossible. He didn’t even try to compromise or convince me otherwise.

  “Whatever.” I yanked off my shirt and threw it on the ground.

  My pants and underwear joined the pile soon after. He’d seen me naked before. He’d carried me around naked, even. Hell, we’d even had sex, so I was at the point of no longer caring. Lifting up the blanket, I laid down and stared off across the room.

  “Fin?”

  “What?” I muttered.

  “Come here.”

  I rolled over and glared at him. “No.”

  “I’ll give you what you want.”

  Biting my lip, I felt the urge return. I wouldn’t have sex with him, but curse the gods, I wanted to touch him. I scooted over and laid down near his side.

  “Not there.”

  He yanked me closer and placed me on top of him, so we were chest to chest. My head settled on his shoulder. I was about to fight it, until the warmth pulsed from his skin. This was what I needed. It was what I wanted. I curled into him, wanting more contact.

  Zoran waved his hand, and the curtains tied to the corner of the bed fell into place. “See?” He rubbed my back and continued to read his endless supply of scrolls. “I’m far more tolerant than you thought.”

  Chapter 26: Controlled

  Opening my eyes, I shivered at the cold. Why did every morning have the start like this?

  The space next to me was empty, which explained it. I curled into a ball and gathered all the blankets around me. It wasn’t working. Nothing was keeping out the cold. Sitting up, I spotted Zoran sitting at the table, following his usual routine. So many scrolls. What did he even do with them all?

  Holding onto the blankets, I swung my feet out of bed.

  “In the wardrobe.” Zoran pointed with his pen to the wooden cabinet nearby. “Your others were starting to smell.”
r />   I shook my head. I wore them for a week straight so no wonder.

  Dragging the blankets along with me, I hurried across the floor. It was so cold. Why was everything so cold? I opened the doors and saw stacks of clothes. He’d had all of these just sitting here and yet I had been walking around naked for weeks. Taking out a new set, I quickly got dressed and put on my shoes. I grabbed a coat and stared at the quilts pooled around my legs.

  “Clean up your mess.”

  I gathered up the blankets in a bundle as best as I could and tossed it onto the bed. Half were still dangling off the side onto the floor, but it wasn’t like Zoran ever made the bed. Rhoda would be by soon to do it. I glanced outside. The lava river could be seen cutting into the mountains. It looked so tempting.

  I casually wandered toward the exit, randomly examining boxes and Zoran’s different trinkets.

  “And where are you going, Fin?” asked Zoran, tapping his pen on the desk.

  “Just to take a walk in the garden.” I shrugged and put my hands in my pockets. “I figured that would be okay?”

  Zoran sighed. “I guess it would be okay. I want to know if you ever leave this room, though.” He scribbled something on the bottom of a scroll and let it roll up. “After the incident with the sirens, I’d rather nothing else happened.” He glanced up at me. “Am I understood, Fin?”

  “Yes, sir,” I whispered. “I’m just going to look at the lake.”

  “Very well.” He shooed me off with a flick of his wrist.

  I backed into the hallway before racing to the stairs. I took the steps two at a time and skidded across the stone floor. Regaining my balance, I looked around. Doors lined the walls, and a few different halls led off into the mountain. Zoran could be keeping any kind of creature in there. After the bathroom mess with the mermaid demon, I wasn’t even curious about what he might have hidden away in this place.

  Taking a deep breath, I continued outside and followed a path toward the lake. The sirens were finishing waking up the plants. They scattered when I approached. I glanced up at the treetops to see them dip behind the leaves. Served them right, but I still quickened my pace and kept my head down the rest of the way.

  I could feel the heat coming from the lava. Tiptoeing around a flowerbed, I jogged to the side of the lake. The cold melted away and I dropped to my knees, marveling at the warmth. I ran my fingers along the surface. I lifted up a handful and watched it cool in my hand. The edges turned a little black before I let it drip back into the lake. It felt so good. Even sleeping in the same bed as Zoran wasn’t helping fight back the cold anymore. I unbuttoned my coat and slipped it off.

  “Better think again, little bird.”

  Jumping, I spun around to see Rhoda fluttered toward me.

  She hovered above my head. “I don’t need you exploding and scaring my sirens.”

  My shoulders dropped. “I—I wanted to apologize for what happened. I didn’t mean to hurt them. I never want to hurt anything.”

  She let out a huff. “I’ve warned my girls about you. You’re not like the others. You have no control.”

  Bowing my head, I stared at the lake. “I’m still learning. This is all new to me.”

  “Maybe you should keep to yourself until you’ve learned something, then.” She looked down her nose at me. “Don’t be destroying my garden, Fin.” She flew off into the trees.

  A flock of sirens joined her, and they headed off toward the far corner of the garden. I tugged my jacket on and did up the buttons. It was clear I wasn’t welcome here. Taking one last glance at the lake, I stood and trudged back to the entrance. I’d just wanted to go swimming. But Rhoda had a point. If I had another accident, I might end up killing something else.

  Chapter 27: Every Flame Needs to be Refueled

  I marched up the stairs and slipped into the bedroom. Zoran was still in the same spot. Sitting on the bed, I wrung my hands in my lap.

  “Did Rhoda run you out?” he asked, not looking away from his work.

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “They don’t really like me. The little ones ran away the moment they saw me.”

  He drummed his finger on the table. “Anyone would be weary of an unpredictable firebird. Your kind is dangerous enough when they know how to control themselves.”

  Letting out a sigh, I flopped onto my side. “Could you teach me?”

  “No,” he said plainly. “I’m behind in my work. You’ll have to learn like all the others.”

  “And how did they do it?” I propped my head up on my hand.

  “Trial and error.”

  “Do you want me to practice in here?”

  The god sat up straight. “I’ll find somewhere you can practice without breaking anything. You’re still young, so I doubt you're capable of controlling it just yet.”

  Groaning, I rubbed my face. “Whatever. Can I take a bath?”

  Zoran chuckled to himself. “Be sure to shut the grate. Rhoda is getting tired of cleaning up your messes.” He flicked his hand and a towel appeared at my side.

  I grabbed it and wrung it in my hands. “I apologized to her, but it didn’t make it better.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “After what I did, I don’t think she’s ever going to like me again.”

  “When has being liked ever bothered you?” He rolled up the parchment he had been working on. Holding it up, he set it on fire. It disappeared in a puff of smoke. “You spent the last few years alone in the woods playing with fire.”

  “No one hated me, though,” I whispered.

  “You’re a threat now. No one likes a threat. I know this personally.”

  “I guess.” I rose to my feet. “I’ll be careful not to make a mess.” I wove my way through the room to the bath.

  Cracking open the door, I scanned the area. The room had been cleared of any broken glass and seemed calm. Slipping inside, I closed the door and leaned against the wall. It seemed okay. There wasn’t some fish monster swimming around this time.

  I took off my clothes and piled them in the corner. I crept to the edge of the tub. The water was clear. I walked around the side, checking the far side as well for any hidden occupants. I inched along the window sill to the waterfall. Carefully kneeling down, I checked to make sure the grating was still in place. The bars were over the entrance, and I finally felt that it was okay to get in the water.

  With a sigh of relief, I went back to the glass case of soaps. The bottles that managed to survived the explosion were lined up inside. There were significantly fewer bottles now. I slid the door to the side and picked up a bright blue one. Having another creature trying to break into the bath wasn’t something I wanted to experience again. I put the bottle back. I’d do without today.

  Stepping into the water, I slowly descended. It wasn’t as soothing as I had hoped. It was hot, but I didn’t want hot.

  I waded to the other side by the waterfall. It was a little warmer, but not by much. I sat down on the overhang. Pulling my knees to my chest, I stared out the window.

  Everyone seemed so annoyed with me. I held out my hand and examined my palm. This fire power was still new to me. I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t even make fire unless it was to blow something up.

  “A monster,” I whispered. That was what I had become. A disgusting monster. I hated this feeling. I destroyed everything I came in contact with and was a hopeless fire addict. I was no better than any of the other creatures Zoran kept here. Covering my face, I took a deep breath. The sirens were partially at fault. I’d told them to stop. They’d attacked me first, and then they’d kept coming back. I scrubbed my head. I wondered if someone had died in the fire in Gail. I’d be a murderer on top of everything else.

  All my life I had been taught to hate shapeshifters, and I now understood why. We were killers. We just couldn’t exist with normal people. Someone was bound to get hurt.

  “I told you not to make any more.”

  I jumped and turned to the door.

  Zoran stood there with his arms
folded. “You’re decreasing the price.” He walked over to the cabinet and slid the glass door to the side.

  I quickly wiped my face. “It was just water. I wasn’t crying.”

  Zoran grabbed a bottle with a purple liquid inside. He set it down and started stripping off his clothes. He tossed them next to mine. Bowing my head, I stared at the stone glistening in the bottom of the pool. I heard the water part but kept my head turned.

  He sat down beside me and lifted my chin.

  “Don’t,” I whispered, pulling away.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I wiped my cheek on my shoulder. “I feel like a monster. I keep killing everything.”

  Leaning back, Zoran sunk deeper into the water. “Then all of mankind are monsters.”

  “They don’t burn things alive,” I stated. “I wrecked the village, and now the sirens.”

  Zoran opened the bottle and put a couple drops in the water. A calming sweet smell filtered into the air. The water sizzled with little air bubbles.

  “Mages kill the sirens on purpose. They’re human,” he replied. “Edgar tried to cut your head off. He’s also human.” He spread his arm along the edge of the bath. “I’ve lived a long time, Fin. I’ve seen war; massacres for no reason except that men like killing one another.” He brushed the back of his hand across my cheek. “You’re just a baby bird still learning how to fly. More accidents will happen. You just need to accept that.”

  I leaned into his touch. “I’m cold.”

  He motioned for me to come to him. I scooted over and leaned against his side. His arm fell over my shoulder and his heat spread.

  “The water does feel a little cooler than usual,” said Zoran.

  It started to boil.

  I closed my eyes as the steam rose. “Why am I always so cold?”

  “It’s hard for your kind to live in this world. It’s not meant to maintain creatures like you.”