Ashton Flare

What does someone do if the woman your brother likes is going to be the death of your younger brother? Let it happen is precisely what you should not do, or at least that is what I tell myself as I make myself comfortable in the small plane's cargo hold. In my defense, I would not have snuck into the mission if they would have just let me come.

The aptly named plane, Mellow's cargo bay is rather comfortable. The plane normally does not have any weapons to defend itself against an attack. But this one is tinkered with. Small holes dot the walls of the cargo hold, with guns fitting perfectly into it. I do not know how shooting at bigger and better planes would work but I suppose that is not my problem.

The Mellows are one of the only planes created that are used both for travel as well as transporting cargo. It is made to be small, fast and agile, just like the Flares are made to be better and as powerful as they can be. Stop relating your life to a plane.

The last time I stepped inside the Xerta castle, my sister died. I can not help but feel another Flare might meet that fate. I can feel fire in a distance, perhaps in honor of Father and Mother. My vision blurrs for a second as I remember their faces. They did not let you cry at your own sister's funeral, dare not cry at theirs.

I make my way towards the far end of the plane as the plane beings its downward decent. I look out one of the holes made for guns to see a patch of land cleared for landing, well hidden by the tall trees around it.

Luckily there are two gates to the exist, one from the cargo bay and the other from the passenger lounge. I quietly sprint out and into the deep into the woods as soom as the plane hits land. It must be a hilarious sight to watch a flame waiting in the shadows to strike.

~~♡~~

The castle looks bigger than I remember. My home almost intimidates me as I sneak in behind Leona's soldiers, careful to keep enough distance to stay hidden. Most guards who see us meet Katrin's arrow to their heart or Cory's arms choking them before they can react in any way.

I pass the river of dead bodies, hoping their souls would never reach the Dark Creek. Old legends may just be stories or they may be warnings. But the Unscathed respect them enough to follow their ancestor's words blindly.

Our Father's body must be to the west, facing the setting flame with Mother's body right beside him. Axel would have had to help in buring them as the heir, I pity my brother. That horrible task was ment to torment Arieon and I, not him.

I look at my fists to see they are flaming like my rage. Taking deep breaths, I try let them wither but it is too late. I feel Arieon's familiar warmth reaching out. I reply with the warmth of my own flames and imagine him telling Leona about me. Instead what I see when I peak around the corridor almost makes me want to gag.

Arieon has his lips pressed against Leona's while Katrin, Luca, Cory and Jade find a very interesting point on the wall or their clothes to stare at. I even see the bastard of my brother smirk when he breaks the kiss. Leona just smiles coyly before her stoic expression is back. "No time for that on a mission Arieon."

Arieon's smirk does not drop at her words. He shrugs, "If we die today, I might as well be reckless."

Jade's expression matches mine as we try to control our laughter and not puke at the same time. Luca is the first one to snap out of it, "Dying is not on my to-do list today. So if you will excuse me, I have my part in the mission we were sent to do."

With that, Leona takes her place at the front of their team. Arieon falls behind them, turning his head to meet my eyes. But his gaze wavers and his smirk drops. I thought he did that to get back at me, but now I am not sure.

I jog ahed as the turn left into another long corridor where just the paintings lining the walls could earn a wanderer family their own food and shelter for two lifetimes. I peak around the corner to watch them head into a room.

My feet tremble, threatening to let me fall where I stand when I notice which room they went it. The memories of Arieon, Azela, Axel and I getting come flooding back. This time my knees do hit the ground with my hands struggling to keep my mouth from making any sounds.

The nights on the rooftop that we snuck onto, the evenings watching the old movies Arieon found going through our ancestor's things. Kneeling in front of the door to Azela's room, I can not fathom anyone else from my family dying.

Perhaps the crown and the power always have been just a leash. Made of fear but with gems of hope clouding it. It does not matter if the leash is made with love and decorated in a shadow of happiness. Not when it's only use is to keep us in control, bounding us to something old, something sinister, something that lets us fulfil our bone deep crave of power.

But for the first time I crave something more than the power I lost. I wish Azela was still here.