Ashton Flare

An eye for an eye.

Mother's words haunt me to this day. Since the day Arieon and I watched our favorite garden burn for destroying one of Azela's dresses, those words set a fear in me.

I suppose that is the reason another question has come to haunt me. A question that leaves me torn between following Leona and staying back. Am I trading on brother for another?

It is stupid to be distracted. Katrin, Luca and Rory keep throwing worried glances at me. Besides, Leona has reminded that to me a couple times already, she doesn't hesitate to do it again.

"If you want to get us killed, there are better ways Ashton Cole." she snaps at me using the last name Arieon made up. Apparently they needed a name to put on an empty grave if we didn't return. Oh how I would love to set this transport on fire with you in it Leona. But sadly my little brother needs me at the moment.

"Sorry." I spit out. By my flame, the temperature is rising by the minute here. Seven restless soldiers stuffed in a closed transport is not a pretty sight. Judging by the sweat all around, it does not smell good either.

"Check your weapons. We will be arriving soon." Rory instructs nodding at the guns at the other corner. Hopefully I am not trading Arieon's life for Axel's. But even if I was, it is too late to turn around now.

The task, however boring it may be, makes an easy distraction from the question I am still skirting around, so I comply.

~~♡~~

We walk in formation, never a step out of place. I could almost pretend I am leading my own team to assassinate the king and queen of the Grawhearts to end the war between our countries. But I am not, instead I am walking with rebels who are trying to destroy my family.

We fall into a group of three with Leona leading us. Rory, Luca and I at one end and Katrin with two others I do not know at the other. The first phase of the plan is to get into the castle through a tunnel connecting the waterfront to the servants quarters.

It usually stays locked up but one of the servants must have opened it for us. I have to remember to test all their alliances when I am queen.

"Our visit is going pretty unnoticed." Katrin says carrying the same grin as always.

"You really don't want the fireworks Katrin." Rory replies with a low chuckle.

Sometimes the cost of paying for distracting is too high. But this time it is not much, for me at least. We watch in horror as Rory collapses to the ground, blood spilling out of her heart. Her body goes cold before we know what just happened.

Leona notices the man standing at the end of the corridor on our right before I do. She throws knives at him trying to keep our mission as quite as possible.

"How did you get in?" he asks. Does that idiot expect us to actually answer that?

He deflects them as annoying bugs and throws a few back in our direction. House Metallica, I realize. They always were a pain in a fight. I dodge with grace and catch one. Before thinking, I light it on fire and toss it back to him.

An old trick I learnt, it is harder to control metal when it is on fire. As expected, he exhausts himself trying to throw it off course. As usual, distractions cost. This time, he pays the price with his life.

Leona blinks at me in confusion and I realize what I have done. I can not believe how intelligent by twin is. I just flash the lighter Arieon gave me before leaving at her as a reply. How did you know I can not help but use my powers Arieon?

~~♡~~

"Something is wrong." Leona murmurs. I notice she is on edge, even Katrin has stopped making jokes. One of the two soldiers I do know brings his hands closer to the gun at his waist. We had to leave Rory's dead body in the corridor itself to continue on their mission.

"What do you mean?" Luca breathes. We keep moving forward, not wanting to be caught strolling in the corridors with weapons. No guard would hesitate to kill us. After all house Xonos would easily be able to get information out of our dead bodies.

"It means we need to move faster." Leona says and takes off sprinting. We follow her, our guns already in our hands.

That's when I notice it, the guards are all missing. This is way less security for the future king of Evercrest. Then it hits me. Arieon and I are the future King and Queen, not Axel. So the troops would be out looking for us rather than protecting him.

The lack of guards eases their mission but hardens mine. The only way I was going to save Axel and myself was by killing my current team. I assumed sentinels would be waiting outside Axel's room, it would be easy thereafter. A few Wanderers dead, the actual heir found and troops sent to find Arieon. That was how it was supposed to happen.

But the sentinels are missing, risking every ounce of my plan. Risking my life and my brothers', I continue following Leona. Is this the end of the reign of Flames? Did we really lose? Is this the one time Flare does not find Flare?

"Guns ready." Leona instructs as we stop in front of Axel's room. Once more, there are no guards. Axel could be alone, and our family would fall. This could really be the end.

Luca carefully pushes the door open and Leona nods at us to head in. The sight before us is something worse than any number of Sentinels waiting to attack us. After all, the empty room is not something any of us expected.