Chapter 26
1093 Words
Only a few steps separated me from the glass-enclosed balcony above the dance floor.
What had Dan meant: “Don’t play with him.”
I wasn’t planning to play with anyone. He had offered me his amplifier, and I had agreed to accept it. A gift. But why would he give me something so valuable?
“Ari, don’t doubt. Never turn back halfway,” the dragon’s voice echoed inside my mind. “Don’t let anyone influence the decisions you’ve already made.”
“You’re right,” I whispered. “What happens if I just walk in?”
“Go,” Aria agreed.
I climbed the last steps and pulled the door open.
The interior didn’t match the rest of the place. At the far end of the small hall, a fireplace burned steadily. Opposite the glass wall overlooking the dance floor stood sofas and armchairs with low tables. The atmosphere was warm… almost intimate.
Ray Flaming stood by the fire, watching the flames.
I closed the door behind me, deliberately making noise, but he didn’t react. I called his name. Still nothing. He looked… entranced.
I stepped closer and studied his face. Firelight danced in his striking gray eyes.
“Ray,” I called again.
He finally tore his gaze from the flames and looked at me.
“You’re late. You made me wait again. Twice in one day.”
“Yes… I’m sorry. You’re right. I wasn’t sure I should come at all,” I admitted honestly.
“Strangely enough, I’m glad you did. Even if you’re late. But let’s agree on something — next time, don’t be late. I hate waiting.”
“I understand. You have every right to be angry. I’d even understand if you changed your mind about giving me your amplifier.”
He smiled.
“No. I haven’t changed my mind. But you do understand this isn’t an ordinary object. It can’t simply be given or taken. You have to be ready for what its energy can do.”
“Yes, I know. Your amplifier’s energy may not suit me… but I want to try.”
“Oh? You know that?” he arched a brow. “A few hours ago, you didn’t even know such things existed.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks.
“Still, you’re from the House of Fire, and I’m from the House of Water. Opposites. It’s logical that your amplifier might reject me.”
“You’re probably right,” he said lightly. “It might. But it’s worth testing, Ariel of the House of Water… or are you afraid?”
“It’s worth testing. And fear isn’t in my nature. Fear is just an illusion.”
“Is that so?” he smiled again. “Then take it.”
He extended his hand.
On his open palm lay a chain with a pendant — a black scorpion.
“A black scorpion?” I asked.
“Not just a black scorpion. Androctonus. One of the most dangerous species. Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin — it makes its victim suffer slowly, paralyzing every organ, even the heart… until death.”
I stared at it.
It looked alive.
“Still not afraid?” he asked.
“Do you want me to be afraid?” I met his gaze.
“No. But you should never forget danger. Sometimes fear saves lives.”
“Fear can also stop you from living. If you’re afraid of everything, that’s not life — that’s existence you choose to endure. Danger is always there. The real question is responsibility. Making a choice… and taking responsibility for it. That’s what people are truly afraid of.”
“Then take it,” he said. “If you’re not afraid of responsibility.”
I reached for the pendant, but it flared into bright flames.
I instinctively pulled my hand back.
“Are you afraid of fire?”
“No. I’m afraid of getting burned.”
“You just said you weren’t afraid.”
“No. I said fear is an illusion. It’s about the choice you make.”
“So you are afraid of being burned?”
“Yes. Because if you’re not afraid of getting burned… you might burn alive.”
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, his voice steady. “As long as I’m here, I won’t let you burn. Take it. Let’s see what happens.”
I decided to trust him.
It was… easy to trust him.
I could feel he was telling the truth. He wouldn’t let me burn.
I reached into the flames where the Androctonus scorpion burned.
The fire wasn’t hot.
The moment I touched it, every flame in the room surged, blazing brighter. Ray smiled.
I took the chain.
The fire vanished from his hand. The flames in the fireplace settled.
“What now?” I asked.
“It’s yours. It accepted you.”
“What? That’s it?” I asked, disbelief creeping into my voice.
“Now you can kiss me,” Ray said, full of quiet confidence.
“What?”
“You were right earlier, it was unworthy to demand a kiss in exchange for toasts. But now I’ve given you something that belonged to my family for over three hundred years. A relic.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” I said, biting my lip.
“Don’t you like me?” the heir of the House of Fire asked.
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid. I just think this will complicate things — for both of us. What will make something already complicated even harder.”
“What makes you think there will be complications for me?”
“Don’t you?” I asked, a hint of irony in my voice.
“What complications? The only complication I’ve encountered so far… is you. I usually get everything I want.”
“Are you serious?” I smiled.
“I’m always serious. And honest. The truth is, everything in this world is simple. People just don’t understand it — and make it complicated. For example… what could possibly complicate one single kiss?”
“One kiss won’t complicate anything. But why do you want my kiss? Do you collect them? If you do… I pity you. You don’t understand the meaning or the price of a kiss. To me, even one single kiss is something more than an action. I don’t kiss just anyone.”
He stepped closer until I felt the wall behind me, trapping me.
- Writer
