Flameless

Flameless V: Worlds Combine

Today was the day I had to examine the flameless being hired. For some reason, I wasn’t looking forward to it. That was actually a lie. I knew why I wasn’t looking forward to it — it was because of the dragons. As I came in to prepare the lab for the servants I’d be checking, I was informed by a lower Silver Flame that the Silvers had instructed the dragons to join me.

That immediately made me go sour. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not into the old beef between the wolves and the dragons, but it was the particular dragon I’d be working with today that was the problem. It was bloody Velraxis. Of all the dragons the Silvers could have appointed, it was him.

I had known Velraxis since I was little, and I have never once been on good terms with him. It was mutual, though. When talking about the most arrogant, insensitive, annoying beings on earth, Velraxis should be among the top three.

We were complete opposites and never found common ground. Now that we had grown, we just shared a kind of mutual respect because that’s the only way there can be some form of peace between us.

Well, enough about him.

I was actually curious to see how the day would go. I knew it wasn’t any big deal, but I wanted to see some flameless. I don’t really go around that area because I’m usually very busy, but some of my pack members do, and they always bring stories of how tattered and fragile they were. I’ve seen flameless before but not closely. I was kind of looking forward to it.

The door of the lab opened slightly, and I turned. I was met with Eira in her wolf form. A smirk appeared on my lips as I shook my head at her. This was typical Eira behavior. She must have heard the dragons were coming, and Eira being Eira wanted them to know not to try anything stupid. She came close to me, and I stretched my hand, running it through her thick black fur.

Just then, the door was aggressively opened. I raised my head to see who it was. And there he was. I was met with those deep brown eyes — Velraxis.

He had grown since the last time I saw him. I think that was about a century ago. He looked more muscular and fierce.

“How have you been, best friend?” he said, a smirk across his lips.

I averted my gaze. His appearance might have enhanced a bit, but I knew his humor had gotten worse.

“Oh, I see we’re starting off strong,” he said as he went towards the couch on the other side of the room.

That’s when I saw from the side of my eye that he had brought two other dragons with him. I would have been surprised if he hadn’t.

I carried the chair at the back of the desk and placed it right in front of it. Then I arranged some of the tools on the small stool beside me.

There was a light knock on the door.

“Come in!” I said, slightly raising my voice.

“Oh, how I’ve missed your voice,” Velraxis said from where he was sitting.

This creature knows how to get under my skin so fast. It’s almost like he studies it. I didn’t even bother turning because I knew he’d have one of those dirty smirks on his face.

A lower Silver entered.

“The flameless have started arriving. Should I start sending them in?” she said as she looked between me and Velraxis.

“Yes, but one at a time,” I said, continuing to arrange the stool.

She then turned towards Velraxis to get his answer as well.

“I really don’t even know what my purpose here is, to be honest. He clearly doesn’t need any help, so why am I here?” he said, frustration laced in his voice.

“Well, the Silvers instructed that you and the Alpha do this together,” she said in a calmer tone.

“Just send them in,” his tone made it clear that he didn't like her answer.

The Silvers do this a lot. They group us Blue Flames with the dragons to do tasks that only one team can handle. It’s their way of trying to make us bond. The truth is yes, I find dragons very annoying, but I won’t just be hostile to any of them if they haven’t done anything to me or my pack. The rivalry between the wolves and the dragons has been there for centuries, but there has always been a balance — a line neither flame crosses.

I’m sure the Silvers are well aware that joining these two teams to do tasks isn’t going to automatically make us jolly with each other, but I see it as their way of softening the rivalry and maintaining the balance.

A few seconds passed and the flameless started to come in to be examined. A few fainted. A few weren’t eligible as they already had fatal illnesses. And a few were able to come in and leave without too much drama.

They were way more fragile than I imagined. I felt sorry for them, to be honest. I was already getting tired, and Velraxis was getting more irritated as time passed. But then the lower Silver came to announce that there was only one flameless left.

I was relieved.

I stood up to stretch my legs and turned away from the door, facing the windows at the side of the room.

The door started to open slowly. I already knew it was the last flameless, so I took my seat.

She walked in her head lowered, her face pale. Her hands gripped tightly together.

“Are you just gonna stand there and stare at the floors all day?” Velraxis said disdainfully.

She slowly looked up — and I was surprised.

I’m not one easily surprised. But this… this was surprising. Like the other flameless, she looked tattered and not well taken care of, but unlike them, she was strikingly beautiful. The kind of beauty that showed even over all that mess.

She slowly began to walk towards me and then knelt down before me.

I didn’t know what it was, but there was something. It was just a hunch, but my hunches have never been wrong. She was different. Her aura was different and so was her scent. We wolves have sharp senses, but I have always been known for my very sharp sense of smell, and if I’m focused or alert, I can even go as far as sensing a person’s emotions. So I could tell she wasn’t like the rest of her kind.

I knew from the moment she entered. But my doubt was confirmed when she walked toward me. Most of the flameless that had come in had gone to Velraxis since he was the one facing the door. They thought he was the physician, and a few who could muster words asked. But she came towards me — and that made me more wary of her.

“How did you know I was the physician?”

At this point, she had been staring at me for a while. She looked down, her breathing pace increasing. She opened her mouth to speak — but Velraxis interrupted.

“She’s so awestruck, she can’t even speak,” he blurted out mockingly.

I looked at him. If looks could kill, he would have been six feet under.

He walked towards her, bent down at her side, and raised her chin so her gaze would meet his.

“Careful where your eyes linger, little flame,” he whispered.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Velraxis,” I said sternly.

He looked up at me, a smirk across his lips.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” he said, his voice low with a tint of threat.

Eira moved towards him. I put my hand on her head and ran my fingers through her fur. It’s my way of telling her to calm down.

“Everyone is getting so cranked up,” Velraxis said.

Anyone could tell the tension in the room had multiplied.

I chose to forget about him. He is a troublemaker after all. I turned back to face her — and her head was down.

“You haven’t answered my question,” I said, my voice low but stern.