Flame Heart

2_My horrid life went out of whack

Weeks passed by in a blur in the manor, everyone was busy and thrilled for the arrival of master Dan’s fiancee.

All slaves were instructed to prepare for the event. The duke was so stressed out this pass few days, so I am always attending to him in the massage room.

Yesterday, all the Master Rubieans arrived at the manor to attendt the engagement except for the First Master, the crown prince, Kian.

Henssian tradition says that an engagement must occur in the midst of the day. Beats me why but I can't wait for tomorrow to come. Master Dan found me again yesterday.

He hanged my at the ceiling of his bedchamber for an hour, and by hanged, I mean I was chained upside down while he whips and beats me to submission.

That damned monster doesn't care if I die in the process of his twisted plays. He lives in my misery. He thrives in it. I just wish that when he gets married, he'll stop and leave me alone. I'm so freaking tired of this life.

The duke and the duchess wanted this event to be one of the most remembered engagement and wedding of the entire Henssian race and by the attendance that we are getting, I'm pretty sure it will be.

Master Dan’s fiancée, Lady Althiya, will arrive this afternoon. I was assigned to attend to Lady Althiya when she arrives. The duke thought that I was the best option given our age similarities.

I'm in the front lawn awaiting for her ladyship's arrival. The sound of hooves and crunching dirt can be heard from a distance. A calvary of horses trickled in the front lawn.

"Is there a war or something?" I snipped at Paul, who sighed at my comment and looked at me chastising me.

"You see Lady Althiya is the grand daughter of His Majesty the King's sister's husband. So her safety was of upmost importance especially with the increased rate of rebel forces trying to push back the current monarchy," Paul explained.

"Besides, there's always a war somewhere girly." He whispered eyes glinting with mischief. I looked at him not fully comprehending his words.

A carriage stopped in front of the Duke and Master Dan. A foot man opened the door.

Master Dan stood beside the carriage and offered his hand to the lady as she exits the carriage.

She looks so regal with her flowy gown and perfect blond locks running down her back.

She smiled sweetly at the young master, walking with him to greet his father. Paul nudged me to gather the lady's belongings.

I quickly fixed the lady's things in her temporary bedchamber.

When she gets married, she will share a room with Master Dan, so fixing all the baggage will have to wait.

The door to the room opened and I heard their approach. I backed to a corner and waited for them to enter the room.

"Ah, and here is your bedchamber my lady," the duke said.

I curtsied at them as they entered. The duke spotted me and waved me up. He looked more stressed and tire than yesterday.

"Izzy, there you are child. My lady, this will be your servant for your stay with us."

I curtsied to the lady. She smiled at the duke and thanked him. When the duke left, she turned at me and looked at me disgusted.

"Prepare my things, and bring me some wine," she commanded. "I'm exhausted from all the travels, goddess, my feet are killing me," she muttered. I stepped to go get what she said when she stopped me.

"Prepare a foot bath and massage my feet," she said. "And while you're at the baths, do bathe yourself. I can't take your appearance and odor," she scrunched her nose at me, looking at me like I'm some kind of a disgusting bug.

I can't believe that I let myself pity her fate. I know now why she agreed to marry Master Dan.

They are a perfect match. If Master Dan is the worst creature to live, well, Lady Althiya is a demon spawn or rather a harpie.

She shrieks at every chance she can get and kicks or slaps me for every single thing that she finds not up to her standards. All of this happened in the span of three hours of her arrival.

He’s an evil incarnate and she’s the evil queen. He’s a barbarian and so is she, a perfect match. Goddess, I hope that all their kids grow up differently.

“Peasant, when the party is done draw me a nice and relaxing bath. Put every fragrance that will make me smell like I am in heaven or else don't even bother showing me your ugly face again," she snapped at me.

“Yes milady," I replied meekly. Goddess, how I wish to smite her with my fire.

“Good. Now, go tell my darling to come to me to escort me to the party. Understood?”

“Yes milady.”

"Oh, and one more thing," she flicked her finger at me and flames erupted from the hem of my dress up to the knees.

I panicked and tapped the fire. I can smell the hairs in my arms and legs burning. I cried out in pain.

"You stay away from him, you b***h. I know all about your seduction. Next time, I'll kill you," she said. She waved her hand and recalled her flames to her.

Freaking hell. See what I mean?

This is the very reason why I am not proud of being a Rubiean. Almost all of them are evil and full of pride. Like they hold the whole world at the palm of their hands.

The only comment that matters to them are theirs. No wonder why the Emperor Osaka chose them to be the sentinels and let them join the high court. I walked out of her chamber and started my way to master Dan’s chamber when I bumped to a hard wall of chest.

“Hello dear Lyzth, it’s been a while.” a sexy voice said. I looked at the owner of the said voice and dropped into a curtsy.

“I’m sorry master Raevine, I-I d-didn’t mean to bump into you.” I bowed my head to show my respect and my apologies to him.

He may be kind the first time we met but he is still the Second Master Rubiean.

It is not just a coincidence that he is the second master, he is that person for a reason. The tales of his ruthlessness and killings made the rumor mill chill in horror. He was the one to kill the previous crown prince, Leander. My heart hurts everytime I hear Prince Leander's name. I don't know why, I just does.

He killed the prince so that his best friend and most trusted friend the current Crown Prince can have the title.

“Relax, it was my fault. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts and I didn’t notice you.”

I nodded at him, not trusting myself to utter the right words to say. He looks like he’s got tons of problem in his mind.

The usual brightness in his eyes are nowhere in sight instead it is full of worries and confusion but in spite of that he is still smiling at me.

So I smiled back at him and continued on my way.

“Nice meeting you again by the way. Hope to see you around again and do save an appointment for me.”

“It would be my pleasure, my lord." He made a face the mention of the term “my lord”.

“I told you not to call me that. The next time I hear it from you… I can assure you… something might happen to you that you’ll surely enjoy but hurt you a lot.” A promise of mischief and misery glinted at his eyes.

At that he continued on his way and left me wondering what that ‘something’ is. You i***t, snap out if it.

I reached Master Dan’s chamber and knocked, but no one is answering. I knocked again but still no one answered the door.

Another knock and the door slightly move ajar, as I entered, I looked around revealing the lifeless body of the duke. He was lying down on the pool of his own blood. His bright and kind eyes are now dull, drained of life.

He was staring at something before he died. I followed his gaze and there I saw the wall with a message written with his blood.

‘I know who you are halfling. I promise to find you and kill you, little blue flame'

At the sight of it my knees wobbled, and a cry of horror escaped my mouth.

Tears of anguish flowed out of my eyes. I'm horrified at the sight but what chills me to the bones are those two words, 'blue flame'.

I remember last night's event, I entered the massage chamber and the duke was there pacing back and forth. i chalked it up to stress and proceeded to prepare my massage oils.

I looked at the duke and he looked at me, disturbed, like he’s seen a ghost and he's plunging into a dark pool of nightmares and hysteria.

He sat down at the bed. He reached out gripped my arms tightly.

"Izzy, have you had your powers yet?," he asked seriously. I looked at him taken aback by his actions and questions. I opted to lie.

"No my lord," I shook my head. He tightened his hold on my arms.

“Izzy, when the time comes, you must run away. Go to the forest. never look back. Never trust someone. You are like my daughter. you must survive no matter what."

He dismissed me after that, saying that he has things to do.

I realized that I was frozen in my place, I have to run. This was what he was talking about.

I know it in my gut but my feet won’t move. You stupid freaking feet, move or we’ll be dead. Move.

I heard a ’thud’ near the window and that woke me up in my trance, there’s a bird with a letter in its beak. I opened the window and slowly retrieved the letter.

I opened the letter with sweaty and shaky palms.

'I know who you are Venice Lyzth or should I say Princess Kathaleya you cannot run nor hide. I will hunt you down and make sure that you’ll never get the destiny that is for you, like your friend there. Give me a good chase, little blue.' -Z

I cursed under my breath. Dread and chillI made its way in my bones. It’s final, I have to run, but when I was about to run, two guards passed by the chamber and saw the lifeless body of the Duke and me with my shaky and terrified state.

They barge inside and advanced toward me. I can’t be blamed for a thing that I didn’t do. I have no choice but to escape and the next thing I knew I jump out of the window and run as fast as I can in the forest.

I can’t stop. I can’t stay because I will die. Someone Knows.

~~

Authors note: Are you enjoying it?