Ephemeral Bonds

Elfnin Tavern

Chapter One

"One more drink for the lady. The special pixie knockoff thing. A special drink for a special lady" Kyle winked at the already pink lady perched on the barstool and she turned an even dark shade of pink. I rolled my eyes at my twin antics.

Yea right Kyle to ladies as bee to hive

"Coming right through" I mumbled as I dragged my feet to get them their orders. I threw an annoyed glare their way, noting how she ran her hand through her hair or brushed it off his arm.

How a Fairy wanted a Fox was still beyond me. Because the last I checked, as a fox you were regarded as a scum of society. Trickery, crooked, cunny, evil - are words associated with the fox community and we were overlooked and bullied by other supernatural creatures. Even the shapeshifters thought they were somehow better off.

But then again this was Elfnin Tavern for the Bold

A bar for all kinds of creatures, it was at the heart of Eldoria. Elfnin came alive at night. It was the truce ground and all kinds of business deals went down. Deals with friends, enemies, enemies of enemies, ransom, etc It was here in this bar that people could temporarily lay down their differences and work together, even drink together.

Eldoria was made up of 5 clans- the Moon clans belonging to the werewolves, the Cora reefs belonging to the sirens, The centaurs and dwarves took the rocky hills and caves, the fairies took the forest areas and the small part left was given to the shapeshifters and of course the foxes.

Every fox- young and Old,male and female were told the stories. How One wrong move was what brought us to be regarded as the scum,the betrayals. Looking to save the clan, King Justin III sided with the King George of the centaurs after he laid siege around the city for 3 months. King George somehow taught he was the divine and wanted to overthrow the werewolves who have been ruling the lands for decades. He laid siege on others clans and offered them a way out if they joined him to fight and of course he was strategic to attack on fox communities, even the changelings , who ran into extinction during the war, were not spared. King Justin having no choice bent to their request. The Centaurs waged war on the Moon clans and lost and you can guess what happened.

"You are literally throwing daggers" Mia pulled up behind me.

"Well what is dangerous after a sirens song is a kitsune's looks. And Kyle knows how to exploit that" I watched with a mix of humour and irritation, as hoarde of women from different breeds flocked around Kyle.

"Atleast he Is flaunting what he has and not sulking."

"Mia,..."

"Stop pretending like you don't get any attention at all. Like that lady on the green pants has been drooling all over you, ever since she walked in."

"Mia, first of all I do not have such time to indulge in fleeting desires. To awaken what I would rather prefer dead" I said not sparing the ogling lady a glance " this place is a mirage of everything Eldoria is not, and what it's not is wolfwolves and foxes sitting together for a drink, or fairies dancing with centaurs or sirens getting married to shapeshifters . Besides, my life currently doesn't permit it"

The shifter sighed beside me." But Atleast Elfnin brought us together right. And I always tell you if I hadn't met Richie - the absolute love of my life, I would definitely have married you."

I rolled my eyes "right" juggling the drinks on both hands, I moved to attend to the bubbling customers who were growing impatient.

I delivered the drinks on the first table, I hurried to the next when I ran into a tall stranger. Sensation of cold hands clawed at my arms and stomach, I did not even here the drinks fall yo the ground or the angry bickering of people around who probably had a splash on them.

It felt time stopped as a fleeting image ran through my eyes. A deep baritone broke through "Are you fine?".

I stared into brown eyes , the same with the ones I saw some moments ago but then it was lifeless.

"Don't meet them"

"Excuse me?" He furrowed his eyebrows

"Don't see those men. They...they don't wish you well" I wheezed out.

His eyes studied me for a while, then a smile broke out. " You look exhausted dear friend. You need to rest. Someone help this young man to where he can sit"

I struggle to break away but strong hands held onto me and I felt weak. a brunette helped me to one of the rooms inside the bar. He helped me to a bed nearby . After scanning to see that I could handle myself he trotted out.

"great."

I mused as I sat in the darkness. Normally I would have been scared or I would have run out. But exhaustion took its toll and soon i sank into the claws of sleep, a land where all my fears reside.

Kai

A wheezing siren voice called out

I shot up in response, as a chilly cold ran through my body. I looked around and all i could see was a dark misty dried expanse of land stretched in all directions and he couldn't see the end.

It screamed of emptiness, desertion and

Death

No not here again

I shuddered at the realization of where i was and urgency wrapped me like a cloak as i fumbled through my thoughts to repeat ancient words, I had memorised to aid me in situations as this

Kai

The voice screeched but this time it didn't just manage to send another volt of pain through my being, but successfully drew me to an opening.

An open expanse of Land, with trees on the sides. The scenery stirred something familiar but for some reason he couldn't place exactly what it was. When the darkness settled in his eyes picked up figures at the center.

Men in hoods cloak stood a circular shape around an elevated platform, a little away from the gathering stood two figures one with a pale green complexion pointing out a Fairy and the other was a built male in his thirties stood at almost 6" but what was striking wasn't the long scar that stretched across his face but the aura he gave out.

A fox I gasped

But for some reasons his aura seemed different.

Pained Whimpers floated to me. My eyes finally settled on the figure tied to the slabbed platform.

A pale figure shuddering whether from cold or dehydration I couldn't tell, her scales glistening even in the dark, she was cut severally and was bleeding out. Her weak eyes fell on mine and held it. I knew she could see me but how she knew my name was what I hadn't figured

Help me

She mumbled weakly despite the chants that went on persistently around her.

A part of me desperately wanted to flee from all of this, but the other part stood still magneted to the ground. What could I do? Was I even here physically?

I stared into sapphire eyes and it struck me.

I would have to kill her and she too seems to know.

As if sensing the switch in intent, the fox head shot towards my direction.

With little time to think I did something for the first time that forever changed my life.

I ended a life.