Infernal Desire

The First Encounter

Talia and William stand together at the stone bridge that connects the shores of Ignis to the outskirts of Castro. William has his hands on Talia’s shoulders as they both look down at the Burning Sea. The lava flows slowly, bubbling and burping at intervals, which makes Talia’s skin crawl with fear. The ice crystals are almost blinding as they work to keep them cool at the sea’s edge.

“Where is that escort?! They should be here by now!” William says nervously, scanning the skies for any signs of large-scaled bodies.

“They did know we were coming today, right?” Talia asks her eyes locked on one large lava bubble that seemed too stubborn to burst.

William did not answer. Instead, he went to Nigel to grab one of the phoenix pigeons, the only bird that could survive a trip over the Burning Sea. They were given centuries ago by the dragons before the war and humans have bred them and raised them as pets ever since. Just as William is about to tell Nigel what to write, a mighty flapping noise is heard above them. Talia glances up in time to see a large, crimson dragon soaring overhead. William rushes back to her side and shields her with his body as Talia’s fingers begin to spark with the beginnings of a spell.

“Don’t!” He hisses as the dragon circles them a few times before landing on the bridge in front of them. His tail wraps around the bridge twice as his four massive claws clutch the edge of the six-foot-wide construct. His head alone is the length of William’s body. His mane is long and silver, lying across one side of his body like a blanket. But Talia is caught by his eyes. They are a deep ember the color of dying flames one moment and melting honey the next. The harsh light of the Burning Sea dances across his scales and paints the tips of his silver hair the color of blood.

William takes several deep breaths and faces the dragon with his back straight, the warrior he once was taking over his body, “I am William de Kemp of Castro. I have come to bring my daughter, Talia de Kemp, to be the bride of Prince Igneous.”

The dragon tilts his head to look around William at Talia. She flinches as he lets out a huff that almost sounds like disapproval or amusement. Either way, Talia can feel anger rising inside her stomach along with her fear.

“We have been expecting you.” A smooth, masculine voice says from behind the dragon. A young man, about Talia’s age, is perched on top of the dragon’s back. Her eyes lock with the young man who has a smile that could mean anything and everything all at the same time. His hair is cut short except for one long bang that hangs over his left eye. His visible eye is a shocking shade of yellow, almost like a sunflower. Can these beasts be this good-looking?

The man jumps gracefully from the dragon’s back and stands a few feet away from them. He looks around William to Talia and smiles a little more courteously, “Welcome to Ignis. I am Lucian and this is Prince Igneous.” He indicates the dragon with a small flourish of his hand and flames erupt around the dragon’s body. William and Talia step back as the heat from his flames overwhelms the ice crystals. Talia hears a few of them crack on her dress and sees a few break on her father’s cloak. The heat only lasts a moment and the flames get smaller with the dragon’s body. After another heartbeat, the flames clear, revealing a naked man with long silver hair, almond eyes, and a handsome face that is just as breathtaking as Lucian’s.

He is tall and very well-built. His muscles are tight, and his peach-colored skin looks almost pale against the crimson light of the sea. Lucian drapes a long coat he had been wearing around the Prince’s shoulders. He buttons the coat down until the Prince is completely covered. However, Talia has already seen all the Prince’s glory, and her cheeks are hotter than the air. Lucian steps aside so Igneous can stand face-to-face with William. In this way, he is only slightly taller than her father. The two men regard each other with caution and distrust.

“Is she the one then?” Igneous asks in a smooth, even voice that sounds neither pleased nor dismissive.

“She is,” William answers stiffly, not bothering to hide his hostility. Talia touches his arm. Igneous glances around William again and this time Talia steps from behind her father so he can have a full look at her. She feels like a rare animal as Igneous and Lucian both study her from head to toe. She is suddenly self-conscious about the plunging neckline of her dress and the way it hugs her body like it has been painted on. Their gazes linger a little too long on her breasts, and she folds her arms over her chest in an attempt to hide them a little. Igneous meets her eyes once more and sighs before turning away to walk back across the bridge. Lucian chuckles softly behind his hand.

“What is that supposed to mean?!” William demands, the first hints of anger coloring his voice.

“He is just resigned to the fact that he has to marry a human. Please don’t take him too seriously. He will treat her with the utmost courtesy. Now, Princess, shall we?” Lucian says, offering his hand to Talia. She stares at it for a moment before turning to her father. He gives her a long, measured look, and she can see the sorrow this departure is causing him. She pulls him over to the carriage out of Lucian’s sight. Reaching into the carriage, she pulls out the branch she had plucked on their way here.

“Father, I don’t know when I will see you again, and I wish I was getting in that carriage with you and going home. But, this is our reality now. This is for peace.”

Talia feels a warm wave travel down her arm and the branch blooms with beautiful pink flowers and ripe hita berries, a sweet fruit that calms the nerves and eases sorrow. “Find love again and be happy. I’ll find my happiness here.” She hands the branch to her father, and he takes it as the tears flow. They embrace as tight as they can. He holds her as though he wants to let her melt into his skin so he can keep her safe. Talia breathes in the familiar scent of spice and rose soap. She allows his warmth to wrap her like a blanket. Lucian clears his throat after what seems like an extremely short time and Talia breaks away from her father, running to get him out of sight as fast as possible or risk having him take her home. The final goodbye has been said, nothing awaits her now except the Dragon’s Inferno.