Fire

Episode 2: Everything heading south.

“Talk to me, Blaze” Michael says as he enters the kitchen.

"Laundry is done, house is clean, front and back yard clean, and just like you ordered, I asked Mr. Jack to explain to me how to cook the traditional Maheegan dish for the parents of your future wife, so dinner is almost ready” I say.

“Great, let me look at you” he says as he inspects my face.

“Arms” he says.

I extend my arms towards him, he carefully inspects them, making sure there aren’t any visible bruises or cuts.

“I am not sure how you did it, but you managed to hide them” Michael says.

I managed to hide them? No, no, my dear and at times annoying brother, I wish I could tell you I spent time covering the bruises with make up, but no, this is me spending all night awake, pushing my powers to the limit by healing myself to make sure I did not miss any spots. 

“I know we have gone through this thousands of times, but one last time, you will only speak when?” Michael asks.

“When I am spoken to, I will limit myself to answer the question, and if the topic about the way I am treated comes up, I must dismiss it” I answer.

“And when the time comes for Mr. Palmer to talk about completing the mating ceremony?” Michael asks.

“I retire to the kitchen” I answer.

“If they ask you to stay?” he asks.

“I do in silence” I answer.

“Perfect” he says as he exits the kitchen and I go back to cooking.

**DOOR BELL** 

“They are here” Michael announces as he walks to the front door.

“Dinner is ready” I say.

“And we are ready” Dave says as he and Carly walk downstairs.

“Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Christine, good evening, welcome, please, come in” Michael greets.

“Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Christine, good evening, we are so happy to have you here with us” Dave says with the biggest and fakest smile plastered on his face.

“Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Christine, welcome, may I take your coats?” I ask.

“Yes, thank you, Blaze” Christine answers as they start to remove their coats and hand them to me.

“As Blaze places your coats in the closet, why don’t we head to the dining room” Michael says.

“Dinner will be served in a minute, but please do enjoy the refreshments I have prepared for you” I say as I place the coats in the closet.

“If you desire, I can help you with dinner” Christine says.

“Oh, how can I ask our guests to work? Thank you, but like tradition dictates, allow me to serve you” I say.

“We are the ones hosting, please do allow us to serve you” Dave says as he points to the dining room.

“Yes, please, follow me” Michael says.

“Are you sure you do not need any help, Blaze?” Mrs. Palmer asks.

“No, Ma’am, I have everything under control, just come in, and relax, let me know if you need anything” I answer as I smile at her, she nods as Michael leads them to the dining room.

I sigh as I close the door, tonight is going to be a long night.

***

“Everything was delicious, thank you, Blaze” Christine says, I smile as I nod.

“I agree, tradition was exceptionally followed, you have made your ancestors proud, Blaze” Mr. Palmer says.

“Thank you, Sir, it was an honor to serve all of you” I say as I start to retrieve the dessert plates.

“I believe the time has come to discuss the real purpose of our visit” Mr. Palmer says.

I continue to gather plates, because Michael left very clear that as soon as this part of evening came, I was to vanish from sight.

“Michael, you have successfully integrated to the pack, you have successfully fulfilled all your duties in the pack, in the tribe, and since the moment you mated with Christine, you have been nothing but a complete gentleman, to her, to us, and under other circumstances, I would be happy to welcome you to my family and mine been part of yours” Mr. Palmer says.

Things are about to go south and I am not picking these plates fast enough.

“Under other circumstances? We do not follow, Mr. Palmer, what’s wrong with our family?” Dave asks, a hint of attitude in his voice.

“Dave” Michael calls in a stern tone.

“Do remember Mr. Palmer is your elder, do not speak so freely to him” Michael corrects.

Dave releases a small chuckle as he couldn’t believe Michael’s words.

“I am sorry, Mr. Palmer, I did not meant to disrespect you” Dave says .

“As I was saying, it is no secret to anyone in this tribe that Blaze killed your parents as it is no secret the way treat her, as she were a slave, a servant, and for years there have been commentaries pointing to you and your brother subjecting her to all sorts of abuse and torture, I do not even dare to name them” Mr. Palmer says.

I remain calm, if I remain calm, that’s what they will read and Michael will not kill me.

I start to exit the dining room, it is not like I can hear them from the kitchen.

“If I may, Mr. Palmer” Michael says.

“Go ahead” Mr. Palmer answers.

“For Dave, for me, losing our parents the way we did and at such young age was hard, it still is hard, the only guidance we had was the one that our alpha gave us, but that’s all it has been, guidance, many things we have learn on our own as the time goes by, I admit that finding out that my sister killed our parents, does bring so much pain, and sharing the same space with her has not being easy, so as for the abuse and torture, I will admit that once or twice, we might have lost our temper with her, but that’s it, we have never dared to touch Blaze as it is rumored, that would be barbaric, and our parents would be disappointed, if we did” Michael says.

“Once or twice? Do not lie to me, Michael, the whole tribe can hear how she is treated” Mr. Palmer says.

“If you look at her, you will see that there isn’t a single bruise on her, not a single scratch, because as I said, Mr. Palmer, we lose our temper, but that’s as far as we go” Michael says, Mr. Palmer sighs.

I place the plates on the sink.

“The mating ceremony has been part of the traditions of the Maheegan tribe since our beginning, a mate is not something that one can change, that one can control, it is a matter that is beyond us, our power, our control” Mr. Palmer says.

“And because of the respect I have for our culture, for our traditions, I will approve of my daughter completing the mating ceremony with you, Michael” Mr. Palmer says.

"Thank…” “I am not done, Michael” Mr. Palmer says.

“Sorry, Sir” Michael says.

“I still have my worries, I still have my fears, for the peace of my mind, and for what I understand will bring you some peace as well, I will allow this marriage to happen as long as you agree to move in with us” Mr. Palmer says.

Oh no, I am done.

“Move in with you, Sir?” Michael asks.

“Not into our home, but into our land, I have arranged everything, and the construction of your new home has already started, by the time you and my daughter complete the mating ceremony, you will have your own home” Mr. Palmer answers, Michael sighs.

“Michael…” “Christine is important for me, I would never do anything to harm her, Sir, but if my word is not enough, if it gives you peace, Sir, I will move in with you” Michael says silencing Dave.

It was nice while it lasted, because as soon as the Palmer family leaves, Dave is going to give the beating of a lifetime for the rest of my life.

“I knew you would see it my way, Michael, tomorrow, we will meet with the Alpha to arrange everything for you to be married as soon as possible” Mr. Palmer says.

“Yes, Sir” Michael says as the sounds of the chairs being dragged back fills the room, I clean my hands and hurry to the closet by the entrance.

“Thank you for receiving us, Michael, Dave” Mr. Palmer says.

“Thank you for coming, Sir” Michael says as I retrieve the coats.

“Blaze, everything was perfect” Mr. Palmer says.

“Thank you for coming, Sir, glad you enjoyed it” I say as I hand them their coats.

 “Good night” Mr. Palmer says “Good night” we chant back as they exit the house.

I close the door of the house and walk towards the dining room to continue to clean the table.

“Are we not going to talk about it?” Dave finally asks.

“Yes, we are going to talk about it, Dave I was very clear with you, my in laws were to not be disrespected in any way, and at the very first chance you got, you opened your mouth” Michael answers.

“I disrespected him? No, Michael, he disrespected us in our home, he was talking as if we were monsters of some kind for treating that murdered as she deserves, and the worst part is that you allowed him to, when there is nothing to discuss, nothing to agree to, Christine is your mate, it doesn’t matter what he thinks, what he has to say, she is yours, you are to do as you please, and she follows” Dave says. 

“That is not how this works, Dave, Christine is not a mat, she is not an object, she is the woman I love, she is going to be wife, my partner, and after what you have said you are wondering why I allowed him to speak like he did?” Michael says.

“He…” “HE IS RIGHT! We are monsters, Blaze might have killed our parents, but the way we treat her is wrong, and we do not have any right to do so, I do not want Christine living like this, I am tired of living like this” Michael says.

“What are you saying, Michael?” Dave asks.

“I am been given a chance to get out of this life of hate and have a normal one, I am taking it, if you want to continue to live here and torture Blaze until the day you kill her comes, feel free, but I had it” Michael answers as he walks upstairs.

“This is your fault” Dave says as he enters the dining room.

I release a sigh as I look at Dave, he punches me.

“He is leaving because of you” Dave says as he punches me again.

Dave grabs me by the hair forcing me to stand, I flinch in pain.

“He is leaving me, because of what you did” Dave says.

“THIS IS YOUR FAULT!” Dave says as he throws me against the wall.

Darkness begins to take over as Dave continues to punch and punch.