Kiara flames

Part 2: Catch the flame

Hypnotized by fire
Lost in its brutal beauty
Calmed by its chaos

The noise of the crowd grew louder as she took a right down another, near identical street. The shutters of the houses were all thrown open in the warmth of summer. Beautiful potted flowers were placed precariously on window ledges; items of clothing hanging out to dry overhead. There was little fear of crime here, not in this part of the city.

The few people she passed were the epitome of wealth. Wearing colourful clothes, neat and well looked after, adorned with jewels that sparkled in the sunlight.

Kiara often had to remind herself that this is what she, herself, looked like. As she passed a couple, arm-in-arm, she got exactly what she'd come to expect from the people here. A reserved smile, a nod and a swift look past her. She didn't much care for the people here. Although truth be told, she didn't much care for people anywhere.

Anyone?

Finally, she reached the parade. The noise of the crowd was nearly deafening. Loud, unseen drummers played in rhythm to screeches and cheers of hundreds of onlookers. Ducking around a corner, behind the crowds, Kiara took yet another breath, pulled on a fake smile and streaked out into the herded masses.

Immediately she spotted a former patron, a portly man with a ragged beard, stained clothes and deep pockets. He didn't much care to look after himself; he let others do that for him. Kiara was on him in moments, draping her fingers softly over his left shoulder before curling around his waist.

"We've missed you, Clark."

Clark couldn't have looked more pleased to see her. He ran his hands down her arm, looking at her from head to toe. As expected

"It has been...' Clark grumbled with grim, pleasureful sound, 'A while."

"Come and visit me soon." Kiara winked, getting closer. She pressed her body against his, arms around his waist, resting her chin on his chest and looking up at him with big, dazzling eyes. "Please".

Clark grinned, food caught between his yellow and black teeth, nodding furiously.

"Good."

Kiara slunk off his form and turned away. The second her eyes no longer met his, they dropped from dazzling to dull.

Kiara continued to slide across the back of the crowds that lined a wide and open high street. She could hear the clinking of metal and the marching of steel booted soldiers as they made their way through the gathered spectators. Thanks to her short stature, though, she couldn't hope to see over the much taller men, woman and even large children all clammering to get a look. But she wasn't after a look anyway. She found the annual parade to be rather harrowing. People once free, sworn into lifelong servitude of a god they'd never seen, wheeled up and down in front of the people like cattle at a market.

She might spend her day in the service of others, but at least she could enjoy some of life's more solitary treasures when her work was done; like walking down a busy street without being gawked at.

She carried on, eyeing the crowd for stray men. Men she knew, men she liked the look of or just men that had wandered too far from their wives. But her eye was caught by none of these, instead, it was caught by a city guard leaning up against the wall of a house that cornered yet another winding alley. The city guard was tall and fit, with rough dark hair, soft features and clad in exotic metal plate work. He watched the crowd keenly.

"Bingo! Eyes on the price Kiara" she said to herself as she moves towards the City Guard

"Should you not be in the parade?" Kiara called out as she approached him, grabbing his attention.

"Somebody's got to keep an eye out for the unpleasant sort". The city guard gave Kiara a look up and down, but not like Clark. This was a look of disdain. Of disapproval.

"Lucky we don't get many of those around here," Kiara said, smiling innocently and taking up a leaning stance beside him. "Warm today isn't it?"

Who wouldn't resist the charms of Kiara?
Shall we play the cards

The guard mumbled back agreeingly, clearly not looking to strike up any sort of conversation.

"Must be hot in that armour," Kiara continued. She leaned in close, took the guard by the arm and whispered silkily in his ear. "Maybe you should let me take it off and cool you down."

The guard snapped a look at her. They were nose to nose. A fiendish smile on her face, a bitter look on his. He gave her a cold, penetrating stare before pushing her away forcefully. She shook her head with a fluttering laugh, a smile still spread across her face — a contrast to the anger she felt inside.

How dare he?

Kiara had gotten very, very good at hiding her true emotions. She wouldn't get much business if she couldn't.

But she always struggled to maintain her mask when they knocked her around.

Well well well, who's this charmingly arrogant guard? And how can he resists the beautiful presence of this young lady

Read more to find Out!
Enjoy!