Secret Fire

~Chapter 25~

Ingressus Pov.

I stroke Addy's hair gently, running my fingers through it. I always loved how long it was, how unique she was. I sigh a bit then gently kiss her neck and keep stroking her neck. I smile before a knock on the door catches my attention. I perk my ear then look over and get out of the bed, walking over to the door and answering it to see a male Voltaris standing in the doorway.

"Sorry to disturb you but Vena's slave... Brayden... we found him in the woods with several deep cuts and his markings flashing, we fixed the flashing but his markings are still dim and we're doing the best we can for him but we were hoping--" He starts before I widen my eyes. No... not him... Addy will be crushed if she figures out her brother is on the verge of death.

"Take me to him and I'll see what I can do." I order then hear a female gasp. I glance back to see Addy standing behind me, her hands over her mouth, her eyes widen then I see tears start welling up in her eyes. I run over to her quickly and wrap her into a hug.

"It'll be ok, he'll be fine." I try to assure her then feel her start full on sobbing onto my shoulder. I hug her closer and glance back at the Voltaris then back towards my slave. "I will heal him, we'll figure this out, just wait here for me." 

I see her nod and sniffle then keep sobbing. I lead her over to the bed and let her lay down, still crying as I pull the blankets over her.

"Alright I'll be back in a while, try to hold out until I'm back." I whisper and she nods shakily as I turn back towards the Voltaris, nodding to him then letting him lead me out of the room. I follow him down the hall and into another room where I see Brayden lying on the bed, he sees me and hisses before wincing in pain.

"It's ok just stay still." The female medic beside him hushes.

"What is he doing here?" Brayden hisses and points at me.

"I'm here to help you, you moron." I scoff and he snarls.

"I don't want you to heal me." He snaps as I grab some wrapping and scissors.

"Well you're going to have to suck it up because you don't have a say in that." I snap and pull out my song. "The rest of you may leave." 

They all nod then leave, leaving me and Brayden alone. 

Brayden Pov.

That cursed home burner... sister kidnapper. T-that DEATHSINGER. I think bitterly as Ingressus sits down beside me, looking over the wrapping then my injuries.

"Haha you can drop the act now, don't act like you want to help me." I hiss and he looks up at me.

"It's no act." He simply says then looks back down to the wrapping.

"Alright then give me one reason why you would help me, Deathsinger." He winces at the name but continues looking over my wounds before grabbing my arm and his song and starting to heal my less deep wounds. 

"Because you were my friend before, you were like a little brother to me, and I don't want you to die." He says and keeps looking over my wounds like he's not even talking to me.

"Even after I fought your clan and killed thousands of them?" I demand.

"Don't overestimate yourself." He says and I scoff.

"I was trying to intimidate you." I mutter.

"Clearly and you failed. An Ardoni who is injured and on a bed healing is no threat to anyone other than those in the same position as him." Ingressus says and I try to roll over only to feel him grip my arm tightly.

"Nice try." He says and I frown as he turns me back over. "Now, tell me, what exactly attacked you?"

"Tell me what exactly broke your brain." I mutter.

"The Prime Songs, now your turn." He says and I look at him with an alarmed and confused look.

"A bear..." I say slowly.

"Well, you clearly didn't run away from it, otherwise you would have less injures." Ingressus says and wraps up another one of my injuries. I feel cold air on one of my wounds and flinch.

"Ow!" I yelp and he looks up and raises his eyebrows. "I mean... it's cold...."

"It hurt I know it did." Ingressus says then wraps the wound in healing wrap. I feel him adjust the pillow into a less comfortable position and groan.

"Why did you do that?" I hiss then feel him wrap up my neck. "You idiot, there were no injuries on my neck."

"It wasn't for the injuries, I am a vampire you know, we long blood and a neck fully exposed like that is tempting, Normally I would if it weren't for the fact that you are heavily injured right now." He says and I feel my skin grow pale. I really should have known that was what it was for.

"Are you almost done?" I ask. "I don't want your grubby hands on me or my sister." 

"Too late." He says and shrugs.

"Are you at least treating her well?" I question and he looks towards me.

"No, I don't consider her a person." He says and I bare my teeth and lunge at him before pain floods through my body. "Yeah, I didn't heal you that much, and I was being sarcastic, of course I'm treating her well, she gets a warm bed to sleep in, food, she gets to read and sleep with me."

I feel myself relax then tense up when he says 'she sleeps with me' 

"She sleeps with you?" I repeat and he nods.

"Yes anymore questions or can I just heal you?"

"Oh you bet I have more questions." I say and hear him sigh. "How long is this going to take?"

"About a month, for you to heal fully because someone didn't run away when a bear was attacking him." Ingressus says and I give him a lidded gaze. He ignores it and tightens the wrapping on one of my wounds. I wince and hear him chuckle.

"Wow, have you never been injured before?" He laughs.

"Have you never healed someone before?" I groan, feeling more pain flood through me. He looks down at me and nods.

"Several times, I've healed your sister multiple times." He says.

"Really? And what were those wounds from? let me guess, you." I say and hear him hiss.

"You're on the verge of getting bitten right now." He snarls.

"Try me, Vena will kill you." I say and scoff.

"Well guess what? She's like a grandmother to me to." Ingressus says and I frown. "And I am the Master of the Voltaris clan, or did you forget that to?"

I shake my head before he finally lets go of my arm and stands up.

"Well I'm done for now, I'll be back later, but for now I need to go make out with your sister." He says and stretches before walking towards the door.

"Don't you dare!" I yell after him and hear him laugh as he shuts the door behind him.

Senn Pov.

I sit down next to Achillean and put a hand on his shoulder.

"It will be ok Achillean, they're fine." I assure him. We still don't know if Addy's fine after what happened but we're assuming she is. Me and Ria made a vow to not tell him what happened though. Ria walks over and sits down next to me. I lean over and kiss her gently then look back towards Achillean.

"She's fine Achillean, trust me, we know." Ria assures him and he shakes his head.

"I don't." He sobs and shakes his head.

"Believe us, she is in no danger there, the Deathsinger won't hurt her." I assure him and he sniffles but nods.

"I hope you're right..." He says and smiles at us as Ria forces a smile along with me. But I know in the back of our heads we're both thinking the same thing.

I hope we are to....