8: Darken, The Fall of The Great Dragon

Chapter Twelve: The Port of Heartfire (Alexander)

"Your father was alive?" James inquired after I briefed him on everything.

"Isn't he always?" I sighed. "He has a knack for reappearing when he's least wanted, and I suspect this won't be the last we see of him."

James shivered, fidgeting with his left hand. He had endured the brutality of my father firsthand when he had thrust a finger into his eye and ordered James's own father to sever his hand. Although they had been healed, the emotional toll it had taken on him was still apparent.

"So where to next?" Althaeon asked as he looked at the map. 

"I have no idea," I replied, realizing there were more members of my family than I had previously known. I was only aware of twelve siblings that my father had sired. Luckily we had already summoned Sebastian and his wife to the palace and they were on board. "I wish there were a way to know who is who. If we could at least find some of the ones i already know, i know they would help."

Althaeon gestured towards the map, indicating the town of Heartfire, the port town from which James's father hailed and where he once held the title of Viscount. He turned to James and asked, "Do you know anything about this place? It has three lights and bears our last name."

James sighed. "Technically, I am the Viscount of that port."

"Wait? What?" Althaeon looked at his father with confusion. "how did i no know that?"

"Because I have not been fulfilling my responsibilities there," he answered, "I have been too busy being the Fairy King to find the time. It was merely a title that I inherited from my father."

"Do you know why there would be three members of our family there?" I asked.

"No." he answered. "there should be no reason for it, it would be the next best place to go."

There was a knock at the door, and Astraea entered. "I am sorry to interrupt. Amelia-Celeste is awake and has reinstated the barrier for us. Robin is assisting in stabilizing her powers, so it should endure longer than it did previously."

"That's good," I said, smiling at my eldest niece as I handed her the map. "I need you to guard this for a while. The three of us must travel again, and I trust you to keep it safe."

She looked up at me with a smile. "Of course, uncle."

I turned to James. "I need you to come with us this time; you know this place better than I do."

He nodded. "I figured as much. We can stay at my mansion while we're there; it should be safe."

Althaeon placed his hand on his fathers shoulder, thinking of where we needed to go with his fathers memories.

Suddenly, we found ourselves on a busy street teeming with people. The air carried the scent of saltwater from the ocean close by.

"It has been too long since I was last here," James said as he guided us through the bustling streets. Althaeon and I had to draw our cloaks' hoods over our heads as the passersby's stares became more pronounced. Luckily James's own cloak concealed his wings.

We arrived at a large gate, beyond which stood a vast brownstone mansion, distinct from the wooden structures of the town.

A guard stood at the gate, inquiring, "What brings you here?"

"Can't you inform the butler that Viscount James Heartfire has returned?" James spoke with a formality I had not seen in him for a long time. 

The guard glanced at James, his eyes widening. "Yes... of course, sir, one moment," he said, swinging the gate open and dashing into the mansion.

Soon many maids rushed out the greet us, followed by a man dressed in a blue tailcoat, the butler. 

"James, it has been many years," he said, bowing. "Welcome home, sir."

"Thank you, Bennet," James said, smiling at the butler who ushered us into the grand mansion.

"You are a spitting image of your late father." Bennet spoke to James as i took in the sight. 

I knew my closest friend had grown up as a noble, yet his demeanor around the palace made it easy to forget.

"So who are your companions sir?" Bennet asked, looking at us.

James chuckled. "Well you see, this is former King Alexander Darken of Drakaria and King Althaeon Heartfire of Ignisfatia."

"Oh my," Bennet bowed to us. "My apologies to you both for being so informal. I was aware that Master James had married Queen Alexandria, but I had not anticipated him bringing members of his family home." He examined Althaeon more closely. "You adopted the surname Heartfire instead of Darken?"

"I did." Althaeon answered. "My father has mad a bigger impact on my life then my mother." 

"You don't resemble your father in the slightest," he said coldly, then turned to James, "are you certain this... Dragon is your son?"

James appeared furious. "Hold your tongue, Bennet," he snapped. "Althaeon may not share my blood, but he is every bit as much my son as the rest of my children are."

"My sincerest apologies, sir," he said, bowing his head. "It is just that, out of all your children, you chose to bestow your last name upon the bastard child of the Great Dragon."

James turned to me, the fury in his eyes unmistakable. Then, he faced his butler. "I believe you've forgotten your place, Bennet. I am not merely a Viscount of this town, nor am I simply a prince consort to the Great Dragon, nor just the father or friend of kings and queens," he declared. With a swift motion, he tore off his cloak, revealing his shimmering crystal wings, and stood tall.

"I am a king in my own right, of my own kingdom," he continued, looking down at his butler. "Know your place and get out of my home; you're fired."

"Fire... Fired?" the butler stammered. "I have worked for your family for many years; I served your own father. You cannot fire me."

"My father is long dead," James declared. "I am now the master of this mansion. Leave at once, or I shall have you removed for insulting my family."

"You know," said the butler, mustering courage, "I have heard there's a bounty on your head, on the heads of any member of your family. It would be quite unfortunate if someone were to inform the Great Dragon. You might want to reconsider letting me go."

James pulled his dagger and with one motion, sliced the butlers throat. "What did i tell you about insulting my family?" He got close to the man who looked at him with fear in his eyes, trying to stop the bleeding. "no, one harms my family, verbally or otherwise." 

I looked to Althaeon, "teleport the butler somewhere to die, we do not want to burden the staff here."

"Ill send him to the pit i found my brother in during my trials." he said and waved his hand, all that remained of the butler was a pool of blood. 

James looked to one of the maids who had been watching us. "Hire a new butler, make sure he in not an idiot like the last, i will be in the study."

James then led us up a grand staircase to his study.