The Once and Gifted King [ON HIATUS]

Chapter Four: Fire [1,608 Words]

"No..." I moaned

There was a click. I turned slowly. I knew that sound now.

On the other side of the porch was the man stalking us. Rhys pushed me behind himself and held up a flaming hand.

"Get away from us!"

"Really, Rhys. You think you can scare me with a little light show?" the man said. He smirked and spoke like he was in charge. I couldn't help thinking he was. "And Gwen! You two seem to have bonded." His grin enlarged, showing his teeth. "Perfect."

Rhys started inching toward the door and I followed him. The man kept his gun trained on us, but otherwise didn't move.

"Why don't you throw fire, Rhys?" the man goaded. "It would be so much easier for you to get away if you kill me. Then again, maybe you're too scared to kill me." He took a step closer and I flinched. "Weak little Rhys."

The man recoiled from an invisible punch. Rhys pushed me back into the house. He had his hand on the door handle when the man shouted, "Stop!" Zeke materialized in his arms; the gun was to his head.

"Zeke, no!"

"Foolish, boy," the man sneered at Zeke. "Even invisible, I have the upper hand here." He looked up at Rhys. "Come quietly, both of you, and I won't have to hurt your friend."

I was frozen on the floor and Rhys seemed equally stunned. Neither of us moved.

The man growled. "I'm not very patient." He moved the gun so it pointed to Zeke's foot. "Does Zeke have to lose the ability to walk?"

"No!" I shouted. Rhys lifted his hands, showing that they were bare of fire.

"Fine, I'll come. Do what you want with me, but leave Zeke and Gwen alone."

The man arched his eyebrows. "I can't promise that. Go slowly to the van," he said, waving with his gun.

Rhys opened his mouth to speak and a bellow sounded. I looked up the stairs to see Blake in his dragon form. He charged down the stairs, giving Zeke and Rhys the chance they needed to overpower the man. The two of them shoved him down the porch stairs, then ran inside and slammed the door. They leaned against it, panting, and Zeke turned the lock. With a shiver, Blake slowly turned back into himself.

"What do we do?" I asked in a quavering voice.

Zeke turned from Rhys and stood by my side. "Who are you? Why is that guy after you? Why are you so close to Gwen? Answer me!"

"Don't get mad at me!" Rhys retorted. "I know just as much as you do. Gwen told you: That guy showed up at my house and threatened me. That's all I know."

"Why should we believe you?" Zeke shouted.

"Fine, don't believe me! What does it matter? I have nowhere to go, and I definitely won't go with that man!"

"How do you know Gwen, huh?"

"Zeke, stop!" I yelled. He looked at me and quieted. "I've told you everything. I believe Rhys... because it's happened to me. Don't you see? That man knew me too! This is something bigger than any of us. We can't be yelling at each other like this."

Zeke hesitated, then sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's like you said, I'm angry because I"m scared. We should work together."

I hugged him. I held on like he was the only thing keeping me from falling. It was kind of awkward since he was shorter than me. He laughed nervously and shoved me off. I smiled wetly at him.

Rhys looked at us funny. "Okay... Now that that's settled, maybe we should figure out what to do."

"Do you smell smoke?"