Inked

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

My feet didn't move no matter how much I urged them. As the mysterious man began to edge closer to me, I could see the moonlight glint off of a gold chain that wrapped around and connected his two horns together. The chain was radiant in the moonlight and almost seemed to blind me. The man stared at me and, as he stared at me, his eyes began to narrow until they were nothing but mere slits. I could no longer see the silver irises. Before my mind could even register what was happening, the man took a step, and suddenly appeared in front of me. It was as if that step had moved around space and time to teleport him before me.

Upon closer inspection the man was relatively tall, even though I was shorter than others of my age, looking up at him made it seem like I was looking up the tallest mountain to stare at the sky. I barely even reached his slender waist. He reached his hand out toward me, as if to touch me, I did not know. I was extremely terrified, as scared as a rabbit, but unable to run away. As his hand began to get closer, I could feel that panther within me raise its hackles. It hissed, the sound echoing throughout the field. The man stayed his hand, looking at me even more curiously than before. The panther growled and, before I knew it, the flames that had once encased me appeared once again, this time almost a bright blue color.

Even though my skin was not burning under the intense heat, I could still feel that if anyone touched it, their flesh and bones would instantly scorch. It was a terrifying feeling to know that the fire was that fierce. I wanted to reign it in, but the man before me just chuckled and opened his mouth. Once again, those flames were eaten as if they were a tasty snack.

With my body still not in my control, I felt as though the panther inside me lifted it's paw and swiped out. As if mimicking that act, my own arm raised and my black as night hand connected on the unknown man's forearm. His skin broke beneath my fingernails leaving blood trailing down his arm. He just looked down at his arm and raised his eyebrows, not even making a sound. He just watched me as the panther inside me hackled and hissed.

"Who are you, little boy?" His voice was like the most decadent chocolate, bringing me in until I couldn't even realize that I was drowning in the sound. At the sound of his voice, the panther inside me actually perked up it's ears and seemed to tilt it's head toward him, as if it was listening as well. "Who are you?" He asked again.

But I could not answer, the panther was still in control. The unknown man reached out again and gently touched my cheek. His fingers felt cold against my skin, almost as if they were ice. I realized then, that my skin was just as hot as those blue flames. The panther shied at the touch and it made my body move several feet away from him, locking us into a stalemate.

The man sighed and then I felt as if my entire head was going to explode. My ears began ringing and my vision began to fade. A cold touch landed on my cheek once more, and I realized that the man was touching me again. The cold seeped into my skin, cooling me down until it reached the panther. It hissed at the cold and swiped out at it, but the cold continued to spread until it was surrounding the cat, making it unable to move even a single inch.

Once again, that melodic voice echoed out, reaching my ears and rattling my brain. "Who are you?"

It was as if that voice was inside my head, echoing to every corner as if trying to find me. It's as if it knew I was still in here and that I wasn't the panther. I felt my lips move before I even heard my own voice reply, "Keiran D'Arrow."

My own reply left me shuddering as the cold seemed to seep further into my bones. The panther was howling at the cold, then it's eyes flashed a brilliant blue and the blue flames erupted from the it, clashing against the cold.