The Blood Of The Rainbow

.:Chapter 21:.

VIOLET'S POV

Alex and I threw the door open, running into the cold arena, and I shook at my core as the frigid air engulfed us. The cold fog wrapped around us; I rubbed my hands together, creating a small ball of electric heat, and this was able to bring my hands back to a normal temperature.

"Arian!" Alex yelled, breaking into a sprint.

My eyes gazed up from my hands and saw a scene that broke my heart. Azuraq was holding Arian in his arms, kneeling on the floor. Arian had steam fuming off him, but his face looked as still as death. He looked so peaceful and serene. The only thing that threw off his tranquil look was the fact that his clothes were scorched, and behind smoldered leather he had burn marks that would become scars all over his body. Silver blood dripped from his seared skin to the ground.

For a split second I saw tears in Azuraq's eyes, but they were gone as soon as I saw them.

"Is he dead?" Alex exclaimed in a heavy panic. I understood his anxiety—he had already lost a brother and wasn't ready to lose another. "Azuraq! Answer me!"

Azuraq looked up, already calm and collected with the brisk, curt air of a head knight talking to his king. The only thing that proved his chilled tone otherwise was how gently he was holding Arian, and it was the only thing that was keeping Alex from shoving past Azuraq to get to his younger brother. We all noticed the tension in Azuraq's shoulders—we knew he was blaming himself for what happened to Arian.

"He's not dead," Azuraq said, and I could literally see the relief overcome Alex. "But he's very weak."

"What happened?" I asked, though I knew deep down.

Azuraq's gaze hardened. "I'll tell you later. Right now, he needs a doctor. The arena has to be rebuilt, too. All training will be halted until further notice."

"Where will the knights train, then?" Alex demanded.

"Not here," Azuraq said, with a hint of a rebellious snarl. The old Azuraq, the version of him that I had first met, was coming back.

Alex bristled at Azuraq's tone, but he couldn't argue with the knight's logic. I glanced up and stared at my surroundings: the once green arena was black and bleak, everything burnt down by Arian's hellfire. It was as if nothing was going to grow back ever again. Alex was following where I was looking and his face fell.

"It's worst than last time," Alex murmured hopelessly to himself, which led me to remember when Alex told me that Arian had burnt the arena once before, when his powers first manifested at thirteen years old. A long time ago.

Alex kneeled beside his brother and put a hand on Arian's. "You promised me you'd never hurt yourself again," he whispered sadly.

Azuraq stood up now, carrying Arian in his arms. Arian's head was resting against the crook of Azuraq's neck and shoulder, looking as if he was simply sleeping. I rubbed my hands anxiously again—the air was getting colder.

"I'll take him to the infirmary," Azuraq announced. "I need to put him in ice to cool down his body temperature."

"Don't you think that's the doctor's job?" Alex asked, almost challenging.

Azuraq stared at the king, looking indifferent and uncaring to Alex's opinions. "I know Arian the best here out of everyone," he said slowly, as if Alex was a mere child, "so if you want your brother to recover, I suggest getting out of my way."