Fireheart

Chapter 36

My temples are pounding as I take another swig on the bottle. I don't know how long its been since I started drinking, but I know it has to be close to midnight.

"Oh, Fyre." Matilda said when she brought me my dinner. Three empty bottles littered the floor.

"S'okay." I said, trying to sit up. My vision blurred and a white hot pain flashed through my head.

"How have you not started puking?" Matilda said. "A girl your size should be on the floor by now."

"Imma shifter." I said. "Won't be knocked out til a few more bottles." I burped.

"Well I guess I'll leave you to your own devices. Try to eat, though."

That was a few hours ago.

Now I sat on the bed, sleep begging to pull me under. I stared at the door and took the occasional swig. The patterns on the wooden door were beginning to swirl and blend together.

When the door opened, I sat up in the bed. Black hair walked through as if he owned the place.

"Oh." I said, realizing who it was. "Is only you."

Yong'in chuckled and sneered.

"Ah my granddaughter is a drinker, eh?"

"Only when. Phoenix is gone." I said, laying back down.

"You must be a Shifter. Four bottles of that shit will have Muz in the floor."

"Yup." I said, taking another swig. The alcohol had long since lost its burn.

Yong'in sits across from me on the bed, and takes the bottle from my hand.

"If Thanom is giving you powers tomorrow, we'd best not let you have a hangover."

"Ahh whatever." I say and roll over in the bed.

"Fyre. I want you to make me a promise." Yong'in says after a few moments.

"I may not remember it."

"Oh you'll remember it."

"Then shoot." I say, closing my eyes. Sleep was starting to win.

"I want you to kill Thanom. I see the way you look at him. The malace in your eyes. You hate him as much as I do."

"You got that right."

"Thanom tells you he gifts the magic. But he doesn't tell you that the magic makes you a slave to him. Me and my brothers were just instruments for his plans. End his plans. Set me and my brothers free."

I reach over and find Yong'in's hand.

"That was the plan long before you asked."

I don't know if I blacked out or went to sleep. When I wake, there is a dull throb in my temples. Nothing my blood wouldn't fix after a few hours.

Matilda finds me a few minutes after I get in the bath. She leaves a black gown with red lace on the sleeves and skirt. After I'm bathed and dressed, she leads me back into the living room.

"Fyre. I heard you had an.... Interesting night." Thanom says when he comes into the room. Today he wears black pants and a white button down shirt, similar to what he wore when we first met.

"I was stressed." I reply. The ache in my head loosens slightly.

"Aspen was to join us, but he is indesposed at the moment. After he healed, I sent him back to pull his troops."

"Did you declare this war, Using Aspen as a puppet?" I asked.

Thanom laughed.

"Ah you are a smart one, Fyre. Yes I did. It's all part of the plan. Use a war to kill off as much of humanity as possible. That way when I make your claim as rulers, the humans will accept you."