Page 14

The Glass Ember

Grace

Kai wraps his hand around my wrist and drags me up the stairs, leading me through the massive double doors at the top of the dark cave staircase. We burst into a dimly lit hallway that stretches either way you look. Torches are hung along the black slate walls, creating an eerie glow as we walk. It reminds me of the old caverns below Mennola Port. They used to house criminals in those old tunnels, fit with caged bars and stuffy rooms. They only carry extra supplies from cargo chips in there now.

Kai’s large frame fills the cavernous halls. I’ve never seen a man of his size. Even the Fae mercenaries that frequented the pub Mom worked at didn’t measure so tall. He walks with such confidence, strutting along with muscled legs. Self-assured in his body as he drags me easily. This is a dangerous man. A dangerous God.

“How are you with shadow walking?” Kai asks me, looking up and down the hallways with every corner we take.

“What are you talking about?” I reply, confused.

Kai turns his head to me, looking appalled. “Oh. Wow, ok. I guess we aren’t doing that.” He grabs my hand and starts walking me down the black stone hallway. “Shadow walking is a form of magic reserved for those that have the gift of darkness. It’s exactly what it sounds like, you move through shadows into the dark void, and it creates shortcuts to anywhere you want to go.” He leads me to another set of rough stone steps, and we turn another corner. “Do you guys have any magic since we left?” he asks me curiously. Kai stops me and slowly peeks his head around the corner. Satisfied, we then continue walking down the dim halls.

“Magic? You mean something Gods-touched? That’s forbidden; that’s why I’m here and everyone I love is dead,” I say quietly, letting my solemn voice show my pain.

He stops me suddenly, turning to look at me again. Furrowing his brows, he lowers himself to my height. Kai puts a hand on my shoulder and speaks quietly, “We’re forbidden?”

“Yes.”

He pauses for a moment, staring into my eyes, before letting a loud chuckle out. “Nice.”

And we keep moving again.

Kai is strange.

He’s pulled me through several corridors now and up a variety of stairs. I’m out of breath and panting, running to keep pace with his large steps. “Come on, baby moon, we’re almost there,” Kai encourages me.

The large God drags me up another set of stairs and to more double doors, but these look much heavier and are made of black carved stone. The carvings on the doors are of people, many of them. It looks like they are moaning in agony, their bodies writhing up the doors, wrestling with each other. Oh Gods, I really don’t want to go in there. “Wait—” I start to protest.

“Shh, I really need you to be quiet in here, alright?” Kai says as he unlocks the door. He pushes them open with ease, and we enter a beautiful hall. He slowly brings me in as I take in my surroundings with awe. In it, ornately carved black marble with white veins runs through. The floor is smooth, and there are carved columns in the space. Large paintings adorn the walls, and black fabrics hang from the ceiling. There’s another massive set of stairs that branch off into different areas. This is completely different than the corridors we were just running through. This is an elaborate and elegant hallway.

“Come on. Don’t look at anyone. They’ll know you’re alive,” Kai whispers in my ear.

“Wait, wha—” He throws his massive hand over my mouth, cutting me off, and giving me a pointed look.

He chuckles nervously, glancing around him. “Don’t mind her, we’re playing the silent game.” Kai laughs. I eye him and peek around. There is no one here. Oh Gods, he’s crazy, like really crazy. I silently berate myself for going with the God of Chaos. What do I do? If I scream and run, I’m pretty sure he’ll catch me again before the imaginary people help me.

Kai takes his hand off my mouth slowly, giving me a warning look before dragging me towards an expansive set of stairs. His large footsteps echo into the great hall. At some point, he decides I’m moving too slowly and turns to pick me up, carrying me in his arms. He picks up his pace and gets to the vast stairs, taking them three at a time. Kai takes the branch heading to the left, walking so fast it could be considered running. We go through a dark hallway, running past several single doors before coming to a very large wooden one. He stops abruptly and opens it in a hurry, bringing us inside.

Kai sets me down quickly, and I turn from the muscled God, my mouth suddenly dry. I look around, his bedroom is large and painted a deep red with amber accents. There’s a large fireplace to the left of the door with a dark wooden mantle. A deep red couch adorns the hearth with a matching armchair. Straight across from the door lies the massive, dark wooden canopied bed, covered in amber accents. “The door to the left goes into the bathroom, and the door next to the bed is the closet,” he explains, pointing at each door.

I eye the door on the right, it’s painted a bright red. “What about that one?” I point to it.

Kai spins me, his intense face coming close to mine. “Never go in that door,” he growls. “Is that understood? Promise me. I want to hear you say it.”

His harsh tone catches me off guard, he’s been nothing but laughs since I met him. “Ok, I promise,” I squeak.

“Cool.” The chaotic God smiles again. “So, what do humans do for fun? It’s been a while since I had one.” He looks around the room. “Oh, I bet you’re hungry. Stay here, I’ll get some food.”

He leaves the room, and I immediately go to the red door. I don’t know if this is a test, but I’m going to fail it. What would a God of Chaos keep behind a door that would be so serious? I twist the shining doorknob, and it’s locked. I jiggle the door a little, and yeah, it’s definitely locked. I grunt in frustration. I want to snoop, my energy is anxious, and I want to explore this castle of Gods. I decide to go through his closet instead; maybe he has something I can change into from my ruined dress.

I tiptoe across the room and into the closet; the carpet is soft on my toes. I peer in and it’s giant. It stretches on and on, I can’t even see the end. I take a step in, and I swear I see it stretch further. I grab the first thing I see and jump out, nervous I won’t be able to get out if I go all the way in. The shirt I grabbed looks to be just a plain white men’s tunic. I throw it on and ditch my old clothes. I go to the fire and sit on the red velvet couch. I stick out my hands and feet, warming the pads. Sufficiently warm, I lie down and pull my shirt up so I can warm my legs, just as Kai walks in with a plate full of desserts and a drink.

“So, I realized when I got down there, I don’t remember what humans eat, so I just grabbed the best stuff.” He abruptly pauses by the couch, watching me lie there, red eyes traveling my body before stopping at my bare legs. I pull my shirt down a bit, nervously realizing it’s actually his shirt, and I didn’t exactly ask for it.

He clears his throat but doesn’t take his eyes off of my body. I can see a very large bulge forming in his tight pants, and I gulp.

After what looks like a significant effort, he drags his hungry eyes to my face. “What?”

“I didn’t say anything,” I whisper as the fire crackles in the background.

He takes a deep breath before walking to me and handing me the plate of desserts with my drink, taking a seat on the armchair away from me. We survey each other quietly.

“Thanks for the food. And for letting me stay with you,” I say gently.

“No problem, cupcake.” Kai smiles. “Hey, next time you want some clothes, just let me know. I would rather you not go in there. There’s been a servant or two that went in and never came out.” He laughs.

I choke on my drink a little, sputtering and coughing.

The handsome God comes over to sit next to me, slapping me gently on my back to work out the cough. “You ok? I was just joking, Grace … mostly.” He chuckles. “I’ll get a dresser put in here and give you some clothes, ok?”

“Ok,” I say meekly.

We sit in silence for a while. I keep seeing him stare at me out of the corner of my eyes. The firelight plays on his face, accentuating his red gaze. I wonder if he wants to kiss me. Would I say no if he did? I saw how much he liked my body. Perhaps he is expecting something in exchange for giving me a place to stay. My eyes follow down his body, I’ve never seen a man built like this. But, I guess, he is not any mere man.

I wouldn’t mind being intimate with Kai, if only just to feel something other than a broken heart. To be honest with myself, I’d give anything for a distraction from all the feelings of grief I have running through me. It’s been a harrowing week.

Kai is steamy. I wouldn’t mind seeing the carnal side of him. Besides, how many girls can say they made love to an actual God? I have a feeling it would make sailing hurricanes seem mild. It would definitely be quite a distraction. Should I do it?

It feels wrong like I’m betraying my brother and Evie in a way. But the thing is, I can’t stop thinking of them. Their smiles, their laughs, their screams, their blood. My mother’s cold gaze as she betrays me, as she blames me. The men pawing at me on that barred cavern of cold breezes and literal shit. The fucking nauseating things I’ve been through. I need this, I need to feel something other than pain, other than deep sorrow. Right now, I don’t care if they would judge me, let them walk in my path and see if they could keep this pain.

Emboldened, I take a deep breath and make the move first. I want this. I turn my face to him, and he gazes at me softly. Kai glances down at my lips, a flutter of hunger crosses through his face. He moves his head in slowly, and I follow his lead. I am practically falling into his lap as I silently beg. I lean in, I just need something right now, anything other than what I am currently feeling.

“Hey, sugar?” the God of Chaos whispers in a sultry voice, his warm breath caressing my awaiting lips.

“Yes?” I purr, my heart pounding in my chest as warmth pools in my gut.

His fingers lightly wipe the corner of my mouth. “You got some food on your face.” He bursts out laughing.

“You jerk!” I slap him hard on the arm, and it feels like granite. “ Ow!”

Kai laughs even harder, clutching his stomach. “Did you even hit me? It felt like a wisp of air! Oh! I’m crying; this is golden. Just wait until Tai hears about this.”

“You’re such an asshole,” I shout at him and cross my arms, furious and embarrassed. Tears appear in the wells of my eyes, threatening to spill over. I don’t know if I want to cry because I’m pissed or because I’m just plain sad.

“Hey now, peaches, don’t be mad, come on,” he coos to me, trying to grab my hand, but I pull away.

“I’m going to sleep.” I storm over to the opulent bed, leaving a laughing God on the couch. I swing the luxurious burgundy blankets back and slide into cold soft silk. I moan, I’ve never been in a bed like this. This is worthy of royalty, and I am far from it. I wipe at my eyes; the God of Chaos is an asshole.

I hear the laughing cut short, and a curious head peeks over the couch, watching me with two red eyes. Oh, I see; two can play at that game. I moan even louder. “Oh Gods, this feels amazing.”

I hear a loud thud hit the floor, followed by Kai’s voice. “Fuck.” He quickly pops up off the ground, like a dog when they smell a treat. He casually walks over to me. “It’s a good bed, huh?” Kai asks me, licking his lips as his eyes glance down my body.

“So amazing. The biggest I’ve ever seen,” I moan seductively.

He gives me a small nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. Kai’s hungry gaze is locked onto me in his bed, sizing me up with carnivorous eyes.

I squirm around a little, arching my back and thrusting my breasts up. “These sheets, they’re so soft and silky, have you ever touched anything so soft?” I ask him in a sultry voice.

His crimson eyes give a little roll back as he lets out a quiet groan. “You know”—he swallows deeply—“I’m also feeling very tired. I think I will get in my bed too,” he enunciates awkwardly. Kai keeps his eager eyes on me as he rips off his shirt and hurries to the other side. He’s completely sculpted, his body has muscles I’ve never seen on a man. I notice he has two shiny little piercings on either nipple; small studs peeking out, gleaming in the firelight. I have never seen piercings like that before. Sometimes the fishing crews at Mennola Port, usually the Fae, had odd piercings, but I’ve never seen them on a chest. He stares at me, admiring him, and chuckles darkly. “You’re about to get an eyeful, beautiful,” he warns as he starts unbuttoning his pants.

Oh! Oh . I look away just in time for him to drop his pants and slide into bed.

“This bed isn’t nearly as good as you made it seem.” Kai chuckles shyly, looking to me nervously.

“Maybe my side is better.” I toy with him, flashing an enticing smile. I pat the blanket, inviting him to come closer.

Kai grins madly in response, scooting bit by bit until he is next to me. His eyes look me over as something dark flashes across his face. Kai furrows his brows, suddenly looking hesitant.

I reach my hand over and touch his stomach gently, but he flies out of bed, landing on the ground in a loud thump. Kai groans on the floor frustratingly before a tan hand reaches up and grasps at a feathery pillow. He jumps up a moment later, using the pillow to cover his modesty.

“You have cold hands.” He chuckles sheepishly.

“You can help me warm them,” I say seductively, leaning my body to try and angle my breasts.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you, my little succubus,” Kai jokes, glancing at my chest.

I laugh, melting into the cool pillows. “You have yet to give me a nickname I like.”

The God’s demeanor changes in an instant, his hunger intensified. What was lighthearted fun transforms into a raw dark energy. Kai crawls into bed slowly, dropping the pillow as he comes for me, hunting me. Part of me wants to run, but I lay transfixed. I swallow deeply. Gods, his hard cock is as big as he is crazy, bobbing as he moves. I see another little silver ball gleaming in the firelight, pierced through his leaking tip and I gulp.

He gets to me, caging in my head between his bulky arms. He grins darkly, satisfied with his catch. Kai leans in close, breathing me in as he nuzzles my neck. I can smell his scent, like the spices at the fall harvest festival, spicy and woodsy. “I bet I have some names to call you that you would like,” Kai purrs in a distorted voice, a dark glint in his eye as he runs his tongue along his teeth. He lets a rough hand caress my cheek, lowering slowly to wrap around my throat in a way that reminds me he’s in control. I let out a whimper, but I want more.

“You like that, don’t you, little pet? You know who you belong to. Such a good girl,” His distorted voice rumbles.

My breath hitches as I squirm, trying to ease the throbbing between my legs. I’m entranced, staring into his deep red eyes. A shiver runs down my body as his gaze slowly lowers to my breasts. I’m all too aware that my nipples are pressed tightly against this very white tunic. My breathing is coming out in pants as he slips his warm hand under my shirt. Teasingly slow, he brings it up to my nipple and grabs it firmly. The pressure makes me gasp as he twists it.

“Gods, Kai, please,” I beg, arching into his painful grasp.

Suddenly, Kai shakes his head, as if he were coming out of a trance. “What? What’s going on?” His confused gaze falls to me, panting under him, and shoots back violently, flying off the bed for the second time tonight.

I scream, throwing the blankets off me as I start to rush to the side of the bed. “Kai! Are you ok?” I yell after him.

He stands up half-hearted, not bothering with his pillow, sighing loudly.

“What’s going on with you?” I prod gently.

“If you haven’t noticed, Grace, I’m not exactly sane.” He grabs a pillow with a defeated grasp. “I’m just gonna sleep on the couch,” he mumbles, deflated. Kai sulks to the couch, and I spot a massive tattoo covering his back; two horrifying spiders at war with one another.