Arieon Flare

I try to shift my legs but I only end up getting pulled more down my the wires. I was never taught to kneel, nor did I ever expect myself to do it. Ashton struggles against her bindings, trying to burn down the metal but as the wires glow bright red, a bucket of water is splashed upon it while the other Metallicas add more layers of metal to hold her down.

Leona gives up altogether, she does not struggle nor does she shout profanities like Katrin, Luca and Jade. But her head still stays high, just like mine and Ashtons. But Cory bows his head in defeat, by his build, I could tell he must be one of the men working to build mines or tunnels for the Unscathed to pass. He must have been used to keeping his head down in the presence of the Unscathed.

After a while, the sound of an explosion shuts us all down. I am dragged back to the day I watched my home burn. My mask of a stoic expression wavers letting everyone see the scared child beneath all the power. Thankfully everyone is distracted by the explosion to notice me.

Ashton gulps, her eyes in pure terror as she looks at me. For a moment nothing exists except us. I pull against my bindings struggling to get to her but to no avail. I watch the glowing metal turn back into silver and grey as she gives up on trying. The little hope I had left of getting out of here dies with her flames.

As the familiar kind warmth of her flame fades away, another arises. This time it of the person I held in my hands seconds after he was born. I oathed to keep him safe forever that day but that required keeping him away from the vultures at the court and myself. I see how that was a mistake now.

Only the eyes of sentinels flocking him are visible and I see pity in them. I take deep breaths trying to calm myself down before I say anything impulsive. Leona on the other hand does not see any reason to hold back now. She spits at his feet and settles her face in a victory smirk like we have achieved our actual mission.

Axel does not take the bait, but Melody does. She walks forward from Axel's side and slaps Leona across her cheek. "He is your king." she sneers, suddenly protective of Axel, or perhaps the favor of the crown. Katrin flinches at the sound and visibly shrinks before the crown Unscathed, the Wanderers are thought their place in the world since they are born, and that is below us, always.

"Let us go Axel." Ashton says punctuating each word. Her flames return and Axel jumps from the sudden wave of heat. But he quickly puts up a mask of amusement as he chuckles.

"Now why would I do that traitor?" His words drip with venom. Ashton's face falls at the words. She is not used to being denied anything by anyone other than our parents. But I do admit it was a stupid demand from a weak position.

"Because you do not want another funeral, do you Axel?" I snap. He goes quite, not bothering to answer. Instead he tries to assess me and how I feel. I feel humiliated and weak and pure white rage, but my face shows none of it. I thought you that trick, brother.

Melody pulls her mouth in a grim line as she answers like we are talking about the weather, "There will be no funeral, House Xonos will examine you and then your bodies are going to be left to rot in the Dark Creek."

Ashton is unsettled by that, so are the wanderers. They fear what comes after death, but I fear death itself. I can not leave Axel in such a world where everyone he knows and trusts are using him. Melody leans in and whispers something in his ear.

"As much as I appreciate the suggestion Mel, they are more useful to us alive." Axel says. The informal name makes Lady Melody flush but she covers it up with an easy smile and nods.

A cold shiver runs down my spine as I look into my brother's eyes. They do not have the same desire for power like Ashton does, what I see is much worse. They resemble Azela's hazel eyes, not only in color, but also the fear of losing power behind the courtly perfection of disinterest. One of my siblings gave her life to that fear, I fear my brother will too.

"Axel. . ." I plead, "Let Ashton go. I will do whatever you need, including stepping down from my birthright as crown heir. I will confess and say anything you tell me to. Just let her go, she will not dare to come back or do anything to harm your reign."

An easy lie. Yet my fingers tremble, fear grips my throat threatening to crush any control I have over myself. Years of manipulation and lies are yet to prepared me to bargain for my sister's life.

My sister scoffs despite her exhaustion, "You know that would not happen little brother. I do not give up on my family." she snaps. You stupid little- "So let Arieon go instead." Oh-

Axel chuckles watching us trying to save each other, "I am not family then, sister?" he sneers. "I bet both of you did not think about me once when you abandoned the crown." I know he meant to say we abandoned him, but that would appear weak, would it not?

I expect fire dancing around his arms but it does not. He is not powerful enough to unknowingly create flames just through emotions. When Azela was alive, I just wanted a taste of the power she had. But now that I had it and it slipped out of my grasp, I want nothing more than to let someone else carry that burden, anyone but my family.

Ashton stays quiet, not wanting to admit our little brother was in our every more before the other Unscathed. We made ourselves monsters, it is time to stay that way.

Axel's nostrils flare, "Take them to the prison. Glass metals for the arms and feet of Arieon Flare and Ashton Flare." Our little brother looks at us with nothing short of hate. I can only hope the flames he holds dear can melt his frozen heart.