Page 13 of Heiress of Fire

Mae and Nico ran into each other’s arms and cried.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t want to be like this. We can’t keep doing this to the kids or each other,” Nico wept.

Clenching her jaw, Davina worked hard to not roll her eyes. Genevieve was biting her nails as Emmy stared at her parents with shiny eyes, her lips curved down. Micah was staring at the black charred spots on the floor where the sparks had penetrated.

Davina observed the reaction of each of her siblings. Scars that had been years old had grown deeper into their souls.

Emmy, who was an eight-year-old child, had grown into a scared girl. A child who was scared whenever someone raised their voice, scared to go out alone into the dark or to sleep.

Genevieve was becoming an adolescent with a lot of resentment. Bitterness wrapped itself around her shoulders, weighing her down.

Micah became aggressive whenever he was angry, he didn’t know how to deal with his emotions. Which was something Davina could understand.

“I’m sorry, I promise I’ll change. This is the last time we’re going to do this to each other. Look at the kids…they look so scared.” Nico motioned toward the children.

“I’m sorry that we scared you, my loves,” Mae said, her arm wrapped around Nico’s torso.

Nico kissed Mae’s forehead and turned to them. “Come, join us.”

Silence.

No one moved. Davina looked at her siblings, at the tiredness in their eyes. It was not the type of exhaustion that affected their bodies, but their essence. The kids were disappointed. They no longer trusted their parents.

Indignation began to rise in Davina’s chest. They wanted to act as if nothing happened, like always. They would fight and then make up, letting themselves believe that their choices didn’t leave the consequences marked in the children’s souls.

“Come on, kids, let’s head to bed. Don’t forget to say goodnight,” Davina said softly.

She sighed as she walked toward the hallway, past her parents, the children scurrying after her.

FIVE

War had become unfamiliar to the people of Bellatorm, even though one of the main statutes of King Magnar was to always be prepared. The statute was why he had decided to institute a Master, Chief Leaders, Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices.

Every Bellatorman was required to at least be an Apprentice. No one would be a liability and would be fully capable of defending oneself if the situation ever presented itself.

Davina couldn’t help but ponder upon this fact as she waved her hands above the baskets of bread to warm them up. Few served the King as Castellum attendees and far too many people received help from the Castellum social events that were organized weekly.

Predator attacks began four centuries ago, but they began to progress even more recently. Could the King, at last, end his silence? Would he intervene to stop the entire population of Bellatorm from turning into Predators?

The domestic sequence that would be followed daily was interrupted because of the quantity of Prey who had encountered the darkness that had bestowed the islands. Different incidents occurred each time. There would be times when certain fields and gardens would putrefy overnight. Earthquakes would shake the foundation of the island cores, causing the buildings to collapse. Bellatormans of all the islands would become possessed by anger and irrationality, which resulted in them striking against their neighbors.

These incidents would cause children to become orphaned, leaving them without a home, without nourishment. Davina was aware that it went deeper than just not having parents, a home, and food. It was the envy that came from seeing others have what one lacked; a family that comforted, a place that provided rest, clothes that warmed and expressed personality, and a plate that satisfied one’s needs.

Davina turned to the wooden table that was assigned to her before greeting fellow Mistrans who passed by and entered Castellum. Mistrans were always the most neutral when it came to the Aurisans. She thanked Magnar for that.

She had piled honey, barley, and white bread over some argil plates.

Davina’s eyes traveled to the long line of tables surrounding Castellum’s courtyard. Valerie had several shapes of crystal lights set over her table. Leilani had baskets of fruit and vegetables over hers. She caught onto Snow’s counter, who had frosted meat being given out to the Prey.

A bench with numerous folded quilts sat beside Snow’s table. The unattended table was Ron’s table. Davina sighed slightly as she realized his absence, questioning his whereabouts. It was odd that he wasn’t there, he was almost always present in the Castellum social events.

Despite receiving backlash from Leilani, she didn’t regret the hassle they caused in Sadoc’s manor. She’d never forget the wonderful moment they shared as they sat on the roof under the twinkling night sky. Nor would she forget the admiration in his eyes as he observed her and her fire powers.

But she could not forget that getting too close to him could end in heartbreak for both of them. So, Davina forced herself to push Ron out of her thoughts.

While the Leaders were to remain inside the castle to give wise counsel, Soldiers and Apprentices were to oversee the volunteer work in Castellum’s courtyard.

Davina remembered a history lesson that Master Abigail had given; for there to be harmony in Bellatorm, each island had a duty to give to one another. That was the belief that the Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices held close to their hearts.

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